Dispute corners county

The compromise Onslow County commissioners had hoped for will not be forthcoming.

At its Sept. 22 meeting, the commissioners deferred making a decision on a request to rescind the name Monk's Corner in Sneads Ferry and restore the name Four Corners to the intersection of N.C. 210 and N.C. 172.

After hearing from both sides of the issue, the commissioners decided that the best solution to the situation would be a compromise that could restore the historical Four Corners designation while still paying tribute to Monk Walton.

Alonzo "Monk" Walton operated Monk's Variety at Four Corners for 18 years. The convenience store became a popular hangout for locals to drink coffee and visit.

The name was changed from Four Corners to Monk's Corner by the county Board of Commissioners on Jan. 23, 2006, at the request of several Sneads Ferry residents.

However, a group of 56 Sneads Ferry business owners and residents petitioned commissioners recently to restore the name Four Corners on the grounds of its historical significance.

Commissioners, in an effort to find an option agreeable to all parties, chose Don Beasley, a member of the group in favor of restoring the Four Corners name, and Kern Everett, from the group opposed, and asked them to meet to see if a compromise might be negotiated, and bring it before the board at its meeting tonight.

Instead of a compromise, commissioners received a letter signed by Everett and Beasley basically stating they met and were unable to solve the problem, so commissioners should "exercise their duties and make the decision."

"We sent a letter to county commissioners, it pretty much explains everything," Beasley said. "I do not think it is appropriate for me to talk about what we covered."

Everett said the meetings between him and Beasley were always cordial.

"The community always came first on this; I'm friends with Monk, but it is about what is best for the community," Everett said. "If the people don't agree with something, and it isn't meaningful and will satisfy everybody, then it's not worth doing.

He said there were a couple of options that could have been considered but would not have been meaningful.

"Monk made it clear that he does not want this to be a divisive issue for Sneads Ferry. Once he said that he made my job easy," Everett said. "I want to see us take the high ground on this. I was just trying to speak for my friend; that was simply it.

"This is such a minor thing - an innocent thing, it's not worth it to make a big deal about it, or be ugly or vindictive about it. I want (commissioners) to do their thing Monday night and go from there."

Board of Commissioners Chairman Lionell Midgett said he is sorry there was no compromise.

"Last week I understood they were close to having a compromise, now it wasn't from a direct source, but I was led to believe there was one," Midgett said. "I was hoping it could turn out with a decision that everybody could live with and cause less division in Sneads Ferry ... I'm not surprised, but it's unfortunate that Monk Walton will be hurt, because he did a lot for the community."

Walton could not be reached for comment.

The commissioners will meet tonight at 7 at the Onslow County Courthouse.

Contact Topsail area reporter Suzanne Ulbrich at 910-219-8454. Visit www.jdnews.com to comment on this report.