PHOTO CONTRIBUTED
Volunteer Efforts Honored
Charlie Thomas Arnold (left) is congratulated by Governor and Mrs. James B. Hunt during a recep
tion Nov. 22 in Sanford honoring outstanding volunteers in the state's central region. Arnold h as cho
sen for recognition from Brunswick County for his efforts in promoting public safety. Arnold volun
teers as a Shallotte Police Department auxiliary officer, as a Sunset Beach volunteer firefighter und as
an ambulance attendant for the Calabash Volunteer Emergency Medical Service. In addition , he vol
unteers at Waccamaw Elementary School, teaching students about law enforcement and promoting
safety belt usage and fire safety. He is employed by Wilson 's Supermarkets.
Ocean Isle Property Owners
Mark Association's 1 Oth Year
BY SUSAN USHER
More 'h:?n 120 people crowded
into the Museum of Coastal Caro
lina at Ocean Isle Beach Saturday
for the annual meeting of the Ocean
Isle Beach Property Owners Asso
ciation.
The 941 -member association is
celebrating its 10th anniversary this
fall.
"It's highly unlikely a group such
as this would stay together this long.
It's even more unlikely that it would
stay together and everyone still like
each other," President Robert Jewell
said, referring to the group's work
ing relationships with the town and
other local organizations.
The association was organized in
September 1984 by property owners
who wanted to have a positive influ
ence on the community, benefitting
the town and its resident and non
resident property owners.
During 1994 OIBPOA continued
to support emergency services, pub
lic access, beautification and other
community efforts. Projects com
pleted or continuing include:
? purchase of three cellular tele
phones, with one-year service con
tract, for use by town officials for
communications during emergency
situations;
? donation of a rescue boat and
equipment to the town, audiovisual
equipment to the museum, and mon
ey to the Friends of the Library for
keeping the branch library in Shal
lotte open during renovations.
? purchase of a defibrillator (now
on order) that will be owned by the
association and housed at the town
owned site used as a substation by
Shallotte Volunteer Rescue Squad.
? completion of a second handi
cap ramp and gazebo, at Raeford
Street. The first was built on Beau
foit Street.
? sale of 1 99 town flags, with an
other 100 still available for $36
each.
? completion a new sign at en
trance to the town.
? sponsorship of three annual
events, the Trash Bash litter pick-up,
Christmas tree lighting program and
town employee appreciation dinner.
The POA continues to offer to re
imburse training expenses for any
Ocean Isle Beach Volunteer Fire
Department first responder who be
comes an emergency medical tech
nician. Three members are taking
the training through Brunswick
Community College at no cost, said
departmental spokesman At Kane,
"saving the POA some money."
Kane reminded property owners of
the fire department's ongoing efforts
to improve service and lower insur
ance premiums for fire coverage.
If the department gets the better
rating it plans to seek in the near fu
ture, the average homeowner's pre
mium will decrease by an estimated
$50 a year, he said.
To maintain a new rating, he said,
"there's a lot of equipment we're go
ing to need to buy."
For example, because of the
town's size and a population that
soars from 600 in the off-season to a
peak of about 20,000 on the Fourth
of July, the Insurance Service
Organization says the town needs
three pumpers. It has two.
Through Sept. 30 the department
had received 255 calls, mainly for
first respondcrs.
Kane reminded property own
ers,"If you don't have a house num
ber visible from the road, put one
up. We may be trying to find your
house someday."
While public accessways are now
marked by street signs, he said the
department is still encouraging
oceanfront property owners to
mount house numbers on the ocean
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Located at Lions Paw Golf Links
351 Ocean Ridge Parkway SW. Ocean Isle Beach. NC (910)287-1709
Mary Manchee
Barber ? Cosmetologist
announces the opening of
The Hair Shop
located at Little River Swim & Fitness
Club, across from flea market
(803) 280-1815
Nexxus & Paul Mitchell
i
Walk-ins Wclcome
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side of their houses also, lo aid in re
porting incidents that happen on the
beach.
Police Chief Curt Pritchard en
couraged property owners to report
any suspicious activity immediately.
He reminded them that, as a theft
deterrent and aid to recovery of
stolen items, television sets and oth
er items can be engraved at no
charge at the police department.
Mayor Betty Williamson updated
members on the town's activities
during the past year. She and Com
missioner Debbie Sloanc Smith also
fielded questions from property ow
ners regarding the proposed dune
and berm beach renourishment pro
ject. The town has appealed to the
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to re
consider its initial proposal, which
does not include the east end The
Corps' Final recommendation is due
in December, after which a public
workshop will be held before the
town decides in January on its pre
ferred option. Following an option
other than that chosen by the corps
could increase the town's share of
the cost by millions of dollars.
Elected to the POA board of di
rectors Saturday on a single vole
were Joyce Gillon. Gladys Gold
smith. liayden O'Neil, Betty Wil
liamson and Phil Holcombc. A sixth
seat on the board was not filled.
The museum opened its doors
Sunday afternoon to POA members
and their guests at no charge, in ap
preciation of the group's continuing
support. The museum is planning its
second expansion, an auditorium
with separate entrance and re
strooms.
Calabash Plans ' Straw Vote '
On 4.5 Million Sewer Purchase
BY ERIC CARLSON
Residents of Calabash this month
will he asked to vote in a "straw
poll" on the question of whether the
town should spend $4.5 million to
buy the sewer system that serves ine
Carolina Shores development and
other areas of the town.
In a vote of 4-to-l along district
lines, the town board of commis
sioners last week voted to conduct
the non-binding referendum in an
effort to gauge public support for the
proposed purchase of Carolina
Blythe Utility Co.
Commissioner Keith Hardee, who
represents the District 1 area of the
town that is not served by the sys
tem, voted against holding the vote.
The town plans to mail ballots to
each of Calabash's 1.465 registered
voters. The ballots are expected to
be mailed this week. Included will
be a letter dcscribirtg plans for the
proposed purchase.
The letter contains information
taken from the town's engineering
and accountants reports and the
findings of a committee of CBU
customers appointed to study the
feasibility of buying the system
Calabash has considered buying
Carolina Blythe for several years,
liarly plans called for expanding the
existing v;w<*r system to serve the
downtown business district Then
the purchase of CBU was consid
ered as the cornerstone for a region
al sewer system to serve both the
Calabash and Sunset Beach areas.
Purchase negotiations between
CBU owner Billy Burnett and the
town's hired engineers for were
eventually discontinued. Calabash
has since joined Sunset Beach in
forming the South Brunswick Water
and Sewer Authority, which is going
ahead with the regional system to
serve both areas.
Recently, residents of Carolina
Shores have voiccd support for the
idea of Calabash purchasing Car
olina Bis the in hopes keeping down
sewer rates. The commissioners
have agreed in principal to work to
ward buNing the system at Burnett's
asking price of $4 5 million, fi
nanced by him at 5 percent interest
for 30 years.
The informational letter that will
accompany the straw poll ballot csti
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Fri. and Sat., Dec 9-10
Up to 50% -60% off
vinyl and in-stock carpet
good selection
SEASIDE CARPETS
Discount on all Dee She Dolls
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Watch next wee*s Beacon tor details
" Regardless of what you do about buying
Carolina Blythe, it doesn 't have anything
to do with the South Brunswick Water
and Sewer Authority, "
? Keith Hardee, Commissioner Representing Dist. 1
mates thai a town purchase of CBU
will result in an increase in com
bined water and sewer rates from
$21 per month to "a range of $34 to
$41."
Asserting that "the South Bruns
wick Water and Sewer Authority is a
likely purchaser of CBU if the town
docs not buy it," the letter estimates
the authority will charge a combined
rate of about $35.68 per month.
At the town meeting last week.
Hardee criticized the use of such
price comparisons in describing the
proposed purchase.
"Regardless of what you do about
buying Carolina Blvthe. it doesn't
have anything to do with the South
Brunswick Water and Sewer Auth
ority." Hardee said
Calabash commissioners have
voted to prohibit the authority from
purchasing Carolina Blythc But as
the letter points out, "this position
may not be legaiiy binding."
The CBU system is 20 years old.
the letter notes, but engineers have
"found no significant problems" with
the treatment plant and determined it
to be "in excellent condition." How
ever, the letter admits that "the phys
ical integrity and status of the pipe in
the ground is not known."
Opponents of the purchase have
voiced concerns about unforeseen
maintenance costs that could drive
up rates or force the town to use tax
money for improvements.
Before agreeing to hold the straw
vote. Commissioner Jon Sanborn
suggested that the town might want
to wait until the N.C. Local Govern
ment Commission rules on whether
it will allow Calabash to make the
purchase.
Town officials are waiting to hear
if the state will require a complete
appraisal of the purchase. Sanborn
estimated that such a study would
cost the town an additional $10,000
to SI5,(MX) The arrangement also
must be approved by the Public
Utilities Commission.
"To my way of thinking, we have
nothing to go to the people with
yet," Sanborn said.
Commissioner Theodora Altreu
tcr. an outspoken supporter of buy
ing Carolina Blythc, opposed any
move that might further delay the
purchase saying. "We've done a ton
of work that may go do^n the
tubes." She also suggested that the
vote be made an official referendum
that would require the board to go
ahead with the deal if endorsed by
the public.
Her suggestion was withdrawn af
ter Town Attorney Michael Ramos
advised that a binding referendum
must be an official vote conducted
by the Brunswick County Board of
Elections and would first require a
public hearing
I.R.S. PROBLEMS
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?Audits 'Offer In Compromise
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Sunset Beach & Ocean Isle Prints ? Suncatchers
and our wonderful Christmas corner!
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High credit card debts?
Large hospital bills?
Bankruptcy may help.
Contact
WILLIAM D. EZZELL
Attorney
(910)457-9586 or (910)253-5600
Lower Cape Fear Hospice
& Century 21 Sunset Realty
invjU> you to share the beauty of the holidays
this year by sponsoring a
I^ove Light Tree
Situated on the comer of Hwys 179 4 904 at Seaside the
\ tree will symbolize the true spirit of Christmas For a
\ donation of $5 or more, you may sponsor a light on
the tree in honor of someone you love or admire.
For a $25 donation you may sponsor a light on the
star atop the tree All donations go to Hospice, and
a card will be sent to notify the honored of your
gift A candle lighting ceremony will be held Dec.
13 at 6 30 p m To make your contribution, com
\ / plete the form below ana mail with your check.
. Hospice <54-5356 or Century 21 Sunset Realty 579-1000.
r details, contact
VOL' K NAME
YOL'K ADDRESS. CITY. STATE. ZIP
nam? ok person to be remembered ok honokedTc
'Cirrle Onn
NAME OK PERSON TO BE NOTIKIED ?
1 THEIR ADDRESS. CITY. STATE. ZIP "
$5 per tree light $25 per star light
Make check payable to Lower Cape Fear Hospice Inc ATTN u
502 N Sunset fclvd , Sunset Beach, NC 2846ft ' \anesaa Hewett,
ALL CONTRIBUTIONS ARK TAX DEDUCTIBLE
m ? Mi Mi bJ
10136-3 Beach Dr. SW
Golf Plaza, Calabash
i