Parents In Action
A State Department of Public
Instruction employee discusses a
'comprehensive concept manage
ment system* with county residents
Monday. See Page 7-A.
Watch Expands
Brunswick Ave. residents' successful
Community Watch program is
spawning additional watches
throughout Holden Beach following
a rash of break-ins. Page 12-A
12/31/93 j.jpo
HOAG & SONS BOOK BINDERY
P 0. BOX ibk'
SF'RINGF'OR ! hi I 49ib'4
Thirtieth Year, Number 17
CIW TMf MUNSWtCK KACON
Shollotte, North Carolina, Thursday, February 27, 1992
We Did It!
Trojans Anthon\ Moody (24) and
Lonnie Mitchell (40) celebrate west
Brunswick's wild 59-58 conference
victory at North Brunswick Friday
night. The story's on Page 8-B.
ACON
50<t Per Copy
36 Pages, 3 Sections, 3 Inserts
Court Date
Set For Two
Held In
Murder
Two people charged in the shoot
ing death of a Bolivia woman will
appear in New Hanover County
District Court March & or. murder
and auto larceny charges.
Stephanie Bowling, 22, of Green
Lewis Road, was found dead off of
River Road in New Hanover County
north of Wilmington last Thursday,
Feb. 20.
According to an autopsy report,
the practical nursing student at
Brunswick Community College in
Supply had been shot in the head
and neck with four bullets from a
,22-caliber pistol.
Two suspects, David Wayne Bot
sko, 23, and Stephanie Aycrs, 22,
both of the Monterey Heights subdi
vision in Wilmington, made a first
appearance in New Hanover County
District Court Monday morning,
said Detective C.B. Floyd of the
New Hanover County Sheriff's De
partment.
Both were ordered held without
bond, said Floyd.
The suspects were charged last
Friday after officers found them
driving Ms. Bowling's car. Deputies
also found a .22-caliber pistol be
lieved to be the murder weapon.
The victim had reportedly been
dating Botsko for about a week. So
far, officers have not determined a
motive for the killing.
"There is none, whatsoever," said
Floyd. "That's still being investigat
ed."
A transient couple looking for
work in Wilmington pulled their van
off of River Road and found Ms.
(See COURT, Page 2-A)
?
1
staff photo by oo?t c gurganus
Saving The Day
A loon suffering bile wounds most likely inflicted by a blue fish,
was rescued at Sunset Beach Monday by Fred Taylor, N.C.
Wildlife Resources enforcement officer. Rehabilitative specialist
Jill Caison tended the injured bird at Brunswick Animal Hospital,
but reported Tuesday that the bird was put to sleep because of the
extent of its injuries and inability to swim. The other solution, am
putation, wouUl have left the loon unable to defend itself or find
food, she said.
Court Ruling Keeps Candidate In Primary
BY TERRY POPE
When Southport's Bill Kirby filed for the
Brunswick County Register of Deeds office Feb. 10,
he wasn't sure how the 1991 "resign-to-run" law
would affect his status on the J. Arthur Dosher
Memorial Hospital Board of Trustees.
Now it looks like he doesn't have to worry.
The N.C. Supreme Court struck down the law
Monday, saying it was unconstitutional. Had the court
ruled otherwise, Kirby, a Republican, would have been
forced to resign from the hospital board.
Passed by the N.C. General Assembly last year, the
law required that persons holding an elective officc
who wish to file for a different office to resign the seat
they currently hold.
Republicans criticized the law, saying it was aimed
at protecting incumbents and should be struck down.
In the opinion written by Justice Willis Whichard,
the state Supreme Court said the resign-to-run law was
unconstitutional because it imposed new requirements
for elective office. The statute is not "comparable to
other reasonable regulations designed to assure the
faithful discharge of official duties," the ruling noted.
Monday's ruling keeps Kirby eligible for seeking
the Register of Deeds office whiie he remains a hospi
tal trustee. There had been some question as to
whether hospital trustees were affected by the law.
Kirby, who could not be reached for commcnt
Tuesday, had earlier sought a ruling on his status from
Attorney General Lacy Thomburg, who forwarded a
copy of his reply to the Brunswick County Board of
Elections office in Bolivia.
According to Thomburg's opinion, Kirby would
have been forced to resign as a hospital trustee before
the filing period closes noon, March 2, if he remained a
candidate for Register of Deeds in the May 5 primary.
If a trustee of a hospital board wants to qualify for
another elective public office, "and the terms of the of
fices overlap, he or she must resign as a trustee" under
the old law, Thomburg noted.
It is clear, Thomburg noted, that the legislation at
tempted to "include all elective public offices of what
ever type."
No other candidates who have filed for local offices
would have been affected by the resign-to-run law.
Three Brunswick County Com- missioners ? Kelly
Holden of Shallouc, Gene Pinkcrton of Long Beach
and Frankie Rabon of Town Creek ? have all an
nounced they will not seek re-election to the board. As
of Tuesday, neither had filed for other local scats.
However, their status would not have been affected
by the resign-to-run law sincc their terms do not expire
until December.
The law had called for resignations from offices
when conflicting terms overlapped by more than 40
days.
Detectives Charge Four
; In Northern Theft Ring
BY TERRY POPE
Dctcctivcs say ihcy have uncov
... cred a second theft ring in operation,
??m this time in northern Brunswick
'* County.
Four people have been charged
with breaking into more than 20
? * homes and businesses in the Lcland
* and Bolivia communities, Bruns
wick County Sheriff's Detective
'? Ken Messer said Monday.
* The news comes prior to a public
hearing for Lcland area residents
Thursday, March 5, at 7 p.m. at the
* North Brunswick High School li
*?? brary to discuss the need for a
iW Lcland area police force. The Lcland
Town Council will sitend
vii Charged last week were George
Banncrman, 30, of Dogwood Lane,
^ Lcland; Gregory Ballard, 22, of
Route 5, Lcland; Larry Hooper, of
the Hooper Hill community in
Lcland; and Bobby Davis, 25, of
Wilmington, Messer said.
Charges arc still pending against
other suspects. Property loss from
ihe break- ins exceeds SI 00,000.
"These eases go back for almost a
year," said Mcsscr.
In January, detectives uncovered a
Holdcn Beach area theft ring al
legedly involving convicted drug
trafficker Olaf Dale Varnam, 40, of
Supply.
Varnam was indicted by a Bruns
wick County grand jury last month
on various breaking and entering
charges stemming from thefts at a
number of homes on the island and
mainland at Holdcn Beach.
Detectives seized truckloads of
stolen goods from Vnmam's home
on Stone Chimney Road near
Supply. His trial is still pending in
Brunswick County Superior Court.
Officers do not think the two theft
rings arc related.
Three detectives working the
Leland area case ? Mcsscr, Gary
Races Shape As Monday
Filing Deadline Nears
With the deadline for filing quick
ly approaching, several political
races began lo lake shape this week.
The filing peruxi officially closes
for both state and local offices
Monday, March 2, at -noon. Local
candidates can llle at the Brunswick
County Board of Elections office in
Bolivia.
Three more candidates will run
for one of two seals available in the
restructured 14ih Stale House dis
trict, including incumbent Democrat
E. David Rcdwine of Ocean Isle,
who announced his candidacy
Monday. He will be seeking a fifth
term in office.
Redwine is co-chairman of the
House Appropriations, Justice and
Public Safety Committee and serves
on the Legislative Research
Committee. He is also chairman of
the Seafood and Agriculture
Commission.
Also filing as Democrats are
Dewey Hill of Whiteville, a busi
nessman and former supermarket
owner. Rep. Leo Mercer, previously
elected to represent the 15th
District; and Shirley T Greene of
Robeson County, a semi-retired
farmer and businessman trom
Barnesville.
Former Brunswick County
District Attorney Michael Easley of
Southport announced Monday he
will run for attorney general. Easley
ran for the Democratic nomination
for U.S. Senate in 1990, but was de
feated in a runoff primary by former
Charlotte Mayor Harvey Ganu.
More candidates have also filed
for both ihe Brunswick County
Board of Education and Board of
Commissioners races.
Two more Democrats, William D.
(Billy) Carter of Yaupon Beach and
Slephanna Tewey of Long Beach,
filed for the Disiricl 3 school board
seal. Carter is a former Brunswick
County Manager and Vis Tewey is a
former schixil employee.
As of Tuesday afternoon, no addi
tional candidates had filed for the
District 1 and 4 school board races.
In the commissioners' race, eight
candidates are vying for the District
3 seat now held by Gene Pinkcrton.
who says he will not seek re-elec
tion.
Joining the field this week as
Democrats arc William R. (Bob)
Thorscn of Southport; M.E. (Mark)
Sharpe of Long Beach; and former
county commissioner Wayland
Vereen of Yaupon Beach.
Republican William (Bill) Sisk of
Long Bcach filed as a Republican in
District 3.
Two more Democrats have filed
for the District 4 commissioners'
race, Jo Ann Bellamy Simmons of
Ash, a local businesswoman, and
Tom B. Rabon Sr. of Winnabow, a
retired postmaster and local busi
nessman. They will try for the seat
now held by Frankie Rabon, who
announced he wiii not run for re
election.
No new candidates filed for the
District 1 commissioner's seat.
Democrat Don Warren is currently
the only candidate seeking the seat
now held by Republican Kelly
Holden, who says he will not seek
rc-clcction.
Democrat incumbent Register of
Deeds Robert J. Robinson of Supply
has filed for his seat. He will face
Edward F. Mint/, of Bolivia in the
May 5 primary.
Shay and Larry Joyner ? get a break
last week that led to warrants being
filed against the four suspccts.
"We hit a pretty good lick," said
Mcsscr, "if we can now get convic
tions."
Bannerman was chargcd with 20
counts of breaking and entering and
larceny of homes, mostly in the
Lcland and Phoenix communities.
Homes were also broken into in the
Bolivia and Northwest communities,
said Messer.
Both Bannerman and Ballard
were being held in the Brunswick
County Jail Monday, Bannerman
under $75,000 bond and Ballard un
der 550,000 bond
Ballard has also been chargcd
with a break-in at the Kicking Mule
Beverage Bam on Lanvalc Road in
Leland, said Messer.
(See DETECTIVES, Page 2-A)
Who's Filed
COMMISSIONER
District 1
?Don WarTcn, Dcm.
District 3
?Steve Foster, Rep.
?Joseph Tyler Lcnins, Rep.
?Bob Slockctt, Rep.
?Tom Ycaglc, Rep.
?William R. (Bob) Thorscn, Dcm.
?M.E. (Mark) Sharpc, Dcm.
?Wayland Vercen, Dcm.
District 4
?Tom B. Rabon Sr., Dcm.
?Jo Ann Bellamy Simmons, Dcm.
?Gene Sellers, Rep.
?Tom Simmons, Dcm.
SCHOOL BOARD
District 1
?Joseph V. Brust, Rep.
?Janet Pope, Rep.
?Sam Fletcher Frink, Dem.
District 3
?William D. (Billy) Carter, Dcm.
?William F. Faught, Dem.
?Carlton L. Sligh, Dcm.
?Stcphanna Tewey, Dem.
?Bill Fairley, Rep.
District 4
?Pete Bameue, Rep.
?Donna Baxter, Dcm. (I)
REGISTER OF DEEDS
?Edward F. Mintz, Dem.
?Robert J. Robinson, Dem. (I)
?Bill Kirby, Rep.
CORONER
?Greg White, Dem. (I)
STATE HOUSE _
14th District (2 seats)
?Shirley T. Green, Dcm.
?Dewey Hill, Dcm.
?Leo Mercer, Dcm. (I)
?E. David Rcdwinc, Dcm. (I)
STATE SENATE
18th District
?R.C. Soles Jr., Dem. (i)
CONSERVATION DISTRICT
iKTharles L. (Chip) Carroll
Brunswick County Grads Fare
Below
Average At UNC Schools
BY SUSAN USHKR
Scvcnly-four 1989-90 Brunswick County high school
graduates enrolled as freshmen at a University of North
Carolina campus in fall 1990.
Four out of five of them returned the following year,
nearly two-thirds with a C average or better, but only
one-third of them on track to graduate within the tradi
tional four-year period.
More than a third of the students had taken at least
one remedial course as a freshman and only one -third of
them returned the second year with both the C average
and 30 credit hours required of those planning to gradu
ate on a four-year schedule.
These figures are part of a freshmen performance re
port prepared by the University system, the first of its
kind. Its purpose is to help schools and school districts,
to let them know how their students do when they attend
college and to help them do a better job of preparing stu
dents for college.
In general the performance of freshmen from
Brunswick County high schools was below the slate av
erage in most areas, but compared more favorably with
that of freshmen from other southeastern North Carolina
counties.
"It indicates the universities and the public schools
need to communicate more with each other," Gloria
Yount, public information officer for the Brunswick
Counly Schools, said of the results.
Superintendent P.R. Hankins did not return the
Beacon's phone calls.
The report is an analysis of 1989-90 high school grad
uates who attended one of the UNC member institutions
in the fall semester of 1990. It summarizes their first
year grades, initial course placement and performance,
and end-of-year academic status for the first summer
session of 1990 through spring semester 1991 .
By looking at scores in academic areas such as
English, math, physical and biological sciences, foreign
language and social studies, schools can track weakness
es and work to better prepare students for college-level
work.
C.D. Spangler Jr., UNC system president, wrote in
the cover letter for the report, that the data is not intend
ed to be another "report card" on the public schools.
He continues, "We do believe, however, that the data
will be helpful to all of us as we seek ways to enhance
the academic preparation of high school graduates."
Specifically, of Brunswick County's 74 freshmen,
17.6 percent had a GPA of 3.0 or better during their last
semester, compared to 25. 1 percent statewide.
Of the 74 , 82.4 percent relumed for a second year,
compared to a statewide average of 82.7 percent. Of the
returning second-year students, 60.8 percent from
How Area Freshmen Fared , 1990-91
From all
Caitqory high tchoolt Bl?d?n Bmnswick Columbus W'vHI? N*w jhiwvw
Total freshmen 19,188 70 74 65 40 369
% with grade ave. of 3.0 or better 25.1% 17.1 17.6 26.2 25 18.2
% returning for second year 82.7% 65.7 82.4 92.3 90 81.8
% returning with GPA of 2.0 or better 65.4% 38.6 60.8 78.5 62.5 59.3
% who took remedial course(s) 18.7% 46 37.8 27.7 30 17.6
Grade average 2.5 2.2 23 2.6 2.4 2.3
Brunswick County, had a 2.0 GPA or better, compared
to a state average of 65.4 percent.
Of the freshmen, 37.8 percent took one or more reme
dial courses, compared to 18.7 pcrccnt of all freshmen
statewide. Systcmwide, 28.4 percent of the local freshmen
took remedial courses in math and 2.7 pcrcent took reme
dial courses in English.
Their average GPA was 2.3 on a 4.0 scalc, compared
to a statewide average of 2.5. At the end of the last
semester attended, 66.2 pcrccnt had a grade point aver
age (GPA) of a 2.0 (C) or better and 17.6 had a GPA of
3.0 (B) or better.
Of the freshmen from Brunswick County, 1 .4 percent
were accepted in freshman honors programs.
Of the total 74 freshmen, 9.5 pcrccnt received ad
vanced placement in English and 87.8 percent were
placed in regular freshman English, earning a C average
or better. For all English coursework, they earned an av
erage GPA of 2.7.
In math 17.6 percent were placed in calculus or high
er, 50 pcrcent in college algebra and 4. 1 percent. Only in
algebra did the freshmen average a 2.0 or better. For all
freshman math coursework the students earned an aver
age GPA of 2.0 or C.
The report notes that students did not always take the
courses in which they were initially recommended or
(See COUNTY, Page 2- A)