P The ERQUIMANS ^^VEEKLY "News from Next Door" WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 19, 2015 Newbold-White House to offer grape picking, 6 50 cents PHOTOBYCHUCK PA GELS Jim Tepper, Earl Pinigar and Pete Perry, members of American Legion Post 126 conduct a flag retiremeht ceremony Saturday at Missing Mill Park. The event featured the Post 126 Color Guard and Boy Scout Troop 150. Athletic policy changed BY PETER WILLIAMS News Editor Perquimans County ath letes will follow the same rules as other area schools when they take to the field this fall. Perquimans County High School has adopted a new policy that aligns with the standards set by the N.C. High School Athletic Asso ciation. The old Perquimans policy set a higher bar. It required student-athletes maintain a 2.0 grade aver age. It also said a student convicted of theft or assault would be prohibited from ever playing sports in Per quimans again. The second thing be came an issue last fall when two football players were . convicted of misdemeanor assault. They were still al lowed to play and school staff claimed they .were un aware of the policy. Football Coach Elvin James was forced to sit out two weeks of coaching and one game and Prin cipal Chante Jordan was suspended without pay for three days. Assistant Super intendent James Bunch had a five-day suspension. The incident highlighted how the Perquimans policy was tougher than other area schools. Had the two players attended Camden See POLICY, 2 FLAG BURNING CEREMONY HELD BY PETER WILLIAMS News Editor The 34th annual Indian Summer Festival in Hertford will include a tribute to the 9/11 well as some In dian demonstrations. Historic Hertford, Inc. puts on the event in downtown Hertford. Most of the craft and informational booths are located along Church Street and food vendors are centered down Market Street. A children’s play area is set up beside Hertford Baptist Church. The event starts Sept. 11, a Friday night and continues through Sept. 12. Susan Cox, one of the organizers, said it will include the presen tation of the colors by the Hertford Fire De partment Honor Guard and local Boy Scouts in honor of >9/11 at 6:30 p.m. There will be a prayer of remembrance and members of the Albemarle Chorale will sing patriotic numbers. SUBMITTED PHOTO The Main Event band from Greenville will perform Sept. 11 in downtown Hertford as part of the Indian Summer Festival. Summer Festival coming Sept. 11-12 member Greenville-band performs R&B, soul, beach, country and funk See FESTIVAL, 2 Spay/neuter program credited for decline BY PETER WILLIAMS News Editor A spay/neuter program started in 2009 is reducing the number of unwanted cats dropped off at the Tri County Animal Shelter. In the year ending in June, the shelter took in 450 fewer cats than it did the previous year, accord ing to Barbara Yates, the president of AWARE (Ani mal Welfare of the Albe marle Region Everyday). The number of dogs was higher, but she said fewer dogs have been spayed or neutered. “We’re hoping the dog numbers will grow, but I think we’re moving in the right direction,” Yates said. The Tri-County Shelter serves Chowan, Gates and Perquimans counties. AWARE has been offer ing discounted services since 2009. Thanks to do ¬ AUG 1 9 RECD “We’re inviting area law enforcement EMS, firemen and veterans to come down and take part,” Cox said. There will also be entertainment that Fri day on the courthouse green. The main event will be — The Main Event. The seven nations, grants and reim bursement from the state’s program for low-income pet owners, 245 cats and 126 dogs were altered. The next CatSNIP spay-neu- ter clinic in Perquimans County is Sept. 25. AWARE See CREDIT, 2 Deputy wrecks during chase BY PETER WILLIAMS News Editor A Perquimans County Sheriffs deputy who was chasing a southbound car over the U.S. 17-Bypass bridge was forced to swerve off the road and wrecked Thursday morning when another sheriff’s vehicle pulled into the way to join the chase. Sheriff Eric Tilley said his office was responding to a request from the Elizabeth City Police Department to detain a suspect who was suspected of stealing a large screen television from Wal- Mart. Deputy David Murray picked up pursuit of the red Dodge Magnum as it passed through Winfall and started the chase. Deputy Tom Reid set up in his vehicle in the median on the south side of the U.S. 17-Bypass bridge facing north. “He (Murray) got behind the car, and runs the license number and it’s the vehicle,” Tilley said. See WRECK, 2 DOT meeting to be held From Staff Reports A meeting designed to get input on road, bicycle and pedestrian improvements in Perquimans County will be held Sept. 23 at the Emer gency Medical Services Building in Winfall. There will be no formal presentation, however, local, regional and state staff will be on hand to hear input, an swer questions and collect comments. The meeting runs from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. and residents are invited to drop in. The EMS building is at 159 Creek Drive. The North Carolina De partment of Transportation, in cooperation with the Towns of Hertford and Win fall and the Albemarle Rural Planning Organization, is working on a Comprehen sive Transportation Plan for Perquimans County and the steering committee needs your input on recommenda tions for future transporta tion improvements. Sixty golfers raise money for Schools foundation Teacher Retreat From Staff Reports Sixty golfers took to the greens Aug. 6 for the Per quimans County School’s Foundation during its 12th annual golf tournament at Sound Links Golf at Albe marle Plantation. The event raises money for Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization de signed to encourage and assist educational func tions and activities. With the threat of se vere weather looming, the pro sounded the horn with about an hour left to play, leaving several teams with a couple of holes still to go. “Safety was priority for the event,” said the tournament directors. “All players were under standing when the deci sion was made to end the tourney.” / Cody Lamb, John Las siter, Ryan Caldwell and Zak Caldwell placed first in this year’s tournament with a score of 56. Team Caldwell was able to com plete the entire course be fore the horn sounded. Van Harris, a member of the Farm Bureau team, hit a hole-in-one on the 150-yard No. 11 hole. Har ris’ team landed second place in the tournament with a score of 57. Other players on The Farm Bu reau team included Alan Stallings, Wayne Baker and Stephen Marshall. See FOUNDATION, 2 SUBMITTED PHOTO Perquimans County educators attended a retreat Aug. 4 in the conference room at Albemarle EMC. Classes resume on Monday.