Newspapers / The Brunswick Beacon (Shallotte, … / Jan. 11, 1990, edition 1 / Page 9
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New County Engineer Prepares To Tackle Coastal C'nallenaes BY RAHN ADAMS When former County Manager John T. Smith hired Robert Tucker in late November, Smith wasn't sure where the new county engi neer's office would be located at the Brunswick County Government Center. But when Tucker reported to work last week, an office was ready and waiting for him, even though it was Smith's old office. Tucker, whose last job was as as sistant Wake County engineer, ac cepted the $54,098 per year Bruns wick County position less than a week before county commissioners fired Smith, who had picked Tucker as the top prospect out of 32 appli cants tw the engineering post. Smith r"?o helped convince the county board io increase an initial salary offer more than $11,000 to lure Tucker here. The new engineer told the Bea con Friday that he isn't concerned about the administrative changes under way in Bolivia, since com missioners also played a role in his hiring. Commissioners Gene Pink crton, Benny Ludlum and Kelly Holden interviewed Tucker Nov. 6, then spoke highly of him before the full board decided to offer him the highest salary of any county em ployee. "1 think that's kind of normal that county administrators go from one place to another every couple of years," Tucker said of Smith's re cent departure. "I think that's sort of part of the game." Tucker is only the second staff engineer ever employed by Bruns wick County. The first county engi neer, Dan Shields, worked here from May 1984 to December 1986. The position was not funded in the 1987-88 and 1988-89 budgets, after Shields resigned to take a job with a private firm in New Hanover Coun ty In the interim, the county hired consulting engineers to handle some tasks that might have been per formed in-house, if a staff engineer had been on board. With little dis cussion, commissioners reinstated the engineer job in the 1989-90 budget, then directed Smith to ad vertise the post in July. The hiring was delayed several months due to U r*f nfTim enorn of thf v. V4.?vv -r ? county complex, according to Smith. Temporarily set up in Smith's old office while space was being made in the Operations Services Building, Tucker last week began familiariz ing himself with his new surround ings. "I've spent most of this week touring the county, looking at the water and sewer facilities," he said Friday, adding that lie also met vari i j ? ...i. uuj uisjnu uiiciii wuii wuv/iii he will closely work. As Smith told commissioners in November, the engineer's immedi ate task will be to begin reworking an engineering plan to extend the life of the county landfill located between Supply and Bolivia north of U.S. 17. Current estimates are that the landfill will reach capacity in two years. "That'll be the key area I'll be working in," Tucker said. He also will work with the wa ter system and other current projects such as construction of a jail addi tion and new Social Services build ing. Since Tucker's professional back ground is in Wake County, lie said he must also become more familiar with coastal restrictions. "The only real difference in coastal-type work and work other places is the way CAMA (Coastal Area Management Act) regulations apply here," he ob served. Tucker was assistant Wake Coun ty engineer for two years, beginning in Dcccmbcr 1987. In that position, his primary responsibility was to oversee Wake County's solid waste program and direct its long-term solid waste study. He also was a Wake County sanitary engineer from April 1984 to Dcccmbcr 1987. In that position, he was responsible for implementation of the solid waste program, including redesign of the 218-acc North Wake Sani tary Landfill. Other previous jobs included work as an estimator and project manager at both Gcldcr & Associa tes Inc., a paving company; and Jack Doub Inc., a grading and utili ty company. Both firms arc located in Raleigh. A 1976 graduate of N.C. State University, Tucker has a bachelor's degree ?? civii engineering and is a state -certified professional engineer. He is affiliated with the National Society of Professional Engineers, Professional Engineers of North Carolina, Governmental Refuse Collection and Disposal Association and the National Association of County Engineers. Tucker and his wife, Betsy, have a 17-month-old daughter, Ashley. They currently live in the Southport area, as they try to sell their house in the Raleigh area and look for a permanent home here. The Tuckers aren't complete strangers to Bruns wick County, because they have spent several vacations at Holdcn Beach. "My wife and I have always been attracted to the coast, and we've al ways wanted to live in a coastal type environment," he said, "so that attracted me here, I guess, as much as anything. "I see Brunswick County on the borderline of exploding growth wise, so I'm really looking forward to getting started." Man Receives Active Sentence For Ac^m 1 l+inn ? wi M WJMUIMI I M Two Local Men A Soulhporl man was sentenced to four years in prison after he pleaded guilty last week in Bruns wick County District Criminal Court to assaulting a Southport man and a Shallotte man in separate inci dents. Aaron Thomas Swain . 90. of Lord Street, Soulhport, entered guil ty pleas Jan. 2 to charges of assault with a deadly weapon and assault inflicting serious injury, according to the Brunswick County Clerk of Court's office. Judge David G. Wall sentenced Swain to two consecutive two-year prison terms on the misdemeanor charges. Two years is the maximum penalty for assault. Wall also or dered that Uic defendant pay SI, 808 in restitution and $200 in attorney fees, if he is released on parole or work release. Court records indicate that Swain was arrested Nov. 6, 1989, in con nection with a Nov. 4, 1989, assault involving Gary L. Davis of St. George Street, Southport; and on Dec. 29, 1989, in connection with a Dec. 22, 1989, assault involving Samuel Eugene King of Shallotte. The Brunswick County Sheriff's Department made both arrests. Arrest warrants state that Swain assaulted Davis by cutting him on the hand and chest with a razor. The defendant assaulted King by strik ing him twice and breaking his jaw. Also during the Jan. 2 and 3 term of Brunswick County District Crim inal Court, Judge Wall heard the following cases: Donna Wnods Babson. unsafe movement, $10 and costs. A1 D. Gore, reckless driving, no registration for vehicle, 30 days, suspended, $i0 and costs. Brenda Stames, speeding 64 in a 55 zone, costs. Katrina Ann Bell, larceny judg ment, prayer for judgment contin ued and costs. Michael Blackwell, simple as sault, Brunswick County Jail not less nor more than 30 days, sus pended sentence two years, costs, not violate any criminal laws. James Rondel! Bryant, no driv er's license, Brunswick County Jail not less nor >r<ors thss 30 d^ys, sus pended sentence two years, costs and $25, not violate any criminal i&ws. Edith Benton Carroll, hunting deer at night, Brunswick County Jail not less nor more than 60 days, suspended sentence two years, un supervised probation two years, costs, $250, rifle be retained by Wildlife Commission. Appealed. George Martin Carroll, hunting deer at night, Brunswick County Jail not le? nor more than 60 days, suspended sentence two years, un supervised probation two years, costs, $250, rifle be retained by Wildlife Commission. Appealed. William E. Clayton, Sr., larceny by trick, voluntarily dismissed. Larry Dane Clemmons, assault on a female, resisting / obstructing public officer, intoxicated and dis niptive, Brunswick County Jail 60 days, suspended two years, costs, not violate any criminal law? attorney fees. Eunice Davis, assault on a fe male, prayer for judgment contin ued and costs remitted. John Album Evans, hunting duck with more than four shotgun shells prayer for judgment continued and costs? recommends Wildlife Com mission not take license. Michael John Hankins, probation violation out-of-county, admits vio lation, probation revoked. James Allen Hannel, hunting on registered property without permit, voluntarily dismissed; taking and possessing antler deer, Brunswick County Jail 60 days, suspended sen tence two years, supervised proba SVr>^Ca?' costs- restitution 5279 to North Carolina Wildlife Commission, not violate any crimi nal laws, $100 fine. Abel O. Hernandez, first degree trespassing, voluntarily dismissed. Kenneth Earl Potect, no naviga tion lights. costs; operating a motor boat under impairing substance voluntarily dismissed. Pro"lx> worthless check $463.39 to Brooks Davis, Bruns wick County Jail not less nor more than 30 days, suspended two years fortS*,,^tltUt,?n S36339- ^edited for $100, not violate any criminal laws. Appealed. Gerald A. Rutherford, driving while license revoked, voluntarily dismissed. Duane Smith, cruelty to animals motion to dismiss at close of State's evidence. Johnnie Wayne Smith, takinc bird over daily bag limit, Brunswick County Jail not less nor more than 30 day suspended sentence two years, $30 restitution to N.C Wild life Commission, costs, not violate iaw" al rccommendation of Wildlife Commission not take his li cense. Jcnnainc Chadwick, possession of stolen property, voluntarily dis missed. Ernest Creech, litter on access area using access area other than intended purpose, Brunswick Coun ty Jail ten days, suspended sentence two years, costs, not violate any criminal laws for two years Aubrey E. Meadows, possession of stolen property, voluntarily dis missed. Lcchristophcr Parker, no hunum license, no big game license, Bruns wick County Jail not less nor more than 30 days, suspended sentence two years, not violate criminal laws, 525 and costs. Crosby Nixon, DWI, level 4, Brunswick County Jail 120 days, suspended sentence two years, un supervised probation two years, $100 and costs, assessment ? follow course, surrender license, not oper ate motor vehicle until valid license. Jsck Glover, rccklcss operation. Brunswick County Jail 30 days, suspended sentence two years, pay cost of court and $25 fine. Top Recyclers To Win Prize Seventh grade sciencc classes at Shallotte Middle School will be competing this month to sec which group can collect the most newspa pers and plastic containers for recy cling. The winning class will receive a prize from the contest sponsor. Vol unteers for Recycling. The contest is a follow-up to presentations on recycling being made Wednesday and today (Thursday) by Marcia Warring, a member of the Vol unteers for Recycling speakers' bu reau. She is also encouraging par ents and family members of the sev enth grade students to help them in the recycling effort. The volunteer group also spon sors a recycling center, which is lo cated behind the Sunset Beach Volunteer Fire Department oil N.C. 179 in Sunset Beach. The center is open all daylight hours. SH Business Service Don! Fret, Year End Office Supplies ON SALE NOW! ?File Folders ? Maxell Diskettes ?Columnar & Legal Park ?Index File Guides ?File Cabinets , 'Storage Boxes , -Data Binders : -2 Locations |Main Street Jet. 211 & Long Beach Rd. Shallotte Southport 754-8300 457-4565 1 4 STAFF PHOTO BY RAHN ADAMS NEW COUNTY ENGINEER Robert Tucker (left) chats with Com missioner Kelly Holden Friday in Bolivia. Two Motorists Slightly Hurt Two drivers cscapcd serious in jury in a two-vehicle wreck Friday near Southport, according to High way Patrol spokesperson Ruby Oakley. The collision occurred Friday at 6:10 p.m., 1.2 miles north of South port on N.C. 87, and involved Eliza beth Freeman Lcsh, 42, of Boiling Spring Lakes, and Eli Fadual Courie, 58, of Carolina Beach. Ms. Oakley said Ms. Lcsh was headed south on N.C. 87, when she attempted a left turn and was struck by Couric's northbound 1980 Dodge truck. Trooper D.B. Harvell charged Ms. Lcsh with a safe move ment violation. Both motorists complained of mi nor injuries and worn tnlr?" by am bulance to Doshcr Memorial Hos pital, Southport, Ms. Oakley report ed. Property damages were cslimat ed at 51 00 to Courie's truck and SI ,000 to the Lcsh auto. Boosters Reset Golf Tournament The West Brunswick High Scho ol Band Boosters have rescheduled their benefit golf tournament for Saturday, Jan. 13, at 9 a.m. at Brick Landing Plantation. The event was set for last Satur day but was postponed due to rain. The cost is SI 00 per foursome. The tournament was originally scheduled for Dcc. 16 but was changed when it conflicted with an other charity event. "Bmnszvicl^IsCands o lASomen s Center, CP.J^L. + Complete Gynecological and Obstetrical Services new patients welcome Robert E. Hasseer, m.i>. F. A.C.O.G. Board Certified and Recertified #16 Medical Center Dr., Supply, 754-9166 FLORIDA P'eseraScts Qn AJ To.'S Jan 23 6pn Call 754-4222 f 'Of Ccla 5 ^ ' W* ^Fk Convenient Tours And Travel First Class Checking "Checking At Its Best" 6% Interest Plus... Unlimited Checking Free Checks Free Travelers Checks Free Cashiers Checks Free Safety Deposit Box Direct Deposit Free Notary Service Free Signature Guarantee IF YOU'RE 55 OR OVER enjoy aii of the benefits of F1KST CLASS CHECKING with no minimum balance. Absolutely no cost to you because you deserve First Class Service. Earn more on your checking than most banks pay on sav ? mgs. IF YOU ARE UNDER 55 enjoy these free services by maintain ing a minimum balance of $500. When your balance falls below I $500 you will be serviced only $5, but your account will con ! tinue to earn 6 % on your bal ance. L. , , First Investors S A V I N G S BANK (919) 754-5400 (919) 642-8143 Coastal Plaza ? Shallotte 422 S. Madison St. ? Whiteville
The Brunswick Beacon (Shallotte, N.C.)
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Jan. 11, 1990, edition 1
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