Dredging in Big Foot Slough in the Pamlico Sound is expected to clear the way for the larger sound-class ferries in the next several days. Kris Noble, Hyde County manager, said in an interview that the side caster dredge Merritt began dredging at 2 p.m. Wednesday. Cost of the project is thanks to a partnership […]
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Hyde County Health Department Director Luana Gibbs today confirmed that Ocracoke has an active COVID-19 case and that the person is hospitalized. Gibbs said she would issue a press release on Tuesday afternoon with the breakdown in cases for Hyde County. According to the Health Department, there are now 79 total cases to date with […]
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Today, Saturday, May 16, the day visitors are welcomed back to the island, island businesses are getting ready for the season. The Ocracoke Variety Store will be among some businesses that will encourage the wearing of face masks during this COVID-19 pandemic. The store also will institute a special shopping time from 6:30 to 7:30 a.m. […]
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Editor’s note: The Observer will publish a comprehensive list of what’s open and closed in a future post. As of 5 p.m. Friday, Phase 1 of North Carolina’s Stay at Home order became effective, which allows limited opening of businesses. Ocracoke Island is gearing up to receive visitors–May 11 for non-resident property owners and May […]
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The Hyde County Commissioners Monday night agreed to allow visitors to mainland Hyde starting at 5 a.m. on Wednesday and will work with Dare and Currituck counties to lift the visitor restriction on Ocracoke before Memorial Day, possibly on May 21. Hyde County Manager Kris Nobel will work with the two counties as to the […]
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The Food Bank of the Albemarle on Friday brought food reinforcements for the Bread of Life Food Pantry. Three trucks, including one refrigerator truck, unloaded more than 20,000 pounds of food into the pantry’s temporary location at the Ocracoke Volunteer Fire Department. “We were almost out,” said Darlene Styron, vice-chair of the Ocracoke Interfaith Recovery […]
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As of Monday morning, Hyde County still has not logged a case of the novel coronavirus Covid-19. Hyde County Health Director Luanna Gibbs told the Hyde County commissioners Monday night at their monthly meeting that Hyde was one of 10 counties still without the virus that’s caused a worldwide pandemic, but news reports this morning […]
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Editor’s note: The Observer will post more stories as it learns of closings, cancellations, postponements and other COVID-19 related developments. By Connie Leinbach Although Hyde and Dare counties have not reported any confirmed cases, three Ocracoke shops have decided to close voluntarily in the face of the growing coronavirus (COVID-19) threat. There are now 14 […]
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Stevie Wilson wants islanders to carefully consider amending the Ocracoke Development Ordinance to temporarily allow multiple travel trailers on properties. Ocracoke County Commissioner Tom Pahl has proposed amending the development ordinance, known as the ODO, in response to the need for temporary housing while the island rebuilds from flooding devastation by Hurricane Dorian. He distributed […]
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While the NC Ferry Division will again rent a passenger ferry for Ocracoke this summer, it is battling a defamation lawsuit brought by the company still building a custom passenger ferry. Last May, US Workboats (formerly known as Armstrong Marine Inc.) in Hubert, near Swansboro, sued the NC Ferry Division over breach of contract, claiming […]
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