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ERQUIMANS
MWeekly
"News from Next Door" MAY 16, 2012 - MAY 22, 2012
A Mother and Her Baby
See picture page, 10
50 cents
Budget plan includes 3 percent pay raise
Shoaf: Expect no
layoffs or tax hikes
By CATHY WILSON
Staff Writer
Town Manager Brandon
Shoaf presented a pro
posed 2012-2013 budget to
Hertford Council Monday
night that keeps the town’s
tax and utility rates at its
current level.
In the annual budget
message to councilmen,
Shoaf noted no increases
in any rates, proposed a 3
percent increase in pay for
town employees, and re
stored full funding for em
ployee healthcare costs.
“This budget is the cul
mination of our efforts to
balance the cost of govern
ment and services during
economically challenging
times,” Shoaf said in his
message.
“All expenses were ana
lyzed and assessed to de
termine if they were at the
proper level. Employees
have shouldered a portion
of the costs of healthcare
and have not had a raise in
four years.
“This year, their hard
work and determination
will be rewarded by a three
percent increase and a ful
ly funded health insurance
benefit. Due to conserva
tive fiscal decisions for nu
merous years, it appears
the town is in a position to
continue its commitment
to its employees and citi
zens without any layoffs or
tax increases.”
Shoaf said three public
works positions remain
frozen in next year’s pro
posed budget, “so that de
partment will struggle to
maintain its level of ser
vice with reduced staff.”
“Since service is our pri
mary function, the council
as well as employees will
have to defend these de
cisions when faced with
complaints of slower ser
vice,” he added.
See BUDGET, 9
Volunteers BAG TAXERS to feed others
• PHOTOS BY BRETT A. CIARK/THE DAILY ADVANCE
Makayla Williams (right), 10, bags sweet potatoes to give to local charities at the Hertford Rec Center where various organizations and Hertford Elementary students
came to sort through the sweet potatoes donated by a grower in Warsaw.The potatoes will help feed local residents through area food banks and food pantries.
From staff reports
Liocal school students and other volunteers turned
out in force Friday morning to help bag 40,000
pounds of sweet potatoes for donation to area
food banks, food pantries, low-income housing
communities and food insecure populations.
The potatoes were donated through the
Society of St. Andrew NC (www.endhunger.org),
the nation's largest fresh food salvaging ministry
and provided by a packing house in Warsaw.
Trucks dumped the potatoes on the road beside the
Perquimans County Recreation Center. Older
volunteers sat on stools or chairs to bag
the vegetables while students jumped in
to help. After bagging was completed,
the potatoes were delivered to
help feed those in need.
Rotarians Eldon Winslow (left), who is 92 years old, and Skip Matthews sort
sweet potatoes that will be given to local charities, at the Hertford Recreation
Center, where various organizations and Hertford Grammar students help to bag
the potatoes.The potatoes were donated by a grower in Warsaw. More than one
million pounds were sorted.
Boyce
killed in
hunting
accident
By CATHY WILSON
Staff Writer
The community is
mourning the death of a
county man who died Fri
day as a result of a tragic
hunting accident while
turkey hunting off New
Hope Road.
According to the John
Beardsley with the N.C.
Wildlife Law Enforcement,
Ronald Eric Boyce, 46,
of the 1300-block of Lake
Road, was accidently shot
while he and his son were
hunting together around 8
a.m. The accident occurred
behind what’s known as
Steye Perry’s barn located
on New Hope Road.
Beardsley said the hunt
ers had seen a turkey down
the field and were attempt
ing to stalk the turkey when
the accident occurred.
Boyce, wearing standard
camouflage, was sitting on
the side of the field while
his son Jonathan Boyce, 25,
walked behind brush and
thick vegetation to get to
where he thought the tur
key was located. The son
tripped on an exposed tree
root and stumbled causing
the 12-gauge shotgun to ac
cidently discharge.
The father, seated about
15-20 feet away, was struck
in the body area. The
younger Boyce immedi
ately called 9-1-1 and began
CPR in an effort to save his
father.
Perquimans EMS was
quickly dispatched to the
scene and transported
Boyce to Albemarle Hospi
tal where he died.
“I have been to the scene
and the son was walking
through very thick veg
etation,” said Beardsley.
“You couldn’t see the field
See BOYCE, 8
Abigail is a new dock dog!
Ross is Bearer of the Mace
By CATHY WILSON
Staff Writer
Abigail, a black Lab
rador retriever who be
longs to Tracy and Rodney
Franklin of Hertford, will
jump at the chance to get
in the water - literally
In fact, the two-and-
a-half-year-old dog loves
See ABIGAIL, 9
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PHOTO COURTESY
TOM FEIST
Abigail, a
black Labra
dor retriever
owned by
Tracy and
Rodney Frank
lin of Hertford,
springs
off the dock
fora 16-foot
jump during
recent com
petition.
6
2
NATIONAL Cl
From staff reports
Michael R. Ross of Hert
ford was one of two seniors
chosen to be Bearers of the
Mace during Elizabeth
City State University’s
154th Commencement Cer
emony held May 5.
Ross and Jessica L.
Coates were honored with
the privilege reserved for
the non-transfer graduat
ing senior who has the
highest cumulative grade
point average. Both gradu
ated from ECSU with a 4.0
grade point average. Addi
tionally, both are local stu
dents who graduated from
local high schools.
Ross graduated from
Perquimans County High
School while Coates, a
resident of Elizabeth City,
graduated from Pasquo
tank County High School.
While both were honored
to lead the long line of
graduating students into
the ceremony, they admit
ted becoming Bearer of the
Mace was not their goal.
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Michael R. Ross of Hertford
was one of two seniors se
lected as Bearers of the Mace
during Elizabeth City State
University’s 154th Commence
ment Ceremony May 5. Ross
graduated from ECSU with a
4.0 grade point average and
is a graduate of Perquimans
County High School.
They simply wanted to
perform as best they could
as undergraduates.
Ross earned a bachelor
of science degree in phys
ics. He also earned enough
credits to minor in biology
and chemistry. He plans to
have a career as a medical
See BEARER, 9