Newspapers / The Perquimans Weekly (Hertford, … / Jan. 24, 2018, edition 1 / Page 2
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2 THE PERQUIMANS WEEKLY, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 24,2018 WIND Continued from! center operates the “relocat able over-the-horizon-radar” system that provides “criti cal surveillance capability to support the US Southern Command Counter Narco- Terrorism mission,” she ex plained. The ROTHR receiver is in southern Chesapeake, putting it roughly within 30 miles of the Amazon wind farm in Pasquotank and Perquimans counties. That’s raised questions about whether the wind farm’s turbines would cause too much electromagnetic in terference and risk blinding ROTHR to illicit activities off the southern east coast. After years of negotiations, and based on modeling from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Lincoln Labs, the Navy and wind farm developer Avangrid Renew ables struck a deal in 2014 to allow 104 turbines to be built in specific locations, and to study their impacts in their first year of operation. That agreement wasn’t good enough for 10 Republi can state lawmakers, includ ing Sen. Bill Cook, R-Beau- fort, and a retired Marine major general who urged the incoming Trump administra tion to shut down the wind farm. In a letter publicized in January 2017 — less than a month after the farm started operating — they called for shutting down the farm due to its “imminent, highly like ly, unacceptable threat to our national security.” Today, it appears that let ter had little impact. The wind farm is operating normally, according to the developer, and the Navy is continuing to study it — al though it’s too soon to say how well it’s getting along with the ROTHR receiver. “Evaluation of data from post-construction field mea surements to validate the re sults of the 2014 predictive modeling by MIT Lincoln Labs is ongoing,” Draughn- Fraguada said Friday. She explained that Lincoln Labs, the Forces Support Surveil lance Support Center and the Naval Research Labo ratory collected data from specific turbines in January 2017, followed by data col lection for the entire wind farm in July 2017. She continued that, if the field testing reveals more than the allowable interfer ence, the Navy and Avangrid must consult with technical experts to figure out how to reduce it. Notably, the Na vy’s agreement provides the wind farm cannot be forced to stop operations without a clearly defined national se curity emergency. Though Avangrid is “gen erally pleased with the per formance of the project,” it’s not speculating whether its turbines are causing acceptable interference or not, based on an email from Avangrid spokesman Paul Copleman. Copleman said he deferred to the De partment of Defense as to whether the wind farm has lived up to the 2014 model ing. As the region waits for the Navy’s determination, The Daily Advance also asked Cook whether he still be lieved the wind farm should be shut down. Cook reiterat ed Friday that his “position has always been that if the interference to the ROTHR facility could not be fully removed, then the offend ing turbines should be shut down.” Notably, the letter Cook signed describes the “preferred option” as “shut down this project perma nently,” with the “second ary option” being to require shutting down any and all turbines causing significant interference. During the debate about shutting down the wind farm, Rep. Bob Steinburg, R- Chowan, vocally defended the wind farm, urging fel low Republicans to visit the site. That visit led to House Speaker Tim Moore, R- Cleveland, softening his op position to the project On Friday, Steinburg said he wasn’t aware of any fur ther efforts against the wind farm — though he wasn’t told in advance about the shutdown letter either, he acknowledged. He also said the military and Avangrid have a great working rela tionship, based on conver sations he’s had with Naval personnel, and the threat of a shutdown is hopefully over. “Everythmg I’ve seen in dicates this issue has been resolved,” he said. Steinburg also added the developer still hopes to build up to 46 additional turbines, but he’s not sure if or when they’ll press forward with them. PRISON Continued from 1 Assistant District Attorney Kimberly Pellini and Emily Davis did an “awesome job with the evidence that they presented to the court.” Prior to sentencing, Bramble called Ames’ mother, Samantha Bunch, to testify. Bunch, in asking Tillett to show her son leniency, told the judge she had been married several times, and that while she was married to Ames’ father, her son had witnessed his father being violent toward her. She said her son was a good student who played football and ran track. She also said he had earned a high school diplo ma while incarcerated. Assistant District Attor ney Kimberly Pellini, how ever, asked Tillett to impose a life sentence without the possibility of parole, claim ing Ames has neither apolo gized for Graham’s death nor shown any remorse about it. Pellini also said Ames had essentially de stroyed two lives: Graham’s and Brunson’s. Prosecutors maintained throughout the four-day trial that, although Brunson acknowledged firing the gun that killed Graham, Ames planned the slaying. Brunson in fact testified during Ames’ trial that it was Ames who handed him the handgun used in Graham’s slaying and who told him to shoot Graham. In her closing argument to the jury on Friday, Pel lini reiterated that Graham’s slaying was Ames’ plan. She noted that after Brunson shot Graham at the park, both he and Ames drove to Ames’ mother’s residence without stopping to alert law enforcement about what had happened. She noted Ames did, however, tell both a woman living at his mother’s house and a cousin in a telephone con versation about Graham’s slaying. Pellini argued that the only reason Ames went to police the afternoon after Graham’s murder was to get there before Brunson did, believing “the first to talk would be the first to walk.” Buttressing prosecutors’ case that Ames planned Graham’s murder was tes timony by Michael Barnak, one of the state’s last wit nesses on Friday. Barnak, who testified he had been in and out of jail most of his life, told jurors he had spoken with Ames at Albemarle District Jail fol lowing Graham’s slaying. According to Barnak, his cell flooded one day and Ames showed up as part of an inmate cleanup crew. During their conversation, Barnak testified Ames told him he didn’t kill Graham but had planned his murder. Barnak said he contacted the District Attorney’s Of fice by letter in September, advising prosecutors of what Ames had told him. He testified he wasn’t promised anything in return for his testimony at Ames’ trial. During cross-examina tion by Bramble, Barnak acknowledged he had of fered to participate in un cover drug purchases for anti-drug agents. He denied that he had shown racism toward an African-Ameri can inmate. Ames didn’t take the stand in his own defense. Bramble maintained throughout the trial that his client happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time with the wrong person. In his closing arguments to the jury, Bramble said he believed Brunson testified against Ames out of revenge for his client having gone to the police after Graham’s death. He also told jurors Barnak wasn’t someone they should believe. In her closing statement, Pellini told jurors that nei ther Barnak nor Brunson were great witnesses. She also said Brunson isn’t a smart person. But that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be believed, she said. When you’re trying the devil, you have to go to hell to get wit nesses, she said. Sheriff’s Report PERQUIMANS COUNTY SHERIFF ■ 1/12 Gary Davis, Howell’s Lane, failure to appear, $500 secured bond. ■ 1/12 Travis Searcy, Wilderness Trail, assault and battery, $500 unse cured bond. ■ 1/14 Michael Faison, Navajo Trail, assault on a female. ■ 1/16 Michael Faison, Minzies Creek Sanitary District Monthly meeting will be held on SATURDAY, January 27, 2018 AT 10:00am The Meeting Will Be Held at 139 Treasure Lane, Hertford J Navajo Trail, domestic violence protective order violation, assault on a female, $10,000 secured bond. ■ 1/17 Lacy Bunch, West Island Trail, simple physical assault, second- degree trespass. ■ 1/17 Justin Preble, West Island Trail, second degree trespass. ■ 1/17 April Jackson, West Island Trail, failure to appear, $500 secured bond. CHARGES Continued from 1 ago. The town had run out of additional capacity to add more customers. Reid suggested the water- sewer bills are a bigger issue than the electric bills. “If you could get 100 customers to Hertford, you would see a change,” Reid said. More customers would mean the town could spread the debt service for the wa ter and sewer improvements IPADS Continued from 1 Tm starting a four-year term, and I feel I need the 256 gig,” Jackson said. “It’s not like I’m being greedy.” Norman said that much memory wasn’t needed. He said “cloud” services which allow users to upload ROUTE Continued from 1 those from the Town of Hertford are on record that they don’t want to see Hertford bypassed, Welch said. Because of that, DOT didn’t include a bypass of Recycle Harris completes Army basic training over a larger base. He said when people complain about their “elec tric bill” some don’t grasp that the bill in the town is a combination of electrical use along with water, sewer and garbage. In the case of some smaller customers the water and sewer portion of the bill combined is more than the electrical fee. The electric fee is already a lot lower that it was just three years ago thanks to a deal worked out with Duke Pow er, but the water and sewer and download data are read ily available and are free or cost very little. “This is something he (Jackson) is missing,” Nor man said. “There is unlim ited data on cloud storage. We don’t need 256 gigs if we have cloud storage and a drop box.” Councilman Eley said he was probably the worst per ¬ Hertford in the feasibility study. Two U.S. 17 projects are proceeding with the plan ning stage. One would cre ate an interchange at New Hope Road. Right now DOT has right-of-way acquisition penciled in for 2023 and construction in 2025. charges will only fall when there are more customers to share the debt burden that the water-sewer expan sion created, Reid said. But Norman said the problem with people not be ing able to pay their utility bills is not something some people can control. “There are a million rea sons why it could happen,” Norman said. “These deposits can hurt aperson,” Jackson said. “We all know that most houses aren’t weatherized.” son to be talking about com puters, but he did say the town has a budget and a bud get process and suggested the computer issue could be brought up at that time. He also pointed out to the new members that anything they do on a town computer is public and can be released. Jackson argued the larger iPad was needed for him Another involves building an interchange or flyover at Wynne Fork Road. Welch said right of way is penciled in for 2024 with construc tion in 2026. Other projects in the pipe line are on New Hope Road to widen it from Union Hall Road to Woodland Church Muriel Harmon, one of the 10 or so residents at tending the meeting, point ed to the $27,000 in uncol lectible debt as a sign the town needs to raise the de posit fee, not lower it. Jackson claims he’s hy ing to look out for poor people “I grew up poor, and I mean poor. My Mom and Dad both went to prison at the same time when I was a kid. There are people in Hertford who are home less.” and suggested that if coun cil members didn’t address getting the bigger iPads they would be doing it later. “This will cost us more money if we are nitpicking about these now,” Jackson said. The board voted upgrade the iPads based on the motion that each council member will decide what they need. Road. It’s funded for next year. There is also a project on Woodville Road from Red Bank Road to New Hope Road. For more information on the 1-87 plan visit https:// www.ncdot.gov/projects/ usl7-feasibility-study/ NOTICE Perquimans County TAX LISTING DATES All persons who own property subject to taxation must list during the month of January. Any persons who fail to do so will be subject to penalties prescribed by law. Due to legislation, real property and licensed vehicles do not require listing by the taxpayer. However, if you have made any improvements to your real property, you must list that with the Tax Department. All other personal property such as boats, jet skis, unlicensed vehicles, IRP's, farm equipment, businesses, etc. can be listed with the lister in the county Assessor's Office between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Monday thru Friday starting January 2 through January 31,2018. You may also list on the abstract that was mailed to you. If you have personal property or made improvements to your real property and did not receive an abstract, please contact our office. These abstracts must be returned to our office by January 31,2018. If you are a business and you need an extension, our office needs a letter requesting an extension by January 31,2018. If you are 65 years old or older, or totally and permanently disabled, and your income is less than $29,600, you may qualify for a tax reduction. Persons owning real property under cultivation, in forest management or horticulture land may qualify for a tax-reduced valuation (land use). If you are not already in the land use program and you feel you qualify, please contact The Tax Office for qualification. The Tax Office is located at 107 N. Front Street (in the back of the courthouse) Hertford, NC. Our telephone number is 252-426-7010 or 252-426-5564. Bill Jennings Perquimans County Tax Administrator From Staff Reports Spencer Harris, a 2017 graduate of Perqui mans County High School, recently complet ed U.S. Army Basic Training at Fort Benning, Ga. Harris remained at Fort Benning after his October graduation to train in his field with a Calvary Scout unit where he completed and graduated on Nov. 30. Pvt Harris is now stationed at Ft Campbell, KY where he will continue training as a 19th CAV Scout and is attending air assault school Pvt Harris is the son of Velvet Jennings Har ris and grandson of Lois and Bradley Jennings, of Hertford. HARRIS Perquimans j/WEEKLY (USPS428-080) Vol. 86 No. 4 Published each Wednesday. A publication of Cooke Communications North Carolina, LLC Established 1934 111 W. Market St., Hertford, NC 27944 Mike Goodman Publisher Peter Williams News Editor Bev Alexander Advertising Representative Phone 252-426-5728 • Fax 252-426-4625 Email: perquimansweekly@ncweeklies.com Subscription Rates In Daily Advance home delivery area $26.25* All other continental U.S $32.50* *Plus applicable sales tax. Activation fee of $1.99 will be collected with all new subscriptions. Deactivation fees may apply for early cancellation. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Perquimans Weekly, Hertford, NC 27944 Chamber banquet is Friday From Staff Reports The Perquimans County Chamber of Commerce will be hosting the annual Ban quet and Auction on Friday night at Louise’s Event Cen ter. Doors open at 6 p.m. when a silent auction starts. The live auction begins at 7:45 p.m. Charlie Layden will be conducting the auction. Tickets are $35 and are available at the chamber building on Market Street. The cost for a table of 10 is $300. 7 ’ 7
The Perquimans Weekly (Hertford, N.C.)
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Jan. 24, 2018, edition 1
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