Outer Banks Free Press

outerbanksfreepress.com

Leaders: Menehune, Quentin Turko 2900; Boys, Christian VanVliet 2900; 3A Juniors, Josh Beveridge 2810; 3A Men, Sean Martin 2000; Masters, John Ritter 1900; Senior Men, Jason Breiholz 2900; Grandmasters, Reese Patterson 2900; Legends, Ray Gray 3000; Open Short board, Pat McManus 2710; Girls, Codie Patterson 2000; Junior Women, Jackie Thomas 3000; Women, Jeanne-Marie Destefano 1000; Ladies, Cayce Patterson 2900; Menhune Long board, Chase Travers 2900; Junior Long board, Morgan-Taylor Leavel 3000, Men’s Long Board, Prescott Metcalf 2000; Masters Long board, Reese Patterson 2810; Legends Long board, Ray Gray 2900; Ladies Long board, Cayce Patterson 2900; Menehune Body board, Joey Gillen 2729; Open Body Board, Charles Shelton 3000. see complete list

This exquisite jazz session will be hosted by Laura Martier and will include frequent appearances by fellow Vocal Sound of Jazz Records recording artists. Show begins at 8:30 pm on July 15th, 2009. The Pearl Restaurant features oceanfront dining and is located inside the Sea Ranch Hotel at 1731 N. Virginia Dare Trail Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948..252.480 3463

Leah Bland 26, disapeared after swimming from an 18-foot boat with her friend the Little Narrows near Poplar Branch. While they were both in the water, the boat drifted away from them. One swimmer was able to swim to the boat, however Bland was unable to make it.

There is even a report of one passerby hand feeding bears and a nearby alligator at the same time. Wildlife officials believe this activity will change the animals normal behavior, making them more dangerous to humans.

The number of vacationing Americans will be down this summer, according to a new AP-Gfk Poll, and 33% of Americans surveyed said they have already canceled at least one trip this year because of financial concerns. read complete story

Down from 9.6% in April and record 17.1 % in Feb.

Barbara Eugenia Mason, 64, of Kitty Hawk was helped from the surf near Ramp 1 on Bodie Island Thursday afternoon, June 25 after having respiratory problems and lost consciousness. She was later pronounced dead at Outer Banks Hospital. A second death occurred the same day near Cape Hatteras Fishing Pier in Frisco when Paul Kozuch, 87, of Fenelton, Pa. was helped out of the surf and then fell unconscious and died.

Edwin Clayton Thornton III, 62 of Chesterfield, Va., died after he was pulled from the surf at a Southern Shores beach on Wednesday, June 24.

Under the bill, school districts will have to teach an abstinence-until-marriage curriculum and provide information on contraceptives to prevent pregnancy and disease. In-order to gain enough support to pass, a provision was inserted that will allow parents to keep their children out of class when detailed sex information is taught.

Patricia Austin of Wanchese has been arrested and charged with embezzling $61,000 from the Wanchese Community Center

The damaged street signs were located in the vicinity of the intersections of the three Dogwood Trails and occured over the weekend of June 20-21. Town officials plan to prosecute those responsible.

Lauren Law, 8, of Kill Devil Hills caught the largest fish of the Tournament at Nags Head Pier. The tournament was sponsored by the Nags Head Surf Fishing Club, Outer Banks Beach Buggy Association and the N.C. Sea Hags. Winners in the age 4 to 9 group were: Nathan Sadler, 7, red drum, 20.75, Outer Banks Pier; Blake Duncan, 6, blue, 13.5, Avalon Pier; tie - Paul Liedel, 8, flounder, 15, Nags Head Pier and Sadler, Outer Banks Pier; tie - K. J. Crawford, 7, sea mullet, 14.5 and Austin Rowe, 7, Nags Head Pier; Colton Peck, 5, croaker, 13.25, Nags Head; Law, 8, black drum, 21.25, Outer Banks Pier; Zack Skubic, 8, spot, 9.5, Outer Banks Pier; Seth Labonty, 7, pig, 8.5, Avalon Pier; Jackson Norton, 9, trigger, 11.25, Avalon Pier, Jake Worthington, 9, Spanish mackerel, 15, Avalon Pier, Rowe, trout, 10.75, Nags Head Pier.
In the 10 to 16 group, winners were: Klayton Kilzer, 13, red drum, 20, Outer Banks Pier; Anna Stanley, 10, flounder, 16.25, Outer Banks Pier; Ashley Grander, 11, sea mullet, 15.5, Avalon Pier, Franklin Kerr, 14, croaker, 9.25, Outer Banks Pier ; Chase Andreen, 14, spot, 9, Nags Head Pier; Dallas Hardy, 12, pig, 8.75, Nags Head Pier; tie - Eric Blythe, 14, blue, 14.25 and Sage Holland, 12; Louie Argio, 14, trigger, 14.5, Avalon Pier

The Second Annual Outer Banks Sandsculpture Festival will be held July 1st through 3rd in front of Kitty Hawk Sports. Read Full Press Release

Divers plan to survey and photograph visible sections of the Monitor, resting in 230-foot-deep waters about 16 miles off Cape Hatteras, using non-invasive techniques. Deep Explorers and Rutgers University’s Institute of Marine and Coastal Science will also deploy an autonomous underwater vehicle that will scan the wreck using sonar and collect water quality data. NOAA plans to use the information gathered during the survey to monitor the condition of the historic vessel and the sanctuary. The USS Moniter sank during a storm on December 31, 1862 with 16 men aboard. Also read USS Monitor and Other Ships in the Graveyard of the Atlantic

Kill Devil Hills has been ranked the 6 best surf town in the United States for surfers to live, work and surf according to the July issue of Surfer magazine. Adding its nearly secret sand bars, barreled waves, southern culture, nearness to Cape Hatteras Lighthouse and the famous S-Turns with its slow pace of life that includes living on unemployment checks for many during the off season with surfing every day, Surfer Magazine has chosen Kill Devil Hills over such exotic places as Malibu, Ca. and New Smyrna Beach, Fl. However, the magazine also says surfers must be aware. The town sits alongside hurricane alley and a surfer never really knows whether the next Category Five hurricane will be bringing some powerful waves to surf or a sudden change of life. Check out the damage from Hurricane Isabele

Kendra K. James, 21, of Chesapeake was arrested for Failure to Report Injuring a Wild Horse on Friday, June 19. The county ordinance violation carries a maximum fine of $500.00 if James is convicted. James told investigators she struck the wild horse known as Spec, with her Jeep Cherokee on March 28th, 2009 while driving north along the beach in foggy conditions. She claims the herd of wild horses ran in front of her vehicle and she was unable to avoit hitting them because of deep ruts in the loose sand.

"Due to a successful volunteers meeting on Tuesday, June 16th planning for Heritage Day 2009 will proceed. The Heritage Day Festival Committee is searching for old “Kitty Hawk” pictures for the Kitty Hawk Heritage Day history display. All pictures can be brought by Town Hall to be scanned and documented. For questions please call Sandy Hawley at 252.261.3552."

shopping bag ban takes effect on Sept. 1, 2009. The movement to ban plastic bags started in San Francisco in 2007

5 mothers and 7 children were reported in the house sleeping when lightening struck late Thursday night, June 17. Everyone managed to escape the fire without injury, despite reports the home's fire alarms failed to operate. The home is located in the Buck Island Development just south of Corolla.

Winebarger’s statement: “Over the last six months, affable treatment toward airport patrons has been replaced with dictatorial grasp,” Winebarger wrote. “The abusive and outlandish attitude displayed and subsequently published has resulted in loss of customer base, loss of revenues, and more importantly loss of respect.

“In my opinion, this board no longer serves any meaningful purpose other than a vehicle for some to obfuscate political ambitions and associations and a $50 check for the members who attend meetings.”

The proposal under discussion by the House Health Committee on Thursday, June 18 would exempt patients from prosecution for cultivating or possessing small amounts marijuana for medical reasons.

With the award of three $500 scholarships to graduating Dare County high school students, the Dare County Arts Council and Scholarship committee continues its goal of nurturing the arts in the county. Read Complete Press Release

Joseph Coning, 8 of Blount County, Tennessee died on Monday after contracting E. coli and suffering from the disease. Coning was first taken to Nags Head Hospital and then transferred to Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters in Norfolk. He was vacationing with his family in Nags Head when he fell ill.

Lifeguards revived one swimmer who was then taken to Outer Banks Hospital. The second swimmer was reported in more serious condition and was transported by helicopter an area hospital.

The report focuses on climate change impacts in different regions of the U.S. as well as various aspects of society and the economy such as energy, water, agriculture, and health with the goal of informing public and private decision making at all levels. see report

May be the largest graduating class in the history of the school. Also read 9 students graduate from Ocracoke High School

The Outer Banks restaurants listed below are part of the IE waste vegetable oil recycling program. 100% of the oil collected at these establishments is used to make bio-fuel, an alternative to petroleum based diesel fuel. This alternative is beneficial to the environment as well as the local economy:
Basnight's Lone Cedar Cafe; The Pearl Oceanfront Fine Dining; Helens Stop Quick; Big Al's Soda Fountain and Grill; China King; Kill Devil Grill; Captain Franks Hot Dogs; Coastal Provisions Market; Farmer To Fork; Beach Bread Company; Saltwaters Grill; Meridian 42; Blue Moon Beach Grill; Magnolia Grill; Food A Rama; Food Dudes; Bubba's Barbecue; The Pit; Whites Grocery

The Hatteras Island based Sea Creature, Captained by Steve Coulter won the prestigious east coast fishing tournament by pulling in a 466-pound marlin after a 35 minute fight. Coulter also won the the tournament in 1992. The vessel Figment based in New Bern earned $318,380 for a second place finish.

Nine of the teacher positions expected to be lost through normal resignations and retirements. Nags Head Elementary hardest hit; expected to lose 5 teachers.

A new Beige Book report indicates the wedding industry remained strong over the past year on the Outer Banks but rental sales and hotel bookings were weaker than last year.

Set for Sept. 18-20 at the Comfort Inn South in Nags Head, North Carolina, the OBX Pro will feature 96 of the best surfers on the coast.

The average May temperature of 62.5 degrees F was 1.4 degrees F above the 20th Century average. Precipitation across the contiguous United States in May averaged 3.22 inches, which is 0.35 inch above the 1901-2000 average.

Forecasters Phil Klotzbach and William Gray now predict 11 named tropical storms will form in the Atlantic during 2009. They expect 5 of the storms to become hurricanes with sustained winds of at least 74 miles an hour. Two of the hurricanes could become major hurricanes, with winds of at over 110 miles per hour.

Paul and Helen Glavin had been at sea for eight months into a two year round the world voyage when their 47ft boat was struck by the creature early in the morning near the British Virgin Islands. The whale's impact tore open the small boat’s hull, allowing water to rush in. The impact broke one of Helen’s ribs. The English couple, from Weymouth, Dorset fled their sinking craft on a life raft and were rescued six hours later.

The House has already approved the measure and the bill goes to Gov. Beverly Perdue for her signature. Once signed , the measure will become law on Dec. 1.

Tactics begin with Gentle persuasion and increase to fines as Currituck County begins an effort to force property owners from Moyock to Point Harbor to clean up road side junk sitting along their roadside properties.

Some great black & white photo's of people and places along the Outer Banks of North Carolina

Cesar Ascencio Ramirez died after Donald Frank Bradley, Jr., a neighbor, struck the boy as he was backing out of his driveway on Nace Jennette Road in Buxton on Sunday, June 7. A Highway Patrol official reported that no alcohol, drugs, or careless or reckless driving were involved in the accident.

Cloudy skies kept the attendance smaller than usual for Manteo's June "First Friday of the Month" Celebration. Entertainment centered on the porch of the old Dare County Courthouse, where the band "Playn Dixieland" kept the crowd’s spirits up; the front yard of the Magnolia Grill where Watson & Calhoon entertained and behind the Dare County Arts Council where Brian Hunsicker performed solo with his guitar.pictures

“The physical realm appears relatively solid and unchanging. In reality, however, the atoms that make up our perception of solidarity are almost entirely empty space. If we enlarge one of the smaller atoms 100 billion times, its height and width become as large as a football field. The atom’s nucleus would then be large enough for us to work with-About the size of a tomato seed. Electrons, traveling around the nucleus are far smaller still-about the size of a virus. Imagine these electron/viruses occupying a space as big as a football field with a tomato seed in the center. Between the nucleus and the electrons there is nothing but empty space through which they move, yet we have the illusion of solidity.”
from the book “Wheels of Life” by Anodea Judith, PH.D.

published by R Jarrell