Cook Named Holden Chief
BY DOUG RUTTKR
Holdcn Beach hav a new policc
chicf.
Robert Cook, a sergeant with
nearly three
years experience
in the town's po
lice department.
was promoted U>
the post last
week. He re
places long-time
chief Raymond
Simpson, who
retired Wednes
day after more
than 15 years with the depanment.
"I'm a-al excited," Cook said al
ter being notified of the promotion
last week. "I think it's a very gixxl
town, and I've always enjoyed being
here."
Town Manager Gary Parker, who
announced the hiring last Thursday,
said (Ax'k was chosen from approxi
mately 30 applicants for the post.
"He's got an outstanding record
here in the department," Partner said.
"He knows police work and public
relations, and he's got a lot of expe
rience in supervision."
Cook, who will be paid about
S21,(XX> as chief, was promoted to
sergeant July 1. He started working
for the police department in April
1989.
Before entering law enforcement.
Cook worked 30 years with the J. P.
Stevens tc.xule company and retired
as a shift manager at the age of 50.
The Laurinburg native began
working at Holdcn Beach two weeks
afler graduating from ilic N.C. Po
lice Acadcmy.
Parker saiil it was entirely his dc
Cision to hire C\x>k . but he discussed
law enforcement "philosophy" with
the new hoard ol commissioners
which ux>k office IVc. 2.
"They made it pretty clear to me
from the start that they wanted to
leave that decision to me." Parker
said of the hiring. "But I consider it
healthy for elected officials to let
management know their expecta
tions of how the town should go."
At a town meeting last Wednes
day. Commissioner Jim Foumier
said he thought public relations was
an important part of a police offi
cer *s job.
"But that does not mean special
treatment lor any special interest
group...." he said. "I want fair and
equitable treatment ol everybody."
Another newcomer to the town
board. Sid Swarts, said town laws
should be enforced, or else changed
if they are unfair or uncnforcablc.
"Ordinances should apply equally
to everybody." Swarts added. "II I
speed, I should get a ticket."
Mayor Pro Tcm Gil Bass said last
Thursday that he supports the man
ager's choice.
"If you look at Robert, he's what
we need for public relations on the
beach," Bass said. "He's lair, but he
docs enforce the law."
Parker said he planned to meet
with the new chief this week to dis
cuss promoting an officer to the va
cant sergeant's position and hiring
another patrolman.
Subdivision Vote Reversed
(Continued From Page 1-A)
ling of service roads and/or lum
arounds on subdivision lots that
front on streets, to help rcducc the
possibility of accidents. DOT ad
ministrative law also indicates that
not more than three driveways
should be permitted for a single sub
division.
Ludlum said he did not seek the
vote because he is a fomier county
commissioner and that he did not ask
for a favor. He contends the
turnaround provision isn't a part of
the subdivision ordinance and should
not have been placed on his plat.
He told commissioners last week
that no other subdivision on Oxpen
Road has had to meet that require
ment and that the sale of two lots in
Lakeside was riding on removal of
the restriction.
"That road was a dirt road at the
time it was placed on there," said
Ludlum.
The only oilier official subdivi
sion on Oxpen Road is Fiddler's
Cove, which was filed in 1979, or
13 months before the county's pre
sent subdivision ordinance weni into
effect, according to maps at the
Brunswick County Planning Depart
ment.
The maps also show that the clos
est subdivision to Lakeside that has
the same turnaround requirement is
Wood Duck Retreat on N.C. 130.
As originally proposed in July
1986, Lakeside subdivision would
consist of 373 lots when complete,
with 77 lots of approximately 50
feet in width fronting Oxpen Road.
In December 1986, the subdivision
was revised to include 21 lots along
Oxpen Road.
The plat filed last Tuesday shows
the width of those lots averaging 75
feel.
Requiring the turnarounds on the
Lakeside lots sparked discussions
between DOT officials and the plan
ning department in 1986.
In September 1986, DOT District
Engineer Jim P. Cook and Bill
Benton, of DOT's Brunswick
County maintenance department,
met with the Planning Board to re
view slate driveway requirements.
Cook said that DOT's administra
tive law indicates that four or more
driveways to a subdivision should
not be permuted, according to min
utes ol that Sept. 17. HJXft. Planning
Board meeting.
A DOT memo from Cook on file
at the Planning Department indicates
the Lakeside subdivision needed to
be redesigned, as a "projierty owner
is allowed 3 access points on an ex
isting suite road." it suites.
At time. DOT offered to work
with Lakeside's developers on a
compromise, noting the three -access
limit was low for a development
witli as much roail troniage as
Lakeside.
Ludlum said last Wednesday that
he had never heard of the turnaround
requirement and claims it is not en
forced for every developer.
While Tuesday's vote won't mai
ler for the Lakeside subdivision,
Clegg said it "should have people
thinking that commissioners have
not opened the door' lor appeals on
subdivision regulations.
Two Killed
In Calabash
(Continued From Page I -A)
S4,5(X) to the Stanaland vehicle and
S2.800 to the Bachmann car.
Alcohol use was not involved in
the accident, said Ruby Oakley,
spokesperson for the N.C. Highway
Patrol office in Wilmington. She
said charges are still pending.
The death total on Brunswick
County's highways for the year now
stands ai 14, said Ms. Oakley.
Last year, 15 people dial on the
county's highways through Dec. 31.
"So we're still one under if we
can just gel through the resi of the
month safely." said Ms. Oakley.
HOW TO SUBSCRIBE TO
THE BRUNSWICK&BEACON
POST OFFICE BOX 2558
SHALLOTTE. NORTH CAROLINA 28459
NOTICE: Reliable or consistent delivery cannot be
guaranteed since this newspaper must rely on the U.S.
Postal Service for delivery. We can only guarantee that\
\your newspaper will be submitted to the post office In
Shallotte on Wednesday of the week of publication, In
time for dispatch to out-of-town addresses that day.
ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION RATES BY MAIL: Sr. Citizen
In Brunswick County J6 30 -J5 30
N C. Sales Tax 38 32
Postage Charge 3.68 3 68
TOTAL 10.36 9.30
Elsewhere in North Carolina J6 30 j5 30
N.C. Sales Tax .38 32
Postage Charge 8.18 8 18
TOTAL 14.86 13.80
Outside North Carolina J6 .30 _i5 30
Postage Charge 9.65 9 65
TOTAL 15.95 14.95
Complete And Return To Above Address
Name
Address
City, State
Z'P
SLOCKETT ABSTAINS FROM VOTE
Baxter Re-Elected Education Chairman
BY SUSAN USIIKK
Donna Baxter began her second term as chairman of
the Brunswick County Board of F.ducation Mondav
?light, telling members they had worked haul hut that
thev have more work ahead ol them in IW2.
"I think the more knowledgeable we are the better
hoard we will lie." she continued, saying workshops
and special meetings would he held as needed, as dur
ing the past year.
Ms. Baxter, a Boiling Spring Lakes resident, won
the chairmanship under tin usual
circumstances, with one member
asking to be excused from the
vote.
l!nder the board's rules of pro
cedure. member Robert Slocketl
was not required to give a reason
Monday night when he asked to
be excused from voting on board
reorganization. That request was
honored on a motion by Doug
Baxley.
'II Mr. Slocketl doesn't want to participate, then I
move we honor Ins w ish," said Baxley. The vote grant
ing the abstention was 4- 1 , with Yvonne Bright object
ing.
With Slocketl absent. Ms. Baxter was elected chair
man unanimously. Baxley had nominated Polly Russ
for the office, but the nomination was said to have died
lor lack of a second. However, neither Robert's Rule's
of Order nor the board's own rules of procedures re
quires that a nomination be seconded.
"It didn't matter." Baxley said later when ques
tioned "The votes weren't there anyway "
When Slockctt later wanted to participate m selec
lion ol the vice chairman, the hoard reminded him he
had asked to be excused from voting on hoard rvorga
n i /at ion, not just the chairmanship
Mrs. Bright, who had started to nominate Slockctt
lor vice chairman, was unanimously elected to thai of
fice in his absence. She succeeds Baxley in that |H>si.
Baxley, a former chairman of the board, said he
nominated Mrs. Russ for chairman because ol the
hoard's decision pearly two years ago that it would be
stronger il more members shared responsibilities anil
held office.
"It seems somewhat hypocritical ol the board not to
follow its own policy," he said.
Baxley resigned as chairman in January I WO under
pressure from a coalition ol Uvird members who want
ed a change of leadership. Previously the hoard had
elected new officers every two years, after newly
elected members took office Last year the board voted
to change to annual elections each December, in order
to give more members an opportunity to hold oft ice.
Ms. Baxter was ihe lirsi chairman elected under that
change of procedure.
Asked lalcr why he abstained from voting. Slocketl
said he supported each candidate lor chairman "equal
ly" and did not feel he was under any obligation to
constituents to vote.
He said he feared that "choosing sides" might influ
ence one or the other candidate to not support Ins pro
posals regarding a proposed math /science education
center.
IN SUPERIOR COURT
Lakes Teen Awaits Sentencing
A Boiling Spring I .akes iccn-ager who pleaded guilty
to killing his mother will he sentenced Monday in a
Brunswick County Superior Court session with Judge
William C Gore Jr. presiding.
In an unrelated court case last week, a Columbus
County teen avoided the death penalty alter a jury found
him guilty of first-degree murder in the shooting death
of a Columbus County sherill 's deputy.
Huit case had been moved to Brunswick County be
cause ol pre-uial publicity m the Whiteville community
Lukes Murder
James Vickery, 15. pleaded guilty last week to sec
ond-degree murder in the May shooting death ol his
mother. Virginia Anderson, 44.
The victim had been shot once in the back ol the head
seven days before |X)lice found her htxly locked in a
bedroom where the teen-ager had apparently continued
to live on Pierce Road.
Fellow employees at Dosher Memorial Hospital in
Southport became suspicious when Ms. Anderson failed
to report to work.
In Superior Court last Thursday. Dec. 5. Vickery 's at
torney, Michael Ramos ot Shalloiic, entered a guilty
plea to second -degree murder.
Judge Narley Cash we 1 1 delayed sentencing until
Monday's session ol Superior Court and ordered that the
youth he held at the Juvenile Services Center m New
Hanover County until then.
Second-dcgrcc murder carries a maximum sentence
of 50 years to lile in prison and a minimum <>! 1 5 years
in prison.
Columbus Slaying
Michael Thomas Brown, IX, was sentenced to life in
prison plus 70 years alier a Brunswick County jury
found him guilty of first-degree murder, armed robbery
and two counts ol conspiracy in the June IX ambush of
( 'olumbus County Shot ill s DcpuH Boh Hmsoii
Following two days ol arguments, the jury declined to
hand down the death |vnalty against Blown last
Wednesday IX'C., ?' recommending lile in prison in
stead.
An accomplice, Aquino Lee Williams, l(>. faces trial
in Brunswick County Superior Court in February on the
same chargcs. He is being held in the Brunswick County
Jail under S5(Kt,(XK) bond.
Williams is accused of shinning flinson three times in
the head at close range as the ol liter sat in his patrol car.
The deputy was found dead in his car near the
Brunswick community about an lioui after answering a
lake break- in call placed In Brown.
Since he was only 16 when the crime allegedly >v
cur red. Williams cannot receive the death penalty.
District Attorney Ke.\ Gore plans io seek life m prison
without parole lor Williams.
New Yaupon Beach Election Ordered
BY SUSAN USHKR
Voters in Yaupon Beach will be
returning to the polls in the near fu
ture U) elect three town council
members, as it the November 5 elec
tion never took place.
Meeting last week, the State
Board of Elections ordered a new
municipal election for Yaupon
Beach as a result of a ballot error
that affected the outcome of the
election.
"It's as if the election had never
happened," said Johnnie McLean,
administrative secretary in the state
office. "If the error was simply a ty
po or something that would not have
caused the results to be difference,
we would not have ordered a new
elec lion."
She said the dale and day of the
election will be set by the Bruns
wick County Board of Elections,
subject to approval of the state
board's executive director. "It won't
be done that quickly, probably a
minimum of 50 or 60 days."
As of Friday, the county elections
hoard had not received its nou fiction
of the decision of the state board.
At Yaupon Beach the council se
lects a mayor from among the board.
Six candidates were on die ballot,
with three seats open.
Thirty-six people had voted at
Yaupon Beach before a poll worker
noticed the error, which slated that
THE BRUNSWICIt&lEACON
Established Nov. 1, 1962
Telephone 754-6890
Published Every Thursday
At 4709 Main Street
Shallotic, N.C. 28459
SUBSCRIPTION RATES
IN BRUNSWIC K COUNTY
One Year SI 0.36
Six Months S5.55
ELSEWHERE IN
NORTH CAROLINA
One Year SI 4.86
Six Months S7.90
ELSEWHERE IN U.S.A.
One Year SI 5.95
Six Months S8.35
Second class postage paid at
Shallotic, N.C. 28459. USPS 777
780. Postmaster, send address
changes to:
P.O. Box 2558.
Shallolte, N.C. 28459-2558
persons could only vote for two can
didates when they should have been
voting lor three. Alter the error was
found, voters were told to ignore the
directions on the ballot anil to vote
for three candidates. Poll workers
counted those ballots by hand.
Of the 36 who had voted before
the error was discovered, nine had
voted for three candidates anyway.
Four persons had voted for just one
candidate and 23 had voted for two.
Not counting those 23 ballots,
candidates received votes as fol
lows: Rhett Rlackmon, 53; Joseph
W. Broyles, 127; May W. Moore,
123; James L. Poole Sr., 94; Darrell
D. Posey, 97; and J.M. Warren, 67.
Incumbents are Broyles, Mrs.
Moore and Pix>lc.
Calling the election "flawed," die
Brunswick County Board of Elec
tions asked the state board to render
a decision. The local board has no
authority to call for a new election.
"1 know people want it taken care
of right away," said Ms. McLean of
die new election date. "But it will
probably be a minimum of SO or 6()
days."
She said ihe same regulations and
procedures will apply to the new
election as to any other municipal
election. Among other details, that
means ballots must be prepared at
least 30 days in advance of the elec
tion.
At Wednesday's meeting the suite
board ordered three new municipal
elections be held, with two of those
decisions related directly to ballot
error.
While the ideal would Ik* to not
have any new elections required, she
said, having to redo three out of the
more than 500 elections held Nov. 5
"is probably not bad".
In her six years with die board,
she said, this is the third election or
dered because an error in ballot vot
ing instructions could affect the out
come of the election.
AT SEASIDE
BRING HOME
THE6BEAC0N
On Sale At
FOOD LION
FOOD MART
NELL S PIT STOP
ROBERTO'S PIZZA
Still before the local elections
board is a decision relating to the
ballot used in the Dosher Memorial
Hospital Board of Trustees election
One candidate Evelyn "Teal" Butler,
has complained that the ballot
which separated candidates for
six-year terms from the candidate
for an unexpired four-year tenn?
gave an unfair advantage to trustee
Eugene Tomlinson Jr.
The elections board plans to call a
special meeting to review a tran
script of a recent hearing and then
issue ils written decision.
Pleasant
Weekend
Forecast
Temperatures ami precipitation
should remain unseasonably mild
through the weekend, and will prob
ably bring a "cool down to the area
by next week, said South Brunswick
Islands meteorologist Jackson
C'anady.
Me predicted thai temperatures
should stay in the upper Ms at night
and in the upper M)s during the day,
and that no more than a half-inch of
rain would tall "It'll make lor a
nice, mild weekend to plan activities
outdoors." C'anady said of the fore
cast. "But that will probably changc
by next week," he added.
For the period ol Doc. 3-9,
C'anady reported a maximum day
time high of 74 degrees on Dec. 3
and a minimum evening low of 27
degrees on Dec. 5.
The average daytime high was 62
degrees and the average evening low
was 39 degrees, which made for an
average daily temperature of 50 de
grees.
Only .63 of an inch of rainfall
was recorded at his Shallottc Point
home, C'anady said.
Community
Fired Up
(Continued From Page 1-A)
just know they can do it."
Greg Smith was just one of hun
dreds of West Brunswick fans who
made the drive to Elizabclhtown last
Friday for the eastern final.
Hut it's likely that Smith, who
graduated from West Brunswick in
11>X2. traveled farther than anyone
else lo set t hi hast Bladen game.
He diove <(X> miles from his
home m Pembroke. Va a trip that
tiHik si\ In >uis "I dually drove
down just lor this one game," said
the former Trojan junior varsity
loolball and varsity baseball player.
"I took a chance hoping they'd
beat Whiieville," Smith said. "II
they win tonight, I'm going to
Chapel Mill."
'Success Breeds Success'
Williamson said the football
U'iim s ess Uns year should carry
over to the school's other athletic
teams.
"Success breeds success," he said.
"We would certainly hope to parlay
this success and enthusiasm into the
other sports."
Me said the loolball team has
proven that West Brunswick athlet
ics are on pai with other 2-A schtx>ls
in North Carolina.
"We have proven to ourselves that
we have the potential to be as gtxnl
as anyone," Williamson said.
Tickets to the state championship
game cost S6 in advance and S7 at
the gale, and arc available at West
Bmnsw ii k.
(ietting There
If you're going to the game, take
U.S. 17 north to Wilmington. From
there lake Interstate 40 west and
then N.C. 54 west lo Chapel Hill.
The Uip lakes about 3 1/2 hours
from Shallottc.
Fantastic Pre-Christmas
Customer Appreciation Sale
Shop
where the
best bargains
are... A
50%-70%f '
Off
r
u
all clothing { ,
storewide l]
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
from: Frances Davis and staff
OF CALABASH
LADIES" APPAREL ? JEWELRY ? ACCESSORIES
579-7299 ? Store Hours Mon Sat 10 30-5:30
HWY 1 79. CALABASH I OW COUNIHY SlOHhS, CALABASH