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STAFF PHOTO BY DOUG BUTTER
MALCOLM GRISSETT of Grissettown, left, speaks with Bolivia resident
R.H. Maultsby following the Brunswick County Republican Party convention
Saturday. Grissett was elected to a two-year term as county party chairman.
Settlement Expected In
Shopping Center Seizure
BY RAHN ADAMS settlement had not been filed as of
Parties involved in a federal civil Tuesday afternoon,
lawsuit nver spizurp nf 3 51 S millinn 1-?*?* ? TT 0
?? ?? w. v. r..v ituiMvu iicouii i lUtdlCU UII U.O< if
Shallotte shopping center are South in Shallotte, was seized by
discussing an out-of-court settle- federal marshals on Sept. 3, 1987,
ment, according to a federal official, about three months after Willis was
The trial involving the September indicted by a Brunswick County in1987
drug-related seizure of Resort vestigative grand jury on cocaine
Plaza shopping center was scheduled trafficking charges. At the time, ofto
begin Monday (March 13) in Wilm- ficials said the two-year-old shopping
ington federal district court before center was one of the largest cornJudge
James C. Fox. However, mercial properties ever seized by the
Assistant U.S. Attorney Steve West government in eastern North
indicated Monday that the trial was Carolina.
continued due to settlement negotia- Willis pleaded guilty in December
tions. 1987 to conspiracy to traffic in coWest
would not comment further caine and was sentenced to a $250,000
on the settlement talks between his fine and a 35-year prison term,
office and Wilmington attorney Jay The suit that authorized the seizure
rnrnnni'nn ,.,U? ?' ' : ' ' -
wi pernio, vruu icpicaciua uic lami- mciintains mat wiius usgq trie proly
of the shopping center's former perty to facilitate drug trafficking by
owner, Alvin Bryan Willis III. Cor- storing cocaine, holding drug tranpening
was in court Tuesday after- sactions, and by making drug-related
noon and could not be reached for telephone calls there,
comment. None of Resort Plaza's 23
West noted that any out-of-court businesses at the time of the seizure
settlement reached by the parties were implicated in the case. Since
would have to be approved by Judge then, the property has been managed
Fox before being final. A spokesper- by professional management cornson
in the federal Clerk of Court's of- panies contracted by the U.S. Marfice
told the Beacon that an official (See SETTLEMENT, Page 2-A)
Hewett Named '88 'Oftio
BY DOUG RUTTER Atlantic Ocean lc
Dale Hewett of Grissettown has been named monitors activities
Marine Fisheries Officer of the shrimping during t
Year for 1986 by the N.C. Wildlife "There's nevei
Federation. "There something
mi r? -1- " ....
ine orunswicK uouniy nauve Hewett noted t
received his award March 4 at the ficers of area be.
Governor s Awards Banquet in IWarine Fisheries j
Hewett, an enforcement officer Fisheries and JtMl l
with the N.C. Division of Marine jB^g^PsL that the division no
Fisheries for the past five years, dSHHRUB work in their home
said, "It's a real honor to me. hewett 0f interest. "The rr
Anytime you're named Officer of the Year, especially
in a state department job, that's saying a whole lot." Hewett, a 1967 f
The annual award was icing on the cake, as Hewett served two years a;
also was chosen as the first enforcement officer ever to ty Sheriff's Deparl
be named Officer of the Month by the Division of Fisheries officer in
Marine Fisheries and its quarterly publication "Tar Hewett said I
Heel Coast." The honor was for the month of March. department assure
Hewett said he found out about both awards on the niche. "It prepared
same day. "I was hit with two honors instead of one," to give credit wher
he said. "It hit me all at one time." Following higt
One of four Marine Fisheries enforcement officers years in the U.S. Ni
in Brunswick County, Hewett is one of 13 officers in the Cape Fear Plant in
southern district and 47 statewide. before entering the
{ ' He said he was nominated for the Officer of the Outside of wor
Year award by Southeast District Law Enforcement Caw Enforcement
Supervisor Bob Everett, and was then chosen from Responders Group
among four finalists by the N.C. Wildlife Federation, an Employees Associa
affiliate of the National Wildlife Federation. A husband and
As an enforcement officer, Hewett patrols local active as a little lea
estuaries, rivers, waterways ami state waters of the of the Big Neck Coi
(|
! Alfl 1/14*1/j|,
8Twnf Toy HI ? mm
?Jf?1/93 f 1%11
Grissett Elected Cou
BY DOUG RUTTER Grissett, were nominated by C.B. I
Mafonlm ?C ? ~
iiuiivuuii v3iuociii vi vi 133CHUWH c^asn LfSrooH ot tioutliporl,
took control of the Brunswick County The election of party chairman |
Republican Party Saturday during a created some controversy as party <
convention which officers said drew officials had trouble settling a questhe
largest turnout in local party tion of parlimentary procedure. A ?
history. motion from the floor to close !
An enthusiastic and sometimes nominations without allowing Bab- <
boisterous crowd of precinct son supporters to nominate their can- i
delegates packed the public didate was protested and later |
assembly building in Bolivia to elect withdrawn after a lengthy debate. (
new leaders for the next two years, Grissett, outside plant manager
appoint township chairmen and with Atlantic Telephone Membership ;
adopt resolutions regarding various Corporation in Shallotte, said his 1
county issues. goals as party chairman are to con- ?
Grissett, who replaces John Dozier tinue building a two-party system in j
of Boiling Spring Lakes as party Brunswick County and to establish a |
chairman, defeated Shirley Babson permanent home for the GOP. i
of Bolivia, the only other nominee for In addition to a long history as a t
the post, in a polling of delegates by a strong party worker, he currently
margin of 154 to 46. serves on the board of the Governor
Other party officers elected were Morehead School by appointment of (
Nancy Conn of Long Beach, vice the governor and the Brunswick t
chairman; Sadie Shaw of Leland, County Board of Social Services. t
secretary; and Jamie Milliken of In his keynote address, Alan Pugh, j
Shallotte, treasurer. They were the special assistant to Gov. James Maronly
nominees for their positions, and tin, stressed that the Republican Par- <
all of the new officers, including ty is the party of reform, responsibili- t
Two Resign From Coh
BY DOUG RUTTER "I have enjoyed the opportunity to
Calabash Town Council accepted serve on the Calabash Board as a c
the resignations of two of its council member and as a former t
members Tuesday night, with one ex- mayor, but I feel that it is time for so- L
pected and the other coming as a meone else to replace me," she I
complete surprise. wrote. r
The board accepted letters of The former councilwoman's husresignation
from Ronnie Pittman band, David Stevens, answered the r
and Sonia Stevens. Pittman was telephone Tuesday night and said his S
elected to the board for the first time wife had no comment. e
in November 1987, while Stevens had Mayor Doug Simmons said he
served several terms on the town received Pittman's letter last week i
council and is a former mayor. but had not opened it until the s
Although council members had meeting Tuesday. 1
been expecting the resignation of Pit- In the brief, handwritten letter i
tY>or? " Ol...?-I ' 1 * "
uiixii mi ouinc nine, oiuvciis aaiea r eo. zi, fitlman said he was i
resignation left board members in resigning "because of my own in- <
shock. ability to attend and participate in |
In her letter, she said she hopes the town meetings." He could not be
town continues to grow and prosper reached for further comment at his ]
in an orderly manner. home Tuesday afternoon or evening, c
Developers Blast Cc
Zoning In Opening
BY RAHN ADAMS sent included Commissioners Kelly
Saying "economically motivated" Holden and Gene Pinkerton, Planndevelopment
has worked well enough ing Board Chairman Ed Gore, Plannin
Brunswick County, local ing Director John Harvey and Plandevelopers
last week denounced ner Thomas Birmingham,
countywide zoning in the iirst of nine Only five individuals other than offorums
that are underway to gauge ficials and reporters attended the sepublic
sentiment on whether or not cond meeting in the series Friday
zoning is wanted here. night at Town Creek Community
About 40 citizens?including Building. Officials at the hour-long
several of the South Brunswick meeting included Holden PinWnrtnr,
Islands' leading developers?attend- Commissioner Benny Ludlum and
ed last Thursday night's lMi-hour Harvey. At that session, residents 1
forum at Sea Trail Clubhouse near mainly asked questions about zoning i
Sunset Beach. County officials pre- and how it would affect their T
neighborhoods. s
Only one person, David Mintz of r
_ . Leland, took a strong position either
r\t? Vpnr for or against zoning. i
I I The idea to put the zoning issue
loking for possible violations. He
s such as shellfishing, netting and **? he
different seasons. ( QIJ |T|\/
a dull moment," he said of his job. / '
in season all the time." ?. _
hat he also deals frequently with of- IxlVGr B OllU
ich towns because municipal and
urisdictions often overlap.
ork for an organization like Marine A Brunswick County delegation s
le in my home area," he said, noting was 1? meet with state environmen- 1
longer allows newly-hired officers to tsl officials Wednesday, March 15, to
district because of possible conflicts discuss the results of a Lockwood d
lain thing is that I enjoy it." Folly watershed study aimed C
at identifying pollution sources. a
graduate of Waccamaw High School, s
s a deputy with the Brunswick Coun- stody was begun following a
tment prior to becoming a Marine public meeting at Bolivia last Oe- t
1984 tober 26. At that time, state officials t
lis experience with the sheriff's pledged to return with data and a c
d him that law enforcement was his pian of action for addressing the s
me tor what I'm in now, and I want "VU1 5 increasing prouiem with s
e credit is due," he said. pollution.
1 school, Hewett also served two Research undertaken includes a t
avy, worked nine years at Du Pont's sePtic tenk survey alon? Lockwood r
Leland and spent two years farming Folly River, research of drainage ac- s
field of law enforcement. tivity in Green Swamp area and a
k, Hewett is a member of the N.C. possibly chemical tests of the river r
; Officers Association, the First and areas draining into it. li
for Ocean Isle Beach and the State Initial findings of the septic tank p
tloH survey conducted by the N.C. Divi- r
the father of two children, Hewett is sion of Health Services did not in- I
igue baseball coach and is president dicate failing septic tanks were a
rununity Hunting Club. cause of the Pollution that kept por- j
tions of the river closed to i
S'EA M
nfy GOP Chairman
ty and the right. Republican Party supports an "atPugh
referred to Dozier as "the titude of excellence" in Brunswick
Finest Republican Party county County schools and is no longer willchairman
in the state." ing to accept an "attitude of
Dozier, who received a standing mediocrity."
Dvation and was quite emotional Despite the objections of
Saturday, served six years as county Republican school board member
chairman. He urged continued party Robert Slockett, the resolution passunity
through harmony, agreement, edbyamarginof66to 12.Priortothe
ceace and friendship before handing vote Slockett argued, "I don't think
ivpr thp aavnl tn flriccott '- - * ""
D ? ?v... mciea a general auiiuae ot
Prior to introducing the guest mediocrity."
speaker, Tommy Harrelson of The GOP also adopted a resolution
southport, deputy secretary with the stating, "It is of utmost importance
state Department of Transportation, that there be an immediate increase
predicted that within a few years in management efficiency and prothere
would be no more Democrats ductivity in the supervision of our
elected to office in Brunswick Coun- county workforce in the maintenance
ty. and enforcement of rules and regulaKesolutions
Adopted tions within Brunswick County."
County Republicans adopted a As proposed, the resolution called
iozen resolutions Saturday, with only for specific concentration in the
:wo drawing debate. All but one of areas of health, welfare and recreate
resolutions was drafted by the tion. William Rabon of Southport and
sarty resolution committee. Jerry Lewis of Shallotte both obJanet
Pope, wife of previous Board jected to the proposal because it
)f Education nominee Tom Pope, in- targeted specific departments, and
roduced a resolution stating that the (See CRISSETT, Page 2-A)
abash Town Council
Citing excessive absences, the much of his time to allow him to per:ouncil
informally agreed last month form the duties of a town couno
request his resignation. Since tak- cilman.
ng the oath of office on Dec. 14,1987, Following a public reading of both
5ittman had missed 17 town letters of resignation, Councilman
neeimgs ana auenaea nine. Keith Hardee joked, "I forgot mine."
According to town records, he had
lot attended a meeting since last Although no action was taken this
September and had missed the last week to fill the vacancies, counright
consecutive sessions. cilmen mentioned the names of
The number of absences does not former board members Virgil Colnclude
the half dozen or more times eman and Sam Bierworth as possible
iince his election that the council has replacements and indicated that both
lad to cancel a scheduled meeting would be willing to serve,
iue to lack of a quorum. In order to Pittman and Stevens bring to tliree
conduct town business, at least three the number of town council members
if the five council members must be to resign since their election in
present. November 1987. Immediately followIn
earlier statements to the ing her re-election that month, Pati
3eacon, Pittman said his job as a Lewellyn resigned. She was later
:ommercial fishermen occupied too replaced by John High.
>unty More Forums
jr On Schedule
E 0 U III Zoning forums scheduled by
the Brunswick County Planning
before the public originated at a com- board during the coming week
nissioners meeting in early will be held as follows:
February, when Holden said work on .Thursday, March 16, at
in uiuiiumue?ui conjunction wun a Shallotte Town Hall>ublic
education program-should .Friday, March 17 at Leland
>egin as soon as possible. Other com- Community Building; and
nissioners, however, felt citizens Wpdnp^rlav Mnrph 99 at
hould have input on the subject even Lockwood Folly Community
lefore a proposed ordinance is Building.
'ra^te^- Other forums are slated for
Positions Voiced March 27 at CP&L Nuclear Plant
Although most of the 12 speakers at Visitors Center, March 29 at
ast Thursday's forum supported zon- Hood's Creek Community
ng, developers Odell Williamson and Building, March 30 at Waccamaw
dason Anderson and real estate Community Building and April 5
igent Harry Rickenbacker were ada- aj {be public Assembly Building
nant in their opposition. in Bolivia
"This zoning thing you're propos- A11 of the meetings begin at
ng to me looks like another 7:30 p.m.
(See DEVELOPERS, Page 2-A) | '
3te Leaders Discuss
tion Findings Today
hellfishing on and off throughout the to state officials a proposal he recent988-89
season. ly shared with SOS members.
Lockwood Folly River has tra- Holden outlined a plan that calls
lionally provided Brunswick for dredging open a channel between
bounty's richest shellfishing beds, Sheep Island and Long Beach to
ccounting for 40 percent of all restore flushing action in what was
hellfish harvest here. once the primary outlet from the
From Genoe's Point to its mouth, river to the ocean,
he Lockwood Folly River has also Over the past 15 or 20 years the
cen nominated for designation as an channel west of Sheep Island has
Jutstanding Resource Water by the been widened and the eastern chantate.
This status would give it nel and the area below the island
pecial protection. allowed to fill. Holden said he thinks
Among the delegation slated to at- this blocks the natural flow of water
end Wednesday's meeting were An- from the river and forces water to
lie Smigiel, president of Save Our return up the river before it has had a
'.hellfish, a local organization aimed chance to circulate with ocean waver
it preserving the river and its Also expected to attend the
esourees; Marlene Varnum and her meeting are Brunswick County Comlasband,
Carson, who is on the missioners Gene Pinkerton and Kelly
flarine Fisheries Commission; and Holden, and possibly other local
etired attorney Wallace Smith of the Republican leaders,
lolden Beach area. "We hope they're going to let us
Mrs. Smigiel said the group will be know what they've come up with. I'm
oined by John F. Holden of Holden hoping we'll get some results," Mrs.
teach. They've asked him to explain Smigiel said Tuesday.