Story [Issue 16] (STORY) written by beck

[conanthedestroyer 278]

This article is written by bdeck, one of the new reporters. I hope you enjoy.

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A federal official dashed the hopes of Currituck County officials on Wednesday, granting ownership of the historic lighthouse in Corolla to a nonprofit that restored the structure and has maintained it for more than 20 years.

"Under the circumstances, the county had a full and fair opportunity to compete and was simply outdone by a more experienced applicant," wrote Craig Manson, assistant secretary for fish, wildlife and parks at the U.S. Department of the Interior.

The county and the Manteo-based nonprofit Outer Banks Conservationists Inc. have been competing for ownership of the light since fall 2001. Earlier this year, a committee of four National Parks Service employees picked the nonprofit as the best steward for the lighthouse, and the decision was passed on to Manson after the county appealed.

The nonprofit touted its experience with the lighthouse after the decision was announced, pointing out that the lighthouse and accompanying structures were "all but abandoned" in 1980.

"Neither the local nor federal governments wanted anything to do with it," a release from the nonprofit states.

Manson, who put together a 13-page document supporting his decision, acknowledged the disadvantage county officials faced in the competition.

"Clearly, (the nonprofit's) two decades of managing the lighthouse gives it an advantage that no other applicant was likely to overcome," Manson wrote. "The fact was a part of the risk the county took on when it decided to compete for the lighthouse."

In their appeal, county officials claimed their application for ownership of the light had been judged unfairly. Manson acknowledged that "a different panel of reviewers might reasonably score the county's application significantly higher" than the committee of national parks staff did. Even so, the assertion "begs the real issue," Manson wrote.

"The 'adequacy' of the county's plans is not sufficient to award the lighthouse to the county," Manson wrote. "The record supports the review committee's conclusion that (the nonprofit) is the best steward for long-term preservation of the Currituck Beach Lighthouse."

Congressman Walter Jones, whose district includes Currituck, blasted the decision in a written statement. Jones targeted Interior Secretary Gale Norton as the official ultimately responsible for the decision.

"While it has been apparent for some time that Secretary Norton and the bureaucrats who advise her have held a thinly-veiled bias against Currituck County, for her to issue this recommendation at this time is reckless," Jones stated. "The Secretary knows full well that there are serious questions about (the nonprofit's) compliance with the terms of its license with the Coast Guard. She is also well aware that the Coast Guard is in the middle of an investigation into this matter that will be completed in a few short weeks."

John Wilson, a board member and founder of the nonprofit, said Jones' allegations are a distortion of the facts. The nonprofit's license with the Coast Guard limits the ways Coast Guard money may be spent, and those limitations have been honored, Wilson said.

"Not one dime of Coast Guard money has been spent on anything but restoration, maintenance and operation of the light tower itself," Wilson said.

County officials have claimed the nonprofit is barred from spending any money outside the borders of Currituck County, and Jones referenced the allegation in his statement.

The "possible non-compliance may have resulted in significant amounts -- potentially several hundred thousands of dollars -- being diverted by (the nonprofit) to projects outside of Currituck County when it should have been used to save the lighthouse or returned to taxpayers," Jones stated.

Wilson said that assertion comes from a flawed understanding of the agreement between the Coast Guard and the nonprofit.

"(County officials) need to read the license and talk to the Coast Guard," Wilson said. "We are in full and absolute compliance with our license."

Jones also reiterated a claim he has made repeatedly, that local control is the paramount concern in deciding who should own the lighthouse.

"The bottom line is that the lighthouse should belong to the people of the community in which the lighthouse is located -- Currituck County. For the Secretary to ignore this fact and render a decision recommending that the lighthouse be given away to the very group being investigated by the Coast Guard is mind-boggling."

Wilson questioned Jones' rationale, pointing out that Jones is one of 11 members of Congress who co-sponsored the 2000 law which lay the framework for the competition. Nonprofits would not be able to challenge local governments had the law not been passed.

"(Jones) has a short-term memory," Wilson said. "He co-sponsored the act of Congress in 2000 that put nonprofits on an equal footing with local governments."

The act, called the National Historic Lighthouse Protection Act of 2000, was passed to protect nearly 300 lighthouses currently owned by the Coast Guard. The lights are being given away because the Coast Guard no longer wants to be faced with the expense of maintaining them.

In his ruling, Manson disputed the claim that national parks staff were biased in favor of the nonprofit.

"Indeed, no credible evidence of such alleged predisposition has been produced," Manson wrote.

In a written statement distributed Wednesday, county officials said they "strongly disagree" with Manson's decision.

County officials feel they "would have been a worthy steward" of the lighthouse, and they pointed to their success in restoring the Whalehead Club, a hunt club built adjacent to the lighthouse in the 1920's.

"The county also put forth several partnership proposals including public ownership" of the lighthouse, and "even proposed joint ownership" with the nonprofit, according to the statement. The competition for the lighthouse had already devolved into a bitter struggle, however, and no collaborative agreement was ever reached.

In the waning days of the competition, county officials repeatedly cast themselves as the ones wanting to compromise, and Manson mentions the overtures in his written decision.

Manson wrote that he initially planned to make a decision by June 2, but delayed because his office received information on May 30 indicating the county and the nonprofit might be interested in discussing a cooperative agreement.

A June 4 conference call between Manson's staff, the county and the nonprofit left little hope of collaboration, but Manson's office remained in contact with both parties. Manson disputes the county officials' claimed offer to discuss joint ownership of the lighthouse, however.

"Although both parties eventually agreed to meet and discuss other aspects of managing the lighthouse, neither party demonstrated any willingness to change its basic position that it should own the lighthouse," Manson wrote.

Manson made a last effort to bring the county and the nonprofit together for a July 23 meeting in Washington, but the nonprofit declined the invitation. Manson then put the finishing touches on his written decision and issued it.

Wilson said he hopes all parties will be able to accept the decision favoring Outer Banks Conservationists and work together.

"It's time to heal the wounds and move forward," Wilson said.

[GoldRock 6,165]

Excellent as a newspaper article, really excellent, but we really need some background as to what you're talking about, some kind of introduction... because this article seems very random, almost out of place in the newspaper of an online game... It almost seems as though this was an article you wrote some time ago, and so has been lifted from your application to the newspaper team, as an example article. Which shouldn't have happened if that is the case.

Edited October 4, 2013 by GoldRock

[TheLonelyEpic 212]

^Hmm... Sure this wasn't plagiarized, conan?

[Meliora 1,652]

^Hmm... Sure this wasn't plagiarized, conan?

Lol, doubt it. But yeah I think stories about the game are appreciated...

It isn't bad as a starter.

[Lhamster 4,081]

^Hmm... Sure this wasn't plagiarized, conan?

Yup, he wrote it about 10 years ago when he was a professional reporter.

[GoldRock 6,165]

Yup, he wrote it about 10 years ago when he was a professional reporter.

It sounded like it was professionally written... Can't wait to see what he'll come up with next issue ^_^

[Remaine 4,687]

Awesome.

But of course, it'd be nice if your future articles could be made Tanki-related.

[aojsd 144]

Awesome.

But of course, it'd be nice if your future articles could be made Tanki-related.

Ofc, but for this issue, as you probably already know, the candidates' applications were published.

[Remaine 4,687]

Ofc, but for this issue, as you probably already know, the candidates' applications were published.

Yep, I understand that completely. 

[The-PlayerRAILTEST 11]

I don't think this is related to Tanki?

[aojsd 144]

I don't think this is related to Tanki?

You're correct, it was bdeck's application to become a reporter, which as you can see, has been published along with the applications of the other candidate reporters.

[BoRn.To.Be.WiLd 29]

Nice :lol:

[donut70 97]

I should have just read the comments to know it was a professional article before taking the time to read something I wasn't interested in.

[FillTheWorldWithLove 345]

i found the original article, http://home.nps.gov/applications/release/Detail.cfm?ID=390 (hope that is not bannable), but seems kinda week to just copy an article doesnt it?

[q456wert 18]

i found the original article, http://home.nps.gov/applications/release/Detail.cfm?ID=390 (hope that is not bannable), but seems kinda week to just copy an article doesnt it?

conanthedestroyer said that he was a professional reporter and he wrote it 10 years ago so it is his not copied.