Here are some of the important issues that have been covered in recent Hyde County Commissioners monthly meetings. Ferry funding, dredging In their $30 billion, two-year spending plan finalized late September, the North Carolina General Assembly has allocated $74 million to the Ferry Division, up from last year’s $58.5 million. But in 2024-2025, that appropriation […]
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After having been sidelined since July 7, the Ocracoke Express passenger ferry resumed service July 19, but it will only go until July 31 since funding beyond that is uncertain. That was the report from Jed Dixon, N.C. Ferry Division deputy director, at the Ocracoke Civic & Business Association (OCBA) meeting Tuesday evening. Dixon said […]
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A recent increase in nesting Least Terns on Ocracoke’s South Point prompted National Park Service staff to close that section of the beach from near to the entrance at Ramp 72 to the end of the island. The closure, in effect July 3, begins just .11 miles south of the ramp entrance, said Meaghan Johnson, […]
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Citing low pay, inadequate funding and many other issues, the Hyde County EMS director and deputy director have submitted their resignations. EMS chief for the county, David White, said in an email to the Ocracoke Observer, his staff and several others that his last day will be June 17 and he has found employment outside […]
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The OCBA May 16 meeting at 6 p.m. will be devoted to Hatteras ferry issues. See agenda below. Ocracoke Islanders are concerned about uncertainties this spring and summer with the passenger ferry and the vehicle ferries. An official start date for passenger ferry service this year has not been announced, said Jamie Kritzer, assistant director […]
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A Scotch bonnet found by an Ocracoke resident broke the state record Friday night during the North Carolina Shell Club’s spring meeting on Ocracoke. Islander Felicity Gage is an avid beach walker and brought three large Scotch bonnets to the meeting for official measurement. One of hers measured 91.35 millimeters, which beat the previous record […]
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Ocracoke Island is a resort community and needs good EMT service. That was the message at the Hyde County Board of Commissioners Monday night by islanders Scott Bradley and Ronny Vann O’Neal, the latter of whom related a concerning situation that happened over the weekend. O’Neal explained that an island woman was in pain and […]
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Hyde County Manager Kris Cahoon Noble is recommending a 10-cent property tax increase, or 0.895 cents per $100 of assessed valuation up from the current rate of .795 cents. The increase will help fund the county’s proposed general fund budget of $15.559 million for 2022-2023, up from $15.357 million last year. The Hyde County Board […]
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The Ocracoke Affordable Housing Coalition is looking for a few good houses. Actually, they’re looking for many more than that because there is an acute need for affordable housing for essential workers on Ocracoke. The group formed after Hurricane Dorian in September 2019 and before the COVID-19 pandemic hit in early 2020 to try to […]
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The Ocracoke Advisory Planning Board at its April 13 meeting voted to ask Hyde County to put a moratorium for several months on approving food truck applications for Ocracoke. This would have to be approved by the Hyde County commissioners preceded by a public hearing. A meeting of the planning board will be held at […]
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