L/Cff IIVi
BY TERRY POPE
Holden Beach West developer Jim
Tuesday he plans to "do whatever it t
the privacy of the west end dui
demonstration there Sunday mtci uOOfi
A group of both mainland and isla:
organizing a "caravan" at 2 p.m. Sui
protest the private barricade that w;
Ocean Boulevard West, where the publ
a private drive.
"We will do everything we can to en:
of the west end," Griffin said. "I was 1
would not take it that far."
One person helping to organize 1
Canup, of Coastal Retreat, said Monda
l?85 IME BRUNSWICK BEACON
JHVl !
HORQ V*. SONS DOO!
Tfl *
5PR3Wb>-uKI
Volume 23, Number 41
,
I I ' ? !
II
"-V ...
IT WAS 7 p.m. before workmen freed tl
malntennnee supervisor for New Hano
from left), gets a helping hand from
crewman Gerald Messer of Wilmlngtoi
Springfield, S.C.
rrvbi^r 1
I Ul I I I wl <
HY TERRY POPE
Fonner Brunswick County Social
Services Director Jamie Orrock was
scheduled to return to his job at the
department Wednesday morning,
nearly two years after he was fired
for alleged "conduct unbecoming a
public officer."
Brunswick County Commissioners
made Orrock's return possible by
unanimously approving an out-ofcourt
settlement offer Monday night
that will pay the fonner director up
to $68,000 including back pay and offer
him his job back.
"I'm very grateful." said Orrock,
of Greenwood Acres, Tuesday afternoon.
"I hope it resolves all of the
problems."
Commissioners approved the settlement
offer Monday after meeting
for an hour in executive session with
County Attorney David Clegg. Clegg
*a(d the settlement ha* heen ttcmad
by all parties involved and would
become official when notice that Orrock's
lawsuit filed against the county
and board of social services in
Brunswick County Superior Court is
dismissed.
Orrock's attorney. Bill Fairtey of
Southport, notified the county atSunset
Adc
BY SCSAN CSHER
vtvuui|; W UST uuvlt a\ OU1B71
Reach shouVi be a little easier and
safer with the addition of several free
parking Iocs along Sunset Boulevard
and serosa from the First Street
public access way
The lots are intended to provide
! space for motorists who now park
along Main Street, a practice that
will be prohibited as soon as the lots
I
I 9
n sirat ion
tion is a way "of see:
Griffin Jr. said have." He said the '
akes" to enforce "only resort" some re
Hna a nlnnned of the west end of the
i. Canup, ?n<1 most of I
nd residents are residents of the main!
iday, Aug. 25, to being asked to join th
as placed across
ic road turns into The closing of the w
the Aug. 12 meetin
force the privacy Citizens, which has
loping the people presented to Commi
Rep. E. David Redwi
the protest. Bill The petition was o
iy the demonstra- this problem," a new
BINDERY
L
mm
Shallotte, North (
IIAfF f HOTO b- USME*
he bridge. Above, Hobert Cox, bridge C
iver and Brunswick counties (second t(
an unidentified bridge worker, DOT a
1 and beach visitor Whltfleid White of
ti
r ? ? I r* _ .
social oei
torney's office Tuesday that a notice
of dismissal would be filed by Tuesday
afternoon. That would clear the
way for Orrock to return to his
former director's position as early as
Wednesday.
"That's my understanding," Orrock
said. "I'm looking forward to
getting back into the professional
field and the area of social work."
Orrock was fired from his Job on
Nov. 30, 1983 by the social services
board. In his lawsuit filed against the
county and social services board, Orrock
stated he was fired "without
ititf ratio* anri withmit hrinff martr
aware of the reasons for his termination."
He said the board did not allow a
hearing for him to defend the charges
that he had sexually harassed an
employee. Donna Hinson Rivenbark
of Sunset Harbor. In April, the State
Personnel Commission upheld the i
opinion of hearing officer Barbara !
Coward that Orrock should be ?
rehired. Ms. Coward also recom- I
mended that Orrock receive net back i
pay and accrued sick leave and vacation
leave and that the board pay his
attorney fees. I
In a prepared statement delivered
is Pubiic Lots,
axe completed. The owner of several
other lots has been approached about
a lease, but hasnt responded yet,
said Tom Manager Wallace Martin.
So far. the torn has leased two lots
near the Continental Motel sod four
lots along the causeway road (Sunset
Boulevard), including the old Kanoy
Reatty location.
As soon the N.C. Department of
Transportation has approved the
driveway arrangements for the lots,
: II. -
AT HOLDEN BEAC
Plannet
ing how much public support we s
'peaceful demonstration" is the i
sidents have to protest the closing i
beach to the public. 1
the others who plan to protest, are
and, but island residents are also
e demonstration, he said. (
1
rest end was also the main topic of I
g of the Kolden Beach Senior i
started a petition that will be
ssioner Herman Love and State 1
ine. I
rganized "in hopes of rethinking i
rs release from the senior citizens i
NSWI
larolina, Thursday, Aug
Sunset
Check-1
BY SUSAN USHEK
It didn't pay to be in a hurry to get
or from Sunset Beach Saturday
ternoon, as vacationers checking in
d out of guest cottages learned the
rd way.
A jammed bridge left several huned
persons stranded on the
rrong" side of the bridge?wrong
ing whichever side they needed to
1 on and weren't?for up to 3'j
iurs.
When the bridge reopened to motor
affic at 7:05 p.m., scampering
rross on foot ahead of the vehicles
5re Christi Allen and Ginger King,
tund for Ginger's grandmother's
use and supper. Close hchtnd them
ere Robert Truss and Tom Conley
Myrtle Beach, driving a Wayside
umiture truck. They weren't late
ir supper, though, having just
rushed takeout seafood dinners.
Some of those waiting grew irtable
and impatient, but most took
le delay in stride.
Deb Cameron and Sid Morris of
harlolte crossed me uruige on loot
> check in and then came back
cross for supper.
"I think it was worse for people on
iat side of the bridge (the islandi
rvices D
/S
^ vHHJLb MW
II X\\ifft
JAMIE ORROCK
ifter the board's vote to approve the
vettlement offer. Count)' Commission
Chairman Chris Chappell criticized
the former social services board for
its "thoughtless actions."
"Since Nov. 30, 1963, the people of
Brunswick County have been witness
to a war of wills." Chappell stated
"On one side we have witnessed
Will End Str
Martin said. DOT crews will install
"no parking" signs along the Mam
Street right-of-way and will take
down existing signs that forbid parking
on the pavement
Already, be said, visitors are using
"nrrttv rffrtnrfv" a lot At
Mam and First Streets, across from a
public accessway.
"It's a step-gap thing while we gH
something more permanent worked
out." be said. "I feel tike these lobt
:h's west end
d To Prote
;tates. "This could cause a ripple effect not o
mmediate community but also could have a
-eaction both on the state and national
Brunswick County tourism," the release stati
The west end was closed to everyone but
jwners and their guests three weeks ago by tl
3each Realty Corp. A private subdivision is pi
he area. Town officials have acknowledge
road leading to the west end is privately own
Canup said the group plans to meet at tl
Beach Fishing Pier Sunday at 2 p.m. before
the west end and beyond the barricade. Hi
group contacted Town Administator Bob Bi
obtaining a permit to demonstrate, but was ti
umt
ust 22, 1985
Bridge Ja
I A I
ins Ana l
than it was (or us on this side," said ing.
Cameron. "Some of them had a long A
way to travel tonight." pont
Supporters of a proposed high-rise kind
bridge cited the incident as one more trac
example of why a new span Is need- day'
ed. "1
"This is exactly why the fire hap
department was fighting at that DOT Kna
meeting," said firefighter Jeff Pot- of
ter, who was involved in early efforts Assi
to free the span. He was referring to find
a public hearing on a proposed high- "t
rise bridge to the island. Property are
owners in the town are divided in K
their support for a new bridge, while rivt
fire and rescue volunteers who serve wht
the Island are concerned about the abli
unreliability of emergency access. In per
January, when a tugboat hit the "
bridge, several hundred residents ing
were stranded on the island with only goii
ferry' and helicopter service to the awi
mainland for several days. K
On Saturday, emergency officials of '
obtained insulin for one person on the rep
island and the Calabash Volunteer pen
Kescue Squad responded to a call pre
regarding a woman in labor. The futi
woman was not pregnant, but had ab- "
dominal pains, they learned after tax
reaching the island Saturday even- tlie
i rector Gc
Jamie Orrock fight for the right to tin
regain a position from which he was att
fired without the opportunity to face pr<
his accusers or defend his actions On ed
the other hand, we have witnessed in- ca:
dividuals sitting on a governmental fat
board dictating the operations of a ag<
county agency, based not upon what sih
goals were in the best interest of the (
people of Brunswick County, but "u
upon personal vendetta." epi
The result of the board's actions mt
naa urai ux uvurw-uun ui uk twir
petence of a county agency, the need
to seek out a succession of acting
department heads, none of whom
were allowed to serve long enough to
adequately lead the operations of an pp
agency and most importantly, the expenditure
of county funds to defend
against the thoughtless actions of few
who thought more of personal interest
than the greater good," he continued.
Chappell said the incident has cost
the county more than just the {68,000
settlement offer, possibly as much as
$168,000 if all expenses are figured including
legal fees.
"It has taken many hours of public
time to reach this point we have ar- "
rived at this evening," Chappell coneef
Parking
will take care of our needs In the k
winter." I
The annual leases for the lota can ?
be broken by the property owners I
upon 30 days' written notice to the *
town. 'That's makes it pretty temporary."
Martin added.
i
Mayor Jim Gordon and several (
t commissioners have expressed con- I
I cents for public safety la allowing I
i continued parking along Main Street. S
>st Bar
nly in the was no such thing as
negative issued by the town,
level to Mayor Kenner Amos
es. police force has been nc
during the demonstratic
property Griffin said many re
tie Holden west end private subdii
lannedfor the waterway and
i that the subdivisions."
ed. "It's not like we've i
IP HnlHpn cuirl hoc ol
\ji litiii oaiu> Kb i?uo at
driving to main private. All it will
: said the record that they were a
uck about The purpose of the d<
old "there "go past the barricade
IEACC
25c Per Copy
m Dams
heck-Oi
s<
spokesman for supporters of the
oon bridge, the only one of its ri
I remaining along the Atlantic In- A
oastal Waterway, termed Satur- B
c inr?iHnnf "imfnrtnnnfn "
J UlblUVIII UIIIUI IUIUIIV.
t's extremely unfortunate that it a
pened," said Warren "Bud" p
pp of Calabash, acting president ti
the Sunset Beach Taxpayers c
aciation. "I think we've got to s
out why it happened. h
\ecidents don't just happen; they
caused, you know." d
napp and his family had just ar- a
d at their Sunset Beach cottage t
n the bridge jammed. Not being s
e to leave the Island was n new ex- '
ience for the family.
It gives you a strange feeling be- '
over here and knowing you aren't '
ag to be able to get off right (
ay," added Mrs. Knapp. f
napp wants the N.C. Department
Transportation to provide a full v
ort of what happened, why it hap- r
ied and what steps will be taken to '
vent a similar incident m the '
ire.
! don't think it has changed the '
payers' association's mind (about
bridge), but that remains to be
*ts His J<
ued.' 'These hours have been spent !
empting to explain governmental
>cedure to an audience who refusfn
liclon and finalli- in tntrina (ho
>e to court where, only then, in the
:e of a complete rebuke, did an
ency unwiiiingiy face their responlility."
"happeli said he was happy the
nfortunate and embarrassing
isode in Brunswick County governsnt
is quickly on its way to resolu"
I 1 ARKING I
. r
i
V I .
iREEN AND WHITE SIGNS Ike tM
rj the Town at Somet Bwk for sic
taUvr parkla* avaUablc, the toon pto
Itreet
i
)
-nrlf*
a permit" for demonstrating
said Tuesday that the town's
itified that they may be needed
>n.
sidents protesting against the
ision live "on the other side of
are residents of private
nade this thing up overnight,"
ways been private and will releave
them with is a permanent
irrested for trespassing."
emonstration, Canup said, is to
and to see how legal it is."
IN
IM
28 Pages
Dens
jts
sen at the meeting on the 31st."
The association will hold its
sgular quarterly meeting Saturday,
ug. 31, at 10 a.m. at the Sunset
leach Fire Station.
As for firefighters' concerns about
ccess, he said placement of a
umpcr only the island is something
lat should be considered and he
ited the town's decrease in fire inurance
rates despite the lack of a
igh-rise bridge.
The floating bridge jammed before
iropping into the closed position
ifter it was opened for waterway
raffic at about 3:30 p.m. Saturday,
aid DOT Bridgetender Randolph
Rerun" Bland.
After various unsuccessful atlempts
to free the barge section of
he bridge, a DOT bridge crew succeeded
in unjamming it about 7:05
>.m.
The sun was setting and motorists
vcre using headlights by the time
nore than 100 vehicles had exited the
>each and a similar number crossed
roin me tnainuinu 10 me isianu.
A system of cables is used to pull
he pontoon section open and shut.
Robert Cox, bridge maintenance
(See BRIDGE JAMS, Page 2-A)
Db Back
lion."
"However, no one should ever
forget this episode and the people of
nrunswicn county snouiu never
again sit idly by and allow the few to
act without regard for the greater
? 1 _# n : _L n ?a.- I u.
gVAAJ vi ut uiiamuA v^vunty aiiu iw
citizens."
Commissioner Frankie Rabon
made the motion to approve the settlement
offer which passed
unanimously.
\f*im
iwswF
*' * j* " ?
1
?? "O'O ? HAW VSM
at mark arw parting area* Irarf
by vfoilon u the beach. ?M afttra*
to ettmJoato all parking ateag Mate
?>