Tag Archives: Harkers Island
Harkers Island residents demand removal of neglected shrimp boat disrupting local harbor
The bottom line is the community wants this eyesore gone. Miss Becky has drifted around Brooks Creek Harbor for 2 years. It’s labeled as a derelict vessel by the Wildlife Resource Commission, which means it’s a vessel that is neglected with an identifiable owner. The owner is Douglas Oneil Junior who was just released from prison after being convicted of felony littering charges with his vessels. He faces those same charges with this shrimp boat. Video, more, >>click to read<< 09:11
![](https://fisherynation.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/fishing-family.jpg)
A Fisherman’s Family
Melba Willis of Harkers Island has been around commercial fishermen her whole life. Her dad, husband and even her father-in-law worked on the water. She married her husband, Billy, in 1960 and they were together for 54 years before his death approximately six years ago. They had three sons, Kerry, Billy Joe and Stephen. Being married to a commercial fisherman was a hard, yet rewarding life. Melba says they got through the years because they loved each other so. Most years, they made good money to feed their family, but there were what she called “dull” years. This meant that they were always having to be sure to “put back” money in the good years to cover the “dull” ones, the years that the ocean was not good to them. >click to read< 09:47