NO OLF

Thanks senior representatives for requiring North Carolinians to have to fight our own US Navy.

Please do not look to me for help

U.S. Sen. Richard Burr on Wednesday reiterated his support for area counties opposed to a Navy jet training field in eastern North Carolina.

But North Carolina's junior U.S. senator also said there is nothing he or fellow North Carolina Sen. Elizabeth Dole can do to remove the sites in Camden County and Gates County from the Navy's shortlist of possible locations for the airfield.

I know today is the last day for everyone to file for running for office and there is a lot of politically related stuff out there to digest.

I hope many of these folks who wish to represent us at least look at the OLF fight still being waged in NE NC.

As I predicted, the Navy has disqualified ALL of the data they were using for the last 8 years and these same documents were the basis for condemning 30,000+ acres near Pocoson Wildlife Refuge.

Following is a complete and insightful analysis of the US Navy's OLF juggernaut here in North Carolina. It was written in a comment by one of our frequent visitors, Parmea. One can only wish that the reporters and editorial writers at the N&O would take such care in their own commentary about the Navy's assault on our state:

Editor, News and Observer,

For many people in Northeast North Carolina, this OLF was not about birds. It was about our communities, our way of life, our heritage. It was about being treated equally and fairly by the Navy as compared to our Northern neighbors. It was about asking what right does the Navy have to dictate to farmers how, what, and when they would plant their crops. It was about keeping our identities as farmers and people who just wish to live our lives on the lands our fathers provided for us. It was never about what can we get out of the Navy. It was not a political statement. We were not on an anti-Navy crusade. We wanted truthful answers to our questions. We wanted to know why the people of Hampton Roads did not have to forfeit their lands but we were about to be forced to leave our lands for the benefit of the Navy. The Navy actually told us that they would condemn lands if it was in the benefit of the Navy and the property owner. They never defined this statement. They never intend to impose this on the people around Oceana and Fentress. If they did, they would be doing it now out to the 75 dB DNL contour line. They still will not impose this on Virginians. So what does “for the benefit of the Navy and property owner” actually mean in Virginia and North Carolina?

Fred Smith, who many believe will take the cake in the Party of Greed gubernatorial primary, has been out on his Barbecue Express in Camden County. There the angry old man reached a new low in pandering.

CAMDEN — State Sen. Fred Smith, R-Johnston, believes given the right economic incentives, a Navy practice airfield could work in North Carolina. But from what he's seen of Camden County, it's not the place for an outlying landing field. Like many other state and local officials, Smith disagrees with locating the Navy's proposed OLF in an area that won't receive enough jobs and other economic benefits to compensate for the jet noise the airfield will generate.

Received by email tonight. The OLF in Washington County is now officially dead.

Washington, D.C. – In approving the annual defense authorization bill today, Congressman G. K. Butterfield said the House closed the door on the Navy’s proposed outlying landing field in Washington County.

“The House has taken the Washington County site off the table because it posed a danger to the community, pilots and aircraft,” Butterfield said. “This is a clear message that if the Navy wants to move forward with an OLF it must have the support of the community.”