>1 Memories...
A local woman remembers life during
wartime in the Army Nursing Corps.
Pagel3-A.
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HO AG & SONS BOOK
P.O. BOX 162
SF'R I NGF'ORT M I
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Committee Of 100 Marks Year
Three directors are re-elected, and the state
treasurer encourages industrial growth in
Brunswick County. Page11-C.
TRAINING COORDINATOR BLAMED FOR DEFICIENCIES
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BY ERIC CARLSON
Brunswick County Emergency Medical Services
Tuesday suspended its fledgling Advanced Life Support
program after learning that its training coordinator had
failed to keep proper certification records and had
"grossly misled" officials about the status of emergency
medical technician training.
As a result, county rescue personnel are prohibited
from installing breathing tubes, connecting intravenous
fluid injections or dcfibrillaiing patients en route to the
hospital. They will also be prohibited from using expen
sive equipment purchased especially for the program.
It is a situation that state and local EMS officials ad
mit could result in the unnecessary death o? a patient
The action came after the N.C. Office of Emergency
Medical Services discovered that Brunswick EMS
Training Coordinator John Davis had failed to keep the
proper records to assure that local rescue personnel had
completed the necessary course work and field training
for advanced EMT-I certification.
In a letter sent to the N.C. Office of Emergency
Medical Services Friday, Brunswick County EMS
Medical Director Dr. Harry L. Johnson said Davis "will
no longer be involved in, our program in any way, and I
would hope thai he will never be allowed to be a part of
ojiv PM? nrrwmm in North Carolina "
? I cr- vrx.xi ?
State law requires that every county must provide am
bulance service staffed by personnel with at least a basic
Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) rating. With
such training, a rescuer can administer basic first aid, do
cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), control hemor
rhaging and perform other ambulancc-relatcd duties.
Brunswick County had only EMT-certified personnel
in its rescue squads until March, when it qualified for
the Advanced Life Support designation.
Under the ALS program, regulated by the N.C.
Mcdical Care Commission and supervised by a local
medical director. a county EMS system can utilize per
sonnel with the EMT-I (intermediate) rating. After train
ing and certification, EMT-l's can perform more exten
sive surgical procedures to stabilize a patient.
While training for that certification, an EMT-D rating
can be earned, allowing a rescuer to operate a defibrillat
ing unit.
Under the direction of Johnson and county EMS
Supervisor Doug Ledgelt, a EMT-I certification pro
gram was established at Brunswick Community College
(See ADVANCED, Page 2-A)
Robinson Fired From County Post
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Ronnie Robinson, director of the Brunswick
County Older Adults/Department of Aging, was
dismissed from his position Friday.
County Personnel Officer Starie Grissett Mon
day confirmed tiiat Robinson had been notified of
his tiring by certified mail. She would give no
further details of the action.
A message was left on Robinson's home an
swering machine Tuesday morning offering him
the opportunity to comment on the dismissal. He
did not return the call.
County Manager David Clegg Monday said
that under the county personnel policy, thj dis
missal was a confidential matter about which he
was not allowed to comment.
Jamie Orrock, director of the Brunswick Coun
ty Department of Social Services, is temporarily
in charge. However, Clegg said it isn't his intent
to put the Department of Aging back under the
Social Services department.
Twin uioolrc onrr* riptrff hoH Kwn InlH Kv m/*m_
4 ,,v/ ,,vv,w ^,voo ? xu "J
bers of the Brunswick County Board of Com
missioners lo "do what it
takes to correct" recurring
budget shortfalls in Robin
son's department.
At its final budget work
shop June 8, the board was
told that the department need
ed an emergency allocation of
$20,000 to pay for its last
month's payroll and operating
? expenses. Clegg said Robin
robinson son failed to make adjust
ments in his program spending and had "run out
of money" for the fiscal year.
At the July 20 commissioners meeting, Clegg
asked for another $4,400 to pay additional bills
incurred by Robinson's department during last
year's budget period.
Under the personnel policy, Robinson can ap
peal his dismissal to the board of commissioners.
If he h.35 rcsson to believe the sctlon moiivst
ed by discrimination, Robinson can seek relief
from the Stale Personnel Commission.
As of Monday, Robinson had not requested a
hearing before the commissioners, according to
Board Chairman Kelly Holden.
Robinson has worked for the county since
1987, when he was hired as director of the origi
nal Department of Aging. He remained head of
the program after it became part of the De
partment of Social Services and later when it was
returned to departmental status.
As director of the Older Adults/Department of
Aging, Robinson supervised seven full-time em
ployees and coordinated the county's senior cen
ters, the congregate meals program, the home-dc
livercd meals program and a senior citizens trans
portation program.
Robinson's annual salary was $26,486. As of
Tuesday, the county had not begun advertising for
a new director for the department.
! EDUCATION BOARD'S BUDGET SAID ADEQUATE
Schools Request For Computer Funds Nixed
STAFF moro BY DOUG It UTTER
Beached At Sunset
This dead dolphin was found on the Sunset Beach strand between
Third and Fourth streets last Friday afternoon. The dolphin mea
sured about eight feet long ana looked as y it had been buned in
the sand for several days before being uncovered by the tide.
BY ERIC CARLSON
The Brunswick County Board of Com
missioners Monday denied a board of education
request to fund a $1.25 million computer educa
tion program, saying the school board already had
the money in its budget to fund the program.
Pointing to "amazing discoveries" he had un
covered in the school budget. Chairman Kelly
Holdcn said that the schools had $500,000 in un
appropriated funds to spend on the proposed com
puter program.
"They have the money to do it with a little
shifting of priorities," Holden said.
At the last commissioners' meeting, a delega
tion of school teachers, administrators and board
of education members asked the county hoard to
enter into a lease-purchase agreement on behalf
of the school system to fund $1.25 million worth
of additional computers, software and instructors.
The school board proposed to repay the loan with
$250,000 a year from its half-cent sales tax rev
enues.
County Finance Officer Lithia Hahn told com
missioners Monday that in examining the school
board budget she found that tne Doarri had been
too conservative in estimating the amount of
money it would receive from the state. She said
she had also found available money in other areas
of the budget
"It appears to me that they will have enough
money for their computer needs," she said.
Holden likened the situation to an earlier re
quest from the school board to add $600,000 to its
1989-90 budget. The board of education claimed
the money was needed to avoid severe cutbacks
and teacher layoffs, yet at the end of the year
there was S1.2 million left in the school fund bal
ance, he said.
"We have tried to demand accountability from
the hoard of education." Holden said.
Commissioner Gene Pinkcrton said he had re
ceived numerous calls about the schools' comput
er funding request. He defended the commission
ers' commitment to education, noting that the
board had approved S2.28 million in school bud
get increases since 1987. He also pointing to the
board's recent appropnauon ol 51.5 million to
upgrade the county library system.
"It's not our decision whether or net they bey
computers or not. They have the money to do
that," Pinkerton said. "I think they can put this
program together without our help."
In other business the board:
?Held the first in a planned series of work
shops with the county planning board to discuss
the proposed ordinance to establish zoning in un
incorporated areas of the county. County Planner
John Harvey reviewed sections of the ordinance
describing the functions of the planning board,
zoning board, zoning board of adjustment and
zoning officer. He also gave both boards their
first look at a proposed zoning map.
?Considered the renaming of Spring Branch
Road. One group of residents said the name
should remain the same while another asked that
it be renamed Hughes Road. The board told both
groups to return with petitions from property
owners expressing their preference for the road
name.
?Heard a request from several residents asking
that the county adopt a ieash law to proniou dogs
from running wild.
OPPOSITION MOUNTING
Holden Plans Hearings On Septic Tank Rules
BY DOUG RUTTER
The people will be heard.
Holden Beach homeowners will have not one,
but two chances to tell town officials what they
think of proposed rules aimed at stopping the
abuse of septic systems on the island.
Although public hearings aren't required, town
commissioners will conduct two of them Aug. 19
and Sept. 5 so everyone who may be affected by
the rules has a chance to give their opinion.
Commissioners agreed to hold the hearings af
ter eight people, including three involved in the
real estate business, spoke on the proposal at
Monday night's meeting.
Holden Beach's wastewater management com
mittee drafted the ordinance in an effort to keep
people from overusing septic tanks and advertis
ing homes to sleep more people than they are in
tended to accommodate.
For years, some beach houses have been over
loaded during the summer with more people than
their septic systems were designed to accommo
date. Four-bedroom homes designed to sleep
eight people arc sometimes inhabited by a dozen
or more.
The ordinance would make it illegal to exceed
the sleeping capacity of two people per bedroom
and would allow the town building inspector to
inspect houses if there is evidence or probable
causc that the rules are being "iolated.
Violations would be reported to the Brunswick
County Health Department for enforcement.
Penalties could include a civil fine of $50 per day
as long as the violation continues.
Alan Holden, who operates the largest rental
"I see a razor blade
here that's going to
divide this beach "
HHHH ?Alan Holden
agency on the island, was the most vocal speaker
Monday night. He urged the town board to give
homeowners an opportunity to comment on the
proposed rules.
"It bothers me that this thing is on the agenda
tonight," Holden said. "I'm scared to death you're
going to vote on it"
Commissioners didn't vote on the rules
Monday, and agreed to postpone a vote until after
both public hearings. The first will be held as part
ot a regular meeting Wednesday, Aug. iv, at 7
p.m.
To give more non-resident homeowners an op
portunity to speak, the town will hold a second
hearing Saturday, Sept. 5, at 11 a.m. following
the Holden Beach Property Owners Association
meeting.
All of the people who spoke Monday night
agreed that overcrowding needs to be controlled,
but most of them said the proposed ordinance
isn't the way to get it done.
Jim Shafor, a permanent resident, said the ordi
nance would prevent him from inviting his
daughter's family to stay at his beach house.
Jimmy Hobbs took it one step further, saying
the rules would indirectly control how many chil
dren he's allowed to have.
Holden said the 400 homeowners his real estate
agency represents are more worried about the or
dinance than any other town issue in recent years.
They're concerned for the environment, unity
on the beach and the speed with which the board
seems to be moving toward adopting the rules, he
said.
Holden said the rules would affect the island's
800 or so rental houses more than the other
hemes. "I sec a razor blade here that's to
divide this beach."
Johnny Craig of Craig Really agreed with
Holden that the rules came up quickly without
giving homeowners a chance to comment.
He said the proposed ordinance discriminates
against some homeowners and is neither practical
nor enforceable.
' i'm againsi gross overcrowding, bui i jusi
don't think this is going to do it," Craig said.
Holden and others involved in the house rental
business said the timing of the proposal is bad be
cause they're preparing to have new rental
brochures printed.
Shafor also said he doesn't see how the town's
building inspector will have time to enforce the
proposed rules.
John Holden, the town's first mayor, agreed
with Shafor's assessment of the extra burden the
rules would piace on Building inspector Dwigiii
Carroll.
"If he thinks he's got a job now, if you folks
tell him to police he'll have a double job," Holden
said.
Sullivan, Hill In House Race
Randy Sullivan of Shallottc will take Kelly Holden's place on the
Republican ballot for the 14th District seat in the N.C. House of
Representatives, while the State Board of Elections says another candi
date, Democrat Dewey Hill, can remain on the ballot
James Payne, chairman of the Brunswick County Republican Party,
said Monday that Sullivan has received the unanimous approval of the
Republican Party chairman in each of the counties in the district, plus
the endorsement of the 7th Congressional District Committee.
"His nomination has been accepted by the State Republican Head
quarters as the candidate," said Payne. Sullivan will face Rep. David
Redwine, D-Brunswick, and Dewey Hill of Columbus County, whose
candidacy was upheld Friday by the State Board of Elections.
Sullivan, 41, is a self-employed carpenter and single. He has a
bachelor of arts degree in health education from the University of
North Carolina ?? Wilmington and has taught school.This is his third
bid for a state office.
He challenged Sen. R.C. Soles Jr. twice. In 1986, Sullivan drew 47
percent of the vote to Soles' 53 percent, while in 1988 he drew 36 per
cent of the vote compared to Soles' 64 percent.
Sullivan could not be reached for comment Monday.
Holdcn withdrew from the House race last month, saying he
couldn't afford to be away from his business while the General
Assembly was in session.
Meeting Friday in Raleigh, the board upheld the 2-1 decision of the
Columbus County Board of Elections that Hill had lived in the 14th
District long enough to qualify as a candidate.
The board threw out an "appeal" by Shirley T. Greene of
Bamesville. Greene, who finished fourth in the field of four in the pri
mary, was one of two people who challenged Hill's residency. State
law says a candidate must have lived in the district for a least a year
prior to the general election in November. Greene said Hill spent more
time at a residence in Whiteville than at his home at Lake Waccamaw,
which is in the 14th District
!.?k? Waccamaw resident Erma McNeill has dropped her chal
lenge. The N.C. Board of Elections said Friday that Greene could still
take his case to court ? the original point of appeal designated by the
board.