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North Carolina Cooperative Extension in Dare County has five staff members and 107 volunteers delivering programs in youth development, horticulture, family and consumer sciences and community development.

Dare Extension director Shannon Brooks delivered the agency’s annual report to the Dare County Board of Commissioners Feb. 4, 2020.

In Dare County, 4-H participation in camps has doubled since 2018. Paige Lilley leads the program and raised funds providing five full scholarships for youngsters to attend state 4-H. Four 4-H participants won medals at the district presentation competition.

In the horticulture program, 17 students achieved certification as Dare County Extension Master Gardener volunteers. These students completed 53 hours of training and gave 40 hours of volunteer service to the community.

Extension Master Gardener Volunteers Speakers Bureau was awarded first place in the International Search for Excellence in the presentations and workshops category. Citizens are attending horticulture programming like the Arboretum Summer Series and the 17th annual Coastal Gardening Festival.

This program’s 77 volunteers contributed 5,783 hours of volunteer service. Family and consumer sciences agent Dee Furlough delivered programs to encourage healthy eating, increased physical activity and chronic disease reduction.

Also presenting a summary of 2019 activities and incidents was Superintendent the National Parks Outer Banks Group Dave Hallac.

In additional business, Dare’s commissioners:

–Approved the recommendation of Coastal Science and Engineering as the consulting engineering firm for the Avon beach nourishment project. The firm will forward a contract to county manager Robert L. Outten for approval by the commissioners.

–Adopted an amendment to the capital project ordinance for the Series 2020 Limited Obligation Bond projects. The ordinance funds the new College of The Albemarle campus, new animal shelter, purchase and renovations of the Manteo property, purchase of Buxton property, the new addition to the Health and Human Services buildings and purchase of EMS equipment.

–Adopted a resolution asking that “a new or replacement bridge for the Alligator River be included in the 2023-2032 State Transportation Improvement Plan in recognition of the vital role this bridge plays in the transportation and commerce needs of Dare County and Eastern North Carolina.” The resolution further asks that funding be identified for the new or replacement bridge even if the methodology used concludes that funding for bridge is “not suitable and practical for this project.”

County manager Outten reported to the board that tax distribution laws may again come before the General Assembly. The commissioners agreed to contract with the county’s previous law firm. Outten reported funds had already been budgeted.

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Tyrrell County Schools closed Friday, February 14