I Page 2-A?THE BRUNSWICK BEACO Oce BY SUSAN USHER By the time the new high-rise brii Beach opens to pedestrian traffic, side be ready along the causeway road leai "Excitingly enough, it won't be bridge situation is a reality," Mayor I, reminded town commissioners at a me< aay anernoon. one saia me iowii sidewalks to connect with the pedestria ned for the bridge itself. Board memb missioner Marvin Stanley was absent. The mayor's father, Street Cor Williamson, also agreed. Standing fron told the board sidewalks along the catu priority over all other walkways discu; including those planned fur 1st and 2n gested it might be good to wait until s stalled before locating those walks, whi provide a safer route to the oceanfront second row and bock. As planned by the state, Williams from the bridge to the oceanfront boule cd for people to walk on. Traffic enter will turn either right or left. "Sidewalks arc a must because p< want to get to the beach and the ocean Providing walkways connecting l mainland may reduce some of the hi traffic leading to the beach, he added, foot-wide walks along the commercial is installing for better traffic control. rimmirik i?r uie shicwhuui is juhi ui Londing Aii BY SUSAN USIIKK Landings - especially those made at night?should get at little easier at both Brunswick County airports later this year with the addition of VASI systems. News of the VASI installation was just one of several changes nt the Ocean Isle Beach Airport reported by Odcll Williamson to the Ocean Isle Beach Board of Commissioners last Wednesday afternoon. Others include (xiid parking and plans to convert to a fixed-base operation In approximately one year. VAS1 Is the acronym for "visual upproach slope Indicator," according to Bruce Matthews, manager of airport development for the N.C. ikepartment of Transportation. A [lit D/NC/^I? i ivc; ixcowiuib (Continued l-'rom I'uge l-A | l.ooklng out at tire convention floor, Kedwine said he saw quality, but not quantity arid that botli are needed for the party to succeed. While allowing the GOP to claim some of tin* groans that traditionally clustered under the broad umbrella of I lie Democratic Party, Ik- said, the "party ol Jefferson" Is "still the party of the people the party going in the direction this country needs to no In." Officials (t'onttnurd Krom PaRc l-A) Itepuhhrnn transportation chairman by Ooxtcr; and lhttter. Dorter said the delegation will also meet with John Harvey, county planning director; Kd (lore, county plannitiK Is sod chairman; and Commissioner Krankle Kaixai to discuss the county's lonit-rangc thoroughfare plan Tlte county rejected an earlier |)lnn prepared by the slate, saying It did not reflect county needs Fires <( nuttmied Krom Page l-A| of ttie blares tvad not been brought under control in time tlov. Martin declared the state a disaster area after fires destroyed more than 119,000 acres Ui the state, (MIlMitU! mnrvt fltntt 4M mlllimi its damage 1C the federal government concur*. landowners in the M counties would also he eligible (or federal grants. low-Interest loan* and other benefit* "The forest service has pretty well exhausted their funding." l.ogan xahf. "It's expensive wm-ii y**i |hii one of thivse bombers ui the air to drop chemicals on a fire " Damage to timber alone was estimate*! at Mi nutlion in the state HOW TO SI THE BRUNSM/ *OS1 0***1 AO shaiiom ho* for A wo/d Wtnn i ANNUAl SUtKtlfTIOM IATTS IT I I lf> Ifvuwxk iIn NeHh Cong Beach Road are among 15 ulrports in L/i 10 f iv^ci As examples, he cited the sweeping claims tliat Democrats ore unpatriotic and arc spendthrifts. Not so, he said. "There's not a person in this room who isn't patriotic. No one here would advocate spending more money than we taken in. We believe in spending wisely, not foollshlngly." Delegates adopted five of six resolutions presented. They called for t) greater loyalty to the party and its candidates; 2( support for fiirmatwt lintiiuuniilii frnm flwv utofn and national executive committees; 3) ? balanced national budget; and 4) a higher priority tor the (our-laning of U.S. 17 through Brunswick County and a bypass around Sludlotte. A fifth resolution paid tribute in tnemoriain to late party members Francis Stanley and tleorge Krink. In a roll call vote, delegates defeated, on a 28'* against to 264 for vote, a resolution from Oak Island l'reclncl that if adopted by the U.S. Congress would have given voters the right to vote on future salary increases for congressmen Those increases would have been bused on daily attendance and participation when Congress is In session "As voters and employers," argued delegate P.iIron Kellagher in defense of the resolution, citizens should Iutve more of a say on salary increases, especially when cutting the federal budget is of such great interest But IMell Williamson, attending his first county convention Ui several years, argued that congressmen are elected every two years "If they vote the way people think they should not, the people can put them out of office any way ," he said "1 think It's a bad resolution Besides, it could be ininxweird as a slap at our own congressman " IT* resolutions jHtoptcsl wiU tw presented to Uw iltstrv-t I Vmorrntu ronvmUon aiaiBBaBaia! LIBSCRIBE TO j 'ICKfcBEACON ! ? 4 *0 THCAtOtIHA r>g New \ Cov+rop# *All V Otm S?) in ? 12 5 11 10 cv t oc vrm N Ikti U4 IM SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSR&SSSS: 1 I m nts Walks f in its application for a land use plann. XT /"' / \tr; ,.f P...^nl Mnnnnnmnnf ; n.v. uiutc ui uuaswii moiui5uiK;iu. Area Management Act the town must i plan every five years. iscribed the effort as "a waste of led, "We have to do it, so we might as ut of it as we can,"?preferably in the uts and cost analyses for projects the plete in the future. now where we're going so we'll have all falls together," she said, ms the town is to plan for are required, evacuation, disaster management and estuarine water access, water qualivcr service and recreation. ;ton said she also added studies for i, street lighting, strand patrol, and, at Ocean Isle Beach Property Owners' gency management?medical. Grant o plan pulic parking, beach access and cts such as bike trails, ects receive 75 percent state funding, itched 25 percent by the town, in cash itributions. The cost of the Ocean Isle 10,000. Artificial Reefs if the Hen South Brunswick fslsnds rted on three local fishing clubs' joint i artificial reef program offshore. The wo reefs and add six more?Is "very i be very expensive or somewhat inexI ipi UVC! I IC?I the state that will receive 75 percent matching funds from the state to install the systems as part of a safety program pushed by the N.C. Aeronautics Council, the state's policy-making for aviation. Each airport's cost for the system should run about $7,500, a substantial savings, according to Matthews, because of state incentives. VASI is primarily a safety device Matthews said, and one DOT would like to see in use on all paved and lighted runways in the state. About 2t fields were eligible; the twe Brunswick County airports were among 15 that agreed to participate. By engineering all 15 systems al once and letting a single constructior contract, the state hopes to cut tin cost of the installations hv us inuc) as one-third. As an added incentive the state is putting up 75 percent ol the cost rather than its usual 50 per cent uuitch, Matthews said. VASI is just one of several change; or improvements at the Ocean Ish Beach Airport, where paving wil begin soon to extend the runway U Seniors Want Their Own Bus Brunswick County's senior citizens say tlrey need more than vans to meet their transportation needs. They want a 42-passenger or larger bus. Oulda Hewett, coordinator of the Volunteer and information Center, presented a petition signed by 100 seniors to the Brunswick County Board of Conunlssloners Monday night asking U to acquire "ample transportation" for seniors such as a bus. She said the petition had Jusl begun to circulate. A bus would be used for trips within the county and within tht state, she said, and would also b< available (or use by the Brunswid County Parks and Hecreatior Department "Personally. I'm In favor of it i at budget time we find the monej available," said Commissions r rsnxic Kabon. who was question ed about his support (or such bu: at a recent meeting of Town Creel senior dtitena. At his lequest, the board askea County Manager HiUv Carter to in vwtigat* the cost The request wil be considered at budget time. The county's elderly poculetioo t expected to reocti >,381 by 1Mb, . percent increase in 11 yean according to county planning department statistics. jfiMM ' *A7oleos up LEAH'S NURSERY | 17. JUST NORTH Of V^SHAllOTU PHONE 7V> 6?> ?eady Wher pensive depending upon the njateris said. Reefs are proven effective at d "readily," and provide habitat for as species during their lifespan. < To questions from Odell Williamsi the reets ao noi pose a nasaru 10 navij state marks them with bouys and mi and that they are included on navigat can also be found by use of Loran coo; The reef project has the support ol fishermen, he added, and isn't controv fact that pleased Mayor Bullington. Other Business In other business, the board: Set a workshop on the ISflS-Sfi hod day, April 30. A preliminary budget mi June 1 and the final budget by July 1. Approved budget transfers "as n rent budget to place accommodations I line items for which they were earmari unanticipated revenues such as highei Heard from Odell Williamson tha tennis courts in the new town park awi the entire area needs fencing. The cou by June 1, he predicted. Received a bill for $500 from Lew plane nnri anppifipatinne ftyr the CO!UV water line to the county water line. The by the state, said the mayor. Agreed with the mayor that F Gurganus needs to make regular rej I \Ai 1IO UI IUUI ? ? 4,000 feet. The taxiway will also be lengthened. However, advertising of the paving job was delayed slightly when a state inspection about four weeks ago showed that the runway's glide-slope ratio was short and did not provide proper clearance for take-offs and landings. Through the cooperation of the Cox and Sloane families who own the property along the flight path for the No. I 6 runway, Williamson said, the proI blem was resolved. ) "They have agreed to cut some i trees across the road," said William son, which means the paving should be completed by the July 1 deadline t for expending the state grant used to i help finance the improvements. "1 certainly appreciate the 1 cooperation of the Cox and Sloane j families," he repeated. plane of elevation from the end of the runway that Increases one foot vers Cically for every 20 feet horizontally, J Matthew: aid. Standards require that there be no obstructions such as ' trees or power lines along that plane. "It's like a shoulder on the road," said Matthews. "It gives the pilot room if he goes below the flight path." Williamson said he had also spent about (10,000 of his own money developing a pay parking lot for airport traffic, specifically for pilots who park vehicles there for use when visitinu tho UlnnH Hp fhp Typical Spi I ) Typical springtime weather's in i the forecast for the South Brunswick t Islands, with average temperatures ranging from the mi<1-50s at night to II the rnid-TOs during the day, Shallotte ?i Point nwteorologist Jackson Canady ( said Tuesday. t The area should also receive ahout ; 1_M 1 ij of j Rick Si! ' J1?U t fill i i nil *?i?#r HI I ?n ,h III IS Sesci 1| ! ?? ill i if Hfl Ji i Bridge Op tls available," be preferably in pera Brewing more fish discussion with bo many as So to 100 more and more pro pie," noieu mayor on, be replied that Voted to updi gation because the dinance's dating fr lintains the bouys tation Control Con ional charts. They own land-disturbin rdinates. hear about the to : local commercial days, said the ma; ersial in nature, a put Ocean Isle on it Agreed with S to amend the lot minimum elevatio otherwise not to ex pet at 4 n Til Tiles- ?? nronortv ownf w- - ? I -I * ist be approved by perty about two fe adjoining lots, ci eeded" in the cur- nuisance" and pro ax revenues in the to the town, ked and to allocate "They didn't i : sales taxes. Williamson said ol t the bases for two water problem the lit paving and that In his days as irts could be ready would have denied the town ordinanc is & Associates for But Inspector T.D. ection of th? tnum loHor on fho (\r i plan was required his original intent Heard from 'olice Chief Jerry month," with 33 t ia?4o 4 r\ v,/, e vt? vv urc woiu, iees coiieciea or. p uyr^i wv.^vl number of vehicles parked around the airport had become a problem and that through the pay lot, "we're going to offer a solution." Fixed-Base? He also said he expects the airport to become a fixed-base operation "probably by next spring," but that he can't build a park and a fixed-base operation at the same time. He's presently building a park for lease to the town. The term fixed-base operation or "f.b.o.," explained Matthews, generally refers to the availability of services to a visiting pilot such as a telephone, radio contact, gas and oil sales, a building for shelter and assistance with such items as parking and tying down airplanes. "At an airport with a fixed-base operator," he said, "the pilot knows from his directory what services will be available srvi Not having an operator can be a little more burdensome for pilots, Matthews said, like driving to Charlotte without knowing if gas would be available might be for a motorist. "Basically gas is available at Ocean Isle, but only through Mr. Williamson. You'd have to know that and have made arrangements," he said. "It makes it a little less attractive place to land, especially for the pilot who doesn't know all the procedures." The Brunswick County Airport on Ix>ng Beach Road is a fixed-base operation and recently completed ing Weathe one-half inch of rainfall, he said. Canady recorded .53 inch of rain on his backyard gauge during the period of April 9-15. the first significant rainfall in several weeks. He also recorded a maximum high of 86 degrees on the 12th and a chilly minimum low of 24 degrees on the >ENING FRfDA v Parker and Tommy Brads I o ettme by and tour the beat, lingle and doublewide mobil eir new sales lot on the Holt ii nday-Saturday V to 6. Sunday ll? 3 130, HOLDF-N BEACH K< PHONE U2-40Q3 EAST CO A! using ft Sales, i >ens on, ;Wyor Bullington said, to allow ard members. "We're going to have blems as we have more and more peo Pro Tern Betty Williamson, ate and later adopt former town orom 1974 required by the N.C. Sedimennmission for the town to monitor its g activities. The commission needs to wn's proposed procedures within 90 for, in order to determine whether to s list for a "drive-through" inspection, itreet Commissioner Odell Williamson t elevation ordinance to require a n of eight inches, as it now reads, but ceed the height of adjoining lots. When >r on Laurinburg Street filled his proet above street level, the fill ran into eating what Williamson called "a mpting complaints from his neighbors need to get that high to start with," ; the lot elevation. "There wasn't any re." building inspector, Williamson said he I final building approval even thought e doesn't set a maximum lot height. Roberson, he added, follows the law to dinanre needs to be amended to reflect to orovide ereater uniformitv. Roberson that March "was a busy milding permits issued and $11,560 in iroperty valuated at $1.06 million. m ICIQ Qtrin II I WM i improvements similar to the nearly $1 million in improvements nearing completion at Ocean Isle. "We have to continuously stay up with the Jones," commented Williamson, who also noted that he considers the airport one of the area's finest assets and a good investment for county funds. "You can't imagine what good that airport is for this end of the county. And what's good for this end of the county is good for the entire county," he added. County commissioners were criticized by some parties last year when a majority on the board voted to provide part of the match for a state grant to finance improvements at tiie airport, although a similar grant had been made earlier to the l-ong Beach Road facility. Matthews agrees with Williamson that the airports are assets. "Rmnsvrirk County La one of the few places we have two good airports in the same area." he said. "There's some competition between them, but I think it's healthy. "Having the airports is a good selling point with real estate developers," he added. At one time, before the county airport on Long Beach Road was paved, he said, there were 10 to 12 airplanes based at the two airports. "There's now about 35 airplanes between them." ?r In Offing 10th An average daily high of 74 degrees combined with an average nightly low of of 43 degrees for an average daily temperature of 58 degrees. Cold nights pulled the temperature average down to about five degrees below normal, he said. li lifl ^TIJI Y- II \ a 11 Her incite i tiful 9 | fe homes I i i| .... I II ill ii: m MD 8T 111 i