The town of North Topsail Beach will soon begin requiring an access pass to enter a highly used 4x4 permissible driving area. The area, known as Onslow County Beach Access #3 is located at the end of River Road and consists of approximately 12 acres of shoreline along the New River. It’s a popular spot for surf fishing and the need to provide maintenance, law enforcement and public safety have increased to a point where the town has decided to charge users a fee. Annual permits for $100.00 and daily passes for $20.00 will be required starting July 10th. North Topsail Beach residents will be able to access the site for free with a hurricane re-entry sticker on their vehicle. The town is working to provide online and mobile phone payment options, as well as a pay stations at the entrance of the permissible driving area and Town Hall. For more information, go to: http://www.ntbnc.org/Pages/4x4DrivingArea.aspx
Jared Brumbaugh is the Assistant General Manager for Public Radio East. An Eastern North Carolina native, Jared began his professional public radio career at Public Radio East while he was a student at Craven Community College earning his degree in Electronics Engineering Technology. During his 15+ years at Public Radio East, he has served as an award-winning journalist, producer, and on-air host. When not at the station, Jared enjoys hiking, traveling, and honing his culinary skills.