BOGUE BANKS — Bogue Banks towns are still exempt from state oceanfront development setback rules, and proposed rules are in the works to encourage other coastal communities to follow their example.

EMERALD ISLE — Emerald Isle town commissioners recently took a step to improve recruitment and hiring of part-time police officers, largely to fill vacant positions the town needs for summer beach patrol.

Editor's note: This article was updated at 4:05 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 19, 2020, to reflect information about board terms.

EMERALD ISLE — Work that had been scheduled to begin Nov. 14 to extend the life of the Emerald Isle high-rise bridge did not start as scheduled and is now set to commence Tuesday, Dec. 1, Town Manager Matt Zapp said Tuesday.

EMERALD ISLE — The town of Emerald Isle had two accidental drownings and one suicide by drowning this year, but had far fewer rescue calls than in the 2019 spring-fall tourism season.

CORRECTION: This article was corrected at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2020. It mistakenly reported static line exception allowed municipal governments to set their own oceanfront property development setback lines.

EMERALD ISLE — Bogue Banks Water Corp. customers in Emerald Isle can now get a smart phone app that will give them real-time information about the water flowing, or not flowing, through their meters.

EMERALD ISLE — The Carteret County Beach Commission voted unanimously Monday to recommend the county “stay the course” and not opt into a federal nourishment program for Bogue Banks.

EMERALD ISLE — Town commissioners Tuesday night agreed to upgrade the body cameras worn by the town’s police officers.

EMERALD ISLE — The town is moving closer to improving communications, in person and online, during board of commissioners’ meetings as the novel coronavirus pandemic continues.

EMERALD ISLE — Commissioners Tuesday night authorized Town Manager Matt Zapp to negotiate a contract with engineering firm Moffatt & Nichol to develop a comprehensive stormwater management plan.

EMERALD ISLE — The long-delayed repair and improvement work on the high-rise bridge to the western Carteret County mainland is expected to start soon, according to Town Manager Matt Zapp.

EMERALD ISLE — Town commissioners Tuesday night will consider seven proposals to develop a stormwater management plan.

EMERALD ISLE — Two people were transported to Carteret Health Care Tuesday after a barge hit a fishing boat near the high-rise bridge between Emerald Isle and the western Carteret County mainland.

EMERALD ISLE — The Emerald Isle beach nourishment project is officially set to begin the final week of January.

EMERALD ISLE — Town Manager Matt Zapp announced Friday the October Emerald Isle Board of Commissioners meeting set for Tuesday has been canceled.

CARTERET COUNTY — As Carteret County’s towns gear up for Halloween activities, County Health Department Director Stephanie Cannon urges safety precautions due to the coronavirus pandemic.

EMERALD ISLE — A surfer in Emerald Isle late Wednesday afternoon said he received cuts to his knee and foot and damage to his board in he believes was a shark attack.

EMERALD ISLE — Emerald Isle is one of five towns in Carteret County that will participate Saturday with the County Sheriff’s Office in theannual “Operation Medicine Drop” and “Pills Can Kill” prescription drug takeback program.

EMERALD ISLE — Emerald Isle is unlikely to reopen its administration building – closed now for nearly two weeks since an employee tested positive for COVID-19 – anytime soon.

BOGUE BANKS — Seismic survey permits will expire at the end of November, and local town officials and environmental groups are pleased with the news.

EMERALD ISLE — One Bogue Banks town is taking additional steps to protect the public and employees in the wake of additional “employee exposure” to the COVID-19 virus.

EMERALD ISLE — A first responder for the town of Emerald Isle tested positive for COVID-19 last week, and effective Monday, the town administrative building is closed to the public.