Dolphins fall to East Carteret in second round state tournament game

February 24, 2018

Liam Caswell drives in the Feb. 20 Atlantic 6 conference-winning game against the Union Spartans. Photo by Casey Robertson

By Richard Taylor

The energy, tenacity and competitive drive that propelled Ocracoke School’s most successful varsity boys’ basketball team in the school’s history flamed out Thursday night in Beaufort, as the ninth-seeded Dolphins came up short against eighth-seeded East Carteret, 57-44.

Having advanced for the first-time ever in the second round of the state 1A East playoffs, the Dolphins just could not find their groove in the low-scoring game against the Mariners.

While the Dolphins’ aggressive defense did produce many steals throughout the game, the team had trouble converting turnovers into points all night long.

The team trailed 17-14 after the first period, 30-20 at the half, and was 40-25 at the end of three periods.

Even with 1:05 remaining, the Dolphins were only behind by eight points, 52-44, a margin within reach. But despite their valiant effort, the team just could not catch up.

Team captain Liam Caswell fouled out with 30 seconds left in the contest and received a standing ovation from the crowd, which included good representation from Ocracoke.

Coach Dave Allewalt then took Darvin Contreras out of the game with 20 seconds left so that he also could also receive a standing ovation.

All nine Dolphins played in this historic and final game of the season.

Though the Dolphins outscored the Mariners 19-17 in final period, it wasn’t enough to overcome their deficit. Complete game stats were unavailable.

“You can’t say enough about what a historical season it’s been for our guys,” Burleson said at the end of his play-by-play on WOVV 90.1.

He noted that a team sometimes takes on the personality of its best player, which in this case was Caswell, who ends his high school basketball career as the conference player of the year.

“They were so confident and so much fun to watch this year,” Burleson said with 20 seconds left in the game. “I see a lot of our middle school guys here. So, they can see what it takes to play on the varsity level. This program’s going to retool with the JV.”

For the first time in Dolphins history, this team won a state tournament game Feb. 20 in a first-round playoff game at home against the Union High Spartans of Rose Hill.

“They are well-coached,” said islander Ken DeBarth about the Dolphins after that victory. “They know the fundamentals and execute them well.” That observation matches the fact that Allewalt was named the Atlantic 6 coach of the year.

Of the nine members of this cohesive team, they will lose only seniors Caswell and Contreras. Caswell averaged 23 points and nine rebounds per game. Contreras, the point guard, is a super ball handler and defensive player who had a team high of more than 70 steals this season.

Burleson said that the seven returning members plus upcoming players from this year’s JV team will make for a promising season next year.

“We see a lot of our Dolphin fans coming onto the floor,” he said as the final buzzer sounded and the crowd dispersed. “There’s lots of handshakes all around. East Carteret’s coming over to shake hands with us. This is really a cool atmosphere, to be honest with you, but it just didn’t turn out in our favor.”

Numerous former islanders and island aficionados from the Morehead City and Beaufort areas showed up for the game.

Due to the distance from Ocracoke, the team and some parents spent the night in Morehead City and returned to the village Friday afternoon on the Cedar Island ferry.

Senior guard Darvin Contreras in the victorious Feb. 20 game in the Ocracoke School gym, Ocracoke, NC. Photo by Casey Robertson — Senior guard Darvin Contreras in the victorious Feb. 20 game in the Ocracoke School gym. Photo by Casey Robertson

The conference honor plaques awarded Feb. 20 to Allewalt and Caswell.

Janey Jacoby’s recent testimony on offshore drilling

February 23, 2018

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Ocracoke Islander Janey Jacoby. Photo by Peter Vankevich

Editor’s note: Michael Regan, secretary of the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality, visited Hyde County on Tuesday and listened to comments from Ocracoke regarding off-shore oil drilling and seismic testing.

Regan was in the Hyde County Government Center in Swan Quarter and communications between the mainland and the island was via videoconferencing. He said his purpose was to hear the views of those living along the coast and collect information that will help them in opposing this initiative made by the U.S. Department of Interior.

Several people made public comments, and the Observer will report more on this meeting.

Below is the statement of the first speaker, Janey Jacoby:

Thank you for being available to hear comments concerning the possibility of allowing seismic testing and drilling along the coast of North Carolina.

I am a resident of Ocracoke. I am here to tell you that as life goes on we encounter changes – some are good, and some are not so good.

Along our coast we are now facing a very critical time. As the years have passed, the villages along the Outer Banks have grown from small, quiet places to areas that have attracted thousands of visitors that yearn for spending time in a more pristine environment than where they live most of their life.

People come for the beautiful beaches – some which have been listed as the most beautiful in the country. They may come as avid birdwatchers, for we are in the Atlantic flyway. Even the birds know it is a special area, for they come in flocks year after year. Many people come to fish, for along our coast is some of the best fishing available. Many come as hunters to enjoy the thrill of seeking out the fall bird migration and to hunt bears along the mainland area.

A lot of people choose coastal North Carolina, for it is not only beautiful, but it moves at a slower pace than where many of these people live and work.

No matter why people choose our area, it is up to us as individuals and the state of North Carolina to do everything possible to retain this precious environment along our coast. We luckily have the Cape Hatteras National Seashore that works hard to see that the environment is protected.

We all need to join them in being good stewards of this land, for it can take only one poorly made decision to change the lives of not only people who live here and visit, but also the fisheries, bird life, the turtles that nest along our beaches, and the many migrating whales and dolphins that move up and down our coastline.

I encourage you to step forward and insist that North Carolina be taken out of the areas planned for seismic testing and drilling. Destruction of an area that is so environmentally important to people and wildlife in exchange for the possibility of an oil spill that could change the life of so many would be unconscionable on your part.

Hyde student arrested for threats of ‘mass violence’ against Mattamuskeet school

February 22, 2018

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Updated: Feb. 23, 1018, 11:14 a.m.

By Connie Leinbach

A 19-year-old Matamuskeet Early College High School student is free after posting bond on one felony charge of making a “false report of mass violence on educational property.”

Malik (pronounced mah-leek) Shaw of Engelhard was arrested Wednesday night and was released after posting bond on $15,000 bail, said Hyde County Clerk of Courts Brandy Pugh. Thursday

Pugh said a court date with the district court in the Hyde County Government Center in Swan Quarter is set for Feb. 28.

Dr. Randolph Latimore said on Thursday that Shaw will be restricted from campus until this matter is resolved.

“We took it seriously,” Latimore said. “We took it as a threat and acted immediately.” He was happy that the student who saw the threatening Snapchat notified school officials.

The charge against Shaw was brought after a joint investigation by the State Bureau of Investigation and the Hyde Sheriff following reports on Monday that a student had Snapchat post threatening the school, according to a Hyde County Sheriff Department Facebook post.

“This student took a screen shot of the post and reported it to school staff, who then reported it to us,” a Hyde County Sheriff’s Department Facebook post says. “Upon arriving at the school, we met with school staff and the student who reported the post. The post was a picture of a white male with his face half covered, holding a firearm. Across the screen was written ‘Mattamuskeet Wed. 1:30,’ along with another school that is not in our county.”

Latimore said Mattamuskeet parents were immediately notified and continued to be updated.

“We’re happy it turned out to be a false alarm, but anything that kids see that would cause them to be suspicious should be reported to school officials immediately,” Latimore said.

Deputies have been stationed at the school since Tuesday will continue to have deputies on school campus for the next couple days, he said. Officers from the sheriff’s office, North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, the Marine Fisheries Commission and the state highway patrol have helped to secure the campus, Latimore said, investigators from the State Bureau of Investigation also were at the school.

Attendance from pre-K to grade 13 was down both on Wednesday and Thursday, he said.

Every entry door on the entire campus is locked, and no one can get in without certain permissions, Sgt. Kevin Miller of the Hyde County Sheriff’s Department, said.

Similar measures are in force at Ocracoke.

Principal Leslie Cole said last week that Ocracoke School doors are always locked and that the school conducts “active shooter” drills twice a year.

Latimore also said all schools have security cameras inside and outside the buildings.

Shaw’s arrest brings to five the number of teens arrested for threatening “mass violence” in eastern N.C. schools this week.

The Daily Advance of Elizabeth City reported Tuesday that Camden County High School student Isaac Marc Chapman, 17, was jailed Monday, charged with misdemeanor communicating threats and disorderly conduct. Chapman allegedly threatened to shoot up his school following a class discussion about last week’s school shooting at the Parkland High School in Florida high school in which 17 students and staff were killed.

WITN reported Wednesday that Martin County sheriff’s deputies arrested an unidentified juvenile in the early morning hours of Feb. 21. The sheriff’s office said that they were made aware of a social media threat made against Martin County Schools at 9 p.m. Tuesday.

WNCT reported Thursday that an Araphoe Charter School student in Pamlico County was arrested by the Pamlico County Sheriff’s Office Wednesday evening after the student allegedly threatened to commit an act of violence at the school.

The Perquimans Weekly of Hertford reported Thursday that a 15-year-old Perquimans County middle school student will likely face charges after allegedly threatening gun violence at the school Thursday morning.

Dolphin boys advance in state playoffs; Lady Dolphins fall

February 22, 2018

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Colby Austin launches a three-pointer. Photo by Casey Robertson

By Richard Taylor

The boys’ varsity Dolphins basketball team advanced to the next round of the state 1A East playoffs Tuesday evening, defeating Union High of Rose Hill 68-57, before a large, enthusiastic home crowd in the “Tank.” For round two, the Dolphins will take on the East Carteret Mariners in Beaufort at 7:30 this evening (Feb. 22).

On the road, the Lady Dolphins ended their season, falling to Riverside High, 73-5.

The Dolphins seemed to be swimming against the tide early on, falling behind the Spartans 9-0 in the opening minutes, before settling down for a 31-8 run to lead Union 31-17 at the half.

Just before the game, athletic director Charles Temple unveiled a court-side banner proclaiming the Dolphins as 2018 Atlantic 6 conference champions which unfortunately, crashed to the floor. Nevertheless, Temple beamed with pride as he announced to a cheering crowd that Dave Allewalt was voted conference coach of the year and Liam Caswell was named conference player of the year.

Dave Allewalt Atlantic 6 Conference coach of the year. Photo by Peter Vankevich

Caswell led all scorers with 25 points in his final home game, followed by Colby Austin with 18 — all from 3-point land. Kalai Samick scored 11. Caswell leads the Dolphins with an average of 23.2 points and 8.6 rebounds per game.

The Spartans left Duplin County at 7:30 a.m. Tuesday and drove the “long way around” to N.C. 12 and took the 3 p.m. Hatteras ferry so players could see the Outer Banks by daylight. About 10 families traveled with the team. The Spartan players and their coaches said they were excited about coming to Ocracoke, many characterizing the trip like a mini-vacation.

The ninth-seeded Dolphins, now 21-3, next battle eight-seeded East Carteret Mariners of Beaufort at 7:30 Thursday evening. East Carteret, 14-10 for the season (11-3 in conference), earned a first-round bye.

East Carteret lost to the Heide Trask Titans of Pender County, 48-42, in the Coastal 8 Conference tournament, Feb 16. Heide Trask is a 2A school, while East Carteret is 1A in the mixed Coastal 8 conference.

“We’ve been in the playoffs for the last four years,” Allewalt said after the game, “but this is the first time we’ve ever won a game. I think being at home helped us.” The school held a 2:30 p.m. pep rally before the game to cheer on the team.

Allewalt predicts a tough game against East Carteret. The Mariners top scorers are point guard Maceo Donald and guard Bennie Brooks with 15 and12 points per game respectively. The team is averaging 56 points per game to 68 by Ocracoke.

The winner of this game will play the winner of the Rocky Mount Preparatory Jaguars vs. Plymouth Vikings. Rocky Mount is top-seed and undefeated (22-0).

Adam Burleson will call the play-by-play for the game on WOVV 90.1 FM and wovv.org.

“This is one of the greatest games in Dolphin history,” WOVV Board Chair Tommy Hutcherson texted. “Blast it out on social media and the airwaves. Fear The Pod.”

Conversely, it was a long bus and ferry ride home for the Lady Dolphins, who were outmatched by powerhouse Riverside High (21-6) of Williamston, 73-5, in the first round of the women’s 1A playoffs at Williamston.

Riverside’s defense held the Lady Dolphins scoreless in the first half and allowed only one point in the third period. The Dolphins scored four points in the final period. Stats for the game were not available.

Keith Gaskins and Jason Wells cheer on the Dolphins Tuesday from the bleachers. Photo by Peter Vankevich

The Ocracoke crowd ‘leans’ along with the Ocracoke School Cheer Club during Tuesday’s game. Photo: C. Leinbach

Coyote Music Den cancels events in February

February 21, 2018

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Coyote Music Den in Community Square, Ocracoke, N.C.. Photo by Peter Vankevich — Coyote Music Den in Community Square. Photo by Peter Vankevich

The Coyote Music Den has canceled all events for the rest of February due to the construction in the Community Square parking lot.

Marcy Brenner, one half of Coyote with Lou Castro, said Monday that Castro may conduct music lessons if there’s a clear, safe path to the Den.

“But at night, there’s no way,” she said. “So, we canceled Tuesday Jams, Wednesday Word Play and the Open Mic for February.”

Work began last week in Community Square to create a waste water system for the square’s shops and is expected to continue for several more weeks, said Scott Bradley, president of the Ocracoke Community Foundation, which owns the square.

The construction is part of the renovation plan for the entire square.

Late this year, work will begin to refurbish the Willis Fish House and dock, which were seriously compromised in 2016 by Tropical Storm Hermine and Hurricane Matthew.

This building and dock is home to the Ocracoke Working Watermen’s Exhibit.

For more information, visit www.ocracokefoundation.org.

Vermont actors to perform original piece Thursday at Ocracoke Library

February 21, 2018

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Vermonters Diana Bigelow and Jim Stapleton are back on the island and will present a staged reading of “My Dearest Friend,” at 7 p.m. Thursday (Feb. 22) in the Ocracoke Library. This will be their third performance on the island.

This original piece by Stapleton is based on the letters of Abigail and John Adams.

Adams, the second president, and his wife Abigail spent much of their married life apart. John was often away on government business. The letters between them, most of which have been preserved, are a testament to their affection, insights, and originality, as well as a window into some surprising views of Abigail during the early years of the nation.

This year’s presentation will be somewhat different from prior years’ in that this will be the premier performance. In theatrical parlance it is also a “workshop” performance. This means the author hopes the audience will share what worked for them, and what didn’t, in a post-performance discussion with an eye toward fine tuning the script.

The program is free to the public and will last about an hour. The presentation would probably not be interesting to children under 12.

The Ocracoke Community Library is on Back Road, across from the Ocracke Coffee shop

N.C. environmental secretary to hear public comments on offshore drilling tomorrow

February 19, 2018

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Michael Regan, N.C. secretary of the Department of Environmental Quality

Michael Regan, secretary of the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality, will be in the Hyde County Government Center Tuesday (Feb. 20) from 2 to 4 p.m. to receive public comments on off-shore oil drilling and seismic testing.

This session will be broadcast via teleconferencing in the Ocracoke Community Center where each speaker will have three minutes to comment, either on Ocracoke or the mainland.

However, those who can’t attend on Tuesday will have a second chance to make their views heard.

Kris Noble, assistant Hyde County manager, said public comments also will be heard at 5 p.m. Monday, March 5, at a public hearing before the regularly scheduled Hyde County Board of Commissioners meeting, which begins at 6 p.m.

“That way, we can have all of our comments and send them to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management,” Noble said.

All public comments on offshore drilling are due to the BOEM by March 9, Noble said.

For more information, contact Tom Pahl, Ocracoke’s county commissioner, at 860-933-0259.

Dolphins teams advance to state basketball playoffs; pairings announced

February 19, 2018

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By Richard Taylor

Following the Dolphin boys’ hard-fought 68-53 Atlantic 6 conference championship victory over Columbia Friday night, Ocracoke has earned the ninth seed in the North Carolina High School Athletic Association East rankings, released Saturday in Chapel Hill.

That means the Dolphins do not get a first-round bye in the state playoffs which goes to the top eight seeds, and will tip off at 6 p.m. Tuesday (Feb. 20) in the “Tank” (at home) against the 24th-seeded Union High School (10-13) from Rose Hill in Duplin County. The Union Spartans are led by senior guard Derrick Smith who is averaging 18 points per game.

The game will be broadcast on WOVV, 90.1 FM and wovv.org. Festivities will kick off with a school pep rally at 2 p.m. Pizza, drinks and more will be available outside the gym starting at 5:30 p.m.

The 24th-seeded Lady Dolphins who lost to Cape Hatters in the second round of the conference tournament, will play ninth-seeded Riverside High of Williamston, at 6 p.m. Tuesday in Williamston. Higher ranked teams receive home court advantage.

The Dolphin boys remain undefeated in conference play (12-0) and are 20-3 overall after beating the Wildcats Friday for the third time this season. To read that story, click here.

Should the Dolphin varsity boys win Tuesday night, they will advance to the East’s second round, at East Carteret, Thursday.

Undefeated Atlantic 6 girls’ champion Cape Hatteras (23-0) beat Creswell 53-28 Friday, gaining fourth-seed honors in the East. Thus, the Hurricanes received a bye for Tuesday’s first round of playoffs.

The 16th-seed Columbia Tigers (10-16), whom the Dolphins beat Friday night, will match up against the 17th-seeded Plymouth Vikings (10-6), Tuesday at 6 p.m. in Columbia.

Boy’s powerhouse Rocky Mount Preparatory, in the Tar Roanoke 1A Conference, with a perfect 22-0 record, earned top-seed honors in the East 1A rankings. West Columbus, 21-6, gained 2nd seed in the East.

Dolphin center Kalai Samick, no. 12, tips off. Photo by Casey Robertson

The Pod rules as Dolphins clinch conference championship over Columbia

February 18, 2018

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Dolphins Coach David Allewalt hoists the conference championship trophy after the victorious team arrived back home early Saturday morning. Photo by Richard Taylor

By Richard Taylor

Using characteristic fast break play, tenacious defense and clutch free-throws from Colby and Perry Austin, the Ocracoke Dolphins varsity boys’ basketball team overcame Columbia’s home-court advantage Friday night and brought the Atlantic 6 1A Conference Championship trophy back to the island.

The Dolphins defeated the Columbia Wildcats 68-53 in a hard-fought game and remain undefeated in conference play (12-0) and 20-3 overall after beating Columbia for the third time this season.

Although earlier tournament games were played in Creswell, officials moved both varsity girls and boys championship finals to Columbia Friday morning due to HVAC system issues in the host school’s gym.

While the championship game was played in Columbia, the Wildcats were considered the visiting team because of their second-place conference ranking. Thus, the top-ranked Dolphins wore home-team white.

The North Carolina High School Athletic Association has yet to announce state pairings and sites, but the Dolphins are likely to earn a first-round bye for playoff games, which begins next week. Several sources indicate first-round games for the Dolphins’ division may be played at home in “the Tank.”

Led by senior team captain Liam Caswell who scored 28 points, the Dolphins never trailed in Friday night’s game, although Columbia outscored Ocracoke 16-10 in the final period and at one point came within 9 points. Several Dolphins were charged with offensive fouls as they drove toward the basket in the second half.

It was a strong team effort with eight players making scores, Kalai Samick hit double figures with 10 points. The Dolphins made six 3-pointers out of 12 attempts, including two by Caswell and Mason Fuller. Strong foul shooting with the Dolphins making 20 out of 24 attempts contributed to the victory. Defensively, Perry Austin snagged 13 of the team’s 42 rebounds.

The Dolphins had been concerned about Columbia’s top scorers, Nasseim Basnight and Nick Norman who averages 20 points per game, but were able to contain them. Wildcat stats were not available. Basnight got into foul trouble in the third period, but mostly remained in the game. Both Wildcats missed desperation 3-pointers as Columbia tried in vain to catch up as time ran down in the final period. Caswell and Darvin Contreras also played “keep-away” to burn time off the clock at the end.

Columbia falls to 13-9 overall and 7-5 in the conference.

In the girls division, the Cape Hatteras Hurricanes remained undefeated, beating the Creswell Tigers 53-28 in the championship game that preceded the boys game.

Ocracoke Athletic Director Charles Temple called last night’s championship game live on WOVV, 90.1 FM and wovv.org . An exuberant Temple could hardly contain his excitement at game’s end.

“It was a great year for a great bunch of guys,” he said. “We knew it wasn’t going to be easy. They’ve been a treat to watch all season.”

Besides broadcasting the game, Temple did double-duty Friday. He also drove the team bus. As he pulled into the school’s front parking lot just before 1:30 a.m., the sudden “beep, beep, beep” of the bus’s back-up sounder broke the eerie early morning silence.

Minutes before, a longer-than-usual line of cars made the 13.5-mile trek from the South Dock ferry terminal to the village, as some players’ parents also had trekked to Columbia.

With little fanfare, sleepy players — clutching gym bags and backpacks — stepped off the white Hyde County activity bus and headed for parents’ cars.

Finally, Allewalt exited the bus, cracking a grin as he hoisted the handsome conference championship trophy over his right shoulder.

It was a good night in Dolphin land.

Work begins on Community Square upgrades

February 18, 2018

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Construction began this week on a new waster water system for the shops in Community Square, Ocracoke, N.C. Though the project is expected to take several weeks, shops will be accessible when they are open. Photo: C. Leinbach — Construction began this week on a new waster water system for the shops in Community Square. Though the project is expected to take several weeks, shops will be accessible when they are open. Photo: C. Leinbach

By Connie Leinbach

Work has begun in Community Square to create a new waste water system for the shops. Construction began Wednesday and is expected to continue for several more weeks, said Scott Bradley, president of the Ocracoke Foundation, which owns the square.

The huge concrete containers being installed are for the waste water system serving the Community Store, Trixie’s Fineries and the Fudge & Ice Cream Shop and Kitty Hawk Kites, he said.

“This (new system) will allow the existing toilets to empty into updated septic, but there will not be enough capacity for public use beyond the current limited use by employees,” Bradley said.

Porta-potties are the only restrooms available in Community Square.

A large, permanent porta-potty is located alongside the Community Store, and Bradley said two other are installed in the area between Trixie’s Fineries and The Fudge & Ice Cream Shop temporarily in the summer months.

After the waste water system is installed, the parking lot will be paved with pervious concrete pavers–a costlier, environmentally significant option which absorbs rain water instead of draining into Silver Lake, improving the harbor’s water quality.

However, when completed, the new lot will lose four to six parking spots.

A view of the Community Square project as seen from The Fudge & Ice Cream Shop. Photo: C. Leinbach

While the work is being done, the stores that are open are still accessible though those visiting the shops must park their vehicles elsewhere.

The construction is part of the renovation plan for the entire square. Both of these projects are partially funded by the Golden LEAF Foundation, which also granted the foundation $175,820 to save, restore and improve the Willis Fish House and Dock, which was seriously compromised in 2016 by Tropical Storm Hermine and Hurricane Matthew.

This building and dock is home to the Ocracoke Working Watermen’s Exhibit, and refurbishing is planned to begin late in the 2018 off-season.

The foundation purchased Community Square in November 2013 with two loans totaling $1.6 million, half from The Conservation Fund (TCF) and half from a private donor.

“TCF was recently repaid, thanks to generous donations, large and small, from many of you, and a partnership loan from TowneBank,” Bradley said. “We will continue raising funds to secure debt free ownership over the next two years. This will enable us to direct rental income into a Community Fund to benefit island needs, and to preserve the five structures on the National Register Historic of Places and two docks.”

To assist the Foundation in securing this iconic area of Ocracoke Village, donations may be sent to The Ocracoke Foundation, P.O. Box 1689 Ocracoke, NC 27960-1689.

Contact information is as follows: ocracokefoundation@gmail.com, and the website is ocracokefoundation.org.

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