It?s been a tough fall and winter for those of you who love to visit Hatteras and Ocracoke islands. First, Hurricane Sandy damaged Highway 12 on northern Hatteras. Sandy was followed by several northeasters and the result was that the road was closed for almost two months. A coastal storm earlier this month brought soundside […]
Editor’s Blog | Full Article
Park Service establishes prenesting areas for shorebird breeding season
Between Jan. 28 and Feb. 8, National Park Service NPS Resources Management staff conducted an annual assessment of breeding habitat for piping plovers, Wilson’s plovers, American oystercatchers, and colonial waterbirds in the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. During this assessment, preferred habit was located and prenesting areas for piping plovers, Wilson’s plovers and American oystercathers, weather […]
Seashore News | Full Article
Ocracokers tell state to eliminate all ferry tolls at DOT hearing
Eliminate all tolls on ferries in North Carolina is the new rallying cry for Ocracoke and other coastal areas that have access by ferries. That was the message Wednesday night, Nov. 13, during a public hearing in the Ocracoke School gym on the state legislature’s quest to raise $5 million in revenue, up from $2 […]
Local News | Full Article
House subcommittee hears testimony on Jones bill
The U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Public Lands and Environmental Regulation today heard testimony on a bill introduced last month by Rep. Walter Jones, R-N.C., to overturn both the National Park Service’s final rule for off-road vehicles on the Cape Hatteras National Seashore and a court-approved consent decree that settled a lawsuit filed against […]
Seashore News | Full Article
Tillett admits error of his ways, gets public reprimand
The North Carolina Judicial Standards Commission (JSC) has dropped the charges against District 1 Superior Court Judge Jerry Tillett in exchange for an acceptance by Tillett of a Public Reprimand. The Public Reprimand was accepted and signed by Tillett on March 6. The reprimand became final after it was signed by JSC Chairman Jim Martin […]
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First phase of Hatteras Island Ocean Center set to open this spring
After years of planning and preparation, construction has begun on the ambitious Hatteras Island Ocean Center project in Hatteras village. And according to Eric Kaplan, the driving force behind the Ocean Center, the first phase of development—which will include an information center and a series of wetland trails that lead to a soundfront launching area—will […]
Island Features | Full Article
Ocracoke awaits long-sought fire break between village and park
Ocracoke may see a long-sought fire break for the island between the village and the National Park Service land as early as the end of March. Ed Fuller, Cape Hatteras National Seashore district ranger for Ocracoke, confirmed last week that Deputy Superintendent, Daryl Echols, assured him that the Park Service will hire a “marsh-master” cutter […]
Local News | Full Article
Governor, DOT secretary hear concerns about Highway 12 ….WITH VIDEOS
They came, they saw, they listened. That’s the story in a nutshell about Monday’s visit to the Outer Banks by North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory and recently-appointed Department of Transportation Secretary Tony Tata. McCrory and Tata toured Highway 12 to get a first-hand look at the continuing overwash that has frequently forced closure of the […]
Local News | Full Article
Ocean continues to pound northern Hatteras Island…WITH SLIDE SHOW
The coastal storm that brought high winds and soundside flooding to Hatteras last Wednesday, March 6, is long gone, but heavy surf has continued to pound the island, closing Highway 12 for hours at high tide for the past five days. And the heavy seas could continue to close the road at high tide – […]
Local News | Full Article
Hatteras-Ocracoke ferry running on amended schedule
The North Carolina Department of Transportation’s Ferry Division is running an amended two-boat schedule on the Hatteras-Ocracoke route. Shoaling on the Ocracoke side is making it difficult for the smaller vessels to maneuver in and out of the dock. The amended schedule will be in place until dredging on the main channel in Hatteras Inlet, […]
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