THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, May 26, 1996 TAG: 9605230221
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 39 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: 136 lines
I want to applaud the citizens of Dare County in our recent primary election for making a stand against Joe Hassell. I really got tired of all the ``Jeff Foxworthy''-type campaign ads that were seen in both local newspapers.
I find it very difficult to understand his point of view in referring to the pre-Christmas drug raid as being another Waco. In an attempt to make our county a safer and cleaner place, I have to respect those people involved in getting this investigation organized. How many of you have seen young and old hanging out on the streets exchanging something in the middle of the day? I have, and I don't like it at all. Our legal system is failing to keep these drug dealers off the streets, not our commissioners.
What kind of slogan is ``double their trouble''? Doesn't that explain what Joe and Shirley's motivation is, and Shirley's mission that she states that she has. Well, what is your mission other than to cause trouble? I was under the impression during your campaign that you were going to make some positive changes in the county's failing system. I have heard some very good ideas begin with you, but they always turn into attacks on Chairman Owens or Terry Wheeler.
Have you presented an idea in a positive mode? I believe our citizens are tired of your negativism and would like to see some positive results. What have you accomplished in your year and a half on the board, other than to ask for Terry Wheeler's resignation on every occasion? Being a Democrat, I would expect you to attend your party's meetings and work in a team effort to bring the best to our county. Your actions or lack of actions leads me to believe you are not willing to work in a team environment. You are only working for your own agenda.
This current board has worked hard for a better quality of life. How many of you would deny Rodanthe, Waves and Salvo clean drinking water, or deny our children recreation parks to spend their spare time or deny our fishermen a way in and out of the inlet to make a living? These are just a few projects that this board has accomplished or is still working toward.
What are your quality of life issues, Mrs. Hassell? Your recent attack on Chairman Owens for turning in travel expenses for attending a funeral for the father of Doug Langford was very heartless. Go back and review the records and see how many times Chairman Owens has turned in travel expenses for work he does for the county - almost never. Isn't he entitled for reimbursement just as often as you?
Mrs. Hassell, wake up and smell the roses. Maybe it's you who should resign.
Donald Reid
Manteo Keep Trip Ticket Program
The North Carolina Fisheries Association is a strong supporter of the Division of Marine Fisheries' Trip Ticket Program, which is based on information gained through the endorsement to sell licenses.
We feel it is extremely unfair to question the validity of the program when it has proven to be the best method for collecting much needed data. Even with all the ``bugs'' that still need to be worked out, it is still producing results that, until now, the state has never had the capability to deliver.
There is not a program in ANY department or office, not only in state government, but in any office, where mistakes cannot be found. However, the willingness of the program's employees to not only admit mistakes publicly, but to take positive steps to correct them, often is missing in other surroundings. If there are other problems, then the staff should be given the support it needs to correct them.
The hard work and dedication of the Trip Ticket Program's employees should be applauded instead of undermined.
Sandy Semans
Communications Director
North Carolina Fisheries Association Inc.
New Bern A successful blood drive
On May 15, our community once again experienced the meaning of community spirit when 135 people came to give blood at the American Red Cross Bloodmobile. The Outer Banks Presbyterian Church sponsored the drive.
The First Flight Lions Club, as has been its custom for the past 15 years, assisted with the drive by providing manpower and canteen money. With chowder, soup, salad, pizza, chicken, sandwiches, TCBY and homebaked cookies, donors and volunteers were feted as a way to say thank you.
I continue to be grateful for all of the assistance the community gives to the American Red Cross Bloodmobile in publicity, donations and staffing. The next Bloodmobile comes to Dare County in August, stopping in Manteo Aug. 7, and Kitty Hawk Aug. 8.
In a time when the meaning of community is strained, it is gratifying to see so many people working together to help others whose names and needs they do not know.
Spottswood Graves
Chairman
Dare County Chapter of the
American Red Cross No commercial fishing?
Imagine if there were no commercial fishermen. Imagine how many fish there would be. Imagine how much more tackle and how many more boats we would sell. This is the propaganda base, the mindset, and the intentions of the driving forces behind the Coastal Conservation Association and its sibling organizations. Greed overrides science as the principal managing tool of our fisheries resources. This constitutes a violation of the Magnuson Act. To date, the entire Highly Migratory Species of the National Marine Fisheries Service is stagnated and dysfunctional. Why? Because a few of the people with the above mentioned mindset have, through politics, been placed into a management position and are this very day preparing to decimate the commercial fishing industry in the U.S. It may very well be, in the future, that there are no fisheries resources to manage because of the lack of science. Imagine that!
A year has passed since the Dare County Board of Commissioners passed a resolution to show some favorable interest toward the local commercial fishing industry. They were asked to use their influence with the Tourist Bureau, the Restaurant Association, the Chamber of Commerce, news media and all the other available means to show support for the fresh local seafood industry. After all, the tourists do come here expecting to eat fresh locally caught seafood. Have any of these resolutions materialized? No. Nothing.
A few short months ago, during an emergency meeting between fishermen and the Dare County Board of Commissioners, the chairman stated that he had no intentions of getting in the dispute between the recreational and commercial fishermen. The truth of the matter is that there are enough fish for both user groups, and the dispute is unwarranted. The CCA, fueled by greed and contrary to recent claims, is not willing to utilize factual science while the commercial industry advocates the utilization of factual science as its principal management tool. To date, the CON-servation achievements of the CCA are zero except for that of restricting or eradicating commercial fishing. What about the non-fishing consumers of seafood, where do they stand? They stand to lose, of course, and restaurants will sell imports and poorly kept recreationally caught fish.
Because of a lack of grassroots political support, not only locally but nationally, evil is slated to very soon prevail. Only the non-fishing consumers of seafood, the good people that know right from wrong, and some genuine statesmen can save the industry. They must be educated. Also, as a result of the Dare County Commissioners' lack of interest or inability to adjust their way of thinking, I strongly suggest that the local commercial fishermen adjust their way of thinking come voting day.
A statesman will not defy science; a politician will.
Browny Douglas
Roanoke Island
Wanchese by CNB