Regional Science Center Idea
Gets Audience
BY SUSAN USHER
Brunswick County got a preview Monday of what a
proposed regional science and technology center could
do.
In a show-and-tell presentation that closed with in
troduction of a small, red rat snake, Jeff Priest gave an
audience of 60 people gathered at a Southport restau
rant a hint of how such a center can help make science
and math education come alive.
What would it be like, he asked, if instead of having
students turn in their textbooks to read about reptiles, a
teacher incorporated one in her lesson plan. "I guaran
tee they will remember when Mrs. Smith pulls out a
snake," he said.
"Science is doing," said Priest. "That's what we're
talking about."
Instead of squashing the natural curiosity of chil
dren, he said, the center nurtures it and gives it direc
tion.
Priest, whose Ph.D. was based on research he con
ducted on coyotes, is the only full-time employee of a
science center in Aiken, S.C.
He teaches 75 percent of the seminars and work
shops offered, he said. That makes it possible for the
center to provide in-service education for teachers for
certificate renewal credit, usually without charging tu
ition.
" Science is doing," said
Priest. "That's what we' re
talking about."
? Jeff Priest, Director
Patrick Science Center
Keeping up to dale in malh and science is difficult,
he noted, because of rapid advances in the field and the
infrequent adoption of new textbooks.
Priest said teachers are the primary focus of the
Aiken center.
"We try to make science and mathematics more fun
and exciting for the teachers, then they can make it
more fun and exciting for their students," he said. "I
want them to come back next year and say they used
what we gave them. If not that defeats the whole pur
pose of the center."
The most important result of the center, he said, has
been an increased awareness in the community of the
importance of math and science education.
The Ruth Patrick Science Education Center also of
fers programs for students and for the general public.
Student programs includc summer research stints with
area scientists. It is a partnership of the University of
South Carolina at Aiken, local school systems and in
dustry, aided by a start-up grant of S 100,000 from the
National Science Foundation. Until this year it had been
entirely funded by non-state sources. This year the uni
versity is paying Priest's salary.
The center has operated out of the university's biol
ogy department for several years while building its pro
grams, and its credibility. Priest said. It soon will soon
be housed in a building that will includc two computer
labs, two classrooms and a small exhibit hall.
After hearing Priest, Brunswick County
Superintendent P.R. Hankins told the group, "We're in
terested in something like thaL"
Such a center was first proposed by school board
member Robert Slockett and the Brunswick County
Education Foundation, of which he is an ex -officio
member. In recent months a Science Alliance of educa
tors has formed to pursue this and related ideas.
The alliance has surveyed math and science teach
ers to determine their needs and ways a center could
help meet those needs. Results of the survey are being
compiled and are expected to be presented to the
Brunswick County Board of Education at its July 1
meeting, said board Chairman Donna Baxter.
William Harrison, who will leave his post as assistant
superintendent for curriculum this week, said that by Jan.
1 , plans also call for completion of a resource guide for
county classroom teachers that identifies area businesses
and industries with personnel and other resources they
are willing to share with the schools. Sharing could range
from providing a guest speaker or volunteer activity lead
er to donating equipment or supplies.
He also expects the school system to expand its of
fering of after-school, hands-on science enrichment ac
tivities. A pilot project at Soulhport Elementary School
had to turn away participants this past year, he said.
"Wc want to do more for our teachcrs, something
for our students and gel industry and businesses in
volved in the schools at a higher level," said Harrison.
The audience of 60 people was comprised of educa
tors, school board members, representatives of area col
leges and of local businesses that have expressed an in
terest in development of a center to serve the region.
Slockett said the cooperative venture should help
improve science and math education locally and should
result in improved student test scores as well as stu
dents more equipped to continue their education or to
take jobs with area industries.
It was unclear Monday who would be picking up
the tab for the luncheon. Slockett said he understood
DuPont would be paying for both the dinner and
Priest's expenses. If not, he added, the BCEF would.
Sunset Annexes Two Areas.
Sets Hearings
On Two More
BY SUSAN USHER
It won't becomc official until
Aug. 5, but Sunset Beach Town
Council voted unanimously Friday
afternoon to bring Sugar Sands and
Oyster Bay Colony subdivisions in
to the town limits.
The action follows a public hear
ing last week at which several resi
dents of the targeted area said they
welcomed becoming part of the
town.
The only objections were raised
by an island resident who suggested
that mainland residents might not
have the same concern for the is
land as island residents have. Cletus
Waldmiller, president of the Sunset
Beach Property Owners Associa
tion, has expressed concerns earlier
also about the lessening impact of
island voters on town affairs as
Sunset Beach continues to expand
its mainland area.
The town anticipates few first
year costs related to the annexation,
which would be more than offset by
property tax and accommodations
tax revenue collections.
Sunset Beach had first considered
annexation of the two areas more
than two years ago.
Also, council members took first
steps Friday toward one town-initi
ated annexation and one requested
annexation, both involving parts of
Seatrail Plantation.
The first area includes River
Creek, The Woods, the first seven
holes of the Dan Maples golf course,
two Club Villas buildings, some sin
gle-family homes and the new sales
office, but not houses on Lakcshore
Drive or White Heron Court.
"It just wouldn't qualify" in
terms of density of development.
according to Mayor Mason Barber.
A public hearing will be held
Sept. 9 at 7 p.m., with a report of
plans for extending services to the
area to be available no later than the
board's Aug. 5 meeting.
In a related matter, council set a
public hearing Monday, July 8, at 7
p.m. at town hall on a petition from
Sea trail Corp. requesting annexa
tion of Oyster Point I, Seatrail Plan
tation, by the town.
As new areas are brought into the
town. Sunset Beach has the authori
ty to extend its extraterritorial juris
diction up to a one mile from its
newly defined borders. The plan
ning board is still working to estab
lish new ETA lines following the
earlier annexation earlier of a strip
that extends to the Seaside commu
nity at N.C. 904/N.C. 179.
Other Business
In other business, council mem
bers:
?Adopted, on a 4-1 second vote, an
ordinance that allows the town to
have weeds or other "noxious
growth" cut, at the property owner's
expense, should a property owner
fail to cut weeds on a vacant lot at
least twice each year, before July 1
and after Octobcr 1. Councilman Ed
Gore voted no, saying the cutting
should be a town service. A1 Odom,
who had voted against the ordi
nance at an earlier meeting, was ab
sent Friday.
?Reappointed Administrator Linda
Fluegel as the town's mosquito con
trol officer.
?Amended a town ordinance regu
lating fuel storage tanks to spccify
that it is unlawful to keep or store
more than 15 gallons of gasoline
within the town limits unless specif
Ocean Isle Beach OKs Budget,
Land Use Plan
BY DOUG RUTTER
Ocean Isle Beach officials ap
proved a spending plan for the com
ing year and a sei of policies that
will hfelp guide growth for the next
decade Tuesday following two pub
lic hearings.
Commissioners adopted the 1990
91 budget, with no change in the tax
rale, and accepted the town's 1990
land use plan update, which has
been in the works for more than a
year.
Expansion Budgeted
Next fiscal year's S3.1 million
budget includes money for routine
services as well as funds to expand
the sewer system and purchase ad
ditional land at the airport
The town has hired a Raleigh en
gineering firm, Boney and Associ
ates, to design expansion of the
sewer system. Ocean Isle officials
have budgeted 5500,000 to extend
service to the east end of the island.
Commissioners also pul SI 75,000
in the budget to buy land at the east
end of the airport for future expan
sion. The town expects half of the
money to come from a state grant.
Based on a tax rate of 17 cents
per S100 of property and a tax valu
ation of S305 million, town officials
expect to collect 5514,446 in taxes
next year.
Other major sources of general
fund revenue in the budget arc
556,000 from the ABC store,
S50.000 from the accommodations
tax fund and 546,000 in building
permits and fees.
General fund expenses budgeted
include 5226,287 for police, S96.690
for administration, S84.169 for
streets and S83.342 for sanitation.
Ocean Isle Beach officials antici
pate S357.700 in accommodations
tax next year, including S32.700
carried over from this year.
Commissioners plan to use
S88.200 of the fund for sanitation,
S50.000 for erosion control,
S50.000 for police and administra
tion and S30.500 for tourism pro
motion.
Plan Completed
The land use plan update includes
background information on the
town such as growth in population
and buildings since the last plan
was done in 1986.
It also includes a land classifica
tion map and policies designed to
help the town board deal with
growth over the next 10 years.
Building Inspector Druied Rob
crson said one of the new policies in
the plan says sewer service will not
be extended outside the town until
all town properties are served. That
has been an unwritten policy of the
town board for several years.
Roger Briggs, a planner with
McKim & Creed of Wilmington
who helped the town's planning
board develop the land use plan,
presented what could be the final
draft Tuesday morning.
Town commissioners will adopt
the land use plan following a review
by N.C. Division of Coastal Man
agement staff. It then has to be cer
tified by the N.C. Coastal Resources
Commission.
Other Business
In other business Tuesday, com
missioners:
?Voted to give town employees a
holiday for the Fourth of July.
Ocean Isle Beach employees now
receive six holidays during the year.
Water and sewer employees and po
lice officers will be on call
Independence Day, and at least one
secretary will be at the town hall.
?Approved a contract for the 1990
91 annual audit with John Carraway
of Wilmington. Mayor Betty Wil
liamson said the audit will not cost
the town more than $5,350.
Accident Report Shows
Two Bolton men were killed ear
ly Saturday when the car they were
in crashed and burned about 10
miles north of Navassa.
A passing motorist helped rescue
a third person from the burning car.
The victims have been identified
as James Klennis Lowery, 35, and
Larry Allen Patrick, 26, both of
Bolton, said Highway Patrol
Spokesperson Ruby Oakley.
Lowery is believed to have been
the driver of the 1978 Chevrolet sta
tion wagon that crossed a railroad
track on Mt. Misery Road (SR
1426) and rounded a curve at a high
rate of speed before running off the
road and hitting a pine tree head on.
State Trooper D.A. Lewis report
ed the car was traveling an estimat
ed 80 mph when the accident oc
curred around 6:15 a.m.
The two victims were pinned in
side the wreckage when the vehicle
caught fire and burned, said Lewis.
They were pronounced dead at the
scene.
A passenger in the rear seat, Wil
liam Stacey Graham, 23, also of
Bolton, was seriously injured and
REALTY SERVICES
COMPANY
SERVING SUNSET BEACH
AND OCEAN ISLE
QUALITY WORKMANSHIP AT
AFFORDABLE PRICES
?ADDITIONS ? REMODELING ? REPAIRS
? ROOFING ? DECKS ? CARPET
? PAINTING ? RENOVATIONS ? ETC.
"One Call Does It All...
Satisfaction Guaranteed. "
(803)249-7713
Little River, SC
Two Killed In Fiery Wreck
taken to New Hanover Regional
Medical Center in Wilmington.
A passing motorist stopped and
helped pull Graham from the burn
ing car, Lewis reported. The trooper
did not identify the motorist.
The bodies were taken to The
Brunswick Hospital in Supply.
No charges were filed. Damage
was estimated at S800.
So far this year seven people
have died on Brunswick County's
highways as a result of traffic acci
dents, Ms. Oakley said.
Through the end of June last year,
seven people had also died, she said.
Car Overturns
In another accident last Thursday,
a Shallotte woman and her passen
ger were injured after a car over
turned on Old Georgetown Road
(SR 1163) about two miles north of
Calabash.
Shelly Carmen Gurganus, 19,
was charged with having an expired
registration for her 1990 Ford fol
lowing the 12:45 a.m. accident, re
ported State Trooper D.B. Harvell.
According to Harvell, Ms. Gur
ganus was traveling north on Old
Georgetown Road when her car ran
off the right shoulder, overturned
and landed upside down on the right
shoulder.
She and a passenger, Rebecca
Buffkin, 18, of Shallotte, each re
ceived class B injuries, which are
serious but not incapacitating, and
were taken to The Brunswick Hos
pital for treatment.
Damage was listed at $7,500.
DWI Charged
An Ash man was charged with
driving while impaired after the car
he was driving Saturday evening
ran off of Little Prong Road (SR
1336) about 14 miles west of Shal
lotte and struck a parked car.
Henry Mailon Bowens, 70, was
traveling south when his 1978 Pon
tiac ran off the road and struck a
parked 1989 Buick owned by Ron
nell Marlowe, 35, of Ash, State
Trooper W.H. Thompson reported.
Complete line of quality
Fuller
Hand Tools
guaranteed forever!
You'll find any hardware
item you'll ever need at...
SOMERSETT'S
LANDSCAPING & HARDWARE
Open: Mon.-Sat. 7 AM-6 PM, Sun. Noon:6 PM
Hwy. 904 East, Grissettown, 579-6006
0 FULLER
GUARANTEE
ALL
FULLER TOOLS
GUARANTEED
FOREVER
Bowens was charged with DW1.
No injuries were reported.
Damage was listed at $800 to the
Bowens car and 53,000 to the
Marlowe vehicle in the 9:50 p.m.
accident.
Hits Ditch
Charges of careless and reckless
driving were filed against a Bolivia
man after the car he was driving
early Saturday ran off of U.S. 17
about three miles south of Bolivia.
Marcus Creighton Wescott, 21,
was charged by Trooper Harvell af
ter the 3:15 a.m. accident.
According to Harvell, Wescott's
1988 Dodge was traveling south on
U.S. 17 when it ran off the left,
struck a road sign and hit a ditch.
Wescott received Class B injuries
and was taken to Cape Fear Memor
ial Hospital in Wilmington.
Damage was listed at S100 to a
road sign and S4.000 to the car.
FLAGS & KITES
State & American flags,
custom designs, too.
Colorful stunt kites.
CAUSEWAY PLAZA ? HOLDEN BEACH
842-5678? OPEN DAILY 9-9
ic guidelines are followed. Council
upped the limit from five gallons to
allow for household usages such as
lawnmowers and boat motors.
?Contracted again with Terry Wil
lctts for electrical and mechanical
inspections at the following fees:
S25 per visit for residential electri
cal or mechanical inspections; com
mercial-electrical, S50 per visit plus
SI per each outlet over 50; commer
cial-mechanical, S50 per visit.
Sunset Beoch Officer Promoted
Sam Grantham of the Sunset Beach Police Department has been
{??PQaaH promoted from senior patrol officer to lieutenant,
I effective last Friday.
"In effect he will be the assistant chief, said Police
? Chief J.B. Bucll. "He'll be in charge when I'm not
u' Grantham has been with the department a total of
jg nine years. After a three-year stint, he left to go to
work for the Columbus County Sheriff's Dcpart
mcnt. He rejoined the department six years ago and
yjj VI d is its senior officer.
' Buell said the new lieutenant has good working
GRANTHAM relationships with fellow officers and the public and
should be accepted readily in his new position.
Grantham will attend a three-week supervisory school at the N.C.
Justice Academy at Salemburg this fall.
Benton Joins Elections Board
Billy Benton of Grissettown will
be the only new member of the
Brunswick County Board of Elec
tions this year, according to appoin
ments announced Tuesday by
Johnnie McLean, administrative
secretary to the State Board of
Elections.
Meeting in Raleigh, the State
Board of Elections named two
Republicans and one Democrat to
the panel, selecting the top-ranked
nominees of the county Democratic
and Republican parties. The ap
pointments arc effective July 1.
Benton replaces Pat Ramsey of
Oak Island, who was not renominat
ed by the Brunswick County Re
publican Executive Committee for
the seat
Glenda W. Walker of Leland,
chairman of the elections board,
was reappointed, as was Harry One
Gore of Southport. He is the lone
Democrat on the board.
The county Republican Executive
Committee had nominated, as its
third choice, Harold Willetts of Bo
livia.
Alternate nominees from the
Democratic Executive Committee
were Vemon Ward of Shallotte
Point and Murry Stevens of Boiling
Spring Lakes.
Under state election law, the par
ty in power is entitled to two of the
three seats on the county board and
the minority party, the third scat.
Board To Act On Suspension
Shallolte Aldermen will make
some sort of decision next week re
lating to the June 18 suspension of a
police officer, said Town Attorney
Mark Lewis.
Officer George Samek was sus
pended with pay last Tuesday. Town
officials have refused to give a rea
son for the disciplinary action.
Lewis said the officer will remain
suspended at least through July 3,
when the town board of aldermen
holds its next regular meeting.
Aldermen will take some form of
action on the officer's employment
status at that time. Lewis said the
officer has the option of requesting
a hearing before the board.
Police Chief Rodney Gause re
fused to discuss the suspension of
Samek, who joined the police de
partment in April 1989. Gause re
ferred all questions to the town at
torney.
Lewis also refused to give a rea
son for the suspension, saying it
wouldn't help the town or police of
ficer to make it public knowledge.
"It doesn't help anybody for that
information to be released at this
point," Lewis said.
Samek, who has an unlisted tele
phone number, could not be reached
for comment.
ACM
LTD.
DISTRIBUTORS
Charley Goins 754-8469
Dr. Ray Williamson 754-831 1
Amy Watkins 754-6393
Samantha Lewis 754-8962
Nancy Hewett 253-5667
Kim Todd 842-7881
?ALL NATURAL
?POTASSIUM BASED
FOOD SUPPLEMENT
?INCREASED ENERGY
?BUSINESS
OPPORTUNITY
MATOL KM
'91 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS
4-Dr.t white, white half-roof, full power, factory car. Was S1 6,995.
NOW $13,995
754-4341 ? 1-800-832-5328
Hwy. 17 N., Shallotte ? M-F 8:30-7:30, Sat, 9-4