Shoreline
Pine Knoll Shores Annual
Drinking Water Quality Report
See pages 12-13
Hurricane Florence Recovery Update
See page 26
Vol. 14, No. 6
A Shoreline Community, Pine Knoll Shores, N.C.
June 2019
Beach Safety
By Jason Baker, Pine Knoll Shores Fire Chief
Respect the ocean—and the advice of the experts
This summer season has started out tragically with the loss of at least seven lives
due to drowning and multiple serious water rescues. Public safety personnel spend
a lot of time discussing what we can do to prevent such tragedies and how we can
educate beachgoers about beach safety. While there is, unfortunately, no definitive
answer, I do have some ideas.
First and foremost, many of our visitors have a lack of knowledge or a lack of
respect for the ocean. With rip currents, tides and breakers on the beach, the ocean
can be a dangerous environment to humans and demands respect. However, with
some common sense and taking the advice of the experts, you don’t have to fear it.
Even if it is flat calm, the ocean can still be dangerous for inexperienced
swimmers—but when we have rough surf and frequent rip currents, it is best to
stay out of the water. After I closed the beach last year in the interest of safety, a
reporter asked me what I would tell a family of four that came on their week of
vacation and cant get into the water. I replied with a question of my own: what
would we tell that same family of four when we send them home with only three
or even two of their family members because they chose to enter the ocean during
dangerous conditions. The beach has been here for a long time, and it will be here
next year as well.
Recently an individual came to the public safety building to ask why we were
flying red flags when the ocean appeared to be calm. A common misconception is
that if the ocean looks calm and beautiful there aren’t any dangerous currents and
that flags are flown just to scare visitors. Things are not always what they seem. In
this case, within an hour of this complaint having been registered, we went on a
serious water rescue in Indian Beach.
Every morning the captain on duty checks the NOAA rip current forecast and
sets the flag color accordingly. It doesn’t matter if the water is beautiful or not—the
rip currents can still be there, and those entering the water should use caution
and be alert. Regardless of the complaints we receive from beachgoers, we will fly
the flag that communicates the appropriate conditions and warnings. You can be
proactive and check conditions yourself before leaving the house by visiting the
National Weather Service’s website at weather.gov/beach/mhx. This site is simple to
use and will give conditions for a specific spot on the beach. Consider bookmarking
this site and getting into the habit of checking surf conditions before heading to
the beach. In addition, you areNvelcome to call the Public Safety Department at
247-2268 to inquire about beach conditions.
(Continued on page 23)
m
The Fine Kmril Shores Radio Station broadcasts 24 hours a day
with weather and emergency info.
EMERGENCY - CALL 911
ECC 726-1911 • PUBLIC SAFETY 247-2474
Pine KnoU Shores Pickleball
Tournament a Success
By Jerry Price
The Pine Knoll Shores Parks and Recreation Committee and the Crystal Coast
Country Club hosted the town’s Third Annual Pickleball Tournament on April
27. Perfect weather, enthusiastic participants and willing volunteers contributed
to the success of the event. Mayor Ken Jones was on hand to start the tournament
and to present awards at the conclusion.
Congratulations to our first place finishers. Barb Dohlen of Emerald Isle and
Dale Boyd of Pine Knoll Shores. They were awarded hand-carved pickleball
trophies, created by Pine Knoll Shores woodcarver Bill Brophy, and t-shirts and
hats donated by the Mt. Olive Pickle Company. Our second place winners were
Carolyn and George Everett of Morehead City, who were awarded t-shirts and
hats, also donated by the Mt. Olive Pickle Company. Our third place finishers
were Susan Thomas of Atlantic Beach and Walt Geist of Pine Knoll Shores, who
received gift certificates from the Beaufort Historical Association, compliments
of Diane Donovan and the association’s gift shop. The Food Lion at Atlantic
Station supported the tournament with a generous donation of assorted fruit for
the players’ table, and all competitors and volunteers received a jar of Mt. Olive
pickles.
Country club Tennis Director Chris Baile made sure the clay courts were in
prime condition for tournament play and coordinated with club General Manager
Phil Woodrum to make lunch available for the players, volunteers and spectators.
As always. Public Services Director Sonny Cunningham and his staff provided
valuable logistics support before, during and after the tournament.
Special thanks to Director of Play Tom Kowalski, who kept the tournament
moving smoothly and kept track of scoring and the leaderboard, and to Arleen
Graczewski, who coordinated the volunteers. Steacy Morrison and Bill Dorsett
took pictures of the tournament from start to finish.
Additional volunteers included Vicki Daniels, Susan Griffin, Peter Hanson,
Bobby Hoyle, Susan Hoyle, Ida Mazzoni, Dan Morrissey and Paula Vann, who
served as court monitors; Janie Price, who organized the prize table and made
the chili for the hot dogs; Donald Leatherman and Ann Waldman, who helped
with the morning setup; and Joanne Crawford, Linda Smith, Susan Toms and Jan
Willis, who provided additional support for the players by refreshing the player’s
table.
Should you wish to know more about pickleball and places to play, please
contact Jerry Price at jerryaprice@gmail.com. Please see the Town Crier in this
issue for photos from the tournament.
Standard
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Permit #35
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