I———
SEND RENEWAL
OF SUBSCRIPTION
BEFORE EXPIRATION
DATE ON ADDRESS
VOLUME XXVII NO. 42
BUXTON'S BRIDGE I
WILL BE OPENED i
FOR TRAFFIC FRI.
/ I
island To Regain Tourist Pat- I
_• ronage Hampered Since
' i-■ . Storm I
-4——— |
The temporary bridge nortS. I
of Buxton is expected to open I
for one-way traffic on Friday, I
despite the setback created last I
week end when a strong south- I
wester ripped away 75 feet of I
the structure which spans the I
new inlet there.
Highway Commissioner Mer- I
rill Evans has stated that “with |
good weather, the bridge 1
if completed as expected, wil'.l
connect storm-severed Hatteras |
Island with the mainland for the |
first time since the Adi Wednes- |
day Storm.
Outer Bankers living south of j
the newly-formed inlet were *
given additional temporary re- *
lief this week when a ferry aerv- <
ice was initiated between the vil
lages of Buxton and Avon. The <
service provided for ferry de- 1
partures at two hour intervals
from each shore, beginning at (
5 am. and terminating at S pan.
* The new service supplemented .
the tedious and time-consuming
Avon-Hatteras run which had (
been in effect since the storm.
The new Buxton-Avon service
was scheduled to terminate this
week end, in the event that the
temporary bridge at Buxton is j
completed by then. The new run
was installed after a test trip
proved that the channels on the
run were navigable.
The new service marked the
first time that state ferries had
plied waters between the two ‘
towns for motor traffic.
George Fuller, county commis- ’
sioner from Buxton stated that *
he was “extremely pleased with ’
the temporary Buxton - Avon
service.” “We know now that ’
this trip can be used, if another
storm occurs, to bring in vital 1
supplies,” he stated. “From a s .
civil defense standpoint, the ’
news is a God-send,” he added. :
The commissioner stated that
the Buxton-Avon schedule was ’
“just another example of the ex
cellent cooperation which the
highway and ferry personnel ]
have given us during and after 1
the Ash Wednesday Gale.”
Fuller noted that state high- '
way crews had completed the ’
approach road to the dock' at '
Buxton within a 24 hour , period.
The approach strip to the Ber- 1
nice Ballance Landing is a .2 !
mile section leading from the <
“Ballance Road” to the dock at
Buxton. Fuller stated that he 1
had received assurances from '
highway commissioner Gilliam
Wood that maintenance on the
strip would “be maintained by
the state on a year-round basis,
to provide for any future emer- !
gency.” The improved strip will ■
not be open to public traffic, but
wiU be used by highway.per? <
sonnel, according to D. W. Pat- !
rick, ferry operations manager.
WECHTER AWARD
GIVEN V. SMITH
AT LIBRARY NIGHT
Miss Velez Smith, an eighth 1
grade student at Manteo Ele- 1
mentary School, was awarded 1
the Nell Wise Wechter trophy J
for creative art at an “open '
house” held by the Dare Coun- ’
ty Library last Friday even
ing, as over 50 friends of the li- 1
(brazy gathered at a ceremony
in recognition of National Li- *
brary Week.
Miss Smith won the coveted
award for her day model of I
“Cleopatra” which captured the
temptress of the Nile with “ar
tistic skill and imagination. Miss
Smith’s entry was sculptured af
ter reading the book Cleopatra i
of Egypt by Leonora Hornblow. 1
.Mrs. L. L. Gibbs, librarian, i
who presented the trophy to <
Miss Smith, stated that “We i
have placed your name upon this ]
trophy in the hope that it will I
mark your entry in the artistic
world, where we are confident j
you will excel.” “We hope that 1
you will continue your progress t
through reading, and that some- I
day you will remember this as i
your first award,” she added. <
" The Nell Wise Wechter award
is given each year to an ele- i
mentary school student who sub- i
mits an artistic work, of his ,
or her creation, which has been <
influenced by a book. Miss i
Wechter established the award
after elementary students <
throughout the county had des
ignated her book, Betsy Dow- <
as their favorite chll- 1
dren’s work. The trophy has 1
men. installed in the library (
AWARD ’ '
' ■ ■ -'S '
THE COASTLAND TIMES
WITH WHICH IS COMBINED THE PILOT AND HERALD OF BELHAVEN AND SWAN QUARTER
PUBLISHED WEEKLY IN THE INTEREST OF THE WALTER RALEIGH COASTLAND OF NORTH CAROLINA
CHOSEN TO ATTEND GIRLS STATE IN JUNE
MisS sAriDRA TINKER, left and MISS BEITY LOU WATERS,
right, have been chosen by the Beihaven American Legion Aux
iliary to represent them at Girls State at WCUNC, Greensboro,
June 17-23. ' ' ' - • • z
Miss Tinker is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. L. R. Tinker
of Belhaven, and attends John A. Wilkinson High School, Bel
haven.-—-'' ■■■-
Miss Waters is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Irving* E. Wat
ers of Pinetown,* Rt. 1, and attends Pantego High School, Pantego.
Both girls are outstanding students in their schools.
CHANNEL BASS,
OTHER FISH IN
DARE SPOTLIGHT
Spring Ashing Season Expected
to Improve Rapidly, Says
the Prognosticator
By AYCOCK BROWN
Outstanding fishing news of
the past week included the larg
est channel bass reported from
the surf this season, a 58-pound
er landed from surf near Hat
teras village late Wednesday by
Ivey Batten. It was weighed by
Weighmaster Willie Newsome.
Newsome reported that set
netters were catching blue fish
almost daily—in indication that
if the weather remains fair the
first blues of the season may
be caught in Hatteras Island
waters with red and reel, during
the long Easter week end.
The hew Good Friday Bridge
spanning the Ash Wednesday
Storm-cut inlet between Avon
and Buxton, which received maj
or damage during a Southwester
on Friday 13, is scheduled to be
open on April 20.
It will be a “good Friday” for
vacation operators who have
suffered heavily economy-wise,
during what normally would
have been a lush spring vacation
season. Completion of the bridge
means that anglers can reach
lower Hatteras Island, where the
best salt water fishing news of
the season has originated so far
this year, will now be able to
drive direct to Cape (Hatteras-
Buxton, Frisco and Hatteras.
The state’s ferry system has
done a marvelous job in provid
ing toll-free service to lower
Hatteras communities since the
Ash Wednesday Gale, but at
best, the trips were long and
reminded some of the once
popular song “Slow Boat to
China."
So far the first channel bass
of the season has not been re
ported from Oregon Inlet wa
ters. Whether that is because
the skippers are cautious about
exploiting tiie waters, er waiting
for paying charters, is not
known. In the past the first of
season channel bass at Oregon
Inlet has been caught as early
as late March.
Best fishing news north of
Oregon Inlet in Dare Coast wa-
See FISHING, Page Four
FERRY SURVEY NEEDED
TO HANDLE EMERGENCY
COMMISSIONER STATES
George Fuller, county com
missioner from Buxton, stated
this week that he intends to
urge state highway officials to
chart navigable paths for fer
ric at every village on Hatteras
Island, to prepare for “any fu
ture emergency.” .
Fuller stated that, in his opin
ion, “Ferries should go into
Pamlico Sound and should inves
tigate every access to every vil-
lage on Hatteras and '
should stake them off and en- 1
courage boats to use them.”-'
He also indicated that minor I
adjustments at harbors . were
needed, to handle possible emer
gency loading and unloading, in
the event that “we have another
disaster similar to the Ash
Wednesday Storm.” Fuller add
ed that the stockpiling of es
sential highway equipment and
civil defense items would also
be “a good stop forward." "The
time to prepare for these dis-
FIRST OREGON INLET = ►...
DRUM LANDED THURSDAY
Capt. Jesse Etheridge, own
er-skipper of the Caredwyn of
Wanchese reported by radio
via the Norfolk Marine Oper
ator at 1:M PM. that a party
aboard his cruiser had land
ed. four channel bass at Ore
gon Inlet at noon Thursday.
His report to the Twist Bu
reau did not give names of
party making catches, the
first channel boas <rf the 1962
season for Oregon Inlet.
TRY-OUTS MONDAY
FOR LOST COLONY
AT FORT RALEIGH
Manteo will be invaded on
Monday by a host of dramatic
talent as amateur alters from
throughout the state gather
here for area try-outs in com
petition for coveted roles in
“The Lost Colony”.
F. Edgar Thomas, manager of
the drama, has stated that
more than one hundred travel
ing thespians will trot the tim
bers at Fort Raleigh to display
their acting potential before
Clifton Britton, veteran director
for Paul 'Green’s symphonic
drama.
Britton, a Goldsboro native,
will be assisted by Walter
Stroud of Fredericksburg, Va.,
the show’s choreographer and
music director George Traut
wein, also of Goldsboro.
At least fifty local residents
are expected to compete for the
sought-after roles and stand a
good chance of capturing some
of the more outstanding parts.
In past seasons, about 60 per
cent of the Lost Colony company
has been composed of' natives
and residents of Roanoke Island
and its adjacent territories.
Perhaps the most famous of
the local actors in the produc
tion is Mrs. Marjalene Thomas
of Elizabeth City. Mrs. Thomas,
a Manteo, native, became a
member of the cast in 1938 when
she performed as a flower girl
for the drama. She later advanc
ed through a number of roles
until her creditable performan
ces finally won her the enviable
role of Virginia Dare, which she
now performs with perfection.
Mrs. Thomas has also served
with the Lost Colony Chorus
and was the first island native
to be selected for the group.
Since her selection, other na
tives have been chosen for the
musical contingent.
Edgar Thomas, the Chapel
Hill manager of the drama, was
here this week and indicated
that work is “progressing satis
factorily” on the new Waterside
Theater which is being renovat
ed at Fort Raleigh. The new
theater, which is now more than
75 per cent complete, is expected
to be in top condition when per
formances begin on July 1. to
celebrate the Silver Anniversary
Year Premiere of the produc
tion.
HATTERAS STUDENTS
MUST MAKE-UP TIME
Mrs. Mary Evans, Superin
tendent of Public Instruction,
has stated that Easter Mon
day, April 23 and Saturday,
April 28 will be make-up days
for students attending Cape
Hatteras School. The extra
days will be used to make-up
time lost by the children dur
ing the Ash Wednesday
Storm.
MANTEO, N. C., FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 1962
PETITION BY 300
I SAYS DON'T FILL
NEW BUXTON INLET
'S.’ '
I Outer Bankers Are Split on
I Plans for Future of Breach;
Politicians Neutral .
The future of the Ash Wed
nesday Inlet which was created
| luring the recent storm two
i miles north of Buxton remains
n doubt. The issue, which ap-
I >eared to be settled earlier in
the week when the Army Corps
*f Engineers announced that
preliminary work towards clos
ng the inlet would begin on
Jay 1, became muddled on
hursday, when a storm of con
roversy erupted which equaled
he gale of March 7 in fury.
0. G. Gray of Avon stated
'on Thursday that a petition
bearing the names of 300 resi
dents from Buxton, Avon, Ro
danthe, Waves and Salvo will be
sent to Governor Sanford, Con
gressman Herbert Bonner and
Senator Sam Ervin urging that
the storm-created inlet be left
open and expressing their desire
to have an adequate bridge in
stalled over the inlet at a loca
tion possibly west of the new
temporary bridge which is ex
pected to be open for traffic on
Friday.
The petition came just after
L. C. McDuffie, chief engineer
for the Wilmington District, had
indicated that the breach would
be filled by sometime in October.
The project was initiated by
Rep. Herbert Bonner at the in
sistence of state representative
Keith Fearing, Jr., who had
been asked by over 200 Outer
Bankers living south of the in
let, primarily from Ocracoke and
Hatteras, to fill the inlet which
has severed the island of Hat
teras since the storm. Rep. Fear
ing has stated that his part to
wards filling the beach at Bux
ton was “done at the request
of those present at the meeting
on April 3, when I was asked
by citizens to contact Mr. Bon
ner about the matter, as their
representative.’’
- The Aprjl 3 meeting was at-,
tended by *J. J. Powell, bridge
maintenance engineer; D. W.
Patrick, ferry operations man
ager; W. C. Goodrich, bridge
maintenance superintendent;
William Spruill, division engi
neer; Gilliam Wood, highway
commissioner and Lawrence
Swain, George Fuller, Jr. and
Fearing. A petition was signed
then by approximately 200 res
idents south of Buxton, urging
that the new inlet be filled as
soon as possible.
The new petition, favoring a
permanent inlet and addressed
to Governor Sanford, Represen
tative Bonner, Senator Ervin,
Senator B. Everett Jordan, Con
rad Wirth, Director, National
Park Service; Merrill Evans,
State Highway Commissioner;
Rep. Keith Fearing, Jr. and the
Dare County Board of Commis
sioners reads, in part, as fol
lows:
“That, giving full considera
tion to the dangers and cost of
containment that such an inlet
poses on responsible govern
ment, it is represented that
there are certain economic and
safety advantages to the main
tenance of the inlet as a water
way which makes it imperative
that it be preserved as such,
to wit:
1. The inlet will be the near
est access to the greatest and
most abundant fishing grounds
along the Atlantic Seaboard be
ing about 12 miles from the
Gulf Stream and immediate to
See PETITION, Page Four
MISS DARE COUNTY AND HER BEAUTY COURT
RACHEL MORGAN, “Miss Dare County” is flanked by first run
ner-up Millie Burrus (left) and second runner-up, Willene Par
tridge, as they smile for photographers, proud parents, and the
bald-headed contingent just after their selection on April 6
as winners in the beauty contest, sponsored by the Manteo Lions
Club, to select a representative to the “Mtea Southern Albemarle”
contest which will be held in Columbia on May 9.
DELLA BASNIGHT—CHEF FOR "ONIONS IN THE STEW"
I
Photo by Maddry
MISS DELLA BASNIGHT is shown here during one of her mad
moments of unleashed fury during the second act of “Onions in
the Stew” which was presented by the Manteo High School Sen
ior Class on Monday evening to the delight of a packed house.
The play, which was under the direction of Mrs. Ida Edwards
and Miss Mabel Jean Basnight, proved to be a smashing success;
the dramatic victory was made possible, in no small measure, by
the acting of Miss Basnight, whose role as the mother of two
teen-age daughters was performed with skill and authority.
SOUTH ALBEMARLE ASSN.
STILL SEEKING MONEY
TO CELEBRATE BRIDGE
Melvin R. Daniels of Wan
chese, finance chairman for
Dare County, has announced
that $215 .has Deen collected
thus far for the May 10 cele
bration in Columbia to herald
the opening of the Lindsay C.
Warren Bridge.
Daniels has indicated that
much more will be needed to
pay for the dinner in Columbia
to herald the opening of the
Lindsay C. Warren Bridge.
Daniels has indicated that
much more will be needed to
pay for the dinner in Columbia
which is expected to feed some
1500 people, including the Gov
ernor of North Carolina, Terry
Sanford.
He has called on “the good
people of Dare County” to help
the Southern Albemarle Associa
tion in making the celebration
“one which will indicate our
thanks for the bridge over the
Alligator River, and show how
vital we consider bridges to be
in the development of our area.”
j The Southern Albemarle As
sociation was the primary force
; which made the new Alligator
River structure possible. Dan
iels has indicated that the May
1 10 celebration will bring a host
iof dignitaries to the coast. Gov
ernor Sanford, Merrill Evans,
highway commissioner and many
others have already accepted an
invitation to attend.
Present plans have scheduled
a beauty contest to select “Miss
Southern Albemarle” on May 9,
speeches, and band concerts by
groups from Plymouth, William
ston, Edenton and elsewhere in
the Albemarle region.
BUNNY IS CHASED
BY CLASS OF '62
TO NEW YORK CITY
An excited group of 32 teen
agers hopped aboard a shiny
Trailways Bus early Thursday
morning and loaded the vehicle
with all the sunglasses, portable
radios, twist skirts and luggage
that they could muster as the
Manteo senior class started out
on their long-awaited Easter
trip to New York.
Individuals raced for choice
seats and waved good-bye to
parents in the melee that ac
companied their departure and
assured their, fathers and
mothers that they would “be
have” and return to Manteo on
Tuesday evening.
The group was accompanied
by Mr. and Mrs. Sam Midgett,
Mrs. Mabel Clark and Troy
Shepard, who will chaperone the
class as it motors to Washing
ton and then to New York, for
the longest class trip in the his
tory of the school. The chaper
ones will have their (hands full
as the “live-wire” seniors were
last heard to be plotting an in
vasion of Grant’s Tomb With
Confederate flags.
The senior trip was financed
by projects which the seniors
undertook to support their ex
cursion, and individual contri
butions from parent* and
friends of the school. A total
of $1,973.09 was raised in the
campaign to send tiro gtaiAm'
ing class to New York, and the
amount is expected to meet all
expenses necessary, except for
meals.
The group will arrive in
Washington on Thursday even
ing, after first having toured
the grounds at George Wash
ington’s Home, where they will
ramble through the quarters,
kitchens and tombs which form
Mt Vernon.
After a trip to National Air
port, the seniors will ride to
Arlington National Cemetery
and witness the military solem
nity at the Tomb of the Un
known Soldier. The Burlington
MRS. GEORGIA HARWOOD
VERY MUCH ALIVB!
In the issue of The Coastland
Times for April 6, one of those
errors which creeps in, was
made in the editorial about the
Dare County Library. In review
ing progress of the library
through the years, mention was
made of the late Georgia Har
wood, which was incorrect, as
Mrs. Harwood is definitely not
THE LATE Mrs. Harwood. She
is very.much alive, is living at
the Winslow Home in Elizabeth
City, and maintains a vital in
terest in the Dare library, al
though she retired some years
ago from active work. .
hope that her
WuL SHOULu BE
ADDRESSED TO BOX 428
MANTEO, N. C.
// NOT TO INDIVIDUALS
Single Copy 7#
RACES DEVELOP IN
DARE FOR SHERIFF.
REGISTER OF DEEDS
Many Other Last-Minute Filings
Assure County of Heavy
Campaigning
Last Friday was the deadline
for filing, and seven political
aspirants managed to beat the
clock and serve notice of their
intention to seek election.
Perhaps the most surprising
entry was the candidacy of Rob
ert O. Ballance of Manteo for
Sheriff. Ballance, the present
ehairman of the Dare County
Board of Education, has been
active in the political life of
the county for several years. He
was the campaign manager for
Terry Sanford in the past gu
bernatorial campaign. He will
oppose Frank Cahoon, an in
cumbent with 15 years service
as Sheriff of Dare.
Another surprising race has
developed at the last minute
which should keep tempers and
emotions boiling until after the
Democratic Primary. Willett
Tillett, an auto mechanic with
the Dare County school system,
filed last Friday for the Regis
trar of Deeds position against
Melvin R. Daniels, a fellow
townsman from Wanchese. Dan
iels, the incumbent, has served
as Registrar for the past 87
years. Tillett, a,political novice
who is seeking office for the
first itme, is expected to give
the veteran Registrar what may
be the closest race of his ca
reer.
Mrs. Thomas H. Briggs, an
other last-minute candidate,
joined with Andrew Clark last
Friday in filing for a seat on
the Board of Commissioners.
Mrs. Briggs, who is seeking the '
seat from Atlantic Township,.
will oppose Pennel A. Tillett.
Mrs. Briggs has become the first
woman ever to seek a seat on
the board. She is now serving
on the Dare County Board of
Education. Mr. Clark became the
fifth candidate for the board
seat from Nags Head'Township
and will oppose incumbent Law
rence L. Swain and Reuben E.
Payne, Dewey Hayman and W.
O. Daniels (R) for the position.
Mrs. Dorothy D. Beasley has
filed along with Sumner M.
Scarborough, (R-, and Charles
T. Williams, 111 for a seat on
the Dare Board of Education.
All three edged under the wire
on Friday to serve notice of
their intention to run. Mrs.
Beasley is seeking the board
seat from Atlantic Township,
while Scarborough and Williams
will .vie for the Kennekeet seat
in November. •
A complete run-down of of
fices and candidates is as fol
lows:
Representative: M. K. Fear
ing, Jr., M. L. Daniels, Jr., and
Wallace Gray..
Judge Recorder’s Court: John
Lawrence, W. F. Baum, James
M. Vannote, Dan L. Cannady,
V. G. Williams (R). ’
County Commissioners: Nags
Head Township: Lawrence L.
Swain, Reuben E. Payne, Dewey
L. Hayman, Andrew Clark, and
W. O. Daniels (R); Kennekeet
Township: Daniel Ray Leary,
Jr o Erskine B. Hooper and Fred
W, Gray; Atlantic Township:
Pennel A. Tillett and Mrs.
Thomas H. Briggs; Hattens
Township: George R. Fuller,
Jr, Ivey P. Batten and Rany
B. Jennette (R); Croatan Town
ship: Calvin E. Payne, Harvey
E. Best and W, Stanford White.
Sheriff: Frank M. Cahoon and
Robert O. Ballance; Registrar of
Deeds: Melvin R. Daniels and
Willett R. Tillett; Cleric of Su
perior Court:. C. S. Meekins;
Board of Education: Atlantic
Township: Nellie G. Perry and
Dorothy Beasley; Hatteras
Township: Bill Dillon; Croatan
Township: Floyd W. Hooper;
Kennekeet Township: Sumner M.
Scarborough (R) and Charles T.
Williams, III; Nags Head Town
ships Jack Cahoon. County Cor
oner: M. C. Mitchell.
BONNER BILL BECKONS
CONGRESSMAN TO ISLAND
*,,;-y —; —•—
Congressman (Herbert Bonner
has announced that his bill to
create a 12-member committee
to represent Congress, at the
375tii anniversary celebration of
the birth of Virginia Dare, was
sent to the Senate on Tuesday.
The bill, if accepted, would
provide for the appointment of
y embe i* 1 b f roiYt the
fl'tm Mouse, who would ftt-
■uZk’A-CU'nX