SWf PHOTO ?Y DOUG tUTTW Serving Up Spots Pastor Bob Tilley (right) and Harvey Champion were in charge of frying tasty spots during the Dixon Chapel United Methodist Church oyster roast Nov. 5. The annual event raised about $4,000 for the Varnamtown church. EDC Opposes 'Critical Habitat' Rule For Threatened Wildlife BY ERIC CARLSON Fearing potential new restrictions on industrial and residential devel opment, the Brunswick County Economic Development Commis sion on Monday agreed to draft a resolution opposing a state plan to designate large areas of land as "critical habitat" for threatened and endangered wildlife. The new rules would effect all ar eas within 575 feet of a river or stream, making them "automatically off-limits for development," EDC Director Tom Monks told his board at its regular monthly meeting. Monks estimated that a quarter of the county would be affected by the "critical habitat rule" adopted by the North Carolina Wildlife Re sources Commission at its July 20 meeting. All potential areas for industrial development along the Cape Fear River, which account for half the building sites marketed for commer cial use by the EDC, would be re stricted by the rule change, said Monks. "That would effectively put us out of business," said EDC member Arthur Clawson. Monks called the new regulations "an unjust environmental restriction on development" and said it would affect "one sixth of the state." He asked the EDC to join other business and industry groups in voicing op position to the rule. Other organizations who have gone on record against the new rule include the N.C. Association of County Commissioners, the N.C. Home Builders Association, the N.C. League of Municipalities and the N.C. Economic Developers Association, Monks said. The.EDC was alerted to the new regulations in a memorandum from the N.C. Citizens for Business and Industry in Raleigh, which warned that the rules "will substantially harm economic development" in North Carolina. "The intent is to limit new or expanded sewer dis charges, development and other ac tivities" which might impact endan gered specics downstream from the proposed site. "We believe that a reasonable bal ance between environmental con cerns and economic impacts must be taken into account before critical habitat area is designated." the orga nization warns. "The current rule does not require any consideration of economic factors before the Wild life Resources Commission desig nates an area (as critical habitat)." The board voted unanimously to authorize Monks to draft a resolu tion opposing the new regulation. Member V.A. Creech Jr. said he would present the statement to State Senator R.C. Soles and N.C. Re presentatives David Redwine and Dewey Hill at a meeting with local chambers of commerce this week. Carter Resigns In other business, EDC board member William (Billy) Carter Sr. announced his resignation, effective immediately. Carter was elected to v Coble Ward-Smith I uneral Service will be l\,eld at Brunswick Community College <111 lliursdav, November 17 from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. I>'wer Cape I'ear I lospice volunteers and tlieir spouses or a friend are invited. Volunteers are tlie heart of I^iwer Cape l~ear I lospice. ^ NATIONAL NH? MEMBER <*" *4ffc 94* m In the spirit of Thanksgiving, all of us at L Bookworm wish to thank our customers for this past year. So... Beginning Friday after Thanksgiving Nov. 25 thru Monday, Nov. 28, all new books in stock will be DISCOUNTED 20%! It is a pleasure serving such a nice community. Barbara and Jim Lowell L Bookworm 3004 Holden Beach Rd. (next to True Value) 842-7380 : ~rjV4 Bookstore In the Classic Tradition _ *?4 fcW'JNKWCM MACON RESTAURANT (