Fishing Outside?
A new column on offshore fishing debuts
this week. Check with Captain Jamie Milliken
for the latest Information as well as tips and
techniques. Page 9-C.
All-County Honors
West Brunswick's Becky Buffkin
and Ricky Daniels make basketball nn
player of the year. Details on
Pages 8-B and 9-B.
THFP
Hi ib ia.
HOAG & SONS BOOK BINDERY
12/31/99
PO BOX 162
SPRIN6P0RT MI 49284
Twenty-ninth Year, Number 21
???CI TMf BRUNSWICK BEACON Shallotte, North Carolina, Thursday, March 28, 1991
25<t Per Copy
96 Pages, 4 Sections Including Supplement
Former County
Employee Placed
On House Arrest
BY TKRRY POPE
A former Brunswick County em
ployee charged with embezzling
money from the county was placed
under 45 days of electronic house
arrest by a superior court judge last
week.
Julius Drake "Buddy" Lewis, of
Lcland, was indicted last October
by a Brunswick County Grand Jury
for embezzlement of funds from the
Brunswick County Building Inspec
tions Department.
Lewis was interim head of the
department when he resigned last
August amid an investigation that
he allegedly cashed a SI 25 check
given to him -"> payment for a build
ing permit.
In Brunswick County Superior
Court last Wednesday, Lewis plead
ed guilty to misdemeanor larceny.
Judge Giles R. Clark gave Lewis a
two-year suspended sentence, plac
ed him on two years' supervised
probation and ordered that he f>ay a
S250 fine. Judge Clark also ordered
that Lewis serve 80 hours of com
munity service.
Lewis must also repay the county
SI 25 for the check he was given by
Faith Original Freewill Baptist
Church in Leland on April 4, 1990.
The church reportedly left the
check blank so Lewis could ase a
departmental stamp. Lewis was ac
cused of putting his name on the
check and then cashing it.
The county did not uncover the
problem until the church later re
quested a plumbing inspection and
the staff discovered there was no
building permit on record for the
church project
A placard at the church site on
Village Road displayed a building
permit and church officials were
able to produce a check dated April
4 which was reportedly used to pur
chase the permit.
Lewis will become one of 15
people the court will order on elec
tronic house arrest this year. The
program is administered by the lo
cal office of the N.C. Division of
Adult Probation and Parole.
Persons sentenced to house arrest
must wear a small radio transmitter
(See FORMER, Page 2-A)
' tz"- ? -y"
*. .
STAFF PHOTO BY TERRY POPE
TRAFFIC FIjOWED smoothly Monday along the U.S. 17 detour route on Red Bug Road north of
Shallotte. An accident on the route Friday resulted in hit and run charges against one driver. The
Shallotte bypass is scheduled to open by Memorial Day weekend.
Driver Charged With Hit
And Run On Detour Route
A Supply man was charged Fri
day with hit and run and driving
while impaired following an acci
dent at a stop light at Red Bug Road
and N.C. 130 cast of Shallotte,
where U.S. 17 traffic now detours
while construction of the Shallotte
bypass continues.
Charles Kirby Smith, 35, was
chargcd by State Trooper B.D.
Bamhardt with driving while im
paired, driving with no license and
hit and run.
According to Bamhardt, Smith's
1976 Pontiac was traveling west on
N.C. 130 when it traveled across the
center line at the intersection and
struck a 1973 Chevrolet driven by
Michael Timothy Smith, 31, of
Shallotte.
Charles Smith's car struck the
other vehicle in the left quarter pan
el, Bamhardt reported. Michael
Smith's car, traveling east on N.C.
130, was in the turn lane and had
slowed to turn onto Red Bug Road.
No injuries were reported in the
7:50 p.m. accident. Damage was
listed at S350 to the Michael Smith
car and $500 to the Charles Smith
car.
Child Struck
A Lincoln Primary School stu
dent was injured Friday after run
ning into the side of a truck that
failed to slop for a school bus near
Lcland.
Michael Anthony Orise, 8, of the
Phoenix community, was treated
and released from New Hanover
Regional Medical Center in Wilm
ington after the 7:55 a.m. accident.
According to State Trooper C.E.
Ward, the bus, driven by Pcrnclla
Munn of Lcland, was traveling
north on Mt. Misery Road about
four miles north of Lcland, when it
stopped to pick up four children.
Ward said a 1989 Ford truck driv
en by John David Goldbold Jr., 38,
of Carolina Beach, failed to slop for
the bus, which had displayed Hash
ing lights and a stop sign.
Orise ran into the side of the Ford
truck, Ward reported. Goldbold was
charged with passing a stopped
school bus.
No damage was reported.
Other Accidents
One vehicle ended up on top of
another in a head-on collision Fri
day on N.C. 133 three miles south
of Bclville.
Five people were injured in that
5:30 p.m. accident. A southbound
1986 Ford driven by Tonya Jean
Miller, 19, of Lincolnton, ran off the
road, swerved back onto the pave
ment and struck a northbound 1986
Toyota van driven by Jana Lenora
Alexander, 29, of Fuquay Varina,
reported Trooper D. A. Lewis.
The Toyota van came to rest on
top of the Miller car, Lewis said.
Ms. Miller was charged with
driving left of center.
Both drivers and three passengers
in the Miller car were seriously in
jured and taken to New Hanover
(See ACCIDENTS, Page 2-A)
(Police Charge
Students With
i School Break-Ins
BY DOUG RUTTER
Two West Brunswick High
School students have been arrested
in connection with weekend break
ins and vandalism at the high school
and Shallottc Middle School.
The schools were broken into late
Sunday and early Monday and
equipment at both facilities was
damaged. Law enforcement officers
and school officials have estimated
the total loss at more than S 10,500.
Brunswick County and Shallottc
lawmen have filed chargcs against
Kerry Douglas McCall of Route 3,
Shallottc, and Larry Edison Hewett
of Shallottc. Both of the suspects
are 16 years old.
Shallotte Police Chief Rodney
Gausc said the two students were ar
rested Monday night and charged
with one county each of breaking
and entering and larceny in connec
tion with the middle school break-in.
Lt. Donnell Marlow of the Bruns
wick County Sheriff's Department
said the teen-agers also have been
charged with breaking and entering
and larceny, injury to real property
and injury to personal property.
The county charges relate to the
break-in at the high school, which is
located outside the Shallotte town
limits.
Gause said the middle school was
broken Into around midnight Sun
day. A window at the back of the
school had been pried open with a
screwdriver or another tool.
He said whoever broke into the
school entered about five class
rooms. Paint had been poured on
computers, desks and cabinets, and
several desks were knockcd over.
The chief said officers found a
Satanic symbol and the numbers
"666," a figure also associated with
Satanism, painted on a homemade
quilt in the school.
Gausc said approximately $224
in cash, baseball cards, video game
cartridges, food and other items
were stolen from the school. Police
recovered everything but $40 in
cash that was apparendy taken from
a teacher s desk.
Shailotlc Middle School Principal
Mark Owens estimated damage at
SI, 200, including about $800 for a
computer keyboard and printer.
Owens said students were escort
ed to their classes Monday morning
to keep them away from officers in
vestigating the crime scene. "We
were able to get into place and carry
on without any interruption," he said.
Marlow said the high school was
broken into and vandalized early
Monday morning. "They ransacked
several rooms, poured paint over
the desks and threw papers all over
the floor," he said.
Damage at the high school was
estimated at 'S9,412. Marlow said
three computers had been thrown on
the ground and broken.
Marlow said several items were
stolen, but as of Tuesday school of
ficials were still trying to figure out
exactly what had been taken.
Detour Leaves Some Along Dead-End Road For Easter
BY TERRY POPE
Traffic flowed smoothly through Shallotte
Tuesday as motorists and businesses began ad
justing to a detour route of U.S. 17 along Red
Bug Road, a week prior to what is expected to
be a busy Easter weekend for the South
Brunswick Islands.
The N.C. Department of Transportation
blocked off a portion of U.S. 17 around noon
Friday so highway construction crews could be
gin work on the last segment of a four-laned
U.S. 17 bypass of Shallotte.
For motorists traveling both north and south
on U.S. 17, traffic has been detoured along Red
Bug Road and N.C. 130 west. A stoplight has
been installed at the intersection of Red Bug
Road and N.C. 130, where one accident was re
ported by the State Highway Patrol Friday.
The bypass is scheduled to open by Memorial
Day.
The detour, twice postponed by Prapst
Construction Co., the contractor for the paving
project, came just a week prior to what would
have been a busy Easter weekend for businesses
that now sit on a dead-end street.
Stores and restaurants along the portion of
U.S. 17 closed to through traffic just north of
Shallotte want area residents to know that they
have not disappeared.
"1 den't know what the long-range impact will
be, but it's certainly going to affect us," said
Tommy Chandler, sales manager of Jones Ford
in Shallotte.
Chandler said car sales and service depends
on passing traffic. The service department has
noticed a drop in business since the detour
opened Friday, he added.
"Hopefully, the weather will slay pretty so
they can go ahead and get it knocked out," said
Chandler.
A sign on U.S. 17 at the north end stoplight
says motorists can still use the road for access to
businesses beyond the barricade, but that the
road is c'osed to through traffic.
The delays in dctouring traffic has the manag
er of one restaurant there angry.
"It's not very nice, and it's not very fair," said
Nordis Hewett, night manager at Joe's Barbecue.
"With traffic being what it is, people are not go
ing to fight past a barricade to come down here."
She said DOT told the restaurant a sign would
be placed at the barricade listing the businesses
that were on the dead end portion of old U.S. 17.
Ms. Hewett said the delay in dctouring traffic
will cut into a normally busy season for the
restaurant.
'Ti.is is normally our busiest time of the
year," Ms. Hewett said. "We do most of our
business in the summer months with tourists
coming through. Even for the local people who
know we are here, it's a pain."
The detour was twice delayed by Propst
Construction since January. Company officials
said they had trouble getting materials to com
plete the paving job and were concerned about
winter weather.
SEASON ENDS SUNDAY
Brunswick Oysters
Make Comeback
It V DOUG RUTTER
Brunswick County oysters that
have battled pollution, killer para
sites and "red tide" the last three
years made something of a come
back this season, say local seafood
dealers.
"We've got a better supply down
there now than we did opening
day," said Carson Varnam, who
owns an oyster house in Varnam
town. "AH I've heard about is new
growth and small oysters that will
be ready next year."
The 1990-91 oyster season start
ed in October and comes to a close
Sunday ai sunset. In the years to
come, this season may be remem
bered as one of resurgence for the
local oyster population.
Over the last few years, the coun
ty's rock oysters have been up again
st obstacles such as bacterid pollu
tion, which has become progressive
ly worse over the past decade.
State environmental officials have
blamed the problem in the Lock
wood Folly River on faulty septic
tanks and stormwater runoff, which
carries pollutants into the rivers.
The state's first documented case
(See OYSTERS, Page 2-A)
"We've got a better supply down
there now than we did opening
day. All I've heard about is new
growth and small oysters that will
be ready next year."
? Carson Varnam
Oyster dealer
p.
Area Church Services Will Celebrate Christ's Resurrection
Area churches will celebratc the resurrec
tion of Christ with Easter cantatas and spe
cial services for local residents and visitors
alike.
On Easter Sunday morning flowers and
greenery brought by church members will
replace the black drapings of the cross on
the lawn at Camp United Methodist in Shal
lottc, a visible symbol of the death and res
urrection of Christ.
Services at all three area beaches will be
geared to vacationers, offering opportunities
to worship in an informal, natural setting in
casual dress.
Worshippers arc encouraged to bring
their own beach chair or towel to these ser
vices.
Ocean Isle Beach
Two services will be conducted at 8:30
a.m. Sunday on the strand at Ocean Isle
Beach.
Ocean Isle Bcach Chapel will offer an ec
umcnical scrvicc at the site of the cross just
west of the fishing pier.
Shallotte Presbyterian Church will hold its
interdenominational service on the strand
one-half mile west of the cross, the same lo
cation as its services last summer, said the
Rev. William Thomas, interim pastor.
Sunday's message is entitled, "Easter
Changes Everything". Henry Gchandcr will
serve as song leader.
Sunset Heach
At Sunset Beach an Easter service will be
held on the strand just east of the fishing
pier at 8 a.m., the first of a summer season
of intcrdenomination services to be spon
sored by Calabash Presbyterian Church.
Holden Heach
Holden Beach Baptist Mission will hold
an Easter sunrise scrvicc at the fishing pier
at Holden Beach starting at 7 a.m.
The pastor is the Rev. Jack Hancox, a
former military chaplain.
Seaside UMC
The South Brunswick Islands Interchurch
Council is sponsoring an Easter sunrise ser
vice at 6:30 a.m. at the Seaside intersection
of N.C. 179 and N.C. 904, at the N.C. Oyst
er Festival site.
Seaside United Methodist Church of
Ocean Isle Beach and its pastor, the Rev.
Camillc Yorkcy Edwards, are hosts.
Coffee and doughnuts will be served fol
lowing the service.
St. James the Fisherman
The earliest scrvice Sunday is an Easter
vigil that begins at 5 a.m. at Sea Mist
Camping Resort at Brick Landing and in
cludes celebration of the Holy Eucharist.
This scrvice culminates Holy Week and
begins the celebration of the resurrection,
said the Rev. Dr. Richard W. Warner, rector
of St. James the Fisherman Episcopal
Church, sponsor of the service.
The celebration continues at the church
on Main Street, Shallotic, with a special ser
vice at 9 a.m. for families with children,
with the traditional flowering of the cross.
After the church service, an egg hunt for
children is planned on the church grounds.
At 11 a.m. the celebration of the resur
rection with the Holy Eucharist will begin.
Calvary Baptist
At Calvary Baptist Church on Village
Road (N.C. 179) in Shallotic, the adult choir
will present a cantata during the 11 a.m.
worship service Sunday.
The cantata will be a compilation of mu
sic.
Also, Sunday school for all ages begins
at 10 a.m., said the Rev. John Landers, pas
tor.
Village Point
William Webb will speak at the 6:30 a.m.
sunrise service at Village Point United
Methodist Church. Afterward refreshments
will be served in the fellowship hall, said
spokesman Patty Jones.
Sunday school begins at 10 a.m. The
Rev. Robert Hargrove, pastor, speaking at
the 1 1 a.m. Easter service.
The church is located on Village Point
Road at Shallotte Point.
Jennies Branch
Jennies Branch Baptist Church will hold
its Easter sunrise service at 6:30 a.m.
Sunday. Breakfast will be served at 7 a.m.
in the fellowship hall, sponsored by the
Men's Young Adult Class, said the Rev.
Herman C. Absher, pastor.
St. Brendan's
Holy Week services at St. Brendan's
Catholic Church begins with a Mass of the
Lord's Supper Thursday at 7:30 p.m., fol
lowed by adoration until 1 1 p.m.
On Good Friday the solemn liturgy is
scheduled at 7:30 p.m., with a communion
service.
(See CHURCH, Page 2-A)