VOLUME 65/ NUMBER 38 SOUTHPORT. N.C. 50 CENTS Cougars Myra Williams named outstanding athlete in conference track — 1C Neighbors Every day near the end especially at Smart Start chosen Area legislators pledge support By Holly Edwards Feature Editor Nearly $1 million per year could be allocated for Brunswick County children and families if the N. C. Gen eral Assembly votes in the upcoming short session to expand the Smart Start program. The Brunswick County Partnership for Children is one of 12 new Smart Start programs and could receive $100,000 for planning this year and $095,000 annually in future years. Smart Start was initiated by Gov/ Jim Hunt three years ago and is in tended to ensure that all children un der age five are healthy and ready to attend kindergarten. About 44 percent of children entering kindergarten statewide test below the recom mended level. .Area legislators vowed to fight for the Smart Start program in Brunswick County and throughout the state. “We’ve lobbied pretty hard for this, and we're very, very pleased Brunswick County was selected,” said Rep. David Redwine (D-Ocean Isle Beach). “We've been turned down for two years, but the need for children in our county has been there all the time. Our next battle is going to be in Raleigh because there are still some in the House Republican lead ership who don’t support Smart Start.” Gov. Hunt is requesting $58 anil lion to continue Smart Start programs already in place and expand the pro gram to 12 additional counties, Redwine said. Despite the substantial price tag, Sen R. C. Soles (D-Tabor City) said state legislators have been “cautious” in doling out Smart Start funding. An independent audit conducted by Coopers & Lybrand concluded that Smart Start is an innovative program that is improving the lives of children under age five, Soles said. “We asked for a comprehensive See Chosen, page 5 Just Joey the juggler was just right on Saturday as he entertained youngsters at “Arts in the Park” in Southport. The annual event celebrating both per forming and graphic arts was sponsored by the Photo by Jim Harper Associated Artists of Southport, Brunswick County Parks and Recreation Department and the North Carolina Arts Council. ElectriCmes impact looms large for state ■ Neither Southport as an electric distributor, nor NCEMPA as a wholesaler, stand to be competitive in a deregulated environment By Richard Nubel Municipal Editor Deregulation of the electric distri bution industry may bring savings to many electric customers, just as de regulation of the telephone industry has by'allowing phone customers to pick and chose long-distance carriers offering rate savings But. officials of Electricities, the parent company of Southport's wholesale electric pro vider, told city aldermen Thursday night they should lobby state and fed eral legislators against deregulation of the industry "What we try to emphasize is that the federal government should stay out of deregulation and let the states handle it,” said Carv Washburn, chair man of the board of Electricities “That would he the better wav to handle it.” Allowing the State of North Caro lina to "handle" deregulation of the See Impact, page S EDITORIAL COMMENT, PAGE 4j»j Regional approach Coastal towns receive grants By Richard Nubel Municipal Editor With two of three regional grants it has sought in hand, a coalition of Brunswick County beach towns will seek a legislative appropriation to strengthen and formalize its regional wastewater management efforts. Roger N. Schecter, director of the state's Division of Coastal Manage ment, announced the award of two regional local planning and manage ment grants this week to the Brunswick beaches coalition, now known as the Brunswick County Ef fluent Disposal Organization (BCEDO). See Grants, page 6 "We are trying to put the steps in place. Should we be the recipient of the legislative appropriation, we can move forward.' Jerry Walters Long Beach manager Yaupon motel gets conditional permit By Richard Nubel Municipal Editor Although a number of residents complained traffic congestion on Yaupon Drive at McGlamery Street Forecast Unseasonably cool temperatures and partly cloudy skies can be ex pected for the period of Thursday Saturday. Highs will only be 70-75. TNSIDE Opinion. 4 Obituaries. 9 Business.14 Church.4B Schools 5B Pilot TV.6B District Court .. 7C would be exacerbated, Yaupon Beach commissioners Monday night awarded a conditional use permit for construction of a planned 51-unit motel and restaurant. Bill and Sarah Gordon of Long Beach plan to build the motel on three and a halt lots spanning an area to McDougle Street and Country Club Drive. "It it meets the conditions of the zoning ordinance, we can’t stop it,” commissioner Bill Smith said. Meeting March 28, the town’s plan ning board voted to recommend issu ance of the permit with four condi tions: ■ That a vegetative buffer consist ing of bushes and trees be installed on the property along the right-of-way of McGlamery and McDougle streets; ■ I hat an eight-toot privacy fence be constructed around the motel's dumpster; ■ That a vegetative screen consist ing ot bushes be installed around the dumpster enclosure; ■ That, it needed, a parapet wall be constructed up to three feet tall on top of the building to hide any heat ing and air conditioning units. Four ol five persons who opposed See Permit, page 9 Same county rate By Terry Pope County Editor Taxes would remain the same -- 68.5 cents per $100 of property value - under a proposed budget the Brunswick County Board of Commissioners received from county manager Jim Varner on Monday. “Our direction was no tax increase and no new posi tions,” said Varner. The 1996-97 proposal will go to public hearing Tuesday. May 28, and must be adopted prior to July l. It does raise wholesale and retail customer water rates by 33 percent. It will boost wholesale rates from $1.45 to $1.98 per 1,000 gallons and the monthly mini mum on residential bills from See Rate, page 6 Mom and the kids Graduation is a family affair for the Cumbees By Marybeth K. Bianchi Special to the Pilot She owned children's clothing and women's apparel stores, established a maritime museum and raised three children, yet there was something else Pamela Cumbee wanted to achieve in life. The Southport resident wanted a bachelor's degree, and on Saturday the University of North Carolina at Wilmington graduate was awarded one with two of her children in a unique ceremony at Liberty Univer sity in Lynchburg, VA Because her children would be graduating the same day as she would be, Mrs. Cumbee asked UNCW offi cials if she could postpone recew mg her diploma until the December com mencement ceremony. UNCW offi cials said no, but looked for an alter native. UNCW registrar Ron Whittaker ar See Family, page 7 Pam Cumbee shares the joy of graduation with son (»reg Jr. and daugh ter Alison on Saturday. She is a L'NCW graduate, while the children got their diplomas from Liberty University.

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