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Cape Hatteras National Seashore sees 8 percent increase in July vi ...

August 15, 2019 | Seashore News

Cape Hatteras National Seashore (Seashore) continues to experience high levels of recreational visitation this year. July 2019 visitation was up by over eight percent compared to visitation in July 2018. So far in 2019, the Seashore has hosted 1,573,212 recreational visits, up almost 2.5% versus the same period last year. Year-to-Date Recreational Visits (through July) [...] Seashore News |  Full Article

New report says Dare and Currituck counties among most flood-threa ...

August 13, 2019 | Local News | By: Mark Jurkowitz | From The: Outer Banks Voice

A new report finds that the state of North Carolina—as well as Dare and Currituck counties—rank near the top of U.S. locations when it comes to building new homes in areas potentially threatened by flooding. Produced by the research group Climate Central and the real estate company Zillow, the report, titled “Ocean at the Door: [...] Local News |  Full Article

Meet the Outer Banks SPCA Pets of the Week

August 13, 2019 | Community News

Meet the Outer Banks SPCA rabbits that are the pets of the week, courtesy of their latest video produced by Dare County’s CURRENT TV. For more information on these rabbits, 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/.

Editor’s Blog: Sea Turtles Nest Records are Being Shattered – ...

August 12, 2019 | Editor's Blog | By: Joy Crist

This summer, coastal newspapers all around the country boasted headlines of record-breaking sea turtle nests along their local beaches. These headlines were especially prevalent in communities along the shorelines of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida, which includes are our own home turf of the Outer Banks. As of the first week of August, [...] Editor's Blog |  Full Article

Ocrafolk School Offers Unique Fall Retreat for Lifetime Learners

August 9, 2019 | News and Business Briefs

October 20-25, 2019, Ocracoke Alive’s Ocrafolk School will offer an insider’s guide to Ocracoke Island designed to spark creativity and sense of community. Based at the historic Berkley Manor, inspiring instructors will guide adult participants of all experience levels through their choice of one of six specialized courses: Cooking with Island Chefs, Jewelry Making, Mind [...] Community News |  Full Article

NC Sea Grant Seeks New Coastal Research Proposals

August 9, 2019 | Fishing

North Carolina Sea Grant is seeking research proposals to meet key needs identified by state agencies that manage natural resources. The new funding opportunity came from discussions with directors of various agencies, and review of the state’s Coastal Habitat Protection Plan. Topics include oysters, other shellfish, blue crabs and coastal habitats. “With limited funding, we recognize [...] Fishing |  Full Article

Do Fish Shrink After They Die?

August 9, 2019 | Fishing

New research suggests anglers should think twice about keeping fish that are close to the minimum size limit. Knowing minimum size limits for the fish species you target is only half of the story. What happens to that fish after it dies in your cooler? If it’s right at the minimum size for harvest when [...] Fishing |  Full Article

Robert Eugene Harrelson

August 9, 2019 | Obituaries

November 15, 1951 – July 26, 2019 SALVO — Robert Eugene Harrelson, 67, of Salvo, NC died Friday, July 26, 2019, at Chesapeake Regional Medical Center after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer. Born in Whiteville, NC on November 15, 1951, he was the son of the late Nellie Odessa Bass and Henry Elmore Harrelson. [...] Obituaries |  Full Article

New report says Dare and Currituck counties among most flood-threa ...

August 13, 2019 | Local News | By: Mark Jurkowitz | From The: Outer Banks Voice

A new report finds that the state of North Carolina—as well as Dare and Currituck counties—rank near the top of U.S. locations when it comes to building new homes in areas potentially threatened by flooding. Produced by the research group Climate Central and the real estate company Zillow, the report, titled “Ocean at the Door: [...] Local News |  Full Article

New survey ranks Dare County Schools the sixth best in North Carolina

August 9, 2019 | Local News | By: Sam Walker | From The: OBX Today

Data compiler Niche.com has ranked North Carolina’s best school districts for the upcoming school year, and Dare County’s school system came in rated the sixth best. Niche also rated Dare County as the fourth best place to teach, and sixth safest district in the state. Recently released data from the N.C. Department of Public Instruction [...] Local News |  Full Article

“Housing Crisis’ Sparks Concern at Dare Board Meeting

August 6, 2019 | Local News | By: Mark Jurkowitz | From The: Outer Banks Voice | 1

The Dare County Commissioners’ decision this week to renew the agreement to pay the Outer Banks Chamber of Commerce $35,000 for economic development and diversification work became an occasion to raise alarm bells and a call to action about the county’s daunting “housing crisis.” The lack of sufficient workforce housing has been one of the [...] Local News |  Full Article

HUD to Release Matthew Relief Money

August 5, 2019 | Local News | From The: Coastal Review Online

Disaster mitigation funds will be released to areas affected by Hurricane Matthew in 2016, including North Carolina, once the Federal Register notice is published, the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development announced Friday. The state will receive $168 million in hurricane recovery mitigation funds, according to Gov. Roy Cooper’s office. Gov. Roy Cooper Congress passed [...] Local News |  Full Article

Ferry Division’s Newest Ferry Idled by Engine Issue

August 5, 2019 | Local News | By: Connie Leinbach | From The: Ocracoke Observer

After only a few days running, the North Carolina Ferry Division’s newest car ferry, the M/V Rodanthe is offline. Jed Dixon, Ferry Division deputy director, confirmed on Saturday that the Rodanthe is resting dockside while a Caterpiller representative checks out the engine. The first day, Tuesday (July 30), it made a few runs, Dixon said. [...] Local News |  Full Article

Beach Access Expands as Nesting Season Winds Down

August 16, 2019 | Seashore News

The Cape Hatteras National Seashore (CHNS) recently announced the opening of several popular beaches as shorebird and sea turtle nesting season continues to wind down.  On Ocracoke Island, off-road vehicle (ORV) access to South Point on the island is expected to reopen by noon this Saturday, August 17.  On Hatteras Island, visitors can now walk on the beach from South Beach Road, (or old ramp 45), all the way to the tip of Cape Point, while ORV ramp 23 near Salvo has reopened to pedestrians. (The ramp is opened seasonally to off-road vehicles.) Cape Point in Buxton fully opened on August 5 to both ORVs and pedestrians due to diminishing shorebird nesting activity in the immediate area. The tip of Cape Point closed on May 6, 2019, due to a large colony of nesting least terns.  In addition, a transition to night driving on ORV ramps (24 hours a day) could occur as early as September 15, [...] Seashore News |  Full Article

Cape Hatteras National Seashore sees 8 percent increase in July vi ...

August 15, 2019 | Seashore News

Cape Hatteras National Seashore (Seashore) continues to experience high levels of recreational visitation this year. July 2019 visitation was up by over eight percent compared to visitation in July 2018. So far in 2019, the Seashore has hosted 1,573,212 recreational visits, up almost 2.5% versus the same period last year. Year-to-Date Recreational Visits (through July) [...] Seashore News |  Full Article

Editor’s Blog: Sea Turtles Nest Records are Being Shattered – ...

August 12, 2019 | Editor's Blog | By: Joy Crist

This summer, coastal newspapers all around the country boasted headlines of record-breaking sea turtle nests along their local beaches. These headlines were especially prevalent in communities along the shorelines of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida, which includes are our own home turf of the Outer Banks. As of the first week of August, [...] Editor's Blog |  Full Article

Sea Level Rise Report to Look Beyond 2050

August 16, 2019 | Island Features | By: Jennifer Allen | From The: Coastal Review Online

The state Coastal Resources Commission is giving its science advisory panel the option to look at sea level rise predictions beyond 30 years in its 2020 update to an assessment that was previously limited in scope. The report first published in 2010 and updated in 2015 is a way for the CRC to provide understandable sea level projections specific to the state to help inform planning and decision making, Tancred Miller, coastal and ocean policy manager for the Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Coastal Management told Coastal Review Online. The information is available to anyone who needs to use it. “We have seen it used in online tools, vulnerability assessments, and for educational purposes. It has been referenced by academic institutions, local governments, and nonprofit organizations. Ultimately, we hope that it is useful for long-term planning,” he said. The CRC [...] Island Features |  Full Article

Study: Climate Change Key in Cycle of Floods

August 7, 2019 | Island Features | By: Brad Rich | From The: Coastal Review Online

Analysis of nearly 120 years of tropical storm and hurricane landing data and associated rainfall in coastal North Carolina shows that climate change is creating a feedback loop that suggests increasingly frequent flooding and economic damage are likely along the coast. That’s a general conclusion of research led by Hans Paerl, Kenan Professor of Marine [...] Island Features |  Full Article

Ray Gray Classic Draws Big Crowds and Big Support for Surf Club WI ...

April 29, 2019 | Watersports | By: Sarah Rich

The Cape Hatteras Secondary School Surf Club was out in full force at the first annual Ray Gray Classic at the old Cape Hatteras Lighthouse Site on Sunday, and the inaugural event attracted a big crowd of spectators and surfers. The club’s teacher-sponsor, secondary school teacher Clayton Tiderman, formulated the event after multiple requests from [...] Watersports |  Full Article

Real Estate and Personal Property Tax Bills Mailed on July 30

August 6, 2019 | Real Estate

Dare County Real Estate and Personal Property tax bills were mailed on July 30, 2019. Tax bills are due on September 1, 2019 and delinquent after January 6, 2020. There are several ways to pay your taxes until the January 6, 2020 deadline without penalties or interest. Enclosed with the tax bills are a Tax Payment Plan option as well as an Authorization Agreement for Automatic Deposits. If you choose to take advantage of the Tax Payment Plan option, you may divide your payments in any manner that works for you, as long as the final payment is postmarked no later than January 6, 2020. The Authorization Agreement for Automatic Deposits is for automatic drafting from a bank account for monthly payments. You can pay your Dare County Tax Bill in person at the Dare County Tax Office, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., located in the Dare County Justice Center at 962 Marshall C. Co [...] Real Estate |  Full Article

Homeowners with Damage from Hurricane Matthew Have Until May 31 to ...

May 13, 2019 | Real Estate

Eligible North Carolinians whose homes were damaged by Hurricane Matthew have until May 31 to apply with ReBuild NC for help with repairs or rebuilding. The help comes from single-family housing recovery programs available through the state’s Hurricane Matthew Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funding.   To date, North Carolina has awarded [...] Real Estate |  Full Article

Government Affairs Director Hired

May 9, 2019 | Real Estate

The Outer Banks Association of REALTORS® (OBAR) and the Outer Banks Home Builders Association (OBHBA), after conducting extensive interviews, are excited to announce that a new shared Government Affairs Director (GAD) has been hired. Porter Graham joins both Associations from Washington, DC where he was the Veteran’s Policy Advisor to U.S. Representative Robert Latta (OH-05). [...] Real Estate |  Full Article

How to Select the Best Grill for the Outer Banks

May 3, 2019 | Sponsored | Ace Hardware

Summer is just around the corner, and for Outer Banks locals and visitors with taste, this means it’s the official start of grilling season. The Outer Banks is the perfect spot for grilling aficionados. The abundance of fresh local seafood tastes better over the coals, (or wood, or gas burner, or smoker), and a portable [...] Real Estate |  Full Article

DMF’s Steve Murphey Talks Recent Regulation Proposals at Working Watermen Commission Meeting

August 16, 2019 | Fishing | By: Sarah Rich

The Dare County Working Watermen Commission hosted Director of the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF), Steve Murphey, at its quarterly meeting on Wednesday evening. The commission, whose role is to make recommendations to the Dare County Board of Commissioners on governmental decisions affecting the local commercial fishing industry, is currently made up of seven members, most of whom are commercial fishermen and women themselves. Not only commission members, but local citizens as well, expressed concerns about the Southern Flounder Amendment 2, Spanish mackerel quota, and a recent shrimp petition at Wednesday's meeting.  Commission Chairman Steve House began the meeting at the Rodanthe-Waves-Salvo Community Center by introducing Murphey and thanking him for being there. Murphey, who has worked with the DMF since the 80s, was appointed to the title just last year. His dut [...] Fishing |  Full Article

Meet the Outer Banks SPCA Pets of the Week

August 13, 2019 | Community News

Meet the Outer Banks SPCA rabbits that are the pets of the week, courtesy of their latest video produced by Dare County’s CURRENT TV. For more information on these rabbits, 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/.

Ocrafolk School Offers Unique Fall Retreat for Lifetime Learners

August 9, 2019 | News and Business Briefs

October 20-25, 2019, Ocracoke Alive’s Ocrafolk School will offer an insider’s guide to Ocracoke Island designed to spark creativity and sense of community. Based at the historic Berkley Manor, inspiring instructors will guide adult participants of all experience levels through their choice of one of six specialized courses: Cooking with Island Chefs, Jewelry Making, Mind [...] Community News |  Full Article

Meet the Outer Banks SPCA Pet of the Week, Tigger

August 6, 2019 | Community News

Meet the Outer Banks SPCA pet of the week, Tigger, courtesy of their latest video produced by Dare County’s CURRENT TV. For more information on Tigger, 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/.

OBITUARIES

Robert Leon Reinhart

August 13, 2019 | Obituaries

June 23, 1936 – August 7, 2019 KILL DEVIL HILLS — Robert Leon Reinhart, 83, of Kill Devil Hills, NC died Wednesday, August 7, 2019, at his home. Born in Schuylkill County, PA on June 23, 1936, he was the son of Ethel A. Crosland and the late Robert W. Reinhart. Having served his country [...] Obituaries |  Full Article

Mary Catherine Welch Thomas

August 13, 2019 | Obituaries

February 23, 1930 – August 12, 2019 KILL DEVIL HILLS — Mary Catherine Welch Thomas, 89, formerly of Raleigh, NC passed away Monday, August 12, 2019, at her daughter’s home in Kill Devil Hills, NC. She was born February 23, 1930, in Bear Creek, NC to the late Michael Arthur Welch and Lena Mae Hunt [...] Obituaries |  Full Article

Dorothy P. Carr

August 13, 2019 | Obituaries

KILL DEVIL HILLS — A funeral liturgy for Dorothy P. Carr of Kill Devil Hills, NC, formerly of St. Michaels, MD, Hazlet, NJ and Lord’s Valley, PA will be celebrated at the Eastern Shore Veterans Cemetery, Hurlock, MD on August 20, 2019 at 10 a.m. She peacefully passed away at Spring Arbor Senior Living Home, [...] Obituaries |  Full Article

Chris Jones

August 13, 2019 | Obituaries

August 27, 1952 – August 12, 2019 SOUTHERN SHORES — Chris Jones, 66, of Southern Shores, NC passed away Monday, August 12, 2019, at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital surrounded by his family.  He was born in Elizabeth City, NC on August 27, 1952, to the late J. Linwood Jones and Callie Louise Harris Jones. Chris [...] Obituaries |  Full Article

Rhonda Michelle Wilson-May

August 13, 2019 | Obituaries

KILL DEVIL HILLS — On Sunday August 11, 2019 Rhonda Michelle Wilson-May passed away unexpectedly while at home in Kill Devil Hills, NC. “Shelly” as most knew her, was 48.  She was the daughter of the late Judy Lee Blankenship of Portsmouth, VA. Shelly leaves behind her son, Zachary Wilson and her daughter, McKenna May, [...] Obituaries |  Full Article

Robert C. Allman

August 9, 2019 | Obituaries

KILL DEVIL HILLS — On August 7, 2019, the heavens welcomed Robert C. “Otto” Allman.  Robert is survived by his daughters Lauren (Steven) Rickard, Cheryl Black, and Kelly (Ron) Allman-Maiorana, his grandchildren Steffani, Megan, Austen, and Evyn, and his great granddaughter, Danielle, along with his nieces and nephews, and his beloved dog, June. He is [...] Obituaries |  Full Article

Dixie Joan Holland Hodges

August 9, 2019 | Obituaries

December 13, 1934 – August 5, 2019 NAGS HEAD — Dixie Joan Holland Hodges, 84, of Nags Head, NC died Monday, August 5, 2019, at Peak Resources – Outer Banks. Born in Washington, DC on December 13, 1934, she was the daughter of the late Tela Virginia Parker and Chesley Gwaltney. Dixie spent her career [...] Obituaries |  Full Article

Robert Eugene Harrelson

August 9, 2019 | Obituaries

November 15, 1951 – July 26, 2019 SALVO — Robert Eugene Harrelson, 67, of Salvo, NC died Friday, July 26, 2019, at Chesapeake Regional Medical Center after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer. Born in Whiteville, NC on November 15, 1951, he was the son of the late Nellie Odessa Bass and Henry Elmore Harrelson. [...] Obituaries |  Full Article

Ryan D. McCubbins, Jr.

August 8, 2019 | Obituaries

NAGS HEAD — Ryan and Hilary McCubbins of Nags Head, NC regret to announce the passing of their newborn son Ryan Davis McCubbins, Jr. This beautiful boy would have lived a blessed and super fun life in Nags Head with his parents, Archie the Labrador, and three cats Nor’e, Moomoo, and Scruffy. His parents always [...] Obituaries |  Full Article