Shallotte Christmas Parade To Kick Off Season Saturday
(See Story And Parade Lineup, Page ll-A)
THE BIL ..0
Thirtieth Year, Number 5
? mi THI MUNSWtCX MACON
Shallotte, North Carolino, Thursday, December 5, 1991
ACON
FOR FORMER COUNTY COMMISSIONER
Subdivision Restriction Lifted i
34 Pages, 3 Sections, 6 Inserts
IIY TKRRY POPE
Residents carried u number of complaints to
Brunswick County Commissioners Monday, but it was a
former commissioner who got what he wanted when a
subdivision restriction was lifted.
The board voted 4-1 to override a Brunswick County
Planning Board decision at the request of a former
District 2 commissioner, Benny Ludlum. Ludlum is de
veloping a 16-lot subdivision on Oxpen Road (S.R.
1 140) near Holdcn Beach.
Chairman Kelly Holdcn voted no.
"I still contend that it's a planning board matter and
should be handled by the planning board," said Holdcn.
"We're opening up a Pandora's box."
According to Ludlum, the planning board placed a re
striction on the lots in July 1986, staling that each would
require turnarounds to avoid the backing of cars onto the
busy highway.
"If it's a county ordinance, I have no problem with it,"
said Ludlum.
No other subdivisions on Oxpen Road have the re
quirement, and llie sale of two lots was riding on re
moval of the restriction, Ludlum said.
"It was put on subdivisions as late as the last regular
meeting," said Planning Director John Harvey.
When Holden asked if the current subdivision ordi
nance gives planning board members power to add the
restriction, Harvey noted, "1 would have to go no further
than ihc preamble, sir."
The N.C. Department of Transportation encourages
service roads or turnarounds to help tut down on acci
dents along busy roads.
But District 5 Commissioner Donald Shaw, who
made the motion to waive the requirement, said all land
on Oxpcn Road should be treated the same.
"There's an injustice here," he added.
Holden recommended that Ludlum carry his com
plaint back to the planning board.
"1 know what's going to happen when it goes back,"
Ludlum replied. "It's not in the ordinance. Nobody
should have that much authority to put something on a
map."
District 4 Commissioner Frankie Rabon said he is op
posed to any subdivision requirements and that persons
should have the right to do what they want with their
land.
"At the same time, I don't want to just single him
(Ludlum) out," added Rabon. "We'll have people com
ing to us for other things. 1 don't want to send this back,
when we're going to get it right back again."
County Manager David Clcgg said persons can appeal
planning board action to commissioners, who have the
final say.
"But I don't ever recall having an appeal," he added.
Other subdivisions along Oxpcn Road may have been
(See SUBDIVISION, Page 2-A)
STAFF PHOTO BY TftBY POPE
BENNY LLJDLUM (right) addresses the Brunswick County Board of Commissioners, which voted 4-1
Monday to lift a subdivision restriction for the former commissioner. Looking on are Commissioners
Donald Shaw (left) and Gene Pinkerton.
Pinkerton Won't Run In '92;
Holden
Reappointed Chairman
BY TERRY POPE
Saying he needs to devote more time to his growing
business. District 3 Brunswick County Commissioner
Gene Pinkerton told his fellow
board members Monday that he will
not seek re-election in 1992.
The announcement came at the
close of the meeting where the board
voted unanimously to reappoint
District 1 Commissioner Kelly Hol
_? ^ .. dcr. a: chairman and District 2
Commissioner Jerry Jones as vice
4 ; chairman for the upcoming year.
PINKFRTON cmolK,na' Holdcn also hint
ed Monday that he may not seek re
election next year, but Pinkerton said his decision is fi
nal.
"Having the opportunity to serve on this board has
been one of the most exciting, challenging and humbling
cxpcricnccs for mc," said Pinkerton.
In his prepared statement, Pinkerton labeled himself
as an "outspoken advocate" on important issues facing
Brunswick County and said he would miss public office.
"But as Brunswick County has grown, so has my
personal business interests," he added. "The olTicc of
county commissioner should not be taken unless taken
very seriously."
Pinkerton, of Long Beach, was elected to the board
in 19XX over Democratic incumbcnt Jim Poole by just
192 vctc.v At the time, he was a political newcomer.
Having to run every two years for office, Pinkerton
noted, wasn't a factor in his decision not to seek re-clec
tion.
County residents voted last month to elect commis
sioners and school board candidates every two years in
stead of having them serve staggered, four-year lemis.
Starting with 1992, all seats will be up for election
every two years.
"I've umcd the announcement prior to the beginning
of filing for office," Pinkerton said, in hopes that "an ex
perienced, business-oriented candidate will emerge" and
win his scat on the board.
"1 can now plan for the future,
both professionally and personally,"
he added.
An emotional Holdcn read a
somewhat confusing statement to the
board after Pinkcrton's announce
ment
With his voice breaking at limes,
Holdcn said he wanted to thank
County Manager David Clegg for his
excellent work and for "going be
yond the call of duly" as both county manager and coun
ty attorney.
The self-employed businessman and farmer also
named the wives of each board member and paid tribute
to them for "helping with our schedules and receiving
the wrath of the taxpayers" who often complain.
But Holdcn's statement slopped short of an an
nouncement that he would not run in 1992. By an over
whelming margin, he was clected to the board in 19X8
over Democratic incumbent Chris Chappell and appoint
ed chairman last December.
His statement Monday praised die work of the board
during the past three years, adding that "if other counties
arc not envious of us, they should be."
Commissioners "have maintained dialogue with ('el
low board members." limited executive sossk is to !< \
than one hour total, and learned to both agree and dis
agree on issues and still maintain a working relationship
in the past three years, he added.
"I value your friendship," said Holden.
In reference to being appointed chairman, he added.
"Thanks for renewing your confidence in me."
STArr PHOTO BY DOUG R UTTER
Wanted: Trojan Fans
Marshall Seay, West Brunswick High School head football coach, says he wants a good turnout
from the community Friday when the Trojans travel to Flizabethtown to challenge East Bladen
in the eastern 2-A finals. Instead of following the game on the radio, " they need to be there," he
said, to cheer like these West Brunswick fans waving Trojan flags (above) did last Friday when
West grabbed a 12-6 playoff victory in Whiteville. The winner of this week's match advances to
the state championship Dec. 14 in Chapel Hill. Check Sports for details of the action, Pages H-B
and 9-B.
State Wants Marina
Docks Removed
BY DOU(; RUTTKR
A slate environmental agcncy
filed a lawsuit last week seeking the
removal of more than 600 feet of
dock space at Calabash Marina that
was built without permission.
The N.C. Department of En
vironment, Health and Natural
Resources is seeking two injunctions
that would require marina owner
Jimmy High to get rid of the floating
docks and prevent him from build
ing any more.
N.C. Associate Attorney General
David Heeler filed the complaint
Nov. 26 in Brunswick County
Superior Court. The state wants the
docks removed within 14 days of
the issuance of an injunction.
State officials say the marina had
about 200 feet of fixed dock, and
High added 620 feet of floating dock
without obtaining a CAMA permit.
The original dock was permitted in
1986.
The additional 620 feet of dock
space was discovered during a Feb.
22 site inspection, according to the
complaint.
The N.C. Division of Coastal
Management issued a notice of vio
lation around March 25 for adding
on to the existing marina dock w ith
out a permit.
State officials gave High until
May 31 to remove the pier, docks
and pilings, but they were noi re
moved, according to the complaint.
A continuing notice of violation
was served Aug. 25, but the com
plaint says the area was still not re
stored.
Jim Hersline, district manager
with the Division of Coastal Man
agement, said High violated the
state's Coastal Area Management
Act (CAMA) and Dredge and Fill
Act when he had the dock system
expanded.
CAMA prohibits people from un
dertaking any major development,
such as dock construction, in places
designated as Areas of Environmen
tal Concern without first obtaining a
permit.
Hersline said the Dredge and Fill
Act prohibits excavating or filling in
any estuarine waters, tidclands and
marshlands without a state permit.
The complaint says the public's
"use and enjoyment" of the Cala
bash River and access rights of the
adjacent landowners can only be re
turned by a court order requiring re
moval of the doc ks.
Hersline said the owner requested
the additional 620 feet of dock in the
original permit. But the state
wouldn't allow it because it would
have infringed on the rights of
neighboring property owners.
Anyone who owns waterfront
property is guaranteed access to the
water from their own land, Herstine
said. But they aren't allowed to
build outside their "access corridor"
without permission from adjacent
landowners.
The state contends in iLs com
plaint that construction of the addi
tional pier, docks and pilings ob
structed access from an adjacent lot
and interfered with acccss from two
other lots.
Besides the state, the Army Corps
of Engineers also has asked High to
remove the dock, saying it extends
into the federally-maintained chan
nel in Calabash River.
Lt. Col. Thomas Sucrmann, dis
trict engineer with the Corps in
Wilmington, said the fixed dock was
expanded without a federal permit,
according to an April S letter to
High.
Suermann didn't stale in the letter
whether the Corps would lake legal
action to force removal of the dock.
"If the results of the state's en
forcement action are determined to
satisfy the federal interests in this
matter, we will recommend thai the
U.S. Attorney's office close your
file," he wrote.
After-Thanksgiving Sales
Leave Most
Local Merchants In Smiles
BY DORIC. GURGANUS
Despite the depressing news on radio and television
announcing that shopowncrs should be prepared for a
record low in holiday sales, Brunswick County busi
nesses appear to be avoiding that fate.
However, local merchants say shoppers are looking
for good prices, with some leaning toward practical pur
chases over luxury items.
Six of seven local businesses surveyed this week
gave positive reports of a good after-Thanksgiving
weekend, with most saying that sales this year have sur
passed those of last year.
The Friday after Thanksgiving is traditionally one of
the biggest shopping days of the year and is considered a
sales trend indicator for the entire holiday season.
Chris Lee, son of Terry and Evelyn Lee who own
Surf Connection on Holden Beach, said that sales were
"real good" and that sweatshirts and shorts sold better
than any other items in the store.
Part of that boost may have been from the unusually
warm weekend temperatures that surprised visitors, he
said, or the big Thanksgiving sale the store was having.
"Business was bad until we had this sale," Lee said,
agreeing that the recession is encouraging shoppers to
wait and buy items when they go on sale.
Vicky Jones, owner of Victoria's Ragpatch stores in
Ocean Isle Beach, Calabash and Myrtle Beach, said that
she has noticed the trend toward bargains, loo.
"The economy was bad, but we worked around what
the customer wanted," she said. She annually holds an
after- Thanksgiving sale, and last Friday morning wit
nessed shoppers lined up around her Ocean Isle location,
wailing for the doors to open.
"It was unreal, but everybody had a good time," she
said of the crowds.
"The key was a good sale," Ms. Jones continued,
"and bccause of that we doubled our figures from last
Thanksgiving."
Clothing also did well for AT. Carringcr's of
Shallotic, where Manager Trish Hockaday reported that
their Thanksgiving sale did well for the store.
Al Matthews, manager of Kerr Drugs in Shallottc,
predicts thai useful items will be the big seller this sea
son.
Functional items such as toasters ? "I've been sell
ing the heck out of them," he said, and other kitchen ap
pliances are moving quickly. But the hot luxury items
from last year, stereos and portable radios or "jam boxes"
were not selling.
Even Christmas decorations were not selling as
quickly as last year, he said, but overall his store did
well over the holiday.
"Since Labor Day, when sales usually slow down,
I've been increasing daily up to 17 percent, and I'm a
little surprised." said Matthews.
The owner of a Calabash jewelry store could relate
to Matthews' prediction that functional items would out
sell luxury items this season.
Owner Mike Abushakra of The Gold and Silver
Connection said that he "could have done a little belter."
but that this season was also the first time he'd stayed
open into the Christmas holiday.
"1 've been here seven years, and these are the worst
sales yet," Abushakra said. "The recession is hurting not
only me. but the whole country."
He said that he knew his jewelry would not be sell
ing as quickly due to it being a luxury, not a necessity.
However, not all stores reported the same experi
ence.
Stores that sell curios and collectable items did very
well according to reports from The Mole Hole anil
Carson's Cards and Gifts.
Diane Kligman, sales clerk for The Mole Hole in
Calabash, said that the suit! was "very pleased w ith this
weekend," and that they had indeed surpassed last year's
sales records.
"We' ve been here two years and last Friday must
have been the best day we've ever had," Ms. Kligman
reported.
One item that sold like the proverbial hotcakes was
the "Singing Santa," a musical trinket for the door which
sings w hen people approach.
"That was really hot for us," Ms. Kligman said, "and
(See MERCHAN fS. PAGE 2-A)