I am relatively positive that I have started most of my columns this year talking about the weather. It’s been hard not too. It’s been difficult to circumvent this wild year of meteorological events when you’re discussing fishing. Lately, we’ve had a lot of hard rain and thunderstorms — not to mention Tropical Storm Bertha […]
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Appeals Court affirms in part and reverses in part lower court ruling on Bonner Bridge By IRENE NOLAN
Appeals Court affirms in part and reverses in part lower court ruling on Bonner Bridge By IRENE NOLAN By IRENE NOLAN By IRENE NOLAN The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit in Richmond, Va., today affirmed in part and reversed in part a lower court’s decision on the North Carolina Department of Transportation’s […]
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Lawsuit would force agencies to manage recreational turtle bycatch
Two commercial fishing organizations yesterday filed litigation in U.S. District Court in Raleigh alleging that several agencies and their representatives have failed to abide by the Endangered Species Act in the protection of sea turtles. The fishing groups ask that state and federal agencies be ordered to implement regulations to manage the incidental take of […]
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Honoring the Last ‘Old Salt’ of Ocracoke
The last of a generation of Ocracoke Island men who were true “old salts” died recently, but Edgar Maurice Ballance will be remembered on this island with love and respect. Known locally as Morris, Ballance was born to Elisha and Emma Gaskins Ballance in 1927. He was one of nine children, born at home in […]
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Marine Fisheries certifies new state record African pompano
The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries has certified a new state record African pompano. Toby Grantham, of Knightdale, N.C., reeled in the 46-pound fish on May 11 while fishing off Atlantic Beach. The catch bests the previous state record of 40 pounds, 10 ounces, caught off Southport in 2003. The world record African Pompano weighed […]
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Bertha will bring large swell,rip currents to Outer Banks
Tropical Storm Bertha quickly intensified and became the second hurricane of the Atlantic season this morning. The good news for the Outer Banks is that the storm will stay well offshore, passing between Cape Hatteras and Bermuda tomorrow into early Wednesday. At 5 p.m., Bertha was a Category 1 hurricane with winds of 75 mph […]
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Bertha forecast to pass well offshore of Outer Banks
Tropical Storm Bertha became the second named system of the 2014 Atlantic Hurricane Season this morning. The storm is expected to pass well offshore of the Outer Banks sometime late Tuesday or early Wednesday. Meanwhile, a stalled frontal boundary and abundant tropical moisture from the Atlantic Ocean are bringing heavy rains to the Outer Banks. […]
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What you should know about the Dare County Control Group
True or false: The Dare County Control Group decides when to evacuate Hatteras Island as a hurricane approaches and when to allow re-entry when it is past. This is false. The county says that the Control Group does not make the decisions about evacuation and re-entry but instead functions in an information-gathering and coordination role. […]
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DOT says budget provision wouldnot affect Bonner Bridge replacement
The North Carolina Department of Transportation today clarified a provision in the state’s final proposed budget that applies to repairing and replacing coastal highways and bridges. The provision allows the governor to issue an executive order to waive requirements for state permits for the repair, protection, safety, or replacement of certain roads and bridges that […]
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Ferry tolling issue still unresolvedas legislature nears adjournment
The skirmishes over tolling free ferries and raising tolls on the others are likely to be with us into next year. The North Carolina General Assembly is expected to conclude its lengthy budget negotiations this week without making changes to legislation passed last year that opens the door for the changes to tolls. S. Henri […]
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