Mnni ""j 'si?? rji: nrii/^fMi
BRL... r. - . -ft BEACON
Twenty-ninth Yeor, Number 22 ?? ??w? ?e*co? Shollotte, North Coroling, Thursdoy, April 4, 1991 25<t Per Copy 30 Pages, 2 Sections, 2 Inserts
STAFF PHOTO BY SUSAN USHER
DESPITE THE EARLY MORNING CHILL, more than 300 people gathered on the strand near the Sunset Beach Fishing Pier
Sunday to celebrate Christ's resurrection. It was the first beach service offered by the recently-established Calabash Presbyterian
Church. The worshipers huddled in layers of spring clothing, beach towels and blankets.
Merchants Give Easter Weekend Mixed Reviews
BY DOUG RUTTER
The 1991 Easter holiday weekend received
mixed reviews from local businessmen, some of
whom speculated that cool weather and cloudy
skies kepi some visitors away from the coast
Several local real estate companies reported
that most or all of the available beach cottages
and units in the South Brunswick Islands were
rented for the week.
A heavy rainstorm greeted visitors who ar
rived Friday night High temperatures stayed in
the 50s and low 60s Saturday and Sunday, be
fore sunshine broke through and a wanning
trend started Monday.
Despite the unseasonable start to the holiday
week, hundreds of homeowners and even more
visitors found their way to the southeastern
North Carolina coast for the first big beach
weekend of the year.
Mary Barnes if Lcxir^ttjn, S.C., who is visit
ing Sunset Beach with her family for the week,
said Sunday thai the cool weather made no dif
ference to her. "It was jusl nice to gel away,"
she said.
But there were conflicting reports about what
the influx of visitors meant to local businesses.
Some merchants said they were pleased with
weekend business, and others said it was down
from past years.
Ouida Hewctt of the South Brunswick Islands
Chamber of Commerce said she didn't hear any
negative comments about the Easter weekend
from merchants or visitors.
"Everybody I've talked to has been real
pleased with the weekend," she said Tuesday.
'They've all said that business has been good."
Mrs. Hewctt said several restaurant owners in
Calabash told her the cool weather kept some
people away Saturday, but business picked up
Easter Sunday and Monday.
Several store managers, however, said busi
ness was slower than they had hoped for and
expected. They said unfavorable weather fore
casts probably kept some people away.
"I had a decent weekend but it wasn't great,"
said Millie Pcnsmith, who manages the Cockle
Shell gift shop at Ho'den Beach. "I think the
weather left a lot to be desired."
Jim Buie, a manager at Hill's food ston; in
Shallotte, called the holiday weekend "pitifui."
"It was not what we cxpccted it to be. We're
hoping it's because of the weather," he said.
"We were prepared for a big one so we've got a
lot of back stock. It just didn't happen."
Police departments at the suddenly-crowded
beach communities reported no criminal activi
ty
"It's been very mild," Ocean Isle Beach
Police Chief Curt Pritchard said Tuesday. "It's
been quiet as far as crime is concerned."
As usual, hundreds of motorists headed for
the South Brunswick Island beaches ran into a
traffic jam on the north side of Shallottc on
Good Friday.
Southbound traffic on U.S. 17 slowed to a
crawl several miles north of town. The bypass
related detour from the main highway to Red
Bug Road funnclcd more traffic than usual onto
Holdcu Beach Road.
Marine Pfc. Jacob Gillens. who was on his
way from Camp Lejeunc to South Carolina
Friday afternoon, was among those stuck in the
lineup.
Wailing in bumpcr-to-bumper traffic, Gillens
(See WEEKEND, Page 2-A)
State Sets Public Hearing On Town Creek Crematorium
BY TERRY POPE
Town Creek residents angry about
a pet crematorium planned for their
community will have a chance to
voice their concerns at a state public
hearing later this month.
The N.C. Division of Environ
mental Management (IDEM) will
hold a public hearing Tuesday,
April 23, at 7 p.m., on an air quality
control permit filed by Ron Currie,
who wants to build a pet crematori
um on Town Creek Road about two
miles west of U.S. 17.
The hearing will be held in the
Public Assembly Building at the
government complex in Bolivia,
said County Manager David Clegg,
who was notified of the hearing last
Thursday.
Currie, who plans to operate
Southeastern Pet Cremation at the
Town Creek site, said Monday that
he will attend the hearing in Bolivia.
"The public hearing will clarify a
lot of things that came out wrong
from the beginning." Currie said.
The New Hanover County ani
mal control supervisor said he was
wrongly portrayed by local media
as trying to mislead residents in the
Town Creek community about the
proposed crematorium.
Town Creek residents packed
Brunswick County Commissioners'
chambers March 4 to protest Cur
ne's plan to build the crematorium
in a residental neighborhood. They
told commissioners their concerns
about possible damage to air and
water quality should an incinerator
be built there.
Just days after the meeting Clegg
revoked a county building permit
issued earlier to Currie. The permit
stated the building was to be a resi
dential workshop rather than a com
mercial business.
As of last week, Currie had not
applied for another building permit
at the Brunswick County Building
Inspections Department Currie said
Monday that his attorney is now in
charge of that matter.
Commissioner Gene Pinkerton,
at the March 4 meeting, asked that
all board members attend a state
public hearing if one was sched
uled.
Southeastern Pet Cremation would
cremate cats and dogs and bum car
casses from research laboratories,
slaughterhouses, animal pounds and
similar sources. Veterinarians and pet
owners who would like to have their
pet cremated would also use the fa
cility.
The permit would allow a maxi
mum of 75 pounds of waste per
hour or 78 tons yearly to be burned
by natural gas.
A preliminary review of Currie's
air quality permit has determined it
can be approved and a DEM air
permit issued if certain conditions
are met, according to DEM's public
hearing notice dated April 1 .
DEM Director George Everett
has determined, the notice said, that
it is in the public interest that a
meeting be held to receive public
comments on whether to issue or
deny an air permit for Southeastern
Pet Cremation.
The crematorium air quality per
mit will be explained at the hearing
and Currie will be allowed to speak.
County residents can also sign up to
speak. If their comments will last
more than three minutes, they are
also to provide written copies.
Those not wishing to speak may
submit written statements or data
tor the agency s ccosidcwuion. To
be considered as part of the hearing
record, the material must be turned
in before the close of the hearing.
Copies of the draft air permit, an
application by Southeastern Pet
Cremation and other materials used
by DEM to evaluate the permit arc
on file for public inspection at the
Leland Branch Library beside the
old Leland School Park on Village
Road during regular business hours.
For a fee, copies may also be ob
tained from the N.C. Division of En
vironmental Management, P.O. Box
27687, Raleigh, N.C. 2761 1-7687.
The proposed crematorium also
sparked discussion about a need for
countywide zoning. Chairman
Kelly Holden said zoning laws
could keep crematoriums out of a
residential area.
. - ?
Ash Teen Sought
In Brother's Death
BY TERRY POPE
Harold Allen Graham, of Route
1, Ash, spent his 18th birthday Sun
day in the woods near his home,
hiding from local law officers who
want to charge him with the murder
of his brother.
As of Tuesday morning, Graham
had not been found after a two-day
search of a large wooded area along
the Waccamaw River in southern
Brunswick County and liccnse
checks on local roadways.
He is accused of shooting his
brother. Lacy Franklin Graham, 28,
twice in the head with a ,32-caliber
pistol Saturday around 3:20 p.m.
The victim died at New Hanover
Regional Medical Center in Wilm
ington around 2 p.m. Sunday.
Brunswick County court records
show Graham was charged with an
other shooting last fall.
He was indicted by a Brunswick
County grand jury Feb. 18 on a
charge of assault with a deadly wea
pon inflicting serious injury. In that
incident, Graham is accused of
shooting Wade Bliss Ashley, a stu
dent at Shallotte Middle School, in
the right leg with a .22 -caliber rifle
on Ocl 8, 1990.
In Brunswick County District
Court Dec. 5, 1990, Graham wavicd
his right to a probable cause hear
ing, sending the ease to Superior
Court. The case is still pending and
a trial date had not been set, said
Lisa Aycock, courtroom clerk.
The Graham brothers lived in the
same house along Ash-Little River
Road (S.R. 1300). A Brunswick
County sheriff's detective, Lt. Don
nell Marlow, said a motive for the
shooting has not been determined.
A warrant has been issued for
Graham's arrest on murder charges.
It lists two witnesses to the shooting.
"We will charge him with mur
der," Marlow said. "It'll be up to the
courts to decide if it's first-degree
or second-degree."
Graham was found lying on the
shoulder of the road about 60 feet
from a driveway to his house, ac
cording to Deputy Robert Hoag
land, who was the first officer on
the scene.
Graham was transported to the
Brunswick Hospital in Supply by
the Calabash Volunteer Rescue
Squad and later transferred to New
Hanover Regional Medical Center.
According to Hoagland's report,
an altercation was reported between
Graham, his brother and another
witness. It is believed Graham fired
one shot into the air and two at his
brother, hitting him twice in the
head, the report states.
Marlow said a police bulletin lists
Graham as armed and dangerous.
"If anyone in the Ash area sees
him, they should contact the sher
iff's department," Marlow said.
County Will Garnish Wages
To Collect Property Taxes
BY TERRY POPE
Some Brunswick County property
owners are still holding out on pay
ing taxes, but if they don't pay up
soon their paychecks could shrink.
Commissioners voted 4-1 Mon
day to take advantage of a state law
that allows counties to gamish
wages of residents who refuse to
pay their taxes.
"I think it's lime to collect," said
District 5 Commissioner Donald
Shaw.
Commissioners hope to collect
the estimated $4,154,000 that is still
owed the county in unpaid ad val
orem taxes over the past 10 years.
Chairman Kelly Holden made his
motion near the end of the commis
sioners' meeting Monday. District 4
Commissioner Frankie Rabon voted
against it, saying he was concerned
about residents on fixed or low in
comes.
As required by Jaw, the county
will advertise the names of people
who still owe 1990 property taxes
in local newspapers this month.
County Manager David Clegg
said approximately S2 million is still
owed the county in 1990 taxes. The
collection rate is close to 92 percent,
he said. A rate below % percent can
hurt the county's bond rating.
"I think we should utilize what
ever means is possible to get that
money," said Holden.
By state statute, counties can gar
nish the wage of taxpayers as long
as the sum does not exceed 10 per
cent of any single paycheck, Clegg
said. The collection method would
work similar to one used to collect
child support payments.
Clcgg said the county cannot gar
nish Social Security or retirement
chcck3 since that money is not con
sidered earned wages.
"My motion is for wages and
salaries, whether that person works
for GE (General Electric), Bruns
wick County, the board of education
or whatever," said Holden. Prime
(See WAGES, Page 2-A)
Spring Forward
If you plan to get to church on
time Sunday, you'd better roll
the clocks ahead one hour Sat
urday night as Daylight Savings
Time (DST) kicks in.
The shift province on <**? ro
hour of daylight in the afternoon
in lieu of one hour of daylight in
the morning for a period of sev
en months.
Officially the time to make
the switch is 2 a.m. Sunday, but
most people will change their
clocks Saturday night.
Congress passed its first DST
law in 1918, "an Act to save
daylight and to provide Standard
Time for the United States."
Later versions were often con
cerned with energy conserva
tion. The current schedule was
adopted in 1986, amending the
Uniform Time Act of 1966.
DST begins the first Sunday
in April and continues until the
last Sunday of October every
year.
New Business
Announcements
Offer Economy
Shot In Arm
BY SUSAN USHER
The Shallotlc area economy got a shot in the
arm this week with announcement of plans for a
Wal-Mart discount department store, a 20-lane
bowling alley and a medical services center to
locate here.
Both Aldermen Jody Simmons and Wilton
Harrelson said the new businesses should help
draw more people to the town's business district
as well as adding jobs to the local economy and
increasing the town's property tax base.
Simmons said the Wall-Mart store should en
courage county residents to shop in Shallotte
rather than going outside the county. The bowl
ing center should also keep in the county bowlers
like himself who now travel to lanes in Horry
County, S.C., he said last week.
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. plans to begin construc
tion this month of a store on a 15-acre site at the
intersection of U.S. H and Holden Beach Road.
Previously owned by Henry Carter, the tract
presently is the site of Pinewood Manor Homes.
Simmons, of Village Pines Properties, was the
broker for the transaction.
The work is expected to be completed by early
1992.
Wal-Mart expects the store, its first in
Brunswick County, to create approximately 180
jobs for nearby residents.
While some local businessmen have expressed
concern about the effect of the Shallotte bypass
on downtown business, Harrelson said he hasn't
shared that doubt.
"It doesn't surprise me that the bypass is not
going to scare people off," said Harrelson. He
said he thinks that routing through traffic around
the town will actually improve access for local
shoppers. Also, he said, most people traveling to
local beaches will still be traveling through town.
Wal-Mart's decision to locate in town, he said,
should be beneficial to the store and to the com
munity as a whole.
"It will hurt some individual businesses. The
business pie can't be cut but into so many
pieces," he continued.
"But you have to be optimistic. I think it will
eventually help draw more people to Shallotte
and there will probably be some spin-off busi
nesses. Hopefully, established businesses will
benefit too."
Wal-Mart spokesman Kristen Stehben said last
Thursday that the square footage of the store had
not been decided at that time. Plans call for a gar
den center, pharmacy and snack bar in addition
to the chain's usual varied line of merchandise.
Wal-Mart Stores Inc., founded by Sam Walton,
is based in Bentonville, Ark. The company owns
about 1,600 discount department stores in 35
states, including approximately 50 in North
Carolina. It also owns 176 Sam's Club stores and
four superstores.
For the year that ended Jan. 31, the annual re
port shows sales of S32 billion and profits of
SI. 29 billion.
Bowling Center
A groundbreaking ceremony is planned
Monday, April 8, at Village Pines office complex
on N.C. 179 for the Brunswick County Bowling
Center.
Construction is expected to be completed in
time for an August opening, said General
Manager Wayne "Barney" Bamhill, who is
working from an office at Village Pines until the
center opens. The project will also includc the
Spare Time Restaurant and Lounge and a snack
bar, he said, along with a nursery and game room
for use by bowlers' children.
The center is owned by the Williams Group of
North Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Bamhill, formerly director of bowling opera
tions at North Myrtle Beach Bowling Center, is a
certified bowling instructor and coach.
(See NKW IIUSINKSS, Page 2-A)
STAf f PHOTOS BY SUSAN USHlt
WAL-MART plans to build a discount department store at U.S. 17
and Uolden Beach Road.