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James Elvin O’Neal

December 12, 2024 | Obituaries

October 7, 1958 – December 9, 2024 OCRACOKE — James Elvin O’Neal, Jimmy, 66, of Ocracoke, NC, passed away peacefully on December 9, 2024, at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital. Born on October 7, 1958, in Philadelphia, PA, Jimmy lived a life marked by service, hard work, and deep love for his family. Jimmy served his [...] Obituaries |  Full Article

Breakfast with Santa in Hatteras Village will be held December 14

December 12, 2024 | Community News Brief | By: Joy Crist

Hatteras Village will host a special Breakfast with Santa event on Saturday, December 14, before the annual Hatteras Village Christmas Parade. Adult tickets are $15, children 5-12 are $6, and children under 5 are free. The doors open at 8:00 a.m., breakfast is served until 11:30 a.m., and all proceeds benefit the Hatteras Community Preschool. This [...] Community News Brief |  Full Article

Ocracoke’s Island Commons gets decked out in 12,000 Christmas li ...

December 11, 2024 | Island Features | By: Joy Crist

After two years of transforming the grounds surrounding Ocracoke’s historic Island Inn into a public park and common area, volunteers with the Island Inn Commons Landscaping Project recently revitalized the site yet again for the holidays, with the temporary addition of thousands of Christmas lights. The display was celebrated with a gathering at the Island [...] Island Features |  Full Article

Winter Waterfowl Excursions to resume after 4-year pause

December 11, 2024 | Island Features

From CoastalReview.org North Carolina Maritime Museum officials are bringing back the overnight tour of wildlife refuges and seashores throughout Pamlico, Hyde and Dare counties to observe wintering waterfowl. The Coastal Culture and Waterfowl Watching Excursion, a two-day adventure through the wildlife refuges and seashores in Eastern North Carolina, will be offered Jan. 8-9, 2025, and [...] Island Features |  Full Article

Coins for Cancer at Cape Hatteras Elementary brings in more than $ ...

December 10, 2024 | Community News Brief | By: Joy Crist

Every year in November, Cape Hatteras Elementary School (CHES) students bring in handfuls of spare change, bills, and checks in order to raise money for the Hatteras Island Cancer Foundation, and in 2024, the students came together to raise a staggering $3,225.52 for their local friends and neighbors. The Hatteras Island Cancer Foundation (HICF) is [...] Community News Brief |  Full Article

Michael Lehmkuhler

December 10, 2024 | Obituaries

AVON — Michael Lehmkuhler, age 71, passed away on December 6 in his dream home at the beach, surrounded by family. He is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 42 years, Kathy Lehmkuhler; his daughter, Kristal Seaford of Richmond, Virginia, and her two children, Wyatt and Leona Seaford; and his daughter, Kate Blevins [...] Obituaries |  Full Article

High surf, overwash possible from Frisco to Ocracoke; Storms expec ...

December 11, 2024 | Local News | By: Sam Walker

From SamWalkerOBXNews.com The National Weather Service has expanded a Wind Advisory to inland areas as a cold front moves towards eastern North Carolina through the day, with strong southerly winds, the possibility of severe thunderstorms, and rough surf and minor oceanside overwash along parts of Hatteras and Ocracoke islands. Out ahead of the front, southerly [...] Local News |  Full Article

Buxton Restoration Advisory Board to move forward, initial clean-u ...

December 10, 2024 | Local News | By: Joy Crist

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) announced on Tuesday that the Savannah District was in the first stages of forming a Restoration Advisory Board (RAB) for Buxton Beach, based on an overwhelmingly positive response from the public. In early November, the USACE launched an online survey designed to gauge the Outer Banks community’s interest in establishing a RAB [...] Local News |  Full Article

New Executive Committee installed at annual Friends of the Graveya ...

December 9, 2024 | Local News

Great food, camaraderie, and a joyous holiday spirit highlighted the annual meeting of the Friends of the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum on Wednesday, December 4, in the museum’s Belinda and Virgil Willis Boardroom. Approximately 20 people attended, including board members, employees, volunteers, museum staff, and guests. A new Executive Committee was installed for 2025. [...] Local News |  Full Article

Low Income Energy Assistance Program now accepting applications

December 9, 2024 | Local News

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services’ Low Income Energy Assistance Program is now accepting applications from older adults 60 and older or people with disabilities receiving services through the NCDHHS Division of Aging. The federally funded program helps low-income households with a one-time payment sent directly to their heating vendor to offset the [...] Local News |  Full Article

Michael Briggs named new leader of N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission

December 9, 2024 | Local News | By: Sam Walker

From SamWalkerOBXNews.com The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission has selected Michael Kyle Briggs as executive director of the agency beginning on January 1. As executive director, Briggs will oversee a statewide agency of fourteen divisions and offices with approximately 700 permanent employees and an annual operating budget of approximately $110 million. The NCWRC manages and [...] Local News |  Full Article

Ocracoke Island ferry operations suspended due to deteriorating we ...

December 5, 2024 | Local News

UPDATE: Hatteras-Ocracoke ferry service has resumed as of 12:00 p.m. Thursday. Ocracoke-Swan Quarter and Ocracoke-Cedar Island  ferry routes will remain suspended for the rest of the day.  The Hatteras-Ocracoke, Ocracoke-Swan Quarter, and Ocracoke-Cedar Island ferry operations have been suspended as of Thursday morning due to deteriorating weather conditions, per an update from the North Carolina Ferry [...] Local News |  Full Article

Coastal Flood Advisory issued for the Outer Banks; Soundside flood ...

December 4, 2024 | Local News | By: Joy Crist

Strong southwest winds ahead of an approaching cold front will impact the Outer Banks Wednesday night into Thursday, with the potential for coastal flooding along the Croatan, Roanoke, and Pamlico Sounds, per an update from the National Weather Service. Winds may reach 40-50 mph starting Wednesday night, and 1-2 feet of coastal flooding in soundside [...] Local News |  Full Article

Ferry Division releases 2025 schedule for seven routes, Ocracoke p ...

December 3, 2024 | Local News

The North Carolina Ferry Division has released its 2025 schedule for all seven vehicle routes and the Ocracoke Express passenger ferry. The division, which is part of the N.C. Department of Transportation, provides ferry service year-round for all routes except for the Ocracoke Express passenger ferry. The Ocracoke Express passenger ferry, which provides service between Hatteras and the heart of Ocracoke Island (Silver [...] Local News |  Full Article

Record number of sea turtles rescued on Ocracoke Island during cold spell

December 12, 2024 | Seashore News | By: Peter Vankevich

From OcracokeObserver.com The number of rescued sea turtles on the Outer Banks this past week was, well, stunning. A cold spell that dropped water temperatures into the 40s Fahrenheit resulted in hundreds of sea turtles drifting onto the shores of the Outer Banks. Sea turtles are ectotherms, meaning they are cold blooded and can’t regulate their body temperature like mammals. Instead, sea turtles must stay in warmer waters to maintain their metabolism. When their internal temperature drops below 52 degrees Fahrenheit, their physiological processes begin shutting down and they go into a state of hypothermic shock also known as “cold stunning”. More than 550 sea turtles were rescued in just a few days last week, according to Tony Parisi, president of the nonprofit Network for Endangered Sea Turtles (N.E.S.T.), an all-volunteer organization dedicated to the protection and conservati [...] Seashore News |  Full Article

Ocracoke Light Station renovations continue; equipment delivers th ...

December 9, 2024 | Seashore News | By: Sam Walker

From SamWalkerOBXNews.com Three separate deliveries of construction equipment associated with the lifting of the Ocracoke Double Keepers’ Quarters are scheduled to occur this coming week. During the deliveries, Lighthouse Road—between approximately Loop Road and Martha Jane Lane—will be closed for up to 30 minutes. Loop Road will remain accessible for those looking for an alternate [...] Seashore News |  Full Article

Be on the lookout for cold-stunned sea turtles; Volunteers rescue ...

December 4, 2024 | Seashore News | By: Joy Crist

As temperatures drop in the winter months, cold-stunned sea turtles begin to make an appearance, and this week’s cold spell has already resulted in dozens of sea turtles spotted on local Hatteras Island shorelines. According to Stacey Saunders of N.E.S.T., more than 180 cold-stunned sea turtles were identified and rescued by local N.E.S.T. volunteers in [...] Seashore News |  Full Article

Construction equipment deliveries at Ocracoke Light Station will r ...

December 4, 2024 | Seashore News

Three separate deliveries of construction equipment associated with the lifting of the Ocracoke Double Keepers’ Quarters are scheduled to occur the week of Dec. 9. During the deliveries, Lighthouse Road—between approximately Loop Road and Martha Jane Lane—will be closed for up to 30 minutes. Loop Road will remain accessible for those looking for an alternate [...] Seashore News |  Full Article

New donor fund established by Outer Banks Forever with goal to rai ...

December 3, 2024 | Seashore News | By: Sam Walker

From SamWalkerOBXNews.com The official nonprofit that supports the three national parks on the Outer Banks announced a new fund has been created to help address immediate needs and longer-term challenges in a sustainable way. “Our Outer Banks national parks are special places that bring our local community and visitors together to learn, reflect, and create [...] Seashore News |  Full Article

2024 marks the sixth-busiest sea turtle nesting season on the Cape ...

December 1, 2024 | Seashore News | By: Joy Crist

With 303 turtle nests recorded along the Cape Hatteras National Seashore (CHNS), 2024 is another solid year for nesting activity, although not as active as recent record-breaking years, including 2023. “This year marked the sixth highest number of nests laid, reflecting an average season overall,” stated CHNS in an update. “It’s common for nesting numbers [...] Seashore News |  Full Article

Frisco to host its first-ever Christmas Tree Lighting on December 16

December 13, 2024 | Island Features | By: Joy Crist

Frisco Village will hold its first-ever Christmas Tree Lighting celebration on Monday, December 16, at 6:00 p.m. at the Frisco Fire Station. The event, which is being organized by the Frisco Volunteer Fire Department (VFD) is free and open to the public, with food, beverages, entertainment, and a brand new tree all donated by Alien Java in Frisco. “We’re excited to kick off this special new tradition and celebrate the season with our wonderful community,” stated the Frisco VFD in an update. “Enjoy festive Christmas carols, delicious holiday treats, and a visit with Santa inside. Don’t miss this magical evening—we can’t wait to see you there!” [...] Island Features |  Full Article

Winter Waterfowl Excursions to resume after 4-year pause

December 11, 2024 | Island Features

From CoastalReview.org North Carolina Maritime Museum officials are bringing back the overnight tour of wildlife refuges and seashores throughout Pamlico, Hyde and Dare counties to observe wintering waterfowl. The Coastal Culture and Waterfowl Watching Excursion, a two-day adventure through the wildlife refuges and seashores in Eastern North Carolina, will be offered Jan. 8-9, 2025, and [...] Island Features |  Full Article

Cape Hatteras United Methodist Men share 2024 achievements in a Ye ...

December 8, 2024 | Island Features | By: Joy Crist

The Cape Hatteras United Methodist Men (CHUMM) recently detailed the organization’s achievements during its 46th year of operation in a “Year in Review” update sent to members, friends, and supporters. In 2024, CHUMM helped many families with food, rent, utilities, medical costs, and other emergency needs. Most requests for emergency and humanitarian assistance originate with the [...] Island Features |  Full Article

Island History: A spotlight on stories from the Outer Banks’ Lif ...

December 7, 2024 | Island Features | By: Jen Carlson

The Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station (CLSS) is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year, as one of the seven original Life-Saving Stations to be built in North Carolina in 1874. As such, the Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station and Historic Site in Rodanthe will be sharing stories about the seven 1874 Outer Banks stations until the end of 2024, to celebrate and mark this [...] Island Features |  Full Article

The Irene Nolan Memorial Scholarship Fund needs your help to keep ...

December 5, 2024 | Island Features | By: Joy Crist

The Irene Nolan Memorial Scholarship Fund has had waves of community support since it was established in December 2021 with the help of the Outer Banks Community Foundation,  thanks to its namesake honoree, our Island Free Press (IFP) co-founder and original editor, Irene. The Irene Nolan Memorial Scholarship Fund has been a dream for everyone at [...] Island Features |  Full Article

Applications currently being accepted for FEMA Home Elevation Grant

November 21, 2024 | Real Estate

As a result of Tropical Storm Helene, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has opened a grant opportunity for Dare County homeowners to elevate their houses above base flood elevation through the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program provides funding to local and state governments so they can develop hazard mitigation plans and rebuild in a manner that reduces future disaster losses within their communities. This funding—which only becomes available after a presidentially declared disaster occurs—allows structures to be elevated above the known flood level, preventing or reducing the risk of future flood losses. Eligibility Requirements Eligible properties include houses below base flood elevation, and located in Special Flood Hazard Areas or on a repetitive loss list. FEMA considers a property to be a repetitive loss if it has had two or [...] Real Estate |  Full Article

Dare County announces 2025 property revaluation, launches informat ...

November 21, 2024 | Real Estate

The Dare County Tax Department has announced that the countywide 2025 Dare County property revaluation will become effective on January 1, 2025. By North Carolina law, revaluation is required to be completed at least once every eight years. Dare County is currently on a five-year revaluation schedule, with the last revaluation implemented in January 2020. Revaluation is the process [...] Real Estate |  Full Article

Comments sought on proposed new home elevation fund

November 19, 2024 | Real Estate

From SamWalkerOBXNews.com The N.C. Office of Recovery and Resiliency is seeking public comments through Dec. 14 on a proposed amendment to the action plan for administering HUD Community Development Block Grant-Mitigation funds. The proposed action plan amendment is intended to address homeowner mitigation needs, including establishing the Residential Property Elevation Fund, which will be used to [...] Real Estate |  Full Article

Visitors Bureau provides recap on Long-Range Tourism Management Pl ...

October 23, 2024 | Local News

The Dare County Tourism Board Special Committee for the Outer Banks Long-Range Tourism Management Plan (LRTMP) met on October 9 at the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau administrative offices on Roanoke Island. The committee welcomed Donna Creef and Malcolm Fearing, Chair and Vice Chair, respectively, of the Dare Community Housing Task Force, who provided updates about the activity, progress [...] Local News |  Full Article

CSI lecture addresses homeowner insurance and coastal resilience

September 1, 2024 | Real Estate | By: Kip Tabb

From OuterBanksVoice.com In a wide-ranging discussion on homeowner insurance in coastal North Carolina at the Coastal Studies Institute (CSI) on Aug. 28, Don Hornstein, Director of the UNC Law School’s Center on Climate, Energy, Environment, and Economics, focused on the process of determining insurance rates in the state, insurance company practices and coastal resilience. Hornstein, [...] Real Estate |  Full Article

Division of Marine Fisheries sinks trawler for artificial reef near Cape Lookout

November 25, 2024 | Fishing

The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Marine Fisheries’ Artificial Reef Program sank a 55-foot trawler at AR-305, off Cape Lookout, last week. The FV Alexandria Dawn, was constructed in 1984, but has been out of use for around a decade. Before sinking, the vessel was cleaned extensively in accordance with EPA requirements. Purchase and sinking of the vessel was funded by Coastal Recreational Fishing License revenues. The Alexandria Dawn is located at 34° 16.653’N, 76° 38.651’W. The Alexandria Dawn joins three other vessels at AR-305: the 183-foot Spar, the 439-foot Aeolus and the 105-foot Thomas Dann. The site also contains 1,700 tons of donated recycled concrete, deployed in July 2023. The site is approximately 28 nautical miles south of Beaufort Inlet, in 105 feet of water, and is a popular site for fishermen and divers. An artificial reef is a m [...] Fishing |  Full Article

Power outage scheduled for early Wednesday morning in Avon

December 14, 2024 | Community News Brief

The Cape Hatteras Electric Cooperative (CHEC) will require a planned power outage in Avon on early Wednesday morning, December 18, in order to make important upgrades to the Avon substation. The power outage schedule for Wednesday is as follows: Avon will experience a four-hour power outage from 12:00 a.m. until 4:00 a.m. The other villages on Hatteras Island [...] Community News Brief |  Full Article

Breakfast with Santa in Hatteras Village will be held December 14

December 12, 2024 | Community News Brief | By: Joy Crist

Hatteras Village will host a special Breakfast with Santa event on Saturday, December 14, before the annual Hatteras Village Christmas Parade. Adult tickets are $15, children 5-12 are $6, and children under 5 are free. The doors open at 8:00 a.m., breakfast is served until 11:30 a.m., and all proceeds benefit the Hatteras Community Preschool. This [...] Community News Brief |  Full Article

Coins for Cancer at Cape Hatteras Elementary brings in more than $ ...

December 10, 2024 | Community News Brief | By: Joy Crist

Every year in November, Cape Hatteras Elementary School (CHES) students bring in handfuls of spare change, bills, and checks in order to raise money for the Hatteras Island Cancer Foundation, and in 2024, the students came together to raise a staggering $3,225.52 for their local friends and neighbors. The Hatteras Island Cancer Foundation (HICF) is [...] Community News Brief |  Full Article

Salvo man facing counts for fleeing deputies and larceny, now char ...

December 7, 2024 | Community News Brief | By: Sam Walker

From SamWalkerOBXNews.com A Hatteras Island man already facing numerous charges, including counts for leading authorities on a vehicle chase in July, has been charged with additional felonies for allegedly filing a fraudulent insurance claim on a capsized sailboat. According to a North Carolina Department of Insurance news release, George Thomas King, 60, of Salvo, was [...] Community News Brief |  Full Article

Coast Guard Auxiliary welcomes new Division Commander and staff

December 6, 2024 | Community News Brief

U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Division 16 conducted its annual change of watch ceremony on December 2nd, installing new officers effective January 1, 2025. During the event, incoming Division Commander Tom Mattingly relieved A. Wayne Early who has served as Division Commander for the past year.  Auxiliary District Commodore (elect) Jim Thomas spoke at the event, [...] Community News Brief |  Full Article

James Elvin O’Neal

December 12, 2024 | Obituaries

October 7, 1958 – December 9, 2024 OCRACOKE — James Elvin O’Neal, Jimmy, 66, of Ocracoke, NC, passed away peacefully on December 9, 2024, at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital. Born on October 7, 1958, in Philadelphia, PA, Jimmy lived a life marked by service, hard work, and deep love for his family. Jimmy served his [...] Obituaries |  Full Article

Roberta Marie Cunningham

December 10, 2024 | Obituaries

December 14, 1938 – December 6, 2024 MANTEO — Roberta Marie Cunningham of Manteo, NC, passed away in Raleigh, North Carolina, on Friday, December 6, 2024. She was born on December 14, 1938, at the home of her beloved grandparents, Julia and Joseph Huston, Magnolia Inn Farms in Caroline County, Virginia. Marie was preceded in [...] Obituaries |  Full Article

Michael Lehmkuhler

December 10, 2024 | Obituaries

AVON — Michael Lehmkuhler, age 71, passed away on December 6 in his dream home at the beach, surrounded by family. He is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 42 years, Kathy Lehmkuhler; his daughter, Kristal Seaford of Richmond, Virginia, and her two children, Wyatt and Leona Seaford; and his daughter, Kate Blevins [...] Obituaries |  Full Article

Robert Lee Newton

December 5, 2024 | Obituaries

July 3, 1954 – November 27, 2024 WAVES — Robert Lee Newton of Waves, NC went to be with his Lord and Shepherd on November 27, 2024. He was born on July 3, 1954, to Dorothy Libby Newton and Robert A. Newton. Upon graduation from Alamosa High School in Alamosa, CO, he enlisted in the [...] Obituaries |  Full Article

Roland Heinrich Bläsi

December 5, 2024 | Obituaries

August 27, 1946 – November 26, 2024 KILL DEVIL HILLS — Roland Heinrich Bläsi, of Kill Devil Hills, NC, a culinary artist whose love for cooking took him across continents, passed away peacefully on November 26, 2024, at the age of 78. Born on August 27, 1946, in Bamberg, Germany, Roland found his passion early [...] Obituaries |  Full Article

Frank Webb Williams, Jr.

December 2, 2024 | Obituaries

KITTY HAWK — Frank Webb Williams, Jr. of Kitty Hawk, born November 1, 1935, passed away on November 25, 2024. Webb was preceded in death by his parents, Frank Webb Williams, Sr. and Pauline Menzell Williams and a sister, Lucille MacDonald. Webb is survived by his wife, Sylvia Barkley Williams, and sons, Craig (Penny) and [...] Obituaries |  Full Article