THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, March 3, 1996 TAG: 9602290129
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Medium: 88 lines
I have been wondering for weeks if I was the only Currituck County resident that was upset about the treatment we were receiving from WAVY-TV. This morning I saw a letter from Lynn H. Miller in the Carolina Coast. She expressed exactly my sentiments toward WAVY.
Maybe if we as a community unite, we will be able to convince WAVY that we do not want their weather station. WAVY is using a form of extortion on our county - buy their weather station or lose Channel 10 broadcasting.
We have an outside antenna at our home, and an AB switch, but we no longer watch WAVY. I have found new programs to watch on Channels 3 and 13, and was surprised at how easy it was to live without Channel 10. I think the executives at WAVY need to think about the number of viewers from our area who will develop new viewing habits and perhaps never return to Channel 10 programming.
The residents of Currituck County need to pull together and let WAVY TV know how we feel. It is not the fault of Cablevision that NBC programming is no longer received on our televisions. It is the fault of WAVY management and their greed. As Lynn Miller suggests, let's all write to the FCC and our congressmen. I also suggest that we all write to WAVY, as well as NBC, and let them know our feelings on their unreasonable demands.
Deane E. Brothers
Aydlett Overstated potential
On Feb. 21, I was one of those interested citizens who attended the Dare County Airport Authority meeting and information briefing ``regarding the Dare County Air Service Study.''
In my view it presented a WILDLY OVERSTATED estimate of air passenger potential. It was stated that the existing airport is adequate to handle the type and size aircraft that would be used if the service was instituted. Of course, and correctly so, any airline commuter service will make their own market surveys. And perhaps they will discover that most of the people that would fly into Dare County, would
then have to drive to Duck, Corolla, and the northern beach area. Why would they desire to drive approximately an hour to the Dare County airport when they are halfway to Norfolk International Airport already?
My concern is that the inflated estimate of projected passengers will be used as a springboard to launch an unnecessary and unjustified expansion of the airport. If a commuter service is not instituted, the reason given by the ``expansion motivated'' people, will be that the airport is too small. This physical expansion has been and continues to be a primary goal of most members of the Airport Authority, some County Commissioners and certain business interests. It does not seem to be the desire of the citizens of Dare County.
Unfortunately, North Carolina does not have provision for a citizens' referendum on issues like this. It is impossible for the citizens to make their views known in a way that settles an issue once and for all. Citizens of Dare County, express your opinions on this issue by writing to Tim Gaylord, Dare County Airport Manager, P.O. Box 429, Manteo, N.C. 27954.
Charles Elms
Manteo Poor turnout regrettable
The lack of attendance at last Saturday's League of Women Voters' timely and important food tax repeal meeting is, at best, regrettable.
We thank the media, both newspapers and radio, for doing what they could to get the word out in advance of the event; we thank, too, those businesses and others who permitted us to place posters where the citizenry would be sure to see them.
We especially thank William T. Culpepper III, our representative in the state House, for his attendance, comments, answers to our questions, and words of encouragement for the project. We hope after having duly noted the size of the audience, he didn't go away with the impression that Dare locals just don't care whether or not they have to continue paying a state tax on food ad infinitum.
Most of all, we thank Mary Klenz and Betty Seizinger, League of Women Voters volunteer leaders in the statewide grassroots movement, for taking the time to drive the 430 miles each way from the Charlotte area to the Outer Banks and back. They arrived in thick fog on Friday night and had to leave for the return trip immediately after the meeting Saturday afternoon without the opportunity to relax and enjoy our area even briefly.
Again, for those who weren't there for whatever reason to hear the messege and learn what they can do to hasten repeal of the tax, it is indeed, regrettable!
Pat Storey
League of Women Voters of Dare County by CNB