This was a very good article, fairly accurately describing the situation. Thanks Shirin for bringing it to our attention.

I may have missed it, but it seemed like what was left out is the fact that when John Wilson found the entire site in ruins, the county wanted no part of it, and hasn't all those years. All the county wanted to do was burn down the remaining structures.

The OBC, Inc. cleaned it up, and did an amazing transformation of the buildings, the tower and the grounds and turned it into the beautiful site it is today. It was not until the county saw the lighthouse put up "for grabs" so to speak, that they got into the picture.

OBC, Inc. has gone through the entire procedure as dictated by the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act of 2000 (NHLPA), 16 U.S.C. 470, and has come out the winner by due process of the law.

Then, they have endured attack after attack by the local government, and each time, have still come out the winner.

The county will continue to profit by the lighthouse remaining in the hands of the OBC, Inc. by the tourists it attracts who spend their money in the county.

The people of the county do not "lose" the lighthouse by it remaining in the hands of the OBC, Inc.

So there remains one more hurdle before the title is turned over to OBC, Inc., that being the review by the Department of Homeland Security.
This came into play, because the county officials called for an investigation by the Coast Guard, of how the funds were being used.

The Coast Guard did the review and passed the OBC,Inc. with flying colors. Since this was not the result these county officials were after, they decided to go to the Coast Guard's "boss", namely the Department of the Homeland Security.

The DHS has a lot more important things to watch over just as the Coast Guard does, but the DHS now has this controversy to consider.

Will this be the last step? If the DHS also rules in favor of the OBC,Inc, will the county officials pull out another bag of tricks?

We can only wait and see.

My hope is that no other lighthouse group that has been there as the faithful steward of a lighthouse is faced with the storm that OBC,Inc. has had to endure while applying for ownership under due process of the law, the NHLPA act of 2000.

Judy

We've watched this story unfold over the last couple years. Although my sympathies lie with the group who took care of it all those years, it really is a shame that both groups couldn't have come together and combined strengths rather than fight each other so bitterly.

Unfortunately, that was not an option.

The OBC,Inc went on record that they were willing to work with the county.

The county's position was that they wanted it, and they wanted the OBC, Inc. to be totally out of the picture.

The county officials have not changed their position to this date.

Sad situation.

Judy

Maybe the officials of Currituck County will eventually get some sense. However, they sound like they are still real bitter and will try to be a thorn in the side of the OBC...which really won't help anyone. It really sounds just like a nasty child custody battle.

I'm sure none of us are surprised to see yet another story on Currituck this week...
Currituck in the News Again

Nice to hear that there is a politician who is actually on OBC's side, and willing to try to help. Kind of wonder if OBC is going to have to spend a fortune building defensive positions all around the light station to defend themselves and their visitors from the county scum.

Now that the California recall is over, you suppose they could try one in Currituck County??

For anyone interested, you can read Waxman's letter on his website:

Letter to GSA

This is actually a bit of good news...and with any luck, will help speed up the process of getting the title transferred to the OBC, Inc.

Let's see what comes of this on the 14th.

Judy

Well researched and well-written. Let's hope the Oct 14 date is met. That would be some good news in time for the Hatteras Celebration weekend.