Brunswicl
OV DAUK1 AT\AUC
ua awi'iii na/nitKi
Policy-holders in Brunswick County
are no longer facing a special fire
insurance rate hike, thanks to a recent
decline in suspicious fires and to
steppcd-up prosecution of arson
cases here.
According to Phil Riley, deputy
commissioner of fire and rescue services
for the N.C. Department of In^
JWH I
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Twenty-sixth Year, Numbt
A.,
Shellfis
BY DOUG RUTTER
Shellfishermen put out of work two
weeks ago by the "red tide" were
back on the job this week following
local implementation of a state
oyster relocation program.
Under the program.
shellfishermen are paid $1 per bushel
and up to $100 a day to transfer
oysters from areas permanently
closed to pollution to areas currently
infested by the "red tide."
The program started in I^ockwood
Folly Kiver Monday, iess than iwo
weeks after the toxic algae first infested
Brunswick County waters and
forced shellfish beds to close.
Shellfishermen who lost jobs
because of the "red tide" are now
transfetring oysters from the
polluted areas upstream to sand
shoals in the lower reaches of the
river.
Once the algae lifts and the oysters
cleanse themselves of its toxins, the
shellfish will be suitable for
harvesting.
The N.C. Division of Marine
Fisheries program operates five
days a week, depending on tides and
weather, and pays shellfishermen
within Seven days of the end of each
work week.
Brunswick County Emergency
Management Director Cecil Ijumn
said, "The Marine Fisheries is doing
a lot of good right here. They're putting
a lot of people back to work and
giving them a few dollars."
Tonya Ciemmons of Holden Beach,
one of about 80 shellfishermen to
register for the oyster relocation program
at the county government complex
last Friday, said she was pleased
with how quickly the N.C. Division
of Marine Fisheries acted in bringing
the program to Brunswick County.
With previous experience in the
state's relay program, she said, "It
will help the river and it will help us
fishermen."
Rodney Williams of Shallotte, who
registered with his wife and two
daughters last Friday, said the Division
of Marine Fisheries should also
Vorl Tirlo' A A
X* w V? I IS4W f F I
The "red tide" appeared to
migrate south last week, as scientists
noted the disappearance of the toxic
aigae from northern waters and
detected it for the first time across
the South Carolina state line.
Meanwhile, algae counts in
Brunswick County waters have fluctuated
dramatically within the past
week.
While concentrations of the "red
tide" organism in water samples
taken from I>ockwood Folly Inlet last
week were among the highest in the
state, samples taken from that areaMonday
revealed a relatively low
count of 10,000 cells-per-liter.
Other water samples analyzed
earlier this week indicated that the
algae had completely left the mouth
of the Cape Fear River near
Southport. But high concentrations
were found in Tubbs Inlet, marking
the first time the "red tide" had been
detected there.
According to Pat Fowler,
sanitarian with the N.C. Shellfish
Sanitation Division, "It's hard to say
if there really is a trend. We're just
looking at everything carefully, from
day to day, and learning as we go."
She said the "red tide" algae,
ptychodiscus brevis, has dissipated
along a 45-tnile .'jtretch of coastline
from Buxton to Atlantic.
Water samples taken from those
areas liave not shown a trace of the
toxic organism for more than a week.
And algae has not been detected in
the waters cff Tars Haiieras fur
about three weeks.
Although the "red tide" appears to
I
c Dropped Frc
surance, Brunswick was dropped in
early January from a proposed a
special district where fire insurance ti
rates are expected to increase due to t;
high arson rates and losses by in- v
surance companies as a result of firerelated
claims. E
The other counties, which remain a
in the special district, arc Bladen, v
Columbus and Robeson. li
?r sons BOOK .1rn.>t->V3
_ _11
. mi d'3
.-pplMGPOHl
?r lH (f.l9JW TMt MUMtwnr* ?iArnu
ihermen Re
consider implementing the program V
in Shallotte River. j
But according to Rich Carpenter,
Wilmington regional manager for
Marine Fisheries, the division does
not have the personnel or equipment
to begin another program. "We're a
strung out now as it is," he said. "We
were pushing it to start anything
down here."
Williams added, "It's been awfully ?
poor. This will help out a whole lot.
Anything's better than nothing." |
The relocation program is iimited
to individuals who had commercial j
licenses for oysters, clams or
scallops prior to Dec. 11, 1987. It is
open to all shellfishermen affected by
uie uae, noi just those in Brunswick 5
County.
Toby and Lillie Smith, a Longwood
couple who earn their entire income
by working the river year-round,
were among the 60 shellfishermen at
Varnamtown docks Monday morning
hoping to make some money through
the program.
Referring to the fact that the Division
of Social Services has not introduced
any emergency programs "
or changed its standards because of t
the "red tide," Mrs. Smith said, "It's J
a disaster, but you can't get any
help."
North Carolina's relocation program,
which was started in midDecember
in New Hanover and
Pender counties, has paid out more
than $90,000 to more than 300
fishermen so far.
Carpenter said, "We're just trying ^
to help as many people as possible."
But state officials are not sure how y
long the local program will continue, p
Jerry Parker, sheiifish biologist
with the state Department of Naturai A
Resources and Community Development,
said Monday, "We're playing C(
it by ear. We don't know how long this e(
resource will last in the upper river. sj
We'll go as long as it lasts." C)
Carpenter added that prior to the ?
start of the program in Bruaswick ^
County, about 10 local shellfishermen
(See OYSTERS, Page 2-A) 0|
w
Pi
ovino South
- <J
have disappeared from those waters,
the area remains closed to d
shellfishing.
Ms. Fowler said the state will con- g;
tinue to test oysters and will not re- 5,
open shellfish beds until the filter
feeders have purged themselves of g|
all toxins.
Meanwhile, South Carolina health ^
officials last Friday detected the first
signs of "red tide" algae in waters off r
Horry County.
Un Monday, the S.C. Department si
of Health and Environmental Control
extended the shellfish ban through
Murrells Inlet after detecting high .
algae counts in waters near Surfside
and Garden City. 1
Ron Tata, district director for the 4
S.C. Environmental Quality Control '
Division, said, "The concentrations
were sufficient for shellfish closure
and since Murrells Inlet was very
close, we closed it as a precautionary jQ
measure." q
Tata said the majority of v|
shellfishermen at Murrells Inlet
work commercially, while Cherry
Grove oyster beds are public m
grounds. r
South Carolina shellfish areas from t0
Cherry Grove north to the state line ly
were closed as a precautionary
measure about two weeks ago when r
the algae first moved into waters off
southwestern Brunswick County. (?
In addition to the 200 miles closed ^
to shellfishing in North Carolina, the u,
bar. 5r. the harvest cf oysters, clams
and scallops now includes about 30 k
miles of South Carolina coast. C(
\
>m Proposed
"We have done further checking,
nd the (arson) problem has seemed
o have dropped in Brunswick Couny,"
Riley said in a telephone interiew
last Thursday.
"Of the four counties involved.
Irunswick County had the least
mount of loss," Riley noted. "That
?as one of the factors in deciding to
save Brunswick as is."
>1 * fl
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j h n s
Shallotte, North Carolina, T
RED TIDE' VICTIMS
locate Oys
* l
IJUK^PSBil
iHELLFlSHERMEN GATHERED at 1
ling as the state Division oi Marine I
District 1
By the time filing closed at noon
londay, 34 Brunswick County
asidents had tossed their names in
le ring as candidates for one of nine
ublic offices. Another three had
eclared for the state's General
ssembly.
District 1 seats on the board of
aunty commissioners and board of
1 it 1 ? *? * *
juuauon arew uie inosi acuon, wiui
x candidates making bids f"? the
immissioner's seat now held by
hris Chappell and five for the school
oard seat held by Doug Baxley. <
Democrats have primary election
^position in eight of nine local races,
hile Republicans will hold 1
rimaries in three races.
The primary election will be held <
lay 3.
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
District 1
emocratlc:
Chris Chappell, 37, Route 1,
aailotte (Calabash Acres), incument
Harold E. Hickman, 62, Route 4,
tiallotte
Parker Stanaland, 55, Route 1,
sh
Major White, 48, Route 1, Ash
cpublican: I
Kelly Hoiaen, 37, Route 3,
lallotte
State Study \
On County's
BY RAHN ADAMS
A state agency is ready io begin a
ng-awaited study of Brunswick
ounty's emergency medical serices
system.
Brunswick County Commissioners
londay night authorized the N.C. Ofce
of Emergency Medical Services
i proceed with the study that initialwas
requested about 1M: years ago
V former County Manager Billy
artcr.
"I move that we endorse this
itudy) wholeheartedly," said Comlissioner
Jim Poole, prior to the
nanimous vote. 1
EMS Regional Supervisor Timothy '
eel said his office will look at the :
tunty's current volunteer system
Four-County
He added that state insurance officials
decided to "let the people pay
where the problem is." However, he
emphasized that a rate hike had not
yet been requested for the special
district.
Rumors of a 50 percent rate increase
stemmed from an offhand
remark made in a public meeting
several weeks ago by a Columbus
A
5 25 - g?r
IB |B miM
vnwr
hursday, February 4, 1988
WORKING AGAIN
ters In Lod
^
S1&
aSS
he Varnamtown docks Monday mor isheries
began Its oyster relocation
Seats Drai
Robert Davis Smith, 57, Route 1,
Ash
District 3
Democratic:
James L. (Jim) Poole, 53, Yaupon
Beach, incumbent
wayiand Vereen, 53, Southport
Republican:
Gene Pinkerton, 50, Yaupon
Beach
District 4
Democratic:
L.A. (Louis) Lewis, 52, Route 2,
Supply
Tom Simmons, 45, Boiling Spring
Lakes
Republican:
Frankie Rabon, 40, Winnabow, incumbent
BOARD OF EDUCATION
District 1
Democratic:
Douglas W. Baxley, 41, Shallotte,
incumbent
Gary Godwin, 41, Route 2, Ash
C.C. Russ, 44, Route 2, Ash
Clawson Ward, 46, Route 1,
Longwood
Republican:
Diane Grissett, 27, Route 7,
Shallotte
District 3
Democratic:
N\W Focus
EMS Needs
and make recommendations to get
Brunswick County "ready for the
1990s" in EMS care.
"The study is an attempt to take a
long, hard, meticulous look at the existing
system," Keel told commissioners
Monday.
Keel noted that Brunswick currently
is served by 11 volunteer rescue
squads which provide basic life supnnrt
QPrviPPC Ppnhlnme innl?if<n
J- ? - - ? ' ? -W. ? ? WWtVlltO IHVIUUb
manpower shortages during the day
and the lack of a centralized dispatching
point, he said.
Keel added that at least 65 percent
of the state's citizens have access to
advanced life support care, mainly
from paid ambulance services that
(See STUDY, Page 2-A >
Fire Insuranc
County official, Riley said.
Last October, the N.C. Rate
Bureau, an organization which
represents insurance companies in
the state, reported to the Department
of Insurance mat fire insurers had
begun pulling out of the four counties
due to losses.
A survey by the bureau showed
that two insurance companies servSfesr
m
Mi* Hi I
oc. n
rer v_opy
twood Folly
program In Lockwood Folly River,
residents Jimmy Ivey (center 1, Toby S
w Most Car
Mack Ainan, 41, Yaupon Beach
James R. Forstner, 41, Southport,
incumbent
Jonathan Hankins, 61, Southport
Republican:
Robert (Bob) Slockett, 64, Yaupon
Beach
District 4
Democratic:
Donna M. Baxter, 39, Boiling Spring
Lakes
W. Marvin McKeithan, 45, Route
2, Bolivia, incumbent
D.n..kU ?
ncjiuuiatiu:
Theodora (Teddi) Neal, 65, Route
1, Bolivia
John Watkins, 31, Route 2, Leland 1
CLERK OF COURT
Democratic: 1
Diana Morgan, 35, Long Beach,
incumbent
Joseph (Joe) Stanley, 36, Route 3,
Shallotte i
Republican: 1
Jane Causey, 35, Route 1, Supply (
John R. Ramsey, 44, Long Beach 1
REGISTER OF DEEDS
Democratic: i
Frank E. Galloway, 26, Bolivia
Robert J. Robinson, 34, Route 1, 1
Supply, incumbent
Republican: 1
Parker To Lead '
Albert H. Parker, 54, of Supply w
Temple at its winter ceremonial hel
New Bern on Jan. 23.
As potentate, he will lead the n
than 11,000 members of Sudan during
next year. Sudan Temple is part of the
cient Arabic Order of the Nobles of
Mystic Shrine of North America.
A graduate of Shallotte Hieh Sel
and former Coast Guardsman, Parkt
president of four family-ow
businesses: J.M. Parker Si S<
Brunswick Insurance Services, Be
Trader Realty and BFT Inc., a 1
development company. He is also cli
man of the Southern National Bank
visory Board.
He is a member of Shallotte Mas
Lodge No. 27, Wilmington York and S
tlsh Rite Bodies, Royal Order of Jest
past president of the Brunswick Coi
Shrine Club, member of Camp Unit
legion Post no. 247 and the South Bru
merce.
Psrksr 2nd his wife ?h? ^orm?r
have two children and two grandchild
i
e District
ing the four counties paid out $29.7
million for fire losses between 1982
and 1986, while they collected only
$20.8 million in premiums on houses,
mobile homes and farms, Riley said.
/iccofulng to trie survey,
Brunswick County house owners paid
$5.88 million in fire insurance
premiums and claimed $6.39 million
(See INSURANCE, Page 2-A)
am
rn
30 Pages Plus Inserts ^
River
??- v4r;- ? lfli
F - ' ~ '
??? 1 ii ?.
.
^
_ ? ?
STAFF PHOTO BY SUSAN USHER
In the foreground are Longwood
mith tleftt and his wife, Llllle (right).
*> J m
iUIUUICD
William S. (Bill) Kirby, 39,
Southport
CORONER
Democratic:
Greg White, 26, Shallotte, incumbent
Republican:
u -??? ? <n r> a_ ?
LaiT) I\. rtJiuicwa, tv, uuuic i,
Ash
STATE HOUSE
14th District
(Brunswick County, Cape Fear
Township in New Hanover County,
Topsail Township in Pender County)
Democratic:
E. David Redwine, 40, Ocean Isle
Beach, incumbent
K. Glen Peterson, 33, Leland
Republican:
Rozell Hewett, 69, Shallotte
STATE SENATE
18th District
(Brunswick, Bladen, Columbus counties
and Beaverdam Township in
Cumberland County)
Democratic:
R.C. Soles Jr., 53, Tabor City, incumbent
Claude Spivey, 57, Tabor City
Republican:
Randolph (Randy) Sullivan, 36,
Route 3, Shallotte
Sudan Shriners
as elected potentate of the Sudan
msiijm
Anhool
is
ned ^SSS
ins, V
aC
iairAd*
onic MP^HWk Jg
cot- A
ers, WE MI m
inty
ed Methodist Church. American
nswick Islands Chamber of ComKa'hWn
Clpmnioas of Supply.
Iron.