Shallotte River Swamp Park

5550 Watts Road    Ocean Isle Beach           910-687-6100

http://www.shallotteriverswamp.com

  Zipline

• Longest and tallest course on the coast.
• 2-21/2 Hours of fun zipping around.
• 10 Zipline stations.
• 3 Bridges.
• More that 1.25 miles of cable lines.
• $79.00 per person

Aerial Adventure

• 53 Different challenge elements.
• 3 Levels of difficulty.
• Something for everyone.
• Adventure Park ticket lasts for 2 hours.
• $48.00 (18 and up) $42.00 (12-17) $32.00 (7-11) $22.00(4-6)

Swamp Boat Eco-Tour

• The tour takes place on the Shallotte River Swamp.
• Close up look at the natural environment.
• Who knows George Washington possibly used the Shallotte River  Swamp  in 1791.
• The tour is 50 minutes.
• $29.00 per person

                                                                                                    Who’s ready to try?

What’s for Dinner?

Ready to check out the Grillin Crab?

• 4812 Main Street  Shallotte, NC
• 910-754-8700
• Monday-Thursday 11:00 am-9:00 pm
• Friday-Saturday 11:00 am-10:00 pm
• Beautiful sunsets over looking the Shallotte  River
• Covered waterfront deck with views of the river and marshes
•  The menu offers so many choices from Southern Coastal Fare,Seafood,Sandwiches ,Steaks.
• Grab a seat around the fire pit and enjoy the view.

Order some Prince Edward Island Blue Mussels to start with,along with the   Po Boy Oyster Sandwich was so good!

Head on in to Shallotte, cross over the bridge and take a right!Enjoy your visit and let us know what you thought about the restaurant!

www.grillincrab.com

                                                        North Carolina Lighthouse Series

              Old Baldy

 Old Baldy is the oldest standing lighthouse in North Carolina,located on the original site for 189 years.The purpose of the lighthouse was to mark the entrance of the Cape Fear River for the maritime sailors.In the early days of 1817  the lighthouse was built of soft red bricks and covered with stucco.Every 2 years Old Baldy was whitewashed till it was deactivated in 1935.Thru the years the stucco has fallen and patched back to give it the quilt patch look.

Old Baldy:

• 108 steps
• 5 landings
• A ladder in the lanthorn
• 110 feet tall
• Walls 5 inches thick at the base
• 1 Door
• 6 Windows
•  Old Baldy’s 200th Birthday will be Celebrated in 2017
• 5 Minute walk from ferry
• Rent a bike or golf cart, or enjoy a walk.
• Museum at the Keepers Cottage
• Old Baldy is located on Bald Head Island and is accessible by passenger ferry from Deep Point Marina located at 1301 Ferry Rd Southport, NC
• Ferries leave on the hour.Follow signs for passenger parking.
• Ferry rates round trip $22.00 per Adults(13 and up), $11.00 for Youths(ages 3 and up) Children under 2 free.
• Lighthouse  entrance is $6.00 for Adults(13 and up) $3.00 for Youths ,Children under 2 free.
• Summer Hours: Monday-Saturday 9:00 am-5:00 pm, Sunday 11:00 am- 5:00 pm. No tickets sold after 4:30 pm
• http://www.baldheadislandferry.com
• Historic Tour Packages 910-457-5003 ext 4
• http://www.oldbaldy.org

Grab your camera , walking shoes and enjoy the Adventure!

FROM SHERIFF JOHN W. INGRAM V
BRUNSWICK COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
IRS Scam Continues Throughout Brunswick County
Residents of Brunswick County continue to be harassed by the IRS Phone Scam.  The scammer, impersonating an IRS agent, calls an individual and claims that the individual owes money to the IRS.   Many times these calls are aggressive or threatening.  They will threaten law enforcement or court action, license revocation, and other frightening scenarios.  Scammers go so far as to alter their caller ID numbers to make it appear as though the IRS or another agency is calling. They provide fake ID badge numbers and often times will be able to provide personal information about the individual such as their name or address in order to appear official.  All of this to persuade the individual into making a bogus payment, many times via a prepaid debit card or wire transfer, and conning them out of hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars.
Please be vigilant in protecting yourself and loved ones against this scam.  According to the IRS’s website, the IRS will never:
•    Call to demand immediate payment, nor will the agency call about taxes owed without first having mailed you a bill.
•    Demand that you pay taxes without giving you the opportunity to question or appeal the amount they say you owe.
•    Require you to use a specific payment method for your taxes, such as a prepaid debit card.
•    Ask for credit or debit card numbers over the phone.
•    Threaten to bring in local police or other law-enforcement groups to have you arrested for not paying.

The IRS also advises not give out any information and to hang up immediately if you receive one of these calls.  They advise those who do receive a call to contact Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) to report the call so that they can have a record of it in their data base.  Calls can be reported via their website at www.treasury.gov/tigta/contact_report_scam or call 800-366-4484.  The IRS also advises to report the call to the Federal Trade Commission via their website at www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov.  Residents may also contact the Sheriff’s Office at 910-253-2777 and speak to someone in our Financial Crimes division if they are unsure of what they need to do.  It is best to report the call immediately.
Again, please contact family, friends and neighbors in our community who may not be aware and help us keep others from becoming victimized by these thieves.

SCHOOL’S OUT, BE ALERT!

As the end of the school year approaches, I would like to remind parents and motorists to keep Brunswick County children safe throughout the summer. Excited about being out for the summer, kids may not be alert to safety issues as they normally would. Keep these points in mind for a safe summer:
Use extra caution during the last week of school, especially when driving through school zones. Be aware that kids may leave or arrive at school at different times throughout the day and are apt to be preoccupied with thoughts of summer fun.
Playground speed limits remain in effect year-round. Pay close attention when driving through school areas and parks. Small children are less predictable and harder to see than adults. During the summer, drive with headlights on, even during the day, and maintain a 20-second visual lead to allow time to stop suddenly.
Common sense must prevail. A bouncing ball in the road can be followed by a child. Hockey sticks, small helmets, tricycles or bicycles lying on the sidewalk mean nearby kids. When backing up, always make sure no kids are present; walk behind the vehicle to check if need be.
Parents should be particularly safety-conscious. Remind your children to stop, listen and look both ways before crossing a street. Hold their hand when walking through a parking lot; motorists may not see them between parked cars. If you’re not with them, it is best to tell them to avoid shortcuts altogether. Make sure they cross streets at crosswalks if there are any; this is critical if they’re headed for a beach on a crowded summer day. No jaywalking!
To reduce injuries resulting from bike crashes, make SURE your kids always wear helmets, which are proven to be very effective.
Our kids want to have a fun and memorable summer. It is our job to make sure they also have a safe one.
Sheriff John W. Ingram, V
Brunswick Sheriff’s Office

Hidden Gem 

The Vereen Memorial Park and Gardens features pathways, and wooden boardwalks that extends across several beautiful salt marshes and small islands. There is a nice gazebo that overlooks the Intracoastal Waterway and the distant waterfront of Little River.
Located on 114 acre of woodlands and salt marshes one mile south of the South Carolina line from Calabash, NC.
The land was part of Big Landing Plantation.In April 1972, 115 acres were deeded to Horry County Historial Commission by Jackson Hiram Vereen to be used as a botonical garden and nature trail.
Historic Vereen family Cemetery is also located there with revolutionary war graves marked.
Grab your camera, walking shoes and enjoy a 3 mile loop around the park.Afterwards sit on the swings and enjoy the view.

*Dogs are welcomed at the park.

*Admission and parking free

*Trail maps are located at Welcome center before you enter park.

*Signs along the trails about the plants and wildlife

*Picnic tables,swings,benches in the park.

*Open during daylight hours.

Sunset Beach Sea Turtle Season has arrived.
The Sunset Beach Turtle Watch Program (SSBTWP), is a private nonprofit that solicits volunteers to help monitor nest sites,strandings, and hatchings. Volunteers record nesting sites,move nests that maybe in threatened,record turtle hatches,and help hatchlings reach the ocean safely.
Loggerhead Sea Turtles are the most common visitors to the North Carolina Beaches.
Stop by the Sunset Properties parking lot on Sundays ( during the Summer months)at 7:00 pm to enjoy a fun free educational time about Sea Turtles!They will be glad to answer any questions you have!

Enjoy your walk along the beach to see the Turtle Nests.

WHAT YOU CAN DO TO SAVE OUR SEA TURTLES

NESTING TURTLES
Avoid disturbing a turtle that is crawling to or from the ocean. DO NOT crowd or attempt to ride a turtle. DO NOT shine lights or take flash photos of the turtle. Stay off the turtle tracks. Sit quietly in the dark, at a distance, to watch her. It is against the law to disturb her and/or her nest in any way.
THE NESTS
Stay clear of turtle nests. Avoid walking or riding vehicles near the nest. Stay off the turtle tracks. DO NOT disturb markers or screens that may be protecting the nests. Markers usually consist of wooden stakes outlined with bright tape or ribbon.
Sea Turtle – Loggerhead
THE HATCHLINGS
LIGHTS OFF. Lights disturb nesting turtles and hatchlings. Please TURN OFF your outdoor lights and shield indoor lights from shining on the beach at night. We ask the cooperation of all beach front house renters, owners, businesses, and hotels to turn off beach lights during nesting and hatching season from May to late October. Allow hatchlings to make their way safely to the ocean. DO NOT touch the hatchlings. Keeping hatchlings is illegal.
DAY AT THE BEACH
DO NOT LITTER. Pick up and place ALL trash in barrels. Fill in sand castles, trenches, and holes before leaving the beach. DO NOT leave your canopy, umbrella, or chairs on the beach overnight. These all present dangers and can cause death to turtles and their hatchlings. Avoid using flashlights, fireworks, or flash photography while on the beach at night. It is against Federal and State Laws to touch or disturb nesting sea turtles, hatchlings, or nests. If you are a SMOKER, to avoid cigarette littering on our beach, please take a portable ash tray/butt tin with you. Don’t forget a butt bin can be as simple as an empty film canister or breath mint container!
Take time to cleanup our beaches…just 30 minutes!!!

North Carolina Lighthouse Series

Oak Island  Lighthouse is one of the 6 active North Carolina Lighthouses. There are 6 active, 2 inactive( Bald Head, “Old Baldy” and Roanoke River), 2 light towers (Diamond Shoals and Frying pan Shoals). All of which mark more than 301 miles of coast line.

Oak Island Lighthouse

*Completed in 1958

*Actual structure is 153 feet tall, but it stands on a slight rise which brings it to a height of 169 feet above the water.

*No spiral staircase, instead a series of ship ladders steps with a total of 131 steps to the lantern gallery.

*Summer tours Memorial Day- Labor Day.. Information on tours at http:www.oakislandlighthouse.org/tour.information

• * The Oak Island Lighthouse is located on property that has been in use as a U.S. Coast    Guard Station since 1930
• *There is a boardwalk and observation deck across the street.
• *the characteristic flashing pattern for the light is four one-second flashes every 10 seconds.
• Call and make a reservation and enjoy the view!

                                         Summer Heat is Here! 

HOT WEATHER SAFETY – PREVENT OVERHEATING
• Watch the weather channel or sign up for weather alerts with your local security service to stay
informed of rising temperatures and potentially dangerous conditions.
• Drink plenty of fluids; water and sports drinks are the best source of hydration. Avoid alcohol
and sugary beverages, as they can actually lead to dehydration.
• Try to stay inside an air-conditioned building. If your home does not have air conditioning, go
to a public building (e.g., library, recreation center, or shopping mall), or contact your local
security company to find a nearby heat-relief shelter.
• When temperatures soar, wear light, ventilated clothing;
moisture-wicking shorts and short-sleeved t-shirts are ideal. Also, avoid dark clothing. Clothes
in light colors won’t attract sunlight like darker colors will.
• Avoid spending time in a closed, parked car. If you observe someone who appears to be
unconscious inside a closed vehicle, alert the nearest emergency worker or security officer
immediately.
• When exercising outdoors, take 15-minute breaks every so often in an air-conditioned location,
or rest in a shaded spot while you rehydrate and cool down.
• Use a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher, and reapply every two hours during extended
activities outdoors and after sweating or swimming. Wear a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses
for extra protection.
Identify Symptoms of Overheating
• Overheating is the cause of many illnesses and conditions. Learn to recognize the signs that
you or someone around you may be overheating, and take action immediately.
• Heat cramps – intense cramps in the legs or abdomen – and substantial sweating are common
symptoms of overheating.
• Heat exhaustion may be present when a person has cool, clammy skin and feels lightheaded,
weak, or nauseous.
• Heat stroke is the most serious of heat illnesses. Signs of heatstroke include headache, high
body temperature (106º F or higher), rapid pulse, or even unconsciousness. Seek medical
help as soon as possible – when the symptoms are severe, any delays can be fatal.
Treat Someone Who Is Overheated
• Take the victim inside to recline and relax in a cooler environment.
• Remove or loosen clothing for more ventilation, and fan the victim to create increased air flow.
• Use a cool, wet washcloth, sponge, or ice pack to dab the victim’s neck, face, and joints.
• Encourage the victim to drink small sips of water, a sports hydration drink, or juice.
• Call 9-1-1 or alert a nearby security officer if you see no improvement.
• It is important to remember that young children and the elderly are most at risk from heat
illness and should be regularly