NC Aquarium returns 34 rehabilitated sea turtles to ocean

“Good morning Dare County,” declared Dare County Board of Commissioners Chair Bob Woodard as he opened his State of the County 2020 presentation before a jam-packed breakfast-time crowd at Captain George’s Restaurant on Jan. 15. “Dare County, one hundred-fifty years old.” Woodard continued before turning his attention to the audience and quipping: “You don’t look [...] Local News |  Full Article

MANTEO — James “Jim” William Hollenbach, 53, peacefully passed away January 18, 2020 surrounded by loving family in his home in Manteo, NC.  Jim was born June 11, 1966 in Shenandoah, PA. Jim is preceded in death by his parents William and Charlotte (Hiney) Hollenbach; two brothers Kenneth Hollenbach and William Hollenbach Jr; and paternal [...] Obituaries |  Full Article

Many visitors to the island are curious to know what life on Hatteras Island is like during the winter season. Residents know how erratic the weather can be and how desolate the beaches and roads are. Despite this, many business choose to stay open to serve locals and visitors alike.

It takes about a half-hour by boat from Ocracoke’s Silver Lake harbor to the loading dock at Portsmouth village. A group of birders took the ride in the early morning of the last day of 2019 to participate in that island’s annual Christmas Bird Count. This census started in 1988 and attracts between 15 to [...] Island Features |  Full Article

After a long warm spell that included three consecutive days of record-breaking high temperatures, it’s finally starting to feel like January on the Outer Banks, with below-average temperatures forecasted through midweek, per a recent update from the National Weather Service Newport / Morehead City office. Monday began on Hatteras and Ocracoke islands with temperatures in the [...] Local News |  Full Article

Video by Scott Caldwell The new submarine cable which will create a more reliable connection to power for Ocracoke Island has arrived on Hatteras Island, and work to install the cable will begin in earnest in the weeks to come along Pole Road at the end of Hatteras village. The project, which is orchestrated by [...] Local News |  Full Article

HATTERAS — Shirley Barnett Austin, 81, of Hatteras, NC died Wednesday, January 15, 2020, at Peak Resources – Outer Banks. Born in Toms River, NJ on March 25, 1938, she was the daughter of the late Edna and Jarvis Barnett. Shirley’s love for children could be seen as she and her husband were foster parents [...] Obituaries |  Full Article

Dare County Schools (DCS) has joined more than 100 other North Carolina school districts in implementing an anonymous reporting system that allows students to use a cell phone app, a crisis hotline or their desktop to relay a wide range of safety concerns to a call center. Those concerns can include everything from planned school [...] Local News |  Full Article

An Atlantic puffin found in the woods on Hatteras Island earlier this month is gaining weight and appears to be eating well. A recent video posted by his caretaker shows just how well his digestive system working. The small seabird is an unusual visitor to the Outer Banks, and even more unusual to be found [...] Island Features |  Full Article

River City Rockin’ Blues band held a fundraising concert in October and on Saturday presented a check for $3,500 to Ocracoke School. RCRB founder Nannette Garrett organized the event in the Washington Civic Center. The day-long event consisted of performances by numerous musical artists, both local and regional, local food trucks, raffle door prizes, as well [...] Community News Brief |  Full Article

After a week of above-average January temperatures that hovered in the 60s and 70s, the Outer Banks may finally see some winter weather starting on Friday, with increasing north winds and a significant temperature drop, per a recent update from the National Weather Service Newport / Morehead City office. A record high temperature was observed [...] Local News |  Full Article

Hyde County has received notice of the availability of FEMA grant funds for the elevation  of homes in Hyde County under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) Hurricane Dorian, DR-4465. The HMGP provides 100% funding to reduce or eliminate the risk of flood damage to buildings and structures. If your home is your primary residence, [...] Real Estate |  Full Article