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NC State’s legendary Sport Fishing School is landing on Hatteras ...

March 12, 2025 | Fishing

 NC State Continuing and Lifelong Education is set to launch the 71st annual Sport Fishing School this June in Hatteras, North Carolina, continuing a transformative educational tradition that spans over seven decades. This immersive five-day program offers participants a comprehensive journey into sport fishing, blending classroom instruction with hands-on training. The program’s unique curriculum combines two days [...] Fishing |  Full Article

Voluntary slow zone in place off Outer Banks after more North Atla ...

March 12, 2025 | Fishing | By: Sam Walker

From SamWalkerOBXNews.com NOAA Fisheries has announced a voluntary slow zone has been implemented off the Outer Banks after endangered North Atlantic right whales were spotted offshore on Sunday. There are approximately 360 individual North Atlantic right whales remaining, including fewer than 70 reproductively active females. Vessel strikes are considered the primary threat to the whales [...] Fishing |  Full Article

All six episodes of the Outer Edge series are now available online

March 12, 2025 | Island Features | By: Joy Crist

 All six episodes of The Outer Edge docuseries are now available on YouTube, featuring spotlights on commercial fishing, Outer Banks creators and musicians, photographers, the wild environment, and the region’s boat building tradition. The six-part series, produced locally by the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau (OBVB), is part of the organization’s “ongoing commitment to responsible travel [...] Island Features |  Full Article

Contract approved for next phase of Dare County Parks and Recreati ...

March 12, 2025 | Local News | By: Sam Walker

From SamWalkerOBXNews.com The Dare County Board of Commissioners have approved a proposal and contract with McGill Associates—the firm tasked with developing and implementing plans to improve Dare County Parks and Recreation facilities throughout the county—for the second phase of the recently completed Dare County Parks and Recreation Needs Assessment Plan. Nearly 10% of the county’s population [...] Local News |  Full Article

Cape Hatteras Secondary School’s Science Olympiad teams exce ...

March 11, 2025 | Island Features

Cape Hatteras Secondary School (CHSS) Science Olympiad teams earned top placements at the Regional Science Olympiad Tournament, held Saturday, March 1, at East Carolina University. This year’s competition was the largest regional Science Olympiad in North Carolina, with more than 20 teams in each division. CHSS students demonstrated exceptional scientific knowledge and problem-solving skills, earning [...] Island Features |  Full Article

Contract approved for next phase of Dare County Parks and Recreati ...

March 12, 2025 | Local News | By: Sam Walker

From SamWalkerOBXNews.com The Dare County Board of Commissioners have approved a proposal and contract with McGill Associates—the firm tasked with developing and implementing plans to improve Dare County Parks and Recreation facilities throughout the county—for the second phase of the recently completed Dare County Parks and Recreation Needs Assessment Plan. Nearly 10% of the county’s population [...] Local News |  Full Article

Ocracoke-mainland ferry operations suspended on Tuesday morning, S ...

March 11, 2025 | Local News | By: Joy Crist

1:00 P.M. UPDATE: The Ocracoke-Cedar Island and Ocracoke-Swan Quarter ferry operations have resumed normal operations. The Ocracoke-Cedar Island and Ocracoke-Swan Quarter ferry operations have been suspended on Tuesday morning due to inclement weather, according to an update from the North Carolina Department of Transportation’s Ferry Division. The Hatteras-Ocracoke ferry is running as of 7:30 a.m., however, service may [...] Local News |  Full Article

Public mixed on game land access pass plan during hearing

March 10, 2025 | Local News | By: Trista Talton

From CoastalReview.org Campers, cyclists, hikers, birding enthusiasts and other outdoor recreationalists would be required to buy an annual pass to access game lands in the state under a proposal floated by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. The “conservation access pass” proposal targets those users because they are increasingly visiting game lands and utilizing state [...] Local News |  Full Article

State invites communities, contractors to apply for $8 million in ...

March 9, 2025 | Local News

The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s (NCDEQ) Division of Coastal Management (DCM) invites communities and contractors to apply to participate in Phases 1 through 4 of the N.C. Resilient Coastal Communities Program (RCCP), which aims to equip communities with additional capability to understand and enhance coastal resilience at the local level. DCM estimates that approximately $2 million [...] Local News |  Full Article

Soon-to-retire Dare finance director honored for 35 years of service

March 7, 2025 | Local News | By: Sam Walker

From SamWalkerOBXNews.com At Monday’s Dare County Board of Commissioners meeting, Finance Director and Deputy County Manager David Clawson was honored for his 35 years of service to the county. During the presentation ceremony, County Manager and Attorney Bobby Outten said the presentation came with mixed emotions as Clawson will be retiring at the end of [...] Local News |  Full Article

Cape Hatteras National Seashore ranks 35th most visited national park in 2024

March 13, 2025 | Seashore News | By: Sam Walker

From SamWalkerOBXNews.com A new report from the National Park Service ranks Cape Hatteras National Seashore as the 35th busiest national park in the country in 2024. And all three units of the Outer Banks Group of National Parks ranked in the top 15 for the number of visitors to their category of park. Cape Hatteras National Seashore saw 2,762,954 visitors last year, the fourth-busiest ever, a decline of 2.3% from 2023. Seashore visitation numbers are collected by counting southbound vehicles just north of the Marc Basnight Bridge and using a multiplier to estimate the total number of passengers heading south. Those estimates are added to the number of passengers going to Ocracoke Island from Cedar Island and Swan Quarter. The all-time mark for the nation's first national seashore was set in 2021 at 3,206,056, followed by 2022's 2,862,844 and 2,826,169 in 2023. The report also noted 15, [...] Seashore News |  Full Article

Organizations send letter to NPS Deputy Director asking for reinst ...

March 3, 2025 | Seashore News | By: Joy Crist | 3

The Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks and the Association of Park Rangers sent a letter on March 3 to Acting National Park Service (NPS) Director Jessica Bowron to initiate action in order to reinstate probationary employees who were recently fired. Bill Wade, Executive Director of the Association of National Park Rangers, confirmed that six [...] Seashore News |  Full Article

Six employees let go from NPS Outer Banks Group; Possible changes ...

February 28, 2025 | Seashore News | By: Joy Crist | 4

Following the February dismissal of approximately 1,000 National Park Service (NPS) employees nationwide, coupled with a February 26 memo from the Office of Personnel Management on the National Workplace Optimization Initiative, questions remain as to how the NPS Outer Banks Group could be impacted in the future. Bill Wade, Executive Director of the Association of [...] Seashore News |  Full Article

Fort Raleigh National Historic Site reschedules shoreline stabiliz ...

February 5, 2025 | Seashore News

Fort Raleigh National Historic Site (Fort Raleigh) has rescheduled its shoreline stabilization public meeting for 6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. Public comment on three preliminary alternatives for stabilizing approximately one mile of Fort Raleigh’s shoreline is open until Feb. 21, 2025, an extension of two weeks due to a weather-related public meeting postponement. Three preliminary alternatives are available for public comment in the Shoreline Stabilization [...] Seashore News |  Full Article

Outer Banks Forever provides update on Bodie Island Light Station fire

January 30, 2025 | Seashore News | By: Joy Crist

Outer Banks Forever, the official nonprofit partner of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore, provided an update in their January newsletter on the Jan. 7 fire at the Bodie Island Lighthouse’s Double Keepers’ Quarters. The organization noted that while remediation efforts were ongoing, the annual lighthouse climbing season, (which is scheduled to start in April), would [...] Seashore News |  Full Article

Visitor facilities at Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Fort Raleig ...

January 22, 2025 | Seashore News

National Park Service visitor facilities at Cape Hatteras National Seashore (Seashore), Fort Raleigh National Historic Site (Fort Raleigh) and Wright Brothers National Memorial will remain closed Thursday, Jan. 23. Fort Raleigh’s shoreline erosion public meeting, originally scheduled for Jan. 23, is postponed—a new date will be announced in the coming days. All off-road vehicle (ORV) [...] Seashore News |  Full Article

All ORV routes temporarily closed on Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands ...

January 22, 2025 | Seashore News | By: Joy Crist

As a safety precaution, Cape Hatteras National Seashore has temporarily closed all ORV ramps due to difficult beach driving conditions. The combination of snow and sand has resulted in numerous vehicles getting stuck on Hatteras and Ocracoke Island beaches. At least 5-6 inches of snow fell overnight on Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands, and another half [...] Seashore News |  Full Article

Dare Arts Now Seeking Artists For The 28th Annual Mollie Fearing Memorial Art Show

March 13, 2025 | Island Features

In 1975 a group of citizens gathered at Mollie A. Fearing’s house and started a nonprofit, originally called the Sea and Sounds Arts Council, to bring cultural arts programming to Dare County, and Mollie was its first president. 50 years later, Dare Arts is proud to announce a call for entry for the 28th Annual Mollie Fearing Memorial Art Show, which celebrates Mollie’s life and her vision to support the arts in our community. “My family is so pleased that what started as a grassroots effort to bring music and dance to the children of the Outer Banks has blossomed into what Dare Arts is today,” said Mollie Fearing’s daughter Grizelle Fearing. “My mom would be so proud of the work that Dare Arts is doing to bring the arts to so many. The nonprofit is growing and evolving every year, and the 50th anniversary celebration year should be a banner one!” Artist Fay Davis Edwards [...] Island Features |  Full Article

Cape Hatteras Secondary School’s Science Olympiad teams exce ...

March 11, 2025 | Island Features

Cape Hatteras Secondary School (CHSS) Science Olympiad teams earned top placements at the Regional Science Olympiad Tournament, held Saturday, March 1, at East Carolina University. This year’s competition was the largest regional Science Olympiad in North Carolina, with more than 20 teams in each division. CHSS students demonstrated exceptional scientific knowledge and problem-solving skills, earning [...] Island Features |  Full Article

Dare County launches new spring gardening tips video

March 11, 2025 | Island Features | By: Joy Crist

Dare County, in partnership with Current TV, has released a new video, “Spring Gardening Tips from the Dare County Extension Master Gardeners,” which is designed to help local gardeners prepare for the spring planting season with expert advice tailored to the unique coastal conditions of the Outer Banks. Hosted by Jenna Livernois, Dare County’s horticulture agent [...] Island Features |  Full Article

Outer Banks Chamber will host virtual session on NC Fortified Roof Program on March 18

March 7, 2025 | Real Estate

Thinking about a new roof? The Outer Banks Chamber will be hosting the March 18th Lunchtime Live Virtual program on the NC Fortified Roof Program. This program will feature Mark Goins, Managing Director of NC Fortified. Mark leads a team of certified Fortified Evaluators dedicated to enhancing storm resilience for NC Coastal communities. We will also have Mark Mueller, owner of Mueller Builders who will lend his expertise and dedication to supporting and strengthening the Outer Banks Community. This virtual event is for Chamber members and the community. This is sure to be an informative session with the opportunity to network virtually with other business members and take away some great information! Thank you to our 2025 Lunchtime Live Sponsor, Major League Builders for their generous support of this program. The session is free to attend; pre-registration is required. Registration f [...] Real Estate |  Full Article

Community encouraged to participate in Housing Survey led by East ...

February 28, 2025 | Real Estate

The Dare Community Housing Task Force is pleased to announce that a team of researchers from East Carolina University (ECU) has launched a new survey to assess workforce housing challenges in the Dare County community. Led by Dr. Misun Hur, Associate Professor in Community and Regional Planning, and Dr. Emily P. Yeager, Assistant Professor in the Department of Recreation [...] Real Estate |  Full Article

ECU is teaming up with Dare Housing Task Force to collect public i ...

February 12, 2025 | Real Estate | By: Joy Crist

East Carolina University (ECU) is partnering with the Dare Community Housing Task Force to better understand community attitudes toward workforce housing, and they are looking for insight and feedback from the Outer Banks community. In this vein, they are hosting of open house sessions, including two on Hatteras Island, and residents can drop by anytime [...] Real Estate |  Full Article

Marine Fisheries Commission advances proposal for sector allocation in Southern Flounder fishery

March 14, 2025 | Fishing

On Thursday, the N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission today took a step towards adoption of draft Southern Flounder Fishery Management Plan Amendment 4 by approving the draft plan for public and advisory committee review. Draft Amendment 4 would move the already scheduled sector allocation shift to 50/50 (commercial/recreational) in Amendment 3 up by one year to 2025. Amendment 3, adopted in 2022, prescribed a shift in quota allocation from 70/30 (commercial/recreational) to 60/40 in 2025 and 50/50 in 2026. However, following two years with short recreational flounder seasons and one year with no recreational flounder season, the Marine Fisheries Commission tasked the Division of Marine Fisheries with finding ways to allow more recreational access while maintaining stock rebuilding requirements in Amendment 3. More long-term, comprehensive options for recreational access will be considered [...] Fishing |  Full Article

Outer Banks Community Foundation shares highlights from annual meeting

March 14, 2025 | Community News Brief

By Tatum Clements for Outer Banks Community Foundation Bright blue skies lining the ocean’s horizon were the perfect backdrop for the 150+ civic leaders, nonprofit professionals, and donors who attended the Outer Banks Community Foundation’s (OBCF) Annual Meeting at Jennette’s Pier on Friday, March 7. The meeting began with positive messages from the Community Foundation’s Board [...] Community News Brief |  Full Article

Meet the Outer Banks SPCA Pet of the Week Mia

March 11, 2025 | Community News Brief

Meet the Outer Banks SPCA pet of the week, courtesy of their latest video produced by Dare County’s CURRENT TV. For more information on this pet, and the many other Outer Banks pets currently up for adoption, visit the Outer Banks SPCA website at https://www.obxspca.org/, or their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/obxspca/

NCDEQ now accepting grant proposals to address flood resiliency, w ...

March 11, 2025 | Community News Brief

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality Division of Water Resources is now accepting proposals for projects that address flood reduction or flood resiliency in key river basins in the state. In addition, DWR is also accepting proposals statewide for projects that address stream restoration, water-based restoration and water management. In response to a $5 [...] Community News Brief |  Full Article

Community Health Fair and Pop-up Library will be held in Rodanthe ...

March 9, 2025 | Community News Brief | By: Joy Crist

The Community Care Clinic of Dare will be hosting a Health Fair at the Rodanthe Community Building on Monday, March 10, from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The event is free and open to everyone, thanks to support from Outer Banks Health, and includes blood pressure checks, blood glucose screenings, cholesterol checks, and A1C checks. (which [...] Community News Brief |  Full Article

NCBBA makes donation to Hatteras Island Futbol Club

March 8, 2025 | Community News Brief | By: Joy Crist

Continuing a wave of recent donations to Hatteras Island organizations, the North Carolina Beach Buggy Association (NCBBA) recently made a $1,500 donation to the Hatteras Island Futbol Club, which teaches soccer to local children, and has more than 100 young players participating in the program Hatteras Island Futbol Club has been in existence in some way, shape, [...] Community News Brief |  Full Article

Joshua Leigh Whitehurst

March 14, 2025 | Obituaries

WANCHESE — Joshua Leigh Whitehurst, age 46, died Saturday, March 8, 2025, in Chesapeake Regional Medical Center. Joshua was born September 15, 1978 in Norfolk, VA. He was preceded in death by his mother, Susan Marie Bunch Skinner. He loved the beach and enjoyed cooking. He is survived by his father, Floyd E. Whitehurst of [...] Obituaries |  Full Article

Kathleen A. Maurer

March 11, 2025 | Obituaries

Kathleen “Kathy” A. Maurer, 88, passed away peacefully on March 8, 2025 in Nags Head, NC. Kathy was born on April 30, 1936 in Bayonne, New Jersey. She was preceded in death by her parents, George and Catherine Reid; her husband, Frederick John Maurer; and sister, Joanne ‘Reid’ Fox. Together with her husband, Kathy raised [...] Obituaries |  Full Article

Paul Alfred Byberg

March 11, 2025 | Obituaries

NAGS HEAD — Paul Alfred Byberg, 86, passed away peacefully on March 8, 2025, in Nags Head, NC. Paul was born on November 14, 1938, in Ridgway, PA. He is reunited with his parents Wern and Clara Byberg and his daughter, Suzanne Harman. Paul graduated from Cooley High School, Detroit, MI in 1957. He attended [...] Obituaries |  Full Article

Rebecca Jean Riffe Bowman

March 7, 2025 | Obituaries

October 31, 1964 – March 1, 2025 KILL DEVIL HILLS — Rebecca “Becky” Jean Riffe Bowman, 60, of Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina passed away peacefully with her family by her side on March 1, 2025. She was born on October 31, 1964, in South Charleston, WV and was the daughter of Franklin Delano Riffe [...] Obituaries |  Full Article

Elaine McMichael White

March 7, 2025 | Obituaries | By: Donna Barnett

August 22, 1960 – February 28, 2025 NAGS HEAD — On Friday, February 28, 2025, Elaine McMichael White passed away peacefully at home during her battle with cancer. From Pennsauken, New Jersey, Elaine was the only daughter of the late Wallace and Elaine McMichael (neé Daisey). Elaine will be greatly missed by her devoted husband [...] Obituaries |  Full Article