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Opinion

  • Mack Hewett

    Mack Leon Hewett, of Shallotte, widower of Edith Eloise Parrish Hewett, passed away on Nov. 2, 2011, in Wilmington.
    He was born on July 31, 1920, in Shallotte to Mattie Ruth and Warren Winslow Hewett.
    He married Eloise on March 20, 1949, and they were married for 54 years before her death in 2003.
    Mr. Hewett is survived by his four children, Jacquelyn Robinson and her husband Darryle, Mack Hewett Jr. and his wife Laura, David Hewett and his wife Cindy, and Amy Tanner and her husband Jeffrey.

  • Meeting hurt town’s relationship...

    They may be trying to help Shallotte business owners, but we think Michael and Paula Pease have done a disservice to the people of Shallotte.
    Michael, an appointed member of the Shallotte Board of Aldermen, is seeking election for an aldermen seat, while his wife Paula is a candidate for Shallotte mayor.

  • Speak up about staggered starts

    More than $500,000.
    That’s what Brunswick County Schools Superintendent Edward Pruden estimated a staggered-start schedule could save the district this year.
    That’s the equivalent of about 10 teaching positions.
    With financial cuts and belt-tightening taking place for the last several years, it made sense for the district to look at ways to cut costs and keep teachers where they are needed most—in the classroom.

  • Early voting is here; cast your...

    Although Election Day is still weeks away, early voting will begin Thursday in Brunswick County.
    As in past elections, we anticipate many people will go ahead and cast their votes before Tuesday, Nov. 8.
    If you’re interested in learning where and when you can vote, check out this edition of the Beacon. You’ll find a story outlining early voting and telling you where you can go to vote.

  • Partisan politics hurt our county

    Throughout Brunswick County people of all ages, from all racial and socio-economic backgrounds, are dealing with the effects of a struggling economy.
    Unemployment numbers remain high, and with seasonal job opportunities winding down, it won’t be surprising to see those numbers increase this year.
    Without an end of this economic downturn in sight, the loss of more than 1,000 jobs to neighboring South Carolina continues to be hard to stomach.
    But even more disappointing is the finger-pointing and blame-games that followed this economic blunder.

  • Creative solutions are needed for...

    With a county unemployment rate near 11 percent, we were hopeful Brunswick County would soon announce it was going to be home to the ever-secret “Project Soccer,” a manufacturing business that could have created some 1,000 jobs for the area.
    On Tuesday, however, we learned it was most likely “Project Soccer” was going to head south into South Carolina.
    It’s a disappointing possibility for the entire community, especially those who are finding it nearly impossible to find steady, good-paying jobs in this economic downturn.

  • Don’t hurt real estate growth with...

    People who live in communities like ours know how vital the housing and tourism industries are to our livelihood.
    This county has been hard-hit in recent years. As the bottom dropped out of the real estate market, people in many lines of work lost their jobs. From service professionals to business owners, everyone has been hoping the market will soon rebound and jobs and cash flow will return to this area.

  • Forever on our minds, always in our...

    It was the day that changed America. For those moments we were no longer white or black or a hodgepodge of world races, we were humans. We were broken. We were devastated. We were forever scarred by memories that even now, some 10 years removed from Sept. 11, 2001, we will never forget.

  • Those newspapers you just nabbed?...

    Do me a favor, if you don’t mind.

    When you’re finished reading this column—and please, do finish it—will you close the newspaper and take a look at the front page? 

  • A lot of people went above and...

    There are a lot of people who did a lot of things right as Brunswick County prepared for—and dealt with—Hurricane Irene.

  • Be alert, it’s back-to-school time

    Summer is quickly coming to an end and young people throughout Brunswick County are getting ready to head back to school.

  • Residents honored with state awards

    When it comes to people who are dedicated to serving and preserving all things great about North Carolina, Brunswick County has a lot of which to be proud.

  • Board of education makes it easier...

    We can’t believe we are saying it in two editorials, two weeks in a row.

    We’re handing out a “job well done” to a local agency for working to be more open and accessible to the public.

  • Hurricane season is here—be prepared

    While it’s too early right now to know exactly how Tropical Storm Emily will develop or where she will go, it’s a good time to remind everyone hurricane season is here. Being prepared is key.

  • Sun is shining brightly on state...

    At last, some good news about politicians and campaign finances.

  • Congratulations, athletes!

     Congratulations to the talented Brunswick County athletes who have secured state titles in boys Dixie baseball.

  • Now is not the time to shift the...

    It’s disappointing to learn only seven of Brunswick County schools met the most recent nationally mandated Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) benchmark.

  • Now is the time to start learning...

    November may seem like it’s a long time away, but before you know it, tourists will be packing up their bags and heading out of Brunswick County and back to their homes until the next tourist season rolls around.

  • William Watts Jr.

    Mr. William Clyde Watts Jr., known to his CB radio friends as “Wildfire,” 70, of Winnabow, died Sunday, July 10, 2011, at Brunswick Cove Nursing Home. 

  • New hospital is welcome addition

    Finding quality healthcare in a rural community can sometimes be difficult. It’s not uncommon for people in such areas to have to travel beyond their communities to access high quality, state-of-the-art healthcare.