Foes of Navy field had persistence, not power
Sunday, January 27th, 2008
By Staff
PLYMOUTH - It shaped up like a classic David-and-Goliath battle — a coalition of Eastern North Carolina farmers, housewives, small-town politicians and bird lovers versus the forces of the U.S. Navy, the sprawling Virginia Beach metropolis and powerful Virginia politicians.
Most thought the little guys had no chance. Even the little guys had their doubts. But they were wrong. They won.
Navy officials announced Tuesday that they were scrapping plans to build a remote airfield in Washington and Beaufort counties. Even longtime opponents were taken aback. Some had fought plans for the outlying landing field — commonly called an "OLF" — for seven years.
"It's still so hard to believe after all we've been through," said Doris Morris, a spokeswoman for the opposition group No-OLF. "I feel like somebody needs to pinch me to make sure I'm awake."
She said the group is planning a community gathering to celebrate the victory and thank supporters. But they aren't quite ready to disband or yank up the hundreds of "No OLF" signs planted in yards and along roadsides in the region.
Now the Navy is looking at two sites in northeastern North Carolina, Hale's Lake in Camden and Currituck counties, and Sandbanks in Gates County. Morris said her group will help landowners and county officials in their fight, too. (more…)
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