« THE QUIMANS E EICLY u 3 DC itO i CM =7 i2* "TX *c § o “sr So O^ cy in P = a « cc ^■ UJ -1 Hi = a. in X — “News from Next Door” THURSDAY, APRIL 8, 2021 $1.00 PAGE A6 Scholarship winner, creation of another award announced PAGE Bl Pirates cruise past Bruins, face Aces Friday Anyone 16 Years, Older Eligible for Vaccine FROM SUBMITTED REPORT RALEIGH — Governor Roy Cooper and North Carolina De partment of Health and Human Services Secretary Mandy K. Co hen, M.D. gave an update on the state’s current data, trends and vaccination progress as Wednes day also marked the opening of vaccine eligibility for Group 5. This means anyone 16 years and older who wants a safe and effec tive COVID-19 vaccination is eligi ble to get one. “We remain focused on getting people vaccinated as quickly and as equitably as possible and con tinuing to slow the spread of the virus,” Cooper said. “The more people we vaccinate, the more we can safely do.” North Carolina continues to fo cus on distributing vaccines quick ly and equitably. To date, the state has administered over 5.2 million doses. 39 percent of those 18 and up is at least partially vaccinated, and 26 percent of those 18 and up have been fully vaccinated. “These tested, safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines will help us get back in control of our lives and back to the people and places we love - like safely hugging a grand mother, traveling to see vaccinated family or friends, or having a pot luck dinner with your vaccinated neighbors,” said Secretary Cohen. State health officials are continuing to monitor the presence of COVID-19 and its more contagious variants in North Carolina, which is why it is important to continue to follow the stale’s mask mandate and practice safety precautions, including the Three Ws—wear a mask, wait 6 feet apart, and wash hands often. Dr. Cohen also provided an up date on North Carolina’s data and trends. Trajectory in COVID-Like Ill ness (CLI) Surveillance Over 14 Days ■ North Carolina’s syndromic surveillance trend for COVID-like illness is decreasing. Trajectory of Confirmed Cases Over 14 Days ■ North Carolina’s trajectory of cases is level. Trajectory in Percent of Tests Returning Positive Over 14 Days ■ North Carolina’s trajectory in percent of tests returning positive is level. Trajectory in Hospitalizations Over 14 Days ■ North Carolina’s trajectory of hospitalizations is level. In addition to these metrics, the state continues building capacity to adequately respond to an in crease in virus spread in testing, tracing and prevention. County GOP Picks New Leaders FROM STAFF REPORTS Perquimans County Re publican Party elected new leadership at the county convention March 31 at the county courthouse. Tim Brinn of Hertford was selected as chairman for the current 2021-22 election cy cle. Brinn is active in issues that impact Hertford and will move the town toward a less divisive future and his con tacts with state legislators can bring needed exposure as the town progresses. Michael Stallings is now vice chairman. Stallings has ably led the local party for the past two years, but due to his expanded business in terests during the COVID-19 pandemic, the need to focus on company activities must take precedence. As vice chair, Stallings will contin ue to work with the party as time allows. Dianne Layden of Belvid ere is the party’s new treasur er. Layden ms been fixture in regional and state conserva tive politics for many years and is a past chairwoman of the Perquimans County Re publican Party. Geoff Byrd was re-elected as secretary for another two- year term. Other party business in cluded the selection of del egates to the Congressional 3rd District (April 17) and State (June 3-6) Conventions and to enhance and update the website for Party news and events. More than 40 people at tended the Convention and See GOP, A2 PHOTO BY MILES LAYTON Flanked on both sides by the Pequimans County Commissioners, J.C. Cole (center with plaque) and beside his wife Janice, the retired Superior Court judge thanked the county commission for naming a courtroom after him within the county courthouse. Retired Judge JC Cole Thanks Commission BY MILES LAYTON Editor Retired Superior Court Judge J.C. Cole thanked the Perquimans County Commission Monday for the honor of having a courtroom named after him within the histor ic county court- house. “The other day when you made that presentation, it as now, brought tears to my eyes COLE that a poor ht- tle country boy would receive that kind of recognition,” he said. “I just wanted to come and say thank you.” Cole, who was re-elected in 2018 to an eight-year term, is re tiring now because he’s reached 72, the mandatory retirement See COLE, A2 Reid to Fill Court Vacancy FROM STAFF REPORTS Gov. Roy Cooper has appointed District Court Judge Eula Reid to the va cant seat on the Superior Court bench in the 1st Judi cial District. Reid, a District Court judge since 2007, will fill the seat created by the re tirement of Superior Court Judge J.C. Cole last week. Reid couldn’t be immedi ately reached for comment. But in a recent interview, she said she written a letter to Cooper formally asking to be considered for the vacancy. Cole also said he had recommended Reid for the appointment. REID Before becoming a judge, Reid served as an assistant district at torney in the District Attorney’s Office for the 1st Pros ecutorial District and as an adjunct professor at Eliza beth City State University. Reid earned her bachelor of arts degree at ECSU and her law degree at North Carolina Central University School of Law. The 1st Judicial District See REID, A2 Round-up Lt. Cmdr. Pulliam and Church Poised for Rebirth BY MILES LAYTON Editor A round-up of all things Perqui- mans County... XX. Per Mimi Galgano who passed this tip to the newspaper about Perquimans High School Class of 2003 alumnus Lt. Cmdr. Christopher Pulliam, the Search and Rescue Mission Coordinator for the US Coast Guard at Ports mouth. A Virginian-Pilot stoiy from March 27 says Pulliam along with the Elizabeth City-based USCG crew rescued a gravely ill merchant seaman March 19 from a tanker several hundred miles east of Ber muda —well beyond the farthest point their MH-60 helicopter could normally reach. Pulliam told the Virginian-Pilot they’d have to try to fly the mariner to safety, which was not going to be easy. “You jut can’t get from Eliza beth City to Bermuda on a tank of gas, not unless conditions are really favorable... but we had See ROUND-UP, A3 ' Oe ‘ PerformafI ce.Pr O f t . S s/o ( ^/~',,’ File photo from 2020 when Sgt. Edwin Roman was sworn-in. Congressman Murphy Sees Progress Against COVID BY MILES LAYTON Editor EDENTON — Congressman Greg Murphy, R-N.C., said this week that while the U.S. is not out of the woods yet on COVID-19, he sees light at the 6 89076 47144 2 Vol. 87, No. 15 www.PerquimansWeekly.com @2021 Perquimans Weekly All Rights Reserved end of the tunnel. Murphy, speaking at a fo rum attended by Chowan County and Edenton officials in Edenton on Wednesday, lik ened how the U.S. has been forced to respond to the pub lic health and economic cri sis to “building an airplane as we’ve been flying it.” “I think the academics will look back in 25, 30, 40 years and say, ‘this is what you did right, this is what you did wrong’ and (point out) where we could have done things better,” he said. “Without a doubt, a lot of us can look back and say you could have done things better here. I do think we did some things as a nation that were very, very smart.” Murphy praised Opera tion Warp Speed, the pub lic-private partnership ini tiated in May 2020 under the former Trump administra tion to accelerate develop ment of COVID-19 vaccines. He praised Trump’s lead ership helping cut through See MURPHY, A3 NICOLE BOWMAN-LAYTON/CHOWAN HERALD Edenton Chowan Partnership Board President Roland Vaughan (left) and Congressman Greg Murphy, R-3rd District, discuss state and federal efforts to provide broadband access to eastern North Carolina in Edenton, March 31,2021.

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