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A record-setting high temperature ;
local residents and vacationers alike
beaches in the South Brunswick Isl
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A
Brunswick County Veterans Sen
Parker (right, background) adds tl
Harry Langdon Pigott, a local Wc
who died in France in 1918, to the
Honor Roll of Valor during a Met
Monday morning near the Veterai
county complex in Bolivia. About 40
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Make We
BY SUSAN USHER
Sunny faces sent good signals
throughout the South Brunswick
Islands over what local business people
termed the best Memorial Day
weekend they could recall.
Area business managers were
smiling themselves Tuesday when interviewed
by telephone. The long
Memorial Day weekend is a traditional
indicator of the main summer
season to follow.
Manager Don Safrit said Sunset
Beach Grocery was "extremely
busy" this weekend serving what appeared
to be more people than were
around this time a year ago.
"From what all the Realtors tell us
down here, we're looking for a bangup
year," he said.
The message was similar at other
area beaches and shopping meccas.
"Rusty" Kirby of Sizzling Sirloin
Steakhouse in Shallotte described
business as "great every night," adding
he's looking for a big season in
1989.
At liogas ot tjiiauotte, nose Jmwright
said business Friday and
Suspended Col
BY RAHN ADAMS
One month after she pleaded guilty
to forging a $50,000 county check, the
director of Brunswick County's Computer
Services Department was fired
May 18 by County Manager John T.
Smith.
Smith told the Beacon last week
that Regina M. McKeithan, 45, of
Bolivia, was notified of her dismissal
by registered mail. He said the stated
reason for her firing was for "conduct
unbecoming a county
employee"?a cause for dismissal
listed in the county's personnel
I
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ZM?" Saturday
was all the more reason for
to flock to Ocean Isle (above) and other
lands for the Memorial Day weekend.
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Ar ...
Aemorial Day Observei
/ices Officer Jess ed the 15-minute (
le name of the late members of the I
irld War I veteran Wars Post 8866. T
Brunswick County iliary, Calabash VI
norial Day service West Brunswick H
is Memorial at the participated in the
individuals attendother,
Gooc
n
lekend A Bs
Saturday nights was "very steady
and busy," with sales for the two
nights totaling about $11,500.
The news was equally good from
Nancy Sholar, a part-time employee
at Elizabeth Newman's Boutique in
Calabash. "We had a very good
weekend and I believe the whole town
of Calabash did," she said.
"We had good business all
weekend, a lot of people around.
Everybody I've talked with said the
same."
At Ocean Isle Beach, Mayor Betty
Williamson, whose family owns
Williamson Realty, told the Beacon,
"We probably had the biggest
Memorial Day weekend we've ever
had. I can't remember when we've
had a such a large crowd. I think it
may be partly because Easter was so
early this year. I've talked with the
other Realtors and they agree."
The crowds may have been large,
but they were also orderly, she said,
with only typical "tourist" problems
such as loud music reported.
She and Allan Dameron of Alan
Holden Realty at Holden Beach
described the Memorial Day crowds
inly Department I
policy.
The county manager indicated that
f he delayed firing Mrs. McKeithan in
order to give the county employee of
I lGVi years an opportunity to voluntarily
resign. "I think I'd given her
ample time to resign," Smith said, in
reference to the timing of his action.
Mrs. McKeithan was suspended
without pay in early February, after
I she was accused of forging a check
last May to buy $50,667.63 in
unauthorized computer equipment
for her department. In April, she
pleaded guilty in Brunswick County
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South Brunswick I
Local meteorologist Jackson Canadj
degrees Saturday at Shallotte Point, u
elsewhere in the Shallotte area. The
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SI AFF PHOTO BY PAHN ADAMS
d
:eremony, which was conducted by
iolden Beach Veterans of Foreign
he Holden Beach VFW Ladies AuxF*W
Post 7288 Ladies Auxiliary and a
igh School JROTC Color Guard also
: service.
J Crowds
9 Success
as "happy," with both giving excellent
weather the larpe share nf
credit.
"It was a very happy crowd," said
Dameron, who is also president of the
South Brunswick Islands Chamber of
Commerce. "Even those who had
problems were taking them lightly,
except those whose air conditioning
wasn't working?they were a little
anxious. But we didn't hear one
negative word."
As at Ocean Isle, Dameron said
other merchants on the beach are
reporting "one of their best
Memorial Day weekends ever."
And on the causeway during the
evenings business parking lots were
full, he noted. "The people were getting
out and enjoying themselves."
Alan Holden Realty had rented out
all of its units with air-conditioning
and most of those without. Even with
approximately 30 additional units
this year, rentals were up about 5
U~I:J L. ?; j -A
jjuicuuv iui liic nuuuciy, iiu saia, at
about 85 percent.
Area golf courses also reported a
busy weekend, noted Dameron.
Head Dismissed
Superior Court and received a
suspended sentence.
Brunswick County Commissioners
reviewed the former department
head's case during a May 1 executive
session in Bolivia. The board announced
no action after meeting with
her behind closed doors for 45
minutes. Mrs. McKeithan requested
the private conference, which did not
include Smith.
A proposed county budget that
Smith presented to commissioners
three days before firing Mrs.
(See COUNTY, Page 2-A)
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slands Heat Up!
f reported the mercury rose to 94
r'tth slightly higher readings reported
National Weather Service office in
Thursday, June 1, 1989
Citizens
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BY RAHN ADAMS
Only time?30 days to be exact?will
tell if the pleas, protests
and threats of taxpayers Tuesday
were enough to sway Brunswick
County Commissioners against raising
the property tax rate to cover a
proposed $33 million county budget.
More than 60 citizens attended the
IVi-hour budget hearing Tuesday
night in Bolivia. Some 20 speakers
addressed Commissioners Benny
Ludlum, Kelly Holden and Gene
Pinkerton, and County Manager
John T. Smith, whose proposed
budget recommends a 10-cent tax
rate hike to 64 Vfe cents.
Pinkerton, who chaired the hearing,
said Commission Chairman
Frankie Rabon was called away to
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vrii.11 a pi uuicin cat r cucidi
Paper Board Company, where Rabon
is a supervisor. Rabon had attended
a three-hour budget session Tuesday
afternoon. Pinkerton said Commissioner
Grace Beasley was absent due
to illness.
The afternoon session dealt with
topics?funding for Brunswick County
Public Schools, and the county
Health and Social Services departments?that
were addressed by
speakers at the hearing, whether
directly or indirectly.
Led by Superintendent John
Kaufhold, school officials spent two
hours outlining their $6.8 million current
expense and $5.2 million capital
outlay budget requests to commissioners.
Smith has recommended
giving the schools $6.1 million for
current expenses and approximately
$6 million for capital outlay, which
includes $5.5 million for a new
elementary school near Supply.
Health Director Michael Rhodes
briefed the board on his
department's need for an additional
$36,086 in funds that Smith had
deleted from various Health Department
budgets. There was no discussion
of the local Board of Health's
recommenaauon to raise environmental
health site evaluation
fees, to cover additional funds reAnnexatic
Holden Beach Commissioners w
vote on mainland annexation and '
awaited results of a wastewater nee
meet Monday, June 5, at 7 p.m. in ti
Commissioners are considering
proximately 67 acres of land north o
Bridge that includes the commeri
residential property on both sides,
comment on the proposal has been s
Town Manager Gus Ulrich sail
survey of the area proposed for anne
nniroH hpfnrp thp tnu/n hnarH at
ordinance, would be completed in tir
"They'll certainly have the opportu
he said. "Whether they will or not is
Under state law, the commissio
annexation proposal within 90 days
ing, meaning board members coul
later than July 9.
Mayor John Tandy said Mom
whether or not the town board will at
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Wilmington reported a 9G-dcgree high
92-degrec record set in 1918.
25c Per Copy
> y iuih
:rease Pin
nty Propi
quested by the department. That proposal
is included in Smith's recommended
budget.
Also, Social Services Director
Jamie Orrock and Smith explained to
commissioners that a proposed $1.5
million Social Services Building has,
in fact, become state-mandated. The
state has given the county 30 days to
offer a definite plan to relieve overcrowding
in Social Services or else
lose about $75,000 per year in administrative
reimbursements.
The proposed new Social Services
Building and elementary school are
part of a five-year, $18 million capital
improvements program that Smith
has proposed to begin funding with
$3.8 million in the 1989-90 budget.
While most of the speakers Tuesday
simply voiced opposition to
higher taxes, several citizens
specifically addressed those two proposed
capital projects.
Shallotte resident Don Hege, who
presented commissioners with petitions
containing at least 200
signatures opposing a tax hike, asked,
"Why increase Social Services?
Why spend that money? ... If there
has to be a tax increase, make it as
small as possible."
Tom Pope of Thomasboro questioned
the high estimated cost of the DSS
project as well as the need for a new
school. "Statistics tell us that throwing
money at education is not the way
to improve education," he said, adding
that the local school system
needs "better accountability" in
dealing with its finances.
Bin Boya of Caswell Beach denounced
the proposed tax rate hike
and encouraged commissioners to
find revenue sources other than the
"deep pockets" of taxpayers. Boyd
supported an informal proposal by
the county Utility Operations Board's
consulting engineers to raise the
wholesale water rate by 14 cents to
cover additional needs. He also suggested
that the commissioners explore
fee increases, such as the ones
recommended by the Health Department.
>n Tops Holds
ill have a chance to proposal next weel
will hear the long- unanimous whenei
ds study when they ninth hour. I don't
Dwn hall. Also at next v
annexation of ap- review a final was
f the Holden Beach suiting engineer Ja
:ial causeway and of Shallotte.
Most of the public The firm has
igainst annexation, determine if there
J last week that a and to develop alt<
xation, which is re- Commissioner
Jopt an annexation June and have extc
ne for the meeting, three times. The o
nity to vote on it,"
another question." Houston said f
n must vote on the would be presente
of the public hear- next week's meetir
id delay action no dings of the study
The June 5 me
Jay he's not sure on the proposed bu
:t on the annexation related story this i
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STAFF PHOTO BY RAHN ADAMS
temperature Saturday, which broke a
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36 Paaes. 3 Sections
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Perhaps the biggest attention
getters at Tuesday's hearing were
Bolivia Volunteer Fire Department
Chief Wayne Bowling and Ocean Isle
Beach developer Odell Williamson.
Bowling prefaced his comments by
handing the three commissioners
keys to the Bolivia fire station, then
informed the board that the
members of his department planned
to resign July 1, if the county does not
give Bolivia VFD enough funds to
operate. The department has requested
$20,000; however, the proposed
budget allocates only $10,500 each
for Bolivia VFD and all other fire
departments and rescue squads in
the county.
The fire chief said that in addition
to the 500 to 1,000 hours his
firefighters volunteers per year, they
must raise about $200 per week to
meet operating needs. "We don't
mind begging," Bowling said, "but
give us a break."
Williamson, the largest individual
taxpayer in the county, chided commissioners
for considering raising
taxes, even though "everywhere I
look, I see new tax valuations," he
said, referring to the county's on- *
going growth.
The developer also suggested to
Commissioners Holden and Pinkerton
that they were put into office last
fall because last year's board raised
the tax rate by four cents to the current
54%-cent rate. "Four years isn't
that lone." Williamson told the Dair.
"You can bet your life you will be
held accountable."
In reference to the capital improvements
plan, Williamson noted,
"Rome was not built in a day, and
you don't have to do all this building
all at once."
Later, V.A. Creech of Leland encouraged
the board to use common
sense and prudence in adopting the
budget. He also suggested that the
board call for a bond referendum on
the capital projects. "The people of
Brunswick County will make the
right decision," he said, "if you give
them the facts."
?n Agendo
k, but noted that he hopes the vote is
U in(nu?n ami u im it.
rci iv 10 vaivcii. i uey may wan. ui me
know."
veek's meeting, commissioners will
tewater needs study report with conty
Houston of Houston and Associates
been working since last summer to
are pollution problems on the island
irnatives for wastewater treatment,
s authorized the $40,000 study last
:nded the deadline for the final report
riginal deadline was Dec. 19,1988.
donday members of the town board
d with a copy of the report prior to
ig. He refused to comment on the finbefore
the meeting.
eting will open with a public hearing
dget for the 1989-90 fiscal year. (See
ssue.)
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