Conducting outdoor bird censuses at the end of December can be a challenge, normally due to the specter of horrible weather. The Portsmouth and Ocracoke island Christmas Bird Counts (CBC) that took place on their end-of-the year dates, Dec. 30 and 31 got done, though Ocracoke’s weather was not ideal. The counts, like hundreds of […]
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Was ‘The Lost Colony’ really lost or just decamped to Hatteras Island?
December 28, 2020 | Island Features | By: Peter Vankevich | From The: Ocracoke Observer
Scott Dawson is on a mission for the Lost Colony truth. The native of Hatteras Island, or as he might prefer, Croatoan, has published a book that, among other things, debunks, he says, the myth of the Lost Colony. The fate of the Lost Colony on Roanoke Island, Dare County, has been a matter of speculation, […]
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‘Ocracoke’ the horror movie? Stand by
November 13, 2020 | Local News | By: Peter Vankevich | From The: Ocracoke Observer
Ocracoke over the years has been well-documented in video productions from its famous “hoi-toide” brogue to lots of footage featuring the much-awarded beach, ghosts, its light house and the devastation wrought by hurricanes over the years. What’s been missing is a full-length filmed-on-location horror movie. That has changed as a camera crew and cast showed […]
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The campaign end approaches: Ocracoke concludes early/one stop voting
October 28, 2020 | Local News | By: Peter Vankevich | From The: Ocracoke Observer
The two-day early voting period on Ocracoke before the General Election ended Friday with a total of 356 voters, Viola Williams, Hyde County elections director said today. Voting took place last Thursday and Friday (Oct. 22 and 23) in the Ocracoke Volunteer Fire Department, the same place for the voting in the General Election on […]
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N.C. House Speaker Moore visits Ocracoke
August 17, 2020 | Local News | By: Peter Vankevich | From The: Ocracoke Observer
With no fanfare, NC General Assembly House Speaker Tim Moore visited Ocracoke on Wednesday. When asked how he was doing, after having lunch at Howard’s Pub, he replied, “I’m on Ocracoke, it couldn’t be any better.” Coming down Hatteras Island, Moore (R-Cleveland) boarded the Ocracoke Express passenger ferry along with Jed Dixon, deputy director of […]
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Ocracoke School year to begin online only
July 29, 2020 | Local News | By: Peter Vankevich | From The: Ocracoke Observer
Ocracoke and Mattamuskeet schools will begin the first nine weeks of the academic year online only. The Hyde County Board of Education voted unanimously Saturday to begin the school year Aug. 17 with the state Plan C. Prior to the vote, Superintendent Steve Basnight briefed the education commissioners on the options of Plans B and […]
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Ocracoke passenger ferry service funding clears General Assembly
June 25, 2020 | Local News | By: Peter Vankevich | From The: Ocracoke Observer
Perhaps few were surprised on April 28 when the N.C. Department of Transportation announced that it canceled its 2020 contract for the Ocracoke Express passenger ferry. Financial woes and a pandemic were a bad combination for it to resume this year. Then word got out that the North Carolina General Assembly was working on legislation […]
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Ocracoke School graduation to adapt to the times
June 10, 2020 | Local News | By: Peter Vankevich | From The: Ocracoke Observer
After a tumultuous year, Ocracoke School will end with graduation like none other. Rocked by Hurricane Dorian and COVID-19, Ocracoke School students will long remember this academic year. The school year had barely started before Hurricane Dorian struck on Sept. 6 and damaged the school so badly, it couldn’t be used. Classes were canceled for […]
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Hyde County begins work on plan to reopen
April 24, 2020 | Local News | By: Peter Vankevich | From The: Ocracoke Observer
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and a statewide Stay at Home order, Hyde County has begun work on how to safely reopen the county, said Kris Noble, Hyde County’s manager, in a recent interview. “This week, we are beginning with the county’s health care workers, the health department, medical center and EMS as […]
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Ocracoke Variety Store adopts new shopping option
March 23, 2020 | Local News | By: Peter Vankevich | From The: Ocracoke Observer
With the COVID-19 pandemic well underway, vital services such as grocery stores are taking steps to help ensure the safety of both their customers and staff. The Ocracoke Variety Store is one of them. Owner Tommy Hutcherson said today (March 22) that the the store will remain open for all who want to shop as […]
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