Year: 2023

Current TV, in partnership with Dare County, has released a new video as part of its Destination Dare series that reminds residents and visitors of the fireworks rules and regulations that are in effect throughout the unincorporated areas of Dare County, as well as its six municipalities.

Dare County is home to nearly 40,000 year-round residents and visited by millions of people each year, many of whom are unaware of the dangers that are posed by a combination of illegal fireworks, strong breezes, dry dune grass, and the wooden shingles, decks and walkways on the majority of the area’s residences.

Because of these potential dangers—and the risks they pose to public safety, property and pets—most fireworks are illegal in Dare County.

About Destination Dare

Destination Dare—a video series that Current TV produces in partnership with Dare County and its six municipalities—is dedicated to highlighting the many programs and services that are provided by local governments. For more information or to view current and past episodes of Destination Dare, visit www.CurrentTV.org.

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College of The Albemarle (COA) recently celebrated 26 Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) students for program completion, 12 students from the Fall 2022 program and 14 from Spring 2023.

The ceremony included remarks from COA President Dr. Jack Bagwell, COA BLET Director John Etheridge and the 2022 and 2023 Class Presidents, Elginn Britt and Matthew Dunfee, respectively.  The featured speaker for the event was Eddie Buffalo, Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Public Safety and former Elizabeth City Police Chief.

During 16 weeks of training, the students completed over 640 contact hours, 36 blocks of instruction and multiple practical exams.  BLET instruction and training includes firearms, driving, traffic crash, patrol techniques, domestic violence, criminal investigation, CPR/first responders, rapid deployment, explosive/hazardous materials emergencies and subject control arrest techniques. Students also successfully completed the Police Officer Physical Abilities Test (POPAT).

The students recognized for Fall 2022 included:

Elginn Britt (Pasquotank)

Nadiral Britton (Pasquotank)

Torii Eastman (Dare)

Noah Floyd (Currituck)

Ryan Gallaccio (Currituck)

Qvontes McIntyre (Pasquotank)

Douglas Poyner (Pasquotank)

Diego Ramirez (Dare)

David McDowell Schafer (Gates)

Amayah Simpson (Pasquotank)

Corinne Riforgiate (Currituck)

Eric Williams (Pasquotank)

The students recognized for Spring 2023 included:

Lyle Adam Coutts (Dare)

Leah Collins (Pasquotank)

Taylor Renae Dickey (Currituck)

Matthew Dunfee (Dare)

Travis Hardman (Dare)

Matthew Huber (Dare)

Douglas Lane Jr. (Pasquotank)

James Douglas Lange Jr. (Currituck)

Corey Morris (Currituck)

Kenneth Nati (Camden)

Wesley Rock (Dare)

Elizabeth Simmons (Currituck)

Troy Smith (Dare)

William Wright (Pasquotank)

Special awards are presented during the ceremony to recognize outstanding training and academic performance.

The “Top Gun” award was given to the student who demonstrated the highest proficiency during firearms training. The “Iron Man” award was presented to the student who performed best in the physical training assessments. The “Driver Supreme” award was presented to the student with the best overall driving course score. The “Academic Honors” award was given to the student with the highest grade, based on a percentage of the class. The “Law Enforcement Excellence” award was presented to the student whom BLET instructors determined had the best overall performance in the class.

The Fall 2022 class awards included:

Ryan Gallaccio – “Top Gun,” “Iron Man,” “Driver Supreme”

Qvontes McIntyre – “Academic Honors”

David Schafer – “Law Enforcement Excellence”

The Spring 2023 class awards included:

James Lange – “Top Gun,” “Academic Honors”

Wesley Rock – “Iron Man”

Cory Morris – “Driver Supreme”

Troy Smith – “Law Enforcement Excellence”

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As smoke from Canada continues to travel south, fine particle pollution will remain elevated in parts of North Carolina on Friday.

The nine-county Triad region will be under a Code Orange Air Quality Action Day for fine particle pollution all day tomorrow, June 9. This alert is active for Randolph, Davidson, Davie, Alamance, Guilford, Forsyth, Caswell, Rockingham and Stokes counties. The rest of the state is forecast in the Code Yellow range for fine particulates, also known as PM2.5.

Additionally, Mecklenburg and Union counties will be under a Code Orange Air Quality Action Day for smog-forming ozone tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Ground-level ozone forms when certain chemicals combine on hot days in the presence of sunshine. Smoky conditions can also promote the formation of ozone. Ozone levels should be in the Code Yellow range for all other counties tomorrow.

Code Orange on the Air Quality index represents unhealthy air quality for sensitive groups. Older adults, younger children and those with respiratory conditions such as asthma should limit prolonged or heavy exertion outdoors.

Code Yellow is not considered an air quality action day. People who are unusually sensitive to air pollution may still consider shortening their time being active outside if they experience any symptoms. Healthy adults can go about their day as normal.

State law prohibits the open burning of yard waste and other vegetative matter on Air Quality Action Days, defined as Code Orange or above.

The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Air Quality (DAQ) and the Forsyth County Office of Environmental Assistance and Protection monitor and forecast ozone and PM2.5 daily using the Air Quality Index (AQI), along with the corresponding AQI color codes, to help North Carolinians plan their outdoor activities. Next-day and extended products are issued by 3 p.m. with a morning update by 10 a.m.

As weather pushes more smoke away from North Carolina, PM2.5 and ozone levels should hold in the Code Yellow range on Saturday, and could return to healthy Code Green levels by Sunday. The forecast is subject to change, and our meteorologists will continue to monitor the conditions heading into and through the weekend.

For the latest air quality information, visit the Air Quality Portal online. DEQ’s website has a list of resources for keeping safe around wildfire smoke.

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Mark your calendars for a day dedicated to the ‘tater!c Gather at Island Farm on Wednesday, June 14, between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. to be a part of all aspects of the harvest and cooking of a quintessential staple crop: the Irish potato!

Visitors will join historic interpreters to dig potatoes from the Farm’s gardens, and if gardening isn’t your bag – run to the cookhouse and enjoy kettle-fried potato chips made with freshly harvested Island Farm potatoes. In 1850, Adam Etheridge raised 200 bushels of corn, 50 bushels of field peas, 100 bushels of sweet potatoes and 20 bushels of Irish potatoes – all on 15 acres of his then-420-acre farm, which is now the current-day site of Island Farm.

“Tater Day” is part of Island Farm’s historic food series, which seeks to highlight local food traditions and culture across the year. Also part of this historic food series is the Farm’s annual “Garden to Hearth” event, held the Tuesday and Wednesday before Thanksgiving.

Admission to this event is the regular cost to visit Island Farm: $10 for those aged 4 and older, and free for 0-3 year olds.

Island Farm is a living history site that engages with locals and visitors alike to share Outer Banks history, through the lens of a working, mid-19th century farm when just over 500 people lived on Roanoke Island. Island Farm is owned and operated by the 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, Outer Banks Conservationists (OBC). OBC was founded in 1980 to protect natural, cultural and historic resources, through preservation and conservation of a sense of place, and through public education, interpretation, and outreach, and to instill these values in others for the benefit of future generations. To learn more, visit www.obcinc.org

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The official start of the Atlantic hurricane season began on June 1 and continues through November 30, highlighting the importance of making preparations and replenishing emergency supply kits now.

“Don’t let obstacles prevent you from getting ready,” Dare County Department of Health & Human Services Emergency Preparedness Coordinator Greta Sharp recommends. “Even a little bit of preparation can help if a hurricane strikes.”

Sharp encourages residents to have an evacuation plan in place and be aware of their risk by knowing what flood zone their property is in, as well as how to reduce the risk of flood damages. To determine your flood zone, click here.

Too often, residents in the path of a storm focus on the wind strength or category of the storm rather than the storm surge and flooding potential. However, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), water is the primary culprit of fatalities during and after a hurricane, with storm surge being the deadliest threat.

NOAA estimates that nearly 90 percent of deaths during U.S. tropical cyclones are attributed to water, with 50 percent of those fatalities directly related to storm surge. This reality underscores the importance of heeding the evacuation orders as the storm is approaching.

And as Erik Heden, Warning Coordination Meteorologist with the National Weather Service Newport/Morehead City cautions, “We [Dare/Hyde/Carteret counties] are the most vulnerable coastline in the U.S.”

With hurricane season underway, another important consideration is the potential lack of resources such as water, electricity and food that may occur during and following a storm event. “People often don’t consider that resources, and even the ability to go to the store for basic needs, may not be available,” Sharp said.

Taking some simple steps this summer, however, can ensure that you are prepared.

One of those steps is to build an emergency supply kit. Residents should be sure to include essential items such as water (one gallon per person per day) and non-perishable and canned food for themselves and their pets for three to seven days; a battery-powered or hand crank radio; a first aid kit; cash and change; a flashlight and extra batteries; and prescription glasses and medications. For a comprehensive list of items recommended for a supply kit, click here.

If you already have an emergency supply kit, take the time to refresh and replenish it in preparation for the upcoming hurricane season.

“It’s never too late to get ready,” concludes Dare County Emergency Management Director Drew Pearson. “Now is the time to ensure your plan is up to date and you know where you will go should a mandatory evacuation be ordered.”

Pearson encourages everyone who lives, works or visits Dare County to join OBXAlerts at OBXAlerts.com so they have access to official information from local officials. For more information on hurricane preparedness, go to Dare County’s Emergency Management’s webpageor visit readync.gov.

If you have a social media page, please consider sharing our monthly graphics throughout the summer that highlight hurricane preparedness tips. You can download the graphics here.

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Dare County has released a new video featuring Hatteras Island Rescue Squad Beach Patrol Supervisor Molly Greenwood, who explains how it’s important to always be cautious at the beach—even during “blue sky days.”

In the video, Greenwood discusses the dangers that improperly positioned umbrellas and digging large holes in the sand can create for beachgoers while they’re having fun in the sun.

For more information, as well as additional beach and ocean safety tips, please visit www.LoveTheBeachRespectTheOcean.com.

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Registration is now open for the OBX U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary “Boat America” boating safety course that will be held July 15, 2023 at the Southern Shores Fire Department from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

This course satisfies North Carolina boat operator education requirements and includes the following topics:

• Introduction to Boating – Types of boats, engines, boating terms, sailboats, paddle craft, powerboats.
• Boating Law – Boat registration, regulations, hull identification numbers, required safety equipment, Federal boating law, state boating law, and reporting accidents.
• Safety Equipment – Life jackets, fire extinguishers, sound-producing devices, visual distress signals, anchors, and other safety equipment.
• Safe Operation and Navigation – Buoys and beacons, aids to navigation, navigation rules, docking, and the dangers of alcohol on the water.
• Boating Emergencies – Hypothermia, boating accidents, man overboard, capsizing, emergency radio calls, carbon monoxide dangers, and weather.
• Trailering – Types of trailers, lights, hitches, towing a trailer.
• Sports and Boating – Water-skiing, hunting and hunting gear, PWC operation, and other boating tips.

All classes are taught by certified Coast Guard Auxiliary Instructors. Tuition is $35 for the 1^st family member, $25 for each additional family member, and includes all materials.

To register, please visit https://wow.uscgaux.info/content.php?unit=054-16-07&category=abs-form.

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Dustin Peele, who serves as the special projects and purchasing manager for Dare County, has been named Dare County Employee of the Month for June 2023. The award was presented to Peele by Dare County Finance Director David Clawson at the Dare County Board of Commissioners meeting that was held at 9 a.m. on Monday, June 5, 2023.

Peele initially began his service to Dare County on July 7, 2014, when he was hired as a purchasing agent for the Finance Department before being promoted to his current position of special projects and purchasing manager for the Finance Department on May 17, 2021.

In his role as special projects and purchasing manager, Peele is tasked with a wide array of responsibilities, including approving requisitions and processing purchase orders for all Dare County entities; developing, implementing and administering the procurement and purchasing system; managing all surplus property transactions and property disposal procedures; and establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with vendors, associates and the general public.

In addition, Peele’s role as special projects and purchasing manager encompasses overseeing all aspects of various special projects that take place throughout Dare County, from the initial bidding process to the multiple phases of construction and each project’s eventual completion. Since taking on this role in 2021, Peele has overseen numerous special projects, including the construction of College of The Albemarle’s (COA) new academic building on COA’s Dare County Campus in Manteo, which was completed in 2022, as well as several projects that are currently underway to improve and modernize numerous Dare County EMS facilities located throughout the county, among many others.

As he began his Employee of the Month presentation, Clawson commented on the complexities of Peele’s position, noting that its level of difficulty was mentioned in one of the nomination forms that were submitted to recommend that he receive the prestigious award.

“The first one says they’re nominating Dustin because it’s underestimated how tough his job is,” said Clawson. “He has to work with so many vendors and contractors and coordinate all those projects while having to answer to the deputy manager, the manager and the board.”

Clawson continued by reading the words that were written by Peele’s colleague on their nomination form: “He’s always able to help when I have a question about something and always reaches out when he has a question. His general positive demeanor and actual interest in his fellow employees make him a delight to work with.”

A second individual who recommended Peele for Employee of the Month highlighted his positive attitude, as well as his willingness to tackle virtually any task that needs to be completed, writing the following in their nomination form: “Dustin does a wonderful job handling whatever is thrown at him—it is never too small or large and often not in his job description! He’s not afraid to let you know he doesn’t know something, but he will find answers or help you find someone who knows the answer. The best part is, he always does it with a smile and much needed humor so that a task is not a task but an opportunity for growth.”

Clawson went on to share how Peele has played an integral role in managing Dare County’s many ongoing projects, keeping them on track and promptly finding solutions to any issues that arise during the process.

“You all know the project side, and he’s learned that so well—and thank goodness [he’s] taken it over from me. You know we’ve got three large ones going on right now, and I cannot imagine how much time and work that takes,” said Clawson, referring to the renovation and modernization projects that are currently underway to construct new facilities for Dare County EMS Station 1 in Kill Devil Hills, EMS Station 4 in Southern Shores and the Dare MedFlight Hangar (Station 7) on Roanoke Island.

“The thing about the projects is he deals with stuff every single day,” Clawson continued. “There will be something going on with the contractor and a project every day, and he never fails to come to me—and usually I find out about things after the fact because it’s already been solved—and I find out what happened, why it happened and what the solution is, so it’s minimizing my time, it minimizes [County Manager Bobby Outten’s] time, and it’s minimizing your [the board’s] time, and he does a great job.”

As Clawson concluded his Employee of the Month presentation and presented Peele with the prestigious award, Dare County Board of Commissioners Chairman Bob Woodard also took the opportunity to offer praise for Peele and the exceptional work he performs for the county.

“This is one of the best moves our board has ever made when we tried to take some of that work off of Dave [Clawson] and Bobby [Outten], especially special projects, and what brought it to light was the incredible job you did with COA and Barnhill [Contracting],” said Woodard. “This board recognized that, and we put that extra monkey on your back to do special projects, and you’ve just done a phenomenal job. I commend you, Dustin, for always working closely with me on those special projects. That’s just one of many that you’re working on, and this board couldn’t be more pleased with what you do for us, and I want to personally say that publicly and thank you for all of that.”

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North Carolina residents should continue to exercise caution while outside on Thursday due to smoke and fine particle pollution from Canadian wildfires.

The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Air Quality (DAQ) and the Forsyth County Office of Environmental Assistance and Protection are issuing a Code Orange Air Quality Action Day for the entire state for Thursday, June 8.

The Code Red Air Quality Action Alert that was in effect for central NC on Wednesday has been replaced with a Code Orange alert for the remainder of the day.

Code Orange on the Air Quality index represents unhealthy air quality for sensitive groups. Older adults, younger children and those with respiratory conditions such as asthma should limit prolonged or heavy exertion outdoors.

The alerts signal the potential for health impacts from significantly elevated levels of fine particulate matter, or PM2.5. PM2.5 is comprised of particles smaller than the width of a human hair. These particles can reach deep in the lungs and aggravate asthma and other lung conditions and have been linked to heart conditions.

Smoke and accompanying high levels of PM2.5 started to be carried downwind from Canada into North Carolina on Tuesday, leading to levels in the Code Red range overnight and early on Wednesday. Since then, PM2.5 levels have lowered significantly, but may remain in the Code Orange level Thursday.

Our meteorologists will reevaluate the conditions on Thursday ahead of releasing Friday’s air quality forecast. Smoky conditions may persist through Friday, but a low-pressure system is hoped to move smoke eastward going into the weekend.

DAQ monitors and forecasts ozone and PM2.5 daily using the Air Quality Index (AQI), along with the corresponding AQI color codes, to help North Carolinians plan their outdoor activities. Next-day and extended products are issued by 3 p.m. with a morning update by 10 a.m.

For the latest air quality information, visit the Air Quality Portal online. DEQ’s website has a list of resources for keeping safe around wildfire smoke.

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