Opinion Page
THE BRUNSW
Edward M. Sweatt and Caroly
Edward M. Sweall
StiHnii L'aher
T?*rry Pope
Johnny Craig
Mary Pott*
Cecelia Gore
Tanimit- Galloway
Steve Andonton
Hiil McGowan
Clyde and Matlie Stout, Jim H
Pago 4-A
County Shoi
A II
/-\i i nw'UviSl'J1
Hunting along roadsides
overlooked dangers for bot
Brunswick County. It's time
disarm roadside hunters by a
against the unsafe, unsportsn
Residents of the Goodm*
commended for pointing out 1
in their neighborhood to the co
all arguments in the matter a
last week. It Is not just a prol
one community, but for the er
The commissioners can e
against roadside hunting th
sheriff's department, or seek s
ply to Brunswick County and I
N C. Wildlife Resources Comr
option would be to do nothing s
plaints
Commissioners should ta
matter is under review, to :
against roadside hunting. Dep
be able to keep an eye out fo
munities while performing the
There are no reasonable ;
be allowed to roam the roads
mentioned at last week's publi<
the rood is safer than hunting I
because of improved visibilitv
Hunting from the road is i
deer in as unsportsmanlike mi
should have no problems with
Swamp while hunting arid usin
tion and rounding up dogs.
If it's reasonably unsafe
house, It should also he unsaf
road. Highways are not built t
practice, but for traffic such a
Hunters using the roadway
are ignoring important rules a
LETTERS TO THE EDI
Vote No, No,
In Beer, Wine
To Km* editori
whs very shocked to rend your
edllorlul. Voting Yes, Yes. Yes Will
Allow h'rw t het-. v iM..v J issue I
You sm Sluillotte is missing 11 lot of
money l? not selling beer unit wine in
restiiui mils ami motels.
First at nil. let me say money is
not everything 11mm e tire -till n lot of
people who tike to eat In n fnmlly
Iestauriuit without u hunt mouth
drunk sitting beside them unit their
children As lor peo)>le passing by
ShHllotte's restaurants to ent
elsewhere, I can't Innleve tliei
Munchls Ls nlwnys full, it Pum Hut
Hint Kentucky Fried ( hi, gen place
luive been tmllt. nntl inoi t on the
wn\ I Vm-s this sound like u town Ihnt
everyone is passing by'' Hardees Is
almost impossible to gel into
Ttiere are plenty of places to buy
beet and wine and whisky In
Slwllotte You say voting > e> Ls a vote
for liecdom of choice Hut you forgot
to sat voting no issues with that
same freedom.
You say ik-ean Isle t'alaliasii and
N My rtle !lrnch are getting most of
the business Hut you forgot to tell
about what kind of business I have
been to these plate, so lei me share
this with your readers
F irst of all, you will have people to
bring w lucky Inside In their coat or
other ways They are almost always
drinking before they get there Fhey
are loud, litey talk (tlthy ami at least
osvr or twlee a week the law is ealtesl
Now. Shallot tr voter*, is this what
you want (or your town'' I don't think
you do 1 hope and pray you don't
sote yoa, >? ?, yes on May 14, but No,
Wri
The tteacon arkwm letters to
include the writer's address I'rider t
printed letters should be legible
libelous comments Address letters I
Shallotle N C *t?
ICK&BEACON
i
nil. Sweat! Publishers
Editor
News Editor
Staff Writer
Sports Editor
Office Manager
... .Advertising Representative
Typesetter
Pressman
Photo Technician
nllou Circulation '
'"WtVA-WRWrnvr. - ,
Thursday, May 9,1985 I
1
jld Disarm
?
Hi inters 1
a w V B j
has become one of the most 1
h motorists and residents in '
s for county commissioners to J
dopting a countywide ordinance
tanlike activity.
iii it Gad vGI iii 11 iill i L V 3IIOU1U Ue
:he dangers of roadside hunting
unty commissioners, who heard
t a well attended public hearing
blem that needs to be settled in
itire county.
ither adopt a county ordinance
at would be enforced by the
pecial legislation that would apEall
under the jurisdiction of the
rtission for enforcement. A third
ind to ignore the residents' comke
the inititive now, while the
adopt a countywide ordinance
mties patroling the roads would
r roadside hunters in the com- j
ir regular duties. j
arguments why hunters should <
with guns One poor argument ,4
cr hearing was that hunting from 7
from 200 yards within the woods
also a cheap way to wipe out a 1
inner as possible. True hunters
sticking to the woods or Green q
g the roads only for transporta- .
to hunt within 500 yards of a
e to hunt within 500 yards of a
o provide clear areas for target
is cars or bikes.
\s for anything other titan travel
bout safety and sportsmanship.
TOR |
No May 14
Refetendum
No, No loi 11 town where you can take
your family to a safe and clean place <
to eat and live >
IsiydWaid t
Ht. l.Shallotte J
Headline ;
Heralds The !
Impossible
I u UK cditOI
This Is one letter you will probably
not wish to publish. I offer It only as
insight Into Journalism's responsibility
to keep the public well Informed
Aside from the fact tliat there are |
many unreported events ongoing. In
Brunswick County, you can find time
to Inform us of the impossible tie I
ftad heard of schools of fish, but. In
last week's Beacon I was told that
they form committees!.
The headline 1 am referring to Is
"Menhaden committee coming." I
think this ks a very newsworthy event
as most readers would be anxious to
vacate live location where this comnutle
of inedible fish will meet
1 would offer this to Header's
Digest, but fear it would fall on deaf
ears, as tlx majority of the population
are not aware that menhaden
are a species of only Atlantic and
tiulf waters
I All things considered. I guess I'd
rather be watrhed over by a committee
of menhaden than the "Big
Brother'' of tVeorge Orwell's I$64
Oral Hemkrin
Carolina Shores
te Us
i
the editor All letters must tie signed and
? circumstances ?iU unsigned letters be t
The Beacon reserves the r\|tht to edit J
lo The Brunswick Beacon. P.O. Bos tro. 1
i
Boat Owi
You can tell it's spring when all the
leighborhood boat owners hop into
:heii vessels, start up the engine five
)r sue times, test the steering, seats
and fishing gear. If there are sails to
:heck, they are unraveled and tested
igainst the wind and examined
jpclose for faded spots or mildew.
All of this activity occurs in the
backyard, before the boat even sees
he water. In fact, boats are prac:ically
lived in for three weeks before
hey are declared ready for the
xater.
I've been wanting a boat for years,
jut I've almost decided agaiast get:ing
one after studying what they can
lo to a person. There must be
something about owning a boat that
affects the soul and transforms orlinary
lawyers, businessmen, docors
and salesmen into weekend boat
unkies.
Have you ever noticed how men act
vhen there's a ix>at resting on a
railer in the yard or tied to the dock
>ut back? They can't seem to keep
heir hands off the thing. There are
" yes, I THINK I:
OH... NOW IT'S
AGAIN, I SE
Vacation Th
One of I ho interesting art prints by
itovo .Ionian is u poster depicting old
ocking chairs on a lieach cottage
lurch. Empty and inviting, tin
'hulls cull us to i uiiic, sil and relax
Host of ns dream id it; so few of us
ind the time or take the time - to do
t!
in times |iast, in town ami in the
'oiintry, every house had its front or
tide |Kirch with rocking chairs, a
tinier or swing, and maybe even a
oggling hoard Family and friends
ml together on spring and summer
venings and talked of crops and
'Ousins, rain and religion, pigs and
n.. c i- -i.
vrii ouuiuty mu'inudio
amities would gather ut (irandpa s
iml Cranny's and maybe even soWho's
Who or what greets you at the door
ifler a long day at work?
At m> house, Sweetpea's ttte official
greeter.
Every evening she's t lie re, peeking
Hit of the front window as 1 drive up.
Vs the oar door slants, she hops from
;he couch and scrambles for the front
loor. As the screen door swings open,
ihe slips out a fast-moving brown
ihadow edged in soft white Coming
ip from behind then, she wriggles in
i-stasy as she waits to be petted,
rout (taws stretching up the length of
ny pants leg?or often as not?inv
tewost pantyhose.
Normally life comes to a standstill
it this point until Sweetpea's assured
hat I'm as glad to see her as she is to
ee me Some days this takes longer
nan ouiers iot rravmv stm unknown
o me In any case, only then does
his altnusi-dachsrhund head (or a
avortte corner to lake care ci nec essari
business
Then she trots expectantly to the
ar, hoping (or a field trip
iwiiewhene -anything to get out of
he house K I say No," she turns in
he opposite direction and spruits
owarii the flekl behind Aunt MjTa's.
coking hack and pausing briefly (or
ne to catch up
However, there are exceptions to
hts rule -as on days when
iweetpea'i gotten into mischief
these moments usually come after a
reek o< neglect, when I've beer, busy
lers Are Sl
i
m
plenty of junkies in the South
Brunswick Islands that can't face life
without a spotless boat around the
house.
Spotting a boat junkie is not hard to
do, just ride down the main beach
strand at any local beach and spot
the boats that are parked in front of
the cottages Or drive along the canal
lots and look for backyard vessels.
Chances are, even if you don't see
anyone around, there is someone
either underneath the boat or inside
with a can of Blue Max polish or bottle
of Armor All in their hand. They
have probably been there since
sunrise, testing the shine at different
angles in the sunlight.
5EE A NUK5IN6 Hi
FACMN<S, facing.
t IT t>KloHTEK
A NUiOll
HALLE>
1 ^
'# /r
lis Year Can I
meone would churn ice cream or
slice up a watermelon. Children
learned to pet along together in the
yard as they experienced all kinds of
games certainly with hide and seek
mixed in at least once Grown-ups
would nun the rocking chairs and the
porch steps Families cared and
That Waitii
m ^ usner
and just haven't spent the time with
her Swectpea expects, even
demands
She takes it out on the floor, the furniture,
my clothes, you name it
Hevenge is sweet and apparently
worth the punishment she knows
comes next
On those days her little black nose,
shiny brown eyes and crooked left
ear are conspicuously absent from
the front window. She's usually lurking
inside somewhere, tail between
her legs, watting to assess my reaction
to her misdeeds Sometime she
retreats to the bed in the front room,
her form a slight shadow-form
behind the window bund
c>ver the seven years we've shared
a hue tnertier ituhUmI. -J
hers have added up to onr eipnvavf
tittle dog?a bedspread in which she
happened to en tangle a bone, then
energeticwil) disentangle it. a taste
for the corners of bottom-level
wooden kitchen cabinets and
motdtnc. a genuine delight in wheeling
rolls of toiart tissue off the rack in
ich A Stran
They scrub, they mop and polish
for hours at a time while sipping
drinks and showing off the boat to all
of the neighbors. When night falls,
they turn on their spotlights that
either shine directly on the dock out
back or the side of the driveway out
front, where the boats are always
parked.
That way, the vessels can gleam all
night while a party takes place
upstairs. They are the topic of conversation
all night as other boat
owners compare the shine to their
own polishing jobs. If the boats are
small enough, they are parked in the
garage at night and are pulled back
out in the morning for another round
of polishing.
After three weeks of polishing and
grooming, the boat is finally readv
for its first spin?a 30-minute cruise
Hnurn tho mohjmfS" 2nd bSCk (n thp
dock she goes, to get ready for
another three weeks' of polishing and
buffing.
It's enough to drive a nosy, nonboater
insane, or to go off on
OME IN THE NEAR
HERE ITC
I OH, RATS. IT'S
NJO HOME OR.
<'*> COMET I
m* r>
\
Be A Time F
shared, neater) and -olved problems.
and knew each other Not
many of us have porches anymore
and few of us have r.akers.
Vacations at tlie beach offer us por
chcs and rooking chairs and a chance
to recapture some of the joys of fami
ly togetherness we may have lots We
need to view vacation as a retreat a
time to view life differently, to relax,
to recharge our enei gies, to grapple
with some uitunale questions Must
of us don't attempt it We till out
days at the beach with so much ac
tivitv we are more tinsl when it's
over than we were before We want to
"do It all' In one week
Perhaps this is llie yeat l>. ti>
ng At The
the bathroom and down the hall?am!
a talent for chewing up window
screens
I've invested so much in hei
medical bills and my household
repaus that I couldn't affotd to dc
away with her
lake it or not, though, Sweelpeabeen
getting a little slower He!
escapades don't have tin rip and in
geni.it> that caused ine to laugh a;
often as I've cried over the years
Old age and a sedentary lifestyle
apparent!) have caught up with her
The white aroundSweetpea s munh
steadily inches upward, causing hei
shiny black nose to stand out ever
more But she's still predominantly t
warm golden-brown in color, witt
that funny crooked left ear Friend;
in Mcrganton lease her about looking
like a miniature doe
These days, all the pranks she's gol
energy for art simple? chew ing up a
piece o< meat wrapper left on tha
floor or jumping through a sort**
window when a potential intrude!
passes by tn the parking lot It's a
relief - 1 guess
And like mine, her body's droepir*
in all the wrong plates But unlik<
me, it doesr. t seem to bother bet 5h<
crosses the garden one of the few
places she's not allowed -and come:
home with her front end covered ir
black, muddy dirt
When even the veterinarian com
merited on her weight, it was tune U
I
1
ige Breed
speeches that begin with, "If I had a
boat like that, I'd. .Or how about
the famous warning. "He's going to
rub a hole clean through that boat
one of these days."
Polishing, buffing and all the other
norma! delays that can keep a brand
new boat from seeing the water for
its first time actually paid off in one
case recently. Jack Ziefel of the
Shallottc Coast Guard Auxiliary
received a certified letter recently
warning him that his new Starliner
was being recalled by the factory due
to a defect in the steering.
Jack had taken some kidding from
his neighbors for weeks about not
taking his new boat out for a cruise.
Ironic enough, weeks of preparations
had perhaps prevented a boating accident
by someone who preaches
boating safety.
I know nil that nnlieUlnn
ing must be good fur something.
Perhaps it's a form of therapy,
nautical-therapy or something like
thai. I wonder how the wives put up
with it all?
: FUTURE...
;OME.5?
vwn jj'ji
Tllu. -I I
or Renewal
something different?to plan to sit in
0 rooking chair (in u few Hours a day
pondering the beauty around us and
some of tlie basic questions ?f life and
living Wliat am I doing with my life?
Am I in control or do I feci pushed
lie re and there by others'' What do I
like to do most? Who am I" How do I
It el about my involvements and
1 vsponsibllities'' What can I do to
make life more Joyful for me arid my
tuiiiiiy B'id my friends?
Itiese are not easy questions and
you won't find easy answers But
some real thinking may help put life
and pi ensure* and values and
priorities in perspective so that vacation
this year can be a tune of
lenewal a retreat:
Door?
I do something other than ask friends
not to feed hei scraps
1 put my foot down, with a little
iwrip Hum Mill Kanon .im) a l>ag of
diot dogfood- that s right diet
dogfood It looks awful and us compused
ot 80 percent peanut hulls.
At first Sweet pea refused to have
an>-tlung to do with the stuff?holding
out as much as 30 or 36 hours before
taking even a nibble Finally convinced
1 wasn't going to give in, she
gave a tenative bite, then dug in
So far Sweetpea's lost about seven
p mnds and her collar fiangs loose
aouut the neck. Kvenings. she's
started grabbing the tennis ball and
growling for a game Suddenly she
has more energy than I do Suddenly
I'm the old fogey, not the dog
Recently she's started acting
almost like a puppy again. That
means I don't get much of a break
after coming home. As soon as 1 sit
down here she comes with the ball,
shoving it between my shoes and
teasing me to grab it and throw it Or
eise she's at the front door, begging
Ui 20 out (at a run arK.-n I mr. Karali
> walk
It's amaimf the change ?n my little
? grertei If Sarrtpea could be as
r strut ?ith iti> dirt as I am ?nlh hen.
i perhaps 1 could kse some weight and
i get some energy back, too
In the meantime, lively or not
she's still a pleasure to come home
> to.
4