Newspapers / The Brunswick Beacon (Shallotte, … / Feb. 14, 1985, edition 1 / Page 5
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uncle Chappi /-\L /- _l Ul V7UI DVPT TO a XT * iot?r?r? o i ouoni* uorm,i\ Brunswick County Commissioner Chris Chappell says he's always had a "gift of gab," even as a child growing up in the Myrtle Head section of Ash. That ability came into play early, helping him claim a role on athletic teams at Waccamaw High School even after a bout with rheumatic fever as a seven-year-old took him out of school for six months and left him with a heart murmur, unable to dress out through his junior year of high school. But one year, behind his parents' backs, he joined the Esj'.cs basketball scjund. Hs's on on? to&m or another ever since, moving from a Chicago Cubs farm team tc the Brunswick County Board of Commissioners. In his first game for Waccamaw, played against Nakina, he was high scorer. But Chappell's basketball career ended abruptly when the newspaper was delivered, bearing an account of the game. A strong interest in sports remained, influencing subsequent decisions. Chappell couldn't always rely that heavily on his gift of gab, however. Today he speaks slowly, in almost a drawl, pacing his words carefully, continuing to rely on the technique he used to overcome a childhood stutter. Only a trace of that stutter remains today, when he becomes excited and talks rapidly. Once in his control, that gift of gab has been useful since his days as water and bat boy, figuring in his election to a two-year term on the Brunswick County Board of Commissioners and re-election in November 1984 to a four-year term. He also credits re-election to other factors: "I was always told to be able to defend your position and to try to be honest," said Chappell. This year, as the only returning member of the board, he was also elected chairman of the five-member board, placing new demands on his "gift of gab" and experience working as a team. Chappell campaigns continuously; he doesn't stop UIILT elCe MTU. I\l'|liaiIUUK V U1IUH IU UR JJUUI1C Ol lt.fr 111 U|ficc is s tip this political realist is auick to suggest to any official with an eye toward re-election. For instance, he recently spoke to two history/government classes at West Brunswick High School, something he enjoys. Chappell said he would get out more like that if he didn't work. But the skill Chappell considers his best asset also can be a liability, he said. "Probably my worst virtue as a county commissioner is Uiat 1 want to help everybody. Jf you have a problem i want to heip/'i Once you tell someone you'll try to help, though, they get mad if you can't do it, he said. "It hurts when yeu have to go back and say it can't be done." ijOis of iimes ihuse answers relate to one of his major frustrations with government: what he sees es the rnuntv's role as "whipping boy" for the state. The county is created by the state and is an arm of state government. nut icutiiuttsiup?especially w..cn it ccmcn to pro grams and regulations and the money to carry them out?leaves the commissioners often caught "between Things Have Chai (Continued From Page 4-A) t*mc aIU' e'" car'' All the lots and roadsides are cornjnunity.^ ^ posted no parking. A few of these real estate men had better get together and get a few lots NgV^/SDOI down along tlie beach for people in all * ' these little developments to park A Vital f their cars. After all, that beach was put there b1 the gotv* I jmi for the editor, everyone to enlov. not just those f. ^onKratulaUO beachfront property owners who are ':rie 7?" IJ5lnn being very' selfish by insisting on ^ ^ ^reiS punting signs for no parking. ^on Th?> are 1 Mrs J. F. Bonk ^ awards Rt 3, Seashore Road thoughts: first Supply almost 1 won an awai Big is Not La inly the conti Always Best To the editor: Congratulations to the Beacon and MM statlers on your musi irvent multiple 1 press awards Your hallmarlt in pro- __ mulgation ot community intei-est Lj news warrants emulation and ^umitiMi Fv. wnttr rwsc.rv in "t>Pft*riti 1 inu^iuuviiu; j-?. K*-*-' - ? ?caCC ilcr.cc To demonstrate reader continued Bneifeii support of recognized excellence, my r REmIJ icjiotW.ee is included to insure no l?_t irterrjptions In the reading and lear- *"Wt ning pleasures derived from the j Beacon. I salute all of you for your deserved 2?ird? in professional journalism. Yoo've proved again the creditability of the adage. * Big is not always bsS" _ Whhi Charlie C. Scearce Jr. FayeOevUle 754-i Effort Obvious To the editor I noted in the paper that you have teen presented four awards Let me assure you of my sincere admiration J* for persons such as yourselves who HJ have obviously put forth a good deal ? r the j ell Relies C j, i earnvvc what the public wants and what the state says you have to do," he said. "There's a lot we don't agree with." For instance, he cites stricter sepuc tank regulations enacted by the state that he said he thinks make it more difficult and more costly to develop land in Brunswick County, for "the little person" who wants to subdivide a small tract for his children as well as the large developer. Chappell said that when forced to choose, he tends to lean more toward both free enterprise and individual rights, such as a man's right to do with his property as he chooses, a sentiment reflected in his attitudes toward zoning and regulation of development. While he is cliairman of the county board this year, Chappell ran from District 1, which includes basically Shallotte and Waccamaw townships, two diverse entities with very different needs and prospects for the future. He's expected to represent their interests on the board. Other commissioners aren't in such a different position, he said. "Each of us have to represent the needs of our district and weigh those needs against the needs of the entire county." Chappell said that representing the needs of both districts doesn't create a conflict "but a challenge" for him: "I have to understand both sides (of issues affecting the townships) so I an explain it." Shallotte Township, where he makes his home in Calabash Acres, is undergoing rapid change with an emphasis on tourism, growtii and development. Change comes more slowly in Waccamaw Township?the rural, predominantly agricultural area where Chappell spent his childhood as the son of Jack and Eloise Simmons Chappell. To help him stay on top of the needs of each township, he proposes to set up by summer an advisory committee for each, composed of a representative group of residents. Meanwhile he said he tries to make sure the commissioners are working together. :'if we vute against each other, then VVC retmit' behind cur decision to work tCetlier for all the countv' Chappcll rejected criticism leveled against him U' since assuming the chairmaaship he has exercised tator"-like tactics. "It's not so. I'm more laid back. The board feelsfcc to ask questions My role since I've been there has bm to guide them as to what has been done," he added, t ' * I he chainnaaship iias piaceu exit a ucluandsm him and the lime he si>ends with his family, which Icludes his wife, the former linda Benton, and daughtei. Cbristy, 13, and Gwyn, 9. Mrs. Cnappeii opcraies Unda's Beauty De? nearby, an occupation her husband has more titan a tfssing acquaintance with. After graduating from Waccamaw I hp School Li ' %- - -i - - -n t r.rt f- , - ? I _ T .J _ ? i. I. . I / U o lwi>l tliu 1000, lit: nuiitcu w cuiiuuut puijui^ wu.". ? chance with the old Border Belt, a semi-priarm operation of the Chicago Cubs that included Yearns from iged In Four vears ort in service to the your fine coverage" spite- of the proVt 1 tL.l UICIILI CaUMTU IJ" UMI Cduiau /irtoria E. Webster event. Truly, yoifose to the occasion Shallotte "and met the chalengc. Secondly, yok first place award Der Hays for general e/ellence is a fitting y I tribute to the /ffort you make week(OIG by-week to ccfer important events in Brunswick Qunty. ns to you and your V""r f"-0*" hU,ys " vS-! rn!e ln vour four awards in highlighting each week those things Association compeli- wWth "ert to make u,t' be,ter ln ruly deserved Brunswidt County. This Is a prompt a couple of '"-cessinhnd vita! role If this area is , Susan and Terry to grow h ways that do make life betapologetic that they terrd based on your Thomas S. Corbitt Jr. Hurricane Diana. Director a bit modest, for cer- Brunswick Visitor Center ist judges recognized Southport wfwwwwwriiwp | ii f ipiy *1' d [ ! I [ ] L ft i i a] I I i itilHIi AJTdTlf n Tit 1 m m IBS TBEAYCfl IIIMBEO irikMiki# kwiviwiin ^ fit .40 Tfvfitifivfit Ground Contact .... 1488 y. THE BKUNSWI sun s )n Gift . n r\ | Brunswick and Cobnbus counties. Baseball was to dominate his spare tnc for the nest 11 years. He left SECC t attend barber college in Durham, coming back to thc>rea to work in WhiteviUe, then New Hanover County as then with George "Buddy" Evans in Shallotte. He kept pla.Vg baseball until 1973, when a serious game injury res-ted in 20/80 vision in his left eye. In the mea>lnie be had met the woman he was to marry on a blU date. They were wed Valentine's Day 1971. A year liir he went to work with her father, Earl, at Brown & pot, on construction of the CP&I, nuclear power plant i Southport. p Another/oar later and Benton, Chappcll and his brother-in-lA Tony were in business for themselves. Thai year hris gave up his part-time farming on the homeplacrf'or good. In 1978 they bought their first lund for develsment purposes, late last year they divided the consfction part of the business, but still work together" development. By "74 slowpitch boll had come to Brunswick County and Ciypoll traveled and played until 1981, giving it up only Pinter politics. T/ay he pursues his interest in sports vicariously. Both is daughters are cheerleaders; he attends as many of thr games as he can. February 15th & 16th, Fr | 11 ? 1 Rafr M* I V -m<*r - \ Drawing for $100 Savinc \ *$100 discount on any st' Everything in store a 1 ' ~ 10%-50% I Room size carpet <? vin) I free doormats 8. Accurr \ V //COASTAI M/WALI-PAPE} I W &CARPE1 Main Streot, Shallotto 754 6965 754 8049 ]f|y ((jj-corge.. you must ciiieo these out! Electric Blankets Double Bed Size Single Control Jj ?' $2894 Dual Control $3394 Fruit of the Loom -j Briefs *4*' ??g w /jcj^ T Shirt, $5" ?.? Wr Boxer Shorts ^5" Peg sew r \ $096 Boy s Briefs w - 99 ^j| T-Shirts *4^* p?g ss 69 Winter Merchandise nv#ie4ii?Mliu ?>u VlWrl HVMH J Reduced do CK BEACON. Thursday, February 14, 1985? Page 5-A ^ j. rAX TUXi MM) PHOIOBV SUSAN USUI* CUIUS CHAI'PEUL, chairman ol the ttrunswtch County Board of Commissioners, enjoys talking about his work with county government. Above, he ehats with government students at West Hrunswlek lllgh School. Polities isn't hud, he told them, It's just given a had name because ol a few of the people that get Involved III It. iday & Saturday Only! I echments Served i \ js Bond I yle Salem carpet \ >n sale with sovinqs of } OFF! ! /! remnants below cost. 1 ^SBlSSisSh>uys like gSElfll 1-* #? j<? * * II VlllTSIf H IV | || WV f.^? " II ,1'^W ?4 MfArrwtMT now A ' //ntown Shollotte 754-4846
The Brunswick Beacon (Shallotte, N.C.)
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Feb. 14, 1985, edition 1
5
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