COMMISSIONERS ENTER DISPUTE
County ABC Board Gets Answers
BY TERRY POPE
Brunswick County commission
ers entered the brewing controversy
Monday over the opening of a new
county-owned ABC store near Oak
Island.
"I think they got what they want
ed," said Commission Chairman
Kelly Holden. "They got us all to
comment now, and it's a part of the
public record."
Brunswick County's Alcoholic
Beverage Control Board sent a let
ter to commissioners asking if the
ABC board should pursue a "full
county system." Commissioners
seemed puzzled over what the ABC
board specifically asked.
Last month, the ABC board post
ed a notice of intent to locate a
liquor store at a building formerly
occupied by a United Carolina Bank
branch office at River Run Shop
ping Center on Long Beach Road.
The board voted to put on hold its
request for the new store after Oak
Island towns and Southport raised
opposition over potential lost rev
enues by its existing ABC stores.
Long Beach officials have asked
that a local bill be introduced by
State Rep. David Rcdwine to the
N.C. General Assembly banning any
county from building an ABC store
within seven miles of an existing
municipally-opcrated liquor store.
The county opened its first ABC
store last year on Holden Beach
Road (N.C. 130) south of Shallotte.
"Thirty-five to 40 percent of Shal
lotte's ABC revenues have been tak
en away because of the Holden
Beach store," said District 2 Com
missioner Jerry Jones.
As to the ABC board's question,
Jones replied, "We have a full coun
ty system already established, don't
we?"
District 3 Commissioner Gene
Pinkerton also read the letter care
fully.
"There's so much controversy
that they're asking, 'What are you
charging us to do?"' he added. "As
tar as establishing a full county sys
tem, I think that's what the voters of
this county approved."
In November 1989, county resi
dents went to the polls and voted in
favor of countywide alcoholic bev
erage sales. Prior to the vote, only
towns that chose to have ABC
boards could operate liquor stores
and benefit from their proceeds.
When the Holden Beach Road
store proved profitable this year, the
" Wherever you establish an ABC store,
you're going to compete. That's already
been done."
? Frank :e Rabon
County Commissioner
county ABC board decided to open
a see on (1 store on Long Beach Road.
However, Jones advised the ABC
board Monday to tread lightly.
"I'd like for them to take a hard
look at the building of any new
stores," Jones said.
District 2 Commissioner Frankic
Rabon said he thought the 1989
vote of the people mandated a full
county system.
"Wherever you establish an ABC
store, you're going to compete,"
Rabon said. "That's already been
done. I think that's what the people
in this county voted for."
ABC stores are businesses, Hold
en added, and should be viewed as
such. A question the county ABC
board should ask when considering
a new store is, "What impact are you
going to have on existing stores?"
The ABC board has written to
Forsyth County's ABC board for in
formation on merging county and
municipal boards, said County
Manager David Clegg.
Clegg, who served as clerk to the
board few a year, resigned that posi
tion last week.
"I felt I could better serve the
board as county manager and coun
ty attorney," Clegg said.
Holden Beach store manager
Dorothy Kelly has been appointed
as clerk to the board, Clegg said.
Other Business
In other business, commissioners:
?Met six Emergency Medical Tech
nicians (EMTs) hired by the coun
ty's Emergency Medical Services
program to operate rescue squads
when volunteers are not available.
Hoily Waicott, Kevin Muihoiiand,
Glenda Warren, Terri Davis, Mark
Gore and Ernest Coleman will un
dergo paramedic training, said EMS
Supervisor Doug Ledgett.
?Heard from Roscoc Butler, board
member for Four-County Head Start
in Brunswick County, that without
the county's endorsement the pro
gram cannot apply for certain state
and federal block grants. The Head
Start program is losing potential
funds to programs in other counties,
Butler said.
?Watched a slide presentation on
the Interstate 40 Blitz, a promotion
al campaign to help bring tourists to
Brunswick County's beaches. Vol
unteers and members of the South
Brunswick Islands and Southport
Oak Island Chambers of Commerce
took to 1-40 last month, stopping in
towns from Ashevillc to Wilming
ton to talk about the county.
?Released the N.C. Eastern Muni
cipal Power Agency of 5142,502
and Southern Bell of 556,465 in tax
payments, as recommendation by
Tax Supervisor Boyd Williamson. A
state error caused the Power Agen
cy figure to be off while an in-house
clerical error caused a wrong figure
for Southern Bell, Williamson said.
The figures had not been budgeted
so a shortfall will not be noted, he
added.
?Set a public hearing for May 1 3, 7
p.m., to review the assessment roll
for residents of the Jennifer subdivi
sion, a Special Assessment District
near Lcland that will be receiving
county water.
?Adopted a resolution declaring
May 5-11 as Small Business Week
in Brunswick County.
?Took no action on a state request
to reclassify positions for the county
health director and social services
director which includes a state
salary increase.
?Approved a resolution from the
Resources Development Commis
sion to modify the Leland Industrial
Park's waste water treatment plant's
state permit to accept pretreated
wastes from any industry locating
outside the industrial park.
?Denied a request from Parks and
Recreation Director Bobby Jones
requesting that park managers be al
lowed to drive county-owned vehi
cles home.
?Took no action on a request from
S hallo tie Police Chief Rodney Gausc
for a used sheriff's patrol car.
Democrats Elect Officers
(Continued From Page 1-A)
live action and it ought to be shifted
back the same way."
May Moore, outgoing vice-chair
man of the party, was one of a few
who favored four-year terms.
"The problems of the Democratic
party do not stem from a two-year
or four-year term," said Ms. Moore,
noting the expenses involved in
running a campaign every two
years. "We will be better off having
a four-year term ana making sure
that the Democratic party will get
out and support our candidates."
Two-year terms return the elec
tions to the people, added Mark
Lewis. Republicans have gained in
elections locally because of the
charisma of national candidates, he
added.
"They may fool some of the peo
ple some of the time, but they can't
fool them every two years," Lewis
said.
If the change is made, three can
didates for the Board of Commis
sioners (Districts 1, 3 and 4) will be
elected to two-year terms in 1992.
In 1994, all five seats would be up
for election.
School Issues
In a close vote, 35-27, delegates
voted to recommend that school
board races remain partisan.
Franklin Randolph, who served
two terms as a non-partisan member
on the school board, wants it re
turned that way.
"The minute that it was made par
tisan, that's when hell broke loose,"
Randolph said. "I think it's best for
the children."
Delegates also voted to recom
mend two-year terms for the school
board. Both Randolph and William
son spoke against the change. Wil
liamson even entered a substitute
motion favoring four-year terms be
fore the vote was taken.
"If board members are elected
every two years, they'll walk a
chalk line from the beginning to the
end," Randolph said.
The party also voied overwhelm
ingly to ask that Redwine introduce
a local bill to make the changes
rather than have them placed on the
ballot.
?ana's Creative
House &
Garden Shop
Beautiful Gifts
Gardeners.
Woodstock Precision Tuned
Wind chimes in 5 Keys.
Brass Garden Plaques,
Pathmarkers & Sundials
? Wildflower T-Shirts
? Herb & Plant Books &
Cookbooks.
?Handmade Baskets
Birdfeeders & Baths
(We have a large selection
of beautiful plants
Herbs ? 'Annuals ? Perennials
In The Gore Center,
Hwy. 130, Whiteville
2.6 Miles From
Whiteville
642-0629
Open Monday-Saturday
8:30-5:30 J
New Leader
"I've had all kinds of surprises in
the same day," said Hart, after he
was elected party chairman. "Most
of the people don't know me, but
I'm a hard-shell Democrat."
Hart, a native of the county, has
spent much of his life in the North
before returning to Boiling Spring
Lakes to live.
"I'm Tar Heel born and Tar Heel
bred," Hart said. "I just came back
home to live."
Peterson presented Hart with a
plaque.
"He exemplifies what it is to be a
dedicated Democrat," said Peterson.
"He has prodded, pushed and ca
joled over the past two years. He
understands that sometimes you've
got to push people to get things
done."
Hart was elected chairman over
Vernon Ward by 13 votes.
"Mr. Ward is a good man," said
Hart. "He and I can work together."
Weat'ner Forecast
Wasn't Available
The South Brunswick Islands
weather report and forecast that
appears weekly in The Brunswick
Beacon wasn't available this week
because Shallotte Point meteorol
ogist Jackson Canady was out of
town.
The weather report will be in
cluded in next wcek'? issue.
THE BRUNSWKXftftKON
Established Nov. 1, 1962
Telephone 754-6890
Published Every Thursday
At 4709 Main Street
Shallotte, N.C. 28459
SUBSCRIPTION RATES
IN BRUNSWICK COUNTY
One Year $10.30
Six Months $5.50
ELSEWHERE IN NORTH CAROLINA
One Year $14.80
Six Months $7.85
ELSEWHERE IN U.SJL
One Year $15.95
Six Months $8.35
Second class postage paid at the
Post Office in Shallotte, N.C.
28459. USPS 777-780.
' Lady ' Avoids Death Sentence
A Brunswick County Superior Court case that
turned into a dogfight is close to being over.
Lady, who was given the death sentence in
February, may be going home.
The alleged female pit and boxer mixed which has
been behind bars since Dec. 28 could be freed if its
owner, Steve Simmons of Ash, agrees to build a 380
square-foot pen to confine the dog.
The dog, who is 10, had been facing death for leav
ing her owner's property and biting two people, a
warrant states.
A Brunswick County Superior Court judge last
week ordered that the dog be returned to its owner if
certain demands arc met after Simmons pleaded guilty
to allowing a vicious dog to run at large.
Brunswick County Animal Control Supervisor
Zelma Babson said the dog has bitten two people and
is deemed a vicious animal. According to the warrant,
Simmons allowed the dog in leave his property when
not prcompanied by a responsible adult and not re
strained on a leash, resulting in the biting of two peo
ple.
In February, Brunswick County District Court
Judge Napoleon "Poli" Barefoot Jr. handed down the
death sentence by ordering that Lady be destroyed af
ter Finding Simmons guilty as charged. That verdict
and Simmons' conviction were appealed to Superior
Court.
Last Thursday, Superior Court Judge Gregory A.
Weeks accepted Simmons' guilty plea and ordered
that he pay any kennel fees owed to the Brunswick
County Animal Control through Feb. 1 1 .
Ms. Babson said Monday the dog remained in cus
tody of animal control workers, awaiting an order
from the court for its release pending construction of
the dog pen. Lady's bill for room and board is around
$149, she added.
Judge Weeks sentenced Simmons to 30 days in jail,
a sentence that was suspended. He ordered that the dog,
if released, be kept in the enclosed area on the
Simmons' property.
In an unusual situation in Superior Court in March,
Judge Giles R. Clark denied a bond motion for Lady
and ordered that she remain on death row while
Simmons awaited trial.
Shalknte Attorney William Powell, representing the
Simmons family, filed that motion, arguing that the
dog does not have any pit bull blood in its lineage.
The family claimed that under the circumstances, no
law existed to allow a judge to order that the dog be
destroyed.
The motion suited that Simmons admitted that the
dog has biuen several people in the past, but with the
exception of the last incident those bites had occurred
on the Simmons' property. The bites occurred when
Lady had just given birth to a litter of puppies or was
being attacked and harassed by the person bitten, it
claims.
Longwood Man Gets
37-Years In Burglary
A 91 -year-old woman described for a Brunswick
County Superior Court jury last week how she was hit
on the head and robbed of around 51,100 during a
break-in at her home in January.
One of the three men charged in that robbery was
sentenced last Thursday to 37 years in prison after the
jury took 20 minutes to reach a verdict of guilty on
three charges.
Melvin Asbern Whaley, 23, of Longwood, was sen
tenced by Judge Gregory A. Weeks to 25 years in
prison for first-degree burglary, 10 years for larceny af
ter breaking and entering and two years for assault in
flicting serious injury. His attorney, Kevin Whitchart,
filed notice that he will appeal the case.
Whaley and two other men were indicted by a
Brunswick County grand jury in February for the Jan.
30 break-in and robbery. Also charged were Robert
Jefferson Collins, of Route 1, Ash, and Norman
Marshall Gore, 29, of Ash.
The indictments accused the men of breaking into
the elderly woman's home between midnight and 5:30
a.m. and hitting her over the head with a metal flash
light which "resulted in serious injury, including bruises
on her face and head, requiring medical treatment," it
states.
In Superior Court in February, Collins pleaded
guilty to first-degree burglary and common law robbery
in an agreement with the District Attorney's office.
Collins testified against Whaley in court last week.
Collins faces a possible maximum of 40 years and a
mandatory minimum of 14 years in prison. He will be
sentenced May 20 or after Gore stands trial.
When Collins entered a guilty plea to the charges in
February, District Attorney Rex Gore read a statement in
court that Collins had provided to detectives working the
case.
It told of how the three men had planned to break
into the woman's house where they thought she kept
about $6,000. The woman was half-blind and didn't
trust banks, making it "an easy score," Collins' state
ment read.
Collins stated that Whaley didn't want to go inside
because he knew the elderly woman and that he would
be identified. The statement explained how Collins and
Gore had allegedly cut the screen on a window and
broke in while the woman was inside.
When the woman approached. Gore pointed a flash
light in the woman's eyes while Collins grabbed her
and held his hand across her mouth, telling her that she
would not be hurt if she didn't scream, Collins stated.
Gore allegedly hit the woman on the head with the
flashlight when she refused to tell them where her mon
ey was kept, Collins stated.
Whaley had also been charged with second-degree
kidnapping, but Judge Weeks dismissed that charge at
the close of state's evidence.
The judge also ordered that Whaley not benefit as a
committed youthful offender. Whaley faced a possible
maximum of life in prison on the first-degree burglary
charge.
Judge Weeks also heard the following cases in
Superior Court last week:
?George David Wray, 36, of Route 1, Currie, was sen
tenced to one year in prison for habitual impaired driv
ing and ordered to enroll in a drug and alcohol rehabili
tation treatment (DART) program administered by the
State Department of Corrections. Wray Was charged
Dec. 16 with his fourth offense of driving while im
paired within the past seven years, according to an in
dictment. He was credited for time served and ordered
to pay S275 in attorney fees.
?Lavance Brown, 23, of Route 2, Leland, was placed
under six months house arrest, given a * 0-year suspend
ed sentence and five years' i-upervised probation after
pleading guilty to possession with intent to sell and de
liver cocaine and selling cocaine. He v/as fined S2S0,
ordered to pay $700 in attorney fees, ordered to serve
100 hours community service and submit to drug tests.
?Gary Douglas King, of Long Beach, was sentenced to
seven days in jail on weekends, starting at 8 a.m? April
20, after pleading guilty to driving while impaired and
speeding 76 mph in a 55 mph zone. King was given a
12-month suspended sentence, placed on supervised
probation for two years, fined $500 and ordered not to
operate a motor vehicle until properly licensed.
Some f-ear, borne Praise Subdivision Kules
(Continued From Page 1-A)
"I read it and I don't understand
what I'm reading," said Long.
The ordinance implies. Long
said, that what's good for rural areas
such as Ash or Lcland isn't good
enough for communities along the
coast He questioned if the county
could be divided into districts so
that rural areas would have different
subdivision requirements.
Shallotte developer Mason An
derson said the document will have
more impact on the future growth
and development in the county than
any document that's ever been ap
proved.
South Brunswick Island develop
ers, he said, have created around
10,000 lots in the area and have
boosted the county's tax base with
developments that promote quality
growth.
"If this ordinance had been in
place," Anderson said, "a good
amount of that development would
not have taken place."
Randy Hurst, president of the
South Brunswick Islands Home
Builders Association, also asked
that the ordinance be given lime for
proper study.
Other Business
In other business, commissioners:
?Adopted a resolution dropping
Boiling Spring Lakes from the
Brunswick Airport Commission and
agreed to create a seat for Yaupon
Beach on the board. It is also rec
ommended that the name be chang-'
ed to the Brunswick County Airport
Commission. The resolution will be
forwarded to Stale Rep. David Red
wine for the change would require
legislative action.
?Notified the press that a quorum
of the board will be present Tues
day, April 23, at a state public hear
ing on an air quality permit applica
tion filed by Ron Currie, who wants
to build an animal crematorium at
Town Creek. However, no business
is planned by the board. The hear
ing will begin at 7 p.m. in the public
assembly building at the govern
ment complex in Bolivia.
Make Earth Day
Everyday
* / \
Brunswick VV W-. ^ ?
Clean County Dept. ^
919-253-4691 *4 UT^
6nduro
ROOFING SALE
Corrugated Asphalt Roofing
?Fast, easy installation
?Goes directly over old roof
?Won't rust or corrode
?Reduces noise
?Provides added insulation
Lifetime warranty
i t*
4 "\v;:
NOW ONLY $1 0?w
^ Sheet ? Square
JM Parker & Sons
Hwy. 17 & 211, Supply, 754-4331
WHITE "BROWN "RED BLACK
?GRAY ?GREEN TAN BLUE
?tN STOCK COLORS
At least 32 squares In stock