Opinion

Gere Dale, does the town of Carolina Shores have something to hide?

Why is it you’re expending so much energy to keep public business behind closed, locked doors?

On multiple occasions, when approached by a Beacon reporter about issues we believe are of public record, you have spent more time questioning the reporter’s sources than answering questions.

In a country founded on principles of freedom—including the freedom to choose—it makes sense that Brunswick County Schools administration has offered parents a choice regarding student viewing of the president’s recent educational message.

On Tuesday, President Barack Obama delivered a message to the nation. The message was directed toward school children and many schools across the country allowed students to view it as it aired lived.

On Tuesday, children of all ages headed back to school in Brunswick County. It was a time of tears for some parents who sent their little ones off to classes for the first time, while others celebrated the end of summer and the return to the classroom.

Throughout the community, Brunswick County educators and their support staff have a lot of hard work to do. State and national test scores keep them busy, but they must also focus their attention on molding and mentoring each and every child they encounter.

Brunswick County government made a good step toward operating as an open and transparent government when it decided to install a computer terminal at the county complex where government e-mails can be accessed by the public.

The public e-mail computer terminal is in the lobby of Building I at the county government complex in Bolivia. Business hours are 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

By using the computer, citizens can have access to correspondence that takes place within the county’s e-mail system.

Good news came to the Ocean Isle Beach Police Department recently.

Last week, it was announced the department would receive a grant from the Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services. The $145,288 grant will be used to hire a new officer and cover that officer’s salary for the next three years.

By receiving the grant, the town will receive an additional officer and additional protection without additional taxpayer expense for the next three years.

It appears some elected officials have forgotten or don’t care about who they work for—the people of Brunswick County.

In Carolina Shores, the commissioners (elected officials) feel it’s their place to censure town mayor Stephen Selby (another elected official), and they think they have the right to do so without hearing what citizens think.

On Friday, commissioners told the people of Carolina Shores they didn’t care about what they had to say by announcing the board would not take public comment during a special meeting.

This week, a Calabash town commissioner confirmed current town administrator Jeremy Cribb is being investigated by the town’s personnel committee. Tuesday night, the board of commissioners decided to extend his probationary period for 90 more days.

Even though the town’s personnel policy requires a background check of applicants, one was not done before Cribb was hired, and now questions about his experience and criminal record have surfaced.

Hats off to all the folks in and around Calabash for putting together a successful Fourth of July event on Friday, July 3.

With music, giveaways and more, an estimated crowd of about 10,000 gathered around the docks and waterfront in Calabash for its first fireworks display. The show was a good one, with patriotic music playing while red, white and blue pyrotechnics exploded over the waterway. Launched from Devaun Park, the fireworks lit up the sky and sent the crowd into cheers.

Last week Frank Iler was sworn into the N.C. House of Representatives as a replacement for Bonner Stiller. He assumes responsibilities for House District 17 that serves Brunswick County.

With Iler’s background in regional politics, we’re hopeful he has a good foundation on which to start the long journey ahead.

Iler joins the General Assembly at a difficult time. It’s a time when senators and representatives must find great resolve in listening to the will of the state’s people while enduring difficult financial times.