Stories by Sandy Semans Ross | Outer Banks Voice

Cooper’s draft budget includes $600K for Oregon Inlet Lifesaving Station

By Sandy Semans Ross | Outer Banks Voice The Oregon Inlet Lifesaving Station may get an added boost in Governor Roy Cooper’s draft budget. The governor’s proposal for FY 2022-2023 includes $600,000 to finish the rehab on the building and move it to a more secure place. Full story

May 21


Sterling Baker, NCDOT Division Engineer, passes at 50

By Sandy Semans Ross | Outer Banks Voice Sterling Baker, the North Carolina Department of Transportation (DOT) Division 1 Engineer, died on April 20 at the Vidant Inpatient Hospice in Greenville. Full story

Apr 26


With map fights over, 2022 candidate field is set

In Dare, only one of six seats for ed board and commissioner contested By Sandy Semans Ross | Outer Banks Voice | The field of 2022 candidates for local, district, state and federal offices is now officially set after the new district maps reshaped the playing field for some by moving district lines or adding or subtracting some counties from former districts. Full story

Mar 8


Changing of the guard at OBX Marina  

Texas-based Safe Harbor Marinas is new owner By Sandy Semans Ross | Outer Banks Voice OBX Marina at the Wanchese Marine Industrial Park is now under different ownership. Full story

Mar 2


Dare County still split into 2 NC House Districts 

State GOP leaders turn to U.S. Supreme Court By Sandy Semans Ross | Outer Banks Voice The state’s controversial redistricting maps seemed to finally be in place after the North Carolina Supreme Court, on Feb. 23, denied appeals challenging the maps that had been approved earlier that day by a three-judge panel. Full story

Feb 25


Dare Board decides how to spend $7M in fed funds  

Grant to pay salaries, benefits for several county agencies Sandy Semans Ross | Outer Banks Voice The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) is popping up on agendas around the state as counties decide how to spend the allocations from the federal government to offset losses or additional needs caused by the COVID pandemic. Full story

Feb 23


Parties submit new NC redistricting maps 

Judges' Ruling to be announced on Feb. 23 By Sandy Semans Ross | Outer Banks Voice In the latest chapter in the high-stakes North Carolina battle over new redistricting maps, The Carolina General Assembly and three plaintiffs who took legal action against the maps originally submitted turned in new maps to a three-judge panel on Friday Feb. 18. Full story

Feb 19


NC Supreme Court tosses redistricting maps 

Will new maps put Dare County back in one piece? By Sandy Semans Ross | Outer Banks Voice | The North Carolina Supreme Court has struck down as “unconstitutional” the redistricting maps that were approved by a three-judge lower court panel last month and has given the General Assembly two weeks to re-draw them. Full story

Feb 5


New SAGA property rented to CSI, Aquarium  

Tenants currently include a dozen CSI students By Sandy Semans Ross | Outer Banks Voice The Coastal Studies Institute (CSI) finally has student housing thanks to a lease agreement between SAGA Realty and Construction and East Carolina University (ECU). Full story

Jan 29


Superior Court panel okays GOP redistricting maps

Plaintiffs vow appeal to NC Supreme Court A three-judge panel in Wake County Superior Court vote on Jan. 11 to uphold the maps created by Republican legislators that were being challenged by several plaintiffs who argue they were drawn for partisan gain and to dilute the impact of racial minorities. Full story

Jan 11


Southern Shores Council mulls ways to push Mid-Currituck Bridge project

By Sandy Semans Ross | After being briefed by town attorney Ben Gallop on the lawsuit to block construction of the Mid-Currituck Bridge, the Southern Shores Town Council decided at its Jan. 5 meeting to take some short-term steps to try and push the project along. Full story

Jan 5


Southern Shores Council mulls ways to push Mid-Currituck Bridge project

After being briefed by town attorney Ben Gallop on the lawsuit to block construction of the Mid-Currituck Bridge, the Southern Shores Town Council decided at its Jan. 5 meeting to take some… Full story

Jan 5