Holden Beach Postpones Approval
Of Canal Bulkheading Regu ation
BY DOUG Rl'TTFR
Holdcn Beach officials want bulk
head maintenance standards added
before they adopt a rule requiring that
all canal lots have bulkheads before
house construction begins.
Commissioners voted 4-1 Mon
day night to delay approval of the
proposed ordinance until specific
maintenance guidelines can be writ
ten into the regulation.
As proposed, the rule would pre
vent development on canal propcity
before a bulkhead is erected. The
town currently requires bulkheads
only if the lot is less than 100 feet
deep.
Commissioner Sid Swans cast the
only vote Monday against delaying
action on the proposal. While agree
ing maintenance specifications arc
needed. Swans said they don't need
to be pan of the ordinance.
The proposal says no erosion
would be permitted as a result of
poorly-constructed or worn bulk
heads. Any seawall allowing soil or
sediment to travel around or through
it would have to be repaired.
Under the proposal, it would be
the building inspector's job to order
repairs when needed. Property own
ers would be given 90 days to make
the repairs.
If the estimated cost of repair ex
ceeds 50 percent of the cost of a new
bulkhead, a new bulkhead would be
required within one year. The owner
would have to take "all reasonable
measures" to prevent erosion in the
meantime.
People who have existing bulk
heads that need to be replaced would
be given two years from the time the
ordinance is passed to rebuild them.
Numbers Mandated At Holden
People who own beachfront homes at Holden Beach have until April
15 to get their houses in order, so to speak.
Homeowners who don't have house numbers that arc visible from
the beach on their homes by April 15 will be fined.
Town commissioners decided to mandate the numbers Monday after
Mayor Pro Tern Gil Bass reported that few oceanfront homes have num
bers visible from the strand as required by town code.
For years, town officials have said house numbers are needed in ease
of an emergency so rescue personnel can be directed to the corrcct
home. Numbers also are helpful for renters who aren't familiar with the
surroundings.
Holden Beach code allows the town to fine people up to $50 per day
for violating the house number ordinance, which has been in effect for
about two years.
People who violate the proposed
nilc would be subject to a fine of
S100 per day.
Although the bulkheading rule
appears headed for approval, com
missioners rejected a related propos
al Monday that would have prohibit
ed the dumping of fill dirt on canal
lots before they arc bulkheaded.
Several board members objected
to the proposal becausc it would re
quire people to build a costly bulk
head before they could add fill dirt,
which is often needed for scptic sys
tem approval.
The ordinance was defeated on a
3-2 vote, with Gay Atkins, David
Sandifcr and Gil Bass in the majority.
Officials also tabled a proposed
amendment to the building codc
Monday that would require a town
permit before any fill dirt could be
placed on a lot.
Jim Foumier dissented in the 4-1
vote to postpone consideration of
the amendment.
Other commissioners want to wail
until the town drafts a suitable defin
ition for "ground level" as it relates
to the town's 35-foot building height
limit?an issue currently being stud
ied by the planning board.
The intent of the proposed permit
is so town officials will know when
fill dirt has been added to a lot.
Other Business
In other business Monday, com
missioners:
?Took no action alter meeting 20
minutes in executive session. Mayor
Wally Auslcy said the board dis
cussed possible land acquisition.
?Accepted the donation of two
oceanfront lots at 262 and 264
Ocean Boulevard East. Owners were
Louise and Robert Tilley and Robert
Tumbull. The town plans to use the
land for beach access for the handi
capped.
?Adopted a resolution authorizing
Town Manager Gary Parker to sign
necessary papers and represent the
board of commissioners in connec
tion with mosquito control.
'Lyra' Gone, But Coast Guard
Investigation Has Just Begun
BY SUSAN USHKR
The Lyra is gone, but the U.S.
Coast Guard Marine Safety Office
in Wilmington has just begun its in
vestigation of how the cargo ship
lost its low last Tuesday morning.
After drifting south-southwest in
the Atlantic Ocean off Cape Fear
most of Tuesday, the ship was an
chored safely early Wednesday and,
after a scries of delays, arrived in
Charleston Sunday under tow.
The 603-foot rolling cargo vessel,
owned by Lykes Lines of New
Orleans, was being towed by steel
cable "deadship"?with no crew,
engines off and steering mechanism
locked?in rough seas from
Baltimore to New Orleans when it
broke loose from its tugboat
Tuesday morning. Strong northeast
winds were pushing it toward the
shoals off Bald Head Island or to
open waters beyond.
At one point the Coast Guard was
anticipating a collision course with
the shoals, hard bottom extending
about 20 miles offshore at depths
ranging from 20 feet to 2 feet, which
could have resulted in an oil spill.
The Lyra had on board nearly
400,000 gallons of bunker and diescl
oils, fuel for its own operation.
However, shifting winds Tuesday
night put the ship on a course south
west of the shoals toward open wa
ter, which would offer fewer
chances to stop the vessel.
Shortly after midnight crew mem
bers airlifted on board Tuesday af
ternoon dropped the two anchors
manually, said Ensign Karl Delooff
of the U.S. Coast Guard Marine
Safety Office in Wilmington. It was
the only option remaining after an
emergency generator that operates
the anchor winches could not be
started.
From its mooring in 96 feet (16
fathoms) of water approximately
18.5 statute miles east-northeast of
Frying Pan Shoals Light Tower, the
Lyra wasn't able to resume its jour
ney south until 10:50 p.m. Friday,
after the shipping line airlifted a sec
ond generator on board to power the
auxiliary system so the anchors
could be lifted. Crew members were
able to raise one anchor, but cut the
other loose because the chains were
entangled, said DcLooff.
The Lyra left under tow by the
120-foot lug Turccomo Boys, and
with a two-helicopter escort. It was
to slop in Charleston for inspection
and repairs before completing the
trip to New Orleans.
While the Lyra is gone from local
waters, the Marine Safety Office in
Wilmington has charge of investi
gating why the vessel broke loose
from its tugboat.
IN BOILING SPRINGS
BRING HOME
THEftBEACON
On Sale At
RANDY'S COOLER
BOSWEILS GROCERY
"Right now we're
just looking. We
don't know exactly
what happened.
We have some
speculations, but
we' re not going to
release anything
until we have the
facts."
?Lt. Dean Firing,
Investigating Officer
Ll Dean Firing, the investigating
officer, said statements have been
taken from the master and mates air
lifted aboard the Lyra and that the
tugboat owned by McAllister
Towing has been examined. Within
the next several weeks he expects to
receive reports, photographs and
videotape from the Marine Safety
Office in Charleston, where Coast
Guard personnel have examined the
Lyra, and a report from McAllister
Towing with additional information.
"Right now we're just looking.
We don't know exactly what hap
pened. We have some speculations,
but we're not going to release any
thing until we have the facts."
The Coast Gua/d's response tn
the potential oil spill?which includ
ed positioning Atlantic Strike Team
members and equipment here, bring
ing in a helicopter and several ves
sels for stand-by?is being paid for
out of an Oii Pollution Trust Fund
established when the threat became
apparent, indicated Ll J.G. Bagg,
marine environment response coor
dinator. "Eventually Lykcs Lines
will be paying the fund back," he
said, as provided by the Oil
Pollution Act of 1990.
The Lyra was bound for New
Orleans, where it was to be sold to
the U.S. Government to join the
Ready Reserve Fleet. The merchant
mariners provide commercial ships
to carry military cargo.
VFD To Elect Directors
Supply Volunteer Fire Depart
ment Inc. will hold its annual meet
ing Friday, Feb. 12, at 7:30 p.m. at
the fire station on N.C. 211.
Secretary-Treasurer Dean Chest
nut said members will elect nine
members to the board of directors
and conduct any other business that
comes up.
Mobile Office Coming
Congressman Charlie Rose's mo
bile office returns to the area Wed
nesday, Feb. 10, with a stop at the
South Brunswick Postal Station at
Sunset Beach from 9 a.m. until noon.
A representative of Rose's office
will be available to talk with local
residents about any problems or
questions they have relaung to fed
eral agencies or legislation.
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AT HOLDEN BEACH
Community Watch Helps Nab Thief
BY DOUG RUTTER
Holden Beach Community Watch is credited with
assisting in the weekend arTcsl of a man suspected of
stealing a sports car, motor home and thousands of
dollars in electronics equipment
Police Chief Robert Cook said Wilmington police
attested the man Saturday after he was spotted driving
a stolen vchiclc on the island. The 1993 Mazda Miata
was taken last week from a Wilmington car dealership.
Cook said the suspcct had been living in a stolen
motor home at a Holden Beach campground since
Thursday night. The stolen car, a red convertible,
wasn't noticed until it was driven Saturday.
Two island residents notified police after seeing
the man driving a vchiclc filling the description of one
that had been stolen. The residents read about the theft
in o newspaper.
"Community Watch put us on it," Cook said Tues
day morning. "Several times now we've gotten help
from them."
Cook said the suspcct had driven a 1991 Miata to
University Mazda last week and told a salesman he
wanted to trade up to a 1993 model. The man told the
salesman he wanted to take the new car to Carolina
Beach to show his girlfriend, but he never returned.
The chief said the suspcct apparently used the
same approach to steal a 37-foot Swinger motor home
in Pennsylvania. After stealing a small Winnebago, the
man reportedly took it to a dealership to trade up to the
bigger one.
After the suspcct was identified Saturday, Cook
said police attempted to search the motor home but
were refused entry sincc they had no search warrant.
Police watched the home while Wilmington police
were called to the scene.
The chief said Wilmington policc had probable
cause to search the motor home because it was used to
steal the sports car. The car was pulled behind the mo
tor home to Holdcn Beach.
Inside the trailer policc found televisions, video
cassette recorders, computers and tape recorders.
Authorities also found two checks for S152,000 writ
ten from a Pennsylvania woman's account.
On Monday, police figured the value of the stolen
property at $400,500. The car was valued at S21,000
and the motor home at $70,000. "When we get
through it's probably going to be half a million dol
lars," Cook said.
Cook said the suspect was initially jailed in
Wilmington but later was relocated to the state prison
in Raleigh after he attempted to hang himself.
The name of the suspect, charges and further de
tails of the case weren't available Tuesday from Wilm
ington Policc. Cook described the suspect as a man be
tween the ages of 22 and 27.
In addition to the local charges. Cook said the man
was wanted in Florida, Georgia and Pennsylvania. "He
wouldn't give his name. He was cool. He wouldn't tell
us anything."
Cook said Holdcn Beach isn't a good place to hide
in the winter bccausc there aren't many people on the
island.
"This is the worst place to come," Cook said. "He
was the only camper in the campground cxccpt for the
ones that rent"
Development Network Receives
$100,000 Grant From Foundation
The Southeastern Network for
Economic Development (SENED),
which serves Brunswick and 15 oth
er counties, has received a SI00,000
grant from the Z. Smith Reynolds
Foundation.
The funds will be used as pan of
the program's operating budget for
1993 and 1994.
The network, created by the
University of North Carolina at
Wilmington's Division for Public
Service and Extended Education, is
working to improve and contribute
to economic development in the 16
county region.
In 1992, SENED's projects in
cluded:
?identifying the role of the universi
ty in regional economic develop
ment;
?forming preliminary goals in the
areas of economic growth, educa
tion, environment, leadership, cul
tural resources, technology and in
frastructure;
?developing a business resource di
rectory of small business assistance
centers, economic development spe
cialists, area chambers of commerce,
county planning agencies and other
state and local resources; and
?studying the possibilities of a ma
jor aquarium facility in Wilmington.
In 1993, it plans to concentrate on
problem-solving and economic de
velopment efforts, including "en
hancing and expanding the telecom
munications infrastructure within the
region," according to a news release.
"SENED also plans to serve the
regional governing bodies by acting
as a mediator, moderator and facili
tator between the university and oth
er agencies," it continues. "A goal
that will also receive attention is
supporting other development initia
tives in the state and region."
The grant?S50,(XX) a year for the
next two years?is in addition to a
previous grant of S75,000 from the
foundation. The Z. Smith Reynolds
foundation makes grants to universi
ties, health programs, teachers, eco
nomic programs and children's ser
vices.
Brunswick Unemployment Rate
Still Among State's Highest
Brunswick County continues to seven counties with unemployment
have the fifth-highest uncmploy- above 10 percent. The state season
ment rate of any county in North ally adjusted unemployment rate for
Carolina. December was 5.5 percent.
December 1992 figures released Preliminary ESC estimates, with
this week by the Employment no seasonal adjustments, show
Security Commission of North Brunswick County having a labor
Carolina (ESC) shows Brunswick's force of 19,640 in December, with
rate as 14.8 percent, compared to 13 16,730 employed and 2,910 uncm
percent a year earlier. It is one of ployed.
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