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"News from Next Door ' WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2016
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Revised plans for bridge unveiled
EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the first of two
stories on plans to replace the S-Bridge.
BY PETER WILLIAMS
News Editor
Construction on a replacement for Hert
ford’s S-Bridge could start two years from
now but it could mean there is no link be
tween Hertford and Winfall for three years
during construction.
The original plans hit a wall nearly two
years ago because of concerns about the
impact of a high-rise bridge would have on
Hertford’s Historic District.
In response about eight months ago DOT
ditched the original plans — a $19 million
33-foot-tall bridge that would bypass the
causeway end up in the same place on the
Winfall side.
In the wake of opposition, DOT now fa
vors a $31 million option for another swing
See BRIDGE, 2
IMAGE COURTESY OF N.C. DOT
A computer rendering shows what a replacement for the S-Bridge in Hertford might look like. The image is only a draft and DOT
intends to refine the appearance over the coming months.
Disaster
relief
deadline
extended
BY PETER WILLIAMS
News Editor
People who have suffered a
loss from Hurricane Matthew now
have more time to apply for help
from the federal government.
The state requested and the
Federal Emergency Management
Agency approved a 31-day exten
sion for disaster claims. The new
deadline is Jah. 9.
FEMA can provide cash grants
that don’t have to be repaid and as
of Nov. 16, it’s approved $30,112
for Perquimans County residents.
The new deadline also applies to
homeowners, renters and busi
nesses submitting applications
for low-interest disaster loans
from the U.S. Small Business Ad
ministration.
The dollar amount of money
released to Perquimans residents
is far less than those in surround
ing counties, but Perquimans was
also had fewer applicants than
other counties - 61 - as of Nov.
16. It was also added to the disas
ter list later than some counties
and some people may not have
tried to apply.
The fact that Perquimans
wasn’t added until Nov. 4 could
be the reason for the fewer appli
cations, said Nate Custer, a media
relations specialist for FEMA.
The first batch of counties was
declared on Oct. 10.
See DISASTER, 3
Turkey Drop
Vera Harrell holds one of the turkeys donated for the Turkey Drop at Hertford United Methodist
Church on Friday. Donors provided more than 180 birds, just shy of the 200 goal, but cash
donations more than made up the difference. The food will go to the Food Pantry in Winfall for
families for Thanksgiving.
Tilley to
retire as
Sheriff
BY PETER WILLIAMS
News Editor
Perquimans County Sheriff
Eric Tilley has announced he’s
retiring.
With 30 years in law enforce
ment, Tilley, 53, has enough
years of service and sick leave
that he can re
tire. Working any
longer will only
cut, not increase
his retirement
benefits, he said.
Tilley’s last day
on the job will be
Jan. 31.
“I love my job
STAFF PHOTO BY
PETER WILLIAMS
Charles Lacefield
carries a tray
of canned
goods to a car
for transport
to the Food
Pantry in Winfall
on Saturday
afternoon at
Hertford United
Methodist
Church. It makes
the third year of
the Turkey Drop.
and I love working for the coun
ty, but you reach a point where
it’s crazy to keep working,” Til
ley said Monday.
Tilley said he has no plans to
leave Perquimans County, but he
will likely find some other job.
“I’m still young enough to do
something else,” he said.
Tilley got his law enforcement
start working for the Perqui
mans Sheriff’s Office. He left and
worked for the Elizabeth City
Police Department for about five
years and then spent some time
as a probation officer before
returning to Perquimans. Tilley
was named to the sheriff’s job af
ter Sheriff Ralph Robinson died
in 1999.
See TILLEY, 3
Move is on to relocate
Grubb Street Post Office
BY PETER WILLIAMS
News Editor
An on-line petition drive
is underway to move the
Hertford Post Office.
Since 1960, the facility
has been on Grubb Street
across from Hertford Town
Hall. The U.S. Postal Service
leases the building from a
New York City real estate
company.
Customers have long
complained about the
parking situation. The fi
nal straw appears to have
been this summer when
an elderly man drove his
car though the front glass
of the lobby. Plywood was
used to cover up the hole
and months later, the ply
wood is still there, said
Steve Lane.
“We started talking to
people who can make this
happen,” said Lane, a re
tired UPS truck driver.
“The back parking lot
floods when it rains, the
ceiling is leaking and there
is no work area or lock ¬
ers for the employees or
a room for them to take
a cup of coffee. There are
multiple reasons to move
it. I don’t see where many
people would have any ob
jections to moving it.”
His suggestion would
be to relocate the Post Of
fice to the building where
the State Employees
Credit Union used to be.
It’s a shopping center near
Hardee’s Restaurant on
U.S. 17 and Church Street.
“There is plenty of park
ing in front and a place for
trucks to access it from the
See POST OFFICE, 3
BOCKHHOCK
American
, Cancer
Society j
*.
Counting BALLOTS
STAFF PHOTO BY PETER WILLIAMS
Members of the Perquimans County Board of Elections members (seated clockwise
from left, Dianne Layden, John McCowan, Vera Murrill and Director of Elections Syndi
Banks meet for an election canvass Friday. The meeting had to be postponed until
Tuesday because some information hadn’t been returned from N.C. DMV. Statewide
it appears the race for governor is headed for a recount.
$10.00
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2nd, 7:00PM „
JW J®
L^Perquimans Co. High
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[^ SATURDAY, DECEMBER 3rd, 7:00PM
Hertford, NO
Tickets Available at various locations or call 252-221-4875 or 252-340-3438. Email rockyhock opry@live.com