Making Waves in an Island Community

Daniel Pullen Photography

If anything significant happens in Dare County, Mary Helen Goodloe-Murphy probably knows about it. Since 1990 she has covered events there as a reporter for the “Coastland Times.”

“If there is a community event on Hatteras Island, you can bet she’ll be there to cover it,” says Susan Flythe, executive vice president and general manager of Cape Hatteras Electric Cooperative (CHEC).

And if there is any project that improves life for residents of the seven villages on Hatteras Island, Mary Helen likely started it — or at the very least had a hand in making it a reality.

“She’s the most civically involved person I’ve ever known,” Susan says. “She’s a legend on the island. I can’t say enough good about her.”

Mary Helen and her late husband, the Rev. Andrew Thomas Goodloe-Murphy, had vacationed in the Outer Banks for years before moving there in 1986. Their first community service was with the volunteer community fire department.

“Our friends were volunteer firefighters, so we joined and served for 10 or 12 years, until we got too old,” Mary Helen explains.

One of Mary Helen’s favorite local projects is Radio Hatteras. She has been involved with the station since its beginning and still takes her turn as a shift broadcaster.

“We just celebrated our 11th birthday,” she says. “It’s an all-volunteer station. We have a digital jukebox that automatically plays all types of music. People come and go one by one, taking their shifts.”

The station got started when a Virginia radio station owner offered to give two of his broadcast licenses to the community. Former CHEC General Manager Jim Kinghorn needed a way to communicate with residents during local emergencies. He urged them to accept this offer and start and operate a local station.

Radio Hatteras is a vital source of information for residents, especially during hurricanes when the station broadcasts 24 hours a day. It is linked to the Dare County Emergency System and CHEC so those officials can interrupt the automatic music anytime to impart important news.

The radio station’s impact “is huge,” Susan says. “Sometimes it’s our only way to communicate.”

The Outer Banks Hotline thrift shop, which Mary Helen started in 1987 in Rodanthe, is still operating, too. With several locations, the shops have a big impact, with funds raised split between the fire department and a local domestic violence hotline.

When Hatteras Island gained National Seashore status in 2009, it became eligible for federal funds. Eight miles of pathways make walking or biking easier for residents and visitors. Through her grant writing, Mary Helen hopes funds will soon allow the remaining seven miles to be completed.

Mary Helen’s many awards for community service include Dare County Citizen of the Year, Outer Banks Citizen of the Year, member of the Order of the Longleaf Pine, and North Carolina Coastal Federation’s Pelican Award.

She says the best thing about living on Hatteras Island is that “the people are terrific, and the weather is always changing.” She adds: “I’m not a native. I came here, but I’ve lived here longer than I’ve lived anywhere else.”