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ERQUBMANS
Ix^Weekt.v
"JVeivs from Next Door"
DECEMBER 21, 2011 - DECEMBER 27, 2011
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Officials: Abandoned Dobbs house a problem
By CATHY WILSON
Staff Writer
For the third time in 19
months, local police and
firefighters have responded
to an incident at a Dobhs
Street home that is sup
posed to be vacant.
The house located at 413
Dobbs Street is becoming
all too familiar to Hertford
police officers and volun
teer firefighters.
Both agencies responded
to the house adjacent to 413
Dobbs Street for a reported
gas leak in May 2010, to a
reported fire in May 2011,
and again last week when
neighbors complained
about a strong smell of
kerosene coming from the
house.
In each incident, officials
reportedly found Kenneth
Ferebee living inside the
abandoned house.
On Friday, interim Hert
ford Police Chief Mike
Carver said police respond
ed after neighbors com
plained of a strong smeU of
kerosene coming from the
abandoned house. Hertford
Fire Chief Todd Tfiley and
Emergency Management
Coordinator Jarvis Win
slow inspected the house
and found an old kerosene
heater with a gas can stuck
in it. They also found kero
sene spfiled on the floor and
walls. Carver said.
Officials called the owner
of the house, Johnny An
derson of New York, and
were asked to make the
house safe. Carver said the
house was boarded up so no
one can enter it.
“I spoke with several of
Caroling at the Courthouse
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STAFF PHOTO BY CATHY WILSON
Kindergartners at Perquimans Central School wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year as they sing
Christmas carols in front of the county courthouse.
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V‘
PERQUIMANS
COUNTY SCHOOLS
PHOTO
Students
break into
broad smiles
as they carol
on the
courthouse
lawn.
h
Interim Police Chief Takes Over
STAFF PHOTO
BY CATHY WILSON
Perquimans
Clerk of Court
Todd Tilley
(left) swears
in interim
Hertford Police
Chief Michael
Carver at the
Hertford police
station.
Hertford ends fiscal year on sound note
By CATHY WILSON
Staff Writer
Hertford’s general fund balance
increased during the fiscal year
that ended June 30 despite a slug
gish economy.
89076
7144
According to the audit report pre
sented to Hertford Council recently
by Jeff Best of the accounting firm
Pittard, Perry and Crone, the town’s
unassigned general funds grevv to
$784,399, or about 53 percent of the
general fund’s expenses — well
above the state Local Government
Commission’s requirement of 8
percent.
The fund increased by about
$28,000 from July 1, 2010 through
June 30,2011.
“That means the town could oper
ate for half a year without addition
al revenue, which shows a fairly sig
nificant fund balance,” Best said.
He attributed much of the fund
increase to higher tax collections.
The town’s tax collection rate rose
to 93.57 percent from 90.84 percent
the previous year.
Unfortunately, the town’s elec
tricity and water budgets were not
See AUDIT, 8A
the neighbors and they are
generally concerned about
their safety,” said Carver.
“We had to do something.”
Within one hour after
boarding up the house Fri
day afternoon, Hertford Po
lice Sgt. Kevin J. Worster,
while on patrol, received
word that Ferebee was at
the Dobbs Street house. Ac
cording to police reports,
the boarded-up door to the
house had been kicked in
and plywood had been torn
off the house.
Worster foimd Ferebee
at the back of the house.
When police approached,
Ferebee ran from the scene
and Worster pursued him.
According to a police re
port, officers used a Taser
to try and gain control of
See HOUSE, 8A
Residents voice
support for
sanitary district
By CATHY WILSON
Staff Writer
It appears, at least in
the courtoom, that the two
opposing Holiday Island
groups are working to
gether to create a sanitary
district so a non-profit as
sociation formed by utility
customers may buy and op
erate the problem-plagued
wastewater treatment
plant that serves the camp
ing areas.
Just 10 days before Christ
mas, utility customers told
Commissioner Bill Culpep
per of the North Carolina
Utilities Commission that
they support forming a
sanitary district by Minzies
Creek Village, an imincor-
porated nonprofit associa
tion of utility customers in
the Camp Holiday area of
Holiday Island. Residents
also pledged to financially
support the cause.
Attorney Steve Levitas,
representing the Holiday
Island Property Owners
Association, said his clients
are working with residents
to find a solution.
Wfiliam Grantmyre,
staff attorney for the com
mission, said a sanitary
district would he eligible
for grants and loans where
the homeowners group
would not.
“It is my Lmderstanding
that everyone’s desire is to
get a sanitary district,” he
said. However, he reminded
residents attending the
hearing that the applica
tion before the Commis
sion is stiU about closure
See DISTRICT, 8A
Council approves
$100K in projects
By CATHY WILSON
Staff Writer
After 15 months of hard
work, local volunteers
working to improve Hert
ford through the North
Carolina Small Towns Eco
nomic Prosperity program
now begin to implement
their projects.
Members of Hertford
Council recently approved
the group’s list of projects
which will total more than
$100,000 paid from NCSTEP
grant funds. The projects
affect town growth, devel
opment in various aspects
and planning for the fu
ture. They also will boost
the economy and affect
economic development.
“The folks who have
worked on this commit
tee throughout the past 15
months truly love the town
of Hertford and want to
make sure that the won
derful assets that drew us
here and keep us here are
able to shine to their full
est potential for visitors
and residents alike,” said
Connie Jaklic one of the
volunteers who has worked
on NCSTEP since its in
ception. “Countless man
See PROJECTS, 8A
Fire damages home
From staff reports
A fire Saturday after
noon caused consider
able damage to a home on
Artie Street in Hertford.
The home of E.T. and
Faye Myers was dam
aged when fire broke out
around 2 p.m. No one was
home at the time of the
fire.
The home is a one-sto
ry brick structure just
off South Edenton Road
Street.
Perquimans County
Emergency Management
Coordinator Jarvis Win
slow said the cause of the
fire remains under inves
tigation, but there is no
evidence of foul play.
Winslow said the fire
appeared to have started
in a back bedroom before
spreading into the attic.
“And that’s where she
really took off,” he said.
The roof did not col
lapse, but started sagging,
he said.
Volunteer firefighters
from Hertford, Bethel and
Winfall responded.
Firefighters remained
on the scene until about
3:45 p.m.
PW Holiday Closings
The Perquimans Weekly office will be closed for
the Christmas holiday on Friday and Monday
The office wfil also close at noon on Dec. 28, 29,
and 30.
The office will be closed for the New Year’s holi
day on Monday, Jan. 2.