To minimize the potential spread of COVID-19, consistent with federal, state, and local advisories, visitor centers at Cape Hatteras National Seashore (CHNS) are temporarily closed. Park lands and beaches continue to be open for the purposes of activities described under Dare County's “Stay Home - Stay Healthy” declaration. Read more about the new county declaration, which goes into effect Saturday at 5 p.m., at https://islandfreepress.org/outer-banks-news/whats-allowed-under-dare-countys-new-stay-home-stay-healthy-declaration/. Visit http://go.nps.gov/beachaccess for the current status of Seashore beaches. Additional information: Off-road vehicle (ORV) permits can be purchased online at www.recreation.gov. The status of each ORV ramp and beach route can be found at http://go.nps.gov/beachaccess. Beachgoers should use caution in the ocean as no lifeguards are on duty at this time [...] Seashore News | Full Article
On Friday afternoon, Cape Hatteras Elementary School personnel launched their first ever CHES Teacher Parade to a wave of cheers and support from the island community. Escorted by the Dare County Sheriff’s Department, and starting in Rodanthe, the parade featured a line of CHES teachers waving from the safety of their vehicles. The parade was greeted by smiling students and community members all along the route, which extended from the Tri-villages to Hatteras village. The cheers continued throughout the afternoon, with location updates posted on social media, giving all students and friends a chance to show their appreciation and have a quick connection with CHES while still maintaining distance. [...] Island Features | Full Article
As might be expected, the recent distribution of new tax assessment revaluations has raised question in the minds of property owners about the accuracy of the new assessments. One of the most frequently heard comments is, “This new assessment is too high. I could never sell my property for that amount.” At the risk of giving away the plot before the end of the story, the difference between the assessed value for tax purposes and what an owner might believe their property is worth may be a little like comparing apples and oranges. The numbers look like they should be the same, but there may be reasons why the values are different. The following discussion highlights some of the main issues in the different methods of valuation. Tax Assessment Values Assessed value is defined as the official appraised value of a property for ad valorem tax (property tax) purposes. State law establish [...] Real Estate | Full Article
N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries offices are closed to the public until further notice, based on the current guidance to help minimize the spread of COVID-19. During this time, division offices are operating with limited personnel, but staff will continue to transact fishing license sales, to the extent possible, over the phone or by mail. Members of the public who have questions should call one of the following numbers: Morehead City - 252-726-7021 Elizabeth City - 252-264-3911 Manteo - 252-473-1233 Washington - 252-975-3716 Wilmington - 910-796-7215 Those with questions regarding fishing licenses also may email License@ncdenr.gov. To facilitate efficient license transactions, with limited person-to-person interaction, members of the public are urged to download and complete the appropriate commercial fishing license application at http://portal.ncdenr.org/web/mf/commercial-fishi [...] Fishing | Full Article
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