USS NC Sub Leaves Town

WILMINGTON, NC (2008-05-05) Wilmington bid farewell to the submarine USS North Carolina yesterday after spending more than a week at the Port of Wilmington for its commissioning this past weekend.

The 140 crew aboard the spent the nearly 10 days leading up to the commissioning of the USS North Carolina touring the Wilmington area.

Read the full story here.

Father's Complaints Prompt Inspection of Ft. Bragg's Barracks

WILMINGTON, NC (2008-04-30) A father who complained about his son's living conditions in a Fort Bragg barrack has sparked a national campaign to inspect Army barracks across the country.

Ed Frawley was visiting his son as he returned to Fort Bragg from Afghanistan, when he took pictures of his son's barrack.

Those pictures, some of which featured mold, peeling paint, and a clogged drain, appeared in a slideshow on YouTube.

Read the full story here.

Oyster Shell Recycling Increasing in Pender County

WILMINGTON, NC (2008-04-22) More oyster shells in Pender County are being put back into the ocean for the next generation of oysters than previous years.

When put back into the ocean, the shells serve as a bed where new oysters can grow.

Read the full story here.

Camp Lejeune Kicks Off "Operation Change Out" for Earth Day

WILMINGTON, NC (2008-04-22) Five military bases across the Carolinas celebrated Earth Day today by switching out light bulbs.

The Secretary of Energy joined Marines at Camp Lejeune to replace incandescent light bulbs with more efficient ones.

Read the full story here.

NH County Board of Elections Prepares for National Spotlight

WILMINGTON, NC (2008-04-14) The New Hanover County Board of Elections expects record turnout on the May 6th primary and is planning carefully to avoid mistakes while underneath the national microscope.

Voter Registration in North Carolina ended last Friday, but Bonnie Williams with the New Hanover County Board of Elections says voters, registered or not, can vote early during the one-stop voting period.

Read the full story here.

Hewett Receives Pay While Suspended

WILMINGTON, NC (2008-04-13) Brunswick County Sheriff Ronald Hewett has received his first paycheck while suspended.

Hewett, who makes $108,000 a year, was temporarily suspended last month after several of his current and former employees petitioned to remove him.

Read the full story here.

Cpl. Cesar Laurean Caught in Mexico

WILMINGTON, NC (2008-04-11) The Marine accused of killing a pregnant fellow Marine has been captured in Mexico after running from authorities for more than three months.

Police arrested Corporal Cesar Laurean last night in the small western Mexico town of Tacambaro.

Read the full story here.

Ohio Congressman Calls Marine Response "Inadequate"

WILMINGTON, NC (2008-04-10) The Ohio Congressman for the district where murdered pregnant Marine Maria Lauterbach's family lives says the Marine Corps' response to his questions about her death is "totally inadequate".

Ohio Congressman Michael Turner asked the Marine Corps last month what it did to protect Lance Corporal Maria Lauterbach after she was allegedly raped by fellow Marine Corporal Cesar Laurean.

Read the full story here.

Suspended Sheriff's Salary in Question

WILMINGTON, NC (2008-04-02) Brunswick County has until next week to decide whether it will pay suspended Sheriff Ronald Hewett his salary during his suspension.

Brunswick County policy does not allow suspended employees to receive pay unless they are elected officials, like the sheriff. But North Carolina's state constitution says employees can only be paid for services rendered.

Read the full story here.

Brunsco. Democrats say it's too soon to replace Hewett

WILMINGTON, (2008-04-01) The Brunswick County Democratic Party says the County Commissioners' vote to find a replacement for Sheriff Ronald Hewett is premature.

Brunswick County Commissioners voted last night to ask the Brunswick County Democratic Party to nominate a replacement for Hewett within thirty days.

Read the full story here.

Brunsco. Sheriff Hewett Indicted

Brunswick County Sheriff Ronald Hewett was indicted today on three counts of embezzlement and one count of obstruction of justice.

Hewett was temporarily suspended from his post last week when more than 20 of his current and former staff members petitioned to remove him from office. Today Hewett was expected in court to explain why he should remain sheriff.

Read the full story here.

Media ask Brunsco. Commissioners to Open Agenda Meetings

WILMINGTON, NC (2008-03-17) Local media outlets are urging Brunswick County Commissioners to open their agenda meetings to the public.

In a letter delivered to Brunswick County Presiding Chairman Bill Sue, local media outlets urged Brunswick County Commissioners to open their weekly agenda meetings.

Read the full story here.

Feds Set to Reject Center Re-Use Plan

A soon-to-be decommissioned military reserve center near Wilmington's Greenfield Lake may eventually become transitional homeless housing, over the city's objections.

Federal law allows local governments to decide how best to develop surplus military property. But it also requires that homeless services get first consideration unless the city doesn't have a homeless problem or there are more pressing local economic needs.

Wilmington officials last year decided the facility isn't needed for the homeless but the federal government isn't so sure, accusing the city of 'inconsistent reasoning'...

Read the entire story here.

Gov. Easley Sets Special Hearing on Wright

The governor granted House Speaker Joe Hackney’s request to hold the special session next Thursday. That’s when the full House will consider recommendations to kick Wright out of the state house.

Read the full story here.

Wilm. Chosing Convention Center Contractor...

Wilmington may soon have a company to build its convention center, one that already has a history in the region.

J.M. Thompson Company of Raleigh came in with the low bid for the project's construction contract...

Read the full story here.

Lawsuits Against Brunsco. School Board Re-Filed

The attorney for parents accusing Brunswick County Schools of failing to protect their children from predators has re-filed the lawsuits against the School Board.

Last year three incidents of Brunswick County Schools employees having inappropriate relationships with students prompted lawsuits against the School Board.

Read the full story here.

Wilmington Completes NEI Sewer Repairs

Burst pipes are usually the beginning of a city's sewer headache, but this week, a split pipe could herald the end of Wilmington's current round of wastewater woes.

Engineers used a new technique of pipe bursting to install a half-mile of new line along Greenville Loop Road, running the new pipe inside the old and then expanding it. That final section of repairs completes the city's promised improvements to the Northeast Interceptor sewer line...

Read the full story and find more of our sewer coverage here.

Beach Towns Growing Up

Carolina and Kure Beach want to make sure you have a reason to get out of your car before you get to their beaches.

The two towns that make up Pleasure Island are taking an active hand in their future growth, with a focus on developing their commercial areas.

Find the entire story and supporting materials here.

Public Meetings:

Carolina Beach:
Monday: Steering Committee Meeting: 6-8pm
Tuesday: Presentation to Town Council: 6-8pm

Kure Beach
Monday: Public hearing: 6:30pm

Shag Dancers Compete in N. Myrtle Beach

Teams of shag dancers will show off their pivots and duck walks in North Myrtle Beach tonight for the first day of the 25th annual National Shag Championships.

Shag, or beach, music is unique to the Carolinas. A mix of big band swing, R-n-B, and rock-and-roll; the style swept coastal dancehalls in the forties and fifties...

Read the whole story here.

WHQR's Mental Health Care Series, pt I

This morning marks the start of WHQR's month-long exploration of North Carolina's mental health care system. Every Wednesday in March our reporters will bring you the stories of people in different stages of treatment. But we start today with an overview of the system from one of its new co-directors...

Listen to WHQR's interview with Leza Wainwright here.

(you will also find a link to Wainwright's full interview at that site)

Brunsco School Board Approves New Middle School

The Brunswick County School Board voted last night to approve a building contract for a new middle school.

The new Holden Beach Middle School will cost $14.5 million.

Read the full story here.

Vote On Wright's Campaign Status Postponed

The State Board of Elections has postponed a vote that would determine whether it would lift the termination status of State Representative Thomas Wright's campaign.

Read the full story here.

Relaxed Water Rules for Wilmington?

After more than four months on lockdown, Wilmington's lawn sprinklers and swimming pools could soon be back in business if the city approves an easing of its current drought restrictions.

Wilmington's water officials want to redefine entire scale of water regulations, replacing many currently mandatory restrictions with guidelines and more public education...

Read the full story here.

Stimulus Package Swamping Free Tax Preparers

The lines form early in the morning on the third floor of New Hanover County's main library. By the time the doors open, the murmuring crowd resembles fans waiting for a geriatric rock concert.

Here, as tax preparer Kevin O'Grady put it, "is where the rubber meets the road" on the federal stimulus package...

Read the full story here.

New Hanover County And Strickland Family Settle

New Hanover County has settled with the family of Peyton Strickland for $2.45 million.

The county’s insurer will pay the nearly $2.45 million settlement with the county paying a $25,000 deductible.

The settlement will be presented to county commissioners at the March 10th meeting.

Read more about the settlement and hear Sheriff Sid Causey's taped statment
here.

UNCW Takes Inventory of Its Forest

University of North Carolina, Wilmington has announced that it will take inventory of the 140-acre forest on campus.

UNCW Chancellor Rosemary DePaolo says the move is in response to outrage that UNCW is planning to build dorms on 13 acres of long leaf pine forest currently used for research.

Read the full story
here.

Walking the Halls: Pender High School

Walking up to Pender High School where it stands, nearly alone alongside Highway 53, the scene can appear almost a little desolate.

Flat fields spread into the distance and a chilly wind sweeps past, rich with the smell of invisible hog farms. The life in this little collection of buildings is hardly apparent. But let the buzzer sound for break, and suddenly everything is chaos, action, noise...

Read or listen to the full story here.

City and Developers Debate Proposed Downtown Code

Historically-sensitive and pedestrian-friendly, or unrealistic and bad for business. Wilmington's planners and at least one developer see very different futures when they look at the city's proposed development code for downtown.

The draft land development code Wilmington will present at a public meeting tonight was designed by planners to give the city more control over how the central business district will develop in the coming decades, especially the rapidly growing north end around the PPD building...

Read the full story here.

__________

Public Input Meeting on the Central Business District Regulations:

Tuesday, February 26th

6:30 pm

Wilmington City Council Chambers

Thalian Hall

Rep. McIntyre Wants FISA Revisions

WILMINGTON, NC (2008-02-21) Representative Mike McIntyre says he wants Congress to strike a balance between individual privacy and national security when revising the new foreign surveillance law.

The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, or FISA, regulates the government's ability to spy on Americans. McIntyre voted to extend a revised version of FISA for three weeks, but the extension was voted down.

Read the full story here.

NC NAACP President Wants Legislative Committee Stream

WILMINGTON, NC (2008-02-20) The head of the North Carolina NAACP says he wants lawmakers to stream legislative committee meetings online.

North Carolina NAACP President William Barber says too many bills die in committee and never make it to the floor for open discussion.

Read the full story here.

Burgaw PD Launces Senior Citizen Safety Program

WILMINGTON, NC (2008-02-19) The Burgaw Police Department is launching a program to check up on senior citizens.

The R U OK program will ask seniors who live alone or with disabilities to voluntarily call the police department once a day Monday through Friday. If they don't call, the police department will call them to make sure they're OK.

Police Chief Wayne Briley launched the project.

"We'll use this same listing for folks if we have another storm coming in. We can use it as a quick list to call these folks and say, Hey, look, you been watching TV? You know the storm is coming in?"

Briley says the Burgaw Police Department is accepting requests to be a part of R U OK. He says he hopes to start receiving calls by the beginning of next month.

Three Hotel Bids for Convention Center

At least three development companies are vying to build a hotel at Wilmington's convention center.


City officials had three bids in hand when the request for proposals closed at 5pm Monday. But the project's manager, Steve Bridges, says the city might consider any proposals that came in later in the night...

Read the full article here.

Backyard Bird Count On Again

For the next three days, birders across North Carolina will trade their binoculars for tally sheets, as they take part in the Backyard Bird Count.

Tens of thousands of people nationwide take part in the annual count, gathering information that environmental groups use to track everything from population declines, to the spread of invasive species...

Read the entire story here.

Statewide Burning Ban Reinstated

WILMINGTON, NC (2008-02-14) A state-wide burning ban kicked in at noon today.

Both Pender and Brunswick counties joined in by reinstating local burning bans, which apply to areas within 100 feet of occupied homes.

Read the full story here.

National Trust Names Wilmington a "Distinctive Destination"

WILMINGTON, NC (2008-02-13) The National Trust for Historic Preservation has named Wilmington as one of a dozen tourist destinations that have made significant efforts to preserve its cultural heritage.

The Trust chooses a dozen cities each year. Wilmington joins Asheville, Edenton, and Hillsborough as the fourth North Carolina city to receive the distinction.

Read the full story here.

Walking the Halls: West Brunswick High School

WILMINGTON, NC (2008-02-12) At West Brunswick High, Principal George Kelley makes all the important decisions. On this Friday, he's got to decide whether cheerleaders can fly.

"They throw them so high in the air, that it's just a matter of time before somebody gets hurt," says Kelley. "Then I wouldn't be able to live with myself when they get hurt."


Read the full story here.

Northwest Town Council Votes Against Landfill

WILMINGTON, NC (2008-02-11) The Northwest Town Council voted against the first step toward building Brunswick County's second construction and demolition debris landfill.

Read the full story here.

Fires Burn Across North and South Carolina

Firefighters in South Carolina are cleaning up smoldering patches of what was a massive wildfire that burned just outside Myrtle Beach Sunday. Hundreds of wildfires tore across both South and North Carolina this weekend.

Read the full story here.

UNCW Searching For New Provost

A search committee is in place at the University of North Carolina-Wilmington to find a new provost.

Paul Hosier announced Thursday that he is stepping down to return to teaching.

Read the full story here.

UNCW Student Group Wants Forest, Not Housing, on Campus

Plans by UNC-Wilmington to build more on-campus housing have run into opposition from a group of students concerned about the environmental cost...

Read the full story here.

Tonight's public meeting:

6:30 to 8:30 pm
Dobo Hall, room 134
UNCW campus

Northwest Landfill has Residents Concerned...

A new landfill may come to the Brunswick County town of Northwest and many residents say they don't want it.

The proposed landfill would contain construction and demolition debris and grow to more than 140 acres over twenty years. That site was originally considered for an affordable housing development...

Read the full story here.

Film Incentives One Victim of Shorfall

Film incentives are on the city of Wilmington's list of expenses to cut to make up for the more than $3.6 million dollar budget shortfall.

The city uses film incentives to attract new movie and television productions. So far the $500,000 is expected to be frozen through June...

Read the full story here.

New Hanover County Lays Out Budget Cuts

New Hanover County is cutting back on everything from new software, to new firefighters as it tries to find roughly $7 million to slash out of its budget.

County manager Bruce Shell describes the cuts as general 'belt-tightening'...

Find the full story here.

Wilmington Outlines Budget Cuts

Film incentives, business travel, and new road signs are all being slashed from this year’s Wilmington City budget, as officials try to make up for a nearly four million dollar shortfall.

The problem stems from an error in how New Hanover County calculated property tax revenues last year. State law requires governments to balance their budgets, so now Wilmington, with half the fiscal year to go, has to cut back the spending it approved in June...

Read the full article here.

Fines Increase for Coastal Development Violations

Starting today, developers and homeowners who violate North Carolina's Coastal Area Management Act will face higher penalties.

CAMA violations can range from building an unlicensed dock to dredging a waterway without a permit...

Read the full story here.

Columbus County Vets Plan for Moving Wall

WILMINGTON, NC (2008-01-31) A half-sized replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall is coming to Columbus County this fall.

The wall is one of two replicas of the Washington D.C. memorial that a small group of veterans rents to communities around the country. One of the replicas spent time in Myrtle Beach last year.

Anita Adams with the Columbus County Vietnam Veterans of America. She says the replica gives those who can't travel to see the D.C. Memorial a similar experience.

"This replica, as well as the one in Washington, has been referred to as the healing wall," Adams says, "and I think it just kinda brings some peace of mind to those who did serve there."

Adams says the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall will be free for the public during the second week of October. She says the group is putting up 14-thousand dollars to bring the "Moving Wall."

Developers Break Ground at Autumn Hall

Construction of a 236-acre housing and shopping development in Wilmington will pick up speed this spring, and nearby residents are bracing for the population boom...

Read the full story here

Three Counties Count Homeless

Volunteers in Pender, Brunswick, and New Hanover Counties visited shelters and searched the woods in three counties last night, trying to capture a snapshot of the area's homeless population.

The annual homeless count helps local agencies set funding priorities for the upcoming year. Volunteers go beyond a simple head count, surveying the people they find about how and when they lost their housing...

Read the full story here.

DOT Seeks Input on US 17 Bypass

WILMINGTON, NC (2008-01-29) It's been on the table for nearly 20 years and now the final public meetings are taking place on the US 17 bypass in Brunswick County.
The North Carolina Department of Transportation will roll out the maps for residents Thursday night.

The Brunswick leg of the bypass stretches from US 17 just south of Leland to US 421 in New Hanover County.

The North Carolina Department of Transportation projects 94,000 vehicles traveling the road by 2025.

The Meeting
Thursday January 31, 2008

Open House: 4:00 - 6:30pm

Presentation: 7:00pm

North Brunswick High School

114 Scorpion Drive, Leland

The Maps
Click here for the map of Segment A
Click here for the map of Segment B1
Click here for the map of Segment B2
Click here for the map of Segment B3

*****

Do you have insight or expertise on this topic? Please email us, we'd like to hear from you. news@whqr.org.

Everything from Sewers To Submarines in Wilmington State of the City Address

WILMINGTON, NC (2008-01-29) Mayor Bill Saffo's State of the City address read something like a citywide shopping list.

In the 23-minute speech, the mayor reeled off spending projects that included $6 million to repair the Northeast Interceptor sewer line, an $8.5 million public safety training center; and $4 million for stormwater projects.

But the big issue in Saffo's address wasn't about spending, but saving. Wilmington has to find $4 million in budget cuts after New Hanover County's recent discovery that it miscalculated tax revenues.

"This was an unfortunate error, yet we will focus our energy and attention to solve this problem as we have done with our sewer system. It will not be easy and tough decisions will have to be made this council. But we will make them."

Saffo elaborated, "It will not be easy and tough decisions will have to be made. But we will make these tough decisions and re-do this budget. We look to control expenses, use reserves, live without some things in order to rebalance the budget."

Saffo also highlighted a number of ongoing city projects. Talking about the city's takeover of trash pickup last year, Saffo noted that complaints have dropped 78% and recycling has increased by roughly 10%.

The speech concluded with a look forward, as Saffo listing his priorities for the city in the coming year.

Those projects include "transferring work on our sewer system to the Cape Fear Public Utility Authority; the on-going drought in our region; the challenge to meet our commitment to provide city employees with badly needed pay raises; even as we face another budget shortfall..."

One forthcoming event Saffo lingered on was the May commissioning of the new USS North Carolina, a Virginia class nuclear attack submarine. While plans for the event have been ongoing, the mayor raised its profile tonight by announcing that the Secretary of the Navy, Donald Winter, will give the keynote address.

As he did last year, Saffo closed his address with the Athenian oath, reciting: We transmit this city not only, not less, but greater and more beautiful than it was transmitted to us.

*****

You can hear the State of the City address by clicking on the audio file at the top of this article. Read the mayor's complete speech here

*****
Do you have a comment on this story or expertise on this topic? Please email us, we'd appreciate hearing your thoughts: news@whqr.org

Wright's Court Date Set for March

WILMINGTON, NC (2008-01-29) A March 3rd court date has been set for the criminal fraud charges filed against State Representative Thomas Wright.

The court trial was set on the same date set for a Joint Ethics Committee evidentiary hearing,the committee is also looking into Wright's campaign finances.

Wright questioned the legality of that committee but co-chair Representative Rick Glazier says it is just as important as the court trial.

Glazier says it's likely the Joint Ethics Committee will move its hearing to avoid conflicts with the Wake County trial.

Wright is accused of illegally obtaining or misusing more than $350,000 dollars in campaign contributions.

Wright has maintained his innocence, saying he is guilty of nothing more than sloppy bookkeeping.

Camp Lejeune Gets a New Base Commander

Camp Lejeune's new base commander starts his first full day on the job Tuesday morning.

Colonel Richard Flatau took control of the Marine base at Monday's change of command ceremony. Flatau served as a commissioned officer for twenty-five years.

Base spokesperson First Lieutenant Craig Thomas says Flatau will spend his first day meeting with staff leaders to learn the state of the base.

"After he's becomes acclimatized, I'm sure he's going to want to make some changes and make this base his own," says Thomas. "But the first step is to come in and listen to what's going on. If it's not broke, there's no reason to fix it."

Flatau replaces Colonel Adele Hodges as base commander. Thomas says Hodges will be remembered as a warm-hearted leader who could make tough decisions.

"The great thing about Colonel Hodges is not only did she provide a vision of what she wanted our Marines to do, but she led by example," says Thomas. "She would get out there and volunteer. She was constantly in the community going to meetings."

Hodges was the first colonel to serve as base commander, a position formerly reserved for generals. She's also known as the "hugging" commander. Thomas says she's as tough as she is kind.

10-4, It's A Convoy Down Highway 17

It's already clogged with commuters and now large convoys of military supply trucks will roll down Highway 17 between Jacksonville and Wilmington. The Marines say the trucks will run during the day on Monday, January 28th and Tuesday the 29th.

Bursts of 75 trucks at a time along with escort vehicles will move supplies from the Camp Lejeune Marine Base to the Port of Wilmington. The heavy lift vehicles will take the 17 bypass to avoid traffic in downtown Wilmington.

The Marines plan to load equipment onto ships at the Port of Wilmington and set off for Afghanistan. Marine Spokesperson Captain Kelly Frushour says drivers who see the convoy should exercise caution.

“We ask motorists to please be patient when following and be careful when passing the military vehicle. They will be escorted and assisted by government vehicles with flashing yellow lights, so you really won’t be able to miss us.”

Frushour says once the ships are loaded, it will take thirty days to reach central command in Afghanistan.

Maiden Post

Hello and welcome to the WHQR News blog.

Here you will find news stories that air on 91.3 WHQR in Wilmington, NC. Some of the stories will even have extra information that didn't make it on the air.

Find out more about us at whqr.org.