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outerbanksfreepress.com | |
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| First
Annual Outer Banks Bluegrass Festival Organizers Drop Planned Show in Downtown Manteo Due to Dissension Among Business Owners |
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Business
owners were reportedly grumbling about outside food vendors at the event
and planned street closures. The 3 day festival is set for the Columbus
Day weekend. Promotors are scrambling to find another location on the
Outer Banks because bands have been booked and 1,300 festival tickets
have been sold in advance. |
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| First
Flight High School Boys Basketball Team Overwhelms Currituck County.......... 55 - 41 Billy Foster high Scorer for First Flight with 18 see box |
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| Woman
Artist Who Spent Summer Living in a Tent with Dog on Ocracoke Island Nurturing Her Painting Skills Featured Artist in California Art Show |
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Artist
Aimee Had nurtured her successful artistic skills into a career while
living with her dog BB in a tent on Ocracoke Island 9 years ago. |
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| Dare
County Unemployment Rate Jumps to 15.7% in December 2011, Highest Rate on Record for December on State Employment Security Commission Website |
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The
state reports there were 3161 people out of work in Dare County in December,
compared to 2449 seeking work in November, representing an increase
in the unemployment rate from 11.9% in November to December's 15.7%.
According to the State Unemployment Commission website, 333 workers
have either given up seeking a job of left the workforce for other reasons
since November. Hyde County reported a 13.2% Unemployment rate in December, a 2.2% increase over the previous month and Currituck County reported a 9.5% rate for December, an increase of 2,3% over the previoue month. |
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| Cost
of Cape Hatteras Off Road Driving Permits Set: $120 Yearly or $50 Weekly, National Park Service to Ticket Drivers Without Permit Beginning March 15 |
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In
addition, drivers will be required to watch a seven-minute educational
video at one of three designated visitor centers in the parkwhen they
buy their permit. |
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| Outer
Banks Residents Report they are Still Caught in Quagmire of Red Tape, Paperwork & Misinformation Months After Hurricane Irene |
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| Man
Extradited from Africa to Face Charges of Rape in Duck, Kill Devil Hills & Virginia Beach |
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Simon
Matsoake 37 of Johannesburg, South Africa in being held in Dare County
Jail on a $2 million bond after a 4 year effort by local and national
authorities to extradite & hold Matsoake accountable for a series
of sexual assaults on the Outer Banks & Virginia Beach between the
years of 2003 – 2006. Charges on the Outer Banks are related to sexual assaults that occurred in 2003. In that year Matsoake is accused of raping a woman at 2 am in the morning on a Kill Devil Hills Beach near the waterline and a second rape in the town of Duck. Matsoake is also facing multiple charges of rape in the Virginia Beach area. Police used DNA evidence to link the crimes to Matsoake |
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| Encounter
between Judge’s Son & Kill Devil Hills Police Officers Leads to Difficulties for Town Officials........... |
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| OBX
Highschool Basketball Scores
1/31/12 Pasquotank Boys Edge First Flight 51 - 48 Billy Foster High scorer for First Flight with 11 points Manteo Girls Roll Over Northside 56 - 35 For Manteo, Hope Kennedy high scorer with 20 points & Molly Mcginnis top rebounder with 9 |
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| KDH
Town Attorney Thrown Out by Newly Elected Commissioners After Questions of Moral Values.. |
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| First
Flight Middle School Girls Basketball Team Wraps Up Conference Play with Perfect 10-0 Record........... |
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Their
Conference championship game is set for Manteo Middle School on Feb.
4. Team members include Tiffany Ostrom, Jordyn Seal, Carly Metcalf,
Mary Brogan, Brooke Vuyovich, Nina Perry, Carolina Cowan and Dallas
Randall. Back row, Lilly Ramm, Olivia Williams, Alivian Van Lunen, Sara
Munson, Audrey Bunn, Annaleigh Hines, Tracy Hargis, Heidi Jacobson and
coach Katie Love. source
and picture of team |
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| Problems
Plague Temporary Bridge Over New Inlet on Hatteras Island, Forcing State to Seek More Study on a Proposed 7-mile Bridge from Inlet to Rodanthe |
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New
Inlet was opened by Hurricane Irene cutting off southern Hatteras Island
from the mainland |
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| First
Flight High School Women's Swim Team wins Record 8th Straight Conference Match |
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| Burglar(s)
Break Into Manteo General Store for Carton of Cigarettes........ |
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| The
Town of Manteo reports that a breaking and entering took place at the
Stock Aide General store on Budleigh St. sometime between Saturday,
January 28, at 8:00 PM & 2:43 AM Sunday, January 29. The front glass
door was smashed in and a carton of cigarettes was taken. |
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| First
Flight High School Senior Becca DeLucia Wins First Place in Dare County Poetry Contest |
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"Dare
County Schools 2012 district Poetry Out Loud competition was held on
January 12 at The Front Porch Cafe in Nags Head. Coordinated by First
Flight High School English Department Chair Amy Powell, the final contestants
were First Flight High School seniors Becca DeLucia and Aubrey Butcher,
Manteo High School senior Abigael McGaha and MHS junior Paul Davis.
English teacher Anna Thomas coordinated POL at MHS this year. DeLucia,
a district POL veteran - competing as a sophomore in 2010 - won the
contest with classmate Aubrey Butcher coming in as runner-up."
source |
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| Man
& Infant Sent to Hostital After Car Collides with Currituck School Bus at Intersection of South Spot Road & U.S. 158.................. |
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| Dare
County League of Women Voters to Host Presentation on Causes, Ecology, & Impact of Last Summer’s Pains Bay Wildfire on March 22 |
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| Manteo
Middle School Science Club Makes Field Trip to Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge to Learn about Documenting Nature |
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| Manteo Resident Pleads Guilty To Child Pornography | ||
Raymond
Fitchett 44, of Manteo has pled guilty to charges of child pornography.
Investigators report they found more than 3,000 pictures and videos
of child pornography in his Manteo home. Fitchett was discovered after
he began downloading child pornography from an internet site was was
under investigation by national authorities. |
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| Touring
Hatteras Island on a BMW Motorcycle During the Hot Sticky Summer of 2007.Reprint |
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| Feline
Hope's Annual Paws for Love Dinner Set for Sunday February 12th at The Black Pelican Restaurant in Kitty Hawk, 5:30 pm.... |
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| Beautiful
Music by Kim Kalman. Silent auction items available. Here is the menu
for the night, included is one glass of wine or pre-selected beer. Menu
Description: Appetizer: Guests may choose one: • A house salad with dressing of choice • A cup of clam chowder or soup of the day Entrees: Guests may choose one: • Prime Rib with mashed potatoes and a green bean medley • Grilled or Blackened Tuna with rice and a green bean medley • Chicken Marsala with rice and a green bean medley • Vegetarian Pasta with tomato basil sauce Dessert: Guests may choose one: • Coconut cream pie • Bailey’s fudge torte • Key lime pie A wonderful evening for a great cause. Please mark your calendars, plan to attend and help support Feline Hope Animal Shelter. $25.00 per person or $45.00 per couple See Website |
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| Watercolor
Paintings by John White During His Journey to Roanoke Island & Florida in 1585 Considered Some of the Most Vivid Images of Early Native Americans |
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![]() Native Americans Fishing Near Roanoke Island 1585? |
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"From
the earliest European exploration of North America, many artists have
sketched or painted their view of Native American people. Probably the
most vivid images were watercolor paintings by John White, who sailed
with Sir Walter Raleigh to Roanoke Island in 1585." See
more Jonh White Paintings |
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Some
of the state's Ferry boats have reported scraping bottom on crossings.
Recent water depths in the busy channel indicated 3 ½ feet of
water high tide. In a comment about the problem in the Island Free Press,
Dare County Board of Commissioner Burrus, a native of Hatteras Island
said.“It’s closing up, It’s the most dry land I’ve
seen in the inlet in my lifetime." Hurricane Irene and recent storms
have been blammed for the problem. |
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| Humpback
Whale Spotted Off Virginia Beach with Fishing Gear Embedded in Skin........ |
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| Burglars
Strike Real Estate Company in Kitty Hawk, Take Computers....... |
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According
to a new report in Dare
County Crimeline, Atlantic Realty Company in Kitty Hawk reported
on January 3rd, 2012 that burglars broke into their business through
a rear door during the previous night and took several items including
computers. Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime
Line or the Kitty Hawk Police Department directly at (252) 261-3895. |
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| OBX High School Basketball Scores | ||
| Manteo Girls Fall to Southside 41 58 | ||
Sidney
Lewis scored 13, Kaylee Thomas pulled down 5 rebounds for the Redskins..Game
played January 24, 2012 |
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| Manteo Boys Edge Southside 49 - 47 | ||
| Hertford County Girls Pound First Flight Girls 29 - 69 | ||
Brandi
Burden & Camaryn Jones shared top scoring honors with 17 points
each for the winning Hertford girls ..Game played January 24, 2012 |
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| Hertford County Boys Roll Over First Flight 79 - 47 | ||
Shabazz
Atkins high scorer for Hertford with 16, Will Davenport high scores
for First Flight with 11..Game played January 24, 2012 |
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Boat Company to Set Up New Shipyard in Wanchese Creating 71 New Jobs Paying Average of $27,093 Per Year Plus Benefits Building Luxury Sailboats |
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The
Gunboat Company based in Newport,
RI says the new facility will allow to increase production to meet a
growing demand for luxury Sail boats. According to the company's president,
the company manufactures and sells the world's leading performance cruising
catamarans |
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| Ocracoke
High School Basketball Player Echo Bennink Earns WITN Player Of The Week... |
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Ocracoke
High School girls basketball player Echo Bennink leads the Dolphins
in scoring, pouring in more than 20 points per game. In addition to
leading the girls basketball team to one of its best starts in years
with an overall record of 11-2 and league record of 5-0, the senior
maintains a 3.9 grade point average. |
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| Dare
County Group Working Toward Abolition of IRS; Seeks to Replace Federal Income Tax with 23 % National Sales Tax; Eliminating Current Tax Forms |
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| Manteo
Mayor Jamie Daniels & Southern Shores Mayor Hal Denny Sign Letter in Support of 3/4 % Increase in Sales Tax....................... |
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| Armed
Robbers on the Loose in Eastern NC; Strike McDonald’s & Little Ceasars Pizza in Elizabeth City at Gunpoint; Up to $10,000 Reward Offered |
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Police
describe the robbers as tall, lean black males in ski masks. Men fitting
this same description were reported to have robbed several businesses
in eastern North Carolina in recent days. A Kentucky Fried Chicken was
hit in Tarboro Tuesday night, a Kentucky Fried Chicken in New Bern Saturday
night and a Bojangles in Snow Hill last Monday. |
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| Former
Manteo Police Chief Francis D’Ambra Announces Candidacy for Seat on the Dare County Board of Commissioners........ |
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| National
Park Service Announces Plan Burn of 635 Acres Located West of NC Highway 12, South of the Bodie Island Access Road and Oregon Inlet |
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| John
O'Brien Catches 375 Pound Bluefin Tuna measuring 84 Inches..See Picture. |
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| Buxton Man Busted on Drug Charges | ||
A traffic stop by the Dare County Sheriff’s Narcotics Unit in
Buxton on Jan. 22 as part of a narcotics investigation uncovered a quantity
of Oxycodone in a vehicle driven by Buxton resident David Kelly Morrison,46.
Morrison was charged with possession with the intent to sell or deliver
Oxycodone and maintaining a vehicle for the keeping or selling of a
controlled substance and was taken to the Dare County Detention Center
in lieu of $225,000 bond |
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| Unpaid
Bills Lead State Alcoholic Beverage Commission to Halt Liquor Shipments to Hyde County & Ocracoke Island; Suggests Merging Operations with Dare County |
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| At
issue is $80,000 in unpaid bills, no apparent ABC budget, price discrepancies,
inventory mismanagement & no no apparent ABC budget, no schedule
of meetings by Hyde County ABC Board to solve the problems, |
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| Superior
Court Judge Milton F. Fitch Halts Kill Devil Hills Town Policy Prohibiting Town Employees from Taking Complaints About Police Department......... |
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"Fitch’s
order was filed in Dare County the day before an affidavit was filed
in Pasquotank County Superior Court calling for an investigation into
how District Attorney Frank Parrish handled a police officer’s
complaint against Chief Gary Britt." |
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| Hertford
County Boys Highschool Basketball Team Rolls Over First Flight 77 - 44......... |
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| Billy Foster High Scorer for First Flight with 10 | ||
| 3
Pulled to Safety After 26-Foot Sailboat "The Honey Badger" Runs Aground in Albemarle Sound............ |
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| Political Parties Losing Power in Dare County | ||
According
to a new report in EyeonDare,
Unaffiliated Voters in Dare County now number 8,815, compared to 8,023
Republicans and 10,198 Democrats and are now in a position to control
the swing vote in the County. | ||
| Town
of Duck Crime Blotter Reports 1 Arrest During Heavy Crime Week of Jan. 9th - 15th |
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Arrest - NC 12/Sea Colony Drive, Subject issued citation for Carless
and Reckless Driving and Failure to Report Accident. Breaking & Entering/Larceny - 105 Turnbuckle Court, Televisions, game console, and remote stolen from property. No signs of forced entry. Breaking & Entering/Larceny - 103 Beachcomber Court, Forcible entry made into residence. Electronic items and bedding stolen. Larceny - 1245 Duck Road (Barrier Island Station), Stuffed animals and t-shirts stolen from health club. Hit & Run/Damage to Real Property - 1445 Duck Road, Vehicle ran off the road causing property damage and did not stop to report the accident. source: Duck Crime Blotter |
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| Virginia
Driver Leads Police on High Speed Chase through Currituck County............. |
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Police
report Alan Drewery, 47, of Vienna, Va led police on a high speed chase,
reaching speeds up to 90 mph, from Virginia through Currituck County
and back to Virginia where he was finally stopped by Chesapeake police
on Interstate I-464 after his tires were blown out when he ran over
a tire spike strip set out be police. Currituck Police attempted to
stop Drewery in Currituck after receiving a drunk driver report on his
vehicle, however they were unsuccessful and chased him back towards
Chesapeake on Route 168 bypass In addition to charges filed by Chesapeake Police, Drewery the possibility he could be extradited to Currituck County to face more charges. video |
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OBX Political
Blogger's Online Poll Shows Unhappiness with Dare Commissioners; Problems with Nags Head Beach Nourishment |
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Should voters replace Dare Commissioner Allen Burrus this year? Yes
84%. No 15% Should voters replace Dare Commissioner Mike Johnson this year? Yes 89%. No 15% Should voters replace Dare Commissioner Richard Johnson this year? Yes 87% . No 12% Should voters replace Dare Commissioner Warren Judge this year? Yes 76% .No 12% Is Dare Commissioner Max Dutton doing a good job? Yes = 30%.. No = 69% Is Dare Commissioner Jack Shea doing a good job? Yes=37%. No= 62% Is Dare Commissioner Virginia Tillett doing a good job? Yes = 32% . No = 67% Can "Independent" candidate win election for county commissioner in Dare County? 82%=Yes Do you believe the shoaling problem at Oregon Inlet is caused by sand from the Nags Head beach nourishment project? 58% = Yes..41% = No Still Time to Vote |
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| OBX
Runners: 6th Annual Sweetheart 8k &1Mile Race Set for Feb. 11, 2012 Start Time 9 a.m |
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The
Outer Banks Running Club proudly presents the 6th running of the Sweetheart
8k &1miler on Saturday, February 11, 2012. Race starts at 9 a.m.
at the George Washington Creef Memorial Park in downtown Manteo.
As in the past, there will be "sweethearts team" prize (combined time of registered team) a "one mile timed run" (starting 5 minutes after the 8k) and a "WALKERS DIVISION" with an award for the fastest walker in the 8K. Awards will be presented to the first place female, male, walker, and sweetheart team. Awards will also be presented to the first three 1 miler finishers. NEW!!! This year's race will benefit the Outer Banks SPCA! Donations of food, cleaning supplies, and bedding will be accepted. A complete list of items needed will be forthcoming. SOMETHING DIFFERENT! There will be no t-shirts for this race (DON'T PANIC), but there will be some awesome swag! One size fits all! Registration: www.fsseries.com Pricing:
1 miler - $5.00 (no swag) SPACE IS LIMITED TO 150 PEOPLE FOR THE 8k. Please register early to save your space and get your swag! |
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| Final
Report for 7 Mile Currituck Bridge; Completion 2017, Cost: $1/2 Billion +, Toll, Up to $27 One Way |
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| 2
Men Arrested After Volunteer Firefighter Spots Them Stealing Flat Screen TV from KDH Home |
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Kill
Devil Hills Police have charged Gerald Harbison and James Bowden with
breaking into a home in the east 200 block of First Street. Charges
are pending on a third man. The men were spotted leaving the resdence
with a flat screen TV by a KDH volunteer firefighter..more
Outer Banks Crime Links |
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| First
Flight High School Principal Says IPads Better than Textbooks in Class; Thinks We’ve been Behind in the Tools We Use to Educate Students for Years |
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First
Flight High School principal Arty Tillett reports in a new article in
Nighthawk
News that using iPads instead of textbooks in class would be better
and that as soon as next year, students could be using iPads or another
technology in classes. Tillett. “I think we’ve been behind
in the tools we use to educate students for years.” However, not
all of the teachers in First Flight agree. Mathematics teacher Rich
Hoffman was reported saying “I don’t like the idea of using
iPads for math; you can never replace a piece of paper, a pencil and
the power of the students’ brain completely.” |
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| US
Park Service Awards $1.89 Million Contract to Complete Bodie Island Lighthouse Restoration |
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Bodie Island Lighthouse Buy This at Allposters.com |
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Repairs
to the historic 156 foot tall lighthouse constructed in 1872 near Oregon
Inlet have been awarded to United Builders Group in New Bern, North
Carolina. Repairs will consist of restoration of deteriorated metal;
components on the lantern level (support beams, masonry, railing/ladder);
Replacement of galley cornice segments; Painting of interior and exterior
masonry; Replacing windows and glass on lantern level; Repairs to the
Oil house marble floor and roof; installation of new windows; installation
of fire suppression system; repairs to electrical power & Installation
of stair strengtheners |
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| 63
Inch Bluefin Tuna Caught 1/2 Mile from Shore During Outer Banks Charter Fishing Trip.......... |
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| Letter
to the Editor: Dare County Judicial System Favoritism........ | ||
On
Tuesday January 17, 2012 I witnessed the prejudice and bias that exist
in our judicial system. Wondering why four of us were kept waiting for
our turn for hearing, it became evident about 12:00PM that the DA was
waiting for the plaintiff and officer to show up, even though they had
the same information and responsibility as the defendant. When they
did not appear a new date was set for the hearing. Now if the defendant
were a “no show” what would have happened – a warrant
for his arrest would have been issued. Is this equal protection under
the law and justice for all; certainly not in Dare county. Once again
this shows power gains favoritism........ William Strange,
New Bern see more letters to the editor | ||
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| Sandy
Semans, Outer Banks Sentinel Editor Seeking Dare County Commission Seat as Independant........ | ||
| Semans
is circulating petitions in an effort to gather enough signatures to
have her name placed directly on the November ballot as a independant
candidate for the county commission seat for District 1. Running as
an independant will allow Semans to bypass the primary election | ||
| Armed
Woman Confronts Kill Devil Hills Police in Effort to Commit Suicide...... |
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Officials
report the woman, who has a bipolar and dissociative disorder was armed
with a pistol and shotgun and was attempting to force an encounter with
police officers that would result in her death, also termed "suicide
by cop." The unidentified woman was taken to the Outer Banks Hospital
for a mental evaluation and possible commitment to a psychological facility. |
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| Fugitive
Arrested in Kitty Hawk is Suspect in 2 Maryland Home Invasions & Sexual Assault |
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Kevin
Ray 33, of Fort Washington Md. was arrested on Jan. 14 in Kitty Hawk
as a suspect in 2 Maryland home invasions. In one invasion, Ray is accused
of armed robbery of a woman in her garage in Wheaton, MD. In the second
home invasion, Ray allegedly went into a Bethesda, Md. home where he
tied up residents & sexually assaulted the housekeeper. Ray was
discovered in Kitty Hawk when he used a credit card belonging to one
of his victims. Ray is charged with robbery, first degree sex assault,
use of a handgun in the commission of a felony, and first degree assault
and is currently in custody in North Carolina pending an extradition
hearing. |
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| Unlocked Cars Burlglarized in Nags Head | ||
Nags
Head Police report they are investigating several vehicle breaking and
entering incidents that occurred in the Nags Head Pond neighborhood
in the early moring hours of Sunday January 8, 2012. Several unlocked
vehicles were entered by an unknown suspect looking for cash or coins
that were left in the vehicles. Anyone with information is asked to
contact the Nags Head Police Department at 252-441-6386. |
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| Local
Runner Donates $100 Outer Banks Half Marathon Prize Money |
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| Local
resident Zach Miller 21, set a personal record in the Gateway Bank Outer
Banks Half Marathon. He was the first Dare County Male to cross the
Finish line in the November event. Zach is donating the $100 prize money
to the Remotely Operated Vehicle Club at First Flight High School. Zach
is a 2008 graduate of FFHS and is currently attending Florida Institute
of Technology. Way to go Zach! The Gateway Bank Outer Banks Marathon
is promoted by Outer Banks Sporting Events. OBSE donates 100% of proceeds
to the Outer Banks Relief Foundation and the Dare Education. |
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| Contact
the Editor at editorobfp@gmail.com |
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| $1 | ||
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| outerbanksfreepress.com | ||
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