Beyond Weeds...
Learn how to get there in
Section D our annual
Lawn & Garden supplement.
CSean-Up Time?
Sunset Beach Planning Board recommends
new rules against junk, nuisance, and
abandoned vehicles. Page 10-A.
Now For Round
?...
West's Derek Frink scores 24 to
lead the Trojans to a Round 1
5A playoff win. Page
A
W
TK
12/31/99 WO
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Thirty-Second Year, Number 19 ?19*4 THf BRUNSWICK KAC ON Shallotte, North Carolina, Thursday, March 10, 1994 50<t Per Copy 50 Pages,^Sections, Plus Insert
Quiet Time
STAFF PHOTO BY LYNN CARLSON
On Brunswick County 's south-facing beaches, there are few better places to watch the day end than
from a fishing pier. This pier visitor took advantage of unseasonably warm temperatures early this
week to stop and enjoy a beautiful sunset on Holden licach.
TRUCKS WOULD HAUL RODS TO AIKEN SITE
State Thinks Sunny Point
May Be Feds' Top Choice
To Receive Nuclear Waste
BY SUSAN IISHKR
State officials said this week they have reason to be
lieve Sunny Point Military Ocean Terminal near South
port may he the U.S. Department of Energy's fist choice
as a port of entry for accepting spent nuclear fuel ele
ments from foreign research reactors.
On Monday Gov. Jim Hunt sent a strongly worded
letter to U.S. Department of Energy Secretary lla/.el R.
O'lxary opposing use of any North Carolina port for
this purpose.
Under the plan 44X spent fuel rods would he returned
to the United States for storage as part of a national se
curity effort to reduce availability of highly enriched
uranium that could be used to produce nuclear weapons.
The rods would come from reactors in settings such
as hospitals and research facilities located in five
European countries. Encased in lead-lined shipment
casks, they would travel by commercial cargo ship to
one or more ports. Then they would taken by truck or
rail to the DOE'.-* Suvdiin.iii Rivei Site iii Aiken, S.C. fot
storage. The fuel is expected to be more enriched?to
have a higher ratio of radioactive isotopes?than similar
waste taken from reactors in this country.
The N.C. State Ports Authority at Wilmington had
heen identified in a federal environmental assessment as
one of seven likely entry ports selected for further study
from an earlier list of 151 potential ports. Sunny Point
had heen relegated to alternate status, though not dis
counted entirely.
That scenario may have changed.
In his own March 7 memo to Gov. Jim Hunt,
Secretary Jonathan B. Howes of the N.C. Department of
bnvironment. Health and Natural Resources advises that
no ports have been disqualified entirely.
"Moreover." he writes, "meetings that our staff have
attended in Washington, as well as information received
from Brunswick County Emergency Management per
sonnel suggest that Sunny Point may be DOE's first
choice."
Representatives of Sandia laboratories in
Albuquerque, N.M., visited several county agencies
about two weeks ago, looking into possible routes for
iiunspuitiiig the Spent luei rods.
They talked with Brunswick County Emergency
Management Coordinator Cecil Logan, who is attending
(See SUNNY POINT, Page 2-A)
Detective Charges 'Phantom' Fraud
BY ERIC CARLSON states.
Investigators call him a "mystery man" and a "slick Hudgcns is believed to have forged checks and used
operator" who is wanted for questioning in at least nine stolen credit cards to obtain more than $<1(),(XX) worth of
states for suspected forgeries and credit card frauds dat- goods and services since September. Hunter said.
inj back to 1085. His last spree allegedly began in mid February, when
Detectives say his real name is Michael Wayne he made off with S2,('(K) worth of jewelry and several
Hudgcns. But he also uses the sur- credit cards trom a Calabash businessman who met
names Hodge, Hough, Ixe and Mc- Hudgens at a Myrtle Beach, S.C., club and invited him
Caskill. to stay at his home for a couple of weeks. Hunter said.
They say he's a good-looking. It ended last week, when Hunter traced Hudgens to
"smooth-talking" guy who makes Asheville, where he allegedly tried to use one of the
friends quickly, especially at night- stolen cards to buy an expensive piece of jewelry. When
clubs. He gains the trust of his new Asheville Police picked up Hudgens, he was still wear
acquaintances and gets invited ing the diamond ring and gold bracelet stolen from the
home. Sometimes he stays a few man in Calabash. Hunter said.
days or a few weeks. I ludgens' car was loaded with purchases from the last i
"Then one day he disappears with of his illegal shopping sprees. Hunter said. Credit compa- I
IlliD^KNS the guy's cash, jewelry and credit ny records indicate that the cards stolen in Brunswick j
cards," said Brunswick County Sheriff's Detective Tom County were used for small purchases at shopping malls, i
Hunter, who has heard similar stories from police, credit hotels and restaurants in Myrtle Beach, Wilmington, i
card companies and victims in several southeastern Jacksonville, Raleigh, Durham and Calabash.
Suspect In Calabash Jewelry Theft
Florida authorities believe Hudgens may have gotten Hudgens allegedly told his victim he was in the area to
the car through -mother of his scams. According to invest in some property. Hunter said. The businessman
Hunter, a man in Crestv icw, Fla., told police that some- introduced him to a local real estate broker, wiih whom
one resembling Hudgens was staying at his house and Hudgens signed a contract to purchase a $160,000 horse
wrote him a personal check in exchange tor a farm in Loris, S.C.
certified check that he used to purchase the car. The per- Hudgens said he would pay c&sii once he closed the
sonal check bounced. sale on a house in Honda, Hunter said. Hut that property
Warrants have been issued for Hudgens' arrest in was involved in another apparent scam.
Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Reno, Nev., Hunter "The property inspector down there said (Hudgens)
said. When he entered Hudgens' name and description was trying to buy an $800,000 house and had hired him
into the national crime information computer. Hunter to inspect it," Hunter said. "Then he left town without
said he also received inquiries from police in South Hill, paying him his fee. The guy said he trusted Hudgens
Va., Atlanta, Ga., Savannah, Ga.. Charleston, S.C., and completely, never suspected a thing."
Jacksonville, Fla. That's what people in Calabash said about their deal
"Everybody 1 talk to says he's really slick, a real mvs- ings with Hudgens, Hunter said. The man who brought
tery man. None of them even had a picture of him," him home said he trusted Hudgens enough to offer him a
Hunter said. "They say he's like a phantom who stays job managing his business. The victim has asked police
just long enough to build confidence. Then he leaves not to release his name.
iind takes what he wants, including any photographs that The real estate agents also thought Hudgens was a le
might have been taken of him." gitimate customer. Hunter said. They took him around
That's basically what happened in Calabash, where (See 'PHANTOM,' Page 2-A)
Holden Board Member Says
Manager Should Be Fired
BY DOUG RUTTER think he tan improve on," Fournier
Holden Beach Commissioners said. "An evaluation is a standard
met behind closed doors for more thing. We do that with everybody."
than an hour Monday to evaluate the Fournier declined to comment on
job performance of Town Manager specific areas where commissioners
Gus Ulrich, and one commissioner think Ulrich needs to improve, but
said Tuesday he wants the manager he refuted rumors that the board is
fired. planning to fire the manager.
Following a 75-minute executive "As far as I know there's no move
session Monday night. Mayor Wally afoot to gel rid of him," Fournier
Auslcy announced publicly that the said. "I understand there was a
commission is evaluating an un- widespread belief we were going to
named town employee and that the can him. I don't know how that got
evaluation is not finished. started."
Commissioner Jim Fournier con- Commissioner Dwight Carroll
firmed Tuesday that the town board s.iiu in a telephone interview
discussed Ulrich's performance dur- Tuesday he wants to fire Ulrich and
ing the closed session, which did not hire a new town manager.
end until 11:25 p.m. Carroll called Ulrich "useless,"
Fournier said Ausley and Mayor and added, "1 worked under him. I
Pro Tcm Gay Atkins planned to know."
meet with Ulrich this week to dis- Carroll, who was Holden Beach's
cuss the evaluation. building inspector during Ulrich's
"Wally and (Jay are going to talk first stint as manager, said he
to him and give him a few items we (See HOLDEN, Pane 2-A)
y%M,
IWT&RB
STAfF PMOIO BY ERIC CARLSON
Saying Goodbye
Superior Court Judge Jack Hooks Jr. (left) joins Judge William
Gore Jr. Monday in praising Brunswick County Sheriff's Deputy
Troy Dunkin for IS years sen-ice as a bailiff in the county 's district
and superior courts. Hooks made a special trip to Bolivia for retire
ment ceremonies honoring Dunkin and Deputy Billy Gurganus,
who served as a bailiff for 23 years. The story is on Page 7-A.
TWO MEMBERS RESIGN
OIB Planning Board Issues
To Go To Hearing April 12
BY SUSAN USHER Attendance, Expansion
Ocean Isle Beach Mayor Belly The planning hoard bylaws draft
Williamson and Commissioner Ken presented Tuesday would keep the
Proctor exchanged sharp words membership at its current number
Tuesday morning after the mayor and calls for replacement of a mem
presented draft planning board ber only for four unexcused ab
changes that didn't reflect several sences during a calendar year,
key points agreed on during a work- At the Feb. 15 workshop the
shop last month. board's consensus was to establish
A public hearing on changes re- an attendance requirement that no
lating to the board and how it func- member could miss three consecu
tions will be held at 8:30 a.m. tive meetings or any four meetings a
Tuesday, April 12, just before the year without having been excused
board's next regular meeting. for good cause.
Tuesday's meeting was recessed In another effort to increase the
until 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 22 likelihood of a quorur.i, members
for a hearing on plans to apply for a raised no objections to a proposal to
state Clean Water Bond low-interest expand the board, favoring that idea
low for construction of a second ele- over use of alternate members.
vated water tank. The board also ex- "Mow are you going to have a
pects to vote that day on a series of quorum with two people?" Proctor
proposed fee changes. (See OIB, Page 2-A)
Inside... County Water C
BY ERIC CARLSON
Dirtnaays....... ZB There is light ai the end of the tunnel?or in
Business News 7E this ease, water at the end of the pipe?for
Calendar 8B thousands of people living south of Shallotte
Church News 8A and waiting to tap on to the Brunswick County
Classified 1-10C Wi"cr system.
Club Briefs 4B mon'^ '^c county commissioners ap
proved a $334.(MK) engineering contract with
the Raleigh firm of Camp Dresser and McKee
to design $2.5 million worth of new water
CROSSWORD ...12C mains that could eventually double the cus
Golf 5E tomer base of the water system.
Obituaries 8A Included in the project is a long looped line
Opinion 4-5A alonH Ml ,>lsKah Road- <'vietown Road.
People In The News 8E ^,hblallh ,lo!"c Ho f Chimney
? i^ A co Koau that will provide enough llow to provide
Plant Doctor ...5B wa|cr scrv|cc Jor |hc hl..ivlly dcvc|op[.d arca
Sports .1"0L west ol I lolden Hcach Road Those areas in
Television 6-7B clud.: developments in Shell Point, Roones
Neck and along Seashore Road.
Crime Report IOC
Court Docket 11C
oming To Shell P
Another arm of the project calls for a trans
mission line to he installed under the
Intracoastal Waterway from Oak Island to
bring water service to the Sunset Harbor area.
Other planned extensions are a line along Mt
Misery Road and a loop connecting the old
water system to newer lines in the
Bricklanding area.
Although the improvements project won't
be completed until fall 1W5, approval of the
engineering contract signals busy times ahead
lor the Utilities Operation Hoard (IJOB) and
system Director Jerry Webb It means Webb
can begin preparing maps and project outlines
for the iiisi of many S|ieciai Assessment
Districts (SADs) for extending water service
to individual homes.
At its April meeting, the UOH is expected
to review and possibly set a public hearing
tlalc for an SAD to serve the Shell Point aiea
oint, Boones Neck, Sunset Harbor
Webb said most SAD projects lake about 15 of serving an additional 4,(MX) parcels of land,
months to complete. So, if everything goes ac- Camp Dresser and McKee plans to have the
cording to schedule. Shell Point residents design phase of the project complete and
should have their hookups in place when the ready for bidding in five months. Construction
waterlines gel there. is expected to begin about five weeks later.
A Boones Neck/Seashore Road SAD is I'he largest portion of the project, the loop
likely to be the be next in line, followed by a around Ml. I'isgah and Sabbath Home roads,
third project for homes in Sunset Harbor, consists of more than 10.6 miles of lh-inch
Webb said. Residents of those areas won't and 12-inch pipe. Another 3.3 miles of 12
have to wait until the Shell Point project is fin- inch water line is to be installed along Mt.
ished. however. Webb will begin preparing Misery Road.
maps and plans for the second SAD as soon as Sunset Harbor w ill be served by a 14-inch
the first one is set for public hearing. line to be installed beneath the waterway,
"We fully expect to have several SADs Webb said. Engineers will be studying two
overlapping and proceeding ihrougn the ways of doing ihis. eiilici by dredging or by
process at the same time." Webb said. "We boring a hole for the pipe from Oak Island to
don't stop." the mainland.
I he project is also expected to bring other I'he latter method may be more costly, but it
requests lor water service along ihe new water would not disrupt activity in the waterway, he
mains Webb said Ihe lines have the potential said.