[CPEO-MEF] Caught in a noisy crossfire

[CPEO Moderator <cpeo@cpeo.org>]

North Carolina
THE DAILY NEWS
Caught in a noisy crossfire
By THOMAS DAIL
07/08/2003

EDITOR'S NOTE: This is the third of a five-part series looking at Onslow
County's Joint Land Use Study with Camp Lejeune.

Verona has been a source of conflict between civilian and military
interests for nearly a decade. It's part of the reason the Joint Land
Use Study between Onslow County and Camp Lejeune was developed.

The community is a small triangle of land caught between New River Air
Station and the Greater Sandy Run Training Area, which the base
established a little more than 10 years ago to provide tank and other
training opportunities for Marines.

In that time, residents along nearby High Hill Road have complained
about range noise, aircraft flyovers and the loss of the wooded border
that once separated Camp Lejeune and civilian homes. A perimeter fence
now abuts the neighborhood with warning signs about the firing area.

During public sessions last year at Dixon High School, many of the
area's residents said they were worried about how firing at the range
affects the foundations of their homes and property values. Some said
their families have lived in the area since the 1700s and didn't want to
leave.

John Campbell Jr.'s family has owned property in Verona since the 1930s
- before Camp Lejeune was built. The Campbells have been vocal critics
of the base's treatment of residents along High Hill Road in the past.
He says his family isn't unpatriotic. His brother is in the Air Force,
and he has uncles and cousins in various branches of the military.

"It's not the guys and the gals in the military," he said.

It's the noise.

This article can be viewed at:
http://www.jdnews.com/Details.cfm?StoryID=13978

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~