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Coast Guard families involved in early morning fire in Buxton; four people still missing

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An early Friday morning multi-resident fire in Buxton. Photo by Ed Grosvenor

Story reprinted courtesy of OBX Today

By Sam Walker, OBX Today

Officials today said that members of the U.S. Coast Guard and their families were involved in an early morning fire in Buxton that injured two people, while four others were still missing Friday evening.

“With great sadness, I have confirmed that the family of one of our active duty members is currently unaccounted for,” said Capt. Matt Baer, Commander of Sector North Carolina. “Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers while we investigate this incident with local authorities.”

Volunteer fire departments from Buxton, Hatteras and Frisco responded shortly after 4 a.m. to the 46000 block of Cape Hatteras Lane after a caller reported that flames were visible at one home.

Dare County EMS was also dispatched to the scene and took two individuals to the Outer Banks Hospital in Nags Head.

A second alarm went out shortly after, and additional units responded to the scene.

Residents in the area state that they were awakened by an explosion at around 5 a.m., followed by some pops, before the fire progressed quickly. Firefighters were at the scene well into Friday afternoon working to extinguish hot spots.

“In addition to the individuals currently unaccounted for, three other Coast Guard members and their families were displaced by the fire,” Baer said. “They are currently in a safe shelter location.”

The fire happened in the Cottages at the Cape neighborhood, a privately owned combination of one single family home and 22 duplexes that offer year-round housing for 15 families and weekly rental of an additional 30 units.

“Members trained in critical incident stress management are currently en route to support those impacted by this tragedy,” Baer said. “We are also working with the Coast Guard Foundation and other organizations to further support our members and families during this difficult time.

“The Coast Guard is a small organization. This tragic incident impacts not only this family, crew and station, but various members, families and units throughout the Coast Guard.”

The Dare County Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating.

Multi-residential fire in Buxton; four unaccounted for; WWII bomb detonation delayed

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The residential house fire in Buxton early this morning (Oct. 23). Photo by Edwin S. Grosvenor courtesy of Island Free Press.

From our news sources–updated 9:45 a.m.

A multi-residential fire along Diamond Shoals Drive on Buxton has delayed the detonation today of a WWII era bomb found Thursday on the beach there.

According to a press release from Dare County, four individuals remain unaccounted for and Dare County EMS transported two individuals to the Outer Banks Hospital in Nags Head for care.

Volunteer fire departments from Buxton, Hatteras and Frisco responded shortly after 4 a.m. when a caller reported that flames were visible at the structure.

A second alarm went out shortly after, and additional units responded to the scene. Fire crews remain actively engaged with the response at this time.

The Dare County Fire Marshal will be investigating the cause of the fire. Dare County will issue updates as more information is known. 

The Cape Hatteras National Seashore issued a press release that the exploding of the unexploded ordnance (UXO) until later this morning or early afternoon. A specific time has not been set.

A U.S. Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit out of Norfolk, Virginia, will do the detonation.

The unit has established a half-mile safety perimeter around the unexploded ordnance, described as a 100-pound aerial bomb from the World War II era, buried in the beach near the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse Beach Access parking area.

Village Thrift giveaway extended to Saturday

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The Village Thrift is giving away all its stuff again on Saturday, Oct. 24, from 1 to 3 p.m. Photo: C. Leinbach

The giveaway of items at the Village Thrift on Ocracoke will be open for one last day on Saturday from 1 to 3 p.m.

The “everything must go” free giveaway was held Monday through Thursday and Felicity Gage, one of the managers, said they will do one last day on Saturday.

“We did get rid of a lot of stuff, but there are a lot of clothes,” Gage said, noting that they found a lot of nice clothes in the upstairs. “Its worth coming in and digging.”

There also are still books, dishes, lamps, clothing and shoes, seasonal decorations (Christmas, Easter and July 4), and general bric-a-brac.

The Ocracoke Youth Center Board, which ran the shop, recently decided to shut it down due to the limitations imposed by the COVID-19 until a future date when a possible new location will be rented.

Navy to explode a live WWII bomb on Buxton beach at 9 a.m. Friday

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A live WWII ordnance discovered Thursday on the Buxton beach will be exploded at 9 a.m. Friday. Photo courtesy of NPS

From our news services

Ocracoke Island residents and visitors might hear a loud explosion on Hatteras Island Friday at 9 a.m. as the U.S. Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit detonates a live WWII-era bomb that was discovered today on the beach.

The unit out of Norfolk, Virginia, confirmed this afternoon that the object discovered earlier on a Cape Hatteras National Seashore beach in Buxton is a live military ordnance.

The EOD unit established a half-mile safety perimeter around the unexploded ordnance (UXO), described as a 100-pound aerial bomb from the World War II era, deep inside the beach near the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse Beach Access parking area.

The unit will detonate the ordnance around 9 a.m.

No damage to nearby structures is expected; however, Buxton residents and visitors may hear the detonation.

The following areas are closed until the EOD unit detonates the UXO and determines that the entire perimeter is safe:
Cape Hatteras Light Station grounds and parking area
Old Cape Hatteras Lighthouse parking area and beach
Cape Hatteras Lighthouse Beach Access and parking area
Buxton Beach Access and parking area

Due to the sound the detonation may make during the early morning hours, Dare County plans to send out a mass phone notification warning to all nearby residents and visitors at 8:30 a.m. Friday.

“The discovery of old military devices is not uncommon along the Outer Banks,” National Parks of Eastern North Carolina Superintendent David Hallac said. “Cape Hatteras National Seashore visitors should always be on the lookout for beach hazards, especially during and after periods of rough surf.”

NC to pause in Phase 3

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To catch up on Ocracoke news and much more, click here

Raleigh–North Carolina will remain paused in Phase 3 in the COVID-19 pandemic fight for three more weeks, until Nov. 13, as health officials continue to monitor North Carolina’s viral trends, Gov. Roy Cooper announced at a news briefing Wednesday.

North Carolina has seen increased hospitalizations and trajectory of cases in recent weeks, Cooper said, and underscored the importance of wearing masks, social distancing and using good judgment despite fatigue or frustration with the pandemic.

 “As this pandemic continues, I know it’s difficult and tiring to keep up our guard, especially when we’re gathered with people we love,” he said. “But it’s necessary. No one wants to spread COVID-19 accidentally to friends or family, so we must keep prevention at the forefront. Wearing a mask shows you care about people. Wearing a mask is an easy way to protect our communities and look out for each other. Confronting the virus head on and doing our part as individuals is good for our health and good for our economy.”

Also on Wednesday, Cooper noted that 12,000 eligible applicants have filed for assistance from the new NC Housing Opportunities and Prevention of Evictions (HOPE) program. The HOPE Program provides assistance to eligible low- and moderate-income renters experiencing financial hardship due to the pandemic by making direct payments to landlords and utility companies. People can apply for help by calling 2-1-1 or going to nc211.org/hope.

“Every one of those applications represents a family having to make impossible choices between basic necessities during a global pandemic,” Cooper said.

Secretary of Health and Human Services Dr. Mandy Cohen and Secretary of Department of Public Safety Erik Hooks sent a letter to local officials in communities with increased viral spread urging their continued action in fighting COVID-19 and suggesting additional measures to mitigate its spread. Read more about that letter here.

“We are doing everything we can to slow the spread of this virus,” Cohen said, urging all to continue wearing face coverings. “This simple fact is we can’t do it on our own. Ignoring the virus doesn’t make it go away – just the opposite. As hard as this is, it will end. Whatever your reason, get behind the mask.”

Trajectory in COVID-Like Illness (CLI) Surveillance Over 14 Days

  • North Carolina’s syndromic surveillance trend for COVID-like illness is level.

Trajectory of Confirmed Cases Over 14 Days

  • North Carolina’s trajectory of cases is increasing.

Trajectory in Percent of Tests Returning Positive Over 14 Days

  • North Carolina’s trajectory in percent of tests returning positive is increasing but is lower than it was during the last time North Carolina’s cases were at their peak in July.

Trajectory in Hospitalizations Over 14 Days

  • North Carolina’s trajectory of hospitalizations is increasing.

In addition to these metrics, the state continues building capacity to adequately respond to an increase in virus spread in testing, tracing and prevention.

Testing
Testing capacity is high.

Tracing Capability
The state is continuing to hire contact tracers to bolster the efforts of local health departments.
There have been almost 250,000 downloads of the exposure notification app, SlowCOVIDNC.

Personal Protective Equipment
North Carolina’s personal protective equipment (PPE) supplies are stable.

Two days of early voting on Ocracoke to begin Thursday

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Ocracoke’s polling place is the Ocracoke Volunteer Fire Department.

Correction: “Same day” registration and early voting in North Carolina continues only until Oct. 31. Voters cannot register and vote on General Election Day Nov. 3, as erroneously stated in the original publication of this story.

Observer staff report

Interest in early voting in North Carolina is making historic state records.

On Ocracoke, early voting is from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. tomorrow and Friday (Oct. 22 and 23) in the Ocracoke Volunteer Fire Department, 822 Irvin Garrish Hwy.

Even though the regular voter registration deadline ended on Oct. 9, islanders who have not registered to vote have two options to still do so. With the “same-day, one-stop” voting option, they may register on Ocracoke during these two early voting days; they also can travel to the Elections Office at 1223 Main St., Swan Quarter, until Oct. 31.

The early voting schedule at the Elections Office is from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 22, 23, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, and from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31.

Same-day registrants must attest to their eligibility and provide proof of residence and have one of the following documents to register:

  • A North Carolina driver’s license
  • Photo ID from a government agency
  • Student photo ID with a school document showing the student’s address
  • Or a utility bill, bank statement, payroll stub or document from any government agency with your name and current address.

Within two business days, the county board of elections will review the registration and the registrant’s address. The registrant’s vote will be counted unless the Hyde County board of elections determines that you are not qualified to vote.

As of today (Oct. 21), of the 7.3 million of North Carolina’s registered voters, 1.59 million ballots have already been cast. This represent slightly more than 25% with two weeks to go until the General Election.

Debbie Leonard, Michael Shoemaker and Sundae Horn sign up new voters. Photo: C. Leinbach

As of this month, Ocracoke has 821 registered voters, which may increase with same-day registrants.

During a voter registration drive held by the Ocracoke Community Library in September, 13 islanders became new voters, said Sundae Horn, library manager.

With the exception of Ocracoke, state-wide early voting runs from Oct. 15 and ends at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 31.

Hyde County Elections Director Viola Williams said 82 votes were cast on the first day in her office.

“That was extremely busy for us,” she said.

Hyde County has a total of 3,149 registered voters, and, as of Monday, 222 votes have been cast at the office and 316 absentee ballots have been requested, she said. 

Due to safety concerns relating to the COVID-19 pandemic, voting on Ocracoke will be in the open fire truck bays to allow for social distancing. Although those wishing to vote without a mask will not be refused, the Elections Office encourages all to wear a mask and maintain social distancing practices when voting. Poll workers will be wearing masks and taking extra safety precautions.

Hyde residents may still request absentee ballots (voting by mail) from now until 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 27. However, the ballots also must be received by this time and date.

The absentee request form can be emailed, faxed, mailed or returned in person to the Board of Elections.

If you are mailing your request, please include enough time for your request to be received by the deadline. You can download the absentee ballot request form on the Hyde County Election Board website here.

Anger is a most convenient tool

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A front moves into Ocracoke. Photo: C. Leinbach

By Traci DeVette Griggs

It’s a food fight. The two rowdy instigators are on either side of a large crowd. As they hurl their refuse across the room, everyone in between gets covered in garbage. The food fighters shout horrible accusations at each other and soon some in the middle are joining in, taking sides. It’s a melee.

It also seems an appropriate metaphor for the way our country is being portrayed. But don’t buy into it.

There are those who profit from our being angry at each other. The angrier the better. I’m not talking about a conspiracy theory—although I do think history has proven there are those among us who are capable of extraordinary evil—but more ordinary motives.

What’s the old adage? The road to hell is paved with good intentions? There are some people on both sides of the aisle with good intentions who believe they have our nation’s best interests at heart.

But their food fight is tearing us apart at the seams and we are letting them and now even cheering them on, demanding that the filthy fight rage on. We have begun to believe all of the salacious lies and why not? We hear them every day from every direction. We seek them out and devour each delicious slander. We share them with our friends. We yell at our screens, enraged.

Do a quick search on raising money by using emotion and you’ll see that it’s an essential ingredient. And today, anger is the most convenient tool. This is similar to the way that jokes about bodily functions are the comedian’s lowest bar but surest way to get a quick laugh, always handy in case the true comedy fails.

Anyone who wants to gain influence can tap into this low bar of emotion and say something to make us angry. And it works! Clicks, likes and shares all go up. Social media engagement skyrockets. People begin quoting us in news stories. Everyone is talking about us. Donations are flooding in. Yes, we are creating chaos; the story was only half-true, but, oh! The intoxicating feeling!

Elections don’t allow for shades of gray but living in community demands it. 

Between now and Tuesday, Nov. 3, we have binary choices and we do have immense issues at stake. This election really is about choosing a vision for this grand American experiment.

Elections don’t allow for shades of gray but living in community demands it. 

But living in the America that comes after Election Day requires us to see our neighbors as we really are. And those people are more similar to us than they are different. Whether you are a devout believer or an agnostic; a proponent for traditional marriage or gay marriage; free market and tax cuts or a more caring and compassionate government. When you sit down with your neighbor with a heart to listen and learn—and I hope you will—you will likely discover that they actually have the same deep desires and yearnings for our country and our communities and families that you do.

Whether that person voted for Trump or Biden, they are likely very similar to you in many of the ways that matter most as we live our lives day to day.  And even if they’re not, you’ll find they have very good reasons for why they believe as they do. How refreshing and interesting to have people in our lives that are very different from ourselves!

So after the elections, let’s hold our elected officials accountable and demand that they stop the food fight. Write letters to your favorite news organizations and let them know we’ve had enough, or just turn them off. We need time to heal and we need to allow our representatives some time to figure things out. And we must get out of the food fight ourselves.

Have a concern? There are processes for that. Your state general assembly is open to you every day they are in session. Your local representatives care what you think.

Not getting the action you want? Gather some friends and press on! This really is the greatest country in the world. Not perfect by any means, but that’s why you’re in it, to make it better. 

Traci Griggs

Traci DeVette Griggs and her husband John are half-time residents of Ocracoke and Raleigh.

Ocracoke events week of Oct. 19 to 25

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Early voting for Ocracoke has just two days and they are this week.

Monday, Oct. 19:

Ocracoke’s Village Thrift shop will hold an “everything must go” giveaway from 1 to 3 p.m. Customers must wear masks and the numbers allowed inside will be limited. The event will be at the house across from Community Square where the shop has been since 2015.

Tuesday, Oct. 20:

Ocracoke’s Village Thrift shop, across from Community Square, will hold an “everything must go” giveaway from 1 to 3 p.m. Customers must wear masks and the numbers allowed inside will be limited.
Post-Dorian Support Group – Free: For residents and their families coping with hurricane PTSD and COVID; meets virtually every Tuesday from 4:30 to 6 pm. Contact Ruth, 252-475-0859, for invite to join via Zoom. 

Wednesday, Oct. 21:

Roanoke Island Animal Clinic will be on the island in the Community Center starting around 9:30 a.m. For appointments, call 252-473-3117.

Ocracoke’s Village Thrift shop, across from Community Square, will hold an “everything must go” giveaway from 1 to 3 p.m. Customers must wear masks and the numbers allowed inside will be limited.

 

Thursday, Oct. 22:

Early voting from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Ocracoke Volunteer Fire Department. Early voting in North Carolina began Oct. 15, but on Ocracoke, it is only held on two days during the early voting period.
Barefoot Wade performs at DAJIO, 7 to 10 p.m.

 

Ocracoke’s Village Thrift shop, across from Community Square, will hold an “everything must go” giveaway from 1 to 3 p.m. Customers must wear masks and the numbers allowed inside will be limited.

Friday, Oct. 23:
Early voting from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Ocracoke Volunteer Fire Department.

MUSIC
30Three, the rock duo of Corey Yeatts and Tim Wilkerson, performs Tuesdays and Thursdays in October, weather permitting, from 7 to 9 pm on the porch of the Community Store in Community Square.

Coyote Music Den: Open for digital streaming music events. On Tuesdays: Marcy & Lou (with digital guests) on Facebook at Coyote – Marcy and Lou.
On Wednesdays: Martin Garrish & Coyote on Facebook at Martin Garrish and Friends.
All concerts are free; tips welcome at www.paypal.me/coyotemusicden or donate/more info at www.coyotemusic.net. A portion of proceeds benefit the Charlotte Nemesia Castro scholarship fund at Ocracoke School.

 

The Ocracoke voting location is at the Ocracoke Volunteer Fire Department on Irvin Garrish Hwy.

Water plant candidates on the November ballot

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The Ocracoke Sanitary District on Water Plant Road. Photo: C. Leinbach

Editor’s note: Oct. 21 is the sixth annual Imagine A Day Without Water as water leaders across the country call for greater investment in our critical water systems, and showcase innovative policies and investments to ensure safe, affordable and sustainable water service for all.

Candidates for the Ocracoke Sanitary District, which provides Ocracoke’s water and is locally known as the “water plant,” will be on the Nov. 3 General Election ballot. Voters may vote for two. Scott Bradley’s name is on the ballot and there is a space for a write-in candidate. Regina O’Neal Boor, who has been on the board for six years, is running as a write-in candidate as are a couple of others.

Below, Bradley offers a statement about the district’s work and Boor’s candidacy:

I was appointed to the Ocracoke Sanitary District (OSD) board of commissioners in June 2003 to replace Cuyler Heath and re-elected by Ocracoke voters in 2004, 2008, 2012 and 2016. I was elected chairman by the board in January 2010 when Bob Touey resigned and moved off-island. I am on the ballot for re-election now in 2020.

Scott Bradley

Sanitary districts (SDs) are government entities with broad statutory powers to provide water, septic and sewage; collect garbage and waste; establish fire, rescue, and ambulance services, and tax within the district to provide these services.  Our SD includes all of Ocracoke Village. While SDs are empowered to provide most services that any local government can provide (except policing), we just provide safe, reliable water.

Our water plant provides two to eight million gallons per month (seasonal fluctuations), or 48 to 50 million gallons per year, to more than 1,200 residential and 185 business customers. Storage capacity is more than a half million gallons.

As all not-for-profit boards, we have a legal covenant with IRS allowing us to pay no taxes on income. In exchange, oversight from a board of community representatives affirms and protects the public’s interest, oversees adherence to federal, state, and IRS laws and regulations, and cannot receive any personal gain.

Our board meets monthly to set policies for the staff of five, establish rules and regulations, and to manage and review finances. A few major activities of the board:

  • Oversaw $2.2 million plant expansion to increase reverse osmosis capacity by 500 impacts in the fall 2010 through a USDA grant & loan. At that time, the water plant was at its full legal capacity, and no new water service was available
  • Our water system opened in June 1977. In recent years we have applied for asset inventory and assessment grants from the NC State Water Infrastructure Authorityto analyze our 40+year-old equipment.  We need a new water tower, other equipment that is aging and to analyze 16 miles of underground water delivery infrastructure; plus, develop a plan for the next 40 years. Unfortunately, with the rating system in the grant process, SDs are rarely approved due to our small service capacities. We have another application pending.
  • Manage annual budget of $900,000 to $1 million. The biggest items are salaries and health insurance benefits, insurance, FHA bond payments, electricity, plant operations.
  • Set rates: we use “full cost pricing” guidelines from UNC School of Government Environmental Finance Center to be financially self-sufficient; cover costs of daily operations (maintenance, repairs, operate system), save for capital improvements; balance this with affordability and promote conservation. Our three-tiers rate structure tries to do this with the challenge of operating for peak demand with seasonal variations. The costs of plant operations are the same, whether in high or low seasonal usage.
  • Our finances and audit are reviewed annually by the Local Government Commission within N.C. Treasurer’s Office. As a board, we review checks and bank statements monthly, and all checks are signed by two board members.

I am happy to continue my service if approved by Ocracoke voters. I believe in contributing to one’s community. And, besides, what else would I do late afternoons on the second Tuesday of each month, after 17 years…?

The other current board members are Flavia Burton, Bill Caswell and Ronnie O’Neal, all elected in 2010 and re-elected in 2014 and 2018.

Regina O’Neal Boor

Regina O’Neal Boor was appointed in December 2014. Her term also expires this year, and she is running as a write-in candidate as her name is not on the ballot. She has been a dedicated, astute member of the board and brings extra experience, knowledge and focus to financial matters and budgets, and all the minutiae involved.

For Ocracoke ballots: To vote for Regina, you will need to write-in “Regina O’Neal Boor” on the write-in line on the ballot and be sure to darken the circle beside her name. See sample ballot below.

Mental health professional Earle Irwin returns to Ocracoke

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Earle Irwin participates in a Zoom meeting here but she is available on Ocracoke through the end of March for one-on-one counseling.

To catch up on Ocracoke news and much more, click here

Mental health professional Earle Irwin has returned to Ocracoke and will be on the island until the end of March.

A retired clinical nurse specialist, Irwin was on Ocracoke for several months earlier this year and also was here last year to help islanders cope with Dorian aftermath and any other issues they may be dealing with.

Her services are free of charge.

The Ocracoke Interfaith Relief & Recovery Team brought Irwin to the island thanks to generous help from the Red Cross via a grant from the Outer Banks Community Foundation.

Irwin is available for islanders to talk with one-on-one. Her contact information is 252-385-2172 or eirwin@oirrt.org.

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