For Sunset Taxpayers, Opening Of New Access A Positive Step
BY IKKKV POPK
1 hi- Sunset Beach Taxpayers As
MViation wants to (>olish its public
image.
At their Labor Day weekend
meeting Saturday, members said
the> want the public to be more
aware of their positive influence in
tow n alfairs, an example King the
t<ivning ol Lot I -A on the island
:1ns weekend as a public access to
ihc Ivach.
News that the controversial ex
tension ol Sunset Boulevard to tJie
ocean had opened as a public park
mi' area was greeted with a round ol
applause from the approximately Nl
members present Saturday.
" 1 hat property would not exist
had ii inn been for this organiza
tion. vi id (.'Ictus Waldniiitci. SB FA
president.
1 lie SB PA carried its light to the
N.C. Supreme Court last year to get
the the 100 loot -wide vacant occun
Iroiit loi declared a public access to
iIk beach over the objections ol us
purported ow ner. Ed Gore.
"Not one person on the town
council has said, 'Thank you,* to
the Sunset Beach Taxpayers
\ s .is i.iiion." said Waldmiller.
i tie SH I A argued thai early maps
showed Sunset Boulevard extending
l.' the Atlantic Ocean, but a 1963
plat designated the urea as Lot I -A.
No formal withdrawal o( dedication
was filed with the town and public
use oi the property was not restrict
ed lor many years b\ the owners.
1 he town will now spend
$146,000 to build a boardwalk and
covered silting area lor the handi
capped and elderlv at the access
. > ?<?>* mm wt m
STAFF PMOTO BV TERRY PCm^E
rutiuc I'ANkl.xa opened on lot I -A at Sunset It each over the I xibor Day weekend. The Sunset lieach Taxpayers Association say their
court battle to open the public beach access will help ease parking problems on the island.
way, which is inst west of the iish
mg pier.
"All ol thai I think is great." viul
Waldmillcr.
Members will a->k the town ii .1
sign can be placed at the lot nulicat
ing the SBTA's role in obtaining the
access.
"I'd like to name it alter a guy
that got a bloody nose over there,"
added Waldmillcr, referring to
Frank Nesmith, one ol the plaintiffs
in the five-year court baule.
Twelve years earlier, Nesmith
had been convicted of trespassing
and Gore had been convicted of as
sault in an altercation that took
place at the lot. N'csmiih had parked
Ins car there and then sal on the
hiHKl. openly defying Core's el lorls
u> prevent use oi the land lor public
access to the beach
Wiiklmiller said the goal ot the
organization is to keep Sunset
Beach a lamily beach. An alterna
tive public interest group has also
formed that calls itself Friends and
Neighbors of Sunscl Beach.
While the SBTA has fought
against replacing the floating barge
bridge to the island, the new group
says it favors improved access to
the island.
Some SBTA members say they
arc tired of being placet! in a nega
tive light. People should view the
group's light against the bridge as a
positive step to help protect the is
land. said one member.
"I dislike the negative connota
tion that has been placed around our
necks." added Waldmiller.
The SBTA "Save Our Bridge"
campaign to prevent the construc
tion of a high-rise bridge to the is
land has becomc a costly battle.
Last November, a U.S. District
Court judge ruled that the slate had
failed to do ncccssary environmen
tal impact studies on the building of
a new bridge and canceled permits
for the project.
On June 17, the state dropped its
appeal of the SBTA court victory
ami agreed to do an environmental
impact study, which will include
public hearings and may take up to
three years to complete.
"It's going to be up to us to be
vigilant," said Waldmiller. "When
there are hearings, it's going to be
up to us to have our opinions
heard."
Attorney James Maxwell of Dur
ham hopes a settlement with the
state w ill pay some of the legal fees
accumulated by the SBTA in its bat
tle to save the barge bridge. Se
crclary Fran Pelletier said tlio group
has paid Maxwell around SI2,(XM)
and still owes S 1 6,2X6, even wilh a
discount.
"The amount is being negotiated
at this time," said Waldnuller. "I
don't want to go into it any further
than that. We would hope that we
would be able to recover enough to
cover our indebtedness."
The group also discussed the im
pact of the proposed annexation ol
l(K) homes in Sea Trail Plantation.
Waldmillcr said mainland annexa
tion continues to dilute the votes ol
island residents. He said it should
take more than three ol live council
members to change the zoning ol
property. Presently, a tract can he
re/oned by the vote of three of five
council after two readings.
When one member suggested the
island declare its independence, like
die Russian states have recently done,
Waldmillcr replied, "The coup
failed."
"I would be lying to you if I said
we had not thought of this and dis
cussed this," said Waldmillcr. "We
even had our attorney investigate
this. The investigation is not fin
ished, but I would prefer to work
w ithin the system."
Hie group also heard Irom Albert
Wells, immediate past president,
who encouraged members to be
come involved in the Coastal Area
Management Act (CAM A) land use
plan which is required of coastal
counties. It is another way property
owners can express their concerns
about the future growth of the area,
he said.
Normal Weather In Forecast
Area residents can expect typical
early September weather over the
next few days.
Shallotic Point meteorologist
Jaekson Canady said he expects
temperatures to range from the up
[vr Ns at nighttime into the upper
M - during the daytime, with less
than three-quarters of ;ui ineh of
rain tall.
"We should see a fairly normal
weather pattern over the next lew
da> s." he said. "I don't see any indi
cation of the heavy monsoon type
rains we had for several weeks."
For the period Aug. 27 through
Sept. 2. Canady recorded a maxi
rmiin hi eh oi 4? degrees on Sept. 1
and .i minimum low ot degrees
"ii Sept. 2.
A daily average high of 8l> de
gree- and an average nightly low ol
'0 degrees combined for a daily av
erage temperature of degrees.
which Canady said is "just about
normal".
He measured just over a hall-inch
of rainfall. .56.
Canady said the area received
about 21 to 22 inches of rainfall
during July and August, which is
above the average ol about 15 inch
es, but not excessively so.
Typically those two months arc
the wettest of the year and account
for about 30 percent of total annual
rainfall.
The South Brunswick Islands
normally receives about 50 inches
of rainlall a year. That means this
season the area received approxi
mately 40 percent of its annual rain
lall during those two months instead
ol the usual 30 percent.
The heavy rains followed a dry
period, which is typical. "One ex
treme usualh follow s another." said
Canady.
Whiteville Man Killed
(Continued From Page 1-A)
The accident occurred around
10:20 p.m.
l)ri\er Charged
A Shallotte woman was charged
with a slop sign violation following
a two-car accident near Shallotte
Point last Thursday morning.
Yalone Clarissa Holden, 16, was
charged alter she failed to yield the
right of way at the intersection of
(iurganus Road (S.R. 1151) and
Ba> Road about 2.7 miles east of
Shallotte, Caulder reported.
Her 19X8 Chevrolet struck anoth
er I9XX Chevrolet driven by Larry
Clyde Holden, 49. of Shallotte, w ho
received minor injuries. Holden was
traveling north on Gurganus Road,
Caulder said.
Ms. Holden received serious in
juries in the 7:45 a.m. accident.
Both were taken to The Brunswick
Hospital for ueatment.
Both vehicles received S3.500 in
damage.
Motorcyclist Injured
A motorcyclist was seriously in
jured when his bike ran into a pick
up truck on the U.S. 17 Shailolie
bypass Saturday around 10 a.m.
Scott Thomas Williams, 21, of
Camp Lejeune, was traveling south
on U.S. 17 at a high rate of speed
when his Kawasaki ran into the rear
of a pickup truck, Caulder reported.
The motorcycle hit the rear of a
1988 Ford pickup driven by Larry
Field Marshall, 50, of Supply.
Marshall had pulled into lite left
lane to turn onto Smith Avenue (S.R.
1357) when the motorcycle was un
able to stop, Caulder reported.
Williams was charged with care
less and rceklcss driving. He was
taken to The Brunswick Hospital by
ambulance.
Both vehicles came to rest in the
median. Damage was estimated at
S1,5(X) to the truck and S4,5(X) to
the motorcycle.
I 1
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Six Charged In Highway Narcotics Check Friday
Six people were charged over ihe Labor Day
weekend with drug violations at narcotics
checkpoints randomly established on Brunswick
County highways.
Buddy, a drug dog with the Brunswick
County Sheriff's Department, aided in the ar
rests. said Lt. David Crocker, narcotics officer.
Ihe checkpoints were established with the
help of the N.C. State Highway Patrol and olii
cers from Soulhport and Long Beach Police
Departments.
Six people were charged on drug violations
while 35 charges were filed for traffic viola
tions. said Crocker.
Since Operation KIP (Rural Interdiction
Program I began in March, officers have arrested
(?>2 people on drug charges, he said.
Charged in the operation were the following:
?William Brett McKcilhan. 21, of 1018 Captain
Adkins Road, Southport, was charged with
felony possession with intent to sell and deliver
marijuana, maintaining a vehicle to keep con
trolled substances and possession of drug para
phernalia. McKcithan's 11>K1 Toyota was seized
by Southport Police Officer C. A. Williamson.
? Itxld Bryant '/oiler, IV, ol 2X Elisha Drive,
Wilmington, was charged with maintaining a
vehicle to keep controlled substances, posses
sion of drug paraphernalia and possession of
mall beverages under the age of 2 1 .
?Rowan Christopher Belts, 16, of Orchard
Knoll, Apex, was charged with misdemeanor
possession of marijuana and misdemeanor pos
sesion of drug paraphernalia.
?Thomas Alien McNcil, 33, of Oak Villa Drive,
Southport, was charged with possession of drug
paraphernalia.
?Leon Lawrence Miller. 42. of Route 5. Box
395-A, Leland, was charged with misdemeanor
possession ol marijuana by State Troo|vr Roy
Murray.
? Herbert Dale Carling, 43. ol Union Lake,
Mich., was charged with misdemeanor posses
sion of marijuana and maintaining a vehicle to
keep a controlled substance.
The N.C. Highway Patrol also made 16 ar
rests for traffic violations, said Crocker.
"We may set up more checkpoints in the fu
ture," said Crocker. "They have been successful
for us."
County To Seek Bids On Trash Collection
I?Y TKRRY I'Ol'K
Brunswick County may contract
its garbage collection out to a pri
vate company, if the price is right.
County Commissioners Tuesday
voted 4-1, with Frankie Kahon vot
ing no. to seek bids Irotn private in
dustries lor trash collection and the
county's recycling program.
Saying the county could probably
save money. District 2 Commis
sioner Jerry Jones' motion asked
that County Manager David Clegg
and County Engineer Robert Tucker
prepare bid proposals.
"II the figures come back and
don't show a savings," said Jones,
"I'll be surprised."
The county budgeted SI. X million
this liscal year to cover both direct
and indirect costs of garbage dis
posal, said Clegg.
The county had planned to seek
bids lor its recycling program this
quarter, saiii Clegg. A private com
pany would use the county's exist
ing trash disposal sites, he added.
Bids have been advertised for a
new trash disposal and recycling
center on N.C. 9(V4 near Gris
seltown. The county will seek bids
next on a similar center for N.C.
211 near Supply.
Kabon asked why landfill ulcera
tions was not part of Jones' motion.
"Based on conversations I've hail
with different people," said Chair
man Kelly llolden, "the concern is
w ith liability. Companies are not re
ally interested in assuming the
county's liability."
Jones said the county could "bet
ter control" operations at the landfill
in Supply.
THE BRUNSWICK&fEACON
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Telephone 754 6890
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Shallotte, N C 28459
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"We're just hoping to save some
money hy doing this," added Hold
en.
Head Start Concerns
Roscoe Butler, board member for
the Four County Community
Services Head Start program, said
commissioners have never endorsed
Four County. The lack of action is
causing the Brunswick County
Head Suirt centers to lose grant
money, he said.
"This money is really allocated
for Brunswick County," said Butler.
"It's being split to those that's done
their duty to accept it."
At the time a contract was award
ed to Four-County to operate the
county's Head Start centers, com
missioners had decided not to be
come involved.
The issue became controversial
when two agencies, Scncland and
Four County, competed lor the
Brunswick County program.
Instead, commissioners asked
that the Atlanta Head Start office
choose a provider.
Clegg said such Community
Service Block Grants also help to
fund other county projects. He
doesn't believe an endorsement is
the only problem.
Holden asked Clerk to the Board
Kelly Barefoot to check minutes
from previous commissioners'
meetings to determine what action
needs to be taken.
Otlu-r Business
In other business Tuesday, com
missioners:
?Re-established the Navassa Vol
unteer l ire Department. When the
town's rescue squad dissolved last
year, the lire department's charter
accidentally got dropped as well,
saul Brunswick County Fire Mar
shal Cecil l.ogan. The firemen have
never slopped lighting fires or as
sisting other departments, and its
county funding has not been cut.
? Heard Irom Sybil Mitchell
Simmons, ol Royal Oak, who asked
that her community be served, as re
quested in a petition, by Coastline
Volunteer Rescue Squad, instead of
Shallotlc Volunteer Rescue Squad,
when 911 begins. Doug Ledgett.
county Emergency Medical Serv
ices director, said t'nc detriments
are still working to resolve the mat
ter.
?Read, but look no action, on a
memo from the Cape Fear Council
of Governments regarding offshore
oil drilling along the North Carolina
coast, for which the N.C.
Environmental Advisory Board >vill
rcccivc public comments until Oct.
29.
?Adopted a resolution to change
the structure' of the Wilmington
Area Transportation Advisory
Committee to include a representa
tive from Brunswick County (Com
missioner Donald Shaw) and one
from Lcland and Navassa. Shaw
had been the county's only repre
sentative on the board.
? Amended a contract with the state
that forces the county to pay medi
cal bills for juveniles held in cus
tody at the detention center in
Wilmington. Clegg said the county
has no choice but to pay the bills or
to build its own juvenile detention
center. Rabon voted no.
?Accepted two budget amend
ments, adding S6,(KX) to the sher
iff's department in federal drug
fines, and increasing the
Department of Older Adults budget
by S2.694.
?Voted to slop giving occupancy
permits to mobile home owners un
til a S25 fee for underpinning in
spections, as mandated by the slate,
is paid. There is a backlog of files al
die building inspections department
because homeowners get the final
occupancy permit but skip the un
derpinning inspection and fee, said
Clegg. Rabon voted no.
?Appointed Glenda Walker of
Lcland to the Southeastern Eco
nomic Development Commission.
?Declared Sept. 2X as National
Hunting and Fishing Day in
Brunswick County and declared
Sept. X-14 as International Literacy
Week in Brunswick County.
?Endorsed the concept of joining
the Resource Conservation and
X Azaleas |
4 ancl T
2 Shrubbery 4
m o
s" Leah's Nursery
HALF MILE NORTH OF VK*
SHALLOTTE ON THE
BYPASS'754 6994
MON SAT 9-5.30
Development program, which helps
residents tackle rural development
projects through volunteerism and
federal grants. No county funds are
involved. The county dropped out
of die program in the ll>70s.
Traffic Jam
(Continued From I'ajje 1-A)
mington, admitted Tuesday that the
problem related to the wording of
the written orders he sent to the
Sunset Beach Bridge Friday, which
were posted on the bridge.
The directive was not as detailed
as the understanding reached by the
other parties involved. The notice
directed the tenders to open the
bridge to boat traffic every half hour
"lor 15 minutes" during the indicat
ed lime blocks.
"It didn't specify it," said Messer,
"but 1 figured if they didn't have a
vessel there they would know not to
hold the bridge open. They did it
anyway."
He hastened to add, "I don't think
it will ever happen again. It will be
cleared up. 1 can guarantee that."
AT SEASIDE
BRING HOME
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at me b' dge to Hoider Bean
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