Redwine To Offer Alternative To Two-Member House District
BY SUSAN USHER
Brunswick and Columbus coun
ties would be combined to form a
two-inembcr state House district
under a redistricting plan that goes
to public hearing Friday.
Redistricting proposals for Con
gressional and N.C. Senate districts
arc also before the General Assemb
ly now, with Brunswick County
scheduled to remain in slightly
revamped 7th and 18th districts
respectively.
Rep. E. David Rcdwinc said
Tuesday that he wants to hear from
his constituents what they think of
the House redistricting proposal and
an alternate plan he may introduce
as an amendment.
"I want to know what they would
like me to do," he said.
The public hearing starts at 9:30
a.m. Friday in the Legislative Build
ing auditorium in Raleigh.
Both Redwine and Rep. Leo
Mercer of Columbus have indicated
they feci the change to a two-mem
ber district would be a step back
ward, though if the plan is approved
they see no problems with serving
together.
"The two counties have worked
together before and 1 assume we can
again," said Redwine. "1 feel good
about running there (Columbus
County) if the plan is approved."
The committee plan released last
Thursday would create a two-mem
ber district that includes all of Col
umbus and Brunswick counties,
plus Cape Fear Precincts 1 and 2 in
the Castle Hayne section of New
Hanover County.
"That is certainly an option if we
don't have any other choice, but I
still have some concerns," said Red
wine. "Both Rep. Mercer and I arc
used to single-member districts.
"The time and costs of campaign
ing would double for us," he contin
ued. "1 have a family and a business
and I can't possibly spend all my
time running for office."
Also, he has political concerns
about the odds of someone from
Brunswick County getting clected
from the district. Both counties
have Democratic majorities, though
Brunswick has far more Republican
voters than Columbus.
Columbus County has 25,000
registered Democrats compared to
Brunswick County's approximately
17,000. To sccurc a Democratic pri
mary win might be difficult, he sug
gested, unless Brunswick County
Democratic voters got behind a sin
gle candidate in the primaries who
also garnered some support in Col
umbus County.
Redwine said he plans to intro
duce an amendment at some point
during debate that "really doesn't
hurt anybody around with in terms
of numbers."
His plan would redraw the exist
ing 14th District to include all of
Brunswick County and just Cape
Fear 1 (Wrightsboro) precinct in
New Hanover County.
Cape Fear No. 3 would stay with
New Hanover, while Columbus
County would anchor a district that
included rural Canctuck and Grady
precincts in Pender County and
Cape Fear 2 (Castle Haync) in New
Hanover County.
A main obstacle this plan would
" That is certainly an option if we don't
have any other choice
? Rep. David Redwine
On two-member district
have to overcome is objections of
one of the redisricting committee
co-chairmen, Ed Bowen. Bowen
has drawn a three-county, two
member district made up of
Sampson, Bladen and Pender coun
ties in their entirety.
Both Brunswick and Columbus
counties came under the 55,239
population needed for single-seat
districts of their own.
The existing 14th District as con
stituted, had too many people ?
about 75,000. It included Cape Fear
1,2 and 3 precincts in the Castle
Haync-Wrightsboro area of New
Hanover County and Topsail Town
ship in coastal Pender County, as
well as all of Brunswick County.
The House committee at first pro
posed cutting off three western
Brunswick precincts ? Longwood,
Ash and Freeland, and putting them
in District 15 with Columbus Coun
ty
"1 objected strenuously to that,"
said Rcdwine, "though there were
those who thought I should not have
for obvious reasons."
"But I didn't think it was fair for
Brunswick County to be cut up,
especially since we didn't enough
population to make a district of our
own. And 1 felt there were people in
that area who want to be in the
sanic district with the rest of Bruns
wick County."
18th Adds SPA
Under the state plan for redisrict
ing Senate districts, Brunswick
County would remain in the 18th
Senate District, now represented by
Sen. R.C. Soles Jr. of Tabor City.
A hearing on the Senate plan was
to be held 1 p.m. Wednesday, June
19, also in the Legislative Building
auditorium in Raleigh.
The bulk of the district would
remain intact ? Columbus, Bladen
and Brunswick counties. However,
instead of Beaver Dam Township in
Cumberland County, the district
would include a U.S. Census block
in New Hanover County. Wilming
ton No. 5 is the block in the southern
part of the city that includes the
North Carolina State Ports Authority.
The area is considered contigu
ous to Brunswick County since both
border the Cape Fear River.
The target population for a single
senator district under the one-man,
one- vote concept is 132,573 per
sons. The revamped 18th District
would have a population of 134,506,
well within the 10 percent variation
allowed under federal rules.
Base populations are Brunswick,
50,985; Bladen, 28,663; Columbus,
49,587; and Wilmington No. 5,
5,271.
Racial composition would
includc 71.29 percent white and
26.80 percent black; and 1.56 per
cent American Indian, with a scat
tering of other racial groups.
7th District Lines Squiggle
The 7th U.S. Congressional Dis
trict would reflect the most drastic
changes, with two plans now under
consideration.
Both proposals keep Brunswick,
Columbus, New Hanover and Robe
son counties intact in a semicircular
swath that curves along the South
Carolina state line then up the coast.
Congressional Base Plan No. 1
was adopted May 30 by the state
Senate Subcommittee on Congres
sional Redisricting, with Base Plan
No. 2 adopted June 4 by the state
House Committee on Congressional
Rcdistricting.
Both plans retain Fort Bragg and
Camp Lejeunc in the 7th District.
Base Plan No. 1 includes a chunk
of Cumberland County, coastal Pen
der County and all of Onslow Coun
ty except a narrow strip along the
coast.
Under the House Committee pro
posal, Base Plan No. 2, the district
would take a small "V" portion of
Harnett County and divides Onslow
County among three districts,
instead of only two.
In both plans, the Cumberland area
is made up of Beaver Dam; Black
River Linden; Long Hill; Wcstarca;
Cedar Creek; Judson; Stcdman;
Eastovcr, Vander; Wade; Alderman;
Sherwood; Manchester; Spring Lake;
Cross Creek Nos. 1-23; Pcarces Mill
Nos. 2, 3, and 4; Cumberland I and
2; Hope Mills 1; Montclair; and
Scvcnily First Nos. 2 and 3.
Included in Plan 1 from Pender
are Lower and Upper Topsail, Scolfs
Hill and Surf City. From Onslow, the
precincts arc Harris Creek, Folk
stone, Haws Run, Holly Ridge,
Sneads Ferry, Verona, Bear Creek,
Hubert, Swansboro and Camp Lc
jeunc Military Base 1,4, and 7 ? 14.
In Plan 2, the district would add
the Harnett prccincts of Avcrasboro
1 and 2 and Duke 1-3; Middle Holly
in Pender County. It would exclude
the Onslow prccincts of Harris
Creek, Haws Run, Bear Creek,
Hubert and Camp Lejeune 7, 9 and
1 1 , but would add Morton's.
Statistics Compared
The "ideal" population for a con
gressional district would be 552,386.
Under Plan 1, the 7th District
would have 552,381 residents of
which 246,591 arc registered to
vote. Of those, 181,610 or 73.65
percent arc registered as Democrats
and 55,979 or 22.7 percent as Re
publicans. More than two-thirds,
68.39 percent, arc white, while
blacks account for 23.46 percent of
total voters.
Under Plan 2, the 7th District
would also be only a few persons
off, at 552,391. It would include
64.79 percent whites, 25.26 percent
blacks and 8.32 percent American
Indians. Of its 249,794 voters, 73.75
percent arc registered as Democrats
and 22.66 percent arc registered as
Republicans. Also, 68.31 percent arc
white and 23.65 percent arc black.
Holden Beach Ready To Adopt Budget
BY DOUG R UTTER
Holdcn Beach Commissioners
appear ready to adopt a 1991-92
budget with no changc in the tax
rate following a relatively unevent
ful public hearing Monday night.
Turnout was light and questions
and comments were few and far
between on the proposed SI. 47 mil
lion budget. Town officials plan to
keep the tax rate at 18 cents per
SI 00 of property but increase water
charges.
Mayor John Tandy said commis
sioners will adopt a spending plan
for next fiscal year at a special
meeting Monday, June 24, at 7 p.m.
in town hall. The new budget year
starts July 1.
Among the dozen residents who
attended the budget hearing, there
were a few who objected to a pro
posed S2.000 donation to the South
Brunswick Islands Chamber of
Commerce.
Mack Foster asked why the town
is giving money to the chamber to
help real estate companies while
residents have waited several years
for sidewalks.
Foster's neighbor, Jim Foumier,
questioned why the town board
wants to invite more tourists when
rental units already arc overcrowded.
"1 believe in good business, but 1
don't believe in destroying our
selves for the sake of a few,"
Fournier said.
Responding to the complaints.
Mayor Pro Tern Gloria Barrett said
some residents told her the town
should give more money to the
chambcr. The original budget includ
ed SI 4, (XX) to promote tourism.
Commissioner Kenncr Amos, a
former president of the Holden
Beach Properly Owners Association,
said 75 percent of the town's taxpay
ers are non-residents.
Many of them rent their homes in
the summer, which creates occupan
cy tax revenue for the town. Holden
Beach officials expect S195.000 in
occupancy lax during the coming
fiscal year.
Proposed expenses in that fund
include S60.000 for police, 550,000
for sanitation and $40,OCO for
administration.
Holden Beach resident Harold
Stcons, an auditor, suggested the
town use specific line items instead
of general departments when show
ing occupancy tax expenses in the
budget.
In addition to occupancy lax,
other major revenue sources in the
proposed budget include S37 1,502
in property taxes, 5108,000 in funds
carried over from this year and
545,000 in utility franchise tax.
Some of the major expenses
include SI 94 ,806 for the policc
department, 5157,484 for public
buildings, 5152,743 for administra
tion, 596,500 for streets and
S90.014 for sanitation.
Commissioners have set aside
S 100,000 for a new garage and reno
vation of the existing garage so it can
accommodate the police department.
A new part-time secretary in the
inspections department is included
in the proposed budget. Town offi
cials also plan to upgrade one of the
policc officer positions to sergeant.
The proposed budget also
includes S40.000 to continue the
underground wiring project and
S40.000 for sidewalks.
Commissioners are considering
several options to traditional con
crete sidewalks, which they say
wouldn't last under the weight of
construction equipment
Town officials have discussed
marl and grass walkways. A wood
en walkway along the side of the
road was suggested as another alter
native Monday night.
Other Business
In other business Monday, com
missioners:
?Met in executive session for 35
minutes to discuss legal and person
nel matters, but look no action.
Mayor John Tandy said the closed
session related to the search for a
new town manager.
?Appointed Sid S warts to coordi
nate the town's wastewater manage
ment entity program, which could
include requirements for routine
inspection and pumping of septic
tanks. Swarts had worked on the
program as a member of the plan
ning and zoning board, but his term
expires in July.
?Discussed different ways of publi
cizing the town's leash law, which
prohibits pets on the strand between
the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. May
20 through Sept. 10. Pets must be
on a leash at all other times.
Commissioner Gay Atkins said a lot
of people who take pets on the
beach don't know they're breaking
the law until they get a ticket.
Holden Beach To Pay For Sea Rescue Class
BY DOUG RUTTER
Reacting to a recent boating acci
dent that claimed the life of three
men, Holden Beach officials have
agreed to foot the bill so three
police officers can take a water res
cue course.
A number of island residents
have become interested in the for
mation of a sea rescue unit since the
tragic accident May 28, Mayor John
Tandy said at a special meeting
Monday.
Three Greensboro men drowned
after their boat sank off Shallotte
Inlet. The three bodies and the only
survivor of the accident were picked
up off Holden Beach.
With the drowning less than three
weeks old, town commissioners
learned Monday night about a water
rescue course designed specifically
for coastal communities.
Keith Sawyer, an officer with Tri
Beach Volunteer Fire Department
which serves Holden Beach, said
the department is co-sponsoring the
class with Brunswick Community
College.
The course is scheduled July 19
21 at Ocean Isle Beach, which
formed a water rescuc team after
hosting the county's first water res
cue class about two years ago.
"We can't prevent the accidents,
but we might be able to mitigate
some of the deaths," Sawyer told
Holden Beach officials.
The fee for the class is S48 per
person, meaning it will cost the
town S144 for three officers. Com
missioner Judy Bryan said 25 peo
ple will be accepted into the class.
Based on discussion Monday
night, town leaders envision the
water rescue team as a unit that
could respond while U.S. Coast
Guard boats are dispatched from
their base at Caswell Beach.
Senior Chief J.D. Arndt, com
manding officer of the Oak Island
Coast Guard station, said a local
water rescue team could be on the
scene much quicker than the Coast
Guard.
With its 41- and 44-foot boats,
Arndt said it takes the Coast Guard
up to 45 minutes to get to Holden
Beach. He also said the large boats
weren't designed to operate close to
the beach.
Sawyer said special rescue boats
designed to be launched from the
beach and stay upright in the surf
cost at least SI 0,000. With equip
ment added, a surf boat like the one
Occan Isle Bcach uses can cosi up
to S20.000.
"Having this eight miles (of
beach) is a problem," Tandy said.
"I've seen the Coast Guard making
valiant efforts, but they can't fly
those boats."
Arndt said the nearest water res
cue helicopter is a Marine Corps
chopper from New River. It takes at
least 30 minutes for the helicopter
to fly from its base to Holden
Beach.
Responding to questions from the
town board. Sawyer said the town
could be held liable if somebody
dies in the arms of a police officer
who is trained as a rescuer.
However, Arndt said rescue
squads such as Southport's which
have a water rescue team have pur
chased liability insurance.
Solid Waste Parcel Fee Running Into Opposition
BY SUSAN USHER
Brunswick County Commissioners expressed
frustration Monday night at the slow progress of a
solid waste disposal fee bill through the slate's
General Assembly.
Several members didn't hesitate to blame Rep. E.
David Redwine's lack of support. "It's because
there are five Republicans on this board," said
Commissioner Gene Pinkerton to a murmur of
approval.
The board is delaying adoption of next year's
budget until hearing the fate of the bill, which
would allow it to charge a parcel fee for solid waste
disposal. The fee is being eyed as a way to come up
with SI. 037 million needed for the solid waste
(landfill/recycling) department, the equivalent of a
2 1/2 -cent tax rate increase.
"If we don't get it passed, I don't know where
we're going to get the money," said Chairman Kelly
Holden. He strongly opposes any increase in prop
erty taxes though several fellow members aren't so
adamant.
Redwine said Tuesday its broad permissiveness
has prompted objections to the bill from con
stituents. The bill passed second reading without his
support because it gives counties the right to charge
ihe fee not only to owners of improved tracts but
unimproved as well.
"They can charge someone who has a house on a
lot S20, someone who has a 200-acrc farm tract S20
and a developer who has 100 one-acre lots with no
houses 100 times S20," he said. "1 think that's what
has got some people upset in Brunswick County."
The S1.03 million figure is roughly the sum that
would be collected if the county charged a SI 7 fee
for each of 80,000 parcels of land. If only the
29,000 improved tracts were charged, the fee would
run a less attractive S50 to S60 to raise the same
sum.
Rainfall In Local Forecast
Above average rainfall may be in
the outlook for the South Brunswick
Islands area over the next few days,
along with normal temperatures.
Shallotte Point meteorologist Jack
son Canady said he expects tempera
tures to average in the upper 80s dur
ing the day and in the 70s at night,
with three quarters of an inch of rain.
For the period of June 1 1 through
17, he recorded a maximum high of
93 degrees on June 13 and a mini
mum low of 62 degrees on June 1 1 .
A daily average high of 89
degrees combined with a nightly
low of 70 degrees for a daily aver
age temperature of 79 degrees,
which Canady said was 2 degrees
above normal. He recorded .02
inches of rain.
Boone's Cove
Custom Framing & Matting
We professionally preserve your prints ? original art ?
photos ? needlework ? mementos
Acid-Free Conservation Our Specialty
Also Available: Original Art ? Prints
Cross Stitching Supplies
We can now vacuum mount your posters and photos up to 44"x34".
Boone's Cove Custom Framing & Matting
Resort Plaza, Bus. 17 S., Shallotte ? 754-6199 ? Mon.-Fri. 10-6, Sat 9-1
Boots Blamed For Dead Fish
Shrimp boats working in the Atlantic Occan were blamed for killing
small fish that washed up on the Holden Bcach strand Tuesday.
Holden Bcach Police Officer Bill Jordan said he saw dead fish at
several locations on the bcach, mostly near the cast end of the island.
"We generally get them every year when the shrimpers start up,"
Jordan said. "I've just seen them here and there."
Shrimpers usually catch fish in their nets while they are harvesting
shrimp. Baby fish that can't be used are commonly dumped overboard.
Jordan said Tuesday was the first day this year that he has noticed
dead fish on the bcach. There were at least three or four shrimp boats
working in the ocean off Holden Beach Tuesday, he said.
The officcr said he didn't see any large groups of dead fish.
But Jeep Strccler, a Holden Beach developer, said he saw "thou
sands" of dead fish on the strand west of Surfsidc Pavilion Tuesday
afternoon.
Most of the fish were three or four inches long. "They look like lit
Uc spots as far as I know," Strectcr said.
Longwood Man Charged In Shooting
(Continued From Page 1-A)
Marlowe said two pellets from
the shotgun hit a third man in the
leg.
No charges had been filed as of
Monday in connection with that
incident, but it was still under inves
tigation.
The 30-year-old victim told
authorities that he had just gotten
off work last Wednesday and was
standing around with three friends
on a vacant piece of land on Little
Prong Road.
A white male in an older model
Chevrolet pickup pulled up and
started talking about beer. The
Access Dispute
(Continued From Page 1-A)
did not continue without interrup
tion for the required period of 20
years."
Mitchell viewed the placement of
the barricades at various limes as
sufficient interruption of the pub
lic's access, at least temporarily pre
venting their "free and full enjoy
ment" of the easement.
All plaintiffs' evidence tended to
show, he further stated, was that
some of the plaintiffs had at times
been able to circumvent barriers
erected "to prevent unauthorized
persons from coming on the defen
dant's property."
shooting victim said he told the man
the group was leaving to go home,
according to the sheriff's depart
ment report.
The subject left in the direction
of Exum Crossroads but later
returned with his high beams on. He
reportedly got out of the truck and
said, "Y'all are gonna die tonight,"
and started firing.
Marlowe said the younger shoot
ing victim knows the suspect and
lives near him. "We don't know the
motive yet," Marlowe said of the
shooting.
THE MUNSWCKfeKACON
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.S.A.
One Year $15.95
Six Months $8.35
Second class postage paid at the
Post Office in Shallotte, N.C.
28459. USPS 777-780.
Here Are Two Big Reasons
To Choose A Pioneer CD:
Term
Yield
Rate
12 Month
6.56%
6.40%
18 Month
6.71%
6.55%
Pioneer offers Certificates of Deposit with sound rates and
sound yields.
The above rates apply to deposits of $10,000.00 or more
and are subject to change. Annualized yield based upon rein
vestment of funds at same rate. High rates for other CD terms
are available. Substantial penalty for early withdrawal from all
deposits. Call our branch today for complete details.
Jl
SAVINGS BANK
"Pioneer Makes It Possible"
Shallotte
Main Street
Phone 754-8151 Member FDIC