Just when Ocracoke village started getting its many missing road signs reinstalled Thursday (Sept. 25), the effort ran into a snag. This time it was not a hurricane.
Two road signs of the 70 plus that were placed on the ground at their new positions Tuesday afternoon were stolen, poles and all.
Hyde County workers Ray Stotesbury and Harry Clark were installing a new two-way sign at Pilot Town Road and NC 12 (at the south end ferry dock) and mentioned the stolen signs.
Bill Rich, Hyde County manager, contacted Thursday, said that one was a three-way sign and one was a double sign for Southpoint and NC 12. Two old signs—for Sarah Ellen and Martha Jane drives—also were stolen.
Rich said he filed a theft report with the Hyde County sheriff’s department. He asked that residents keep their eyes open for the missing signs and, if spotted, call the sheriff’s office at (252) 928-7301.
In addition, while Irvin Garrish Highway is still named as such, the new signs say “NC 12.”
Missing street signs can be a serious matter.
“We have new emergency medical responders from off the island and they don’t know the streets,” said Dick Jacoby, president of the Ocracoke Volunteer Fire Department.
Thus, while people may think its fun to take street signs, loss of these directional aids could endanger lives, Jacoby noted.
The Ocracoke Observer recently printed an editorial about the important need to get road signs restored.
