3 E E KLY “News from Next Door” THURSDAY, JULY 30, 2020 $1.00 NEWS Hertford K9 Receives Vest — A2 NEWS Better Together Hertford Program Grows Good Will — A3 COMMUNITY Wolfpack grad donates hair to Wigs for Kids — B2 PQ Schools Announce Reopening Plan Plan includes a combination of in-person and remote learning BY MILES LAYTON Editor The upcoming school year will look different at Perquimans Coun ty Schools. Monday, Perquimans Board of Education voted to adopt Plan B which includes a combination of in-person learning and remote learning. Parents also have an op tion to choose an all remote learn ing instructional experience. The plan follows the NC De partment of Health and Human Services guidelines for reopening schools. The decision was in re sponse to the July 14 announce ment by Governor Roy Cooper that schools needed to choose a re opening plan for students to return to school on Aug.17. Tire district hopes to provide families an opportunity to do what is best for their students and their households. “We know that no plan is perfect, but our goal is al ways to provide our students the best possible in structional expe rience in person TURNER and in remote learning settings. We are working hard to ensure that our schools are as safe as possible under the NC- DHHS guidelines. We are looking forward to the return of our teach ers, staff and students,” Superin tendent Tanya Turner said. Perquimans County Schools’ Plan B opens school four days per week for face-to-face instruction with one day of remote teaching and learning for students in grades PreK-6. Grades 7-8 would receive two half-days of face-to-face in struction with three days of remote teaching and learning. Grades 9-12 will participate in one day of face- to-face learning with four days of remote teaching and learning. In terms of remote learning, Turner said the district will also of fer a high-quality all remote learn ing option for families who may not be ready for their child to re turn in an in-person setting. Schools will open for in-person instruction under an updated Plan B that requires face coverings for all K-12 students, fewer children in the classroom, measures to ensure social distancing for eveiyone in the building, and other safety pro tocols. See PLAN, A3 Hertford Reinstates Police Captain BY MILES LAYTON Editor Captain Gilbert Rodriguez has been reinstated to the Hertford Police Department last week after being placed on leave with pay since June pending the out come of an investigation that concluded recently. Hertford Town Council unan imously approved reinstating Rodriguez after a closed session Town Hall has not provided any reasons for the investigation nor specified when it concluded. North Carolina Press Associa- See CAPTAIN, A2 9-Year-Old Shot, Killed in Chowan BY STAFF REPORTS EDENTON — A 9-year-old Edenton girl was shot to death and her mother injured Friday MAKIIA SLADE night in an inci dent the Chow an County sher iff described as a “senseless” act of violence. Sheriff Dwayne Good win said Maki- ia Slade and her mother, Shatoiy Hunt er Slade, were shot by someone in a passing vehicle as they were traveling in Maybe the most symbolic photo of the big day to come was from the baccalaureate service in June when the Pirates got to wear their commencement robes for the first time. Pirates Poised for Big Day BY STAFF REPORTS Congratulations to the soon- to-be Perquimans County High School Class of 2020. Provided by the PCHS, pho tos of each senior are published pages B1-B2. Thanks to local business support, there is a full- page ad listing the names of the graduates provided by the school sy stem appears on page A6. Above photo: Sandra Rennie’s enthusiasm says it all! Left photo: Superintendent Tanya Turner, who is a successful graduate of Perquimans County High School, shows her support for the Class of 2020. Steinburg Dismisses Marxists: Praises Trump’s Energy A story discussing the time, day and place of graduation along with COVID-19 guidelines appears on Bl. Did you know that the Class of 2020 has been offered $480,000 in scholarships? Valedictorian Claribel Or daz-Rios and salutatorian Allison Copeland will give speeches at commencement. Photo collage comes from a series of pictures taken through out the year. SUBMITTED PHOTOS Editor Leaves Legacy of Compassion Peter Williams died Saturday BY MILES LAYTON Editor S pace that is ordinarily reserved for the weekly round-up column seems to be better used to pay trib ute to Peter Williams, former longtime editor of the Perqui mans Weekly. He was also an editor of Chowan Herald. Rather than talk in jour no-speak, I’ll write in a more personal manner about Peter, a man who was loved and re spected by the community. As most folks know though it is still a shock to many, Pe ter died Saturday while under going care at Vidant Hospital in Greenville. Peter celebrat ed a birthday recently and he was in early to mid 60s. During Williams’ long See EDITOR, A3 PETER WILLIAMS See 9-YEAR-OLD, A2 EDITOR’S NOTE Due to late breaking news - very busy news cycle - a follow-up to the Perquimans Commission story about ongoing discussions about the future of the Confederate statue at the courthouse will have to wait until the next edition. 6 89076 47144 2 Vol. 86, No. 31 @2020 Perquimans Weekly All Rights Reserved BY MILES LAYTON Editor Editor’s Note: This con cludes our story about NC Senator Bob Steinburg’s vis it to nation’s capital and his meeting with President Don ald Trump. NC Senator Bob Steinburg, R-Chowan, was a member of Tarheel delegation of leading members of the General As sembly who got an impromp tu meeting with President Trump on July 16 in the Oval Office of the White House. “Afterward, I kept thinking that this was a surreal expe rience - even though I did this and I went through it - as See STEINBURG, A2 PHOTO BY THE OFFICIAL WHITE HOUSE PHOTOGRAPHER JOYCE N. BOGHASIAN NC Senator Bob Steinburg, third from the right, was part of a special Tarheel delegation from the General Assembly who met recently with President Trump.