The “longest driveway in the world,” which leads to Ocracoke, needs help. That moniker for N.C. 12 South was coined by Ocracoke Variety Store owner Tommy Hutcherson, said Justin LeBlanc, chair of the Ocracoke Waterways Commission, which heard a presentation on the highway issues at its July 20 meeting. Coming up with short- and long-term […]
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Ocracoke volunteers receive Governor’s Volunteer Service award
July 31, 2021 | Local News | By: Connie Leinbach | From The: Ocracoke Observer | 1
John and Rauna Conner don’t like the limelight, but the spotlight shone on them recently when they were among six recipients of the North Carolina Governor’s Volunteer Service Awards. The Conners, who live in both Ocracoke and Buxton and who founded Conner’s Supermarket in Buxton, were honored for their efforts in providing meals to displaced […]
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Passenger ferry funding approved; start time pending
June 11, 2021 | Local News | By: Connie Leinbach | From The: Ocracoke Observer
Ocracoke got a step closer to the return of the passenger ferry this summer when the N.C. Senate today passed a bill that includes funding for this service between Hatteras and Ocracoke. Although a start date has not been set, the breakthrough came today when the Senate passed Bill No. 241 — a bill to […]
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Passenger ferry service this summer for Ocracoke still in limbo
June 10, 2021 | Local News | By: Connie Leinbach | From The: Ocracoke Observer
Update/correction: The House today (June 9) passed S241 (described below) and it is on the Senate calendar Thursday morning at 10 a.m. The original post of this story said that this session of the N.C. Legislature ends July 2, but there is no statutory or constitutional requirement for when a convened session must end. […]
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Hyde County budget proposes a 5-cent property tax hike
June 8, 2021 | Local News | By: Connie Leinbach | From The: Ocracoke Observer
Hyde County Manager Kris Cahoon Noble is recommending a 5-cent property tax increase, or 82 cents per $100 of assessed valuation up from the current rate of 77 cents. The increase will help fund the county’s proposed budget of $18.37 million for 2021-2022, up from $16.77 million last year. The Hyde County Board of Commissioners […]
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Passenger ferry funding still in committee
May 24, 2021 | Local News | By: Connie Leinbach | From The: Ocracoke Observer
Passenger ferry service between Ocracoke and Hatteras might be delayed while an appropriation bill to pay for it goes through the legislative process in Raleigh. Service by the walk-on ferry is set to begin Tuesday (May 25) and continue until Sept. 9, according to previous information from officials. Because the legislative process has yet to be finalized, officials […]
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Waterways Commission to discuss NCDOT proposal to move South Dock
May 13, 2021 | Local News | By: Connie Leinbach | From The: Ocracoke Observer
The Ocracoke Waterways Commission’s meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 18, will focus on one agenda item–the proposal by the NC Department of Transportation Division 1 to submit a South Ferry Dock relocation proposal to the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP). The meeting will be held in the Ocracoke Community Center and will be open […]
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Last call for COVID-19 vaccines on Ocracoke
April 22, 2021 | Local News | By: Connie Leinbach | From The: Ocracoke Observer
The Ocracoke Health Center today is urging all residents age 18 and over on Ocracoke who want a COVID-19 vaccine to call on Thursday (April 22) as the last first-dose vaccines for a while will be administered on Friday. That number is their COVID-19 hotline: 252-489-3622. Mandy Cochran, R.N., said that because of the low […]
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Two dredges to attack shoaling in Big Foot Slough
April 13, 2021 | Local News | By: Connie Leinbach | From The: Coastal Review
After several days of plugging away at the shoaling in Big Foot Slough, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has initiated a tag-team approach with two dredges. The ACE on Friday received approval for the emergency operation of dredging to the immediate west of the federal channel through which both the Cedar Island and Swan […]
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Dredging begins in Big Foot and Hatteras Inlet
March 25, 2021 | Local News | By: Connie Leinbach | From The: Ocracoke Observer
After a few days of inclement weather, the hopper dredge Murden is on the job scouring out the shoaling sands in Big Foot Slough while dredging in the South Ferry Channel, at the north end, will benefit commercial fishing vessels. Ferry Division Spokesman Tim Hass said today that the Murden, owned by the U.S. Army […]
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