Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

By Summer Stevens

Superior Court Judge J. Carlton “J.C.” Cole was honored by the Currituck Board of Commissioners for twenty-seven years of distinguished service upon his retirement. Sheriff Matthew Beickert and Clerk of Court Ray Matusko presented him with a plaque at the February 15 meeting.

Cole served fifteen years as District Court Judge and twelve years as Resident Superior Court Judge for the 1^st Judicial District of North Carolina. “Judge Cole is the most respected person I’ve ever known,” said Beickert.

“Even though my name’s on it, I accept it on behalf of all these folks,” Cole said in an emotional acceptance speech. “This criminal justice system, we are all in it to make it as fair and just as we can. The good Lord allowed me to be here, but He had me to understand that this position of judge doesn’t mean anything. It’s about serving the good folk of this judicial district and this great state of ours.”

Continuing with the meeting, Chairman Michael H. Payment updated the board on COVID vaccines and statistics. As of this week, the county has recorded 1,267 cases; 90 active; 1,164 recovered; 14 deaths. “Hospitalizations are going down,” Payment said.

Commissioner Bob White reported that Corolla was ranked number six in HomeToGo’s study of most luxurious summer destinations of 2021. “We are looking forward to 2021,” White said.

Commissioner Selina S. Jarvis shared more good news in her update to the board, congratulating the College of The Albemarle’s Associate Degree Nursing program for being ranked number one out of 82 nursing programs in the state, according to RegisteredNursing.org.

Next, the board heard the seasonal report from the Game Commission attorney William Brumsey IV and Chairman Andy Shilling with an overview of what the commission does and an update on license fees received; $40,817 in the 2019-20 budget year. Residents are charged $35; non-residents are charged $260. “We have an increase in the amount of people who are interested in duck hunting and a limited amount of ducks,” Shilling said. “There are not as many ducks here as there used to be,” added Brumsey. Some of the updates the Game Commission is employing is refining bush blind locations via GPS and utilizing email rather than phone calls to for better record-keeping communication with license holders.

Lastly, the board voted to approve a meeting time change, moving up the third Monday’s Board of Commissioners meeting from 6 p.m. to 4 p.m.

READ ABOUT MORE NEWS AND EVENTS HERE.

RECENT HEADLINES:

Insurance commissioner urges caution when using portable heaters

Kill Devil Hills woman scores half of $536,264 Cash 5 jackpot