Hooked On Fishing
Misti Gore is all smiles after hooking
this sunfish at the N.C. Wildlife
Resources Commission CATCH Clinic
Saturday in Supply. The story and
more photos aire on Page 10-C.
Twenty-eighth Year, Number 25
Candidate Profiles
All of the c andidates running in
Tuesday's primary election who
responded to a Beacon questionnaire are
profiled in today's edition. The profiles
begin on Page 1-B.
THE P?
I It 4*
Bo's Coming Back
From big band to beach. Bo Thorpe and His
Orchestra will make music for dancing when
they return May 1 1 for the second annual
Spring Charity Ball in Shallotte. The story's
on Page 10-B.
CI MO 71
o.idiiotte, North Carolina, Thursday, May 3, 1990
25c Per Copy
44 Pages, 3 Sections, 2 Inserts
Above-Average
Voter Turnout Forecast For
Tuesday's Elections
BY SUSAN USHKR
Brunswick County Board of Elections Supervisor
Lynda Britt is predicting that as many as 45 percent of
the county's 26,661 registered voters could turn out to
cast ballots in Tuesday's primary election.
"That's high, but I'm hoping there would be that
much interest," she said.
A typically "good" turnout for most elections
boards would be about 40 percent in a year without a
gubernatorial or presidential election, Ms Britt said,
"but we like to do a little better."
Candidates who answered a Beacon questionnaire
are profiled in today's newspaper, beginning on Page 1
n
Unlike in past years, candidates in Tuesday's pri
mary can win with 40 pp.rre.nl of the vote, instead of the
previous 50 percent. The General Assembly adopted the
change last year, indicating it could reduce the number
of second primaries required and also increase the odds
of minority candidates winning their party's primary.
"There are some races that will be lively contests,"
predicted Glen Peterson, chairman of the Brunswick
County Democratic Party. "The 40 percent rule means
i hey will be contested even more hotly. We have a vari
ety of candidates of all persuasions, which gives a good
choice for the voters. I think the result will be a repre
sentative slate for November."
As one example, he cited the District 5 commission
ers' race, in which ihe incumbent is being challenged
by a former county commissioner and a first-time can
didate. "I think that race will be very close to that 40
percent mark," he said.
Such lively races are what make the Democratic
Party so "dynamic" locally, he said, but they also make
it necessary to work after the primaries to "neutralize"
any differences that emerge in the spring campaigns in
order to unify the party behind its nominees in the gen
eral election.
That process of post-primary reunification is some
thing the Brunswick County Republican Party is begin
ning to make at least a nodding acquaintance with, sug
gested GOP Chairman Malcolm Grissett Traditionally
the county GOP party has had few primaries, much less
a second primary, he noted. "But that is changing. It's
something Republicans are going to have to get used to
as more people move into the county and our registra
tion increases."
A five-man field seeking the Republican Party's
nomination for sheriff could result in a second primary,
which, to Grissea's knowledge, would be a first in
Brunswick County. 'They arc all good candidates, but I
don't think at this point in time any of our candidates
could win 40 percent of the vote," he said.
While some county residents may question the
change in election law, Grisseu said he thinks the 40
(See LARGE, Page 2-A)
Whole Tires
Dumped On
2 Farms
BY SUSAN USHER
Haulers have illegally dumped
truck loads of tires in recent weeks
on two farms in northern Brunswick
County, prompting concern by
property owners that the trend could
accelerate.
The latest incident occurred last
Wednesday evening at the Charles
(Chip) Carroll farm at Northwest.
Tommy Williams, an uncle of
Carroll who works on the 300-acrc
farm, was returning to a Held where
the two were working when he saw
a mound of tires blocking a road
way that less than an hour earlier
had been clear.
"It's surprising how you feel to
come back and see something like i
this where you were just a short
while before," Williams recalled as
he pointed out the spot where he es- [
U ma ted between 500 and 1 ,000 tires |
had been dumped without the Caroll
family's permission. Williams said
he expects the problem of illegal
dumping to worsen in light of new
state laws governing the disposal of
whole tires ? legislation he said is
a good idea but may be difficult to i
enforce. I
As of April 1, lire haulers arc re
quired to possess identification |
numbers and use a tire certification !
form provided by the N.C. Division
of Sold Waste Management
Whole tires may no longer be
disposed of in any North Carolina
sanitary landfill. The Brunswick
County Landfill near Supply is con
tinuing to accept tires, but requires |
they be removed from the rims and
separated from other garbage, ac
cording to Director Leo Hcwctt.
The landfill has installed a machine
for cutting the tires into strips.
When left whole in landfills, tires
float to the surface. When mounded
they also pose a serious fire hazard.
Workers at the Carroll farm were
planting com in a nearby field at the
time the tires were apparently un
(See TIRES, Page 2- A)
TOMMY WIIJJAMS stands near a pile of tires dumped illegally last Wednesday on the farm owned
and operated by his nephew, Charles Carroll, and Carroll's wife, Susan, at Northwest. Tires have
been dumped in recent weeks on at least one other farm in the area as well.
2 -Year Term For Commissioners
Is Sought By Local Democrats
BY SUSAN USHER
Rep. David Rcdwine says he is
considering a request by local Dem
ocrats to change the term of office
for Brunswick County Commission
ers from four years back to two
years, but such a bill could not be
introduced until next year's legisla
tive session.
Brunswick County Democrats
voted at their April 21 convention
to ask Redwine "to do whatever is
necessary" to change the term of of
fice for commissioners toars back to
two years.
Under the state General Assemb
ly's rules of adjournment, items of a
controversial nature cannot be taken
up in the short summer session,
Rcdwine noted, adding, "and this
would obviously be controversial."
Meanwhile, Redwine said he is
trying to gauge public sentiment re
garding the proposal, which was
adopted on a 39-23 vote of the pre
cincts present
The measure was one of three
resolutions introduced by Oak Isl
and Precinct No. 2 at the conven
tion. Delegates adopted a resolution
supporting protection of the Social
Security system and of the Monihan
bill specifically, but voted down a
resolution that asked Redwine "to
do whatever is necessary" to change
Brunswick County Rnard of F.duca
tion elections from partisan back to
non-partisan. The latter bill said the
change to partisan elections "has
not resulted in the desired outcome"
and that education of school chil
dren should be the objective of ev
ery school board member regardless
of their party affiliation.
Brunswick County Commission
ers are elected to staggered, four
year terms under provisions of a re
disricting plan that went into effect
in 1983. The plan also created five
electoral districts based on popula
tion; previously the county's six
townships also served as electoral
districts.
In seeking the change of terms
for county commissioners, the Oak
Island resolution expounds,
"Whereas many individuals elected
to serve a four-year term on the
Brunswick County Board of
Commissioners become compla
cent, ignore the requirements of the
office and refuse to be responsive to
the public's right to know;"
It continues by referring to the
actions of three board members in
voting to hire a state official as
county manager without going
through the usual process of adver
tisement, review of applications and
interview ? a hiring decision that
was later reversed.
The resolution also points out
that state and federal representatives
have to run for office every two
years.
In attempting to gauge the pub
lic's feelings about the proposal,
Redwine said he's encountered mix
ed responses.
Also, he's concerned that the
measure not be considered "politi
cal," given that the Republican Par
ty has three candidates up for elec
tion in 1992, the first year such a
change could take effect.
"I don't know how the Repub
lican Party feels about it, but some
Republicans have approached me. If
1 were to get a resolution from the
Republican Party also, certainly that
would carry a lot of weight."
Arguments Redwine says he's
heard in favor of the two-year term
for commissioners include greater
fiscal accountability, he said.
Redwine says he also has been
approached about introducing legis
lation that would allow for recall of
local officials. "But I haven't agreed
to do anything with that. It wouldn't
pass."
Neither Gene Pinkerton. chair
man of the board of commissioners
and a Republican, nor Grace Beas
ley, its vice chairman and a Demo
crat, could be reached for comment
Tuesday afternoon on the resolution
(S?e 2-YF.AR, Page 2-A)
Storms Disrupt
Electricity To
1 ,500 Homes
BY SUSAN USHKR
A chain of thunderstorms that
charged across Brunswick County
Monday night left approximately
1,500 households temporarily with
out electrical service and disrupted
telephone and cable television ser
vice to others as a result of lightning
damage.
"It was a mcanie." said Bobby
Gore, manager of operations for
Brunswick Elcctric Membership
Corp. in Shallotte. The cooperative
provides electrical service to cus
tomers located primarily in Bruns
wick and Columbus counties.
Workers were still putting ser
vices back on line at 8 a.m. Tues
day. "We worked all night," Gore
said. "We had four storms we had to
deal with right in a row. One had
hail about the size of the end of
your finger. We had some trans
formers to go out and a lot of fuses
?o blow, but no outages on transmis
sion, thank the Lord."
Percy Woodard, member services
"All that light
ning worked us
over good."
? Percy Woodard
ATMC spokesman
director for Atlantic Telephone
Membership Corp., predicted crews
would be working throughout the
day Tuesday to restore services,
mainly to cable TV customers, but
to some telephone subscribers as
well. "It's hard to prepare for some
thing as bad as we had last night,"
he said. "All that lightning worked
us over good."
The biggest electrical outage for
BEMC occurred in the Longwood
area around midnight, where Gore
qairt wrvir? to most residences was
not restored until morning.
(See STORM, Page 2-A)
Tor/e Williamson Named
Teacher Of The Year
During the selection process for Brunswick County's Teacher of the
Year, Victoria Sarctto "Torie" Williamson described herself as "an inno
vative, energetic, enthusiastic, loving teacher who strives to be creative.
"I love my students and support them in all they
try to achieve. 1 do all I can to make them proud of
themselves, yet I push them to be the very best they
can be. I am always eager to learn and I want my
students to be the same."
Whether for those or other qualities, Mrs.
Williamson became the second county Teacher of
the Year in as many years to come from Shallottc
Middle School. She was selected for the honor by a
panel of five judges last Wednesday.
Mrs. Williamson has taught a sclf-contained
fifth-grade class during her three years at Shallotte Williamson
Middle School, and this semester is teaching in a cooperative learning
project with a partner, Julia Morrison. She succccds Gwen Clcmmons
Causey, also on the faculty at Shallottc Middle and a judge in this year's
selection. She will advance to Region 2 competition this coming winter.
First runner-up in the county wide competition was Judy H. Kcmmer
of Long Beach, a fifth-grade teacher at Southport Elementary with 21
years of teaching experience. Second runner-up was Gracic B. McLarty
of Leland, a sixth-grade teacher at Lcland Middle School with 13 years
of teaching experience.
Mrs. Williamson, a teacher for nine years, has taught fourth through
ninth grades. She was previously on the faculty of Farm Life Elemen
tary School in Vanceboro, Havelock Junior High in Havelock and P.S.
Jones Junior High in Washington, N.C.
She holds an A.B. degree in education from the University of North
Carolina at Chapel Hill and a master's degree in education from East
Carolina University, both in intermediate education with a science em
phasis.
Mrs. Williamson has also taught at Polly's Preschool, while her own
children were of preschool age.
Professionally, she holds membership in the North Carolina Associ
ation of Educators, National Educator's Association and Delta Kappa
Gamma honorary, of which she is first vice presidenL She also partici
pates in the Brunswick County Schools Professional Book Club.
Mrs. Williamson has taken a variety of professional development
workshops over the past three years. At Shallotte Middle, she has
served on the Southern Association accreditation study steering com
mittee, as coordinator of the SC1IS and CLIMB curriculum programs,
science committee chairperson, school assistance team member and sci
ence fair coordinator.
Other teachers entered in the competition and the schools they rep
resented were: Tom Simmons, Union Primary; Lizzie Mitchell, South
Brunswick High; Lisa Brown, West Brunswick High; Marica Diana
Carey, Lincoln Primary; Allison Teresa Brendle, South Brunswick Mid
dle; Sally H. McMillan, Waccamaw Elementary; and Brenda H. Tayloe,
Bolivia Elementary.