New Hatteras school board member is radio show guest ….with AUDIO

Mary Ellon Ballance of Hatteras village, who was sworn in on July 20 as the School Board Representative for the Hatteras Island district, was the guest on the Radio Hatteras interview show, “To the Point,” on Sunday, Aug. 21.

The program is hosted by Irene Nolan, editor of The Island Free Press, and the topic was Dare County’s schools, especially those on Hatteras Island.

Ballance replaces Danny Couch of Buxton, who has just completed three years serving as the Hatteras Island Board of Education member.  Couch chose not to run again for the Board of Education and instead ran for the Board of Commissioners. He has no competition in the November general election and presumably will replace Allen Burrus of Hatteras village, who chose not to run again for health reasons.

For readers who are not familiar with Ballance, she works as a commercial fisherman with her husband, Todd, is an independent sales contractor for her own company, and also is a part-time nail technician at Creative Ballance Salon, which she used to own. She has been active in the community as the coordinator for the very popular Hatteras village fish fry and a member of the Dare County Fessenden Center Advisory Board.

Most parents, students, and teachers at Hatteras Island’s school are very familiar with Ballance through her work with the Cape Hatteras Booster Club.  This is her fifth year as president.

This seat on the Dare County School Board is her  first elected office.

In this interview, she talks about what she hopes to achieve on the board, where she has been assigned to the capital improvement and the affordable housing committees.

Ballance is very interested in seeing sports facilities improved on Hatteras Island — a field house and maybe a track.  She sees sports as a way to keep some students interested in staying in school and keeping up with academic subjects.

She is also very interested in technical education programs for the students.

To listen to the interview, scroll down to the “To the Point” logo and click on the arrow.

“To the Point” is broadcast on the island’s community radio station,101.5 FM on southern Hatteras and 99.9 FM on northern Hatteras, at 5 p.m. on the first and third Sunday of each month.  It is repeated on the second and fourth Sunday. Those who don’t live on Hatteras can listen to the show on Sundays through live streaming at www.radiohatteras.org.

MORE ABOUT RADIO HATTERAS

Radio Hatteras is Hatteras Island’s community, non-profit radio station and depends on grants, memberships, and underwriting.

It broadcasts around the clock with news — including such things as surfing and fishing reports — community announcements, music, and special programs. The station is also  streamed live. To listen, go to www.radiohatteras.org.

Our community radio station also needs your support, and you can give that by purchasing a membership or by underwriting the station if you are a business or another community non-profit.

Radio Hatteras memberships are $50 for a family, $25 for an individual and $10 for a student. Mail memberships and other contributions to Radio Hatteras, P.O. Box 339, Frisco, NC 27936.

E-mail info@radiohatteras.org or call (252) 995-6000 for information about underwriting opportunities.