r
Landowners In t'rooosed ulstricf A
/\ren't
BY SUSAN USHER
Owners of land in Uie first of seven asscssnv^nt areas
tartfetpft fnr lntallnHngi ^ Unes
own expensie said Tuesday they don't want county water
and can’t afford it.
At least that was the SLntiment expressed by seven of
nine speakers at a 30-minute hearing held in Bolivia by
the Utility Operations Board for the county commis
sioners. Both boards attended the session.
A typical statement of opponents of the project was
that of R.D. Pope. Terming the propose cost
“ridiculous," he said he has a shallow well, water condi
tioner and a new pump. “I'm satisfied with what I've got
and I don't see how I can afford it (county water)."
Holiday Rancltes resident James Crabtree said he
and most of his neighbors have deep wella and don't need
the water. "It's something being pu.shed down our
throats; it's not fair."
Another Huliilay Ranchea resident, Elwood I-ovett,
said since most property owners Ihen: uon't want the
water, it should bo taken out of the district.
Virginia Fcagan of nearby Holiday Acres said a
large majority of that subdivision's property owners
want county water and will pay for it.
She’s for It, she said, because of health concerns due
to the proximity of septic tanks and wells. She lost
several family members in another state because of well-
water contamination.
Unda Cook of Holiday Ranches had expected a vote
at the close of Tuesday’s hearing, with the majority to
decide the fate of the district
“I don't want the water. It may be because I don’t
undersUsrd wkst it could do for me." ,she said. "And
there Is no way I can afford it."
D&ggifiy rur
Though having heard from only a small percentage
of the affected landowners, Canuiiissiuners’ Chairman
Grace Beasley said the county couldn't wait a Isng time
for more input “because so there arc so many people who
want water."
She expects a decision within the next few weeks by
the commissioners, with the help of the utility board.
If the county proceeds with the project, ground could
be broken within three months and the project completed
within GO to 90 days after that, according to Kenneth
Hewett, water plant director.
Assessments would be payable several months later
by all district residents. These are estimated at »300 for a
50-foot lot, based on a rough e.stimated cost of |12 per run
ning foot, shared by property owners on either side of the
street.
Those who decided to buy county water would also
County Vvut&
have to pay a connection fee-$275 If tlicy Uip on within
four montl^ after water becomes available and 30 per-
cent iitOTv uat^r tsMst.
Speakers volunteered a variety of upliilons arid ques
tions during the course of the iMjaring.
J.T. Hall said he didn’t need county water because he
has a deep well. He added, "But I will lake it if it comes
by, if 1 can afford it."
Several others al.so were concerned about affor
dability. One person .-iskcd if the billing period for
assessments could Ijc extended twyond the allowed
60-day period.
That is the longest reasonable time to recover the
money so we can go on to the next project," UOB
member Ed (lore said. When repaid, funds advanced by
the county are to be returned to a revolving fund for
(See I.AM)()WNKRS. I'agc 2-A)
Tl
.--kINGFORT Ml 4'lH-3d mk ^
..JW¥IVIV
Twenty-fifth Year, Number 18 cimt thi uumswkk hacon Shallotte, North Carolina, Thursday, March 12, 1987
25c Per Copy 26 Pages Plus Insert
Gun Permit Applications
Skyrocket Since Murders
RESCUE WORKEIRS prepare to transfer the body of a
Sballsiie >"an tn tjiM hnsnltal following a Tuesday acci
dent on U.S. 17 near the intersection of N.C. 130. Accoi^
ding to county Coroner Greg White (he driver of the 1974
STAFF PHOTO IF CHA SAUTH
Pinto station wagon apparently suffered a heart attack
and collided with a tnick. The cause of bis death was
determined to be from the heart attack.
Heart Attack Determined
Cause Of Fatal Accident
•A- '
BY ETTA SMmi
Tnree murders iii bnaiswick Coun
ty since Dec. 1986 have prompted
nnany residents to seek protection by
keeping a gun in their home, accor
ding to the Brunswick County
Sheriff’s Department Criminal Clerk
Iris McManus.
McManus said applications for gun
permits since January alone are dou
ble the number for all of 1986. She
processes all of the requests for per
mits for the department.
McManus said figures for how
many permits were issued in 1986 are
unavailable, but that she has pro
cessed "twice as many just since
January.”
In December 1986 Thomas G. Sum
mer of Yaupon Beach was" found
stabbed to death near the entrance to'
Orton Plantation, on Feb. 6 Joe
Reeves of Shallotte was shot to death
in his home, and on Feb. 23 Beverly
Jaye Potter Mintz was found stabbed
to death in her home in Iceland.
No arrests have oeen made in uTiy
of those murders.
McManus said most of the permit
applications are coming from people
who live in the Leland area, where
tile most recent murder occurred.
According to sheriff department
records, 108 people have applied for
the permits since January. So far 93
of those requests have been granted.
“A lot of elderly people are beginn
ing to buy weapons for protection,”
said McManus.
Of the 108 requests the department
has received since January, 71 gave
their home and family as the reason
for wanting a Twenty of those
appllcalibhs gav^hiinting, gim col
lecting as a hobby dr other reasons
for wanting a gun. The remainder
gave no reason at all.
North Carolina law prohibits the
sale, transfer, purchase or receipt of
a pistol without a permit issued by a
proper uniuiui Iji Inc puic)i«uct*S
county. In Brunswick and 86 other
counties in the state the issuing of
ficer is the sheriff’s department.
To purchase a gun in this county a
person must be 21 years-old. The pur
chaser must also give three
references and go through a criminal
background check.
According to McManus, the N.C.
Department of Crime Control and
Public Safety also gels a copy of any
permits issued.
In 1984,250 county residents receiv
ed gun permits, only 142 more than
have applied for them since January.
“People are starting to think about
^prottJCUiig tiieinsolves since these
murders occuned," said McManus.
"We have had a lot of people apply
who never owned a gun before, and
some have even inquired about how
to properly use them.”
B¥ EfITA SMITK
A Shallotte man died of an apparent heart attack
after tlie vehicle he was driving collided with a truck near
the intersection of U.S. 17 and N.C. 130 Tuesday.
William Richard Cheers, 56, apparently suffered a
heart attack while driving north on U.S. 17, according to
county Coroner Greg White.
Witnesses said they saw Cheers suddenly swerve into
the path of oncoming traffic and hit a 1981 GMC truck
driven by F, anklln D. Gales, also of Shallotte, accordipTF
to Shallotte Patrol Officer Eddie Reynolds, who in
vestigated the accident.
Gales was taken to The Brunswick Hospital and
treated for neck and back injuries, according to
Reynolds.
Reynolds said that Gales’ truck hit the bank and flip
ped over on its top when he veered to the right suddenly in
an attempt to avoid being hit by the Cheers vehicle.
Holden Beach Votes To Amend
Flood Prevention Ordinance
Shallotte Considers Land Use Policy Changes
BY SUSAN USHER
The mayor, an alderman and one
local businessman joined members
of the Shallotte Planning Board at a
public hearing/workshop on the
town’s land use plan update Monday
night.
Turnout was low, but interest high
as those present expressed their sen
timents on policies included in the
1981 plan now undergoing revision.
The town has hired a consulting
firm, Edward Stone Jr. & Associates
of Wilmington, to help draft the up
date. Glenn Harbeck, manager of
planning services, is handling the
project
Coastal communities are required
to prepare land use plana under the
Coastal Area Management Act and to
update them at five-year intervals.
The plans cover specific issues, such
as water qualify protection and
shorefront access, and must be ap
proved by the Coastal Resources
Commission before they are adopted
locally.
Regarding growth, a majority
favored statements encouraging
varied types of development, in
cluding heavy, medium and light in
dustry. But in a change from 1981, ad
ded that any 'growth should be
“desirable" in nature and in keeping
with one of its major industries.
“We need clean industry,” said
Alderman Wilton Harrelson. “The
last thing we need is some kind of in-
(See LAND USE, Page 2-A)
BY ETTA SMITH
Holden Beach commisslone«-s plan
to ask the Federal Emergency
Management Administration to
amend a flood prevention damage or
dinance that would require drastic
clunges by homeowners for the town
to enforce it.
Local municipalities and
Brunswick County were sent revi
sions of FEMA regulations that must
be adopted by April 1 for their con
tinued participation in Federai Flood
Insurance Program.
However, the town’s commis
sioners think some of the changes are
too extreme. During a special
meeting Tuesday morning, they ask
ed Town Admiiiistrator Bob Buck
and Building Inspector Dwight Car-
roll to revise the language of several
sections for their review at another
special meeting to be held at 9 a.m.
March 24. At that meeting, they are
expected to adopt revisions in the
town’s flood damage prevention or
dinance.
Then the town will ask FEMA to
approve the changes made in the
locai ordinance.
According to Buck the ordinance
would require ail manufactured
(mobile) homes moved into town to
be placed on pilings. Heating and air
conditioning units, electric meters
and other service facilities would
have to be located where they would
not be subject to flooding, that is,
above base flood elevation, which
varies from 13 feet to 19 feet above
mean sea level on the island. It would
be up to the town to enforce the
. changes.
“I can't see carrying this as far as
they have,” said Buck. “I think we
should let them know that it’s a little
on the ridiculous side.”
Power Line Study
Commissioners also heard a report
from Brunswick Electric Member
ship Corporation (BEMC) Opera
tions Manager Bobby Gore on the
price of placing underground power
lines on the island.
Gore said that BEMC can install
these lines on a SO foot lot for $57.50,
and will remove the overhead power
lines for about $25.
He said the advantages of the
(See UNDERGROUND, Page 2-A)
shallotte Bypass Rest Area To House Information Center
I1QAKI WTcnnPB . . > ...
BY SUSAN USHER
When the Shallotte bypass opens to
traffic in 1990, motorists who stop at
the rest area near the N.t. 130 in
tersection will also get a friendly
welcome to the state.
Directors of the South Brunswldc
Islands Chamber of Commerce Mon
day endorsed a proposal by the N.C.
Department of Transportation to
build a 1,080 square feet facilify with
an information center as w^ as
restrooms at the rest area.
Rep. E. David Redwlne told the
chamber directors this mini-
welcome center, about the size of
chamber’s current office, will pro
vide visitors information not only
about Bnmswick County, but the en
tire state.
“They’re willing to make it
available if we will staff it,” said
Red wine.
Several years ago DOT had drop
ped its earlier (1980) plans for a
welcome center in this area. Instead
planning to simply relocate the rest
area between Supply and Bolivia to a
10-acre tract along the bypass at an
estimaied co^ of $4SG,SGG.
But during his 1986 re-election
campaign, Redwlne advocated con
struction of state-owned welcome
centers alwig U.S. 17 at both the
South Carolina and Virginia lines.
The current proposal is a con>-
promise between the two ideas and,
according to DOT’S latest Transpor
tation Improvement Program, has a
$700,000 price tag.
IMwlne said he had wanted to
meet with local residents before pro
ceeding with the plan to make sure
there was agreement on the bypass
locaticai.
If relocated, new studies might be
required, Redwlne said, but it might
>not delay the project
Still, he added, '‘All we’re waiting
for now where it Is, is time. (k)me
1990 when the byjaass opens, this will
open."
The 14 directors present Monday
(See ADVANTAGES, Page ^A)
THIS IS THE Department Transportatlon’i conception of the 1,080 square loot rest area/welcome faeflify to
its N.C. 130 intersection.
be bunt on the Shallotte bypass near
f>