Federal judge Terrence Boyle, who last week froze the Navy's plans to build a remote runway near Plymouth for fighter jets to practice landing on aircraft carriers, has tested the military with his keen knowledge of the back roads, lakes and birds of northeastern North Carolina.

He should know: He lives there.

Boyle, the chief U.S. District Court judge in Eastern North Carolina, halted the Navy's project while he considers environmental lawsuits against it. The question is whether the Navy can build the landing strip where it wants -- near a federal wildlife refuge where 100,000 birds could collide with the jets. Opponents suggest a giant farm northeast of Morehead City.

Maybe the Navy, which is used to navigating in the ocean, should look more closely at its land maps.

If the Navy puts the airstrip where it wants to, then fighter jets from a base at Virginia Beach will fly right over Edenton -- where Boyle and his wife live.

But if the Navy builds the practice runway at Open Grounds Farm, as environmentalists suggest, a straight shot would take the planes over Elizabeth City -- where Boyle works.

The Navy might boast shiny brass and advanced weapons, but the Republican Boyle has an independent streak and a lifetime job.

There's no word on when the judge will rule, or whether he has ordered aerial camouflage for his home or his courthouse.

Helms in demand

Jesse Helms made a practice of not endorsing in Republican primaries during his 30 years in the U.S. Senate.

Now retired in Raleigh, Helms has been -- dare we say it -- quite liberal in handing out endorsements. He has endorsed Bill Cobey in the race for governor, Ed Broyhill in the 5th Congressional District race and Jim Snyder for lieutenant governor. Both Graham Boyd and Virginia Johnson claim his support in the 13th Congressional District.

But Helms is turning off his endorsement spigot.

John Dodd, the president of the Jesse Helms Center in Union County, said Helms will not make any more endorsements for the July 20 primary. It seems that Helms is getting inundated with requests for his backing.

"He's busy on other things," Dodd said. "He is finishing up his book."

Dodd said Helms is revising in his memoirs, which he hopes will be published early next year.

Pols go R.V.'ing

Republicans were crowing last year, when R.V. Owens, the Nags Head restaurant owner and political fund-raiser, began helping U.S. Rep. Richard Burr in his Senate race.

Owens, a Democrat and nephew of state Senate leader Marc Basnight, has been an important ally of Govs. Jim Hunt and Mike Easley and other big-name Democrats.

But Owens was helping Burr when he thought Democratic Sen. John Edwards was likely to run again.

When Edwards decided not to seek a second term, Owens apparently had a change of heart. Owens never liked the trial lawyer Edwards, but he has been close to Erskine Bowles, a Charlotte investment banker who is now the likely Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate.

Last week, Owens held a fund-raiser at Kelly's Restaurant in Nags Head for Bowles, whom Owens helped two years ago in his race against Republican Elizabeth Dole. Owens could not be reached for comment.

Political potpourri

* Asheville business executive Gordon Myers has been appointed by Gov. Mike Easley to the state Board of Transportation. Myers, 59, replaces Alan Thornburg, whom Easley put on the N.C. Court of Appeals, and his term expires in January.

* GOP political consultant Mary Matalin will be in Charlotte on Tuesday to help raise money for U.S. Senate candidate Richard Burr.

* Backers of President Bush's re-election are holding parties across the country Thursday that include a conference call from Vice President Dick Cheney. The Raleigh party will take place at 5:30 p.m. at O'Malley's Tavern, 5228 Hollyridge Drive.

* On Friday you can see Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, or at least their professional impersonators, debate the country's future. The event, sponsored by the John Locke Foundation, starts at 7 p.m. at the N.C. Museum of History. For tickets, $10 per person, call 828-3876.