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Bacteria levels high at Caswell Beach

Submitted by Ashley Barker, Community Web Producer
Thursday, May 10th, 2012, 2:45pm
Bacteria levels high at Caswell Beach

CASWELL BEACH, NC (WECT) – Bacteria levels were high in the waters at the Caswell Beach public access off Caswell Beach Road on Thursday morning, according to a news release from the N.C. Recreational Water Quality Program.

State officials found that the water had 271 enterococci per 100 milliliters of water, which exceeds the state and federal single-sample standard of 104 enterococci per 100 milliliters of water.

The water will be tested again and the results will dictate further action, the release said. If the new samples show high bacteria levels, a swimming advisory will be issued.

To find out more about the N.C. Recreational Water Quality Program, click here.

Copyright 2012 WECT. All rights reserved.

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Southport falls short of 'People's Choice' award by 4 votes

Submitted by Debra Worley, Digital Content Director
Thursday, May 10th, 2012, 9:33am
Southport falls short of 'People's Choice' award by 4 votes

SOUTHPORT, NC (WECT) – Southport has been selected as the runner-up in a “People’s Choice” competition of the most popular downtown areas in North Carolina.

Representatives from the NC Chapter of the American Planning Association will be in the area Thursday to announce the recognition.

According to a press release, Southport was initially selected as one of six finalists for the award. The town lost to Mount Airy by only four votes.

The "People's Choice" competition was part of the Great Places initiative sponsored by the American Planning Association's North Carolina chapter.

Copyright 2012 WECT. All rights reserved.

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Companies eye Brunswick County to set up shop

Submitted by WECT Web Staff
Monday, April 30th, 2012, 4:19pm

BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NC (WECT) – A handful of
companies are looking to set up shop in the Brunswick County area. In fact, the
Brunswick County Economic Development commission is currently working on nine
different projects.

Three companies are eyeing the Industrial
Park off of Highway 74/76 and six are looking at buildings in the county.

Officials said they are in the early stages
of talking and negotiating.

Brunswick County took a big hit in February when
Caterpillar decided to open in Georgia. The area lost out on thousands of jobs.

Copyright 2012 WECT. All rights reserved.

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Swimming alert lifted in Casewell Beach

Submitted by Ashley Barker, Community Web Producer
Friday, April 20th, 2012, 4:10pm
Swimming alert lifted in Casewell Beach

BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NC (WECT) – State officials lifted a water quality swimming alert at Lighthouse Park on Caswell Beach Road in Caswell Beach on Friday.

Subsequent sampling of the site showed that bacteria levels had dropped below set standards.

Original story:

Water in a portion of Caswell Beach showed high levels of bacteria when tested on Wednesday, which caused the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources to issue a swimming alert.

The alert affects waters at Lighthouse Park on Caswell Beach Road, according to a news release. The sample that was tested had “124 enterococci per 100 milliliters of water, which exceeds the state and federal single-sample standard of 104 enterococci per 100 milliliters for Tier 1 high usage sites.”

People swimming or playing in waters with high bacteria levels have an increased risk of developing gastrointestinal illness or skin infections, the news release stated.

State officials will test the site again on Thursday and the results will dictate further action. A swimming advisory could be issued if the bacteria levels are still high.

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Future of old hospital in Brunswick County up in the air

Submitted by Nadine Maeser, Reporter, News Producer
Wednesday, April 18th, 2012, 12:54pm

BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NC (WECT) - The future of the old Brunswick Community Hospital is at a standstill now that the bidding company is having second thoughts on how to pay for it.

Brunswick County Manager Marty Lawing said Crown Management LLC has withdrawn its initial offer on the hospital.

Lawing is not sure if negotiations will continue.

Crown Management told county leaders that the original offer of making one payment of $1.5 million doesn't work for them anymore.

The offer also stated that the company would have 365 days to inspect the hospital and obtain all licenses and permits necessary for operation from the state.

Lawing says one option that is now on the table is another way of payment rather than the lump sum of $1.5 million. He says there's been some talk of setting up a lease to purchase payment plan or having Crown Management pay over a period of three years.

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'No Need 2 Speed' campaign yields more than 130 citations

Submitted by Debra Worley, Digital Content Director
Thursday, April 12th, 2012, 11:04am
'No Need 2 Speed' campaign yields more than 130 citations

BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NC (WECT) – More than 12,000 people were cited during the “No Need 2 Speed” campaign earlier this month, according to the Governor’s Highway Safety Program.

“State and local law enforcement agencies made a tremendous effort to make our highways safer and to remind motorists to obey the speed limit during this campaign,” said Becky Wallace, director of GHSP.

A total of 13,435 drivers were cited for speeding during the campaign, and a total of 39,150 traffic and criminal citations were issued statewide.

There were a total of 135 traffic and criminal violations in Brunswick County.  Of those, 68 were for speeding and four were for DWIs.

Copyright 2012 WECT. All rights reserved.

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Study center opens on Bald Head Island

Submitted by WECT Web Staff
Tuesday, April 10th, 2012, 7:29am

BALD HEAD ISLAND, NC (AP) - A center on Bald Head Island will serve as a base for students and scientists researching issues about barrier islands, which sit between the coast and the ocean.
    
The StarNews of Wilmington reported that the $2.5 million Barrier Island Study Center opened to the public Monday. It's funded by private donations and includes a research library, media center and research labs.
    
Officials hope researchers can learn sustainability practices to benefit their own communities by visiting a study center on a healthy barrier island.
    
Executive director Suzanne Dorsey says barrier islands can buffer the mainland from damaging weather such as hurricanes.
    
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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