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''News front Next Door"
DECEMBER 28, 2011 - JANUARY 3, 2012 RECEIVEDsO cents
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Holiday Island plant fee hearing Jan. 31
HIPOA requests
additional fee
By CATHY WILSON
Sta^ Writer
The North Carolina
Utilities Commission has
ordered a public hearing
to be held next month on
a proposed emergency as
sessment and temporary
surcharge to help pay for
renovations and to con
tinue operating the waste-
water treatment facility at
Holiday Island.
The NCUC wiU hold a
public hearing on Jan. 31
in the Perquimans County
Courthouse to hear com
ments on the proposed fees
charged to utility custom
ers in the camping areas
of the subdivision.
The Holiday Island
Property Owners Associa
tion (HIPOA) requests the
emergency assessment and
temporary surcharge to
pay for past improvements
and renovation costs to the
sewer system as well as to
generate funds to continue
operating the system and
create a reserve fund for
maintenance and repair
costs while the future of
the problem-plagued sys
tem is decided by the com
mission.
Approximately 90 utility
customers will be asked to
pay the additional fees over
a three-month period.
The emergency assess
ment totals $6,917. Each
customer would pay a total
of $76.86 ($25.62 per month
for three months).
In addition, the tem
porary surcharge totals
$8,100. Each customer
would pay an additional
$90 ($30 each month for
three months).
If the customers do not
pay the fees within 30 days
of their monthly billing.
Periadger is Armed and Ready
From staff reports
S ome of the Per
quimans County
Restoration Associ
ation’s big guns have been
working with a little gun-a
weapon that is a new addi
tion to the Periauger.
Until now the Miss P (as
it is affectionately known)
was a peaceful-looking
craft. Last week, a mini
cannon known as a swivel
gun was added to the rep
lica of an early American
colonial workboat that
has become a successful
tourist attraction since it
“landed” here in 2001.
It's not just
for looks. It
is a working
cannon, but not
much work is
involved in its
firing.
It is not just for looks. It
is a working cannon, but
not much work is involved
in its firing.
The cannon was deliv
ered by Dr. Larry Babits,
director of Maritime
Studies at East Carolina
University Babits, a mari
time historian who has
authored many historical
writings, is a long-time
friend of the Periauger.
The gun, a copy of a
British made weapon, is
not only for show. It wiU be
fired on special occasions.
The local men and wom
en involved with the small
weapon have learned how
to put it together, take it
apart, and how to fire it.
The Periauger’s 80-
pound muzzle-loading
weapon wfil fire blanks
but the original could fire
some 250 to 300 yards.
“Different kinds of shot
were used originally,”
Babits explained. Sound
ing like an amiable drill
sergeant, he emphasized
the need to practice, prac
tice, practice.
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SUBMIHED PHOTO
Fire in the hoie! Terty Facey (l-r), John Ernst and Larry Babits discuss the operations of the swivel gun that is mounted on the
Periauger. Below, Larry Babits lights the fuse on the mounted swivel gun.
“There will be drfils,” he
said, adding that he will
return to Hertford to offer
his expert advice and lend
a helping hand.
Swivel guns were used
principally aboard sailing
ships “serving as short-
range, anti-personnel
ordnance,” according to
the Goldenmap website.
“They were not ship-sink
ing weapons due to their
small caliber and short
range, but could
do considerable damage
to anyone caught in their
line of fire.”
Reason enough for
Babit’s emphasis on lots
of practice and safety
The weapon is one more
feather in PCRA’s cap as
it continues to encour
age and entice tourists to
spend time and money in
Perquimans County. While
the Periauger is based at
the Newbold-White House,
it also showcases its nauti
cal features during trips
to other areas of Eastern
North Carolina.
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“When Miss P is on the
road she draws a lot of
interest,” said Beryl Facey,
director of the Periauger.
“Usually we do three sail
ings throughout the day,
taking an average of 36
guests.”
Those guests are en
couraged to help handle
the sails or, when neces
sary, help with the rowing.
“We attract many
onlookers,” added Facey
“Children come aboard
and learn the technique
of how to use the oars.
Cuests are very interested
in learning the history
from myself and other
support crew.”
Now, with the addition
of the swivel gun, there is
stiU more history to learn.
The Periauger was built to
historical criteria and is
propelled, as it was in the
1700s, by two sails or eight
sweeps (long oars).
In addition to Facey, oth
ers who helped welcome
the new addition to the
Periauger were Terry
Facey, John Ernst, and
Phil McMuUan, PCRA '
president. Afterwards,
they visited the Carriage
House Restaurant where
Babits was treated to a
drink called “gunpowder
tea.”
Long Leaf awarded to Skinner
From staff reports
Local historian Charlie
Skinner received a special
gift this Christmas.
Wrapped underneath
his Christmas tree was the
Order of the Long Leaf
Pine Award given by Gov
ernor Beverly Perdue.
Skinner was honored for
his many years of service
to the community as an
active volunteer for over
70 years.
Skinner served as a vol
unteer firefighter for over
a-
Skinner
89076 A
7144
43 years
including
10 years as
fire chief
and 21
years as
county fire
marshall.
He also
served as
fire ser
vice training coordinator
for the College of the Al
bemarle for five years and
a fire service instructor
for 10 years.
Thirty-four years ago,
Skinner planned and di
rected all fire service op
erations during the Win
slow Oil Company fire on
Grubb Street.
His service to the com
munity continued as a
county commissioner for
one term and county his
torian since 1990.
Skinner, a native of
Hertford, became an Eagle
Scout in 1944 and served
in the US. Marines Corps
in World War II as well as
in the reserves during the
Korean War.
He has been a member
of American Legion Post
126 since 1948 and was a
charter member of the
Perquimans Chapter of
the N.C. Jaycees in 1949.
He also helped orga
nize the Hertford Fife and
Drums back in 1974.
Skinner retired from
the North Carolina Em
ployment Securities
See SKINNER, 2
their utility service would
be discontinued.
Earlier this year, HIPOA
petitioned the state utilities
commission to discontinue
water and sewer service to
customers in Sections H, P,
and R known as the camp
ing section after months
of heated discussions with
See SURCHARGE, 2
From staff reports
Local residents may see
more money in their pock
ets next year, thanks to the
payroll tax cut approved by
Congress recently.
According to United
States Senator Kay R.
Hagan (NC), the Middle
Class Tax (3ut will save
the average Perquimans
County household $1,156
provided the tax cut is ex
tended through the end of
2012. Her figures are based
on a median household in
come of $37,284.
“...Hardworking fami
lies will not have to worry
about seeing their bottom
line paycheck decrease on
January l...For a North
Carolina family earning
the median income, a year
long continuation of this
tax cut means a savings
of $1,356. I will continue
to fight for yearlong exten
sions of the Middle Class
Tax Cut, unemployment
insurance and Medicare
payments for physicians
for North Carolina work
ers and families,” Hagan
vowed.
Both the Senate and
House voted to continue
the cuts for another two
months at the beginning
of the year, but Hagan said
she would keep pushing
for an extension through
2012.
“At a time when every
penny counts, this extra
money will go a long way
for hardworking families
struggling to make ends
meet,” said Hagan.
Statewide, the annual
average would be $1,356 for
4.7 million workers, Hagan
said.
If the payroll tax cut is
extended through 2012, the
See TAX CUT, 2
STAFF PHOTO
BY CATHY WILSON
Arlene Yates,
chairman of
the Perqui
mans Board
of Education,
tells students
at Perquimans
Central that
free books will
be given to
locai schools.
Foundation donates books
From staff reports
Almost 1,600 books
were distributed to area
school children recently
by Arlene Yates, thanks
to the I Have a Dream
Foundation.
The books, valued at
just over $9,000 were pro
vided to every student
in Perquimans Central
and Hertford Grammar
schools to boost their
home libraries.
Yates, chairman of
the Perquimans County
School Board, said this
was the first time books
See FREE BOOKS, 2