Letters to the editor

Letters and Opinions from the Outer Banks of North Carolina

As I sit here before my tv, mesmerized while viewing your Monday meeting, I would like to offer words of support for the comments made by Commissioners Mike Johnson and Jack Shea regarding the placement of test windmills in Pamlico Sound, west of Hatteras Island.

Com. Johnson is spot, right on, in his comment that wildlife will be plumb frightened right out of their feathers by the sight of these structures. I remember, as a young man and avid duck hunter, growing up on Roanoke Island over 50 years ago, when they moved the Drafty Tavern from the Manteo/Wanchese intersection to the present site of Pirates' Cove. All was fine until they erected the darn tv antenna on the roof! After that, duck hunting in the hammock behind the tavern was zilch!

Frankly, I think Johnson should ask your board to do a study on how all bridges, lighthouses, and transmitter towers have affected the wildlife airways here in Dare County over the years. This would blow the entire windmill proposal out of the water!

Dare County has enough "firsts". We don't need to be the first in the nation to erect windmills over the water; no matter how badly this nation needs alternative energy sources. I say, "Go, Mike!"

Secondly, I would like to commend Com. Mike Johnson on his recent stupendous remark(s) that (1) claims of sea level rise are bogus, (2) and, we are not losing our beaches, due to sea level rise, but due to "erosion."....I believe these remarks are worthy of a Nobel Peace Prize.

And to Com. Jack Shea...I am with him 100%. I would never want to stand on the sands of Hatteras Island, looking westward and have my view of an Outer Banks sunrise blemished by windmills standing out there in the sound! Another Peace Prize for Shea!

Finally, to Com. Warren Judge....I have to squirm in my chair when I hear you, so often, use the phrase "special interests" in referring to the environmentalists. For over 10 years I watched as you were one of the "most active and vocal" supporter/members of such groups as Outer Banks Realtors/Hotel/Motel/Restaurant/Builders Assoc. pushing their propaganda for beach nourishment here on the Outer Banks.
The term "special interests" should never pass from your lips, else the Good Lord strike you Dead!

Ray Midgett
Southern Shores, NC

Fellow Dare Commissioners,

Ten years ago, as a reporter for the Outer Banks Sentinel, it was a pleasure for me to write a feature story covering the "new" Dare County website, which was state-of-the-art at that time. In fact, the site had been recognized by other county governments in NC as a trend setter in advising citizens about county government operations and happenings.
Today, ten years later, the Dare County website looks pretty much the same as it did back then. It is drab, cold, lacking in color, splash and appeal. It is years behind other county websites! Why?
Please take a look at neighboring county websites. Currituck County and Pasquotank County, for example. Compare and ask yourself why Dare, with its staffing and funding can't keep up? Do you know you can view county commissioner meetings on the Currituck website at your leisure? And, this is only one of the ways Dare is behind. Check both county's GIS pages...
What is Dare County doing with its website and staffing today? I'll tell you. Dare is using it's county staff and funding, not improving the website, but promoting nongovernmental/controversial matters such as (1) Build the Bridge, (2) Save Beach Access, etc. Meeting minutes/recaps that used to be available in days, now take months to be online. Check the Channel 20 viewing calendar right now and and ask why it begins with August 24th, instead of today's date. Why? Where are current event photos and the other splash that make other counties' websites so appealing?
Finally, please tell me how many employees are assigned to this website and what have they been doing for the past 10 years?

One more thing Commissioners. Why doesn't this email address, as listed on the county website work? dcboc@darenc.com
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Ray Midgett

I am not close with Mayor Renee Cahoon, and have nothing to do with her campaign. I have seen Bob Oakes management over the Village of Nags Head through his control of the Homeowners Associations, where restrictive covenants on property owners are more stringent than the infamous Town of Nags Head building codes and ordinances. Mr. Oakes likes to portray an image of being a nice guy from humble beginnings and hard work, with a respect for rules, but we have found through the years he is otherwise. By the way, is the Village of Nags Head Waste water treatment plant in compliance yet? Mr. Oakes actions demonstrate he wants to be in charge of the rules and is personally is above following them, which in our estimation makes him an "elitist" who answers to no higher authority. Although Ms. Cahoon may leave something to be desired in terms of "professional appearance" and Mr. Oakes has become a popular fellow by his conspicuous contributions to the community, in our opinion he is setting up a potential "Kingdom in Nags Head", where the rules apply to everyone except him.

Mr. Oakes does not feel his children should go to school with the other Nags Head children, so the "no exceptions" rule of all Nags Head Children going to Manteo school district does not apply to him. WHY? His children attend the First Flight District, we are sure he has a "reasonable" explanation. Does he have a house listed as his primary residence with the Board of Education in Kill Devil Hills? I wonder which of his many resort houses are listed as his primary residence with the IRS? Better get Sandy Semans on that one, oops no wait...she wants him to beat Renee Cahoon too, because she does not like Renee, so she won't print anything bad about Oakes. I get the feeling we are not electing Bob Oakes, but rather not electing Renee. Fitting for a man who does not stand for anything, running for office when he is assured to stay on council if he loses. He just likes to be "politically correct" and keep up appearances. Kind of sad for this great town.

Do we really want to elect a man to the Towns highest office, who does not believe rules apply to him, does not go to church, does not care about the sewage dumping into the sound, does not technically live here? What do we really know about him, besides "he seems like a nice guy"...any substance there? Hello, anybody home?

I guess really, it does not matter much. It's the way our political system operates these days...anyone with the ambition can buy themselves a reputation. I do not have a vote here, as I do not lie about my primary residence to anyone, although I was asked too by the the folks who pushed Beach Nourishment a couple years ago (wait...was that Oakes too?). But I will research and write as much as I can against Oakes, because I feel I have seen the "Real Guy" behind the facade, and I am afraid others are not looking. Nags Head is better off (the way it is) without him.

I do not know Joan Bennett, but I do know Bob Oakes very well; as a friend, as a businessman, an elected official and a person who had never once denied a charitable request from the many civic organizations I represent. I am unable to recognize the person Ms. Bennett described in her screed to this forum. Just to make sure those reading have know I have no axe to grind, I consider Renee Cahoon a friend and a person I admire greatly. As occurs in many local elections, I will have to have to choose between two people I respect very much, and one of them will not prevail. If someone had penned a letter about Renee that I felt misrepresented her character, I would defend her as well. Bob Oakes is a genuinely nice person and one of the few elected officials I know who thinks issues through and actually listens to opposing views. As a Nags Head resident, I would be proud to have him serve as my Mayor, just as I would if Renee were elected. We have two good people running and that's a rare thing in this day and age.

Russell Lay
Nags Head, NC

It seem there is a double standard alive and well in Kill Devil Hills. The KDH police are driving an illegal vehicle on highway 12 and issuing tickets from it.

The Police Department is operating the ATV or "Utility Vehicle"/Beach Patrol Vehicle in accordance with G.S. 20-171.23-24. This vehicle is equipped with operable front and rear lights and a horn, in addition to the same emergency equipment i.e., blue lights and siren as the regular police sedans have. The Utility Vehicle is also equipped with roll bars and a roof/top and seatbelts, which puts it into a different category from a regular ATV, therefore making the use of a helmet optional. The Police Department does have a green ATV that is used for beach patrol and the officers are required to wear a helmet while on the street or highway and by statute have the option to remove it once they cross the dune line. The officers go to and from the beach on this vehicle and as a general rule do not take any enforcement action while on the street or highway. The Utility Vehicle on the other hand is equipped with emergency equipment and while the officers are patrolling the beach accesses for improper parking, the Avalon Pier parking area and the hotel parking lots for criminal activity they are no doubt going to encounter violations on NC 12 and they will issue citations accordingly. The Police Department is in no way attempting to set a double standard, we are merely utilizing our limited resources in the most legal and efficient manner. The officers are also given a four hour safety/ATV/UV (operation of) in-service class for the purposes of beach patrol. I would be glad to meet with anyone who has questions or concerns about any of the Police Department activities because we are a very transparent, law abiding, and professional organization.

While I appreciate and welcome citizens voicing their concerns, I would rather they have the courage to identify themselves and refrain from accusing my officers of wrong doing before they have gathered all the facts. Again, myself or Assistant Chief Harris are available any time to answer questions or concerns.

§ 20-171.23. Motorized all-terrain vehicles of law enforcement officers and fire, rescue, and emergency medical services permitted on certain highways.
(a) Law enforcement officers acting in the course and scope of their duties may operate motorized all-terrain vehicles, as defined in G.S. 14-159.3(b) and owned or leased by the agency, or under the direct control of the incident commander, on: (i) public highways where the speed limit is 35 miles per hour or less; and (ii) nonfully controlled access highways with higher speeds for the purpose of traveling from a speed zone to an adjacent speed zone where the speed limit is 35 miles per hour or less.
(b) Fire, rescue, and emergency medical services personnel acting in the course and scope of their duties may operate motorized all-terrain vehicles, as defined in G.S. 14-159.3(b) and owned or leased by fire, rescue, or emergency medical services departments, or under the direct control of the incident commander, on: (i) public highways where the speed limit is 35 miles per hour or less; and (ii) nonfully controlled access highways with higher speeds for the purpose of traveling from a speed zone to an adjacent speed zone where the speed limit is 35 miles per hour or less.
(c) This Part and all other State laws governing the operation of all-terrain vehicles apply to the operation of all-terrain vehicles authorized by this section.
(d) An all-terrain vehicle operated pursuant to this section shall be equipped with operable front and rear lights and a horn.
(e) A person operating an all-terrain vehicle pursuant to this section shall observe posted speed limits and shall not exceed the manufacturer's recommended speed for the vehicle.
(f) A person operating an all-terrain vehicle pursuant to this section shall carry an official identification card or badge. (2007-433, s. 1.)

§ 20-171.24. Motorized all-terrain vehicle use by employees of listed municipalities and counties permitted on certain highways.
(a) Municipal and county employees may operate motorized all-terrain vehicles, as defined in G.S. 14-159.3(b) and owned or leased by the agency, on: (i) public highways where the speed limit is 35 miles per hour or less; and (ii) nonfully controlled access highways with higher speeds for the purpose of traveling from a speed zone to an adjacent speed zone where the speed limit is 35 miles per hour or less.
(b) This Part and all other State laws governing the operation of all-terrain vehicles apply to the operation of all-terrain vehicles authorized by this section.
(c) An all-terrain vehicle operated pursuant to this section shall be equipped with operable front and rear lights and a horn.
(d) A person operating an all-terrain vehicle pursuant to this section shall observe posted speed limits and shall not exceed the manufacturer's recommended speed for the vehicle.
(e) A person operating an all-terrain vehicle pursuant to this section shall carry an official identification card or badge.
(f) This section applies to the Towns of Ansonville, Atlantic Beach, Burgaw, Carolina Beach, Cramerton, Dallas, Davidson, Duck, Emerald Isle, Franklin, Indian Beach, Kill Devil Hills, Kitty Hawk, Kure Beach, Lowell, Manteo, Murphy, Nags Head, North Topsail Beach, Oakboro, Ocean Isle Beach, Pine Knoll Shores, Stanley, Surf City, Sylva, Topsail Beach, and Wrightsville Beach, the Cities of Albemarle, Belmont, Cherryville, Gastonia, Kings Mountain, Mount Holly, and Rockingham and the Counties of Cleveland, Currituck, Gaston, Surry, and Wilkes only. (2007-433, s. 2; 2008-99, s. 1.)

Gary L. Britt, MPA/MM
Chief of Police
Kill Devil Hills Police Dept.
102 Town Hall Dr.
Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948
(252) 449-5323
glbrit@kdhnc.com

Thank you

Dana Harris
Assistant Chief
Kill Devil Hills Police Department
102 Town Hall Dr. (PO Box 1605)
Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948
252-449-5337 Fax 441-8281

Senate Bill 832 is the most serious piece of legislation affecting our N.C. coastline since the Basnight bill that prohibited "hard structures" on the beach. SB 832 will negate that, and with state Senate leader Marc Basnight's blessings.

Hello - My name is Heather Akers and I am a resident of Dare County. I feel like it is news worthy to address the Dare County Board of Commissioners trying to ban specific breeds in response to the recent tragedy in Kitty Hawk. As horrible and heartbreaking as that incident was, I feel it is irresponsible of our Commissioners to try to ban what they believe to be a "dangerous breed". I attended the meeting last night when this subject was brought up. They did pass the ordinance presented with some changes to get something immediately on the books but they left the door open to go back later and amend it to ban specific breeds. I felt like a dog ordinance was necessary to prevent this tragedy from happening again or to have something in place when it does, but if they pass breed specific legislation or make residents acquire a 100k insurance policy, which essentially will ban the breeds due to the exhorbant cost, they are punishing every other responsible dog owner. Commissioner Tillet felt like there needed to be a public hearing on this, however Commissioner Warren Judge did not and in speaking with the Town Attorney Bobby Outten, he asked if they were required to have a public hearing, which he replied no. The Commissioners implied they would not hold a public hearing. The ban would be on such breeds as the Pit Bull, German Shepherd, Dobermans, Rottweilers, Chow Chows and any other dog they deemed to be "dangerous". As I said above, I believe there should be an ordinance to protect the public if this situation occurs again, however, I feel it is unfair to target specific breeds. Any breed can be dangerous if they fall into the wrong hands. The laws should address responsible ownership instead. I have been a resident of Dare County for 15 years and have been around German Shepherds since I was an infant. I also volunteer for a German Shepherd Rescue. I feel the public has the right to know the officials they elected into office are trying to pass something without giving the public an opportunity to speak on this. Dare County is a dog friendly community and the repercussions of enacting such an ordinance would be extremely detrimental to the community.

Tonight, I have spoken with you and three members of your board regarding the November 3rd resolution supporting replacement of sand at Jennette's Pier.

I am confident that Commissioner Shea knew absolutely no detail(s) about what was going on regarding this matter, other than he voted on it.

Commissioner R. Johnson also indicated he knew little about any efforts on the part of NCDOT, but assumed they might "pump sand on the beach or truck it in"...he expressed very little interest in the matter except to say he "wanted sand on the beach and didn't care who put it there."

Commissioner Tillett just couldn't remember and said she would have to go back and read the minutes.

You, Chairman Judge, indicated that you believed that NCDOT had gotten a "permit" to restore the "dune" lost in recent storms.

I will confirm this with NCDOT and hope to get additional input from them.

I wish to thank you for that information. I only wish the remainder of your board was so informed.

Ray Midgett
Beachhuggers of the Outer Banks
Sun, 23 Nov 2008

Great presidents are made great by horrible circumstances combined with character, temperament and intelligence. Like firemen, cops, doctors or soldiers, presidents need a crisis to shine.

I am writing this in mourning. It is a eulogy of sorts. Someone dear to many of us passed away this year, sacrificed not to what is good or what is bad, but to what is useful.
Though I register as an independent, in practical terms that is rarely the case. I vote predominantly as a democrat, as at heart I am a populist, and when I look across the aisle I see a very different vision from my own. Most of us feel the same way, no matter what side of the aisle we sit on. The other side is foreign, almost unknowable.
But once upon a time there was a man across the way that danced to his own tune. Usually in synch with his cohorts, but when he sang his own song it was dissonant and determined. His obedience to the party line was on loan at all times, never to be depended on when his own internal sense of outrage was awakened by his elephantine fellows.
As the administration prosecuted a war with the most dubious justifications, it also began to take liberties with many things that had made America deserving of other countries admiration. If we had pursued torture in the past, we had always had the good taste to be ashamed of it and repent of it. We had treated the Geneva Convention as if it had a place in Canonical literature. It was part of what made our country worthy of emulation. We stood for something, darn it! But now we had found it inconvenient and were no longer inclined to give it much respect. Torture was a means to an end. A necessary evil. The public started to buy into this way of thinking as they had been scared to death for themselves, their children and the very American way of life. Whatever it takes, we cowered.
But up stood a lion from the red team and said “No!” A man who had been tortured and knew its futility put his foot down and said we were better than this. Here was a man of principle. Here was John McCain.
He has passed on now.
Filling his seat in the senate is a man who has chosen to run for President of the United States on a “No Earmarks” stance, yet chose a running mate that is governor of a state that has the highest per capita rate of earmarks of any state in the union. A man who’s former presidential ambitions were gunned down by devious political practices of the most abhorrent kind, and then hired the unscrupulous perpetrators of his political assassination to run his own campaign in the same unscrupulous way. Some may think it worse. When one’s campaign ethics are questioned by Karl Rove, it is a safe bet that your sense of honor has left the tracks. This is a man who has made honesty in advertising more of a punch line than the TV series “Mad Men” ever could. This man fought to have the republican pro-life plank include exceptions for rape and incest, having heated altercations with President Bush over the issue, but has now decided to remain quiet as the plank remains as rigid and absolute in it’s call for the dissolution of Roe v. Wade. This new candidate has become a malleable Gumby, driven by something other than internal ethical absolutes. He has emerged as the Al Davis of politics. “Just win, baby, win!”
The irony is that this new candidate goes by the same name as the man he replaced, but bears so little resemblance to him.
May the first John McCain rest in peace, but for the life of me, I don’t know how he will be able to.

The Outer Banks is nothing if not small business. From builders to realtors, retailers to service businesses, our area thrives or starves on the success of small business. We were prosperous before Home Depot and Walgreens ever thought of this tiny strip of America as a profit center, and we would go on fine if they pulled up and left us. But without the hundreds of small businesses that make the Outer Banks tick, the plumbers, electricians and painters, the merchants and entertainers, the restaurateurs and rental agencies we would perish in a season.
Much has been said this campaign season with the intent of instilling fear in the hearts of the small business owner. The Republicans have always tried to paint themselves as the party of business, and in some ways this has been true, but big business has been the real beneficiary of their policies. The little guy trying to go it on his own has not had the same level of support. Fear of Democrats has been the strategy when talking to the small business owner, but I find that to be a very unfair approach when talking about this year’s choice.
The Democratic platform includes a “Making Work Pay” provision that would help to offset the payroll taxes that often stall a small business when it is in the very critical early stages of development. The platform also eliminates capital gains taxes on small business in order to encourage the growth of these start-up companies. That sounds pretty encouraging to me; especially considering the Republicans will tax capital gains at a rate of 15%. When looking at the johnmccain.com web page regarding small business, he discusses issues like lowering energy costs, which is not small business specific but a need across the board for every American. He talks about tax benefits that offset R&D costs which are much higher in larger businesses unlike the ones we own here on the Outer Banks. He talks about opening new global markets for small business. How many restaurants are going to increase their bottom line if we open up new and exciting global opportunities? How many surfboards are going to be shipped to Taipei? He talks about lowering the cost of health care for small business, but his plan is dependent on the cooperation of state governments and does not shoulder the final responsibility of making this happen. Obama would provide a refundable tax credit of up to 50% of premiums paid. The McCain plan pays lip service to helping the little guy, but his plan is focused on far larger businesses than what we here are involved in.
To me, it seems like business as usual. Large manufacturing companies and investment firms may benefit from the “small business” proposals of the Republicans, but the rank and file business owner is being fed a bill of goods. The largest benefits offered are energy savings and health care, the first of which is a priority to both parties (though how they approach them may differ) and the second is a continuation of the free market solutions that have led to the disaster that health care has become in this country, making an essential need for all citizens a privilege provided to fewer and fewer of us.
Don’t believe the knee jerk hype surrounding small business that says Republican good-Democrat bad. Have the courage to explore the solutions available to you. This will affect your pocketbook and your future far more than the view of Moscow from Fairbanks, or whether you are a more devout American if you cover your heart instead of just stand at attention for the anthem.
JohnMcCain.com. BarackObama.com. Learn more than what your TV is telling you. You’re running out of time.

Bruce Eaton

The Chowan County happen-stance should be an eye-opener for all local governments in the State of North Carolina; and no less to the Outer Banks’ County of Dare .

I get alot of info from your website. I am from OHio and travel to Nags Head every year for the last 18 yrs. I love it there and we have family there. And I read this webpage very frequently.

I wish you could have seen OBX in the mid 70s when I first did. Back then north of Kill Devil Hills, Kitty Hawk etc it was more undeveloped than Hatterras. However by mid 80s we started going to Hatteras due to development in the north.

Every time I see an OBX or Hatteras sticker on a car I cringe...part of the reason there are now twice as many houses on Hatteras as when I first went there in 1984. I guess greed is the same everywhere. Now they even have a hotel on Hatteras. Hate to see it.

This year in May there were so many vacant houses and houses for sale.

Also 4th of July week not nearly as many tourists as last year...yea for high gas prices!

I am writing a book about the shark attack on Labor Day 2001 in Avon. How quickly 9/11 chilled that story out.

I think what you did was cool but unfortunately every time you convey a good impression about Hatteras it brings more folks down there.

I still remember going down the beach road in Nags Head one night in 1978. Full moon and stars and the ocean was starting to spill over on the road (in October). Try to imagine that...as they say on television...priceless.
Brian Muldoon....
Maryland
7/9/08

Please read this…
Friday, May 2nd … My Daughter got off the School Bus at the Bus Stop off after school. A Neighbor’s daughter who rides the same bus went to get her bike to ride home while my daughter met her Grandmother at the bus stop. Location: Corner of Woodland Drive at E. Dogwood Trail – across from where Holly Trail intersects E. Dogwood Trail.

As the neighbor’s daughter went to her bike a white van which had been parked across the street pulled around sideways up to the bike rack area and asked this girl if she needed a ride home. This young girl wisely did not speak to this man and went to get on her bike. The Van pulled around and parked in the middle of Holly Trail blocking the street. The girl on the bike went over to my daughter (out of ear shot of the Grandmother) and told my daughter that she was afraid of the man and that van and asked if she could come stay with my daughter and her grandmother. While this exchange was taking place the van drove off.

The girl nor my daughter told my Mother in Law anything about being afraid of the man or the exchange which had taken place.

This is surely a predator.

The description we know at this point is:

Man: likely 50 to 55 yrs old, white male, shoulder length stringy sandy (dirty) blond hair, child could not recall if their was any facial hair, or any other distinguishing traits.
5/3/08 ....NEW INFORMATION ... I forgot to tell you that he wore big, squarish reading glasses not sunglasses.
Vehicle: older boxy type CHEVY / Dodge OR SIMILAR Van – white, no markings on exterior nor any noticeable dings, dents, rust. No roof rack or anything on roof. Basic windows -4?

REMEMBER ...

A PREDATOR COULD HAVE A WOMAN WORKING WITH HIM TO ENTICE AND MAKE YOUNG GIRLS (or BOYS!) FEEL SAFE TO APPROACH.

A PREDATOR CAN ALSO CHANGE GLASSES, HAIR, VEHICLE ... SO, LOOK FOR SOMEONE OR SOMETHING THAT IS NOT RIGHT, AND ACT.

On a clear nice day there would be no reason for a man to ask a young girl if she needs a ride – only a predator intending harm.

I have lived here 23 years … our Beach is no longer the same.

As parents we need to be aware of our surroundings and report to Police anything suspicious. If you are witnessing something that does not seem right - go up to the Child to make sure they are safe and that they know the person they are talking too - or, who is talking to them. You know when it does not feel right - please do not discount that feeling and do nothing. I think any of us would rather report something that turns out to be nothing than the opposite.

I am sending this you because of one of many reasons … I know you, you have kids, live in KH, SS, MP or on the beach.

As you drive through any neighborhood – if you see a vehicle which seems to be hanging around – call the police. Certainly, if you see a vehicle matching the description loitering or near any children, make sure the child is safe first, Get a Tag Number, description, call 911.

Keep your cell phone handy so you can make the call immediately.

The police have advised this family not to let their child ride their bike home from the bus stop the rest of this year. If it is not safe the rest of this year, it will be impossible to believe that it will ever be safe again.

Please forward this email right away to everyone you know in this area with or without kids.

This is the 2nd (Possibly 3rd or even 4th attempt in 2-3 months !!! - read response to this email at bottom from Rodanthe Woman) Predator attempt in our area in just the past few months. The first was well publicized by the school – FFHS – where a girl was approached and declined the ride.

5/4/08 Update ... I have spoken to may people over the past 2 days. Just today, I have been told that a young girl was approached in Southern Shores by a man standing next to his car - this happened in the past 2 weeks.

****** These are Multiple Incidents ... I am very concerned that this Predator is out there and will get one of our Kids. This is a very serious matter and we all need to be talking about it, and every child needs to know the real deal and what to do. Main thing is to avoid ever being in a situation where they are vulnerable to an attack. ***************

We must all be alert all the time to this possibility.

If anyone has any questions – please call me.

John Leatherwood
202-3834

if u people..... wait iam confused ...obama ??? please 4 give me but if you folks @ obx collectively support this person i could care less if all beaches are closed and you can starve ....no wait go join that racist preachers church ....god i hope iam not seeing this !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

gary carter

Katherine Kazak’s article in the Virginia Pilot about the "rally to save off-road-vehicle privileges in N.C." is biased. "The congenial party atmosphere at Cape Point on Saturday morning belied the sense of desperation felt by off-road-vehicle drivers who assembled to say "Please Help us". The vivid description of dogs and kids frolicking in the surf brought tears to my eyes. The ORV ban affects only 12% of the beach. Which means ORV's can still drive on 88% of the beach. Since birds cannot write “Please Help Us" in the sand, I guess they are out of luck. The sounds of silence are hard to hear. "My daddy's daddy fished out here" seems to explain a family tradition no one wants to lose. Unfortunately for the wildlife that try to live and breed on the beach, parking your off road vehicle and walking over the dune has never been part of your family tradition. Perhaps this generation can improve tradition by adding a little exercise and respect for all life.

R Jarrell
Kitty Hawk

My husband and I recently visited Kitty Hawk for vacation and had such a truly wonderful experience that I would like to share it with your readers.
Our first stop was at a fruit stand before Kitty Hawk where we purchased sweet fruit, the tastiest peanuts I have ever had, and homemade fudge (too many varieties to list). These treats were enjoyed throughout our stay and I would recommend stopping to at least taste the fudge (they have many samples).
During our stay, we went on a bike ride adventure from Kitty Hawk to Duck (bike trails) and enjoyed a pleasant lunch at an Italian ice shop and then shopped the boutiques before heading back to Kitty Hawk. We also spent many an idle hour at the beaches, which are plentiful so that you never feel crowded, reading, sun bathing, walking and taking cool dips in the ocean. Very relaxing and peaceful. Don't forget to visit Manteo as this town is very quaint with many good restaurants and shops. We were very impressed with the friendly shop keepers. For any hotdog enthusiasts out there, which I am one, a stop at Captain Franks is a must, order the garbage dog, YUM YUM.
To sum it up, my husband and I came away from our vacation relaxed, tension free and happy. We highly recommend that if anyone is thinking about taking a vacation, the Outer Banks is the place to go! Enjoy!

To whomever cares to read this:
A party of 10 went into Jimmy's Buffet restaurant in Kitty Hawk on Friday May 25th, 2007. We had a very nice waitress by the name of Tracy. She was friendly and did her job well. The problem was not with the service but with the quality of food and cleanliness of the restaurant. The portions were old and had been sitting too long. To put it nicely, it was just plain nasty! The prices of this restaurant were WAY over priced and the portions were slim. We were all very disappointed and asked to speak to the manager and she (the owner, Mrs. Dowless) sent out one of her employees.) They did nothing and told us they had 700 patrons a night and basically did not have time to worry with us. This is very unprofessional and bad business if you ask me. This is a tourist restaurant and locals do not frequent because they know better. The bill for the party of 10, included 2 children was $400. That would not have been a problem if it were worth it, but it wasn't at all. Repeat business is a good thing, but I know for a fact we will never go back. Mrs. Dowless would not even show her face or return any calls. This restaurant not only had terrible food and prices but a manager/owner to go along with it. Hopefully the owner will realize that what comes around goes around and when this happens to her, she will understand the way we were treated was wrong. We paid the bill but now understand why people walk out of that restaurant without paying because it is just terrible. This letter was sent to the restaurant, local newspapers and local fliers.
Sincerely,
Mr. and Mrs. Williams and family

So many letter writers have based their arguments on how this land is made up of immigrants. Ernie Lujan for one, suggests we should tear down the Statue of Liberty because the people now in question aren't being treated the same as those who passed through Ellis Island and other ports of entry.

I saw you, hug your purse closer to you in the grocery store line. But, you didn't see me, put an extra $10.00 in the collection plate last Sunday.

I saw you, pull your child closer when we passed each other on the sidewalk. But, you didn't see me, playing Santa at the local mall.

I saw you, change your mind about going into the restaurant.
But, you didn't see me, attending a meeting to raise more money for the hurricane relief.

I saw you, roll up your window and shake your head when I drove by. But, you didn't see me, driving behind you when you flicked your cigarette butt out the car window.

I saw you, frown at me when I smiled at your children.
But, you didn't see me, when I took time off from work to run toys to the homeless.

I saw you, stare at my long hair. But, you didn't see me, and my friends cut ten inches off for Locks of Love.

I saw you, roll your eyes at our leather coats and gloves.
But, you didn't see me, and my brothers donate our old coats and gloves to those that had none.

I saw you, look in fright at my tattoos.
But, you didn't see me, cry as my children where born and have their name written over and in my heart.

I saw you, change lanes while rushing off to go somewhere.
But, you didn't see me, going home to be with my family.

I saw you, complain about how loud and noisy our bikes can be.
But, you didn't see me, when you were changing the CD and drifted into my lane.

I saw you, yelling at your kids in the car.
But, you didn't see me, pat my child's hands, knowing he was safe behind me.

I saw you, reading the newspaper or map as you drove down the road. But, you didn't see me, squeeze my wife's leg when she told me to take the next turn.

I saw you, race down the road in the rain.
But, you didn't see me, get soaked to the skin so my son could have the car to go on his date.

I saw you, run the yellow light just to save a few minutes of time.
But, you didn't see me, trying to turn right.

I saw you, cut me off because you needed to be in the lane I was in. But, you didn't see me, leave the road.

I saw you, waiting impatiently for my friends to pass.
But, you didn't see me. I wasn't there.

I saw you, go home to your family. But, you didn't see me.
Because, I died that day you cut me off.

I was just a biker. A person with friends and a family.
But, you didn't see me.

Outer Banks Biker

Ten Days That Shook the Nation - First Flight of the Wright Brothers
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Is there fairness in our Juvenile Justice System? Are all court cases treated with the same equality no matter the age, gender, race, or economic background? Is it true that some cases are more political driven rather than others? Is it right for Court Officers (District Attorneys) to lie in our courts to elevate themselves for political reasons? Did you know that there are more children being locked up than there are adults in Currituck & Dare County, about 40% more?
Are our children actually getting an honest and fair judgment according to their crime, not judicial strong arm tactics? These are questions I haven't thought of until recently. There comes a time when all of us have to deal with the court system, very nerve-taking and apprehensive experience especially when children are involved.
What gives a Juvenile Probate Court Counselor the right to lie in a court room just to keep their conviction rating high in numbers, or to make themselves look good in front of a judge.
I can't call out any names. This could cause me to be a political target. My 12 Year old son got into some trouble which put him in The Winfall Detention Center. When he was sentenced, he was given 6-9 years of his life in lockup.
Now there are adults here that have committed worst crimes or the same crime and are released within 6 months with repeated crimes on their records. This was the first time my 12 year old son has ever been in trouble with the law. Can somebody PLEASE tell me what is wrong with this? The court counselor also has been trying to get the court to order me to pay all my son's financial needs while he is under state jurisdiction until he is 18. Never been done in the history of North Carolina.

Bruce Goldman

On our way home from dinner driving down the beach road MP 17.5, when a black dog came from nowhere and ran in front of the SUV. We immediately pulled off the road as the dog was still under the truck. My daughter was driving and she was hysterical. After looking under the truck, it was evident that we had a problem. The dog's paw was stuck between the engine block and the suspension. I activated the ON-star telling them we needed an emergency vet, EMS and police. BIG mistake! It was ten minutes at least before the police arrived and no EMS. He proceeded to argue with me telling me that they would not waste their time on a dog. I asked him if it was his dog if he would feel differently and he became irate. I was almost arrested for that comment. The whole time the dog was crying and moaning with a mutilated left front paw that could not be freed. I called all of the emergency vets and got a recording and no call back.
About and hour later a vet tech arrived. She had no medication. The dog was in shock and needed IV fluids and some sedation. So she left to get some help. About 45 minutes to an hour later she returned with a vet who did not want to be there. She wanted to kill the dog but its owners had arrived in the interum. She gave them the choice of killing the dog or cutting off it's leg. She laughed when asked how the foot was to be taken out of the truck, saying it was our problem. And guess what; she had only 1 IV bag a small amount of sedation and no instrumentation to remove the foot. Hence another trip to the office and another 30 minute wait. When she returned, the dog had infiltrated the IV. I asked her if she was going to start another and she said no. She said that she would put a tourniquet around the leg before amputation but she didn't. Not only that, the dog felt every bit of it and screamed during the whole ordeal. When the dog was pulled out from under the truck, the stump was pumping out blood due to no tourniquet. The dog was also unresponsive at that point. I tried to call the Vet this morning and guess what..they are closed.

I told the police that I was an operating room nurse and knew what needed to be done when he first arived on the scene. He informed me that he didn't care what I did for a living and that they had to go through the channels. I hope to h___ that this man is never sent to my aid. If you can't give compassionate care to all of God's creatures what kind of people are we? He had a bad attitude and if I ever see him in need at the side of the road he's going to die. And I would take pleasure in watching it.My two grandchildren, 7 and 12 were shown lack of compassion by both the vet and the police.
The EMS crew was at the new SNH fire station watching the fireworks. It would have been nice if they had been able to assist in this incident even if it was just a dog! I am apalled and angry about the response this animal received. The whole affiar took 3 1/2 hours to get the dog out.
Ohio visitors

I guess so - $30 a year for a fishing permit that I need for my one weeks vacation to the KH/KDH area?
Guess it just means the fishing gear stays home and I stay off the Avalon Pier.
Its gonna keep tourists out of TW's Bait And Tackle too. (At least this tourist and his 3 kids and his cousin and his cousins kids and... well, you get it, right?)
No more bait purchases. No more hook/line/sinkers.
Too bad. $30 for a weeks stay, just to be able to drop a line in the surf is just way out there.
Ranks right up there with beach replenishment taxes.

Makes me tend to just want to drive an hour and a half to New Jersey or the Delaware beaches instead of the 7 1/2 hours I travel to get to the Outerbanks. My way distant $.02 worth.
Thanks Gov!
Anonymous

In response to the above letter we received the following letter:
Someone should respond to the person complaining about needing a $30 salt water fishing license to surf fish when they come for a weeks vacation and let them know that there is a 10 day license that can be purchased for $5 for NC residents or $10 for non-residents.
Added to the 10 day license I found out that the Avalon pier has purchased a “blanket” license and if you fish OFF the pier then you do not need a license. But if you want to fish on the shore then you do need one.
JimmyZ

We're in the sand moving business, not the house moving business," said geologist Tim Kana of Coastal Science and Engineering as he explained his firm's proposed beach nourishment project to town officials in Nags Head. Kana was part of a pre-recorded forum now running on Dare County government tv Channel 20, three times per day, every day of the week.

The purpose of the program, says Nags Head officials, is to "educate" Dare County citizens, and particularly Nags Head residents about the need for beach nourishment along the town's oceanfront. The proposed $32 million sand project will be put to the voters for approval sometime in the spring of 2007.

Kana tells Nags Head officials that for the sum of $32 million, his firm will engineer and place one-half as much sand on Nags Head's beaches as the Army Corps of Engineers' (ACE) says is needed; and, for one-third the price. Furthermore, says Kana, the sand will stay on the beach for as long as ten years, as opposed to the two to three years predicted by ACE.

Believe what you will, but if this project goes forth, you can be guaranteed that it will eventually affect the pocketbook of every single taxpayer in Dare County, regardless of it's success or failure. This is already evidenced by the county's re-calculation of sales tax distributions among towns if Nags Head raises it's ad valorem taxes to pay for the project.

In addition, the chances that Nags Head's project can even begin for the sum of $32 million might be highly unlikely. Evidence other beach nourishments projects whose recent bids have come in at as much as 25% over original estimate.

Add in Kana's admission that the Outer Banks has the highest energy beaches on the entire east coast. Kana says an ocean dredge operating along the Outer Banks in the winter might get in only three days per week worktime, extending the project up to six months; and that's with daily operating costs of $100,.000 plus, per day. The other four days, the dredge could be making a 60 mile one-way trip to safe harbor in Norfolk, VA.

Everyone in Dare County owes it to themselves to tune to Channel 20, view the program, and form their own opinion as to whether they can buy or afford Nags Head's pitch for a "Yes" vote on beach nourishment come next spring.

Ray Midgett
Southern Shores, NC

(Quote). ".We are working to inform the public (about beach nourishment). We don't want people to read Ray Midgett's column in the newspaper." (end of quote)
- The Coastland Times- Sept. 21, 2006
The above comment was made by Nags Head Mayor Renee Cahoon, speaking at a recent forum held in Manteo by the Institute for Emerging Issues
.

Among other things, the forum was intended to focus on how the state tax system worked and how it might be structured to deal with a growing economy. But, Cahoon, who was on the program, seized the moment to push Nags Head's beach nourishment program and to continue ranting about how misinformed the voters are about the issue.
However, Cahoon isn't by herself. Other town board members such as Commissioner Anna Sadler and Dare Commissioners Warren Judge and Stan White still insist that Dare voters just aren't "educated enough" to understand the need for beach nourishment.
The real question is, does anyone understand why these elected officials didn't get an education of their own back in February, when county residents voted 4-1 and said, "we don't want to be taxed for beach nourishment?"
Does Cahoon and Company really think the people don't know that our beaches are eroding? Do they think that "economic scare tactics" are going to convince people to thrown their hard earned dollars into the ocean? Of course they do.
The odd thing is that Nags Head has worked itself into a corner by taking on the entire beach nourishment issue on its own. Like the "who's educated issue," one can expect other contradictions to occur in the coming months.
In fact, Nags Head's entire beach project is, arguably, a contradiction within itself.
Here's why.
Since 1999, Nags Head had bought into the Army Corps of Engineers project, hook, line and sinker. The Corps told Nags Head it needed 12 million cubic yards of sand for 14 miles of beaches and berms; and, they could expect that sand to last up to three years. It would be worth every penny of the initial $72 million (now over $100 million) said Cahoon and Company. No one questioned the corps expertise at all; that is until the money failed to come through.
Fast forward to 2006. Suddenly, Cahoon and Company have been convinced by a private engineering company that, for one-third the amount of money, all of Nags Head's beaches could be filled with one-third as much sand and it would be good for, not 3 years, but 10 years (yes 10)!
Now, if this whole scenario isn't laughable, then keep listening.
The Nags Head project is set to put only enough sand back on the beach to bring the beach to the exact same state/condition that it was three years ago, before Isabel! To repeat, "after that the beach will be OK for ten years."
One can analyze this anyway they want and still come up with a sound argument that Nags Head's plan, in effect, contradicts the Army Corps' project and even says that the Army Corps project was never needed in the first place, at least not until ten years down the road.
These two measures are so extreme that it is not funny. Tell us, if one doctor said you were going to live, while another told you that you were going to die, would you not seek a third opinion? Not so with Nags Head. Unless they want you, the "uneducated voter" to make the big decision for them? But not before they do a little brain surgery on you first! Like, "the health of someone else's beach cottage is incumbant upon whether you get bread on your table." Like, "if the beach washed away, we will lose all that foreign and illegal alien labor." Like, "if the beaches wash away, the builders/developers will leave town and YOU WILL STARVE!"
Its getting to the point where its hard to tell if the the noise coming from this group is the sound of people treading water or simply swimming backwards.
In closing, if anyone ever sees "Ray Midgett's column" in any newspaper, would you kindly clip it out and send it to BeachHuggers of the Outer Banks.

Some 50 years ago, I was just out of college and had signed on with a public accounting firm in Richmond, Va. The first day I reported to work the senior partner called me into his office to supply me with some words of wisdom.
His words were, "Son if your master the paper trail it will serve you well." Over the years I have found that those words apply to more than accounting records.
A few weeks ago, a friend asked me what I thought of the Town of Kitty Hawk Council elections and the action of the new majority. To answer his question I collected copies of the financial reports filed with the Board of Elections, copies of the town managers weekly reports and various newspaper articles. I believe the citizens of Kitty Hawk will find the paper trail of interest.
I have consolidated the three reports to save space. Total contributed $16,796.(121 contributors.) Contributions of $100 or less $6,254 (91 Contributors.) Contributions over $100. $10,542 (30 contributors.) When we analyze those contributions over $100 (7 contributors.) Emilie Klutz $514; Paul Shaver III RV Sugar Creek $1,800; Julia Lee RV Sugar Creek $1,500; (Reliable source indicates that Ervin Bateman is a minority owner in this restaurant.) Toby Hedgepeth RV Park Operator $1,500; Richard Copsey $900; Robbie and Monica Parker $500; and Merriet Hooper III, Builder $600. These seven contributions totaled $7,314 or 69 percent of the total contributed over $100. Three of these major contributors had lawsuits against the town. Toby Hedgepeth, Richard Copsey and Robbie Parker Construction Co.
The managers weekly reports and copies of consent judgements from Superior Court provide the data for the paper trail of council activity since December 2005.
Emilie Klutz appointed to fill remainder of term left open by election of Clifton Perry to Mayor. Suspended the Town Code of Ethics that the candidates refused to sign during the fall campaign. Appointed Merriet Hooper III to the Planning Board. Mr. Hooper had often stated his desire to see the building codes changed to increase building height, lot coverage, and building setbacks. The Town Council and the Planning Board held a joint meeting in July to discuss these same issues. I ask the citizens of Kitty Hawk to take a ride down the Beach Road through Kill Devil Hills and Nags Head and decide if this is what they want on the beaches of Kitty Hawk. Most of the family homes are gone and are replaced by mini-hotels.
Council canceled the fines that were imposed, granted the height variance and grand fathered Robbie Parker's operations in Kitty Hawk to avoid any future action by citizens.
The council settled eight lawsuits in June for property condemned on the beach. Each lawsuit was settled for the sum of $60,000 each. The settlement that disturbs me is the one with Hedgepeth, Hedgepeth and Hedgepeth Enterprises. The consent judgement Item 1: The town has condemned and shall be permanently vested with a perpetual right and easement over, across and under the property.
Item 2: The easement shall be for the construction and maintenance of the barrier dune and construction and maintenance of Highway12.
Item 3: The town does hereby give, grant, and convey the underlying fee and title to the property, subject to the easement, to Hedgepeth for his benefit and the benefit of his heirs, successors and assigns. Hedgepeth shall not be required to provide general public access over the walkway. (Note: This walkway was constructed by the town using taxpayers funds.)
In fairness to the other property owners on the beach give the title to the property back to them as they did Hedgepeth.
Two of the three financial reports filed by the candidates did not balance. In other words, receipts and disbursements as reported do not equal zero. Two of the candidates wrote checks to a non profit group. the third candidate wrote a check to himself and call it seed money??
It may not be against the law but IT sure clouds the picture when a candidate or council member takes political contributions from donors who have lawsuits or other matters coming before the council.
Someone should also give Mayor Perry a copy of Roberts Rules. The chairman of a committee never makes a motion, however, if you don't have a Town Code of Ethics what the hell!! I believe all of the current council members refused to sign the Town Code of Ethics during the fall Campaign and it has since been suspended.
Someone should also give Councilman Gary Perry two items. A basic bookkeeping course that explains the function of debits and credits and a basic book on etiquette and respect for members of committees and fellow citizens.

Citizens of Kitty Hawk get involved, take back your town!! Harry Shumate

This is what most of our Dare Commissioners envision Heaven will be like. (Rendering by Ray Midgett - Southern Shores, NC)

The decision announced, on March 6 by the Kitty Hawk Town Council is a temporary waver. If they want to make the asphalt plant legal and within code, they would have to change the town code to allow everything in the VC3 to climb to 42’. Then other residents can challenge the 35’ height limit in their zones. The concrete plant, on Poor Ridge Road went up to 50’ without asking anyone even though granfathered parcels are prohibited from expanding. What the Perry Council is actually saying is that it is a "free-for-some." Some people can do whatever they want while others are subject to a permit. Enforcement is, once again, arbitrary. This is where the erosion of Democracy starts, at your home.

What people don’t know about asphalt plants:
1. Asphalt toxicity limits are established by the Scientific Advisory Board of North Carolina and are contingent upon a 160-pound man, because no one thought anyone was STUPID ENOUGH to put an asphalt plant in the back yard of a family. They did the study for plant workers. Of course the stack which emits toxins is ordered by the Division of Air Quality to be 35 feet’, which protects workers and pushes all the fumes onto neighboring families, as demonstrated by Tom Anderson's May 9, 2001 letter “Maximum impacts occurred at or near the property boundary.” Yah! You know, where the neighbors are.
2. When the DAQ modeler, Jim Roller, was asked if toxicity levels were worse for people living nearer the plant in comparison to people living 2,000 feet away, his answer was, “No!”
3. When asked why this was so, the answer, Jim Roller, the” Model Maker” (because they don’t actually test anything in NC) said that currents of air disperse the toxins. I asked him what the highest elevation was within in their test model. He said it was three feet. The wind from the ocean blows toxins away. I informed him that the highest elevation was at the Catholic Church across from Shelby Road and that was 35’ and there was no ocean wind blowing anything away on the leaward side of that ridge. So he changed his model and mysteriously got the same results. Letter from Tom Anderson, AQAB May 9, 2001 “The analysis was submitted in order to establish more lenient emissions limitations for the facility. Arsenic, benzene, formaldehyde, and nickel exceeded the rates outlined.”
4. When Betsy Huddleston, Division of Air Quality, was asked, “If you can smell fumes, are you breathing toxins?” the answer was, “No!”
These are the people you pay with your tax money to protect you. The Perry Town Council was being presented with a study which said, “ there were concerns about the levels of benzene, which may create the risk of cancer, but it is the same type of gas fumes that gas stations emit without regulations.” They went on to vote unanimously to poison their neighbors (Town Council meeting Sept 8, 1998) I wonder if those councilmen would put the noses of their grandchildren over a gas pump 11 hours a day - because that’s what they are forcing their neighbors children to do.

Claudia Larson
906 D Kitty Hawk Road
Kitty Hawk NC
252-255-0031

I would like to say that it is not the primary role of the Federal Government to provide disaster relief for the whole country. It would be nice if we could blame all of our problems on one man. That would make all of us feel so much better. The truth is it is the local and state government's responsibility to provide these services for it's citizens. Everyone in the country knows that Louisiana and New Orleans are the most corrupt places for politics. I think that the local politicians are the ones to blame for their poor planning. Dare county has had years to plan just like Louisiana has and they have it together whenever a hurricane comes. It is not the presidents state and it is not the presidents city, it is the local peoples and the local government. Remember: government by the people and for the people. Not by the president.

Tom Lee

To George W. Bush,

Mr. President New Orleans is dying and so are its citizens. This country is trying to save a major city “on the cheap.”

What is going on? Did you blow the entire strength of the United States abroad, leaving nothing for the citizens that really need it? The poorest of the poor live in New Orleans and the Gulf region. We are supposed to be the richest, most powerful country in the world.

Funds were cut to repair the infrastructure of New Orleans. It is the busiest port in the United States. It processes and supplies one-fourth of nation’s petroleum. Is there any money or manpower left to handle the needs of the citizens of this country? Must we resort to begging its citizens for donations and arm twisting corporations into paying for this disaster? This adminstation does not have the competancy or the infrastructure to handle a terrorist attack or a natural disaster in this country. We need new leadership and "we the people" need to wake up!

PS WE ALSO NEED SOME BUSES IN NEW ORLEANS.

Thank you very much.
Roger and Maureen Jarrell
Kitty Hawk, NC

As I drove into Manteo today, following an automobile with a bumper sticker reading, "UNC-Dare- It's a Shore Thing", I felt a sense of sadness.
I know how hard all of you have worked to get a UNC Coastal Studies Institute and school for the study of marine science established here on the Outer Banks.
I am proud of everything that has been accomplished to date and I wish you every success for the future.
However, as I reminisced about the politics of the matter; (1) you good people trying to get the school up and running, and (2) the business community, supportive of you in many ways, yet all the while set on a dead course to ruin our natural beaches with nourishment; I felt a sense of cynicism and sadness.
Will it be necessary for you, and the people who truly support and understand the need to study and protect our shoreline and its fragile environment, to compromise, for the urgency of the moment in order to complete your task? Or, like true pioneers, will you be willing to say, right now......."What you (people) are proposing flies smack in the face of what you are supporting (the school). Beach nourishment is wrong for the Outer Banks."
The Outer Banks beaches are the best, the finest and one of the last natural, undisturbed seashores on the entire east coast. Please use every opportunity you have available, at the earliest possible moment, to see that we don't destroy it, all for the sake of burgeoning tourist economy.

Ray Midgett
BeachHuggers of the Outer Banks
252-261-9797
www.beachhuggers.com

Blind or Confused !

Three out of 4 self-described supporters of President George W. Bush still believe that pre-war Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction or active programs to produce them. According to a recent survey, the same number also believes that Iraqi President Saddam Hussein provided "substantial support" to al Qaeda.
But here is the truly amazing part of this story. As many or more Bush supporter’s hold these beliefs today than they did several months ago. In other words, more people believe the claims today, even though a through government investigation has disproved both claims.
These are among the most striking findings of a survey conducted in mid-October by the University of Maryland's Program on International Policy Attitudes.
According to these findings, most supporters of the Bush administration will believe anything the administration says, even if it has been proved to be untrue.
RJ
Kitty Hawk

Kitty Hawk Politics

Dear Francis Meekins
and/or Tony Sylvester
Thank you for the most interesting editorial in today's Coastland Times.
In the future, you should feel free to use my name, Ray Midgett, and/or BeachHuggers of the Outer Banks anytime you refer to efforts by our group to inform Dare citizens about the dangers, futility and excessive costs of beach nourishment on the Outer Banks.
And, thank you again for "hitting the nail on the head" in the editorial in categorizing the craziness and misleading efforts of our board of commissioners for going along with the special interest groups' desire to appoint a paid staff to oversee "tossing more money into the ocean" along our beautiful natural seashore.
Incidentally, you should rest assured that "BeachHuggers of the Outer Banks" counts among it's contributors no less than 6 or 7 currently elected or formerly elected county/town officials, along with dozens of contributors who have help funnel money into your newspaper's ad accounts for fighting this useless effort.
Ray Midgett,
Member, BeachHuggers of the Outer Banks
154 Duck Woods Drive (three, not two digits in address). Southern Shores, NC

Dear Nags Head Commissioners
I watched tv today with amazement as the engineers from Coastal Science & Engineering (CSE) presented your board meeting with proposals for a mini-beach nourishment project for Nags Head beaches. I was flabbergasted; just as I am sure anyone else who has followed this issue for the past five years must have been.
I sincerely hope the Dare County Commissioners, along with the Army Corps of Engineers will rent a video copy of this meeting and view that presentation. Meanwhile, as you know; I have been the sole owner of the Virginia Dare Bridge for several years. Today, I am ready to sell. The North Carolina Department of Transportation will tell you the bridge spans nearly five miles and cost me just over $100,000,000. However, they are incorrect. I am willing to sell you, the Nags Head Town Board this amazing bridge, which, by the way is actually only two miles long; for the paltry sum of $20,000,000. I will guarantee that the 2-mile bridge will get you safely across the Croatan Sound to the mainland; and that it will last you, not fifty years, but 200 years. If you can get county/state and/or federal funding for this purchase, please let me know.
Now, on a more sober side; please don't forget that the ocean beaches that abut your fine town belong to every citizen of Dare County, North Carolina and this great nation. Please treat them with care.

Is Ohio A Third World State
This description of 2004 presidential election mishaps reminds one of the mishaps in elections in third world countries. Read this story and tell us what you think.
Tanya Thivener's is a tale of two voting precincts in Franklin County. In her city neighborhood, which is vastly Democratic and majority black, the 38-year-old mortgage broker found a line snaking out of the precinct door. She stood in line for four hours -- one hour in the rain -- and watched dozens of potential voters mutter in disgust and walk away without casting a ballot. Afterward, Thivener hopped in her car and drove to her mother's house, in the vastly Republican and majority white suburb of Harrisburg. How long, she asked, did it take her to vote? Fifteen minutes, her mother replied."It was . . . poor planning," Thivener said. "County officials knew they had this huge increase in registrations, and yet there weren't enough machines in the city. You really hope this wasn't intentional."
Electoral problems prevented many thousands of Ohioans from voting on Nov. 2. In Columbus, bipartisan estimates say that 5,000 to 15,000 frustrated voters turned away without casting ballots. But similar problems occurred across the state and fueled protest marches and demands for a recount. The foul-ups appeared particularly acute in Democratic-leaning districts, according to interviews with voters, poll workers, election observers and election board and party officials, as well as an examination of precinct voting patterns in several cities. In Cleveland, poorly trained poll workers apparently gave faulty instructions to voters that led to the disqualification of thousands of provisional ballots and misdirected several hundred votes to third-party candidates.
In Youngstown, 25 electronic machines transferred an unknown number of votes for Sen. John F. Kerry (D-Mass.) to the Bush column. In Columbus, Cincinnati and Toledo, and on college campuses, election officials allocated far too few voting machines to busy precincts, with the result that voters stood on line as long as 10 hours -- many leaving without voting. Some longtime voters discovered their registrations had been purged. source

Settlement Possible in
Asphalt Plant Dispute
What’s to settle? A conditional use permit can not come before the Board of Adjusters to be changed. One of the conditions of use of the asphalt permit is an agreed upon height limit of 35 feet. In order to change that, they must come before the Town Council and ask for a change in the conditions of use. They came before the Town Council and asked for a change and the town would not rewrite the permit. The End. This is our town code. This is our democratic procedure. This is not to be bargained away. What, pay the fine and continue to be in violation?
This issue has no business before a judge. It is a local zoning issue and has been addressed. What if everyone said, “I don’t like the town code. I’m going to ask a judge to change it just for me.” It’s only fair that the “popular native” get what he wants. His business is the only heavy industry in a village commercial zone. His is the only business that is allowed to dump toxins on his neighbors. All other Conditional Use Permits require no fumes over the property boarders. All other Conditional Use Permits specifically prohibit noise over the property border. His business is specifically allowed to make noise over his property border. This is a classic example of “exclusive privilege” which is a gross violation of our constitutional rights. Now he wants to be the highest business in the VC3, not to mention the ugliest.
What we are talking about is having a judge overturn our constitutional procedure. Which means anyone can apply for a Conditional Use Permit, then do an end run around the Town Council and get the Board of Adjustors to change it to their liking, but only if they like you.
It’s Thanksgiving and we must Give Thanks to Mr. Bateman and Mr. Perry for all of this, and all of the wasted money this has cost the town. The Popular Native financed their run for office, and if they ever get the rest of their cronies back in, Kitty Hawk will become one big stinking industrial zone run by the Board of Adjusters, a judge and, of course, the “Popular Native”.

Blind or Confused !
Three out of 4 self-described supporters of President George W. Bush still believe that pre-war Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction or active programs to produce them. According to a recent survey, the same number also believes that Iraqi President Saddam Hussein provided "substantial support" to al Qaeda.
But here is the truly amazing part of this story. As many or more Bush supporter’s hold these beliefs today than they did several months ago. In other words, more people believe the claims today, even though a through government investigation has disproved both claims.
These are among the most striking findings of a survey conducted in mid-October by the University of Maryland's Program on International Policy Attitudes.
According to these findings, most supporters of the Bush administration will believe anything the administration says, even if it has been proved to be untrue.
RJ
Kitty Hawk

Hoopage
Our Legislators have mountains of legislation in place, they are simply not being enforced or have instituted hoops to negotiate so it gives one the illusion that the state of North Carolina is protecting something. They are having a meeting Monday, August 30 at Kitty Hawk Town Hall to add some more legislation or hoopage regarding fill.

An Open Letter To The Nags Head Inn
As you know, several weeks ago I stayed at the Nags Head Inn with a dear friend of mine. Her recent bout of chemotherapy had rendered her nearly immobile due to, among many other things, terrible pain and severe blistering of her
feet. Being the eternal optimist that she is (and that you have to be when battling this disease) she had hoped to be feeling better by the time we checked out, two days later. We hoped for the best, knowing that the beach house we had reserved would not be available until mid-afternoon on the day of check-out. We knew that if her condition did not improve, there was no way she could endure the period from hotel check-out to beach house check-in without an appropriate place to rest (i.e., in a bed with her feet elevated). Unfortunately, her condition did not improve over our two days at the hotel, and we were left with quite a dilemma.
Hoping to find a modicum of compassion at the Nags Head Inn, I asked the staff at the front desk if we could stay a few hours past check-out, given the extraordinary circumstances. Much to my surprise, considering the typically generous attitudes I've encountered when visiting other establishments in the Outer Banks, the answer was no. I was told over and over again, in no uncertain terms, that the policy of the Nags Head Inn is to charge an extra day to anyone who stays past check-out. I questioned several members of the staff about this policy, including the general manager, and received exactly the same
response each time. (What they lack in compassion, they more than make up for in consistency.) Not wanting to let this regrettable episode ruin what would otherwise turn out to be a very nice vacation, I decided to pay the additional $175 so that we could stay the extra few hours.
Ignoring the cancer issue for a moment (and the fact that this occurred on a Sunday, of all days) I have stayed at many hotels where the staff was more than happy to let me delay my checkout for reasons as innocuous as a meeting that ran too long or a poorly-timed airline flight. In all cases I received a friendly "Take as much time as you need. Don't worry about it. Just be sure to stay with us the next time that you're in town." And I do, precisely because of their attitude. (As opposed to your company's incomprehensible "Pay us or get out!" attitude.) This may seem somewhat foreign to you, but many establishments desire return visits from their customers. They are willing to go out of their way, and maybe even forfeit a small amount of short-term profit, in order to ensure a long-term relationship with their clients. Perhaps there are so many people seeking hotel rooms in Nags Head that you don't have to concern yourself with pleasing your customers, since there will always be more. Frankly, I cannot think of another reason why a hotel with your attitude would still be in business otherwise.
Now, given the fact that our checkout was delayed because my friend was terribly ill, I cannot help but find your corporation's attitude anything but utterly appalling. Even if you are profit-driven enough to charge someone an extra $175 because they couldn't finish packing in time, how can you possibly sleep at night after forcing that kind of ultimatum on a cancer patient? Is the money that important to you? Is it so important that you are blinded to kindness and compassion and concepts as simple as helping others? I have to believe that even the most greed-possessed among us would decry your actions.
Yet, your email response to my concerns states that "You knew when you came to the area that there would be a gap between check out time at any hotel and check in time at your rental home. This was a chance that you chose to take." In other words, "It's your own stupid fault!" While I would ordinarily be offended by such a statement, I must confess that I am entirely unmoved by this declaration, as it is exactly the kind of response that I have come to expect from the Nags Head Inn. And although I agree that we knew the potential for an unpleasant outcome existed, I found it much more likely that the unpleasantness would result from an impending hurricane and mass evacuation, rather than the wanton and callous disregard of our situation by a cash-obsessed corporation. As I explained previously, we were quite hopeful that she would feel better by the time we checked out. We were also quite hopeful that if not, we could rely on the kindness of the people in the Outer Banks to see us through. This attitude had never failed us in the past, but of course we had never stayed at the Nags Head Inn. And despite the fact that this disheartening experience has deeply tarnished my view of the business community in the Outer Banks, I remain quite confident that if we had stayed at any other hotel in the area, we would have been treated with respect and compassion, and this most frustrating occurrence would have been avoided.
Instead, I was told by your front desk staff that the only way housekeeping could have all available rooms ready for other patrons was by ensuring that every customer checked out on time. This statement, which I find very difficult to believe, is also implied in your email. The only way that this statement can possibly be true is if the cleaning of every available room in your hotel begins at check-out time. Otherwise, a customer could stay somewhat beyond check-out time without hindering your ability to clean all available rooms. Therefore I am very curious to know which claim is correct. Does the cleaning of every available room in your hotel begin at check-out time, or is the statement which your front desk staff made, and which your email implied, untrue? (I can likely help you answer this question, as there were a number of housekeepers still cleaning rooms on our floor when we checked out later that day.) Assuming that the cleaning of all rooms does not begin at check-out, and we could have therefore stayed somewhat longer without rendering the room unavailable, I can only come to the conclusion that the motivation for charging us an extra day was greed. It is readily apparent that the Nags Head Inn is much more concerned with their customers' wallets than with the customers themselves.
And while it is true that we were most generously offered a seat by the pool (which was surrounded by screaming children slinging wet Nerf footballs about) this is hardly a comfortable arrangement for someone whose persistent pain can only be made slightly more tolerable by extensive bed-rest and a never-ending parade of pills. (We were not offered, as you claim, a stay in your conference/hospitality room unless that room consists of the chairs in your lobby.) And if you understand in the least how cancer can ravage not only one's body, but one's self-image (which, given your company's actions, seems unlikely) you just might be able to comprehend why someone with this horrible disease be put out on public display, even in surroundings as ideal for the compromised immune system as a hotel pool. In fact, you might even be condescending and absolutely abhorrent. your comment is that we "would not be out in the hot sun." You obviously just don't get it.
Your email goes on to state that "you would not consider anything but staying in that room at no charge." This is untrue. The only alternative offered by your staff was the "pool option" which I described previously as an inappropriate, if not completely absurd, alternative. I did ask the front desk staff whether prorating the room was an option, and I was told that it was not. (Although I felt that it would have been fair for us to pay a portion of the daily rate, assuming that the outlandish housekeeping claims mentioned earlier were true, I must agree that prorating the room is not an option, as I cannot imagine any corporation with even the slightest amount of human concern asking for a prorated amount.)
Finally, your email states "I know that you do not want to see the Nags Head Inn view on this." This could not be further from the truth. I have been waiting nearly two weeks to hear your view. I was very curious to find out how a corporation, and the people within that corporation, could justify treating their customers in such a manner, particularly one as ill as my friend. I had hoped that by hearing your rationalizations, I could somehow understand your actions, and perhaps convince myself that this most discouraging situation was not due to an intentional disregard for the happiness and well-being of others, but a terrible misunderstanding that could be resolved. Unfortunately, this has not turned out to be the case, and I fear that we are all the worse for having endured it. I sincerely hope that no one associated with the Nags Head Inn is ever affected by the scourge of cancer, but if they are, I pray that they find more compassion in their journeys than did we.
John Morris,
Fredericksburg, VA
EMAIL THE NAGS HEAD INN AT info@nagsheadinn.com
CALL THE NAGS HEAD INN AT 1 (800) 327-8881

The Beach Nourishment Committee has never described the criteria that we would use to decide to stop replacing sand that is eroded from our beaches. That means that we are planning to start a project that has no end point. The sand that will be continually washed away will have to be replaced, forever. The cost to Dare County taxpayers will easily reach hundreds of millions of dollars with no upper limit in sight. We can do better. Instead of trying to preserve the existing beach structures, we should create a plan to move in a new direction. We can pull back the development from the ocean and have, eventually, an open, undeveloped beach with a parallel access road and plenty of parking. Rather than hurting the tourist businesses, clearing the beach of the existing structures will increase the number of people vacationing here. If we want more tourist dollars, an open beach will attract more people than beach nourishment. I support any expenditures required to hire the experts that we need to create a long term plan that results in a "new and better" Outer Banks.

I urge everyone who loves the Outer Banks and is concerned about the environmental future of our beautiful seashore to please visit our website at http://web.archive.org/web/20050324120539/http://www.beachhuggers.com/. We need your help and support to get our local elected officials to "listen to the people" and not just special interest groups here on the Outer Banks. Please give us a few minutes of your time. Stop by our website; and then, please contact your elected officials and give them your opinion, whatever it may be.
Ray Midgett
Southern Shores, NC

Beach "Renourishment"
I agree with everything Mr. Midgett stated in his letter. I am glad more people are speaking out on the subject. I have written about it in the past in my letters to the editors of the Coastland Times and Sentinel. We need to rouse people to speak up. Many people in Dare County never go to the beach and don't seem care about it. Maybe the proposed sales tax increase to 8 percent to help fund beach nourishment may get their attention. Why should the majority fund a minority's interests?

Beach Nourishment Outer Banks
Subject: HB 142 - Beach Nourishment Outer Banks
Finance Committee - North Carolina House of Representatives

It's Voting Time
It’s voting time! And I’d like to tell a story. Once upon a time, to be more exact, August 3, 1998, Mr. Nuzzi left the protected confines of his home in the exclusive, gated community of Martins Point to attend a Kitty Hawk town hall public hearing to allow an asphalt plant. At that time he stood up and professed his support for this heavy industry. (Minutes from meeting, page 52) That would leave certain children, not living in Martins Point, in harms way. They weren’t his kids, so I guess it wasn’t his concern.
It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see that putting an asphalt plant in residents’ back yards will expose their children to toxins. Next time you’re passing asphalt road construction, park your car in the emissions and sit there for 11 hours. That’s what we in Kitty Hawk are forced to do. The neighbors have asked the state for the approximate percentage of pollutants falling on their properties. They can not supply that information to us but they know what we are breathing is legal and that the highest pollutant impact is at the property border where we live not at the plant site

Kitty Hawk Politics
It has been said that politics is sometimes an ugly business. Nowhere is this more evident than in the town of Kitty Hawk where a group of dissidents, operating under the guise of the Kitty Hawk Citizens Association, continue to discredit/undermine decisions made by the current town council. Lately much publicity has been generated about the rising costs of the town legal fees, however, the real issue of concern to the Kitty Hawk Citizens Association is the voting majority on the council. After the defeat of one of the council incumbents at the last election, the statement was made “one down, three to go”. It appears that their objective is to return to the previous “do nothing/spend nothing” philosophy of town government.

outerbanksfreepress.com

Letters and Opinions from the Outer Banks of North Carolina
Cape Hatteras Lighthouse with Surrounding Sand Fence Photographic Print Winter, Steve Buy at AllPosters.com Sunrise at the Outer Banks Photographic Print Buy at AllPosters.com Female Surfer Doing a Headstand on a Surfboard Framed Photographic Print Buy at AllPosters.com Silhouette of Woman in Beach Chair on the Beach Photographic Print Diamond, Mitch Buy at AllPosters.com After Glow Art Print Lynch, Brent Buy at AllPosters.com Reflections on the Sea I Art Print Werner, Dan Buy at AllPosters.com Sea Poster Langrish, Bob Buy at AllPosters.com Ready for Action, Nags Head, North Carolina Giclee Print Buy at AllPosters.com Close-up of Surf on a Sandy Beach Photographic Print Miller, John Buy at AllPosters.com A Bold Ghost Crab Stands its Ground on a Sandy Beach Photographic Print Buy at AllPosters.com Sailing Ship Poster Buy at AllPosters.com Dunes Beaches Art Print Urgelles Buy at AllPosters.com Fishing Pier, Nags Head, North Carolina Premium Photographic Print Christopher,... Buy at AllPosters.com A Sand Fence Used to Control Dune Erosion Photographic Print Buy at AllPosters.com Led Zeppelin Fabric Poster Buy at AllPosters.com Cape Lookout Light, Prototype For All Outer Banks Lighthouses Photographic Print Gehman, Raymond Buy at AllPosters.com Wind, Waves and Fisherman in an Suv on a Beach in the Outer Banks Photographic Print Brown, Skip Buy at AllPosters.com obxyoga.net	The Bill of Rights - First Amendment Poster Buy at AllPosters.com	Jellyfish of Cape Hatteras Photographic Print Youngbluth, M. Buy at AllPosters.com Hatteras Banks, NC Photographic Print Elisofon, Eliot Buy at AllPosters.com Ashtanga Yoga Center of the Outer Banks Schedule & Special Events Find Vegan & Vegetarian Food on the Outer Banks vegobx.com Sandy Beach II Art Print Buy at AllPosters.com Endless Summer - Inside the Wave T-Shirt Buy at AllPosters.com Bahama Breeze Art Print Stoecklein, David... Buy at AllPosters.com Moon and Stars Photographic Print Lane, Dennis Buy at AllPosters.com Woman Standing on Beach in Silhouette Photographic Print Romerhaus, Bill Buy at AllPosters.com Beachfront Homes, Atlantic, Nags Head Photographic Print Winiker, Barry Buy at AllPosters.com Dune Fence Art Print Kahn, Michael Buy at AllPosters.com Surfboard Art Print Lewis, Kim Buy at AllPosters.com High Tide Art Print Penney,... Buy at AllPosters.com Underwater View of a Brown Pelican Fishing for Food Photographic Print Buy at AllPosters.com USA Coast from New York to Cape Hatteras 1809 Giclee Print Holland, Capt. N. Buy at AllPosters.com Sunrise at the Outer Banks Photographic Print Buy at AllPosters.com Moonlit Ocean Poster Buy at AllPosters.com Aerial View of Cars on the Coast of the Outer Banks Photographic Print Winter, Steve Buy at AllPosters.com

	Test Windmills in Pamlico Sound
	As I sit here before my tv, mesmerized while viewing your Monday meeting, I would like to offer words of support for the comments made by Commissioners Mike Johnson and Jack Shea regarding the placement of test windmills in Pamlico Sound, west of Hatteras Island. Com. Johnson is spot, right on, in his comment that wildlife will be plumb frightened right out of their feathers by the sight of these structures. I remember, as a young man and avid duck hunter, growing up on Roanoke Island over 50 years ago, when they moved the Drafty Tavern from the Manteo/Wanchese intersection to the present site of Pirates' Cove. All was fine until they erected the darn tv antenna on the roof! After that, duck hunting in the hammock behind the tavern was zilch! Frankly, I think Johnson should ask your board to do a study on how all bridges, lighthouses, and transmitter towers have affected the wildlife airways here in Dare County over the years. This would blow the entire windmill proposal out of the water! Dare County has enough "firsts". We don't need to be the first in the nation to erect windmills over the water; no matter how badly this nation needs alternative energy sources. I say, "Go, Mike!" Secondly, I would like to commend Com. Mike Johnson on his recent stupendous remark(s) that (1) claims of sea level rise are bogus, (2) and, we are not losing our beaches, due to sea level rise, but due to "erosion."....I believe these remarks are worthy of a Nobel Peace Prize. And to Com. Jack Shea...I am with him 100%. I would never want to stand on the sands of Hatteras Island, looking westward and have my view of an Outer Banks sunrise blemished by windmills standing out there in the sound! Another Peace Prize for Shea! Finally, to Com. Warren Judge....I have to squirm in my chair when I hear you, so often, use the phrase "special interests" in referring to the environmentalists. For over 10 years I watched as you were one of the "most active and vocal" supporter/members of such groups as Outer Banks Realtors/Hotel/Motel/Restaurant/Builders Assoc. pushing their propaganda for beach nourishment here on the Outer Banks. The term "special interests" should never pass from your lips, else the Good Lord strike you Dead! Ray Midgett Southern Shores, NC

	Dare County Website
	Fellow Dare Commissioners, Ten years ago, as a reporter for the Outer Banks Sentinel, it was a pleasure for me to write a feature story covering the "new" Dare County website, which was state-of-the-art at that time. In fact, the site had been recognized by other county governments in NC as a trend setter in advising citizens about county government operations and happenings. Today, ten years later, the Dare County website looks pretty much the same as it did back then. It is drab, cold, lacking in color, splash and appeal. It is years behind other county websites! Why? Please take a look at neighboring county websites. Currituck County and Pasquotank County, for example. Compare and ask yourself why Dare, with its staffing and funding can't keep up? Do you know you can view county commissioner meetings on the Currituck website at your leisure? And, this is only one of the ways Dare is behind. Check both county's GIS pages... What is Dare County doing with its website and staffing today? I'll tell you. Dare is using it's county staff and funding, not improving the website, but promoting nongovernmental/controversial matters such as (1) Build the Bridge, (2) Save Beach Access, etc. Meeting minutes/recaps that used to be available in days, now take months to be online. Check the Channel 20 viewing calendar right now and and ask why it begins with August 24th, instead of today's date. Why? Where are current event photos and the other splash that make other counties' websites so appealing? Finally, please tell me how many employees are assigned to this website and what have they been doing for the past 10 years? One more thing Commissioners. Why doesn't this email address, as listed on the county website work? dcboc@darenc.com Your message wasn't delivered because of security policies. Microsoft Exchange will not try to redeliver this message for you. Please provide the following diagnostic text to your system administrator. Ray Midgett
	Nags Head Mayoral Election
	I am not close with Mayor Renee Cahoon, and have nothing to do with her campaign. I have seen Bob Oakes management over the Village of Nags Head through his control of the Homeowners Associations, where restrictive covenants on property owners are more stringent than the infamous Town of Nags Head building codes and ordinances. Mr. Oakes likes to portray an image of being a nice guy from humble beginnings and hard work, with a respect for rules, but we have found through the years he is otherwise. By the way, is the Village of Nags Head Waste water treatment plant in compliance yet? Mr. Oakes actions demonstrate he wants to be in charge of the rules and is personally is above following them, which in our estimation makes him an "elitist" who answers to no higher authority. Although Ms. Cahoon may leave something to be desired in terms of "professional appearance" and Mr. Oakes has become a popular fellow by his conspicuous contributions to the community, in our opinion he is setting up a potential "Kingdom in Nags Head", where the rules apply to everyone except him. Mr. Oakes does not feel his children should go to school with the other Nags Head children, so the "no exceptions" rule of all Nags Head Children going to Manteo school district does not apply to him. WHY? His children attend the First Flight District, we are sure he has a "reasonable" explanation. Does he have a house listed as his primary residence with the Board of Education in Kill Devil Hills? I wonder which of his many resort houses are listed as his primary residence with the IRS? Better get Sandy Semans on that one, oops no wait...she wants him to beat Renee Cahoon too, because she does not like Renee, so she won't print anything bad about Oakes. I get the feeling we are not electing Bob Oakes, but rather not electing Renee. Fitting for a man who does not stand for anything, running for office when he is assured to stay on council if he loses. He just likes to be "politically correct" and keep up appearances. Kind of sad for this great town. Do we really want to elect a man to the Towns highest office, who does not believe rules apply to him, does not go to church, does not care about the sewage dumping into the sound, does not technically live here? What do we really know about him, besides "he seems like a nice guy"...any substance there? Hello, anybody home? I guess really, it does not matter much. It's the way our political system operates these days...anyone with the ambition can buy themselves a reputation. I do not have a vote here, as I do not lie about my primary residence to anyone, although I was asked too by the the folks who pushed Beach Nourishment a couple years ago (wait...was that Oakes too?). But I will research and write as much as I can against Oakes, because I feel I have seen the "Real Guy" behind the facade, and I am afraid others are not looking. Nags Head is better off (the way it is) without him.
	Joan Bennett Invested Summer guest of Nags Head
	REPLY TO NAGS HEAD MAYORAL ELECTION
	I do not know Joan Bennett, but I do know Bob Oakes very well; as a friend, as a businessman, an elected official and a person who had never once denied a charitable request from the many civic organizations I represent. I am unable to recognize the person Ms. Bennett described in her screed to this forum. Just to make sure those reading have know I have no axe to grind, I consider Renee Cahoon a friend and a person I admire greatly. As occurs in many local elections, I will have to have to choose between two people I respect very much, and one of them will not prevail. If someone had penned a letter about Renee that I felt misrepresented her character, I would defend her as well. Bob Oakes is a genuinely nice person and one of the few elected officials I know who thinks issues through and actually listens to opposing views. As a Nags Head resident, I would be proud to have him serve as my Mayor, just as I would if Renee were elected. We have two good people running and that's a rare thing in this day and age. Russell Lay Nags Head, NC

	Double Standard in Kill Devil Hills
	It seem there is a double standard alive and well in Kill Devil Hills. The KDH police are driving an illegal vehicle on highway 12 and issuing tickets from it. KDH police have an ATV and are driving it on public streets. When I inquired about doing this I was told that ATV where not street legal with out very heavy modification. The police ATV looks very stock with off road tires (NOT DOT APPROVED), no turn signals, NON DOT Approved lighting ( head lights and brake lights). I assume this vechicle was purchased for beach patrol. But the police are using it for traffic stops. Can anybody explain why the police can use a vechile that is clearly illegal and nobody else can. I have seen KDH police stop people driving questionable vechiles on public roads. Now they are doing it. They drive it without helmets her is a link to NC laws for ATVs http://www.atvsafety.gov/legislation/NorthCarolinalaw.pdf Here is a link to the manufactures web site http://www.polarisindustries.com/en-US/Ranger/Pages/Home.aspx How many laws can KDH police break before anybody cares??? hazezilla
	Kill Devil Hills Police Department Reply to " Double Standard in Kill Devil Hills".....
	The Police Department is operating the ATV or "Utility Vehicle"/Beach Patrol Vehicle in accordance with G.S. 20-171.23-24. This vehicle is equipped with operable front and rear lights and a horn, in addition to the same emergency equipment i.e., blue lights and siren as the regular police sedans have. The Utility Vehicle is also equipped with roll bars and a roof/top and seatbelts, which puts it into a different category from a regular ATV, therefore making the use of a helmet optional. The Police Department does have a green ATV that is used for beach patrol and the officers are required to wear a helmet while on the street or highway and by statute have the option to remove it once they cross the dune line. The officers go to and from the beach on this vehicle and as a general rule do not take any enforcement action while on the street or highway. The Utility Vehicle on the other hand is equipped with emergency equipment and while the officers are patrolling the beach accesses for improper parking, the Avalon Pier parking area and the hotel parking lots for criminal activity they are no doubt going to encounter violations on NC 12 and they will issue citations accordingly. The Police Department is in no way attempting to set a double standard, we are merely utilizing our limited resources in the most legal and efficient manner. The officers are also given a four hour safety/ATV/UV (operation of) in-service class for the purposes of beach patrol. I would be glad to meet with anyone who has questions or concerns about any of the Police Department activities because we are a very transparent, law abiding, and professional organization. While I appreciate and welcome citizens voicing their concerns, I would rather they have the courage to identify themselves and refrain from accusing my officers of wrong doing before they have gathered all the facts. Again, myself or Assistant Chief Harris are available any time to answer questions or concerns. § 20-171.23. Motorized all-terrain vehicles of law enforcement officers and fire, rescue, and emergency medical services permitted on certain highways. (a) Law enforcement officers acting in the course and scope of their duties may operate motorized all-terrain vehicles, as defined in G.S. 14-159.3(b) and owned or leased by the agency, or under the direct control of the incident commander, on: (i) public highways where the speed limit is 35 miles per hour or less; and (ii) nonfully controlled access highways with higher speeds for the purpose of traveling from a speed zone to an adjacent speed zone where the speed limit is 35 miles per hour or less. (b) Fire, rescue, and emergency medical services personnel acting in the course and scope of their duties may operate motorized all-terrain vehicles, as defined in G.S. 14-159.3(b) and owned or leased by fire, rescue, or emergency medical services departments, or under the direct control of the incident commander, on: (i) public highways where the speed limit is 35 miles per hour or less; and (ii) nonfully controlled access highways with higher speeds for the purpose of traveling from a speed zone to an adjacent speed zone where the speed limit is 35 miles per hour or less. (c) This Part and all other State laws governing the operation of all-terrain vehicles apply to the operation of all-terrain vehicles authorized by this section. (d) An all-terrain vehicle operated pursuant to this section shall be equipped with operable front and rear lights and a horn. (e) A person operating an all-terrain vehicle pursuant to this section shall observe posted speed limits and shall not exceed the manufacturer's recommended speed for the vehicle. (f) A person operating an all-terrain vehicle pursuant to this section shall carry an official identification card or badge. (2007-433, s. 1.) § 20-171.24. Motorized all-terrain vehicle use by employees of listed municipalities and counties permitted on certain highways. (a) Municipal and county employees may operate motorized all-terrain vehicles, as defined in G.S. 14-159.3(b) and owned or leased by the agency, on: (i) public highways where the speed limit is 35 miles per hour or less; and (ii) nonfully controlled access highways with higher speeds for the purpose of traveling from a speed zone to an adjacent speed zone where the speed limit is 35 miles per hour or less. (b) This Part and all other State laws governing the operation of all-terrain vehicles apply to the operation of all-terrain vehicles authorized by this section. (c) An all-terrain vehicle operated pursuant to this section shall be equipped with operable front and rear lights and a horn. (d) A person operating an all-terrain vehicle pursuant to this section shall observe posted speed limits and shall not exceed the manufacturer's recommended speed for the vehicle. (e) A person operating an all-terrain vehicle pursuant to this section shall carry an official identification card or badge. (f) This section applies to the Towns of Ansonville, Atlantic Beach, Burgaw, Carolina Beach, Cramerton, Dallas, Davidson, Duck, Emerald Isle, Franklin, Indian Beach, Kill Devil Hills, Kitty Hawk, Kure Beach, Lowell, Manteo, Murphy, Nags Head, North Topsail Beach, Oakboro, Ocean Isle Beach, Pine Knoll Shores, Stanley, Surf City, Sylva, Topsail Beach, and Wrightsville Beach, the Cities of Albemarle, Belmont, Cherryville, Gastonia, Kings Mountain, Mount Holly, and Rockingham and the Counties of Cleveland, Currituck, Gaston, Surry, and Wilkes only. (2007-433, s. 2; 2008-99, s. 1.) Gary L. Britt, MPA/MM Chief of Police Kill Devil Hills Police Dept. 102 Town Hall Dr. Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 (252) 449-5323 glbrit@kdhnc.com Thank you Dana Harris Assistant Chief Kill Devil Hills Police Department 102 Town Hall Dr. (PO Box 1605) Kill Devil Hills, NC 27948 252-449-5337 Fax 441-8281

	All Hands on Deck
	Senate Bill 832 is the most serious piece of legislation affecting our N.C. coastline since the Basnight bill that prohibited "hard structures" on the beach. SB 832 will negate that, and with state Senate leader Marc Basnight's blessings. The bill, which allows for terminal groins on any section of beach, has passed the Senate and sits in a House committee where, I believe, the chances of passage are, at any moment, very good. Proponents have kept a low profile on this, hoping to keep it out of the public eye. Soon, North Carolina could be like the Jersey shore. North Carolina residents deserve to know about these behind the scene happenings -- and react appropriately. Ray Midgett Southern Shores

	Dare County Board of Commissioners Discuss Banning Specific Dog Breeds
	Hello - My name is Heather Akers and I am a resident of Dare County. I feel like it is news worthy to address the Dare County Board of Commissioners trying to ban specific breeds in response to the recent tragedy in Kitty Hawk. As horrible and heartbreaking as that incident was, I feel it is irresponsible of our Commissioners to try to ban what they believe to be a "dangerous breed". I attended the meeting last night when this subject was brought up. They did pass the ordinance presented with some changes to get something immediately on the books but they left the door open to go back later and amend it to ban specific breeds. I felt like a dog ordinance was necessary to prevent this tragedy from happening again or to have something in place when it does, but if they pass breed specific legislation or make residents acquire a 100k insurance policy, which essentially will ban the breeds due to the exhorbant cost, they are punishing every other responsible dog owner. Commissioner Tillet felt like there needed to be a public hearing on this, however Commissioner Warren Judge did not and in speaking with the Town Attorney Bobby Outten, he asked if they were required to have a public hearing, which he replied no. The Commissioners implied they would not hold a public hearing. The ban would be on such breeds as the Pit Bull, German Shepherd, Dobermans, Rottweilers, Chow Chows and any other dog they deemed to be "dangerous". As I said above, I believe there should be an ordinance to protect the public if this situation occurs again, however, I feel it is unfair to target specific breeds. Any breed can be dangerous if they fall into the wrong hands. The laws should address responsible ownership instead. I have been a resident of Dare County for 15 years and have been around German Shepherds since I was an infant. I also volunteer for a German Shepherd Rescue. I feel the public has the right to know the officials they elected into office are trying to pass something without giving the public an opportunity to speak on this. Dare County is a dog friendly community and the repercussions of enacting such an ordinance would be extremely detrimental to the community.

	November 3 Resolution
	Chairman Warren Judge Dare County Board of Commissioners:
	Tonight, I have spoken with you and three members of your board regarding the November 3rd resolution supporting replacement of sand at Jennette's Pier. I am confident that Commissioner Shea knew absolutely no detail(s) about what was going on regarding this matter, other than he voted on it. Commissioner R. Johnson also indicated he knew little about any efforts on the part of NCDOT, but assumed they might "pump sand on the beach or truck it in"...he expressed very little interest in the matter except to say he "wanted sand on the beach and didn't care who put it there." Commissioner Tillett just couldn't remember and said she would have to go back and read the minutes. You, Chairman Judge, indicated that you believed that NCDOT had gotten a "permit" to restore the "dune" lost in recent storms. I will confirm this with NCDOT and hope to get additional input from them. I wish to thank you for that information. I only wish the remainder of your board was so informed. Ray Midgett Beachhuggers of the Outer Banks Sun, 23 Nov 2008

	Obama Will Be One of The Greatest (and Most Loved) American Presidents
	Great presidents are made great by horrible circumstances combined with character, temperament and intelligence. Like firemen, cops, doctors or soldiers, presidents need a crisis to shine. Obama is one of the most intelligent presidential aspirants to ever step forward in American history. The likes of his intellectual capabilities have not been surpassed in public life since the Founding Fathers put pen to paper. His personal character is also solid gold. Take heart, America: we have the leader for our times. I say this as a white, former life-long Republican. I say this as the proud father of a Marine. I say this as just another American watching his pension evaporate along with the stock market! I speak as someone who knows it's time to forget party loyalty, ideology and pride and put the country first. I say this as someone happy to be called a fool for going out on a limb and declaring that, 1) Obama will win, and 2) he is going to be amongst the greatest of American presidents. Obama is our last best chance. He's worth laying it all on the line for. This is a man who in the age of greed took the high road of community service. This is the good father and husband. This is the humble servant. This is the patient teacher. This is the scholar statesman. This is the man of deep Christian faith. Good stories about Obama abound; from his personal relationship with his Secret Service agents (he invites them into his home to watch sports, and shoots hoops with them) to the story about how, more than twenty years ago, while standing in the check-in line at an airport, Obama paid a $100 baggage surcharge for a stranger who was broke and stuck. (Obama was virtually penniless himself in those days.) Years later after he became a senator, that stranger recognized Obama's picture and wrote to him to thank him. She received a kindly note back from the senator. (The story only surfaced because the person, who lives in Norway, told a local newspaper after Obama ran for the presidency. The paper published a photograph of this lady proudly displaying Senator Obama's letter.) Where many leaders are two-faced; publicly kindly but privately feared and/or hated by people closest to them, Obama is consistent in the way he treats people, consistently kind and personally humble. He lives by the code that those who lead must serve. He believes that. He lives it. He lived it long before he was in the public eye. Obama puts service ahead of ideology. He also knows that to win politically you need to be tough. He can be. He has been. This is a man who does what works, rather than scoring ideological points. In other words he is the quintessential non-ideological pragmatic American. He will (thank God!) disappoint ideologues and purists of the left and the right. Obama has a reservoir of personal physical courage that is unmatched in presidential history. Why unmatched? Because as the first black contender for the presidency who will win, Obama, and all the rest of us, know that he is in great physical danger from the seemingly unlimited reserve of unhinged racial hatred, and just plain unhinged ignorant hatred, that swirls in the bowels of our wounded and sinful country. By stepping forward to lead, Obama has literally put his life on the line for all of us in a way no white candidate ever has had to do. (And we all know how dangerous the presidency has been even for white presidents.) Nice stories or even unparalleled courage isn't the only point. The greater point about Obama is that the midst of our worldwide financial meltdown, an expanding (and losing) war in Afghanistan, trying to extricate our country from a wrong and stupidly mistaken ruinously expensive war in Iraq, our mounting and crushing national debt, awaiting the next (and inevitable) al Qaeda attack on our homeland, watching our schools decline to Third World levels of incompetence, facing a general loss of confidence in the government that has been exacerbated by the Republicans doing all they can to undermine our government's capabilities and programs... President Obama will take on the leadership of our country at a make or break time of historic proportions. He faces not one but dozens of crisis, each big enough to define any presidency in better times. As luck, fate or divine grace would have it (depending on one's personal theology) Obama is blessedly, dare I say uniquely, well-suited to our dire circumstances. Obama is a person with hands-on community service experience, deep connections to top economic advisers from the renowned University of Chicago where he taught law, and a middle-class background that gives him an abiding knowledgeable empathy with the rest of us. As the son of a single mother, who has worked his way up with merit and brains, recipient of top-notch academic scholarships, the peer-selected editor of the /Harvard Law Review /and, in three giant political steps to state office, national office and now the presidency, Obama clearly has the wit and drive to lead. Obama is the sober voice of reason at a time of unreason. He is the fellow keeping his head while all around him are panicking. He is the healing presence at a time of national division and strife. He is also new enough to the political process so that he doesn't suffer from the terminally jaded cynicism, the seen-it-all-before syndrome afflicting most politicians in Washington. In that regard we Americans lucked out. It's as if having despaired of our political process we picked a name from the phone book to lead us and that person turned out to be a very man we needed. Obama brings a healing and uplifting spiritual quality to our politics at the very time when our worst enemy is fear. For eight years we've been ruled by a stunted fear-filled mediocrity of a little liar who has expanded his power on the basis of creating fear in others. Fearless Obama is the cure. He speaks a litany of hope rather than a litany of terror. As we have watched Obama respond in a quiet reasoned manner to crisis after crisis, in both the way he has responded after being attacked and lied about in the 2008 campaign season, to his reasoned response to our multiplying national crises, what we see is the spirit of a trusted family doctor with a great bedside manner. Obama is perfectly suited to hold our hand and lead us through some very tough times. The word panic is not in the Obama dictionary. America is fighting its "Armageddon" in one fearful heart at a time. A brilliant leader with the mild manner of an old-time matter-of-fact country doctor soothing a frightened child is just what we need. The fact that our "doctor" is a black man leading a hitherto white-ruled nation out of the mess of its own making is all the sweeter and raises the Obama story to that of moral allegory. Obama brings a moral clarity to his leadership reserved for those who have had to work for everything they've gotten and had to do twice as well as the person standing next to them because of the color of their skin. His experience of succeeding in spite of his color, social background and prejudice could have been embittering or one that fostered a spiritual rebirth of forgiveness and enlightenment. Obama radiates the calm inner peace of the spirit of forgiveness. Speaking as a believing Christian I see the hand of a merciful God in Obama's candidacy. The biblical metaphors abound. The stone the builder rejected is become the cornerstone... the last shall be first... he that would gain his life must first lose it... the meek shall inherit the earth... For my secular friends I'll allow that we may have just been extraordinarily lucky! Either way America wins. Only a brilliant man, with the spirit of a preacher and the humble heart of a kindly family doctor can lead us now. We are afraid, out of ideas, and worst of all out of hope. Obama is the cure. And we Americans have it in us to rise to the occasion. We will. We're about to enter one of the most frightening periods of American history. Our country has rarely faced more uncertainty. This is the time for greatness. We have a great leader. We must be a great people backing him, fighting for him, sacrificing for a cause greater than ourselves. A hundred years from now Obama's portrait will be placed next to that of George Washington, Abraham Lincoln and Franklin Roosevelt. Long before that we'll be telling our children and grandchildren that we stepped out in faith and voted for a young black man who stood up and led our country back from the brink of an abyss. We'll tell them about the power of love, faith and hope. We'll tell them about the power of creativity combined with humility and intellectual brilliance. We'll tell them that President Obama gave us the gift of regaining our faith in our country. We'll tell them that we all stood up and pitched in and won the day. We'll tell them that President Obama restored our standing in the world. We'll tell them that by the time he left office our schools were on the mend, our economy booming, that we'd become a nation filled with green energy alternatives and were leading the world away from dependence on carbon-based destruction. We'll tell them that because of President Obama's example and leadership the integrity of the family was restored, divorce rates went down, more fathers took responsibility for their children, and abortion rates fell dramatically as women, families and children were cared for through compassionate social programs that worked. We'll tell them about how the gap closed between the middle class and the super rich, how we won health care for all, how crime rates fell, how bad wars were brought to an honorable conclusion. We'll tell them that when we were attacked again by al Qaeda, how reason prevailed and the response was smart, tough, measured and effective, and our civil rights were protected even in times of crisis... We'll tell them that we were part of the inexplicably blessed miracle that happened to our country those many years ago in 2008 when a young black man was sent by God, fate or luck to save our country. We'll tell them that it's good to live in America where anything is possible. Yes we will. _______________ G. Lawson Drinkard, III Source: Huffington Post, October 8, 2008
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	What Happened to John McCain ?
	I am writing this in mourning. It is a eulogy of sorts. Someone dear to many of us passed away this year, sacrificed not to what is good or what is bad, but to what is useful. Though I register as an independent, in practical terms that is rarely the case. I vote predominantly as a democrat, as at heart I am a populist, and when I look across the aisle I see a very different vision from my own. Most of us feel the same way, no matter what side of the aisle we sit on. The other side is foreign, almost unknowable. But once upon a time there was a man across the way that danced to his own tune. Usually in synch with his cohorts, but when he sang his own song it was dissonant and determined. His obedience to the party line was on loan at all times, never to be depended on when his own internal sense of outrage was awakened by his elephantine fellows. As the administration prosecuted a war with the most dubious justifications, it also began to take liberties with many things that had made America deserving of other countries admiration. If we had pursued torture in the past, we had always had the good taste to be ashamed of it and repent of it. We had treated the Geneva Convention as if it had a place in Canonical literature. It was part of what made our country worthy of emulation. We stood for something, darn it! But now we had found it inconvenient and were no longer inclined to give it much respect. Torture was a means to an end. A necessary evil. The public started to buy into this way of thinking as they had been scared to death for themselves, their children and the very American way of life. Whatever it takes, we cowered. But up stood a lion from the red team and said “No!” A man who had been tortured and knew its futility put his foot down and said we were better than this. Here was a man of principle. Here was John McCain. He has passed on now. Filling his seat in the senate is a man who has chosen to run for President of the United States on a “No Earmarks” stance, yet chose a running mate that is governor of a state that has the highest per capita rate of earmarks of any state in the union. A man who’s former presidential ambitions were gunned down by devious political practices of the most abhorrent kind, and then hired the unscrupulous perpetrators of his political assassination to run his own campaign in the same unscrupulous way. Some may think it worse. When one’s campaign ethics are questioned by Karl Rove, it is a safe bet that your sense of honor has left the tracks. This is a man who has made honesty in advertising more of a punch line than the TV series “Mad Men” ever could. This man fought to have the republican pro-life plank include exceptions for rape and incest, having heated altercations with President Bush over the issue, but has now decided to remain quiet as the plank remains as rigid and absolute in it’s call for the dissolution of Roe v. Wade. This new candidate has become a malleable Gumby, driven by something other than internal ethical absolutes. He has emerged as the Al Davis of politics. “Just win, baby, win!” The irony is that this new candidate goes by the same name as the man he replaced, but bears so little resemblance to him. May the first John McCain rest in peace, but for the life of me, I don’t know how he will be able to. Bruce Eaton

	The Outer Banks and Small Businesses
	The Outer Banks is nothing if not small business. From builders to realtors, retailers to service businesses, our area thrives or starves on the success of small business. We were prosperous before Home Depot and Walgreens ever thought of this tiny strip of America as a profit center, and we would go on fine if they pulled up and left us. But without the hundreds of small businesses that make the Outer Banks tick, the plumbers, electricians and painters, the merchants and entertainers, the restaurateurs and rental agencies we would perish in a season. Much has been said this campaign season with the intent of instilling fear in the hearts of the small business owner. The Republicans have always tried to paint themselves as the party of business, and in some ways this has been true, but big business has been the real beneficiary of their policies. The little guy trying to go it on his own has not had the same level of support. Fear of Democrats has been the strategy when talking to the small business owner, but I find that to be a very unfair approach when talking about this year’s choice. The Democratic platform includes a “Making Work Pay” provision that would help to offset the payroll taxes that often stall a small business when it is in the very critical early stages of development. The platform also eliminates capital gains taxes on small business in order to encourage the growth of these start-up companies. That sounds pretty encouraging to me; especially considering the Republicans will tax capital gains at a rate of 15%. When looking at the johnmccain.com web page regarding small business, he discusses issues like lowering energy costs, which is not small business specific but a need across the board for every American. He talks about tax benefits that offset R&D costs which are much higher in larger businesses unlike the ones we own here on the Outer Banks. He talks about opening new global markets for small business. How many restaurants are going to increase their bottom line if we open up new and exciting global opportunities? How many surfboards are going to be shipped to Taipei? He talks about lowering the cost of health care for small business, but his plan is dependent on the cooperation of state governments and does not shoulder the final responsibility of making this happen. Obama would provide a refundable tax credit of up to 50% of premiums paid. The McCain plan pays lip service to helping the little guy, but his plan is focused on far larger businesses than what we here are involved in. To me, it seems like business as usual. Large manufacturing companies and investment firms may benefit from the “small business” proposals of the Republicans, but the rank and file business owner is being fed a bill of goods. The largest benefits offered are energy savings and health care, the first of which is a priority to both parties (though how they approach them may differ) and the second is a continuation of the free market solutions that have led to the disaster that health care has become in this country, making an essential need for all citizens a privilege provided to fewer and fewer of us. Don’t believe the knee jerk hype surrounding small business that says Republican good-Democrat bad. Have the courage to explore the solutions available to you. This will affect your pocketbook and your future far more than the view of Moscow from Fairbanks, or whether you are a more devout American if you cover your heart instead of just stand at attention for the anthem. JohnMcCain.com. BarackObama.com. Learn more than what your TV is telling you. You’re running out of time. Bruce Eaton

	Democrats, Republicans and Small Outer Banks Businesses
	The Outer Banks is nothing if not small business. From builders to realtors, retailers to service businesses, our area thrives or starves on the success of small business. We were prosperous before Home Depot and Walgreens ever thought of this tiny strip of America as a profit center, and we would go on fine if they pulled up and left us. But without the hundreds of small businesses that make the Outer Banks tick, the plumbers, electricians and painters, the merchants and entertainers, the restaurateurs and rental agencies we would perish in a season. Much has been said this campaign season with the intent of instilling fear in the hearts of the small business owner. The Republicans have always tried to paint themselves as the party of business, and in some ways this has been true, but big business has been the real beneficiary of their policies. The little guy trying to go it on his own has not had the same level of support. Fear of Democrats has been the strategy when talking to the small business owner, but I find that to be a very unfair approach when talking about this year’s choice. The Democratic platform includes a “Making Work Pay” provision that would help to offset the payroll taxes that often stall a small business when it is in the very critical early stages of development. The platform also eliminates capital gains taxes on small business in order to encourage the growth of these start-up companies. That sounds pretty encouraging to me; especially considering the Republicans will tax capital gains at a rate of 15%. When looking at the johnmccain.com web page regarding small business, he discusses issues like lowering energy costs, which is not small business specific but a need across the board for every American. He talks about tax benefits that offset R&D costs which are much higher in larger businesses unlike the ones we own here on the Outer Banks. He talks about opening new global markets for small business. How many restaurants are going to increase their bottom line if we open up new and exciting global opportunities? How many surfboards are going to be shipped to Taipei? He talks about lowering the cost of health care for small business, but his plan is dependent on the cooperation of state governments and does not shoulder the final responsibility of making this happen. Obama would provide a refundable tax credit of up to 50% of premiums paid. The McCain plan pays lip service to helping the little guy, but his plan is focused on far larger businesses than what we here are involved in. To me, it seems like business as usual. Large manufacturing companies and investment firms may benefit from the “small business” proposals of the Republicans, but the rank and file business owner is being fed a bill of goods. The largest benefits offered are energy savings and health care, the first of which is a priority to both parties (though how they approach them may differ) and the second is a continuation of the free market solutions that have led to the disaster that health care has become in this country, making an essential need for all citizens a privilege provided to fewer and fewer of us. Don’t believe the knee jerk hype surrounding small business that says Republican good-Democrat bad. Have the courage to explore the solutions available to you. This will affect your pocketbook and your future far more than the view of Moscow from Fairbanks, or whether you are a more devout American if you cover your heart instead of just stand at attention for the anthem. JohnMcCain.com. BarackObama.com. Learn more than what your TV is telling you. You’re running out of time. Bruce Eaton

	Government Spending and Elected Officials
	The Chowan County happen-stance should be an eye-opener for all local governments in the State of North Carolina; and no less to the Outer Banks’ County of Dare . Perhaps it's time we asked if Dare County is immune to wasteful spending; and, most especially, a lack of educated oversight on the part of its' own elected officials. Find one independent CPA firm that will do annual county audits and tell elected officials they are wasting excessive funds on huge buildings, or have too many employees, spend too much on benefits, too much on computer paper, too much on travel, too much on non-profit handouts, etc., and I'll show you a firm that doesn't get many audit contract renewals. It’s time Outer Banks residents started asking hard questions of their own elected officials. Then see if you get good, educated answers. You might be surprised. Believe it or not, some of the Dare county commissioners often don't even take the time to attend annual budget meetings. Ray Midgett Southern Shores, NC

	Love your website?
	I get alot of info from your website. I am from OHio and travel to Nags Head every year for the last 18 yrs. I love it there and we have family there. And I read this webpage very frequently. Unfortunately, I feel little ticked off by the Rental Agencies that rent the homes in your area. Last year we rented a home in SNH that was a complete dump and paid over $1,000 for the week. Learned from home owners who lived next door the owner is from Virginia and never takes care of the property, is a young kid who really doesn't care what the house looked like and owns others just to make a buck. Lets just say every time we took a shower we'd have to hold the shower door so it would not fall off the track. No outside lights. etc.... AFter letting the agency know the problems with the house after we returned home. No one every apologized or said "we''ll look into it" They just ignored the email. Turns out the owner has issues with all the owners that live there regarding his property. So this year I was really picky. Looks like a great house, but the RENTAL FEES are outrageous. $995 for the house, but $135 Admin fee, $60.00 to decline insurance, $60.00 travel interruption ins., and 11% tax. A $995.00 rental cost me $1390.00.. With gas prices, we won't have any money to spend around town!!! I will look to Craigs List and other rent by owners instead of using the rental agencies from know on. $135.00 for admin. fee.?????? Shouldn't that be paid by the owner? The killer is the 11% tax. Have a nice day! Kathy
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	OBX Stickers Make me Cringe
	I wish you could have seen OBX in the mid 70s when I first did. Back then north of Kill Devil Hills, Kitty Hawk etc it was more undeveloped than Hatterras. However by mid 80s we started going to Hatteras due to development in the north. Every time I see an OBX or Hatteras sticker on a car I cringe...part of the reason there are now twice as many houses on Hatteras as when I first went there in 1984. I guess greed is the same everywhere. Now they even have a hotel on Hatteras. Hate to see it. This year in May there were so many vacant houses and houses for sale. Also 4th of July week not nearly as many tourists as last year...yea for high gas prices! I am writing a book about the shark attack on Labor Day 2001 in Avon. How quickly 9/11 chilled that story out. I think what you did was cool but unfortunately every time you convey a good impression about Hatteras it brings more folks down there. I still remember going down the beach road in Nags Head one night in 1978. Full moon and stars and the ocean was starting to spill over on the road (in October). Try to imagine that...as they say on television...priceless. Brian Muldoon.... Maryland 7/9/08
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	PREDATOR IN SOUTHERN SHORES TODAY ... AT WOODLAND DRIVE BUS STOURGENT …
	Please read this… Friday, May 2nd … My Daughter got off the School Bus at the Bus Stop off after school. A Neighbor’s daughter who rides the same bus went to get her bike to ride home while my daughter met her Grandmother at the bus stop. Location: Corner of Woodland Drive at E. Dogwood Trail – across from where Holly Trail intersects E. Dogwood Trail. As the neighbor’s daughter went to her bike a white van which had been parked across the street pulled around sideways up to the bike rack area and asked this girl if she needed a ride home. This young girl wisely did not speak to this man and went to get on her bike. The Van pulled around and parked in the middle of Holly Trail blocking the street. The girl on the bike went over to my daughter (out of ear shot of the Grandmother) and told my daughter that she was afraid of the man and that van and asked if she could come stay with my daughter and her grandmother. While this exchange was taking place the van drove off. The girl nor my daughter told my Mother in Law anything about being afraid of the man or the exchange which had taken place. This is surely a predator. The description we know at this point is: Man: likely 50 to 55 yrs old, white male, shoulder length stringy sandy (dirty) blond hair, child could not recall if their was any facial hair, or any other distinguishing traits. 5/3/08 ....NEW INFORMATION ... I forgot to tell you that he wore big, squarish reading glasses not sunglasses. Vehicle: older boxy type CHEVY / Dodge OR SIMILAR Van – white, no markings on exterior nor any noticeable dings, dents, rust. No roof rack or anything on roof. Basic windows -4? REMEMBER ... A PREDATOR COULD HAVE A WOMAN WORKING WITH HIM TO ENTICE AND MAKE YOUNG GIRLS (or BOYS!) FEEL SAFE TO APPROACH. A PREDATOR CAN ALSO CHANGE GLASSES, HAIR, VEHICLE ... SO, LOOK FOR SOMEONE OR SOMETHING THAT IS NOT RIGHT, AND ACT. On a clear nice day there would be no reason for a man to ask a young girl if she needs a ride – only a predator intending harm. I have lived here 23 years … our Beach is no longer the same. As parents we need to be aware of our surroundings and report to Police anything suspicious. If you are witnessing something that does not seem right - go up to the Child to make sure they are safe and that they know the person they are talking too - or, who is talking to them. You know when it does not feel right - please do not discount that feeling and do nothing. I think any of us would rather report something that turns out to be nothing than the opposite. I am sending this you because of one of many reasons … I know you, you have kids, live in KH, SS, MP or on the beach. As you drive through any neighborhood – if you see a vehicle which seems to be hanging around – call the police. Certainly, if you see a vehicle matching the description loitering or near any children, make sure the child is safe first, Get a Tag Number, description, call 911. Keep your cell phone handy so you can make the call immediately. The police have advised this family not to let their child ride their bike home from the bus stop the rest of this year. If it is not safe the rest of this year, it will be impossible to believe that it will ever be safe again. Please forward this email right away to everyone you know in this area with or without kids. This is the 2nd (Possibly 3rd or even 4th attempt in 2-3 months !!! - read response to this email at bottom from Rodanthe Woman) Predator attempt in our area in just the past few months. The first was well publicized by the school – FFHS – where a girl was approached and declined the ride. 5/4/08 Update ... I have spoken to may people over the past 2 days. Just today, I have been told that a young girl was approached in Southern Shores by a man standing next to his car - this happened in the past 2 weeks. **** These are Multiple Incidents ... I am very concerned that this Predator is out there and will get one of our Kids. This is a very serious matter and we all need to be talking about it, and every child needs to know the real deal and what to do. Main thing is to avoid ever being in a situation where they are vulnerable to an attack. ************* We must all be alert all the time to this possibility. If anyone has any questions – please call me. John Leatherwood 202-3834

	obama ????????????????????
	if u people..... wait iam confused ...obama ??? please 4 give me but if you folks @ obx collectively support this person i could care less if all beaches are closed and you can starve ....no wait go join that racist preachers church ....god i hope iam not seeing this !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! gary carter

	Virginia Pilot's Article "rally to save off- road-vehicle privileges in N.C." Biased
	Katherine Kazak’s article in the Virginia Pilot about the "rally to save off-road-vehicle privileges in N.C." is biased. "The congenial party atmosphere at Cape Point on Saturday morning belied the sense of desperation felt by off-road-vehicle drivers who assembled to say "Please Help us". The vivid description of dogs and kids frolicking in the surf brought tears to my eyes. The ORV ban affects only 12% of the beach. Which means ORV's can still drive on 88% of the beach. Since birds cannot write “Please Help Us" in the sand, I guess they are out of luck. The sounds of silence are hard to hear. "My daddy's daddy fished out here" seems to explain a family tradition no one wants to lose. Unfortunately for the wildlife that try to live and breed on the beach, parking your off road vehicle and walking over the dune has never been part of your family tradition. Perhaps this generation can improve tradition by adding a little exercise and respect for all life. R Jarrell Kitty Hawk
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	Great Visit to Kitty Hawk
	My husband and I recently visited Kitty Hawk for vacation and had such a truly wonderful experience that I would like to share it with your readers. Our first stop was at a fruit stand before Kitty Hawk where we purchased sweet fruit, the tastiest peanuts I have ever had, and homemade fudge (too many varieties to list). These treats were enjoyed throughout our stay and I would recommend stopping to at least taste the fudge (they have many samples). During our stay, we went on a bike ride adventure from Kitty Hawk to Duck (bike trails) and enjoyed a pleasant lunch at an Italian ice shop and then shopped the boutiques before heading back to Kitty Hawk. We also spent many an idle hour at the beaches, which are plentiful so that you never feel crowded, reading, sun bathing, walking and taking cool dips in the ocean. Very relaxing and peaceful. Don't forget to visit Manteo as this town is very quaint with many good restaurants and shops. We were very impressed with the friendly shop keepers. For any hotdog enthusiasts out there, which I am one, a stop at Captain Franks is a must, order the garbage dog, YUM YUM. To sum it up, my husband and I came away from our vacation relaxed, tension free and happy. We highly recommend that if anyone is thinking about taking a vacation, the Outer Banks is the place to go! Enjoy! G. Simmerman Columbus, OH

	OBX Restaurant Complaint
	To whomever cares to read this: A party of 10 went into Jimmy's Buffet restaurant in Kitty Hawk on Friday May 25th, 2007. We had a very nice waitress by the name of Tracy. She was friendly and did her job well. The problem was not with the service but with the quality of food and cleanliness of the restaurant. The portions were old and had been sitting too long. To put it nicely, it was just plain nasty! The prices of this restaurant were WAY over priced and the portions were slim. We were all very disappointed and asked to speak to the manager and she (the owner, Mrs. Dowless) sent out one of her employees.) They did nothing and told us they had 700 patrons a night and basically did not have time to worry with us. This is very unprofessional and bad business if you ask me. This is a tourist restaurant and locals do not frequent because they know better. The bill for the party of 10, included 2 children was $400. That would not have been a problem if it were worth it, but it wasn't at all. Repeat business is a good thing, but I know for a fact we will never go back. Mrs. Dowless would not even show her face or return any calls. This restaurant not only had terrible food and prices but a manager/owner to go along with it. Hopefully the owner will realize that what comes around goes around and when this happens to her, she will understand the way we were treated was wrong. We paid the bill but now understand why people walk out of that restaurant without paying because it is just terrible. This letter was sent to the restaurant, local newspapers and local fliers. Sincerely, Mr. and Mrs. Williams and family

	Immigration
	So many letter writers have based their arguments on how this land is made up of immigrants. Ernie Lujan for one, suggests we should tear down the Statue of Liberty because the people now in question aren't being treated the same as those who passed through Ellis Island and other ports of entry. Maybe we should turn to our history books and point out to people like Mr. Lujan why today's American is not willing to accept this new kind of immigrant any longer. Back in 1900 when there was a rush from all areas of Europe to come to the United States, people had to get off a ship and stand in a long line in New York and be documented. Some would even get down on their hands and knees and kiss the ground. They made a pledge to uphold the laws and support their new country in good and bad times. They made learning English a primary rule in their new American households and some even changed their names to blend in with their new home. They had waved good bye to their birth place to give their children a new life and did everything in their power to help their children assimilate into one culture. Nothing was handed to them No free lunches, no welfare, no labor laws to protect them. All they had were the skills and craftsmanship they had brought with them to trade for a future of prosperity. Most of their children came of age when World War II broke out. My father fought along side men whose parents had come straight over from Germany, Italy, France and Japan. None of these 1st generation Americans ever gave any thought about what country their parents had come from. They were Americans fighting Hitler, Mussolini and the Emperor of Japan .. They were defending the United States of America as one people. When we liberated France, no one in those villages were looking for the French-American or the German-American or the Irish-American. The people of France saw only Americans. And we carried one flag that represented one country. Not one of those immigrant sons would have thought about picking up another country's flag and waving it to represent who they were. It would have been a disgrace to their parents who had sacrificed so much to be here. These immigrants truly knew what it meant to be an American. They stirred the melting pot into one red, white and blue bowl. Here we are in 2007 with a new kind of immigrant who wants the same rights and privileges. Only they want to achieve it by playing with a different set of rules, one that includes the entitlement card and a guarantee of being faithful to their mother country. I'm sorry, that's not what being an American is all about. I believe that the immigrants who landed on Ellis Island in the early 1900's deserve better than that for all the toil, hard work and sacrifice in raising future generations to create a land that has become a beacon for those legally searching for a better life. I think they would be appalled that they are being used as an example by those waving foreign country flags. For that suggestion about taking down the Statue of Liberty, it happens to mean a lot to the citizens who are voting on the immigration bill. I wouldn't start talking about dismantling the United States just yet. Rosemary LaBonte	Wind, Waves and Fisherman in an Suv on a Beach in the Outer Banks Photographic Print Brown, Skip 64 in. x 48 in. Buy at AllPosters.com

	OBX Restaurant Complaint
	To whomever cares to read this: A party of 10 went into Jimmy's Buffet restaurant in Kitty Hawk on Friday May 25th, 2007. We had a very nice waitress by the name of Tracy. She was friendly and did her job well. The problem was not with the service but with the quality of food and cleanliness of the restaurant. The portions were old and had been sitting too long. To put it nicely, it was just plain nasty! The prices of this restaurant were WAY over priced and the portions were slim. We were all very disappointed and asked to speak to the manager and she (the owner, Mrs. Dowless) sent out one of her employees.) They did nothing and told us they had 700 patrons a night and basically did not have time to worry with us. This is very unprofessional and bad business if you ask me. This is a tourist restaurant and locals do not frequent because they know better. The bill for the party of 10, included 2 children was $400. That would not have been a problem if it were worth it, but it wasn't at all. Repeat business is a good thing, but I know for a fact we will never go back. Mrs. Dowless would not even show her face or return any calls. This restaurant not only had terrible food and prices but a manager/owner to go along with it. Hopefully the owner will realize that what comes around goes around and when this happens to her, she will understand the way we were treated was wrong. We paid the bill but now understand why people walk out of that restaurant without paying because it is just terrible. This letter was sent to the restaurant, local newspapers and local fliers. Sincerely, Mr. and Mrs. Williams and family

	Outer Banks Biker Story
The Lighthouse Stands Behind a Fence on Ocracoke Island Photographic Print Buy at AllPosters.com	I saw you, hug your purse closer to you in the grocery store line. But, you didn't see me, put an extra $10.00 in the collection plate last Sunday. I saw you, pull your child closer when we passed each other on the sidewalk. But, you didn't see me, playing Santa at the local mall. I saw you, change your mind about going into the restaurant. But, you didn't see me, attending a meeting to raise more money for the hurricane relief. I saw you, roll up your window and shake your head when I drove by. But, you didn't see me, driving behind you when you flicked your cigarette butt out the car window. I saw you, frown at me when I smiled at your children. But, you didn't see me, when I took time off from work to run toys to the homeless. I saw you, stare at my long hair. But, you didn't see me, and my friends cut ten inches off for Locks of Love. I saw you, roll your eyes at our leather coats and gloves. But, you didn't see me, and my brothers donate our old coats and gloves to those that had none. I saw you, look in fright at my tattoos. But, you didn't see me, cry as my children where born and have their name written over and in my heart. I saw you, change lanes while rushing off to go somewhere. But, you didn't see me, going home to be with my family. I saw you, complain about how loud and noisy our bikes can be. But, you didn't see me, when you were changing the CD and drifted into my lane. I saw you, yelling at your kids in the car. But, you didn't see me, pat my child's hands, knowing he was safe behind me. I saw you, reading the newspaper or map as you drove down the road. But, you didn't see me, squeeze my wife's leg when she told me to take the next turn. I saw you, race down the road in the rain. But, you didn't see me, get soaked to the skin so my son could have the car to go on his date. I saw you, run the yellow light just to save a few minutes of time. But, you didn't see me, trying to turn right. I saw you, cut me off because you needed to be in the lane I was in. But, you didn't see me, leave the road. I saw you, waiting impatiently for my friends to pass. But, you didn't see me. I wasn't there. I saw you, go home to your family. But, you didn't see me. Because, I died that day you cut me off. I was just a biker. A person with friends and a family. But, you didn't see me. Outer Banks Biker	Ten Days That Shook the Nation - First Flight of the Wright Brothers Buy this Poster at AllPosters.com

		People Along Outer Banks, North Carolina Photographic Print Mirabelli,... Buy at AllPosters.com
	Video: Beach Nourishment is Bad for Outer Banks

	Is there fairness in Our Juvenile Justice System?
Bodie Island Lighthouse, part of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore Framed Art Print Buy at AllPosters.com	Is there fairness in our Juvenile Justice System? Are all court cases treated with the same equality no matter the age, gender, race, or economic background? Is it true that some cases are more political driven rather than others? Is it right for Court Officers (District Attorneys) to lie in our courts to elevate themselves for political reasons? Did you know that there are more children being locked up than there are adults in Currituck & Dare County, about 40% more? Are our children actually getting an honest and fair judgment according to their crime, not judicial strong arm tactics? These are questions I haven't thought of until recently. There comes a time when all of us have to deal with the court system, very nerve-taking and apprehensive experience especially when children are involved. What gives a Juvenile Probate Court Counselor the right to lie in a court room just to keep their conviction rating high in numbers, or to make themselves look good in front of a judge. I can't call out any names. This could cause me to be a political target. My 12 Year old son got into some trouble which put him in The Winfall Detention Center. When he was sentenced, he was given 6-9 years of his life in lockup. Now there are adults here that have committed worst crimes or the same crime and are released within 6 months with repeated crimes on their records. This was the first time my 12 year old son has ever been in trouble with the law. Can somebody PLEASE tell me what is wrong with this? The court counselor also has been trying to get the court to order me to pay all my son's financial needs while he is under state jurisdiction until he is 18. Never been done in the history of North Carolina. Bruce Goldman	Buy at AllPosters.com

	Letter: Trauma on Outer Banks, Dog's Leg Amputated	Buy at AllPosters.com
	On our way home from dinner driving down the beach road MP 17.5, when a black dog came from nowhere and ran in front of the SUV. We immediately pulled off the road as the dog was still under the truck. My daughter was driving and she was hysterical. After looking under the truck, it was evident that we had a problem. The dog's paw was stuck between the engine block and the suspension. I activated the ON-star telling them we needed an emergency vet, EMS and police. BIG mistake! It was ten minutes at least before the police arrived and no EMS. He proceeded to argue with me telling me that they would not waste their time on a dog. I asked him if it was his dog if he would feel differently and he became irate. I was almost arrested for that comment. The whole time the dog was crying and moaning with a mutilated left front paw that could not be freed. I called all of the emergency vets and got a recording and no call back. About and hour later a vet tech arrived. She had no medication. The dog was in shock and needed IV fluids and some sedation. So she left to get some help. About 45 minutes to an hour later she returned with a vet who did not want to be there. She wanted to kill the dog but its owners had arrived in the interum. She gave them the choice of killing the dog or cutting off it's leg. She laughed when asked how the foot was to be taken out of the truck, saying it was our problem. And guess what; she had only 1 IV bag a small amount of sedation and no instrumentation to remove the foot. Hence another trip to the office and another 30 minute wait. When she returned, the dog had infiltrated the IV. I asked her if she was going to start another and she said no. She said that she would put a tourniquet around the leg before amputation but she didn't. Not only that, the dog felt every bit of it and screamed during the whole ordeal. When the dog was pulled out from under the truck, the stump was pumping out blood due to no tourniquet. The dog was also unresponsive at that point. I tried to call the Vet this morning and guess what..they are closed.	Buy at AllPosters.com
	I told the police that I was an operating room nurse and knew what needed to be done when he first arived on the scene. He informed me that he didn't care what I did for a living and that they had to go through the channels. I hope to h___ that this man is never sent to my aid. If you can't give compassionate care to all of God's creatures what kind of people are we? He had a bad attitude and if I ever see him in need at the side of the road he's going to die. And I would take pleasure in watching it.My two grandchildren, 7 and 12 were shown lack of compassion by both the vet and the police. The EMS crew was at the new SNH fire station watching the fireworks. It would have been nice if they had been able to assist in this incident even if it was just a dog! I am apalled and angry about the response this animal received. The whole affiar took 3 1/2 hours to get the dog out. Ohio visitors

	Governor Mike Wants to Kill Tourism on Outer Banks Piers???
	I guess so - $30 a year for a fishing permit that I need for my one weeks vacation to the KH/KDH area? Guess it just means the fishing gear stays home and I stay off the Avalon Pier. Its gonna keep tourists out of TW's Bait And Tackle too. (At least this tourist and his 3 kids and his cousin and his cousins kids and... well, you get it, right?) No more bait purchases. No more hook/line/sinkers. Too bad. $30 for a weeks stay, just to be able to drop a line in the surf is just way out there. Ranks right up there with beach replenishment taxes. Makes me tend to just want to drive an hour and a half to New Jersey or the Delaware beaches instead of the 7 1/2 hours I travel to get to the Outerbanks. My way distant $.02 worth. Thanks Gov! Anonymous In response to the above letter we received the following letter: Someone should respond to the person complaining about needing a $30 salt water fishing license to surf fish when they come for a weeks vacation and let them know that there is a 10 day license that can be purchased for $5 for NC residents or $10 for non-residents. Added to the 10 day license I found out that the Avalon pier has purchased a “blanket” license and if you fish OFF the pier then you do not need a license. But if you want to fish on the shore then you do need one. JimmyZ

	Nags Head Beach Nourishment
A Storm Sky Gathers at Kitty Hawk Photographic Print Alvarez, Stephen 64 in. x 48 in. Buy at AllPosters.com	We're in the sand moving business, not the house moving business," said geologist Tim Kana of Coastal Science and Engineering as he explained his firm's proposed beach nourishment project to town officials in Nags Head. Kana was part of a pre-recorded forum now running on Dare County government tv Channel 20, three times per day, every day of the week. The purpose of the program, says Nags Head officials, is to "educate" Dare County citizens, and particularly Nags Head residents about the need for beach nourishment along the town's oceanfront. The proposed $32 million sand project will be put to the voters for approval sometime in the spring of 2007. Kana tells Nags Head officials that for the sum of $32 million, his firm will engineer and place one-half as much sand on Nags Head's beaches as the Army Corps of Engineers' (ACE) says is needed; and, for one-third the price. Furthermore, says Kana, the sand will stay on the beach for as long as ten years, as opposed to the two to three years predicted by ACE. Believe what you will, but if this project goes forth, you can be guaranteed that it will eventually affect the pocketbook of every single taxpayer in Dare County, regardless of it's success or failure. This is already evidenced by the county's re-calculation of sales tax distributions among towns if Nags Head raises it's ad valorem taxes to pay for the project. In addition, the chances that Nags Head's project can even begin for the sum of $32 million might be highly unlikely. Evidence other beach nourishments projects whose recent bids have come in at as much as 25% over original estimate. Add in Kana's admission that the Outer Banks has the highest energy beaches on the entire east coast. Kana says an ocean dredge operating along the Outer Banks in the winter might get in only three days per week worktime, extending the project up to six months; and that's with daily operating costs of $100,.000 plus, per day. The other four days, the dredge could be making a 60 mile one-way trip to safe harbor in Norfolk, VA. Everyone in Dare County owes it to themselves to tune to Channel 20, view the program, and form their own opinion as to whether they can buy or afford Nags Head's pitch for a "Yes" vote on beach nourishment come next spring. Ray Midgett Southern Shores, NC

Wright Memorial Kill Devil Hill, North Carolina Art Print 17 in. x 11 in. Buy at AllPosters.com Framed Mounted	(Quote). ".We are working to inform the public (about beach nourishment). We don't want people to read Ray Midgett's column in the newspaper." (end of quote) - The Coastland Times- Sept. 21, 2006 The above comment was made by Nags Head Mayor Renee Cahoon, speaking at a recent forum held in Manteo by the Institute for Emerging Issues . Among other things, the forum was intended to focus on how the state tax system worked and how it might be structured to deal with a growing economy. But, Cahoon, who was on the program, seized the moment to push Nags Head's beach nourishment program and to continue ranting about how misinformed the voters are about the issue. However, Cahoon isn't by herself. Other town board members such as Commissioner Anna Sadler and Dare Commissioners Warren Judge and Stan White still insist that Dare voters just aren't "educated enough" to understand the need for beach nourishment. The real question is, does anyone understand why these elected officials didn't get an education of their own back in February, when county residents voted 4-1 and said, "we don't want to be taxed for beach nourishment?" Does Cahoon and Company really think the people don't know that our beaches are eroding? Do they think that "economic scare tactics" are going to convince people to thrown their hard earned dollars into the ocean? Of course they do. The odd thing is that Nags Head has worked itself into a corner by taking on the entire beach nourishment issue on its own. Like the "who's educated issue," one can expect other contradictions to occur in the coming months. In fact, Nags Head's entire beach project is, arguably, a contradiction within itself. Here's why. Since 1999, Nags Head had bought into the Army Corps of Engineers project, hook, line and sinker. The Corps told Nags Head it needed 12 million cubic yards of sand for 14 miles of beaches and berms; and, they could expect that sand to last up to three years. It would be worth every penny of the initial $72 million (now over $100 million) said Cahoon and Company. No one questioned the corps expertise at all; that is until the money failed to come through. Fast forward to 2006. Suddenly, Cahoon and Company have been convinced by a private engineering company that, for one-third the amount of money, all of Nags Head's beaches could be filled with one-third as much sand and it would be good for, not 3 years, but 10 years (yes 10)! Now, if this whole scenario isn't laughable, then keep listening. The Nags Head project is set to put only enough sand back on the beach to bring the beach to the exact same state/condition that it was three years ago, before Isabel! To repeat, "after that the beach will be OK for ten years." One can analyze this anyway they want and still come up with a sound argument that Nags Head's plan, in effect, contradicts the Army Corps' project and even says that the Army Corps project was never needed in the first place, at least not until ten years down the road. These two measures are so extreme that it is not funny. Tell us, if one doctor said you were going to live, while another told you that you were going to die, would you not seek a third opinion? Not so with Nags Head. Unless they want you, the "uneducated voter" to make the big decision for them? But not before they do a little brain surgery on you first! Like, "the health of someone else's beach cottage is incumbant upon whether you get bread on your table." Like, "if the beach washed away, we will lose all that foreign and illegal alien labor." Like, "if the beaches wash away, the builders/developers will leave town and YOU WILL STARVE!" Its getting to the point where its hard to tell if the the noise coming from this group is the sound of people treading water or simply swimming backwards. In closing, if anyone ever sees "Ray Midgett's column" in any newspaper, would you kindly clip it out and send it to BeachHuggers of the Outer Banks. Submitted by Ray Midgett	First Flight Kitty Hawk, N. Carolina - Orville & Wilbur Wright Photo Enlargement 20 in. x 24 in. Buy at AllPosters.com Framed Mounted

	Citizens of Kitty Hawk
Wilbur Wright's Aeroplane Buy this Art Print at AllPosters.com	Some 50 years ago, I was just out of college and had signed on with a public accounting firm in Richmond, Va. The first day I reported to work the senior partner called me into his office to supply me with some words of wisdom. His words were, "Son if your master the paper trail it will serve you well." Over the years I have found that those words apply to more than accounting records. A few weeks ago, a friend asked me what I thought of the Town of Kitty Hawk Council elections and the action of the new majority. To answer his question I collected copies of the financial reports filed with the Board of Elections, copies of the town managers weekly reports and various newspaper articles. I believe the citizens of Kitty Hawk will find the paper trail of interest. I have consolidated the three reports to save space. Total contributed $16,796.(121 contributors.) Contributions of $100 or less $6,254 (91 Contributors.) Contributions over $100. $10,542 (30 contributors.) When we analyze those contributions over $100 (7 contributors.) Emilie Klutz $514; Paul Shaver III RV Sugar Creek $1,800; Julia Lee RV Sugar Creek $1,500; (Reliable source indicates that Ervin Bateman is a minority owner in this restaurant.) Toby Hedgepeth RV Park Operator $1,500; Richard Copsey $900; Robbie and Monica Parker $500; and Merriet Hooper III, Builder $600. These seven contributions totaled $7,314 or 69 percent of the total contributed over $100. Three of these major contributors had lawsuits against the town. Toby Hedgepeth, Richard Copsey and Robbie Parker Construction Co. The managers weekly reports and copies of consent judgements from Superior Court provide the data for the paper trail of council activity since December 2005. Emilie Klutz appointed to fill remainder of term left open by election of Clifton Perry to Mayor. Suspended the Town Code of Ethics that the candidates refused to sign during the fall campaign. Appointed Merriet Hooper III to the Planning Board. Mr. Hooper had often stated his desire to see the building codes changed to increase building height, lot coverage, and building setbacks. The Town Council and the Planning Board held a joint meeting in July to discuss these same issues. I ask the citizens of Kitty Hawk to take a ride down the Beach Road through Kill Devil Hills and Nags Head and decide if this is what they want on the beaches of Kitty Hawk. Most of the family homes are gone and are replaced by mini-hotels. Council canceled the fines that were imposed, granted the height variance and grand fathered Robbie Parker's operations in Kitty Hawk to avoid any future action by citizens. The council settled eight lawsuits in June for property condemned on the beach. Each lawsuit was settled for the sum of $60,000 each. The settlement that disturbs me is the one with Hedgepeth, Hedgepeth and Hedgepeth Enterprises. The consent judgement Item 1: The town has condemned and shall be permanently vested with a perpetual right and easement over, across and under the property. Item 2: The easement shall be for the construction and maintenance of the barrier dune and construction and maintenance of Highway12. Item 3: The town does hereby give, grant, and convey the underlying fee and title to the property, subject to the easement, to Hedgepeth for his benefit and the benefit of his heirs, successors and assigns. Hedgepeth shall not be required to provide general public access over the walkway. (Note: This walkway was constructed by the town using taxpayers funds.) In fairness to the other property owners on the beach give the title to the property back to them as they did Hedgepeth. Two of the three financial reports filed by the candidates did not balance. In other words, receipts and disbursements as reported do not equal zero. Two of the candidates wrote checks to a non profit group. the third candidate wrote a check to himself and call it seed money?? It may not be against the law but IT sure clouds the picture when a candidate or council member takes political contributions from donors who have lawsuits or other matters coming before the council. Someone should also give Mayor Perry a copy of Roberts Rules. The chairman of a committee never makes a motion, however, if you don't have a Town Code of Ethics what the hell!! I believe all of the current council members refused to sign the Town Code of Ethics during the fall Campaign and it has since been suspended. Someone should also give Councilman Gary Perry two items. A basic bookkeeping course that explains the function of debits and credits and a basic book on etiquette and respect for members of committees and fellow citizens. Citizens of Kitty Hawk get involved, take back your town!! Harry Shumate	Wilbur Wright biplane aviation Beach Poster Buy this Giclee Print at AllPosters.com

	Heaven on Earth

	This is what most of our Dare Commissioners envision Heaven will be like. (Rendering by Ray Midgett - Southern Shores, NC)

	Waver No Solution in Kitty Hawk
Sea, Sand & Sky Buy this Art Print at AllPosters.com	The decision announced, on March 6 by the Kitty Hawk Town Council is a temporary waver. If they want to make the asphalt plant legal and within code, they would have to change the town code to allow everything in the VC3 to climb to 42’. Then other residents can challenge the 35’ height limit in their zones. The concrete plant, on Poor Ridge Road went up to 50’ without asking anyone even though granfathered parcels are prohibited from expanding. What the Perry Council is actually saying is that it is a "free-for-some." Some people can do whatever they want while others are subject to a permit. Enforcement is, once again, arbitrary. This is where the erosion of Democracy starts, at your home. What people don’t know about asphalt plants: 1. Asphalt toxicity limits are established by the Scientific Advisory Board of North Carolina and are contingent upon a 160-pound man, because no one thought anyone was STUPID ENOUGH to put an asphalt plant in the back yard of a family. They did the study for plant workers. Of course the stack which emits toxins is ordered by the Division of Air Quality to be 35 feet’, which protects workers and pushes all the fumes onto neighboring families, as demonstrated by Tom Anderson's May 9, 2001 letter “Maximum impacts occurred at or near the property boundary.” Yah! You know, where the neighbors are. 2. When the DAQ modeler, Jim Roller, was asked if toxicity levels were worse for people living nearer the plant in comparison to people living 2,000 feet away, his answer was, “No!” 3. When asked why this was so, the answer, Jim Roller, the” Model Maker” (because they don’t actually test anything in NC) said that currents of air disperse the toxins. I asked him what the highest elevation was within in their test model. He said it was three feet. The wind from the ocean blows toxins away. I informed him that the highest elevation was at the Catholic Church across from Shelby Road and that was 35’ and there was no ocean wind blowing anything away on the leaward side of that ridge. So he changed his model and mysteriously got the same results. Letter from Tom Anderson, AQAB May 9, 2001 “The analysis was submitted in order to establish more lenient emissions limitations for the facility. Arsenic, benzene, formaldehyde, and nickel exceeded the rates outlined.” 4. When Betsy Huddleston, Division of Air Quality, was asked, “If you can smell fumes, are you breathing toxins?” the answer was, “No!” These are the people you pay with your tax money to protect you. The Perry Town Council was being presented with a study which said, “ there were concerns about the levels of benzene, which may create the risk of cancer, but it is the same type of gas fumes that gas stations emit without regulations.” They went on to vote unanimously to poison their neighbors (Town Council meeting Sept 8, 1998) I wonder if those councilmen would put the noses of their grandchildren over a gas pump 11 hours a day - because that’s what they are forcing their neighbors children to do. Claudia Larson 906 D Kitty Hawk Road Kitty Hawk NC 252-255-0031	Reflections Buy this Art Print at AllPosters.com
Beachfront Homes, Atlantic, Nags Head Photographic Print Winiker, Barry 40 in. x 30 in. Buy at AllPosters.com Framed Mounted
	In response to all of the criticism of President Bush,
	I would like to say that it is not the primary role of the Federal Government to provide disaster relief for the whole country. It would be nice if we could blame all of our problems on one man. That would make all of us feel so much better. The truth is it is the local and state government's responsibility to provide these services for it's citizens. Everyone in the country knows that Louisiana and New Orleans are the most corrupt places for politics. I think that the local politicians are the ones to blame for their poor planning. Dare county has had years to plan just like Louisiana has and they have it together whenever a hurricane comes. It is not the presidents state and it is not the presidents city, it is the local peoples and the local government. Remember: government by the people and for the people. Not by the president. Tom Lee

	Dear Mr. Bush:
	To George W. Bush, Mr. President New Orleans is dying and so are its citizens. This country is trying to save a major city “on the cheap.” What is going on? Did you blow the entire strength of the United States abroad, leaving nothing for the citizens that really need it? The poorest of the poor live in New Orleans and the Gulf region. We are supposed to be the richest, most powerful country in the world. Funds were cut to repair the infrastructure of New Orleans. It is the busiest port in the United States. It processes and supplies one-fourth of nation’s petroleum. Is there any money or manpower left to handle the needs of the citizens of this country? Must we resort to begging its citizens for donations and arm twisting corporations into paying for this disaster? This adminstation does not have the competancy or the infrastructure to handle a terrorist attack or a natural disaster in this country. We need new leadership and "we the people" need to wake up! PS WE ALSO NEED SOME BUSES IN NEW ORLEANS. Thank you very much. Roger and Maureen Jarrell Kitty Hawk, NC	Wooden Bridge over the Sea, Nags Head, Dare County, North Carolina, USA Photographic Print Panoramic Images 24 in. x 8 in. Buy at AllPosters.com Framed Mounted

	Dr. White (Nancy), Director UNC Coastal Studies Institute Manteo, NC 27954
	Dr. White:
Pea Island Lighthouse at Dusk Photographic Print Brown, Skip 24 in. x 18 in. Buy at AllPosters.com Framed Mounted	As I drove into Manteo today, following an automobile with a bumper sticker reading, "UNC-Dare- It's a Shore Thing", I felt a sense of sadness. I know how hard all of you have worked to get a UNC Coastal Studies Institute and school for the study of marine science established here on the Outer Banks. I am proud of everything that has been accomplished to date and I wish you every success for the future. However, as I reminisced about the politics of the matter; (1) you good people trying to get the school up and running, and (2) the business community, supportive of you in many ways, yet all the while set on a dead course to ruin our natural beaches with nourishment; I felt a sense of cynicism and sadness. Will it be necessary for you, and the people who truly support and understand the need to study and protect our shoreline and its fragile environment, to compromise, for the urgency of the moment in order to complete your task? Or, like true pioneers, will you be willing to say, right now......."What you (people) are proposing flies smack in the face of what you are supporting (the school). Beach nourishment is wrong for the Outer Banks." The Outer Banks beaches are the best, the finest and one of the last natural, undisturbed seashores on the entire east coast. Please use every opportunity you have available, at the earliest possible moment, to see that we don't destroy it, all for the sake of burgeoning tourist economy. Ray Midgett BeachHuggers of the Outer Banks 252-261-9797 www.beachhuggers.com	Woman and Dog Running on Beach, Nags Head, North Carolina Photographic Print Brown, Skip 64 in. x 48 in. Buy at AllPosters.com

	Blind or Confused !
	Three out of 4 self-described supporters of President George W. Bush still believe that pre-war Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction or active programs to produce them. According to a recent survey, the same number also believes that Iraqi President Saddam Hussein provided "substantial support" to al Qaeda. But here is the truly amazing part of this story. As many or more Bush supporter’s hold these beliefs today than they did several months ago. In other words, more people believe the claims today, even though a through government investigation has disproved both claims. These are among the most striking findings of a survey conducted in mid-October by the University of Maryland's Program on International Policy Attitudes. According to these findings, most supporters of the Bush administration will believe anything the administration says, even if it has been proved to be untrue. RJ Kitty Hawk

	Kitty Hawk Politics
	It has been said that politics is sometimes an ugly business. Nowhere is this more evident than in the town of Kitty Hawk where a group of dissidents, operating under the guise of the Kitty Hawk Citizens Association, continue to discredit/undermine decisions made by the current town council. Lately much publicity has been generated about the rising costs of the town legal fees, however, the real issue of concern to the Kitty Hawk Citizens Association is the voting majority on the council. After the defeat of one of the council incumbents at the last election, the statement was made “one down, three to go”. It appears that their objective is to return to the previous “do nothing/spend nothing” philosophy of town government. The increase in legal fees was not entirely unanticipated since the current town council is playing “catch up” to accomplish needed work such as removal of derelict unsafe cottages and exposed septic systems from Kitty Hawk beaches, that was ignored or put off for years by the previous administration. Some citizens still refuse to accept the reality that Kitty Hawk is no longer a small fishing village where, with the right connections, rules and town ordinances could largely be ignored, e.g., Carolina Asphalt essentially wrote their own conditional use permit, obtained approval from a “friendly” town council over the objections of the Planning Board chairman, and then proceeded to blatantly ignore the requirements of the permit. Perhaps, as reported in a recent news article discussing the asphalt plant lawsuit, this is how a “local boy made good”. Thanks to the foresight of the town council, Kitty Hawk has a new town manager who brings years of management experience in providing the direction and procedures needed for proper management of town functions and enforcement of town ordinances. A recent letter to the editor from a Kitty Hawk resident charged the town council with holding extra sessions simply to “line their pockets” with taxpayers dollars. This ridiculous claim is hardly worth a response except to note that countless “off the clock” hours are spent attending other meetings and responding to citizen phone calls and e-mail requests. During a recent council meeting, councilman Doug Seay volunteered to donate his salary in response to a request from the YMCA for scholarships for needy children in Kitty Hawk. This council has worked tirelessly to improve the quality of life in Kitty Hawk and justly deserves our support. Florence Hoy 4025 Ivy Lane Kitty Hawk, NC Phone No. 252-261-1384

	Ted Tyndall, Asst. Director Permits & Enforcement Division of Coastal Management North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources Morehead City, North Carolina Dear Mr. Tyndall: The public eye is very much upon NCDENR and CAMA as your agency attempts to resolve questions concerning the legality of recent repairs and/or partial replacement of the bulkhead at the Kitty Hawk Pier. In the opinion of many, CAMA's reputation is very much at stake here, as the agency decides whether it will enforce its own rules or succumb to outside pressures. >From my own personal perspective, having watched this occurrence rather closely and being familiar with the bulkhead for many years, there is no doubt in my mind that over 50% of the value and over 50% of the bulkhead's total structure was destroyed before rebuilding/repairs began. One would have to be blind or naive to see otherwise. I am sure that if your agency does not have sufficient photos of the damages done by the storm and/or work as it progressed; that a minimal amount of inquiry will turn some up from more than one source. We are asking you to please do all you can to enforce the appropriate laws that protect our natural beach environment. The public at-large is behind you. Sincerely, Ray Midgett, Member BeachHuggers of the Outer Banks http://web.archive.org/web/20050324120539/http://www.beachhuggers.com/
	Dear Francis Meekins and/or Tony Sylvester Thank you for the most interesting editorial in today's Coastland Times. In the future, you should feel free to use my name, Ray Midgett, and/or BeachHuggers of the Outer Banks anytime you refer to efforts by our group to inform Dare citizens about the dangers, futility and excessive costs of beach nourishment on the Outer Banks. And, thank you again for "hitting the nail on the head" in the editorial in categorizing the craziness and misleading efforts of our board of commissioners for going along with the special interest groups' desire to appoint a paid staff to oversee "tossing more money into the ocean" along our beautiful natural seashore. Incidentally, you should rest assured that "BeachHuggers of the Outer Banks" counts among it's contributors no less than 6 or 7 currently elected or formerly elected county/town officials, along with dozens of contributors who have help funnel money into your newspaper's ad accounts for fighting this useless effort. Ray Midgett, Member, BeachHuggers of the Outer Banks 154 Duck Woods Drive (three, not two digits in address). Southern Shores, NC

	Dear Nags Head Commissioners I watched tv today with amazement as the engineers from Coastal Science & Engineering (CSE) presented your board meeting with proposals for a mini-beach nourishment project for Nags Head beaches. I was flabbergasted; just as I am sure anyone else who has followed this issue for the past five years must have been. I sincerely hope the Dare County Commissioners, along with the Army Corps of Engineers will rent a video copy of this meeting and view that presentation. Meanwhile, as you know; I have been the sole owner of the Virginia Dare Bridge for several years. Today, I am ready to sell. The North Carolina Department of Transportation will tell you the bridge spans nearly five miles and cost me just over $100,000,000. However, they are incorrect. I am willing to sell you, the Nags Head Town Board this amazing bridge, which, by the way is actually only two miles long; for the paltry sum of $20,000,000. I will guarantee that the 2-mile bridge will get you safely across the Croatan Sound to the mainland; and that it will last you, not fifty years, but 200 years. If you can get county/state and/or federal funding for this purchase, please let me know. Now, on a more sober side; please don't forget that the ocean beaches that abut your fine town belong to every citizen of Dare County, North Carolina and this great nation. Please treat them with care. Ray Midgett Southern Shores BeachHugger
	Is Ohio A Third World State This description of 2004 presidential election mishaps reminds one of the mishaps in elections in third world countries. Read this story and tell us what you think. Tanya Thivener's is a tale of two voting precincts in Franklin County. In her city neighborhood, which is vastly Democratic and majority black, the 38-year-old mortgage broker found a line snaking out of the precinct door. She stood in line for four hours -- one hour in the rain -- and watched dozens of potential voters mutter in disgust and walk away without casting a ballot. Afterward, Thivener hopped in her car and drove to her mother's house, in the vastly Republican and majority white suburb of Harrisburg. How long, she asked, did it take her to vote? Fifteen minutes, her mother replied."It was . . . poor planning," Thivener said. "County officials knew they had this huge increase in registrations, and yet there weren't enough machines in the city. You really hope this wasn't intentional." Electoral problems prevented many thousands of Ohioans from voting on Nov. 2. In Columbus, bipartisan estimates say that 5,000 to 15,000 frustrated voters turned away without casting ballots. But similar problems occurred across the state and fueled protest marches and demands for a recount. The foul-ups appeared particularly acute in Democratic-leaning districts, according to interviews with voters, poll workers, election observers and election board and party officials, as well as an examination of precinct voting patterns in several cities. In Cleveland, poorly trained poll workers apparently gave faulty instructions to voters that led to the disqualification of thousands of provisional ballots and misdirected several hundred votes to third-party candidates. In Youngstown, 25 electronic machines transferred an unknown number of votes for Sen. John F. Kerry (D-Mass.) to the Bush column. In Columbus, Cincinnati and Toledo, and on college campuses, election officials allocated far too few voting machines to busy precincts, with the result that voters stood on line as long as 10 hours -- many leaving without voting. Some longtime voters discovered their registrations had been purged. source
	Settlement Possible in Asphalt Plant Dispute What’s to settle? A conditional use permit can not come before the Board of Adjusters to be changed. One of the conditions of use of the asphalt permit is an agreed upon height limit of 35 feet. In order to change that, they must come before the Town Council and ask for a change in the conditions of use. They came before the Town Council and asked for a change and the town would not rewrite the permit. The End. This is our town code. This is our democratic procedure. This is not to be bargained away. What, pay the fine and continue to be in violation? This issue has no business before a judge. It is a local zoning issue and has been addressed. What if everyone said, “I don’t like the town code. I’m going to ask a judge to change it just for me.” It’s only fair that the “popular native” get what he wants. His business is the only heavy industry in a village commercial zone. His is the only business that is allowed to dump toxins on his neighbors. All other Conditional Use Permits require no fumes over the property boarders. All other Conditional Use Permits specifically prohibit noise over the property border. His business is specifically allowed to make noise over his property border. This is a classic example of “exclusive privilege” which is a gross violation of our constitutional rights. Now he wants to be the highest business in the VC3, not to mention the ugliest. What we are talking about is having a judge overturn our constitutional procedure. Which means anyone can apply for a Conditional Use Permit, then do an end run around the Town Council and get the Board of Adjustors to change it to their liking, but only if they like you. It’s Thanksgiving and we must Give Thanks to Mr. Bateman and Mr. Perry for all of this, and all of the wasted money this has cost the town. The Popular Native financed their run for office, and if they ever get the rest of their cronies back in, Kitty Hawk will become one big stinking industrial zone run by the Board of Adjusters, a judge and, of course, the “Popular Native”. Claudia Larson 906 D Kitty Hawk Road Kitty Hawk
	Blind or Confused ! Three out of 4 self-described supporters of President George W. Bush still believe that pre-war Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction or active programs to produce them. According to a recent survey, the same number also believes that Iraqi President Saddam Hussein provided "substantial support" to al Qaeda. But here is the truly amazing part of this story. As many or more Bush supporter’s hold these beliefs today than they did several months ago. In other words, more people believe the claims today, even though a through government investigation has disproved both claims. These are among the most striking findings of a survey conducted in mid-October by the University of Maryland's Program on International Policy Attitudes. According to these findings, most supporters of the Bush administration will believe anything the administration says, even if it has been proved to be untrue. RJ Kitty Hawk
	Hoopage Our Legislators have mountains of legislation in place, they are simply not being enforced or have instituted hoops to negotiate so it gives one the illusion that the state of North Carolina is protecting something. They are having a meeting Monday, August 30 at Kitty Hawk Town Hall to add some more legislation or hoopage regarding fill. EXAMPLE #1, We have, on Kitty Hawk Road, a recently built apartment building whose lot was, initially below sea level, 35’ from the sound with septic about 25’ from the main road. The septic people said the hoop you have to go through to be in compliance is, dump 2 feet of sand on your lot. They also hooped CAMA with a reduced set back variance. EXAMPLE #2 Division of Air Quality has hoops where toxic fumes are concerned, If you do this, this and this and it doesn’t work, you will ultimately be considered in compliance simply because you have negotiated all the hoops. Bottom Line for the DAQ: It has been related to me that the application of the rule is consistent with past cases. My understanding is that as long as the plant has current and consistent technology comparative to other plants in the state, they are considered in compliance. Betsy Huddleston Feb 5, 2001 This is basically the state of legislation in North Carolina. If you play golf with someone who can pass laws and give them enough money to stay in office, you can even have your hoopage personalized. For instance you may be able to level 10 acres of Mealtime Forest or precious dunes and put in a driving range. We have rules and regulations that are not being enforced or if you can afford the lawyer, hooped to ineffectiveness. A suggestion; First let us see what’s already on the books and eliminate contradictions between the agencies, before we attempt to put a cast over a sling over a bandage. Claudia Larson
	An Open Letter To The Nags Head Inn As you know, several weeks ago I stayed at the Nags Head Inn with a dear friend of mine. Her recent bout of chemotherapy had rendered her nearly immobile due to, among many other things, terrible pain and severe blistering of her feet. Being the eternal optimist that she is (and that you have to be when battling this disease) she had hoped to be feeling better by the time we checked out, two days later. We hoped for the best, knowing that the beach house we had reserved would not be available until mid-afternoon on the day of check-out. We knew that if her condition did not improve, there was no way she could endure the period from hotel check-out to beach house check-in without an appropriate place to rest (i.e., in a bed with her feet elevated). Unfortunately, her condition did not improve over our two days at the hotel, and we were left with quite a dilemma. Hoping to find a modicum of compassion at the Nags Head Inn, I asked the staff at the front desk if we could stay a few hours past check-out, given the extraordinary circumstances. Much to my surprise, considering the typically generous attitudes I've encountered when visiting other establishments in the Outer Banks, the answer was no. I was told over and over again, in no uncertain terms, that the policy of the Nags Head Inn is to charge an extra day to anyone who stays past check-out. I questioned several members of the staff about this policy, including the general manager, and received exactly the same response each time. (What they lack in compassion, they more than make up for in consistency.) Not wanting to let this regrettable episode ruin what would otherwise turn out to be a very nice vacation, I decided to pay the additional $175 so that we could stay the extra few hours. Ignoring the cancer issue for a moment (and the fact that this occurred on a Sunday, of all days) I have stayed at many hotels where the staff was more than happy to let me delay my checkout for reasons as innocuous as a meeting that ran too long or a poorly-timed airline flight. In all cases I received a friendly "Take as much time as you need. Don't worry about it. Just be sure to stay with us the next time that you're in town." And I do, precisely because of their attitude. (As opposed to your company's incomprehensible "Pay us or get out!" attitude.) This may seem somewhat foreign to you, but many establishments desire return visits from their customers. They are willing to go out of their way, and maybe even forfeit a small amount of short-term profit, in order to ensure a long-term relationship with their clients. Perhaps there are so many people seeking hotel rooms in Nags Head that you don't have to concern yourself with pleasing your customers, since there will always be more. Frankly, I cannot think of another reason why a hotel with your attitude would still be in business otherwise. Now, given the fact that our checkout was delayed because my friend was terribly ill, I cannot help but find your corporation's attitude anything but utterly appalling. Even if you are profit-driven enough to charge someone an extra $175 because they couldn't finish packing in time, how can you possibly sleep at night after forcing that kind of ultimatum on a cancer patient? Is the money that important to you? Is it so important that you are blinded to kindness and compassion and concepts as simple as helping others? I have to believe that even the most greed-possessed among us would decry your actions. Yet, your email response to my concerns states that "You knew when you came to the area that there would be a gap between check out time at any hotel and check in time at your rental home. This was a chance that you chose to take." In other words, "It's your own stupid fault!" While I would ordinarily be offended by such a statement, I must confess that I am entirely unmoved by this declaration, as it is exactly the kind of response that I have come to expect from the Nags Head Inn. And although I agree that we knew the potential for an unpleasant outcome existed, I found it much more likely that the unpleasantness would result from an impending hurricane and mass evacuation, rather than the wanton and callous disregard of our situation by a cash-obsessed corporation. As I explained previously, we were quite hopeful that she would feel better by the time we checked out. We were also quite hopeful that if not, we could rely on the kindness of the people in the Outer Banks to see us through. This attitude had never failed us in the past, but of course we had never stayed at the Nags Head Inn. And despite the fact that this disheartening experience has deeply tarnished my view of the business community in the Outer Banks, I remain quite confident that if we had stayed at any other hotel in the area, we would have been treated with respect and compassion, and this most frustrating occurrence would have been avoided. Instead, I was told by your front desk staff that the only way housekeeping could have all available rooms ready for other patrons was by ensuring that every customer checked out on time. This statement, which I find very difficult to believe, is also implied in your email. The only way that this statement can possibly be true is if the cleaning of every available room in your hotel begins at check-out time. Otherwise, a customer could stay somewhat beyond check-out time without hindering your ability to clean all available rooms. Therefore I am very curious to know which claim is correct. Does the cleaning of every available room in your hotel begin at check-out time, or is the statement which your front desk staff made, and which your email implied, untrue? (I can likely help you answer this question, as there were a number of housekeepers still cleaning rooms on our floor when we checked out later that day.) Assuming that the cleaning of all rooms does not begin at check-out, and we could have therefore stayed somewhat longer without rendering the room unavailable, I can only come to the conclusion that the motivation for charging us an extra day was greed. It is readily apparent that the Nags Head Inn is much more concerned with their customers' wallets than with the customers themselves. And while it is true that we were most generously offered a seat by the pool (which was surrounded by screaming children slinging wet Nerf footballs about) this is hardly a comfortable arrangement for someone whose persistent pain can only be made slightly more tolerable by extensive bed-rest and a never-ending parade of pills. (We were not offered, as you claim, a stay in your conference/hospitality room unless that room consists of the chairs in your lobby.) And if you understand in the least how cancer can ravage not only one's body, but one's self-image (which, given your company's actions, seems unlikely) you just might be able to comprehend why someone with this horrible disease be put out on public display, even in surroundings as ideal for the compromised immune system as a hotel pool. In fact, you might even be condescending and absolutely abhorrent. your comment is that we "would not be out in the hot sun." You obviously just don't get it. Your email goes on to state that "you would not consider anything but staying in that room at no charge." This is untrue. The only alternative offered by your staff was the "pool option" which I described previously as an inappropriate, if not completely absurd, alternative. I did ask the front desk staff whether prorating the room was an option, and I was told that it was not. (Although I felt that it would have been fair for us to pay a portion of the daily rate, assuming that the outlandish housekeeping claims mentioned earlier were true, I must agree that prorating the room is not an option, as I cannot imagine any corporation with even the slightest amount of human concern asking for a prorated amount.) Finally, your email states "I know that you do not want to see the Nags Head Inn view on this." This could not be further from the truth. I have been waiting nearly two weeks to hear your view. I was very curious to find out how a corporation, and the people within that corporation, could justify treating their customers in such a manner, particularly one as ill as my friend. I had hoped that by hearing your rationalizations, I could somehow understand your actions, and perhaps convince myself that this most discouraging situation was not due to an intentional disregard for the happiness and well-being of others, but a terrible misunderstanding that could be resolved. Unfortunately, this has not turned out to be the case, and I fear that we are all the worse for having endured it. I sincerely hope that no one associated with the Nags Head Inn is ever affected by the scourge of cancer, but if they are, I pray that they find more compassion in their journeys than did we. John Morris, Fredericksburg, VA EMAIL THE NAGS HEAD INN AT info@nagsheadinn.com CALL THE NAGS HEAD INN AT 1 (800) 327-8881
	The Beach Nourishment Committee has never described the criteria that we would use to decide to stop replacing sand that is eroded from our beaches. That means that we are planning to start a project that has no end point. The sand that will be continually washed away will have to be replaced, forever. The cost to Dare County taxpayers will easily reach hundreds of millions of dollars with no upper limit in sight. We can do better. Instead of trying to preserve the existing beach structures, we should create a plan to move in a new direction. We can pull back the development from the ocean and have, eventually, an open, undeveloped beach with a parallel access road and plenty of parking. Rather than hurting the tourist businesses, clearing the beach of the existing structures will increase the number of people vacationing here. If we want more tourist dollars, an open beach will attract more people than beach nourishment. I support any expenditures required to hire the experts that we need to create a long term plan that results in a "new and better" Outer Banks. Stan Zdziarski 267 Dogwood Trail Southern Shores, NC 27949 252-261-2668
	I urge everyone who loves the Outer Banks and is concerned about the environmental future of our beautiful seashore to please visit our website at http://web.archive.org/web/20050324120539/http://www.beachhuggers.com/. We need your help and support to get our local elected officials to "listen to the people" and not just special interest groups here on the Outer Banks. Please give us a few minutes of your time. Stop by our website; and then, please contact your elected officials and give them your opinion, whatever it may be. Ray Midgett Southern Shores, NC
	Beach "Renourishment" I agree with everything Mr. Midgett stated in his letter. I am glad more people are speaking out on the subject. I have written about it in the past in my letters to the editors of the Coastland Times and Sentinel. We need to rouse people to speak up. Many people in Dare County never go to the beach and don't seem care about it. Maybe the proposed sales tax increase to 8 percent to help fund beach nourishment may get their attention. Why should the majority fund a minority's interests? Edith Winkelmann Colington
	Beach Nourishment Outer Banks Subject: HB 142 - Beach Nourishment Outer Banks Finance Committee - North Carolina House of Representatives Dear Representative: " You cannot turn a Wild Stallion into a Circus Pony. Beach nourishment on North Carolina's northern Outer Banks is a waste of taxpayer monies, will destroy the beauty of one of the last, most natural and unspoiled seashores on the entire east coast. Lastly, it will not be successful."...........Ray Midgett, Southern Shores, NC. More to Come. Meanwhile, please give this matter your prayful consideration, less, we the people, succumb to the pressure of our four county commissioners who own or have extensive financial interests in businesses along the oceanfront area proposed for beach nourishment. ( motels/cottage courts, $million lots, mercantile businesses) The silent majority of people in Dare County do not support beach nourishment, nor do they believe it will be successful. Our board of commissioners have not polled the people on this matter; but only listen to the (1) Outer Banks Board of Realtors, (2) Outer Banks Builders Association, (3) Outer Banks Visitors' Bureau, (4) Outer Banks Motel/Restaurant Association, (5) and themselves. Furthermore, the above associations are closely controlled by a minority. Other members are too busy making their fast bucks. We do not need another Virginia Beach/Daytona Beach/Myrtle Beach in North Carolina. I challenge you to visit these beaches and look for seashells, many species of shorebirds, good fishing, sandfleas tickling your toes, and, the chance to lay a seahorse gently back onto a wave. You will not find it there; but you can, on our northern Outer Banks as long as we leave it alone and work with Mother Nature, not against it. Let's hang on to what we've got. We will always have a beach on the Outer Banks; and short of human life, a $million mini-hotel is not as important as what we stand to destroy. Ray Midgett Southern Shores, NC 252-261-9797 obxsaltydog@charter.net http://web.archive.org/web/20050324120539/http://www.outerbanksnc.net/midgett
	It's Voting Time It’s voting time! And I’d like to tell a story. Once upon a time, to be more exact, August 3, 1998, Mr. Nuzzi left the protected confines of his home in the exclusive, gated community of Martins Point to attend a Kitty Hawk town hall public hearing to allow an asphalt plant. At that time he stood up and professed his support for this heavy industry. (Minutes from meeting, page 52) That would leave certain children, not living in Martins Point, in harms way. They weren’t his kids, so I guess it wasn’t his concern. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see that putting an asphalt plant in residents’ back yards will expose their children to toxins. Next time you’re passing asphalt road construction, park your car in the emissions and sit there for 11 hours. That’s what we in Kitty Hawk are forced to do. The neighbors have asked the state for the approximate percentage of pollutants falling on their properties. They can not supply that information to us but they know what we are breathing is legal and that the highest pollutant impact is at the property border where we live not at the plant site Presently, the state does not track Hydrogen Sulfide, one of the many pollutants emitted by the plant. “The effects of toxic pollution such as H2S on growing children is recognized by experts as particularly sever.” Dr. Carman explains, “children are more vulnerable than adults to H2S, first because they breath more rapidly, taking in significantly more pollution per pound of body weight than do adults.” “Second, national data show that children spend an average of about 50% more time outdoors than adults. Third, children are three times more active while outdoors, engaged in sports and other activities; this increased activity raises breathing rates and in some cases swallowing of pollutants. Fourth, children are particularly vulnerable to toxic substances because their bodies are immature and rapidly growing. Fifth, children are in their prime learning years and H2S exposure causes brain damage. The impairment of mental facility in a child amounts to a lifetime of harm.” Neil Carman, PhD. There are many other toxins being pumped into the air by the production of asphalt. The acceptable levels of pollutants regarding asphalt emissions in the State of North Carolina are based on 160-pound man. We have a bike path that leads to the plant soon we’ll have a park where kids can boat. Where those kids are playing, is the highest point of impact. Next time your going down the bike path and you start smelling fumes, suck ‘em in. Next time you see a cloud of rock dust there, suck it in. By the way rock dust, emissions from the trucks and the top of the silo are called “fugitive” emissions and are not being monitored. It seems that children may not be Mr. Nuzzi’s prime concern. And in conclusion, there is no happily ever after to this story. Claudia Larson 906D Kitty Hawk Road Kitty Hawk, NC 252- 255-0031
	Kitty Hawk Politics It has been said that politics is sometimes an ugly business. Nowhere is this more evident than in the town of Kitty Hawk where a group of dissidents, operating under the guise of the Kitty Hawk Citizens Association, continue to discredit/undermine decisions made by the current town council. Lately much publicity has been generated about the rising costs of the town legal fees, however, the real issue of concern to the Kitty Hawk Citizens Association is the voting majority on the council. After the defeat of one of the council incumbents at the last election, the statement was made “one down, three to go”. It appears that their objective is to return to the previous “do nothing/spend nothing” philosophy of town government. The increase in legal fees was not entirely unanticipated since the current town council is playing “catch up” to accomplish needed work such as removal of derelict unsafe cottages and exposed septic systems from Kitty Hawk beaches, that was ignored or put off for years by the previous administration. Some citizens still refuse to accept the reality that Kitty Hawk is no longer a small fishing village where, with the right connections, rules and town ordinances could largely be ignored, e.g., Carolina Asphalt essentially wrote their own conditional use permit, obtained approval from a “friendly” town council over the objections of the Planning Board chairman, and then proceeded to blatantly ignore the requirements of the permit. Perhaps, as reported in a recent news article discussing the asphalt plant lawsuit, this is how a “local boy made good”. Thanks to the foresight of the town council, Kitty Hawk has a new town manager who brings years of management experience in providing the direction and procedures needed for proper management of town functions and enforcement of town ordinances. A recent letter to the editor from a Kitty Hawk resident charged the town council with holding extra sessions simply to “line their pockets” with taxpayers dollars. This ridiculous claim is hardly worth a response except to note that countless “off the clock” hours are spent attending other meetings and responding to citizen phone calls and e-mail requests. During a recent council meeting, councilman Doug Seay volunteered to donate his salary in response to a request from the YMCA for scholarships for needy children in Kitty Hawk. This council has worked tirelessly to improve the quality of life in Kitty Hawk and justly deserves our support. Florence Hoy 4025 Ivy Lane Kitty Hawk, NC Phone No. 252-261-1384
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