May 2, 2023OBX TodayComments Off on Dare County Sheriff’s Office blotter for April 2023
The Dare County Sheriff’s Office investigated the following property crimes last month:
April 3, 2023
Financial Card Theft. 100 block of Marshy Ridge Road, Colington. Family member stole and used victim’s financial card. Under investigation.
April 6, 2023
Embezzlement. 200 block of Bayview Drive, Stumpy Point. Money taken from financial account without authorization. Suspect identified and arrested.
April 6, 2023
Obtaining Property by False Pretenses. 27000 block of NC 12 Hwy, Salvo. Facebook scam involving plant purchases.
April 7, 2023
Financial Card Fraud. 200 block of Eagle Drive, Colington. Unauthorized transactions on subject’s financial card. Subject was reimbursed by their bank.
May 2, 2023OBX TodayComments Off on Outer Banks local sets out to bike 1,700 miles this summer in the fight against human trafficking
Local Caroline Murray will be biking from Seattle to San Diego this summer to bring awareness, funds, and powerful conversations around human trafficking.
Caroline graduated First Flight High School in the Class of 2019 where she went on to study Advertising at the University of Florida. With her graduating this May, she knew she wanted to do something big following graduation. When she heard about Pedal the Pacific from a local friend who had participated, Murray knew nothing but misconceptions of human trafficking and had never ridden anything but a beach cruiser here and there.
Upon learning the realities and hearing stories of survivors, she didn’t understand why no one was talking about the #1 crime in the world and decided to apply to Pedal the Pacific with her mind set on changing that. “If I can spark change by riding a bike, it’s the least I can do in the fight against human trafficking for others to live freely,” Murray says.
Pedal the Pacific’s mission is to educate all people about sex trafficking by using bikes as a platform to raise awareness, educate peers, fundraise for leading nonprofits, and develop leaders who believe that no voice is too small to make a difference.
Starting June 10th, the team of ten female-identifying members from different cities across the United States, will commence from Seattle, Washington and travel 1,700 miles to San Diego, California on bike. They will also be holding informational events a long the way with new communities.
Pedal the Pacific has raised over $860,000 for local organizations that fight sex trafficking across the U.S. Their primary 2023 beneficiary is The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC). This will be the seventh Pedal the Pacific team to complete the 7-week tour. Pedal the Pacific is dedicated to raising up advocates who believe that no voice is too small to make a difference.
Caroline is excited to announce a chance for the whole community to get involved at 1 pm on May 20th at Waveriders in Nags Head, NC. Locals will join together to run, walk or bike 1.7 miles in connection to the 1,700 miles she will be doing this summer.
There will be free food, raffles, and an ongoing silent auction that has launched at https://pedalthepacific.betterworld.org/auctions/obxpedalthepacific. To purchase raffle tickets prior to the event, Venmos can be taken at @yogirlcarol for $5 a piece. The winner does not have to be present to win.
To find out more about Pedal the Pacific and our beneficiary, NCMEC, check out their websites — www.pedalthepacific.org and www.missingkids.org or for more of Caroline’s POV including training and event information, follow on Instagram and Facebook @carolinepedalsthepacific.
May 2, 2023OBX TodayComments Off on Water quality swimming advisory issued for sound-side access at Jockey’s Ridge
An advisory against swimming was posted today at a sound-side site in Dare County, where state recreational water quality officials found bacteria levels in the water that exceed the state’s and Environmental Protection Agency’s recreational water quality standards.
The advisory is for an area at the Jockey’s Ridge Sound-side Access in Nags Head where test results of water samples indicate a running monthly average of 40 enterococci per 100 milliliters of water. This exceeds the state and federal standards of a running monthly average of 35 enterococci per 100 milliliters, based on five samples taken within a 30-day period.
Enterococci, the bacteria group used for testing, is found in the intestines of warm-blooded animals. While it is not known to cause illness, scientific studies show that enterococci may indicate the presence of other disease-causing organisms. People swimming or playing in waters with bacteria levels higher than the standards have an increased risk of developing gastrointestinal illness or skin infections.
This advisory is not a beach closing, nor does the advisory affect the entire Nags Head area. Swimming advisories are for waters within 200 feet of the sign. The sign posted reads as follows:
ATTENTION
SWIMMING IN THIS AREA IS NOT RECOMMENDED. BACTERIA TESTING INDICATES
LEVELS OF CONTAMINATION THAT MAY BE HAZARDOUS TO YOUR
HEALTH. THIS ADVISORY AFFECTS WATERS WITHIN 200’ OF THIS SIGN.
OFFICE OF THE STATE HEALTH DIRECTOR
State officials will continue testing the site, and they will remove the sign and notify the public again when the bacteria levels decrease to levels below the standards.
Recreational water quality officials sample 215 sites throughout the coastal region, most of them on a weekly basis, from April to October. Testing continues on a reduced schedule during the rest of the year, when fewer people are in the water.
For more information on the N.C. Recreational Water Quality Program or to a view a map of testing sites, visit the program’s website, and follow the program’s Twitter feed.
May 1, 2023OBX TodayComments Off on N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries certifies Bigscale Pomfret as new state record, potential world record
The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries recently certified a new state record Bigscale Pomfret (Taractichthys longipinnis), which is also a potential world record.
Jeremiah Elliott of Greenville caught the 26-pound, 11.4-ounce fish 50 miles due east of Morehead City on Apr. 21, 2023.
There is no previous state record for this species, but Elliott’s fish beats the current International Game Fish Association World Record listed at 20-pound 10-ounces caught in Florida in 2004. Elliott plans to apply for a new IGFA World Record.
Elliott was accompanied by his friends Chandler, Trevor, and Zac at the time of the catch. He landed the fish using squid, and 80-pound test on a Alutecnos Albacore 80 reel pared with a RJ Boyle Swordfish rod.
Elliot’s fish measured 35.5 inches fork length (from the tip of the nose to the fork in the tail) and had a 30.75-inch girth.
May 1, 2023OBX TodayComments Off on Debris observed washing up on Cape Hatteras National Seashore beaches from Nags Head to Salvo
Cape Hatteras National Seashore and the Town of Nags Head have observed plastic, metal, paper and textile fabric debris washing up in low densities along approximately 25 miles of beaches, from Nags Head to the villages of Rodanthe, Waves and Salvo.
Observations of debris began on April 27 and were reported to the U.S. Coast Guard’s Sector North Carolina. The nature of the debris suggest it may have come from a U.S. Navy vessel located near the northeastern coast of North Carolina.
Staff from Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge, the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Navy and the Town of Nags Head have been removing debris over the last 72 hours. Agencies will continue to remove debris over the coming days.
May 1, 2023OBX TodayComments Off on All fitness classes at Baum Center cancelled Monday
The Thomas A. Baum Senior Center in Kill Devil Hills has announced that all fitness classes scheduled for Monday, May 1, 2023 have been cancelled. For more information, please contact the Baum Senior Center at 252.475.5635.
All fitness classes will resume as scheduled on Tuesday, May 2, 2023.
May 1, 2023OBX TodayComments Off on Knotts Island native successfully completes tour as commanding officer of USS Cincinnati
Capt. Douglas Meagher relieved Capt. Spencer Austin, a native of Knotts Island, North Carolina, following a successful tour as commodore of Mine Division TWELVE during a ceremony aboard Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Cincinnati (LCS 20), April 27. Meagher will dual-hat as commodore of both Surface Warfare Division ELEVEN and Mine Warfare Division TWLEVE.
Austin led his division staff and seven crews aboard the division’s four ships. During his command, USS Manchester (LCS 15), USS Tulsa (LCS 16) and USS Charleston (LCS 18) all embarked on their maiden deployments, while Cincinnati served as the division’s training ship for the off-hull crews.
As commodore, Austin provided subject matter expertise and fostered innovation within his division to advance the mine countermeasures capabilities aboard Independence-variant LCS and for the U.S. Navy. He coordinated with multiple stakeholders across his two years in command to shepherd the all-important testing of the LCS MCM Mission Package that achieved Initial Operational Capability during his tenure.
“Independence-variant LCS are deploying regularly and in force; they are the future of the U.S. Navy’s mine warfare capabilities,” said Austin. “My division staff and crews have worked tirelessly to deploy multiple hulls over-the-horizon for more than a year at a time to defend a free and open Indo-Pacific. I could not be more proud to have served alongside them.”
Prior to LCS Maintenance Execution Teams (MET) shift to the Southwest Regional Maintenance Center, Austin employed the Mine Division TWELVE MET to complete dozens of expeditionary Preventative Maintenance Availabilities for Independence-variant LCS throughout the Indo-Pacific including locations such as Australia, Guam, Japan, and Singapore. These expeditionary PMAVs enabled the ships to participate in combined operations like Rim of the Pacific 2022, Garuda Shield 2022, and La Pérouse 2023.
“From his selection for early command of multiple Avenger-class mine countermeasures ships to his most recent tour as Mine Division Twelve’s commodore, Spencer Austin has honed his skills and craft in support of the U.S. Navy’s mine countermeasure capabilities,” said Capt. Marc Crawford, commodore of Littoral Combat Ship Squadron ONE. “His leadership, innovation and expertise will be sorely missed in the LCS and mine warfare communities.”
Mine Division TWELVE, located on Naval Base San Diego and nested within Littoral Combat Ship Squadron ONE, is the operational and administrative support for four Independence-variant LCS and seven crews. Littoral Combat Ships are fast, optimally manned, mission-tailored surface combatants that operate in near-shore and open-ocean environments, winning against 21st-century coastal threats. LCS integrate with joint, combined, manned and unmanned teams to support forward-presence, maritime security, sea control, and deterrence missions around the globe.
May 1, 2023OBX TodayComments Off on Macclesfield woman faces several drug charges after being stopped for speeding
On April 26, 2023, at approximately 9:15 pm, Deputies working the B-District conducted a vehicle stop for speeding on NC Hwy 64 near the VA Dare Bridge Rest Area. During the stop probable cause was established to search the vehicle and an amount of Fentanyl, Percocet, Valium and Drug Paraphernalia were located and seized.
Lindsey Danielle McLawhorn, 27, Macclesfield, NC, was charged with (F) Possession of Schedule 1 Controlled Substance, (M) Possession of Schedule II, and IV Controlled Substance and (M) Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. McLawhorn was given a $15,000 secured bond.
May 1, 2023OBX TodayComments Off on OBX Coast Guard Auxiliary offering kayak safety classes on May 20
If you are looking for a fun day on the water, to learn some basic or more advanced kayaking skills, or just to connect with local paddling clubs, come out to Jockey’s Ridge State Park on May 20th and get on the water.
As part of National Safe Boating Week, on Saturday, May 20th the Outer Banks U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, Jockey’s Ridge State Park, the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, and the OBX Paddlers Club are teaming up with certified American Canoe Association Kayak and Safety instructors at Jockey’s Ridge State Park to offer a one-day class in kayak safety fundamentals for new and experienced paddlers.
The program consists of two hours of instruction ashore followed by three hours kayaking on the water. Kitty Hawk Kites will provide kayaks and safety gear at no charge for participants. The cost for instruction is $15.All types of kayaks are welcome. Participants must be at least 14 years of age.
The Coast Guard Auxiliary is the uniformed civilian component of the U.S. Coast Guard and supports the Coast Guard in nearly all mission areas. The Auxiliary was created by Congress in 1939. For more information about a boating course near you or to learn more about water safety or becoming one of America’s Volunteer Lifesavers, please visit our website CGAUXOBX.org.
May 1, 2023OBX TodayComments Off on Division of Marine Fisheries seeks striped mullet advisors
The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries is looking for commercial and recreational fishermen, scientists, and other interested parties to sit on the Striped Mullet Fishery Management Plan Advisory Committee.
The committee will assist the division in developing Amendment 2 to the N.C. Striped Mullet Fishery Management Plan. The division will hold an in-person workshop-style meeting that will allow scientists, managers, and stakeholders to collaborate on drafting potential striped mullet management measures in a more effective and less formal setting than traditional meetings.
The division is looking for individuals with expertise in striped mullet fisheries. Commercial and recreational fishermen from all coastal regions are desired. The division would also like to include on the advisory committee scientists as well as individuals or non-governmental organizations willing to discuss stakeholder interests and concerns.
To be qualified to serve on the committee, applicants may not have had a significant fisheries violation within the past three years.
Interested individuals must be available to attend and actively participate in the workshop over several days the week of July 24, 2023. The workshop will take place during normal business hours, tentatively in New Bern. Participation includes reviewing documents to provide input to the division for consideration to refine management options in draft Amendment 2.
Advisers who complete the necessary paperwork will be reimbursed for expenses incurred in relation to their official duties.
Applications are available online here, at Division of Marine Fisheries offices, or by calling 252-808-8022 or 800-682-2632. Applications should be returned by May 19, 2023 by email to MFC@ncdenr.gov or by mail to N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries, P.O. Box 769, Morehead City, N.C. 28557, Attention: Paula Farnell.
If you have questions, contact the Fishery Management Plan Coordinator, Corrin Flora, at Corrin.Flora@ncdenr.gov or 252-808-8014 or Paula Farnell at 252-808-8022.
