Sewer System Engineers Ask For Health Board Endorsement
BY ERIC CARLSON
Warning that fccal coliform levels in waters off
Sunset Beach have increased 50 pcrccnt in the past nine
years, consulting engineers Monday asked the
Brunswick County Board of Health to endorse ongoing
efforts to build a central sewer system serving Sunset
Beach and Calabash.
Engineers Jim Billups and Joe Tombro of Powell
Associates, North Myrtle Beach, S.C., outlined the find
ings of recent environmental studies during a presenta
tion of the sewer system plan requested by the health
board
Coliform bacteria are found in human and animal
feces. The presence of such bacteria in groundwater,
streams or estuaries is commonly used as an indicator
of overloaded septic systems or excessive rainwater
runoff from pasture land.
Studies reveal no correlation between elevated col
iform levels around Sunset Beach and long-term rain
fall histories, said engineer Jim Billups of Powell
Associates in a letter to the board. Since the bacteria
levels don't fluctuate with rainfall, both runoff and sep
tic failures probably arc equally to blame.
The studies also show "extremely elevated" levels
of ammonia in lest wells on Sunset Beach, "which is a
strong indication that septic tanks arc not working,"
Tombro said.
"The conclusion to be drawn is that protection of
cstuarinc water quality will require control of pollution
from all potential sources, including stormwater and
wastewater point and non-point sources," Billup's said.
"If you started this project tomorrow, and worked
toward eliminating all septic systems, how long would
it take before you noticed an improvement in water
STAFF PHOTO BY fctIC CAAtSON
Nice Weather...For Ducks
The chilly winds of winter send most of us human folk scurrying for cover, but they also bring us new
feathered visitors from the north. Here a pair of female hooded mergansers enjoys a morning swim
along a Holden Beach canal
Call TV Toll-Free To Get College Aid Information
Potential collcge students and Cable) will hold a "Financial Aid a toll-free number during the pro
thcir families can take advantage of Phone-A-Thon" Monday, Feb. 15, gram, which will also feature live
a toll-free telephone number next from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. The pro- broadcasts from UNC-W. Would-bc
Monday night to ask questions about gram is a cooperative effort of UNC- collcgc students arc encouraged to
financial aid and local educational Wilmington, Cape Fear Community call with questions about what mon
opportunitics. Collcgc and area high schools. cy for college is available to them
WW AY TV-3 (Channel 5 on AT- and what their options arc in this
MC Cable and Channel 10 on Vision Financial aid counselors will staff area to continue their education.
STAFF PHOTO BY SUSAN USHtt
A Snail's Pace
Traffic backed up on 1V.C. 179 south of Shallotte Wednesday afternoon as Tommy Small Movers relo
cated a double-wide home.
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clue what to do?
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Thursday Nights ? Doors Open 6:15 pm
Calabash VFW Post 7288
Carter Rd , Trader's Village, Calabash, 579-3577
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
Games begin at 7:30 PM
Minimum "Buy In" $5.00
Minimum Pay Out $650.00 Maximum $725
Snacks Available ? No Children under 12
NEW SMOKE-FREE AIR SYSTEM
?1903 fMf BRUNSWICK M ACOH
quality?" asked Health Board Chairman Skip Davis.
Tombro said lhat a similar system was built at Surf
City in 1989. when shellfish beds had been closed for
several years due to colilorm contamination. He said
the beds were reopened in 1991 and 1992, indicating
that a central sewage system should show positive re
sults "within three to five years."
The board voted to table consideration of an en
dorsement until its next meeting. Members said they
wanted to review materials submitted by Powell
Associates
In other business the board:
?Agreed lo form a committee of health board members
and county employees that will make Recommendations
on a proposal to prohibit tobacco smoking in all county
buildings.
?Approved a program to offer Norplant contraceptive
implants through county health department. The system
consists of six small tubes surgically implanted under
the skin, which administer a controlled dosage of hor
monal contraceptive. The implants arc said to be 99
percent effective for a period of five years.
?Mcard from Environmental Health Supervisor Andrew
Robinson that six local restaurant owners have agreed
to join the board's environmental health committee in
considering modifications to a proposed food-handler
certification ordinance. Serving on the committee will
be Alan Harrclson, Big Nell's Pit Stop, Ocean Isle
Beach; Carolyn Spencer, Fam's, Ocean Isle Beach;
Mildred Crissman, Mimi's Cafe, Southport; Lee Kli
mas, Quartcrdcck Restaurant, Holdcn Beach; Thomas
Bishop, Sandfiddlcr, Southport; Floyd Kirby Jr.,
Sizzlin' Sirloin Stcakhousc, Shallottc; and Bill Abshirc,
Dos Amigos, Ocean Isle Beach.
READY TO GET THE JOB DONE
Redwine Chairman Of House
Business/Labor Committee
Suite Rep. E. David "Butch"
Redwine (D-Brunswick) has been
appointed chairman of the 37-mem
ber Business and Labor Committee,
one of 20 suinding super committees
by which the N.C. House of Rep
resentatives will operate this year.
The committee includes the sub
committees of economic expansion,
labor relations and travel and tou
rism.
"These are topics of interest to all
of southeastern North Carolina as
well as the entire state, for that mat
ter," acknowledged Redwine, who
serves the 14th District along with
Dewey Hill of Lake Waccamaw. "I
think we will be doing a lot this
term."
He expects Gov. Jim Hunt's eco
nomic package to be referred to the
committee and he said, "I'm sure
members will have separate bills
with related ideas."
The committee will also deal with
the state Family Leave Act and pos
sibly some workplace safety issues.
"I'm going to be meeting with
Speaker Dan Blue for a quick re
view to see what he'll be sending,"
said Redwine.
He will serve also on the Ap
propriations Committee's Justice
and Public Safety Subcommittee
that deals with the budgets of the
courts, attorney general's office,
prisons, SB1, Highway Patrol and
related agencies. He was chairman
of that committee last time. "I'm
one of the few returning committee
members. 1 suspect that is for conti
nuity," Redwine suggested.
He will serve as vice chairman of
New Year
The New Year started off warm
and wet, according to the monthly
climatological report of the National
Weather Service Wilmington office.
January had a monthly average of
50.5 degrees, 5.6 degrees above nor
mal.
The highest temperature was 79
degrees on the 5th, breaking the old
record of 76 degrees recorded in
1880.
There were four days with the low
temperature 32 degrees or lower,
with the lowest of 28 recorded on the
28th.
Precipitation for the month to
talled 5.83 inches, nearly two inchcs
higher than normal. There were 14
days with measurable precipitation.
The greatest rainfall in a 24-hour
period was 1.14 inchcs occurring be
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Forms Available At: Gore's Children's Shop
the insurance committee, a panel on People should know by now I would
which the local insuranccman has look al how a bill will affect the en
not served on before or ever sought tire state, not just me or my profes
to serve on, he said. Redwine said sion."
his knowledge of the insurance will Redwine was also named to the
serve him well. Also, he added. Public Employees Committee and a
"I've been here eight years now. Judiciary committee.
?Bt*'
PHOTO CONTRIBUTED
Booster Night Held
Union Elementary School teacher Amy Watkins (left) accepts a
check for $317.16 from Kathy McNeill, manager of the Shallotte
Burger King restaurant. The check represented proceeds of Union
Elementary's booster night held Jan. 26.
Started Off Warm, Wet
tween the 7th and 8th. There was no 9 mph. The highest wind gust was
precipitation recorded during the last 35 mph from the south on the 5th.
week of January. The fastest one-minute average wind
There were seven clear days, three speed was 2K mph from the south on
parily cloudy days and 21 cloudy the 5th.
days. Monthly sunshine percentage Highest pressure for the month
was 42 percent of normal. was 30.62 inches on the 19th. Low
The daily average wind speed was pressure was 29.75 on the 31st.
r
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Winter Hours:
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Dinner-Tuesday thru Saturday 6-9:30
\^ l lwv. 17 and McCorslev Avenue. 1 inta Ri?/or