KEEP OFF
DUNES
$50 FINE
L
Eau?
STAFF PHOTO BY DOUG RUTTER
Jail Birds
These black birds probably won't be spending any lime in jail, but
they were eaught breaking the law recently at Holden Beach.
While one bird searched for food , the other kept his eyes open for
police.
Shallotte Board Backs
Main Street Vendors
In 4-1 Vote Tuesday
BY DOUG RUTTER
A long-sinnding proposal to rid
Shallotte's Main Street of roadside
peddters finally came to a vole
Tuesday night anil was defeated by a
convincing 4-1 margin.
Alderman Willon Harrelson's mo
tion to "leave the vendors alone"
was supported by fellow board
members David Ciause, Roney
Cheers and Paul Wayne Reeves.
Morris Hall got no support for his
earlier motion to draft a town ordi
nance that would move the peddlers
off Main Street and into an orga
nized tlea market area.
"I'd really like to know why this
is bugging you and a few other peo
ple," Harrelson said to Hall at
Tuesday's town meeting. "Person
ally. I am fed up with this being
brought up."
Hall indicated that his biggest
concern is with the seafood vendors,
crafts salesmen and other peddlers
who frequently set up shop on prop
erty at the intersection of Main
Street and Smith Avenue.
Town Attorney Mark Lewis said
the town board could amend its zon
ing ordinances to prohibit street ped
dlers from operating in certain sec
tions of town.
However, most board members
said they don't want to chase the
salespeople off Main Street.
Harrelson said the vendors are op
erating in a commercial district and
have the permission of the property
owner.
Cheers said the town could do
something about the vendors if they
were creating a traffic hazard on the
street. "We have no jurisdiction over
private property, only to the point if
it is unsightly," he said.
Reeves said if Hall wants to beau
tify Shallotte. he should propose a
crackdown on sign ordinance viola
tions.
"I can't carry the whole basket at
one time," Hall replied.
Following the vote. Hall said he
would not raise the issue again but
would support a ban on street ven
dors if another town board member
revived the debate in the future.
"I can assure you I won't bring it
up again. Evidently, I've beaten a
dead horse to death so I'll let it die,"
Hall said.
Harrelson, who along with
Reeves goes off the town board in
December, said, "It's been resolved
temporarily. I'm sure il will come up
again."
Money Refused
Undaunted by the overwhelming
vote against his vendors proposal.
Hall managed to push through a sec
ond motion that will allow the town
to keep Hall's stipend every time he
misses a meeting.
Alderman are paid $25 each per
meeting, whether they attend or not.
The town hoard normally meets
twice a month. The mayor is paid a
salary of S 1 25 per month.
Harrelson and Gause voted in fa
vor of Hall's motion for the town to
keep its S25 if Hall is absent. Reeves
and Cheers voted against the mea
sure.
Hall said he feels guilty about get
ting paid for meetings he does not
attend. "It's like hiring a plumber
and he doesn't show up. I don't
think the citizens of Shallotte are
getting their money's worth when
I'm not here."
Other Business
In other business Tuesday, alder
men:
? Adopted a resolution that will
allow all town employees to estab
lish and contribute to their own
401 K retirement funds. They also
will be permitted to borrow money
against those funds. In the past, the
401 K plan has only been available
to police officers.
? Accepted a planning board rec
ommendation to deny a conditional
use permit requested by David
Jones, who wants to continue oper
ating an upholstery business out of
his home on Pender Road. Planning
board members said Jones did not
provide them with the information
that is required by town code.
? Postponed discussion of bank
ing proposals received from United
Carolina Bank and Southern Nat
ional Bank. The board plans to meet
with representatives of each bank on
Nov. 2.
? Instructed Police Chief Rodney
Gause to pay closer attention to par
king violations. Board members
mentioned problems with people
parking on sidewalks and in fire
lanes and illegal parking in spaces
reserved for the handicapped.
? Voted to close off the entrance
to the town park on N.C. 130 West.
The only remaining entrance will be
behind the South Brunswick Islands
Chamber of Commerce building.
LUNCH BUFFET
MONDAY-FRIDAY 11-2:30
7t??
r?.f
Blanks Selected
As Brunswick County
Schools
New Assistant Superintendent
Oscar Blanks, a long-lime educa
tor in Hladcn anil Columbus coun
ties, will begin work New. I as
Brunswick County Schools' new as
sistant superintendent of pupil per
sonnel and support programs.
The Brunswick County Board of
Education voted Monday night to
hire Blanks for the newly-created
post, a third assistant superintendent
cy in the schools' central office cre
ated by consolidating several other
jobs.
Blanks. 52. has more than 25
years of experience as a teacher and
administrator. He was hired on the
recommendation of Superintendent
Ralph Johnston, selected from a
field of 19 applicants, of which sev
en were interviewed, said Personnel
Director Ralph Ward.
Named Administrator of the Year
earlier this year by the North Caro
lina Association of Educators.
Blanks has served as Chapter 1 su
pervisor for the Bladen County
Schools since I'WI .
In Brunswick County he will
oversee pupil personnel and support
programs, which include employees
such as the system's guidance coun
selors. social workers and psycholo
gists, as well as special programs
such as DARE (Drug Awareness
Resistance Education), JTPA (Job
Training Partnership Act) grants, the
exceptional children's program
headed by Lorene Williams and
"possibly other areas," said John
ston.
Blanks was out on annual leave
Tuesday and could not be reached
for comment.
Johnston described the new assis
tant as "an innovative and research
oriented person who believes in
staying current on new ideas anil
trends in helping all children learn
Mis philosophy is simply child
first.'
"Mis commitment to children will
enhance our efforts, providing lead
ership to the areas of pupil personnel
and support programs."
Blanks has described his situa
tional leadership style as embracing
four quadrants: talking, counseling,
participating and delegating.
The Columbus County native
holds a bachelor of arts degree from
N.C. A &' T University in mathe
matics. a master's degree from East
Carolina and a 1990 doctorate of ed
ucation in administration and super
vision from South Carolina State
University. Me is a graduate of the
Principal's Executive Program at
Chapel Mill and received curriculum
audit training through the American
Association of School Admin
istration in 1992. Me authored a
$30. (MM) grant to implement a school
development program in an elemen
tary school.
Me will receive a state-paid salary
based on education and experience,
plus a local supplement of $6,335.
Before joining the school admin
istrative staff in Hladen County,
Blanks served as principal of Boo
ker T. Washington Elementary
School from 1977 to 1991. served as
assistant principal of Hallsboro Ju
nior Migh while serving as athletic
director of Mallsboro Migh School,
taught math two years at West
Columbus Migh School in Cerro
Gordo, served as a guidance coun
selor one year for the Acme-Delco
junior and senior high schools, and
taught math and worked as an assis
la nl coach at the old Artesia I ligh
School. Mis tirsl education job was
teaching math in an Asheville high
school
With Blanks' hiring, the school
system also addressed a concern
voiced by black community leaders
who picketed the school board of
fice earlier this year demanding that
blacks be hired in more visible posi
? i??ne ?>? l?? ??##????*- Kir*
illUJN Ivuuw5 p.
At one time both the superinten
dent's job and one assistantship
were held by black educators.
STAFF PHOTO BY ERIC CARLSON
Balloon Heads
Ken Schenck and Jerry Price of Jacksonville show off their handi
work at one of the Oyster Festival booths.
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