The State Port Filot
Opinion
* .
For the people
Your vote next Tuesday stretches beyond the usual
endorsement of a particular candidate
Tuesday’s election gets us back on track with four-year staggered terms
for county office. In the recent past, all five seats for school board and
county commission were up for grabs every two years.
Hard to believe this county actually voted for that. It seemed like the
expedient thing to do at the time, so we gave it a try. It didn’t work.
It njnde it tough on boards wishing to preserve continuity and on resi
dents who wanted to serve. The big question now is whether the return to
four-year terms has produced a better slate of candidates.
The answer is obvious. Yes, it has. And our county is better for making a
switch back to staggered terms. The Democratic process has returned and
it has given the political races back to the voters.
Two years ago. a school board candidate and a commission candidate
both ran unopposed in the general election. They were declared automatic
winners without a challenge and avoided any type of political debate. That
type of race isn’t healthy for the democratic process. It’s not good for citi
zens to rely on representatives who secure their seats by default, affording
no explanation of their views or stance on the issues important to a grow
ing county like our own.
On Tuesday’s ballot there are good, healthy choices involving
Republican and Democratic candidates for each of the two seats that are
up for grabs on the school board and county commission. This election
has the potential to turn the commission back over to Republican control.
It is that important of an election.
Residents know there are real choices to make and that their vote
stretches beyond the usual endorsement of a particular candidate and can
swing the party control one way or another. There are no empty ballot
spaces staring at voters this time around, and some good qualified persons
have filled those spaces.
It’s one good reason to head to the polls Tuesday to vote. There are other
races, too, that may pique a particular interest or concern for voters — the
race for sheriff. State House or U. S. Senate. The lack of a presidential
race always seems to lower the number of persons who vote during off
year elections, but don’t let that stop you this time around.
There is a good slate of candidates awaiting you Tuesday at the polls.
The candidates have given of their time to pursue office and to possibly
serve. The choices are better than they were in past years, and it’s all in
your hands.
Clean water
Tuesday’s vote for loan and grant availability is
important for Southport-Oak Island and the county
In addition to the number of state and county leaders voters will select at
the polls next Tuesday, another measure critical to the future of our state
and our communities will be decided.
A “yes” vote on a referendum authorizing sale of Clean Water Bonds is
essential for the economic, environmental and public health everywhere in
North Carolina.
Living and working in the Southport-Oak Island area, it is easy to be
persuaded of the need to increase die pool of funds available for clean
water projects. Virtually every local government here is involved in some
way in either the planning or construction of water and sewer systems or
the repair and upgrade of them. The proposed $800-million bond issue
subject to referendum Tuesday would make an additional $600 million
available for water and wastewater management projects. Those funds
would flow to local governments in about equal measure as low-interest
loans for infrastructure and outright grants.
This means Southport can compete for funds from a bigger pool to
repair its wastewater collection system. Another funding source will open
up for Long Beach as it begins phase I of its wastewater collection sys
tem. Another funding source would be available to Yaupon Beach and to
Southeast Brunswick Sanitary District to add capacity at treatment plants
they operate. Another funding source would be available to Caswell Beach
for the collection main it will need to run some day from town limits east
ward to the Baptist Assembly. Another possible source of funding will be
available to Boiling Spring Lakes if Brunswick County can’t adequately
address that city’s drinking water needs.
The remaining $200 million of the proposed bond issue would establish
a grant and loan pool for extension of natural gas service. We need only
look to the economically important and rapidly developing areas of north
ern Brunswick County to see the need here.
If any of us remains uncertain of the need for more state money for
water and wastewater system development locally, let us remember that
Southport-Oak Island lies downriver from some very large cities with very
large wastewater management demands. Grants and loans from this pool
will help clean Brunswick County’s source of drinking water on the Cape
Fear River and make smaller rivers and streams in the basin between here
and the Piedmont cleaner. And, the cleaner all discharge is upstream, the
less pressure there will be on future discharge conditions applied here at
the mouth of the Cape Fear. That may be of critical importance as local
governments south of N. C. 211 and east of the Lockwood Folly River
seek to develop a regional wastewater management system.
It makes good sense for our communities to vote “yes” for the $800-mil
lion Clean Water Bond referendum on Tuesday’s ballot.
i
The State Port Pilot
USPS 520-280
Published every Wednesday by The State Port Pilot Inc.
Ed Harper
Diane McKeithan
Richard Nubel
Terry Pope
Laura Kimball
Jim Harper
Kim Adams
Renee Elliott
Sabrina Rabon
Melissa Jones
Omega Harrison
James M. Harper Jr., Publisher 1935-1994
Subscription rates including postage: $14.00 a year in Brunswick County;
$21.00 elsewhere in North Carolina; $26.00 outside North Carolina.
105 South Howe Street, Southport, NC 28461-3817
Periodical class postage paid at Southport and additional mailing offices.
Postmaster: Send address changes to
P. O. Box 10548, Southport, NC 28461-0548.
Phone 910-457-4568 ■ Fax 910-457-9427 ■ E-mailpilot@southport.net
Editor
• Business Manager
Municipal Editor
County Editor
Feature Editor
Photographer
Advertising Sales
Advertising Sales
Advertising Sales
Art Director
Classified Advertising
asburv pap* flasss©
COf\£Y n£^S'-3£RV'c^
£
TUERC'J
LACK
IEEE’S A
_OF
CREDifCARD
CCMPETUIOK?/
v news
Soundings ‘The Nation’s Boating
Newspaper” - devotes three fi|l pages to
Southport in its November edition, <■ sale every
where but probably sold-out in OTs area. The
story tells of our favorite things* — shady
streets lined with quaint cottages and immaculate
homes embellished with curlicues, columns and
fanciful gingerbread” — and includes everything
from restaurants to movie-making to the N. C.
Fourth of July Festival, A half-page of copy is
devoted to the Southport Maritime Museum, as
well it should be, and there are plenty of water
front photos... The writer, Mary Maynard Drake,
notes that “the supermarket is 1.5 miles away”
but dismisses the fact with the oft-repeated story,
“A local boater is likely to say, ‘Here’s the keys to
my car,’ or ‘I’ll drive you up.’” That’s increasing
ly less likely, now that Wilson’s has moved anoth
er two miles out the road, so here’s a good rumor:
A small grocery store is said to be in the permit
ting process to locate near the Small Boat Harbor.
That would be good news not only for boaters but
for townspeople needing, a loaf of bread.
Our favorite south-of-the-border chef, Jose, is
back in town, He’s opening in the former Del’s
Restaurant in Long Beach, and will undoubtedly
make some new amigos among newcomer? to
Oak Island. His former Southport patrons will
have yet another reason to cross that bridge...
Southport business news this week includes the
opening or soon-to of two Howe Street clothiers:
Great Mistakes will relocate from Oak Island to
the new building at the comer of Howe and West
streets, and Fins and Feathers opens its doors
today next to the ABC store... Want to show-off
that fancy new ragtop to everybody on Oak
Island? The Southport-Oak Island Chamber of
Commerce is looking for convertibles for its
Christmas-by-the-Sea parade on Saturday,
December 5. Those who wouldn’t mind having a
pretty young beauty queen or Rep. Butch
Redwine riding in the back seat are asked to call
Nancy at the chamber, 457-6964.
Another good 70-degree, not-a-cloud-in-the
sky weekend to report, this one something of a
surprise since it followed our first cool spell of
the fall. Temperatures dropped to the low forties
Friday morning and have been comfortably cool
every night since... The current local weather, and
the calendar, made us totally oblivious to forma
tion of Hurricane Mitch in the Caribbean. Not
only have we gauged the severity of hurricanes
by Hazel in 1954, we have used that date —
October 15 -- as sort of our unofficial end to hur
ricane season... Saturday night is Halloween and
we issue the usual warnings: Don’t take candy
from strangers, wear light-colored clothes. The
safest place is at any of several church functions
or at county- or Long Beach-sponsored events,
where fun wiH be had by all.
There’s only one South Brunswick home foot
ball game left this season so it’s now or never to
say this: We hope on its halftime march Friday,
November 6, the band chooses to play some of
the upbeat tunes it plays from a seated position
while in the stands. “Hey Jude” is not what a
young football team down 14-0 needs to hear dur
ing break... Baseball season’s over — the Yankees
put a quick end to that last Wednesday - and,
while we’re still in the midst of football season,
we’re anxious for basketball. Plans are in the
making for a Brunswick County high school tour
nament, Duke is picked number one and the Tar
Heels are underdogs, and the NBA is trying to
decide how many millions of dollars players will
be paid. With Michael Jordan’s retirement draw
ing closer, interest in pro basketball will wane,
and players can expect less of a paycheck.
ic opinion
hi**! - v .it,' SteSfe*^ * • Ma> • £Mi .
‘Newsprint’
To the Editor:
Last Wednesday was a sad day
for this animal lover. The won
derful story about “Newsprint”
was heartwarming. But the news
of his death was heartbreaking.
It was always a joy to see him
come to the door at the shop. He
was always a welcomed guest.
He was tolerant of my picking
him up for some affection — but
only for a second, because he
was a true independent.
This handsome feline speci
men will be truly missed, for
Southport has lost a beloved cit
izen.
Julie Belk
Waterfront Gifts
Southport
Legacy
To the Editor:
My condolences on the loss of
“Newsprint.”
As an almost daily visitor to
the waterfront, I have admired
his smooth moves as master of
Waterfront Park, his tolerance to
the touching of many small
hands. I have seen him flatten
himself in the grass among the
seagulls, believing himself
invisible. Other times he was
typically nonchalant and always
dapper in his red collar. I will
miss seeing him.
I did notice that in the same
issue of the paper there was a
rather pretty female black-and
white cat for adoption at the ani
mal shelter. I’m sure I was not
the only person who wondered
about the possibility of someone
to carry on the legacy.
J. Brown
Roiline Spring Lakes
-WORLD
ECONCWC
CRISIS
hcktkx
W tick
tick
miVIE'SEQCm
BE. LKTE FCRTWE
im&UMENT
vmmi
i^ State Port PilotInvites its readers, to share opinions on matters of public in
to 250 words; longer letters will be edited for space, or will be returned to the
nily alter the content .The writer’s address and/or telephone number must be i
[Uired. No letters, will be published without the name of the writer; addresses ai
Winner of more than 170 NCPA awards this decade