No Easy Solutions For Ground Pearls Dear Plant Doctor: I was cer tainly interested in your recent arti cle in the newspaper about the in sect you called a ground pearl. My yard is being ruined by those pests. The local cooperative entension agent plus two lawn can: companies identified my lawn problem as be ing caused by ground pearls. None could offer any help. Am 1 to just sit and watch the large blotches of dead grass in my backyard just keep getting bigger and bigger? Can you suggest any thing to rid my back lawn of these pests? You mentioned that ground pearls have not been reported to damage bahia grass or carpet grass. Where can one obtain such grass seed? Would you recommend removing the top four inches or so of soil in the infected arca(s) and replacing it with non-infected soil? Would a controlled burn on the infected area roast the pearls to death? Your reply will be greatly be ap preciated. Answer: You have asked some good questions. Biological systems are complex and the information on many of these problems is limiied. To my knowledge, no pesticide, management program or cultural practice (e.g. burning) exists that will eliminate ground pearls from severely infesting lawn grass. THE PLANT DOCTOR C. BRUCE WILLIAMS Extension Area Turf Specialist Soil removal anil new topsoil re placement may work to eliminate the pests, but this method should not be viewed as a long term solu tion to ground t pearl infestation. Researchers have even tried soil fu migation to eliminate the pest but with little success. The encysted ground pearl juve niles are encased in an almost im permeable coal of chitin (the same material that makes up shrimp shells). When conditions are just right, adult ground pearls emerge from the pearl stage in early sum mer. The adult for?i is easily killed with a number of insecticides but unless the juvenile pearl stage is controlled damage will continue to be a problem. The juvenile insect can slay in the soil for years. A sound management program coupled with an irrigation system seems to be the only way to have a decent centipede grass lawn that is nol infested with ground pearls. Grass that is exposed to water stress, poor fertility, severe disease or insect infestations seem to show the most severe damage due to grounds pearls. A lawn that is man aged properly will usually show less damage, although damage may still he unacceptable to the owner. Bahia grass (Paspalum notation) seems to be tolerant of grounil pearls and other root-infesting pests (like nematodes) because of the grass's unique root anatomy of physiology. If the problem is as se vere as you describe, a bahia grass lawn may be a solution you want to consider. Bahia grass or carpet grass seed can usually be obtained at any farm or seed supply store. Progress is being made in the se lection of new grasses for the home lawn. I just received a sample of St. Augustine grass seed that a seed company is promoting. Up until re cently, the only way to propagate St. Augustine grass was by plugs, sprigs or sod. A commercial zoysia grass seed mix is also being evalu ated. If these grasses do as well as they are advertised, they will be wonderful new additions the lawn grass inventory. Send your gardening questions lo The Plant Doctor, P.O. Box 109. Bolivia. N.C. 28422. PEOPLE IN THE NEWS Orrock To Head State Association been elected pres 4* **k 1~P % Jamie Orrock, director of Bruns wick County's Department of So cial Services, has been clected pres ident of the N.C. Social Services Association. The organiza tion consists of approximately 4, (XX) social ser vices employees from 96 depart ments across the state. Members lobby for c^ang- orrock cs that affect ?ot ml services workers. Orrock has been an outspoken opponent of a mounting wall of pa perwork that faces DSS workers. Simplification of client applications is a universal concern in North Carolina, he said. "I hope it's going to be good news for Brunswick County," said Orrock of his selection. Orrock will speak on behalf of the association during his one-year tenure. He also plans to bring Brunswick County's concerns to the attention of DSS workers statewide. "Brunswick County is pretty typ ical of the other 96 counties," he said. "If you look across the state, we have many of the same prob lems that others arc facing." Turf Agent Cited Bruce Williams, an area coopera tive extension agent, received two awards at the annual meeting of the North Carolina Association of County Agricultural Extension Ag ents held July 12 in Greensboro Williams works as area special ized turfgrass agent in Bruns wick, New Han over and Pender counties. In statewide competition, he received first place in the / Turfgrass/ Hor- ' ticulture Com munications n WILLIAMS Program for a golf course workers training manual developed for workers on courses in southeastern North Carolina. The entry advances to regional and national competi tion. At the state level Williams re ceived a S50 cash prize and a plaque. He won second place in the Per sonal Column category of the Pub lic Information Programs for his Plant Doctor column that appears in several newspapers in eastern North and South Carolina, including The Brunswick Beacon. A S25 cash prize accompanied the award. Two Attend Workshop Foy M. Crary and Virginia Detric, teachers at Union Primary School in Shallotte, were among 40 social studies teachers who attended the 1991 Summer Geography Institute for Teachers (Grades K-3) June 16 22 at the University of North Caro lina at Wilmington. The institute focused on five themes of geography: location, placc, human-environment relation ships, movement and region. Teach ers were trained to help children be gin to understand where people live and how and why they relate to their particular environmental sctungs. The workshop provided profes sional instruction in geographic ed ucation and geography curriculum materials for teachers to take back to class. Cureton Graduates Airman Christine T. Cureton has graduated from the personnel spe cialist coursc at Kessler Air Force Base, Biloxi, Miss. She is the daughter of William T. and Janicc !. Cureton of Boiling Spring Lakes. The airman is a 1989 graduate of South Brunswick High School. LaFrance Returns Marine Gunnery Sgl. Keith L. LaFrance, son of Louis V. LaFrance of Calabash, recently returned from Operation Desert Storm and Oper ation Sea Angel while serving at Marine Corps Base, Camp Pendle ton, Ca. Operation Sea Angel employed more than 7,000 Army, Marine Corps and Air Force personnel to assist in a massive relief effort to Bangladesh's southern coast and Wolff Tanning 10 Kimberly Jo's Boutique Ladies' Clothing ? Wolff ? ^ "name Brand Ladies Fashions At Affordable Prices" 3CT HOURS: Mon-Fri 8 AM until. Sat 10 AM until Located on If IVY. 179 in the Coastal Mechanical Bldg OCEAN ISLE ? 579-7670 or 579-6290 If your summer wardrobe looks old and faded, it's time J to stock up. Your timing / couldn't be better because f all summer fashions are J 50% Off 45% Off All Credit Card Purchases nearby islands, providing much needed food and supplies lo approx imately 1.7 million people recover ing from a cyclone that claimed 138,(XX) lives. LaFrance joined the Marine Corps Reserves in June 1970. Weston Completes Pvt. 1st Class Dwon L. Weston has completed basic training at Fori Jackson, Columbia, S.C. During the training, students re ceived instruction in drill and cere monies, weapons, map reading, tac tics, military courtesy and justice, first aid and Army history and tradi tions. Weston is the son of Lenwood Hooper and Shclia A. Weston of Leland. He graduated from North Bruns wick High School in 1990. Serves As Ambassador Kristi Michelle Bellamy, a rising junior at South Brunswick High School, recently served as a high school student science ambassador to the Soviet Union during a four week "People to People Internation al" program. Selected on the basis of academic merit and interest in science, she was the only student from North Carolina to participate in the ap plied sciences portion of the pro gram, which promotes increased un derstanding of cultures other than one's own. She visited various parts of the country as well as completing class room studies for which she may earn college credits. Kristi is the daughter of Verida Bellamy, formerly of Southport, and the granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Bellamy of Southport. loanes Re-Enlists Staff Sgt. Michael J. loanes has re-enlisted in the U.S. Army for six years. loanes is a team chief at Fort Riley, Kan. He is the son of Edward H. and Shirley L. Iones of Calabash. The sergeant is a 1967 graduate of Highland High School, Medina, Ohio. Harris Joins Staff Wayne Harris, of Souihport, has joined the Brunswick County office of the N.C. Adult Probation and Parole in Bolivia. Harris, 29, is the son of Cath erine Harris ol Bolivia. He is a 1980 graduate of South Bruns wick High School and re- HARR,S ccivcd a bachelor's degree in com munications from Rust College in Holly Springs, Miss. He has worked as a Souihport po lice officer for live years and served in the U.S. Army Reserves in Raleigh from 19K4 to 1991, earning a rank of lieutenant. As case officer, Harris will work to help rehabilitate persons placed on probation by the courts or re leased from jail on parole. "It's the other side of the fence," Harris said, referring to his law en forcement experience. "As a police olficcr, you take people to jail and that's it. Now, I'll be helping them to return to society and basically to stay out of trouble." AT SUNSET BEACH BRING HOME THE6BEAC0N On Sale At BILL'S SEAFOOD ISLAND GROCERY SUNSET BEACH GROCERY TAVERN ON THE TEE SALE Select Items Throughout Store 20% Off *Also: 5-pc. bedroom suite, whitewash /~|? ? finish with FREE set queen size bedding! \JfLV'y *pt)?/i7 LE's back and he wants to welcome his old friends and customers with great prices on all new shipments of furniture and accessories for every home Rattan ? Wicker ? Dinettes ? Daybeds ? Reciiners Sleeper Sofas ? Bedroorr, Suites ? Individual 4 & 5-Drawer Chests StuvClotte 0?cvuUtwie "Quality furniture at discount prices. " L.E. Banner Owner ? Free Local Delivery ? Special Orders Welcome Hwy. 17 Business, Shallotte, 754-6642 -w * f PMOTO CONTRIBUTED BOLIVIA LIONS CLUIi was recognized as "most improved " club , at the District 31-11 awards ban quet. From the left above are individual award recipients Donnie Kopp, Cecil Robbins, h'red Lesh, Marie Potter and Alice Lesh. Bolivia Lions 'Most Improved' Bolivia Lions Club was honored as "most improved club" at ihc District 31-H awards banquet June 29 in Goldsboro in recognition of its outstanding achievements during the past year. Five individual members also won recognition. Alice Lesh re ceived ihe Governor's Award for meeting all new member require ments during the 1990-91 year. Cecil Robbins, president lor the 1990-91 club year, acceptcd the most improved club award and 100 percent president award. Also receiving 1(X) percent awards lor achieving all the goals of their respective offices were Marie Potter, secretary; Donnie Kopp, treasurer; and Fred Lcsh. zone chairman. Fred Lcsh is the club's incoming president. Leland Rewards Summer Readers Young readers responded lo the Summer Reading Club "Outer Spate? Calling All Readers" theme this summer at the Lcland Branch Library, turning in projects that ranged from drawings to Ryan Sullivan's lighted, revolving model of the solar system. Ryan won first place in the club project contest, as well as a direc tor's choice award for having the most scientific project, said spokes man Lisa Milligan. Tying for sec ond place were Camille Wilmoth and Stephanie Ganey. Top readers for the summer also earned recognition that included certificates and incentives. Ryan placed first in the ages 6 to 9 category, with 185 books read. Christie Wright finished second, with 165 books: and Michael Wright, third, with i60 books. In the ages 10 to 13 category, winners were Camille Wilinoth, first, 55 books; Cindy Scroggin, second, 29 books; and Stephanie Ganey, third, 10 books. Literacy Council Seeking Donations Volunteers for the Brunswick County Literacy Council will hold a "bucket shake" in front of area su permarkets Aug. 2 and 3, seeking donations. The donations will help pay some of the operating expenses for the program, which provides free mate rials and free private reading help for adults in the county. To volunteer or for more infor mation, call the BCLC at 754-7323 or 278-6355. Tools and Supplies for... ?Electricians 'Plumbers 'Carpenters ?Do-lt-Yourselfers Everything for lawn and garden including yard ornaments and plants. Kitchen and bath fixtures/accessories including the kitchen sink. WE EVEN MAKE KEYS! You'll find any hardware item that you will ever need at... SOMERSETT'S LANDSCAPING & HARDWARE ?Sat. 7 AM-6 PM, Sun. Noon-6 PM ? H>?y. 904 East, Grissettown, 1 * CLEAR-VUE OPTICIANS Eye Glasses ONE HOUR (90% of the time in most cases ? Glass or Plastic) rrangements to haw o Ov fQ me lime in most cases ? Glass or Plastic) We can make arrangements to have your eyes examined today ! r il I FRAME SALE j i 40% OFF J I UNIVERSAL FRAMES .P ? including Mens. Women s . f ar>a Cniiaren s I \ ? Limit On* Coupon P*r Customer. | No Otn*r Adv*rti**d Sp*cl*l* | Apply. Expir** 8 31.91. | 1 ? 1 I SINGLE VISION . I LENSES 1 1 s1295 ! ' ONE HOUR SERVICE ' I (In most cases) | I I Limit On* Coupon Par Cultomtr. ? r | No Otn?r Aa vinnd Sp*cl*l* I | j Apply. Expire* ?3191 PROGRESSIVE NO "I I