There’s too much sand in the Hatteras ferry channel and not enough on the beach in Rodanthe, and state and federal officials are working on both ends of Hatteras Island to address the issues. An emergency beach nourishment project near the S-curves in northern Rodanthe is no longer considered an emergency by the federal government, […]
Local News | Full Article
What’s wrong with Lake Mattamuskeet?
Lake Mattamuskeet, the state’s largest natural lake, is troubled. Its good vegetation has been depleted while its bad plants are thriving. It has questionable water quality. It might or might not be too shallow, too salty and suffering impacts from climate change. Everyone is worried, but no one can definitely say what’s going on in […]
Island Features | Full Article
Changes in unemployment laws aremake winter rougher for islanders
Fran Davis does what she has to do to collect her meager unemployment check, but she knows at least one requirement is a waste of time. “They’re telling us we have to do two job searches a week,” Davis, a 69-year-old unemployed cottage cleaner from Frisco said. “But nobody is hiring.” To qualify for weekly […]
Local News | Full Article
Changes in unemployment laws make winter rougher for islanders
Fran Davis does what she has to do to collect her meager unemployment check, but she knows at least one requirement is a waste of time. “They’re telling us we have to do two job searches a week,” Davis, a 69-year-old unemployed cottage cleaner from Frisco said. “But nobody is hiring.” To qualify for weekly […]
Local News | Full Article
Changes in building code could add to higher flood insurance concerns
There’s another potential headache looming for North Carolina residents who live in flood zones, and it has nothing to do with the recent changes in the federal law that are spiking rates in flood insurance. Instead, recent changes made in state building codes could affect discounts awarded to participants in the National Flood Insurance Program’s […]
Real Estate | Full Article
Has Hatteras islander found a significant Civil War-era fort in Waves?
After piecing together clues found on old maps and historic documents, local historical investigator Mel Covey is confident that he has located a significant Civil War-era fort on Hatteras Island, as well as the underwater spot where artifacts were tossed off a fleeing Union gunboat. Covey, an island native who grew up in Rodanthe, said […]
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Governor presses environmental groups to end lawsuit at press briefing
After viewing the compromised area on the Herbert C. Bonner Bridge on Friday, Gov. Pat McCrory said that placement of dredged sand may offer a temporary solution to dangerous scour that compelled the state to close the bridge this week for safety reasons. Engineers with the state Department of Transportation showed the governor where a […]
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DOT officials address Bonner safety concerns at press conference in Manteo
As transportation officials scramble to secure permits to repair the Herbert C. Bonner Bridge, they say that it is too soon to know how long the only land link to Hatteras Island will remain closed, but all indications are it could take many weeks or even months before work is completed. At a hastily called […]
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Residents protest designation of offshore waters as loggerhead critical habitat
Facing the prospect of yet more regulation off their beaches, Outer Banks residents at a hearing Thursday in Manteo took to appealing directly to agency officials for relief. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is proposing to designate northern North Carolina offshore waters as critical habitat for loggerhead turtles. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service […]
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Saving the soul of Ocracoke
It’s a preservation victory when heritage and water quality both stand to benefit from a real estate deal. Last week, the nonprofit Ocracoke Foundation closed on the half-acre Ocracoke Community Square and its docks, shops, and views of postcard-pretty Silver Lake harbor. The acquisition is a vital step toward protection of the vibrant heart of […]
Island Features | Full Article
