Page 2-A?THE BRUNSWICK BEACON* Thursday, .lan
Aid Offered To
BY DOUG RUTTER
Several forms of aid are available to local victims
of the "red tide" through federal, state and local
organizations.
All businesses or individuals affected by the infestation
are entitled to low-interest loans through the
U.S. Small Business Administration.
According to Dennis Moffett, recovery coordinator
for the N.C. Division of Emergency Management, the
I SBA will bring loan applications to Brunswick County
starting Feb. 1. Local sites were not determined as of
Tuesday.
This economic injury disaster loan program offers
loans of up to $500,000 at four percent interest for a
maximum term of 30 years. Moffett said they are
available to everyone from shellfishermen to
restaurant owners, hotel operators to charter boat captains.
Th.'itr *" *? !*** ?** n Iaam nnMtinnttAn mniln/l t n
1 llUCtl. II tOIUII^ ?U I lU * V. U IVUU uppilCUilVIt tttMuwM >w
them may call the SBA Disaster Assistance Office in
Atlanta toll free at 1-800-334-0309. The office is open
weekdays between the hours of 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Another form of relief may come through the N.C.
Division of Marine Fisheries oyster relay program,
which is currently underway in New Hanover and
Pender County. This program has been proposed for
Brunswick County.
According to Fritz Rohde, biological coordinator
for the Wilmington region of the N.C. Division of
Marine Fisheries, "We have been discussing starting it
down there, but we're snowed under with the other two
Red Tide Drifts I
(Continued From Page 1-A)
hardships to almost all businesses which are remotely
ccr.r.cctcd tc
Norman Gunther, owner of Reaves Fish Camp at
Holden Beach, said the winter has been generally poor
for business, but he could not say for sure whether the
Tea uue is tne reason.
In an effort to drum up more business, however, Gunther
recently resorted to non-local seafood and has
publicized it on a sign in front of his property.
"I know how people are," he said. "I figure maybe it
would help them be less afraid to eat if they knew it
wasn't from around here."
Trawler's Restaurant owner Peggy Christy of
Calabash said she has continued to have normal January
business despite the infestation of shellfish.
"So far it hasn't hurt our business at ?1L" said Ms.
Christy. She said the news media have done a good job of
informing the public that only shellfish are affected by
the algae bloom.
Although Trawler's has had to postpone any oyster
roasts, she said, "People understand that and they just
order something else."
Shallotte Point seafood dealer Larry Holden, who
depends mainly on oysters and clams during the winter
Bank Robberies
BY RAHN ADAMS tion that the five
The FBI and Brunswick County connected."
Sheriff's Department are continuing Wilmington
to investigate a bank robbery last Beasley Tuesda
month in Calabash that may be link- ment on any con
ed to four other holdups across the robberies, althc
Southeast. that they were si
Brunswick County Sheriffs Detec- "They seen
fi?n I inJnn.. tIl.D.n -J T 1 -? 11 lAt-_ *
wvc i^iiiudcv iTduun a<iiu lue^uay Minuariues, t
that five bank robberies "of a similar nobody really 1
description and the same type down to the bott
method" have occurred in the past "There are s
six to eight weeks. but I'm not at 111
ihem," he said.
In addition to Calabash, holdups The Calabash
were reported in Statesville, Myrtle Dec. 15 around
Beach, S.C., Savannah, Ga., and Carolina Bank (
Williamsburg, Va., Walton said. An undisclosed
A fake bomb was used in each rob- taken. No one w
bery. Also, the general descriptions The robber, w
of the robber match, he added. small handgun,
"At this point, we're trying to pool leaving behind a
all of our information and work it as a was a bomb. T
joint effort." Walton said Tuesday, vestigators at bf
"We're working under the assump- til a Wilmingtor
Temperatures To Dip
Normal, With Some F
Residents of the South Brunswick recorded a nu
Islands area can expect degrees on the!
temperatures a little below normal low temperature
and near-normal rainfall during the 24th.
coming week. Average dailj
Shallotte Point meteorologist snd an averse
Jackson Canady said Tuesday he an- degrees comb
ticipates temperatures ranging from average temper
the lower 30s at night into the lower which Canndy
50s during the daytime, with about degrees above n
one-half inch of rainfall. He recorded ji
For the period Jan. 19-25, he rain, 1.51 inches
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uary 28. 1988
Red Tide Victims
we have right now."
He said if the program were started in Brunswick
County, it would not be in the "immediate future."
Through the state program, shellfishermen earn$l
per bushel and up to $100 per day by transferring
oysters from waters permanently closed to pollution to
areas currently infested by the "red tide." Once the
algae lifts and the oysters cleanse themselves, they
will be suitable for harvesting.
Although Brunswick County may have to wait for a
local relay program, Rohde said area shellfishermen
are eligible to participate in the northern programs.
Those interested in working in this program can contact
the Division of Marine Fisheries toll free at
1-800-682-2632.
Rohde noted that there has also been talk of starting
a similar program for the transfer of clams.
Under the state's management program,
Rninsu'ink fnnnty shollfishsni1.?" psrticipstsd
for three years in a similar hand-relay program intended
to increase the volume of the local shellfish harvest.
On the local level, the Brunswick Countv Volunteer
and Information Center is offering food for "red tide"
victims from the shellfishing community of Varnamtown.
Starting this week, meais are being served each
Tuesday and Friday at the Gospel Center Baptist
Church Fellowship Hall in Varnamtown from 8 a.m. to
11 a.m.
Persons interested in donating food or other items
can contact the VIC Center in Bolivia at 253-4441.
nto Local Waters
months, has felt "terrible" effects from the recent infestation.
"It's iust about closed as down," he said. "It's just
about stopped."
He said area fishermen are confused and frustrated
by the "red tide."
"Most of them are just baffied by it just like the
biologists," explained Holden. "Everybody just don't
know what to think."
He could not provide any figures concerning the
"substantial" financial loss he is facing.
Varnamtown oyster and clam dealer Carson Varnum
said, "It's really putting a hurting on the commercial
fishermen. It's put everyone out of work."
Varnum, who has been a shellfish dealer for about 30
years, said he has never experienced anything which has
hurt business more than the "red tide."
He said most area shellfishermen have little hope
that the tide will clear up anytime soon. He said despite
the snow and cold, it lasted longer than anyone thought it
tirftuM im nni^U
UVUIU up 11UIUI.
"We don't have any hope for the rest of oyster
atason," he said. "We can only hope it clears up for next
year."
Believed Linked
i bank robberies are bomb squad determined that the
device was not an explosive.
FBI Agent Fred The suspect was described as a
y declined to com- white male, 40 to 50 years old, with
mection between the brown hair and of stocky build. He
rngh he confirmed was wearing a tan jacket, brown
imilar. trousers, glasses and a dark golf cap.
to bear some
leasley said, "but _ ?
mows until we get LOWmGD P POD?
om line.
iome developments, T^on'c Honth
serty to comment on ' * '
The Brunswick County Sheriff's
i robbery occuiTed Department Tuesday was continuing
12:30 p.m. at United ^ investigation of an apparently
)n Ivey High Street, self-inflicted shooting that claimed
amount of cash was ||fe 0f a inland area teen-ager
as injured. last week.
ho was armed with a pauj Auen Thomas, 14, of Lanvale
florl An (.\/\i nflnt"
"" """ ?"cl Road, was found dead by his parents
package that he said Friday at 5:20 p.m. at the family's
he package kept in- residence in Brunswick Mobile Home
ly for three hours un- D?i. i: ci
k am, av.cuiuiii5 tu utrciui o vupi<
i Police Department Phil perry
Brunswick County Coroner Greg
n | White said an autopsy done Monday
OGIOW morning in Jacksonville determined
that the teen died from a "close conPnir-lfnll
tact" 22-caliher gunshot wound to
MJIIIIUM the head.
"We're investigating the death,"
iximum high of 66 Perry said. "Up to this point, there's
JOth and a minimum a possibility it's suicide, but we're
: of 28 degrees, on the not ruling out anything."
Perry said a rifle was found next to
r high of 56 degrees the boy's body. There was no
!e lew of 4! evidence that a struggle had occurlined
for a daily red, he added,
ature of 48 degrees,
said was about two
ust over l'/i inches of Jb*jt
.. . (MACJ C!
AC0N |
sr. i r, , ond
Sf. Citizen ' j t v iff*
1 '"50 !
Asphalt plant ?2 miles n
J ?
i
mflHM
?" JU V t . 4>
^o|ii
JBBS8BKUB
CLERK OF COURT Diana Morgan
Carolina Shores residents Curly Ar
Bud Knapp (center) following k
Clegg Sa>
Cawcaw !
Brunswick County Attorney David
Clegg has until Feb. 25 to answer
legal questions raised last week by
Clerk of Court Diana Morgan about
the proposed reactivation of the
Cawcaw Drainage Disirict.
"I'm glad that she's looking at it in
a logical format and is putting it in a
framework that we can give it in a
coherent presentation," Clegg said
last week. "I think (the questions)
are valid."
Brunswick County Soil and Water
District Chairman James Bellamy
agreed with Ms. Morgan's handling
of the case so far.
"I sympathize with her, and I can't
argue with her questions," Bellamy
said. "I think they should be
answered."
With = Vwv.it 1ft npnnlp nrocont Mo
? i 1 r- ' ?
Morgan conducted a hearing last
Wednesday morning in Bolivia to
consider a motion by the Brunswick
County Board of Commissioners and
the county Soil and Water Conservation
District Board to "set aside" an
order that dissolved the drainage
district in 1976.
The current motion, which was fiinrl
ininflo ' 'kn C ' *
tu juilllijr UJ IIIC IWU UOitlUS labl
month, also asks that Ms. Morgan appoint
three drainage district commissioners.
During the 10-minute proceeding
last Wednesday, she asked Clegg to
later prepare and submit a brief in
response to three legal questions she
has about the case.
A fundamental issue, she said, was
whether or not the motion was filed
within a "reasonable time," as rePeterson
Chalk
(Continued From Page 1-A)
perience in other political campaigns
will be beneficial. He was campaign
manager for former 14th District
state Rep. Tom B. Rabon Jr. in 1978
and 1982 and was county coordinator
for U.S. Sen. Terry Sanford during
Sanford's 1986 campaign.
"I'm going to have very seasoned
political veterans that are going to oe
giving me advice and that have
already given me a lot of advice
about things that I need to do and
people I need to see," Peterson said
last Thursday. "And while I do know
some of these things from past campaigns,
things have changed, and
they're always changing, and people
are different. As a result, you can't
necessarily rely on your own experience.
I hope that will provide a
very good common sense instinct by
which I can judge how to proceed in
tlie campaign."
Peterson has hired Independent
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a ,v"
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'o"rth of'shallotte Hwy. 17
mmmssm i
(left) talks with judicial hearing i
izich (right) and Cawcaw Drainag<
ist Wednesday's
fs Question
l-msii 1^1 r\i
quired by the N.C. Rules of Civil Procedure.
"Does 'reasonable time,' as set
forth in Rule 60. constitute a period of
12 years between the entry of an
order and a Ciialieiige io thai order?"
Ms. Morgan asked Clegg. "That is
the most serious question I have
about taking any kind of affirmative
action on your motion."
After the hearing, Clegg commented
on the "reasonable time"
issue. "That's a discretionary ruling
based on facts and circumstances,"
Clegg said, "and i think when you
look at the facts and circumstances,
Rule 60 will apply and the reasonable
time factor will be allowed."
Mrs. Morgan also questioned both
boards' standings in the motion,
since "neither was a party to the
original action in which this motion
was made."
In addition, she asked Clegg to present
"any case law or precedent"
that would answer whether or not
drainage easements in the abandoned
district still exist.
After stating her questions, she
gave Clegg tire Option Gi tiuui Cooiiig
the issues either during the hearing
or later in a brief. The county attorney
said he preferred to "make all
of our arguments in written form."
Bellamy, however, told Ms.
Morgan that the Soil and Water Conservation
Board was involved in the
original action involving the
drainage district.
"We did all the work ... We were
the ones to sponsor it," Bellamy said.
Ms. Morgan responded, "You
might have been the moving
anges Redwine
Opinion Research, a Wrightsville
Beach consulting firm, to assist in his
campaign.
Redwine's campaign co-chairmen
are aouinport attorney Steve Yount
and Shallotte businessman Rusty
Russ.
Peterson, a native of Leiand, is a
partner in the Southport law firm of
Prevatte, Prevatie, Peterson and
Campbell. He serves as attorney for
Brunswick Community College and
the Brunswick County Board of
Education.
Redwine is vice president of
Coastal Insurance & Realty Inc. in
Shallotte. He is a native of Shallotte.
TIRED OF THIS W
Let's go
to the" J?
SUNSHINE i
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? S 5 S ? B ? ~m~
FuN! \
"TRAVEL DISNEY STYLE"
March 5-9
KEEP W/
for our Open H<
YOUR WAY OF TRA
Convenient To
754 4222/4223*Resort Plaza,
I
11^1
WSMmMs
SIAf P PHOTO BV RAHN ADAMS
on the proposed reactivation of the
2 uisirici.
is About
'\ I: JK
vunu
force ... but you (the soil and water
board) were not named as a petitioner."
Following the hearing, Clegg said
he felt that both boards had standing
before Me court.
"I think that Mr. Bellamy certainly
raised one issue as to the Soil and
Water Conservation District's activities
in it," Clegg said. "As far as
Brunswick County's standing, if you
read the 1976 order, it is replete with
references to Bmnswick County,
which was not given an opportunity
to appear at that hearing.
"An order was entered that affects
us greatly, and we were not given an
opportunity at that point to be
represented, or so it does not appear.
Ana i think that we definitely had
standing."
The drainage district, which is
located in southwestern Brunswick
County, was first established in 1959.
Construction of its more than 16
miles of canals was begun in 1963 and
completed in 1967.
The canals were designed to drain
approximately 40,000 acres of i
farmland. However, much of the affected
area now includes valuable
residential and commercial properties?much
of it now open to flooding
due to poor drainage in the
overgrown, neglected canal system.
The district was dissolved by the
Brunswick County Clerk of Court's
office in 1976.
At a Nov. 6 public hearing in
Calabash, residents of the area in
and around the drainage district supported
its reactivation.
Ttii QvithictS/L'-l.'ACCaiTini 1
lilt, uiiuii^iiiviiKvuivv!i
Established Nov. 1. 1962 I
Telephone 754-6890
Published Every Thursday 1
At Main Street
Shallotte. N. C. 28459 I
SUBSCRIPTION RATES
IN BRUNSWICK COUNTY
One Year S7.50
Six Months S4.00
ELSEWHERE IN NORTH CAROLINA
One Year $10.00
Six Months S6.00
ELSEWHERE IN U.S.A.
One Year Sl2.bU
Six Months S7.00
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