THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, November 3, 1996 TAG: 9611010228
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 20 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letters
LENGTH: 156 lines
``I who was once nobody, I am now, suddenly, somebody!''
Those words from Old Tom in the Lost Colony drama by Paul Green were assuredly fictional, but this egoistic attitude of some of our recent ``colonists'' is painfully factual. While it is not my intention to be overly disparaging, it is difficult not to be suspicious of some of their motives.
A case in point is in the recently distributed voter's guide published by the Dare County Republican Party. An open letter signed by the Republican Party Chairman was a vehemently hostile character assassination of County Commissioner R.V. ``Bobby'' Owens Jr.
Who is this Republican Party chairman? I don't know. I understand that he has only been here a very short while. Is he an expert on Dare County politics? Has he made some contribution to the general welfare of Dare County of which I am unaware? Who is this person? There is a definite credibility gap here.
I have known Bobby Owens since my earliest childhood. We grew up together on the Manteo waterfront. We were college roommates. We have shared a camaraderie that has endured for more than half a century.
What I am saying is that I know exactly who Bobby Owens is. I know where he comes from, how he was raised, what his motives are, and what he aspires to be and to do. I have witnessed firsthand his maturity in the political arena. I will stake my own reputation on his dignity, character and honorable intentions. The one absolute that is documented and unchallengeable is Bobby's love and concern for the welfare of Dare County and its people. This includes the ``Old Toms'' and other new ``colonists.''
Bobby's unselfish willingness to serve should not be daunted by ``mean-spirited'' individuals whose agenda and motives are suspect.
M.L. ``Punk'' Daniels
Manteo Sick of character attacks
I am extremely proud to be a part of the Democratic Party that truly cares about all the people.
I am sick of the character attacks being made on our local Democratic leaders, our President, and our state Democratic leaders. There is nothing wrong with constructive criticism, but when it is a deliberate attempt to degrade and demoralize another's character, that is WRONG. It is high time we put an end to all the negative criticism and try to be more positive and constructive.
We have every right to be proud and appreciative of the many great accomplishments we are enjoying that have been brought about by the tireless efforts of our Democratic County Commissioners.
Great leaders in the Democratic Party have offered people hope. Hope for a better future. Hope for a better job. Hope for better health care for themselves and their families. Hope for community life in safer neighborhoods with clean air, and pure water, parks and playgrounds and good day care for their children.
Gwen Heath
Nags Head Panel ignored citizens
After two years of study (What study? And why was it not published?) and a summer of public hearings, the Moratorium Steering Committee proposed a licensing plan to revamp the state's fishing industry. In their unmitigated arrogance, the committee defied any public input.
In every public hearing, the licensing of salt water recreational fishermen was rejected by those who attended the meetings and yet the Steering Committee in their wisdom proposed otherwise. This outrageous behavior (which borders on tyranny) only enforces the idea that government is only looking out for themselves and the public be damned. If we, the public, the citizens, allow it to happen, then it surely will happen. We must resist this proposal with the same vigor that our forefathers did when faced with relentless tyranny by a ruler who did not listen to them.
We have a responsibility to ourselves and to the state to voice our objections to this proposal by writing our congressman and anybody that will wield influence to defeat this recommendation. We can reverse this ``done deal'' if we who agree will take the time to show our displeasure to the people that represent us.
Jack Hebenstreit
Buxton School bond vote
Among many important decisions the voters of Dare County are faced with on the Nov. 5 ballot is the vote on the Public School Bond Referendum. If this bond issue passes it will mean almost $5.9 million toward public school facilities. We will need to match this money in approximately a 3:1 ratio of local money based on a rather complex formula developed by the N.C. General Assembly. The formula is based on student population, low wealth and high growth. Dare County's allotment is largely due to our high growth and we do not expect that will change. The state school bonds will not increase taxes. Bonds will be paid for from existing state revenue sources.
The Dare County Board of Education knows that one of our biggest challenges is to provide adequate and necessary classroom space for the consistent and continued growth of our student population in all parts of our county.
We are now faced with working with our staff to come up with short-term solutions to the three elementary schools that are all at or nearing capacity, a growing school population south of Oregon Inlet and Manteo High School that is 250 students over capacity.
More modular classrooms each year are obviously not the answer. Next year we will be faced with a lack of laboratory space for our science students, inadequate cafeteria space, tight scheduling of our gymnasium to hold basic physical education classes, more doubling up of lockers - and the list goes on. Fortunately, dedicated teachers and hard working students continue to work hard and successfully, and we do not expect that to change.
The good news is the Board of Education has a plan.
We are finishing up work with Boney Architects who will be making a preliminary presentation of ``Facility Study and Proposed Master Plan'' for Dare County Schools to the Board of Education at our November meeting.
This group has worked for 10 months for a comprehensive plan that we can present to the Board of Commissioners, the community, the parents, staff and students that will address long-range solutions to school population growth.
The initial plan was presented to the board at our July retreat and detailed very well in both local newspapers.
There are still a few revisions being made to a plan that will propose a new early elementary school in Manteo, major renovations at Manteo Middle School, renovations and upgrade at Manteo High School, a major renovation at Cape Hatteras School, classroom additions at First Flight Elementary and First Flight Middle Schools and a new high school to be located on the Baum Tract to the north of First Flight Elementary.
Our plan will go on the road to all parts of Dare County Dec. 3-5 and we urge everyone to come out and hear the plan, make comments and suggestions and interact with the architects on the design process.
I can assure you we will take your input to heart when we put the plan into a Long Range Facility Package, which will be the basis of a bond referendum we plan to take to the public in the spring of 1997.
The Board of Education has had a number of studies done in the past few years which all support the need for expansion and upgrades to current facilities.
We have done our homework, we have hired - after an extensive review process - a highly competent consultant in Boney Architects to help put our plan together and we are willing and able to take on the challenge of educating our constituency as to the long-range school facility needs in Dare County.
We look forward to the support of a community whose tradition from the Board of Commissioners to the business sector to the public as a whole has been to work hard and successfully to make Dare County school children a top priority.
Donna Buxton
Vice Chairperson
Dare County Board of Education Getting names right
It has come to my attention that some Currituck County residents have been informed there will no longer be a school named in honor of Joseph Palmer Knapp once the new high school is completed. This information is incorrect.
During its regular monthly meeting on Nov. 13, 1995, the Currituck County Board of Education approved the following school names:
The new high school now under construction will be named Currituck County High School.
The old high school building will serve students in grades 7 and 8. It will be named Currituck County Middle School.
The Knapp school at Currituck will serve students in grades K-6 and will be named the J.P. Knapp School.
I hope this clarifies any confusion related to school names.
William R. Capps
Superintendent of Schools
Currituck by CNB