Where Main Street meets Route 264 in Swan Quarter. Photo: C. Leinbach
From our news services
A Hyde County Sheriff deputy killed an armed suspect in Swan Quarter on Tuesday following a standoff at a home in the 1400 block of Main Street.
A press release issued by Hyde County said that sheriff’s deputies responded to a 911 call at 2:50 p.m. in which the caller stated her ex-husband had kicked in her door and was armed with a gun.
When deputies arrived, they encountered 67-year-old Willie Blount standing on the front porch of the house armed with a .22 rifle.
Blount ignored numerous verbal commands to drop his weapon and refused to surrender. After an approximately 10-minute standoff, Blount pointed his rifle at the deputies on scene and was subsequently shot by Deputy William Waters, a 10-year veteran of the sheriff’s office.
Blount died at the scene. No one else was injured.
Hyde County Public Information Officer Donnie Shumate said the roads at Route 264 and Main Street were roped off for several hours after the incident.
At the request of Sheriff Guire Cahoon, the State Bureau of Investigation will investigate the officer-involved shooting, and the Hyde County District Attorney will review all investigative findings.
Per standard protocol, the deputy will be placed on administrative leave with pay pending the outcome of the investigation.
For the Ocracoke School third nine-week grading period, 28 students made the honor roll, 22 made the principal’s list along with 32 who were award a Dolphin Award in a ceremony in the school gym on March 31.
Recipients of Dolphin Awards are chosen by their teachers for their enthusiasm, special interests and contributions to their classes.
Principal’s List. Photo provided by Ocracoke School
Kindergarten: Melissa Suazo Lopez Genesis Perez Gabriel Rodriguez Nico Gonzalez Stevie Wilson Antonio Lopez Castanon
First grade: Paxton O’Neal Mary Carmen
Second grade: Pierce Bryan Natalia Trejo Isaac Rosales-Trejo Dafne Mendez-Amador Daleyza Resendiz Espinoza
Third grade: Nadia Rodriguez Alcocer
Fourth grade: Jordan Suazo-Dominguez
Fifth grade: Kai King
Middle School English Language Arts: J.J. Ibarra Middle School Social Studies: Jonah Daniels Middle School Math: Ammy Ortiz-Flores High School History: Sonia Voitenko High School Science: Alexis Villanueva Elementary Art: Adrian Gonzalez Middle School Art: Zoe Modlin High School Technology, Design & Engineering: Rene Ramirez Rodriguez High School Art: Uriel Guerrero Perez PreK-2 Phys Ed: Evelyn Contreras 3-5 Phys Ed: Ange Suazo Paz 6-8 Phys Ed: Aidan Mason 9-12 Phys Ed: Yazmin Ramirez Rodriguez
Monday, April 4 Hyde County Commissioners meet at 6 pm. Ocracoke Community Center and on Facebook at Hyde County Public Information. See agenda below.
Tuesday, April 5 Hyde County Board of Education meets10 to 11 am. Ocracoke Community Center. Rescheduled to April 8
Ocracoke Decoy Carvers Guild meets 7 pm. Ocracoke Community Center
Wednesday, April 6 Red Cross Blood Drive, noon to 6 pm. Ocracoke Community Center. Appointments highly encouraged. Online visit redcrossblood.org. and enter Sponsor Code: OCRACOKE.
Thursday, April 7 Red Cross Blood Drive, 8 am to 2 pm. Ocracoke Community Center. Appointments highly encouraged. Online visit redcrossblood.org. and enter Sponsor Code: OCRACOKE.
Friday, April 8 Hyde County Board of Education meets at 5 p.m. in the O.A. Peay, 1430 Main St., Swan Quarter. It also can be viewed electronically via Zoom using the following live stream for public access on the Hyde County Schools Facebook page linkedhere: https://www.facebook.com/HydeCountySchools
Occupancy Tax Board meets to review grants requests 6 pm. Community Center.
Saturday, April 9 March to support Ukraine. 10 am. Meets at Books To Be Red yard. Park at Methodist Church or Deepwater Theater.
Jason Daniels, left, on his last day as captain, with Joe Smith outside the sheriff’s office on Ocracoke. Photo: C. Leinbach/Ocracoke Observer
By Connie Leinbach
As Captain Jason Daniels retires from the Hyde County Sheriff’s Department after 19 years, he sees the work he has done on Ocracoke as preventative medicine, if you will.
The police scene here is different from that of big city, adrenaline-pumping action.
On Ocracoke, a law officer is more truly like a peace officer because in a small community like this, the local deputies aren’t just in the blue brotherhood. They’re part of the community.
Because he cares, Daniels and his deputies have done things the rest of the community never hears about.
“Nobody sees me riding somebody around at two in the morning because someone is having a bad night,” he said on his last day as the captain of the deputies. “They can’t sleep; they pick the phone up and they call, and I go pick ‘em up and I ride ‘em around to try to help get it off their chest and clear their minds. Then I take them back home. People don’t see that.”
Daniels described policing on Ocracoke to the man who will take his place, Joe Smith, a longtime member of the mainland deputy force.
“Little things like that might save us a whole lot of trouble,” Smith added.
Smith is looking forward to a different pace on Ocracoke and understands Daniels’ philosophy: It’s all about prevention and de-escalation of conflicts.
“We always try to prevent (something worse) from happening, because here it takes up so many resources,” such as would be deployed in dealing with a head injury from someone falling off a golf cart, Daniels said. “We’re trying to prevent crime. We’re all likeminded. We all think that way.”
As emergency personnel, the deputies respond to every incident and stay for its aftermath.
“The community doesn’t see the times that we’re called out to deal with a suicide,” Daniels said. “They don’t see the times that we go out and we’re helping the EMS and we’re doing CPR on someone. After that, we’re still trying to help them. So, there’s a lot of dynamics that people don’t see here.”
Smith is no newcomer to Ocracoke since he has visited the island over the last two decades while his parents, Joe and Holly Smith, lived here when Joe Sr. worked for Tideland. They have since moved back to the mainland where the younger Smith’s family also lives and where he and his wife breed Labrador retrievers.
His son just graduated from Beaufort County Community College and his daughter attends ECU in Greenville.
Smith, who is a sergeant now, will become captain at the new fiscal year July 1. He realizes that the cultures on the mainland and Ocracoke are different.
The Hyde County Sheriff’s office on Ocracoke has a lot of unclaimed lost items, such as purses, cell phones and wallets. If you’ve lost something, check with them first by calling the nonemergency number: 252-028-7301. Photo: C. Leinbach
“But I’ve done this long enough and been working with Hyde County, I can walk right in here,” he said.
He knows it will take him some time to get to know everyone on the island.
“My time here has been wonderful,” Daniels said. “I’m gonna keep staying here and live here a little longer.”
One important reason Daniels is retiring now is because his son, Jacob, is living with his grandparents while attending Washington High School.
“And I’m missing everything,” Daniels said.
He will still operate his thriving sign-making business and he is a skilled artist who carves decoys and fish, which he will continue to do.
He also hopes to revive the highly successful archery program for Ocracoke School students that has been on hiatus since the COVID-19 pandemic hit.
As far as the crime in the last month, Daniels said they’ve been doing some calls but nothing that’s been overly glaring. He could not give specifics because the county is converting to a new computerized reporting system and reports are not ready.
In other departmental news, Daniels said Cpl. Blackburn Warner will leave to join a force in California around mid-May. But by then, Brian Uarte will have returned from police academy training to rejoin the other deputies in rotation, Rob King and Jay Neal.
Never missing an opportunity to inform the public, Daniels reminded all golf cart operators that children aged 16 and over can drive golf carts but 15-year-olds with a driver’s permit cannot operate a golf cart even while with a parent. The law specifically says age 16.
Daniels says he’s leaving the island deputies in good hands with Smith.
“As far as a fit goes, for here, with me leaving this is a best-case scenario,” Daniels said about Smith. “He’s just got an easy demeanor like I have, and he’ll do the job and he’ll care about Ocracoke.”
Correction: The original story misspelled “reins” in the headline. This one corrects it.
Ocracoke sheriff deputies have collected police department patches from all over the world. Photo: C. Leinbach
An example of Jason Daniels’ art seen here in an island home. Photo: C. Leinbach
It was a good time to visit the Ocracoke beach when phone and internet went down the afternoon of March 15. Photo: C. Leinbach
Editor’s note: Suddenly, on March 15, Ocracoke’s internet and cell phone service went out for the entire afternoon causing some on the island to scramble for communication while others welcomed a “rectangle free” afternoon. No official press release was issued at the time, but the Observer’s Richard Taylor tracked down the reason.
By Richard Taylor
CenturyLink’s fiber optic cable serving Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands was inadvertently damaged March 15 by Basnight Construction during replacement of a damaged fire hydrant in the Whalebone area of Nags Head.
This caused Ocracoke and parts of Hatteras Island to lose internet and cellular service. Landline service was not affected.
It took CenturyLink’s technicians until 6:30 that evening to repair their corrupted underground fiber along N.C. 12 near Jennette’s Pier.
Ocracoke gets all telephone, cellular and internet service through an extension fiber cable bundled with Tideland Electric’s submarine cable under Pamlico Sound between Hatteras and Ocracoke islands. CenturyLink maintains a low-capacity microwave link here from their Cedar Road central office to Cedar Island for limited backup service.
Before his election as Ocracoke’s county commissioner in November 2020, Randal Mathews was a CenturyLink network technician, working mostly on Hatteras Island. Mathews was able to get a cell signal that afternoon from the Verizon tower in Hatteras Village by climbing up a dune at the South Dock ferry terminal at the north end of the island.
”I’m not sure what exactly happened,” he said later. “Normally, if everything was cut, Hatteras would be down too. So it sounds like to me that everything wasn’t cut.”
Downeast Underground from Manteo, a CenturyLink contractor, that morning was coincidently boring under Irvin Garrish Highway at Cedar Road to install a short fiber extension to serve the Pony Island Inn.
Seeing underground workers along the road, some islanders figured the outage must be here on the island, when, actually, that work had nothing to do with the partial fiber cable cut in Whalebone.
However, Downeast did damage the phone company’s 600-pair local service copper cable under N.C.12 that morning, which CenturyLink repaired the next day at Downeast’s expense.
Nags Head Public works spokesperson Eric Claussen said, “There was fiber cable marked out there on South Virginia Dare Trail (NC 12), but not in the location of the hydrant. It was not picked on locate, so they didn’t know it was there. We called CenturyLink and they came out immediately.”
He said that since the fiber was not marked, neither the town, nor Basnight Construction would incur any cost for the repair.
For the record, some homes still have land lines and some businesses have them, for example, the Variety Store and the Ocracoke Community Library, currently housed in Deepwater Theater until June.
From left: Steven G. Blackstock, interim superintendent of Hyde County Schools, Tammy Sadler, administrative assistant to the superintendent and transportation director, and Suzanne Blackstock, interim superintendent’s wife
From our news services
Hyde County Schools today swore in Steven G. Blackstock as interim superintendent since today marks the last day for Superintendent Stephen Basnight.
Blackstock is the current director of instructional programs and assessments and will continue in that role while serving as interim superintendent, according to a press release by the district.
The Board of Education is conducting the superintendent selection process and will likely name the next superintendent of Hyde County Schools later this month.
Blackstock earned a Bachelor of Music Education from James Madison University, a Master of Music from The Catholic University of America, and a Master of School Administration from East Carolina University.
In addition to teaching middle and high school band in Virginia for eight years, Blackstock taught secondary mathematics in Dare County for seven years, served as principal at Jarvisburg Elementary school in Currituck for three years, and was principal at Manteo Elementary in Dare for four and a half years, where he was named the Dare County Schools Principal of Year.
He joined the administration of Hyde County Schools in January of 2020.
Trillium Health Resources is launching seven mobile integrated care units and will dedicate one for Ocracoke at 10:15 a.m. Wednesday (March 30) at the Ocracoke Community Center.
Thanks to funding provided by NCDHHS through the federal Substance Abuse Treatment Block Grant this unit will serve Beaufort, Martin, Tyrrell and Washington counties and Ocracoke Island.
Trillium is partnering with PORT Health, Monarch, Coastal Horizons, and RHA to travel to individuals living in 17 counties across the state.
Trillium saw the COVID-19 pandemic as a reminder of the health care disparities experienced by people of color, rural residents and Medicaid-insured individuals across the 28 counties we serve. In response, we launched the One Community Initiative to address the stress, anxiety, depression and general mental health challenges caused by the pandemic.
Across the United States, we’ve also seen an influx of mental health crises amid the anxiety and grief of the pandemic. Unfortunately, emergency rooms have been serving as a primary resource for many suffering from these crises, particularly those who are uninsured, Medicaid-insured, or people of color.
While specific services at each unit may vary based on provider or local demands, they are expected to offer the following:
Mental health screenings
Substance use disorder treatment
Traditional therapy
Assertive outreach
Medication management via telemedicine
Care management
Peer support
Crisis and Disaster Response
As the needs of communities develop, clinics may offer physical health services such as general health checkups and vaccinations (such as flu or pneumonia)
In the future, Trillium hopes the mobile clinics will be able to provide Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) for individuals experiencing opioid addiction.
Note time change for Saturday’s Ocracoke Preservation Society “Ocracoke Through Your Eyes” benefit art auction, 4 to 7 pm. Ocracoke Community Center.Something about a basketball game Saturday evening.
One of the artworks to be auctioned on Saturday, April 2, to benefit the Ocracoke Preservation Society.
Monday, March 28
Due to the cold weather, this meeting has been moved to Community Center, 999 Irvin Garrish Highway. The National Park Service will hold two public meetings, at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Monday, March 28, in the Berkley Barn, for public review and comment on an environmental assessment (EA) for the rehabilitation of the Ocracoke Light Station.
Wednesday, March 30 Trillium will launch a mobile integrated care unit at 10:15 a.m. at the Ocracoke Community Center. The unit, one of seven throughout the state, will make periodic visits to Ocracoke. While specific services at each unit may vary based on provider or local demands, they are expected to offer the following: Mental health screenings, substance use disorder treatment, traditional therapy, assertive outreach, medication management via telemedicine, care management, peer support and crisis and disaster response. See flyer below.
Friday, April 1 Ocracoke Oyster Company: Brooke & Nick play at 7 pm
Saturday, April 2 Ocracoke Preservation Society “Ocracoke Through Your Eyes” benefit art auction, 4 to 7 pm. Ocracoke Community Center.
The Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Air Quality has more than $1 million available in rebates for eligible applicants interested in installing a publicly accessible light-duty zero-emission vehicle Level 2 charging stations.
The division released the request for proposal for the Public Access Level 2 Charging Infrastructure Program rebates under Phase 2 of the Volkswagen mitigation plan March 21.
The request for proposals explains how local, federal and tribal governments, nonprofits and businesses incorporated in North Carolina, metropolitan or rural planning organizations, and air quality or transportation organizations can apply for a portion of the $1,070,877.
The application will not be available in the division’s Grants Management System until May 2. Applicants are encouraged to register for access to the system before that date.
A PDF version of the application is available on the program webpage for applicants to prepare all required materials for the online application. The webpage includes instructions on how to register for the Grant Management System and submit an application in the RFP.
A webinar at 1 p.m. Monday, March 28, will discuss the Grants Management System. Registering online before the webinar is required to participate. Current users with access are not required to attend but may attend for a refresher on the system.
Rebates up to a maximum of $5,000 are available to government applicants and up to $4,000 to nongovernment for each new charging port installed. Rebates will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis to those who qualify until all funds are exhausted.
The VW mitigation plan is part of a settlement agreement between the German automaker with the Department of Justice on behalf of the Environmental Protection Agency. Volkswagen sold thousands of diesel motor vehicles with software the EPA alleged was designed to cheat on federal emissions tests, according to the state. The Volkswagen Mitigation Settlement was for $14.7 billion for violating the Clean Air Act. The state Department of Environmental Quality manages North Carolina’s share of the VW Settlement.
The division will hold a webinar 1 p.m. April 4 on the Level 2 Public Access Program request for proposals. During this webinar, staff will discuss the RFP and the requirements and answer questions. This webinar is for applicants interested in submitting applications for the Level 2 Public Access Program only. Registration is required to participate in this webinar.
For help with an application, email daq.NC_VWGrants@ncdenr.gov with subject title line: “Level 2 Public Access RFP” before submitting an application and ahead of the submission deadline.
Phase 2 of the VW Mitigation Plan covers the remaining $68 million of the state’s share of a national settlement with the automaker. DEQ is allocating the full 15%, or about $10.19 million, allowed in the VW State Trust Agreement for ZEV charging infrastructure projects under Phase 2. Additional settlement funds will support the replacement of diesel vehicles with newer, cleaner alternatives, according to the state.
For 12 years (1974 to 1986), Mark Moseley was the place kicker for the Washington Redskins (now Commanders). During that time, he led the NFL in field goals four times and is the all-time leading scorer for the Redskins.
Why would we start an editorial on Ocracoke with this sports item? After Moseley left, the team struggled with finding a good place kicker. The fans took for granted that when Moseley went onto the field there would be three more points in the bank, and many appreciated him only when he was gone.
Many businesses, organizations and governmental offices have had individuals who quietly excel at what they do and only after they left was their importance realized.
Ocracoke is a small community where, if you live here, almost “everyone knows your name.” Every year, people move here, and they all have an opportunity to contribute to the community.
And each year some leave the island.
This year, some longtime islanders who have departed are Dick and Janey Jacoby and Marcy Brenner and Lou Castro, who are the musical duo called Coyote.
These four individuals have made major contributions to the community.
Marcy and Lou are not only great performers, but they also have provided music lessons, workshops and opportunities for islanders to perform in front of others.
In winter months, they hosted cozy music and literary events in the former Coyote Den at the Community Square.
Dick and Janey retired from their jobs and moved here from northern Virginia in the 1990s. Since then, they provided thousands of hours of community service, particularly for the Ocracoke Volunteer Fire Department.
These days, documentation requirements for volunteer fire departments are so complex the work the Jacobys did for many years might be a paid position elsewhere.
Also soon leaving Hyde County is Stephen Basnight, the Hyde County Schools superintendent since the fall of 2018.
Basnight has been a crucial component of island life having done so much for this school system in the few years he was at the helm.
Islander Bill Jones, who died unexpectedly Jan. 28 after a fall on the island was an active volunteer in the community.
Bill also helped proofread the Ocracoke Observer and was our friend. We mourn his loss. For his many talents, his wit and cheerful disposition, we are grateful to have had his help and extend our deepest sympathy to his wife, Lida, and their family.
Expertise like that found in Steve, Marcy and Lou, the Jacobys and Bill are needed on Ocracoke, a unique place that has no formal government except that of the county government, the seat of which is 23 miles away across the Pamlico Sound.
The community relies on volunteers to serve on the various nonprofit boards and to perform their work. Only a few have paid staff, yet semi-professional and professional skills are needed here.
This is manifested in the continued search for administrative help by the Ocracoke Preservation Society (now filled) and the Ocracoke Tourism Development Authority, to name two. (See job postings in Classifieds.)
Long ago, we heard that serving on nonprofit boards requires the three Ws (different from the COVID-19 pandemic three Ws), and those are “Work, wealth and wit.”
We encourage others to offer their “three Ws”–in whatever amount or combination–to any of the organizations that make Ocracoke such an interesting and unique place to live.
Everyone has many new chapters throughout their lifetime, and we thank Steve, Marcy and Lou and Dick and Janey for their chapters spent here and wish them well in their new ventures.
