Fire Victim Remains In Serious Condition
RV THK MKWS STAFF
A Shallotte woman who escaped
I run i a burning automobile outside
her home Sunilay night was recover
ing Tuesday at the NX". Jaycces
Bunt Center at UNC" Hospital in
Chapel Hill from second- and lirst
degree bums.
Betty Harrelson, of Bluff Drive,
was hi serious condition, said UNC
Hospital spokeswoman Barbara
Proijan. Serious condition means the
patient is acutely ill and that vital
signs ma> be unstable and not with
in norma! limits.
Mrs. Harrelson. a longtime em
ployee of Security Savings <\ Loan
in Shallotte, is the wife of Shallotte
Alderman Wilton Harrelson.
"The burns aren't quite as exten
sive as anticipated," her son. Larry
Harrelson, also of Shallotte, said
Monday morning. "She's in pretty
giHxl condition, considering every
thing. and she's very lucky. She got
herself out before the worst part of
the fire "
Tuesday afternoon, Ku Jackson,
an employee at Harrelson s and fam
ily friend, said Mrs. Harrelson's
condition remained guarded, but
"very encouraging
"She isn't talking and she is on a
ventilator, but she is responding to
the family through smiles and blink
ing of her eyes," said Mrs. Jackson,
whose husband Ray was among
Shallotte Volunteer Rescue Squad
members who responded to the fire.
Mrs. Harrelson was taken first to
The Brunswick Hospital, then trans
ferred to the Bum Center.
Tuesday the medical staff
dropped its estimate of the extent of
hums from 40 percent of her body to
about 21 percent, said Mrs. Jackson.
Mrs. Harrelson sustained first-de
gree bums ? the equivalent of a se
vere sunburn ? on her face and
hands, and more serious, second-de
gree burns on her back.
Mrs. Harrelson had left the house
Sunday night to visit a neighbor. She
was apparently hacking her Dodge
Dynasty sedan from the carport,
tucked into the slope slightly below
and to one side of their home, when
the car rolled backward over an em
bankment and caught fire.
"She was very lucky to gel out of
-~rr.\j--s "?? V' r*ij
STAFF PHOTO BY SUSAN USHER
HETTY HAKRELSON sustained serious burns , but escaped from her car after it rolled off an em
bankment and burst into flames. All that remained of the car was a gray metal shell.
the car," said Shallouc Policc Chief
Rodney Cause. He said ihe wall,
bulkheaded with timbers, is about
eight feet high.
The car landed with the rear
bumper on the ground and the front
wheels resting against the top of the
embankment.
"We don't know what happened,"
said Larry Harrelson. "For whatever
reason, it seems the car backed off
the embankment and the gas tank
ruptured. Nobody knows but her.
and she may or may not be able to
recall it."
He said Jack Soles, a neighbor
and an employee ot Harrelson's
Farm and Garden Center, was pass
ing the house at around 8:15 p.m.
when he saw the Harrelsons' car en
gulfed in flames. Soles stopped and
alerted Wilton Harrelson, who was
inside the house and unaware of the
fire, then went to lind out if Mrs.
Harrelson had gone to the neigh
bor's house on loot. She had never
arrived.
Emergency lire and rescue units
were on their way when Harrelson
found his wife lying in brush ap
proximately 15 feet from the car,
and in shock.
Cause said police aren't sure if
snow or ice was a contributing fac
tor in the accident. The fire is still
under investigation.
Along with rescue volunteers,
about a dozen firefighters from the
Shallotte and Civictown deparuncnts
responded and quickly brought the
fire under control, said Shallotte
VFD Captain Tony Hewett.
With underbrush soaked from re
cent rainfall and snow, the lire did
not spread beyond the immediate
vicinity of the car.
The gas tank tore loose from the
car as it went over the embankment,
spilling gasoline. Hewett speculated
that wiring from the fuel pump or
tail lights may have touched the
gasoline and started the bla/e.
Mrs. Jackson said Mr. Harrelson
is doing well after the shock of dis
covering his wife at the lire, with the
Burn Center staff keeping an eye on
his blood pressure.
"As well-loved and well-thought
of as they are in this community,"
said Mrs. Jackson, "there has been a
lot of concern expressed and a lot of
prayers going up."
"We're very thankful. ..God was
with her, there is no doubt in our
minds." she continued. "With Jack
Soles going by ? Gixl had his hand
in all of it.
"She's going to make it: she's a
survivor."
Because of the potential for infec
tion. cards but no flower; are al
lowed in patients' rooms at the N.C.
Jaycees Burn Center, UNC Hospital,
Manning Drive, Chapel Hill, NC
27514.
Shallotte Balks At Request To Fund DOT Meeting
i) i iJUHi lil l l KK
The Town of Shallotte won't help
pay tor a meeting of the state Board
ol Transportation planned in Bruns
wick County this spring.
* 1 J . __H. - ? ..-..-J . I.
rvivjcjiiicn vuicu unanimously
Tuesday night against contributing
$750 to help pay for a meeting ol
the suite board April 30 and May I
at Sunset Beach.
Shallotte board members Roncy
Cheers and David Gause said the
money wasn't included in the town's
budget for this fiscal year.
Brunswick County Travel Pack
age, a group created by the county's
two chambers of commerce to pro
mote travel and tourism here, has
asked area towns to donate S750
each.
Mayor Sarah Tripp said she had
mixed feeling about local municipal
IUC."? IIV.lJ/111^ pu> 4V/I UIV. IlltCUIIl,.
which will cost an estimated
$14,800.
"I think it would be an honor to
have them here," she said. "Some of
them have probablv never been this
far."
Mayor Tripp said the meeting
would give local leaders a good
chance to show transportation offi
cials i hi- need for overpasses where
U.S. 17 intersects N.C. 130 West in
Shallotte and N.C. 904 at Gris
settown.
Aldermen Wilton Harrelson and
Morns Hall were absent from the
i<?i n K'virH mn^lino Tn^cH'U' niithl
?foa.u .iSv^unt . ...?>..?.
Mrs. Tripp said they both lold her
they were in favor of holding the
meeting in Brunswick County, but
didn't want town I units paying for it.
11..11
I1U11 ?iU ? U\. Uin Mlllll. Ill 1 HM IVU.
this week, and Harrelson was in
Chapel tiill where his wife is being
treated at the bum center at UNC
Hospital.
Also re jected Tuesday night was a
proposal to increase the annual priv
ilege license fees paid by owners of
laundries, dry cleaners and hat
blocking establishments.
The town board was considering
increasing the fees from S25 to $50
per year as allowed under a recent
change in state law.
But aldermen said this week they
didn't like the idea of "singling out"
certain types of businesses for in
c reuses.
The town already charges the
maximum fee allowed by slate law
for other types of privilege licenses.
Other Business
In other business Tuesday, alder
men:
?Approved a change in the acreage
fee ordinance, as recommended by
the town planning board. Added was
a paragraph allowing owners of land
developed for "public recreauonal
uses" that don't need water and/or
sewer service to pay S20 per acre.
The new provision will apply to land
in town and land outside town that
iviv | von ? lihni'i'cd lo the Jxaird Tor
annexation. The rale varies for other
types of land usage.
?Voted to retain Brock, Padgett anil
Chandler of Shallotte as auditors lor
?wq t?ju n iVjr ij>,' uw j.u2 fiscal ycur.
The cost of the audit will be based
on hourly rates ranging from SIX to
S65 per hour. As part of the agree
ment, the firm will not raise us rates
for at least three years.
?Approved three tax releases total
ing SI 36 for property that was taxed
but wasn't located in the town limits.
The board tabled a request from John
Ward to refund S2.I10 in 1989 and
1990 taxes that he claims should noi
have been charged under the "farm
use" exemption. The county has al
ready granted the exemption.
?Tabled adoption of a mutual aid
coniraci lor the lire do partrnc n ' until
questions about the town's liability
insurance coverage can be answered.
The contract would allow the
Shallotte department 10 assist other
departments and vice-versa. It also
would ensure that the department
would continue to reccive S13,(XX)
annually from the county. The board
plans to hold a special meeting be
fore the signing deadline of Jan. 30.
Federal Court Indicts High
(C ontinued From I'age I -A)
!cgcd!y received S l soix x > for the
store, of which S5(),(XX) was given in
cash. It also accuscs High of paying
a cash fee to the person who intro
duced Winters as a potential buyer
and of being told that Winters was
hav ing lax problems.
Alter High received a grand jury
sub(>oena to testily, he called Win
ters "to concoct a story to tell the
Grand Jury.'" the indictment stales
According to the IRS affidavit, a
review of the Winters' financial
records shows the couple made ex
penditures of approximately
S3(X).(XX) in excess of all reported
legitimate sources of income be
tween January 1^87 and December
1989. Investigators say they have
identified in excess of 30 financial
transactions conducted by the couple
since January 1987 that were made
to avoid filing claims with the IRS.
A second count accuses High of
submitting a false witness voucher
for his Nov. 26 appearance before
the grand jury in Greensboro, claim
ing reimbursements for mileage and
expenses of $291.15. The voucher
listed expenses of $39.90 for kxig
ing for one nighi "whereas in '.pjlh
and in fact as he then well knew, he
did not incur the said expense for
lodging," the indictnicnt reads.
A court dale has not been set for
High's case, said Jackie Bracey,
public affairs officer for the IKS dis
trict office in Greensboro.
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THE BRUNSWICK^ BEACON
POST OFFICE BOX 2558
SHALLOTTE. NORTH CAROLINA 28459
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I In Brunswick County _I6 .30 _?5 30
N.C. Sales Tax 38 32
| Postage Charge 3.68 3 68
I TOTAL 10.36 9.30
Elsewhere In North Carolina J6.30 J5 30
N C. Sales Tax 38 32
Postage Charge 8 18 8.18
TOTAL 14.86 13.80
Outside North Carolina J6 .30 j5 30
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TOTAL 15.95 14.95
Complete And Return To Above Address
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We're Getting Ready For Spring At ...
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Children's Clothing
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Sonrlse Square, Shoreline Dr., I
Sunset Beach ? 579-9363 I
Milder Weather Anticipated
After last week's Arctic blast of snow and bclow-nonnal tempera
tures along the Brunswick County coast, weather conditions should be
gin a "mellowing oui pattern," local meteorologist Jackson Canady said
Tuesday.
He said he expects temperatures to be in the mid 50s during the day
and in the mid 30s at night, with only about a half inch of rain predicted
to fall.
Canady said it's not likely more snow should fall, and that tempera
tures should begin a "recuperating" pattern of more seasonal conditions.
"Nothing extremely cold or hot," he predicted.
For the period of Jan. 14 through Jan. 20, Canady reported a maxi
mum tlayiinie high temperature of fiX degrees, recorded ' in 14 The
minimum evening low temperature was 20 degrees, on Jan. 1 7.
The average daytime high was 51 degrees and the average evening
low was 32 degrees, for a daily average temperature of 41 degrees.
Canady said that reading is four degrees below average for this time of
year.
Canady measured 1.12 inches of liquid precipitation at his Shallotte
Point home. The two inches of snow he recorded was transferred to mea
sure an extra .20 of an inch of rain once it melted, he said.
Building Up At Beaches
(Continued From Pane 1-A)
Precise counts were not avail
able from the Town of Shallotte. but
it loo saw no let-up in construction
during 1991.
"There's been a lot of building
in Shallotte this year," said Albert
Kuglies, the town's building inspec
tor. "It's not been a dry year at all."
Hughes said 1991 was an
"above average" year for both com
mercial and residential building.
Although exact figures arc not
available. Hughes estimated that 25
to 30 new homes were built in town,
mostly in Bricrwood Estates.
Several new businesses also lo
cated in Shallotte in 1991, including
Bainswick Bowling Center, Ad
vance Auto Parts and Moviemax.
Construction of a new Wal-Mart is
under way at the north end of town.
Shallotte Presbyterian Church
and the NAPA store both construct
ed new buildings along U.S. 17.
A Handcc Hugo's convenience
store was built at the intersection of
iUa iic i "7 m n i in
IJ IV/ U.U. I ( I > > | 'lU.-* til I VI 1
West. The state built its new wel
come center and rest area on the cast
side of the bypass.
Holden Beach Building Inspect
or Dwight Carroll said 1991 was a
typical year for new home construc
tion there, despite a sagging econo
my.
Carroll said 59 single-family
homes valued at S4.25 million were
built on the island last year. "That's
about normal, maybe a little bit
above normal," he said
Four duplexes valued at
S2HH.552 were constructed during
die year, and Carroll issued 1 16 per
mils for alterations valued at nearly
S7(X),(KX).
During 1990, Holden Beach is
sued permits for 42 single-family
homes valued at S3.04 million.
Six homes and two duplexes on
Holden Beach were relocated or de
molished last year under the Upton
Jones provisions of the National
Flood Insurance Program, Carroll
said.
At Sunset Bcach, permits for 76
single-family homes valued at
S5.648.721 were issued last year, an
increase over 1990, reported Town
Administrator Linda Fluegel
Permits were also issued for one
business valued at S220,(XH) and five
duplexes worth $566,685, for a total
valuation of $6.4 million in new
construction.
In 1990, the town issued permiLs
for 59 single-family homes and nine
permits for 40 multi-family units.
No dollar amounts were available
for 1990.
At Ocean Isle Bcach, new home
CftnilniCtioP mmqi?v*H vlf?:wlv for
vvuouuvmvm . ;
1991, Building Inspector Druied
Robcrson reported.
The town issued permits for 32
single-family homes worth S4.02
million last year compared to per
mits for 35 homes for an estimated
S3.6 million in 1990.
Inspectors issued 219 total per
mits wiihin the town for S5.8 mil
lion, including permits for three new
businesses.
Within the Ocean Isle's new
F.TA. permiLs for seven singlc-fami
1> homes worth S428.192 were is
sued along with one mobile home
permit.
Weicome Center Opening Set
(Continued From Page 1-A)
port," Mrs. Hodges said. "Every
body's really excited about it."
She said some visitors haven't
even waited lor the center to open to
use it. People have been stopping to
ask directions for ihe last two weeks.
"We'll be busy just dealing with
the public here," said Mrs. Hodges,
who expects thousands of people a
month to come through the center
this summer.
Stall will try to keep track of the
number of visitors by using a guest
repisler and krenino a hmchurc in
c? r o
ventory. A laser beam at the rest area
exit will count cars.
The N.C. Department of
Transportation paid for construction
of the center, which will be operated
by Southeastern Welcome Center
Inc., a non-profit organization that is
receiving operating funds presently
from Brunswick County, the
Wilmington Chamber of Commerce
and the Cape Fear Coast Convention
and Visitors Bureau.
For now, the welcome center will
be open seven days a week from
8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. The state
IX)T- managed restrooms arc open
around the clock.
"We might have to change accord
ing to traffic in the summer," Mrs.
Hodges said of the schedule. "But
right now we're going to go with
those hours."
The center features a spacious lob
by and reception area, employee re
stfoom, break room and storage
THE BRUNSWKIt&KACON
Established Nov. i, i962
Telephone 754-6890
Published Every Thursday
At 4709 Main Street
Shallotte, N.C. 28459
SUBSCRIPI ION HATES
IN BRUNSWICK COUNTY
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780. Postmaster, send address
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P.O. Box 2558,
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spacc on the ground level. Upsuiirs
oilers a conference room and more
storage spacc.
Mrs. Hodges said she's asking the
state to build a covered shed outside
the center for vending machines.
Any profits would go to the N.C.
Division of Services for the Blind.
A formal dedication and ribbon
cutting at the welcome center will be
held Friday, Feb. 14, at 1 p.m.
N.C. Transportation Secretary
Tommy Harrelson is among the stale
and local officials expected to attend.
The bypass and welcome center
are part of a four-laning project on
U.S. 17 between Winnabow and the
South Carolina state line.
With the new facilities open, a
state-operated rest area on U.S. 17
near Bolivia will close in mid
February.
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