Building in the harsh hatteras conditions

The Coast Guard rescued three mariners Thursday morning from a sailing vessel beset by weather 154 miles southeast of Cape Hatteras. At 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Coast Guard Sector Charleston notified watchstanders at the Fifth Coast Guard District Command Center that the 59-foot sailing vessel TIME-AUT was caught in heavy weather and at risk of [...] Local News |  Full Article

Frisco Village will hold its first-ever Christmas Tree Lighting celebration on Monday, December 16, at 6:00 p.m. at the Frisco Fire Station. The event, which is being organized by the Frisco Volunteer Fire Department (VFD) is free and open to the public, with food, beverages, entertainment, and a brand new tree all donated by Alien [...] Island Features |  Full Article

From CoastalReview.org The North Carolina Coastal Resources Commission will hold a special meeting at 10 a.m. Monday by web conference to hear a variance request from the N.C. Department of Transportation. According to the agenda posted at the commission’s website, the request involves sandbags at Pea Island in Dare County. The meeting materials were not [...] Local News |  Full Article

October 7, 1958 – December 9, 2024 OCRACOKE — James Elvin O’Neal, Jimmy, 66, of Ocracoke, NC, passed away peacefully on December 9, 2024, at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital. Born on October 7, 1958, in Philadelphia, PA, Jimmy lived a life marked by service, hard work, and deep love for his family. Jimmy served his [...] Obituaries |  Full Article

From OcracokeObserver.com The number of rescued sea turtles on the Outer Banks this past week was, well, stunning. A cold spell that dropped water temperatures into the 40s Fahrenheit resulted in hundreds of sea turtles drifting onto the shores of the Outer Banks. Sea turtles are ectotherms, meaning they are cold blooded and can’t regulate [...] Seashore News |  Full Article

All Dare County offices and facilities will be closed on Tuesday, December 24, Wednesday, December 25 and Thursday, December 26 in observance of the Christmas holiday. Therefore, the Dare County C&D Landfill, the Buxton Transfer Station and the Manteo Recycle Yard will be closed on Tuesday, December 24, Wednesday, December 25 and Thursday, December 26 [...] Local News |  Full Article

The Hatteras Village Christmas Parade is celebrating its 33rd year in 2024, and the annual event will be held on Saturday, December 14, at 2:00 p.m. This year, the parade will have a revised route in order to work around the closure of Slash Creek Bridge on N.C. Highway 12, which is undergoing a months-long [...] Island Features |  Full Article

Hatteras Village will host a special Breakfast with Santa event on Saturday, December 14, before the annual Hatteras Village Christmas Parade. Adult tickets are $15, children 5-12 are $6, and children under 5 are free. The doors open at 8:00 a.m., breakfast is served until 11:30 a.m., and all proceeds benefit the Hatteras Community Preschool. This [...] Community News Brief |  Full Article

Cape Lookout National Seashore is scheduled to open the Great Island Cabin Camp on March 13, 2025, and operate it through November 29, 2025. Visitors can start making reservations on January 4, 2025, at 10 a.m. (EST). Preseason sales of Off-Road Vehicle (ORV) permits will be available for purchase starting January 4, 2025, at 10 a.m. (EST), and will [...] Seashore News |  Full Article

Dare County has been chosen to receive $14,929 of Federal Emergency Food and Shelter funds awarded through the Department of Homeland Security. Under the terms of the grant from the national board, any non-profit, faith-based or local government agency that provides food and shelter services may apply for funds. Applying agencies must have an accounting [...] Local News |  Full Article

From SamWalkerOBXNews.com The National Weather Service has expanded a Wind Advisory to inland areas as a cold front moves towards eastern North Carolina through the day, with strong southerly winds, the possibility of severe thunderstorms, and rough surf and minor oceanside overwash along parts of Hatteras and Ocracoke islands. Out ahead of the front, southerly [...] Local News |  Full Article

After two years of transforming the grounds surrounding Ocracoke’s historic Island Inn into a public park and common area, volunteers with the Island Inn Commons Landscaping Project recently revitalized the site yet again for the holidays, with the temporary addition of thousands of Christmas lights. The display was celebrated with a gathering at the Island [...] Island Features |  Full Article

From CoastalReview.org North Carolina Maritime Museum officials are bringing back the overnight tour of wildlife refuges and seashores throughout Pamlico, Hyde and Dare counties to observe wintering waterfowl. The Coastal Culture and Waterfowl Watching Excursion, a two-day adventure through the wildlife refuges and seashores in Eastern North Carolina, will be offered Jan. 8-9, 2025, and [...] Island Features |  Full Article

From SamWalkerOBXNews.com A strong cold front crossing the region on Wednesday will bring a variety of weather impacts, including a threat of severe thunderstorms and high surf along the south-facing beaches of the Outer Banks. Out ahead of the front, southerly winds will increase to between 20 and 30 mph, with gusts of 30 to [...] Local News |  Full Article

Every year in November, Cape Hatteras Elementary School (CHES) students bring in handfuls of spare change, bills, and checks in order to raise money for the Hatteras Island Cancer Foundation, and in 2024, the students came together to raise a staggering $3,225.52 for their local friends and neighbors. The Hatteras Island Cancer Foundation (HICF) is [...] Community News Brief |  Full Article

On Monday, December 09, 2024, at approximately 9 pm, a Dare County Sheriff’s Office patrol deputy stopped a vehicle near Whites Shopping Center on Hwy 64 in Manns Harbor for a traffic violation. During the traffic stop, a K9 was deployed on the vehicle and alerted to the presence of a controlled substance, resulting in [...] Crime Reports |  Full Article

December 14, 1938 – December 6, 2024 MANTEO — Roberta Marie Cunningham of Manteo, NC, passed away in Raleigh, North Carolina, on Friday, December 6, 2024. She was born on December 14, 1938, at the home of her beloved grandparents, Julia and Joseph Huston, Magnolia Inn Farms in Caroline County, Virginia. Marie was preceded in [...] Obituaries |  Full Article

AVON — Michael Lehmkuhler, age 71, passed away on December 6 in his dream home at the beach, surrounded by family. He is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 42 years, Kathy Lehmkuhler; his daughter, Kristal Seaford of Richmond, Virginia, and her two children, Wyatt and Leona Seaford; and his daughter, Kate Blevins [...] Obituaries |  Full Article

The December Dare County Board of Commissioners (BOC) meeting marked the beginning of a new era, as county commissioner Mary Ellon Ballance was sworn in as Hatteras Island’s District 4 representative after winning the November 5 General Election. Ballance is taking the reins from Danny Couch, who retired in 2024 after serving as the island’s [...] Editor's Blog |  Full Article

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) announced on Tuesday that the Savannah District was in the first stages of forming a Restoration Advisory Board (RAB) for Buxton Beach, based on an overwhelmingly positive response from the public. In early November, the USACE launched an online survey designed to gauge the Outer Banks community’s interest in establishing a RAB [...] Local News |  Full Article

Dare Arts will celebrate 50 years of encouraging the arts in Dare County through advocacy, enrichment and opportunity in 2025. As the nonprofit commemorates this important milestone, a common theme of “celebrating our past, present, and future” will be woven into their programming, events, and exhibits next year. “In 2025 we will honor our founders, [...] Island Features |  Full Article

Great food, camaraderie, and a joyous holiday spirit highlighted the annual meeting of the Friends of the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum on Wednesday, December 4, in the museum’s Belinda and Virgil Willis Boardroom. Approximately 20 people attended, including board members, employees, volunteers, museum staff, and guests. A new Executive Committee was installed for 2025. [...] Local News |  Full Article

From SamWalkerOBXNews.com Three separate deliveries of construction equipment associated with the lifting of the Ocracoke Double Keepers’ Quarters are scheduled to occur this coming week. During the deliveries, Lighthouse Road—between approximately Loop Road and Martha Jane Lane—will be closed for up to 30 minutes. Loop Road will remain accessible for those looking for an alternate [...] Seashore News |  Full Article

The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services’ Low Income Energy Assistance Program is now accepting applications from older adults 60 and older or people with disabilities receiving services through the NCDHHS Division of Aging. The federally funded program helps low-income households with a one-time payment sent directly to their heating vendor to offset the [...] Local News |  Full Article

From SamWalkerOBXNews.com The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission has selected Michael Kyle Briggs as executive director of the agency beginning on January 1. As executive director, Briggs will oversee a statewide agency of fourteen divisions and offices with approximately 700 permanent employees and an annual operating budget of approximately $110 million. The NCWRC manages and [...] Local News |  Full Article

The Cape Hatteras United Methodist Men (CHUMM) recently detailed the organization’s achievements during its 46th year of operation in a “Year in Review” update sent to members, friends, and supporters. In 2024, CHUMM helped many families with food, rent, utilities, medical costs, and other emergency needs. Most requests for emergency and humanitarian assistance originate with the [...] Island Features |  Full Article

The Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station (CLSS) is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year, as one of the seven original Life-Saving Stations to be built in North Carolina in 1874. As such, the Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station and Historic Site in Rodanthe will be sharing stories about the seven 1874 Outer Banks stations until the end of 2024, to celebrate and mark this [...] Island Features |  Full Article

The Dare County Library will host a series of fun, free and family friendly events featuring holiday themes at each of its three branches throughout Dare County during the month of December to get the community into the holiday spirit. Kill Devil Hills Library Christmas Party – Monday, December 9, 2024 from 4 p.m. to 6 [...] Community News Brief |  Full Article

From SamWalkerOBXNews.com A Hatteras Island man already facing numerous charges, including counts for leading authorities on a vehicle chase in July, has been charged with additional felonies for allegedly filing a fraudulent insurance claim on a capsized sailboat. According to a North Carolina Department of Insurance news release, George Thomas King, 60, of Salvo, was [...] Community News Brief |  Full Article

Dare Arts is now seeking entries for the 47th Annual Frank Stick Memorial Art Show, which will open at their Gallery in downtown Manteo at 6pm on Friday, February 7, 2025. Artists wishing to participate in the show can find the prospectus and sign up for a specific time to drop off their work online [...] Island Features |  Full Article

U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Division 16 conducted its annual change of watch ceremony on December 2nd, installing new officers effective January 1, 2025. During the event, incoming Division Commander Tom Mattingly relieved A. Wayne Early who has served as Division Commander for the past year.  Auxiliary District Commodore (elect) Jim Thomas spoke at the event, [...] Community News Brief |  Full Article

The Cape Hatteras Elementary School (CHES) publishes a monthly newsletter called The Storm Report for students, parents, supporters, and friends. The newsletter is a nod to the school’s mascot, the Cape Hatteras Tropical Storms. The newsletter covers everything from upcoming special events to recent initiatives in art, technology, music, media, and more. It is a [...] Community News Brief |  Full Article

July 3, 1954 – November 27, 2024 WAVES — Robert Lee Newton of Waves, NC went to be with his Lord and Shepherd on November 27, 2024. He was born on July 3, 1954, to Dorothy Libby Newton and Robert A. Newton. Upon graduation from Alamosa High School in Alamosa, CO, he enlisted in the [...] Obituaries |  Full Article

August 27, 1946 – November 26, 2024 KILL DEVIL HILLS — Roland Heinrich Bläsi, of Kill Devil Hills, NC, a culinary artist whose love for cooking took him across continents, passed away peacefully on November 26, 2024, at the age of 78. Born on August 27, 1946, in Bamberg, Germany, Roland found his passion early [...] Obituaries |  Full Article

The Irene Nolan Memorial Scholarship Fund has had waves of community support since it was established in December 2021 with the help of the Outer Banks Community Foundation,  thanks to its namesake honoree, our Island Free Press (IFP) co-founder and original editor, Irene. The Irene Nolan Memorial Scholarship Fund has been a dream for everyone at [...] Island Features |  Full Article

On Monday December 2, the foyer at Cape Hatteras Secondary School (CHSS) was transformed into a winter wonderland, thanks to a team effort by students and staff. In the school’s 2nd annual “Trees for the Community” event, CHSS clubs, teams, and classes decorated artificial Christmas trees that will later be donated to members of the [...] Island Features |  Full Article

The Really, Really Free Market is returning to Avon on Saturday, December 7, from 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. at the Avon Fire Station. The Really, Really Free Market started more than a decade ago and became a valuable resource for islanders in need after several historic storms, including Hurricane Isabel in 2011, and Hurricane [...] Community News Brief |  Full Article

UPDATE: Hatteras-Ocracoke ferry service has resumed as of 12:00 p.m. Thursday. Ocracoke-Swan Quarter and Ocracoke-Cedar Island  ferry routes will remain suspended for the rest of the day.  The Hatteras-Ocracoke, Ocracoke-Swan Quarter, and Ocracoke-Cedar Island ferry operations have been suspended as of Thursday morning due to deteriorating weather conditions, per an update from the North Carolina Ferry [...] Local News |  Full Article

As temperatures drop in the winter months, cold-stunned sea turtles begin to make an appearance, and this week’s cold spell has already resulted in dozens of sea turtles spotted on local Hatteras Island shorelines. According to Stacey Saunders of N.E.S.T., more than 180 cold-stunned sea turtles were identified and rescued by local N.E.S.T. volunteers in [...] Seashore News |  Full Article

Three separate deliveries of construction equipment associated with the lifting of the Ocracoke Double Keepers’ Quarters are scheduled to occur the week of Dec. 9. During the deliveries, Lighthouse Road—between approximately Loop Road and Martha Jane Lane—will be closed for up to 30 minutes. Loop Road will remain accessible for those looking for an alternate [...] Seashore News |  Full Article

Strong southwest winds ahead of an approaching cold front will impact the Outer Banks Wednesday night into Thursday, with the potential for coastal flooding along the Croatan, Roanoke, and Pamlico Sounds, per an update from the National Weather Service. Winds may reach 40-50 mph starting Wednesday night, and 1-2 feet of coastal flooding in soundside [...] Local News |  Full Article

The last few weeks of 2024 marks the end of an era and the start of a new one when it comes to Hatteras Island representation on the Dare County Board of Commissioners (BOC). On November 4, Danny Couch attended his last BOC meeting as Hatteras Island’s County Commissioner after announcing his retirement a year [...] Editor's Blog |  Full Article

The Rodanthe-Waves-Salvo Civic Association (RWSCA) will be hosting its fourth annual Christmas Tree Lighting on Saturday, December 7, at 5:30 p.m. The event is free and open to the public, and will be held at the Rodanthe-Waves-Salvo Community Building located at 23646 N.C. Highway 12 in Rodanthe. The celebration includes cookies and hot cocoa, holiday songs, [...] Community News Brief |  Full Article

From CoastalReview.org Dan Spinella replicates Hatteras lens parts piece by piece When the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse was rescued 25 years ago from the edge of the Atlantic, the nation’s tallest brick beacon was relocated with just an ordinary airport beacon in its lantern room. It could be argued that return of the majestic first order [...] Seashore News |  Full Article

The North Carolina Ferry Division has released its 2025 schedule for all seven vehicle routes and the Ocracoke Express passenger ferry. The division, which is part of the N.C. Department of Transportation, provides ferry service year-round for all routes except for the Ocracoke Express passenger ferry. The Ocracoke Express passenger ferry, which provides service between Hatteras and the heart of Ocracoke Island (Silver [...] Local News |  Full Article

From SamWalkerOBXNews.com The official nonprofit that supports the three national parks on the Outer Banks announced a new fund has been created to help address immediate needs and longer-term challenges in a sustainable way. “Our Outer Banks national parks are special places that bring our local community and visitors together to learn, reflect, and create [...] Seashore News |  Full Article

  Meet the Outer Banks SPCA pets of the week, courtesy of their latest video produced by Dare County’s CURRENT TV. For more information on these pets, and the many other Outer Banks pets currently up for adoption, visit the Outer Banks SPCA website at https://www.obxspca.org/, or their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/obxspca/  

The annual Christmas Light Festival at the Frisco Woods Campground is underway, and the drive-through or walk-through celebration of lights will be available for sightseers until Friday, December 15. The nightly event, which officially began on Dec. 1, is a self-guided tour of thousands of Christmas lights and displays that range from holiday pirates to [...] Island Features |  Full Article

At the Dec. 2 Dare County Board of Commissioners meeting, five county commissioners were sworn into office after being elected, or re-elected, on Tuesday, November 5. Commissioner Bob Woodard begins his fourth term on the board representing District 2 (Nags Head, Colington and Kill Devil Hills) and Commissioner Steve House begins his third term representing [...] Local News |  Full Article

The following is a summary of the December 2 Dare County Board of Commissioners meeting and does not include all items that were discussed. To view the full video of the meeting on Dare County’s YouTube channel, click here. To read the official minutes, click here. During his opening remarks, Dare County Board of Commissioners Chairman Bob Woodard [...] Local News |  Full Article