Newspapers / The Brunswick Beacon (Shallotte, … / March 18, 1993, edition 1 / Page 2
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Storm's (Continued From Page 1-A) Manager David Batlcn. But by late Monday night only isolated customers remained without power. While Logan said the storm was less powerful than either Hurricane Hugo or Hurricane Diana when they made landfall, during a hurricane high winds usually last only a few hours, Batten noted. But Saturday gale force winds blew continuously for 12 to 14 hours. "We'd restore power in an area and it would be knocked back out again." Batten said he tried to line up outside help Saturday morning, but that no help was available because most utilities across North Carolina and in neighboring states were coping with stonn-related problems of their own. Approximately 100 BEMC crew members worked throughout the storm, along with approximately 20 reg ular contract people and one-fourth the office staff, who were called in to answer telephones that jangled non stop. Loss of electrical power disrupted cable television service in the county, said Atlantic Telephone Mem bership Corp. customer service representative Percy Woodard, while power surges damaged some cable equipment. Few telephone customers experienced ser Holden Damage (Continued From Page 1-A) the strand. "Wc have catwalks coming out of our cars," Carroll said. Included in the damage were 17 town-owned bcach acccssways, which Parker estimated will cost Si.UOO cach to replace. Holden Bcach also lost about 100 trash bar rels that were set up along the bcach. "It's a lot of damage. On a small town budget, that's quite an impact," Parker said. "The town has to give up some of the other things it was working on and take care of these things first." Holden Beach Bridge was closed to everyone except residents, home owners and contractors from noon Saturday until 3 p.m. Sunday. No body was allowed on the bridge for several hours Saturday when the winds were at their strongest. "There were so many problems out here with hazardous conditions," Parker said of the bridge closing. "The board of commissioners felt we couldn't allow total free acccss." Parker said town officials didn't want people coming on the island to gather lumber and other materials that were scattered up and down the beach. "You had to have a good rea son to be out here." Most of Holden Bcach lost elec Sunset Bridge (Continued From Page 1-A) the day, but Knapp clected to wait and leave when the bridge reopened. "The mayor did everything he could," Knapp said, adding, "I wouldn't have died if I'd had to wait until the next morning." While acknowledging the unpre dictable force of Saturday's storm, Knapp said he doesn't believe the bridge should be closed to traffic un til a police car is stationed on die is land and residents arc given the op tion to evacuate. However, the mayor says the storm made him even more con vinced that as long as those kinds of logistics arc necessary, people's lives will be in danger. "It's time to gel on with the pro gram" of replacing the bridge in the interest of safety, he said, even if some residents and property owners object The town council resolved unani mously to seek an acceleration of the court-ordered environment im pact statement which must be com pleted before construction of a new bridge can proceed. Council has the support of new N.C. Department of Transportation board member Odell Williamson of Ocean Isle, in whose honor the 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 ?6.30 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 ^6.30 35.30 Postage Charge 9.65 9.65 TOTAL 15.95 14.95 Complete And Return To Above Address Name Address City, State Zip I Ferocity, Length A Surprise To Officials And Residents vice disruptions, only some ol Uiosc served by aerial drops. Brunswick County Sheriff's Department responded to numerous minor auto accidents, some involving drivers who told officers they were "out looking at the storm." Officers said their biggest problem was "sightseers" go ing to the beach to watch the storm, said Lt. Carl Pearson The sheriff's department, which was operating on back-up generators Saturday night, was "swamped" with telephone calls, many from non-residents property own ers asking that their property be checked for damage. Unable to keep up, the department switched the calls to the county's emergency communications center. As of late Monday night only isolated Brunswick Electric and Carolina Power & Light customers in Brunswick County remained without power. A lack of power or delays in a return of power cut the school day short Monday at three county schools, said Assistant Superintendent Bill Turner, but the storm caused less structural damage thar. anticipated. At North Brunswick High School, students arriving at school were sent immediately home because CP&L had not yet restored full power and the main building was Estimated At $8 Million tricity at least temporarily. Power was restored to most of the island by Saturday night, with side streets fin ished early Sunday. Carroll said part of the seawall at Surfsidc Pavilion caved in under the huge waves, icaving the ends ol Ferry Road and Holdcn Street with little protection against erosion. Waves broke through the dune in several areas, including the 200 block of Ocean Boulevard East and the 500 and 700 block of Ocean Boulevard West. The street was cov ered by more than a foot of water in those areas Saturday. Ocean water also washed over the small dune beside Holdcn Beach Fishing Pier and flowed through the parking lot. Pier manager Gil Bass said the pier lost some braces, but none of the pilings were damaged. "It could have been a lot worse, but it was bad enough," Bass, a town board mem ber, said of the storm. Mayor Ausley said he expects town commissioners to discuss re pairing the oceanfront dunes when it meets March 24. He said fdling in several holes in the dune will be the top priority. Based on conversations Monday with coastal experts, Ausley said the best way to repair the dune may be Push Begins Anew "People sat over there all that time running their engines for heat and running out of gas...They looked like they'd been through the Battle of the Bulge." ?Mayor Mason Barber South Brunswick Islands' first high rise bridge was named. "I'm for that 100 percent," Williamson said in a Tuesday telephone interview, adding that the present is "a good time to move, since the president has pledged to get people working on roads and bridges." In his first DOT board meeting two weeks ago, Williamson had an additional 5100,000 appropriated to the Sunset Beach bridge replace ment project to cover preliminary engineering, utilities and right-of way costs. Williamson said SI.8 million has been appropriated so far, though construction of the bridge is hauling in sand from somewhere else and dumping it on the beach. "Obviously that's a costly way to improve it," he said. "The question would be how much to do and how to pay for it." Holden Beach officials said ihc winter storm wasn't nearly as severe as Hurricane Hugo, which caused approximately S30 million in prop erty damage in September 1989. However, Parker said very few people expected the weekend storm to do the damage it did. Hugo, which leveled oceanfront dunes, was tracked aevciai days before it slammed the coast. "It was without warning really," Parker said of Saturday's storm. "There was no warning the storm on the coast would hit the way it did. It was sort of out of the blue." Carroll was one of the few people who wasn't surprised. "I don't think people were expecting it I was. When the weatherman said the storm of the century was coming up the coast, I took his word for it." Parker stid the town's trash hauler. Waste Industries, will have a truck on the island through Friday picking up debris that is left beside the road. Storm debris also will be removed during the normal trash pickup next week. not currently in the state's Transportation Improvement Plan. Thirteen years ago DOT began making plans to replace the pontoon swing bridge with a fixed high-rise span. The proposal met stiff opposi tion and was instrumental in the for mation of the Sunset Beach Tax payers Association, of which Knapp is a leading member. In 1990, SBTA won a court battle aimed at hailing construction of the bridge. U.S. District Judge Earl Brill ordered the environmental impact statement and voided all permits al ready obtained for the multi-million project. Estimates are that, at the current pace, the statement could take another year or longer to com plete. Last November, DOT staffers at a public meeting presented townspeo ple with plans for several types of bridges, including drawbridges in several heights or the fixed high-rise bridge. Most who turned out said they want something more efficient that ihe existing bridge, but short of the high-rise span first proposed by the state. Damage Estimated Sunset Beach, with its low ero sion rate and broad beach, fared bet ter than other South Brunswick Islands beaches in Saturday's storm Building Inspector Danny Cordell estimated damage to structures at S200,(XX) and erosion damage at S30,(XX). An average 10 feet of dune was lost on the cast end, but "the west end held," he said. Ovcrwash from the marshes and waterway made it necessary for the causeway to be graded after the storm. Shallotte To Pick Up Storm Debris BY DOUG RUTTKR Shallotic residents who accumu lated branches, shingles and other debris in their yards during the weekend winter storm don't have to get rid of the junk on their own. Tne town is pitching in. At their meeting Tuesday night, aldermen decided to have town employees pick up storm debris at residences and businesses through March 31. There's a catch. Workers won't go into your back yard to do the actual cleanup. But they will pick up debris left by the side of the road. For ser vice, residents need to call town hall. Building Inspector Albert Hughes said there's plenty of cleanup need ed in town following Saturday's storm, which causcd more damage cold. Ai Boiling Spring Lakes, power was restored late Sunday but cold buildings led principals to release South Brunswick High and South Brunswick Middle school students early, at 1 p.m. Without power, the schools' central office at Southport was closed Monday. Turner reported slight roof damage to buildings at West Brunswick High School and Supply Elementary School that is covered by warranty and a few downed fences at several schools. "We were very fortunate," said Turner. "I was really surprised when I made the rounds Sunday. We had no problems at Union Elementary (where contractors are replacing a roof) or with any of the trailers." Should the county qualify for disaster assistance, local governments and not-for-profit agencies can seek reim bursement from the federal government for storm-relat ed losses and expenses. Logan estimated county damages and costs in excess of S8 million, ranging from water system telemetry damaged by electrical power surges to downed fences aiiu signs, ucbris reinovai and overtime pay. "We don't have a cost figure yet for the parks," he said. Utilities Director Jerry Webb said erosion caused a loss of pipe on the out-of-scrvice water line across Lock wood Folly Intel connccting Long Beach and Holdcn Bcach that is scheduled for eventual rerouting. Water service was lost 30 minutes to 60 minutes at Occan Isle Beach and Sunset Bcach bccausc of a power outage at a pump station. Webb praised Carolina Power & Light Co. and Brunswick Electric Membership Corp. for giving the county water department priority in handling power out ages. That allowed the department to keeping its pump ing facilities operating, he said. At Vamamtown Mayor Judy Galloway said one tree had fallen on a mobile home and another on a car. Other than missing shingles and messy yards, she said Vamamtown was fortunate. "It's been bad, but we've been lucky down here. It could have been a lot worse." The community's commercial fishing fleet came through the storm unscathed; but there was some dam age to riverfront docks. "The water got real, real high? the highest I've ever seen it." All coastal waters in North Carolina remained tem porarily closcd to shcllfishing Tuesday due to heavy rainfall, extremely high tides, hurricane force winds and power outages associated with the storm. >- .'-v . STAFF PHOTO BY MIC CARLSOI DON WARREN, chairman of the Brunswick County Commissioners, reads a letter from County Manager!Attorney David Clegg informing the board of his decision to resign, effective Monday at 5 p.m. Shown with him are commissioners Tom Rabon (left) and Wayland Vereen. Clegg Resigns Amid Rumors Of Pressure, Firing Threat (Continued From Page 1-A) and had "heard ramors" that Clcgg was sending out resumes and "look ing at other employment." He said he did not put pressure on Clegg to resign. Democratic Commissioner Tom Rabon said Clcgg resigned "for some reason unknown to me" and added, "He will be missed." Rabon said he hopes the county can find a replacement as soon as possible. Republican Commissioner Jerry Jones said the county "just lost a tremendous employee" and called Clegg a "truly professional" county manager. Jones said he did not know if Clcgg had been forced out of his position. "We all know in our minds if that was the case," Jones said. "That's only for Mr. Clcgg and the other commissioners to know." Several citizens spoke in support of Clegg during the public comment portion of Monday's meeting. "I am absolutely overcome with what I've heard," Helen Cashwell told the board. "I just don't under stand what your mission is except to return to nepotism and to go back to what used to be before David Clcgg." "I think we arc losing a fantastic county manager," said Frances Allen. "It will be hard to find one of his caliber and I think we're going to be sorry that he's gone." "The citizens of Brunswick County are going to be the losers," said Cynthia Tart, evoking a loud round of applause. "I think you arc losing a tremen dous, great man who did wonders for this county," said Wendy Jones. "He was honest and straightforward. It's going to be a real loss. "We've all heard what was going to happen to David Clcgg and we don't want to go back to the old back-room politics. I pity you," said Eileen Kcllaghcr. She later shouted out, "Thank God for two-year terms!" in Shallotlc than Hurncanc Hugo did in 19X9. The winter storm knockcd over commercial signs, snapped pine trees and blew shingles from rooftops. "There's a lot of pine trees down. There's a lot of sign damage and roof damage," Hughes said Monday. "It was not as bad as it could have been." Hughes said small limbs fell on a few houses, but no major structural damage was reported. "Some areas weren't hit loo bad," Hughes said alter riding through the tree-rich Brierwood Estates neigh borhood Monday morning. "There are some areas where limbs blew all over the road." Several downtown businesses lost their signs. 'There's a lot of money "I don't think it would have been productive for the board or for me to linger week to week when everyone knew what was inevitable." ?David Clegg Warren directed Barefoot to begin the search for a new county manager immediately. He said he would like to closc the application period with in 30 days. There was no mention of advertising for a new county attor ney. Harvey will serve as interim county manager with a Sl,000-per month increase in salary. He plans to maintain his office at the county planning department. Asked why Doug Ledgcu, assis tant to the county manager, was not named as Clegg's temporary re placement, Warren said Ledgett's duties as director of emergency ser vices would not allow him enough lime to devote to the job of interim manager. Warren also noted that Harvey has previously served in the post during transitions between county managers. Ramos will be paid a retainer of SI,000 per month and S75 per hour for meetings and other services. In a telephone interview from Charleston, S.C., Tuesday, Clegg said he was "enjoying a few days of vacation" and would be back in the county later this week. He said he currently plans to take several months off "to get over this experi ence" and to spend time with his family. "I am fortunate in that 1 have many options that 1 need some time to sort through," Clegg said. "1 have in signs gone. Some of those signs are pretty expensive with all of the electrical." Hughes said Hugo didn't cause much of a problem in Shallotlc. "We had more trees down this time. We haven't had a storm that required cleanup by the town since Diana," he said of the 1984 hurricane. Like many others, Hughes was surprised by the severity of Saturday's storm and the hurricane forcc winds. "They sort of slipped this one up on us. They said a major winter storm was coming, but they didn't mention the wind," he said. "It slid by me and 1 think it did most people. They neglccled to mention there were going to be hur ricane-force winds." some very specific opportunities to look at. I will continue to be an ac tive participant in civic and cultural affairs including the preparation of Miss Brunswick County for the Miss North Carolina Pageant." Clegg would not elaborate about his reasons for his sudden departure, saying only that "the tlcanest break heals the quickest." He said he had left "no loose ends" in county gov ernment and would remain available to the commissioners for consulta tion. "Since December it was specifi cally stated (by Warren) that my ser vice was to be from meeting to meeting. There was never a pretext of longevity," Clegg said. "1 don't think it would have been productive for the board or for mc to linger week to week when everyone knew what was inevitable." More Tranquil Weather Ahead South Brunswick Islands can ex pect near normal temperatures and rainfall over the next few days. "So far it looks like this will be a much more tranquil week than the weekend proved to be," said Jackson Canady, Shallotte Point me teorologist Canady said he expects tempera tures to average in the mid-40s at night and range up to the mid-60s during the daytime, with about a half-inch of rainfall. For the period March 9-15, Canady recorded 1.34 inches of rainfall, most of which fell during Saturday's winter storm. The maximum high for the period was 72 degrees, recorded March 10. and the minimum low was 20 de grees, recorded March 15. An average daily high of 61 de grees combined with a nightly low of 37 degrees for a daily average temperature of 49 degrees, which is about 4 degrees below average, said Canady. THE BRUNSWICK$fEACON Established Nov. 1, 1962 Telephone 754-6890 Published Every Thursday Ai 4709 Main Street Shallotte, N.C. 28459 SUBSCRIPTION HATES IN BRUNSWICK COUNTY One Year $10.36 I Six Months S5.55 ELSEWHERE IN NORTH CAROLINA One Year S 14.86 1 Six Months S7.90 ELSEWHERE IN U.S.A. (One Year S15.95 1 Six Months S8.35 Second class postage paid at Shallotte, N.C. 28459. USPS 777 780. Postmaster, send address I changes to: P.O. Box 2558. Shallotte, N.C. 28459-2558
The Brunswick Beacon (Shallotte, N.C.)
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March 18, 1993, edition 1
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