OBX Alert

Nov. 11, 2009

High wind warning in effect for Dare County Outer Banks until 1 am Friday...sustained winds of at least 40 mph with higher gusts expected. Details here......

The remnants of Tropical Storm Ida moved in over the east coast of North Carolina on Veterans Day and produced a nasty nor'easter with increasingly heavy rain and high winds that were expected to continue on Thursday.

In addition to warning of sustained winds of 40 mph with gusts near 60 along the northern Outer Banks, the National Weather Service issued a coastal flood warning effective until 8 a.m. Saturday. On Ocracoke Island, Ramp 72 was closed due to flooding.

Travel was hazardous, especially along NC 12 on Hatteras Island where ocean overwash was expected to temporarily force closure of portions of the island's only highway. State Transportation Department crews were on standby.

It's official:
Two in, two out by just three votes
Election squeakers in Hertford and Southern Shores were almost identical
The Dare County Board of Elections on Tuesday certified last week's municipal elections, including Southern Shores write-in candidate George Kowalski's victory by only two votes over incumbent Councilman and mayor pro tem Brian McDonald.

In nearby Pasquotank County the day before, newcomer Lillian Anne Holman was certified as the winner by just one vote over veteran Hertford Councilman and town vice mayor Horace Reid.

"You always feel badly when you lose," said Reid, "but if that’s what the people want, that’s what they’ll receive." McDonald was of the same mind. "There's no point torturing people with a recount," he said, "if it won't make any difference."

Southern Shores Mayor Don Smith was a bit less contained about his landslide loss to former mayor Hal Denny. Asked by The Virginian-Pilot if he will seek office again, Smith replied, "No way! Are you kidding me, after dealing with these kind of lunatics?"

Veterans Day Thoughts
"Why not, instead of commemorating Veterans Day," asked CBS curmudgeon Andy Rooney, himself a veteran, on the CBS television program 60 Minutes, "we establish and work on what we could call a No War Day?...a day like that would be worth celebrating."

It was an echo of Civil War General William Tecumseh Sherman, whose march through the South was one of devastation. "War is hell!" he later told a graduating military class. Yet, Rooney's voice was that of today – of a nation and much of the world weary of war and its terrible consequences.

It was also a forlorn voice. It expressed the eternal hopes and prayers of mankind for peace on earth. But mankind being what it is in its innumerable varieties, No War Day is as unlikely as every last man and woman on earth going to heaven when their last day comes.

Instead, we commemorate Veterans Day in honor of all who have served this nation and the many who have given their lives to help preserve our dedication to "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."
– From The Coastland Times, Nov. 10, 2009

Veterans Day Events
The Southern Shores ceremony at 11 a.m. will be inside the Pitts Center in the event of rain, the Nags Head ceremony has been cancelled, as have parades in Elizabeth City and Camden.

Manteo and Kill Devil Hills will have 11 a.m. ceremonies on the steps of the old courthouse in Manteo, and at the Kill Devil Hills town hall. Columbia's official observance will 11 be a.m. at the Tyrrell County courthouse.

Currituck's parade remains set to begin at 11 a.m. at the county government complex in Currituck. Elsewhere, it will be a free admission day for visitors to the Wright Brothers National Memorial in Kill Devil Hills and at the Aquarium on Roanoke Island.

Coming soon to a location near you – a go-cart track in Corolla?
The man who has dotted Dare County with eye-catching – some say eyesore – Wings variety stores from Duck to Nags Head and Buxton plans to add his special touch to Corolla in neighboring Currituck County.

If granted a special use permit by the county, Israel Golosa intends to plant a 3.3-acre fun park in the upscale beach community that will include an arcade, a 36-hole miniature golf course and a go-kart track. Residents are excited about the idea, to say the least. A report...

State starts website on new smoke-fee law
The new North Carolina law takes effect Jan. 2 when bars, restaurants and hotels must ban smoking. Private clubs and so-called cigar bars will be exempt if they meet certain requirements.

To make certain everyone understands details of the smoke free law, the state Division of Public Health in collaboration with the N.C. Association of Local Health Directors has launched a website guide that goes a bit further than just explaining the law.
While the dangers of smoking, cigarettes in particular, are indisputable, some may question the web guide assertion that "secondhand smoke is known to increase non-smokers’ risk of developing lung cancer and heart disease." At any rate, you can study the guide here.

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Office Closed
Camden Sheriff’s Sgt. Wilton Forbes locks the door last Friday to the Sheriff’s satellite office on Main Street in South Mills.

Sheriff Tony Perry said he closed the 12 by 24 square-foot leased office because water damage, mold and odor made work impossible inside. “I could smell it,” Perry said. “It was really bad, and I knew that it was time to do something.” (Daily Advance photo)

YMCA building in Maple to cost $12 million
The center as planned will be both a Currituck County recreation facility and a YMCA that will open no later that December of 2011, according to The Daily Advance.

Currituck officials have reportedly agreed to a deal with YMCA of South Hampton Roads in which the county will construct a 50,000 square-foot building and the 'Y' will provide up to $10,000 for "design and development" in return for a 30-year lease on space for its center in Maple.

The newspaper said construction is expected to begin in December of next year and quoted the Y's chief operating officer as saying “We want to build a YMCA in the middle of Currituck that gets people to drive” from different places in the Albemarle area. For a member living in Camden but working at Currituck County airport, he said, it will be only a mile-and-a-half drive to the YMCA.

Health Care
A hospital for sea turtles
The Star-News of Wilmington reports that a construction company of that city will design and build a 14,200 square foot facility to be known as the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center at Surf City on the southern Outer Banks.

The center will include 45 rehabilitation tanks, a laboratory, a surgical suite with an X-ray and an observation deck so the public can witness the care given sea turtles such as this loggerhhead, of a species that has been on the federal endangered list since 1978.

OBX Marathon and Half-Marathon Results and Award-Winners

County's first 'dog park' planned for Kitty Hawk
Tim White, Dare County director of Public Services, says that to the best of his knowledge the 11-acre layout on Kitty Road, across from the Fire Department, will include the county's first dog park as part of a "passive recreation park."

It will be a fenced in area, he explained, "where dogs can run and socialize with other dogs." The nearest one like it, he said, is in little Washington. There are many others throughout the country where dog owners often socialize as well while their pups growl, chase one another or make friends.

The new county park, as earlier reported, will abut Kitty Hawk Woods and have an 1,800-foot walking trail with markers and benches in addition to the dog park, a picnic area and a skate park in one area and a playground, double tennis court and basketball court in another area.

In addition, an indoor pool will be built "at a later date," according to a county announcement. It's all still in the planning stage but an architect/engineer has been selected and awaits county commission approval to move forward.

You can study and enlarge the preliminary plan for the Kitty Hawk Park by clicking here.

GOP chairman hails state election results
A Democrat was elected mayor of Charlotte, North Carolina's biggest city, but state GOP chairman Tom Fetzer cites Tuesday's results elsewhere, including the defeat of the incumbent Democratic mayor of Greensboro and the election of "Kinston’s first Republican mayor since Reconstruction."

Those and other local victories, Fetzer told the party faithful, "are unmistakable signs that most North Carolinians are turning to Republicans to get their localities back on the right track."

State Senate majority leader calls it quits
From The News & Observer

Tony Rand, one of North Carolina's most powerful and colorful lawmakers, has announced that he is resigning from the legislature at the end of the year.

The surprise move will end an unprecedented stretch in which the team of Rand and Senate President Pro Tem Marc Basnight of Manteo ran the state Senate and, some would argue, the state itself.

Rand, 70, a lawyer and Fayetteville Democrat, has accepted Gov. Beverly Perdue's appointment as chairman of the state parole board. More...

Duke rated 6th best value among private schools
From the Triangle Business Journal
That's according Kiplinger's annual ranking of 100 private colleges and universities on the basis of academic quality and affordability when financial aid helps reduce the cost.

The financial publication says the top five are Cal Tech, Princeton, Yale, Rice and Harvard. Duke University, number 6, is one of four North Carolina schools to make Kiplinger's list.

Wake Forest is rated 25th on quality and affordability, Elon 28th, and Davidson College was named the fourth best value among liberal arts colleges.

Manteo High students score highest in history classes
The latest report cards for the state's public schools and teachers contain a wealth of information about elementary, middle and high school student performance as well as teacher credentials and staffing.

You'll find them here. In addition, an area newspaper has some comments.

Powell's Point honors fallen soldier

Corolla flood control more costly than expected

Daily Reports
Avalon Fishing Pier Reports
Cape Hatteras Fishing Reports
Oregon Inlet Fishing Reports
Golf Courses, Conditions
N.C. Lottery Results

Things to See and Do:
*Wednesday, Nov. 11: Veterans Day, a federal and state holiday, see events listed in story above.
* Thursdays: Currituck County Yoga Class, classes are held twice weekly, 5:45 - 6:30 p.m. at the Cooperative Extension Building. Call 232-3007 for more information.
* Saturday, Nov. 14: 29th Annual Kitty Hawk Turkey Shoot, 9 a.m. at The Promenade, sponsored by the Fire Department Association.
* Tuesdays: Bingo, Kill Devil Hills, at the Lions Club starting at 6:30 p.m.
* Wednesdays: Bingo, Kill Devil Hills, at the Colington Fire Department, 6:30 p.m., doors open at 5:30.