THE mi*1""" :iQ90TMf BRUNSW C'K Bf ACON Twenty-eighth Year, Number 50 Shallotte, N , ...uiauay, November 1,1990 250 Per Copy 44 Pages, 3 Sections, 1 Insert t -? ac ' I i"- - SB UNITE AGA/NST VIOLENCE 1 / -a y: * '??. ' STAFF PHOTO BY TERRY POM MARCHERS PARTICIPATING in the Domestic Violence Awareness Pay rally last Thursday stres sed the need to speak out against abuse and to make the public more aware of the problem in Itrunswick County. Victims Tell Of Domestic Violence 11Y TKRRY POPK The people gutlicred at the road side rest area near Supply last week were not (here to rest. Instead, they pickcd up banners and signs anil marehed down U.S. 17 to Bruns wiek Community College to speak out against domestic violence. Last Thursday was Domestic Violence Awareness Day in Bruns wick County. Following the march, a candlelight service was held at the college for victims who have lost their lives in the struggle against domestic violence. Sponsored by Hope Harbor Home of Brunswick County, a shel ter for domestic violence victims and their children, and the Bruns wick Community College Vocation al Technical Honor Society, the ral l\ was attended by about 50 people who gathered to hear testimony Iroin two women who escaped vio lent situations. Keynote speaker Kitty Fitzgib hon, weather anchor for WWAY TV-3 in Wilmington, surprised die audience w hen she told of being ex posed to domestic violence as a lit tle* girl. Amanda McDonald, shelter manager for Hope Harbor, wasn't aware that Ms. Fit/gibbon was a survivor when she asked her to be guest speaker. "Il jusi shows ihc extent of the problem," Ms. Fit/gibbon said, "w hen you can call a speaker at ran dom and lind someone who has been affected by domestic violence." Education and counseling arc needed to help battered women, Ms. Fit/gibbon said. Women have to know that there is help available. "Most people don't realize dial when they watch the weather, they are watching a survivor," Ms. Fitz gibbon said. Domestic violence is a topic that's not easy to talk about and is often overlooked by the me dia, she added. "1 was scared to death coming in here today," she said. "1 had no idea what 1 was going to say. It's not easy to break the cycle." Hope Harbor is only one of 61 domestic violence programs in North Carolina. Ms. McDonald said Monday that the shelter is in need of donations, such as infant and children's Tylenol, diapers of all sizes and cleaning supplies. This year, each shelter received a S15,(XK) grant from the slate. In the future, funding for the shelters must come from other sources. "We did that even in a very tough year," said Suite Rep. E. David Red wine. "Frankly, I'd like lo see us do more nexl year if we can, and that's a mighty big if. All state programs can expect to suffer somewhat." Redwinc said he believes the shelter is the "very necessary first step to help victims of domestic vi olence on the road to a better life." Rene McGill, an employee of the domestic violence shelter in Wilm ington, also gave testimony of how she struggled away from the control of a batterer. "All he wanted was power and control," Ms. McGill said. "He would say that 1 was stupid, igno rant and ugly. 1 really had become nothing to myself or my children." She suffered from a fractured jaw, broken fingers and toes before she managed to flee. "Those were the easiest scars for me bccausc 1 could see some physi cal healing," she said. "I was lost. I was confused." Ms. McGill admitted herself into a psychiatric hospital. She had lo fight for custody of her children. With S23.15, she found an attorney who believed in her. "Start a new beginning today be cause tomorrow you may not have a chance," she urged victims at the rally. Election Headed Toward Countdowr BY SUSAN USHKK After a fast-paccd final week, a relatively low-key clcclion season will peak Tuesday in Brunswick County when as many as 27,743 voters could go to the polls to elect leaders at the local, state and nation al level. Local voters will mark two large ballots front and back Tuesday. Among the offices to be filled are the following: ?County Sheriff; ?Clerk of Superior Court; ?County Commissioners from Districts 2 and 5; ?Board of Education members from Districts 2 and 5; ?State Senator, ISth District: ?Suite Representative, 14ih Dis trict; ?U.S. Congressman, 7th District: ?U.S. Senator. ?Chief Justice, Associate Justice, N.C. Supreme Court; ?N.C. Court of Appeals?seven judges: ?N.C. Superior Court?27 jud ges, including a new 13th District scat; ?13th District Judge; and ?County Soil and Conservation District?two supervisors. Voters will also decide a biparti san issue?should the state issue S200 million in bonds to build new prisons and youth services facilities. While county commissioners and sch(x)l board members run from and represent the district in which they reside, they arc nominated and clcctcd by voters countywidc. Several of the races on the ballot arc uncontested: Rep. E. David Redwinc won a Democratic primary and is unopposed for re-election to the 14th District scat in the N.C. House of Representatives. The dis trict includes all of Brunswick County, pius one township each in New Hanover and Pender counties. David Wall is unopposed for election to the 13th District judge's scat soon to be vacated by William C. Gore Jr. Gore is unopposed for election to a new Superior Court judgeship. Two candidates, incumbents James D. Bellamy Jr. of Shallotte and Harold Robinson of Supply, arc unopposed for two seats on the non partisan Brunswick County Soil and Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors, though a blank is in cluded on the ballot for write-in votes. Voters can vote a straight Repub lican or Democratic ticket or split their ticket. To split a ticket, a can didate can mark a straight ticket, then mark the ballot for one or more candidates of the other party. The votes will count straight ticket ex cept for those items, which will be counted as marked. Profiles of the candidates in ma jor local, district and state races are included in today's edition of The Brunswick Beacon. Congress Allots $200,000 For Lockwood Folly Study Money for an impact study de signed to find out if navigation pro jects near Lockwood Folly River have affected water circulation in the river has been included in the 1991 federal budget. Federal legislators appropriated S2(X),(MK) for the impact study in the budget approved last week, said Keith Pitts, spokesman for Con gressman Charlie Rose (D-N.C). The Army Corps of Engineers, the federal agency that will do the study, Welcome Center Will Greet 1,000-Plus Visitors A Day BY SUSAN USHER that our state and this southeast region would When the Southeastern Welcome Center develop a partnership," he said. opens in 1992 its staff can expect a thousand The project is a joint effort of the public and visitors a day. State Transportation Secretary private sector. Tommy Harrelson told a group of about 75 peo- Located approximately 12 miles north of the .pie Tuesday at groundbreaking ceremonies for South Carolina-North Carolina border along the 'the Sl.l million facility. U.S. 17 bypass at Shalloue, the regional center "Probably more than that," Harrelson said lat- is being built with state funds. The center will er regarding the figure. "People don't realize how operate and staff its visitors center in 1,400 many people ill is road is going to be carrying. square feet of the facility. A state rest area will "The center in Macon County is already do- occupy the remaining 1,000 square feet. The ing more than that during its peak season." N.C. Department of Transportation will operate The lour-lanc bypass of U.S. 17 around the rest area and provide site maintenance. Shalloue is scheduled to open before the start of The facility will promote attractions and die 1991 tourist season next May. amenities across the entire region, as well a pro Tuesday's afternoon ceremony was held viding information about the rest of the state, along the unfinished bypass, off N.C. 130 West In turn, Harrelson said the state hopes finan at what will be the entrance to die new facility cial support will be forthcoming from all eight from the westbound ramp. counties?Brunswick, Bladen, Columbus, Cra Dean Walters, president of the Southeastern ven, Duplin, Onslow, New Hanover and Pender. Welcome Center Inc., the non-profit organi/a- Participants in Southeastern Welcome Cen tion that will operate the visitors center, said its ter Inc. to date include the South Brunswick construction is "a lone-awaited dri^im" lor Islands Chamber of Commerce. Southport-Oak many area residents. It was a natural project for Island Chamber of Commerce, Greater Wilm die area, he said, given its rich heritage, die ease ington Chamber of Commerce and Cape Fear with which southeastern North Carolina resi- Coast Convention & Visitor's Bureau. Bruns denis welcome visitors, and the importance of wick County lias channeled $60,000 to the cen tourism to the coastal economy. "It made sense ter through the two chambers of commerce and the Greater Wilmington Chamber of Commerce has chipped in S 10,000. "We'll start our funding program today," Su sannc Sartelle, executive vice president of the South Brunswick Islands Chamber of Commerce and treasurer of the center operating group, told the Beacon. "We're going to be working mainly through chambers of commerce and visitors cen ters." Mrs. Sartelle, Wallers and Harrelson joined other officials in tossing shoveslul of dirt along side the bypass with a chrome-plated shovel. Also digging in were Southeastern Welcome Center board members Joe Augustine, of the Greater Wilmington chamber. Secretary Sabrina Hodges, visitors center director for the South port-Oak Island Chamber of Commerce; Judy Shaffncrof the Governor's Office; Vicki Silenc er and Dave Kelly, Soulhport-Oak Island Cham ber of Commerce, and Annette Odom, South Brunswick Islands Chamber of Commerce; and Charles Tomlinson, assistant head of DOT's roadside unit. "I think it's great. I'm excited that the loca tion is so close to the South Brunswick Island beaches," Ocean Isle Beach Mayor Betty Wil liamson said following the groundbreaking. "It should help our local economy a great deal." Varnamtown Officials Hope To BY DOUG rutter With some help from residents, Varnamtown officials think they'll be able to open the community's first town hall to the public as an early Christmas present. The town board of aldermen last week voted to buy a lot and house along Varnamtown Road for $51,(XX). With a few changes, offi cials say the house will make a nice town hall that should meet the town's needs for many years. Carol Etheridge, who owns the property, had rejected an identical offer from the town board in Sep tember Mayor Judy Galloway said last week thai the real estate compa ny trying to sell the property accept ed the town's offer. The town board will use S3(),(XX) from the town building lund as a down payment and borrow $21,(XX) from United Carolina Bank. The loan will be for two years, anil the interest rate will not exceed X per cent. Town Clerk Paul Vealey saitl last week that the town has about S40,(XX) in the bank. The board of aldermen budgeted $55,863 in its building fund this fiscal year, plus S2,4(X) for town hall rental. Since Vamamtown incorporated in September ll)XX, town meetings have been held in the community's two churches. Last Thursday, when aldermen approved purchase of the property, an electrical problem caused them to meet in a small side room in Dixon Chapel United Methodist Church rather than in their usual room. llic future town hall property is located next to an acre of land the town already owns. The lot is about one-third of an acre, and the 1.4(H) square-loot house has four bed rooms, two bathrooms, a kitchen, dining area, living room and utility room. Mayor Galloway said the closing dale will be no later than Nov. 15. "If all goes according to plan, we can meet there and start blocking out walls," she said last week. Alderman John David Dawson was authorized to change the locks on the doors as soon as the town takes over ownership of the property. Town officials said last week they hope town residents will vol unteer their time to renovate the building if the town pays for the lumber and other materials. Although the purchase is still in complete, town officials already arc talking about holding an open house when renovations are done and dressing up the town hall with a Christmas tree. (See VARNAMTOWN, I'age 2-A) Open Town Hall has estimated its cost at S265.000. However, Pitts said the work can be done for the amount budgeted. The impact study will focus on Eastern Channel, which is situated between the west end of Long Beach and Sheep Island at the mouth of the Lockwood Folly River. Eastern Channel served as the in let between Lockwood Folly River and the Atlantic Ocean before the Atlantic lniracoastal Waterway was dredged and a new inlet was cut. Brunswick County fishermen say the Eastern Channel has filled in with sand in recent years, and the sand has restricted water Row and prevented bacterial pollution from escaping the river, which is often closed to shellfishing. The impact study will use a "nu merical flow model" to determine whether Corps navigation projects near Lockwood Folly River have had adverse impacts on water circu lation. The study is expected to last about nine months. Tom Jarrett, head of coastal engi neering with the Corps in Wilming ton, said recent aerial photos and photos dating back to the 1800s be fore the waterway was constructed would be compared to see how Eastern Channel has changed over the years. If the impact study determines that construction of the waterway has had negative impacts on water How through Eastern Channel, Jar rett said the Corps would develop tf111111??!?/"%f ? 11rt?? UUVIIIUIMV.) W/ tUlll|ltll" sate for the effects. The impact study is just one part ol a two-prong Corps ol tngineers proposal involving the Eastern Channel. (See CONGRKSS, Page 2-A) - w STAFF PHOTO BY TERRY POPE It's A Ringer! Shirley Driver lands a ringer Saturday in the women's doubles horseshoe pitching competition at the N.C. Festival By The Sea at Holdcn Beach. More coverage of festival events is inside: Costume Contest 6-A Horseshoes 12-C Surfing Contest 13-C Volleyball, Run 14-C Parade 8-A Where Do The Candidates Stand? Find out candidates' positions on the issues before voting Nov. 6. Profiles arc inside on Pages 10-A and 8-B through 12-B. Holden Boord Upholds Suspension Of Officer BY DOUG RUTTER Following a closed-door griev ance hearing Tuesday Holden Beach Commissioners voted to uphold the recent suspension of a town police officer who was earlier convicted of assault and trespassing. Commissioners voted unani mously to uphold the town manag er's suspension of Policeman Gary Dancy after meeting in executive session for more than an hour Tues day afternoon. Dancy was suspended without pay from the police force after he was found guilty of simple assault and second-dcgrec trespassing Sept. 25 in Brunswick County District Court. The case has been appealed to superior court. Town Manager Blake Proctor suspended the policeman until the case is settled. He said at the lime of the disciplinary action that Dancy would be reinstated with full senior ity, benefits and back pay if he is found innoccnt in superior court. Proctor said the policc officer would be fueu if found guilty in su perior court. "Nobody, including myself, want p(j in <jo it, but it had to be done," Proctor said Tuesday of the suspen sion Mayoi John Tandy said commis sioners thought the town manager had acted correctly when he sus (See HOLDKN, Page 2-A) As Early Christmas Gift STAFF PHOTO BY DOUG *UTT?? VARNAMTOWN ALDERMEN approved the purchase of this house last week, which thei plan to convert into the community's first town hull.

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