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Activity bus carrying Leland Middle students catches fire

Submitted by Ashley Barker, Community Web Producer
Tuesday, April 17th, 2012, 4:14pm
Activity bus carrying Leland Middle students catches fire

BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NC (WECT) – An activity bus with Leland Middle School students on board caught fire on Tuesday afternoon.

Brunswick County Schools spokesperson Jessica Swencki said that no one was injured and the seventh grade students were taken back to their school after a field trip to Brunswick Community College. The students also had completed a community service project by dropping off collected materials for the animals at Paws Place.

School officials and local law enforcement were at the scene, on the corner of Funston Road and Hwy. 87 outside of Boiling Spring Lakes, working to find a cause for the fire.

The driver of the bus, who was also the teacher, told Swencki that he heard a pop and immediately pulled off the road to find smoke coming from the rear of the bus. He then evacuated the students to a safe distance and called 911. Swencki said he wants to remain anonymous, but he stated "I did what any parent would do to keep their kids safe."

The case is under investigation.

Stick with WECT.com for more information on this developing story.

Copyright 2012 WECT. All rights reserved.

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Seven bridges in Brunswick County to be replaced by Nov. 2015

Submitted by Ashley Barker, Community Web Producer
Monday, April 9th, 2012, 4:24pm
Seven bridges in Brunswick County to be replaced by Nov. 2015

BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NC (WECT) – Seven bridges in Brunswick County and two bridges in Pender County will be replaced with funds awarded by the N.C. Department of Transportation.

The $8.3 million contract was awarded to S.T. Wooten Corp of Wilson and work may begin as early as April 30, according to a news release from the NCDOT. The bridge replacements are expected to be complete by Nov. 1, 2015.

The following bridges in Brunswick County will be replaced:

  • Green Swamp Road N.W. at two locations over Green Swamp near Supply
  • Maco Road N.E. over Hood Creek near Town Creek
  • Lincoln Road N.E. over a branch of Mill Creek outside of Leland
  • Galloway Road N.E. at two locations over Pinch Gut Creek between Supply and Bolivia
  • Midway Road S.E. over River Swamp near Supply

New bridges in Pender County will be located at:

  • Canetuck Road over Buckle Creek near Riegelwood
  • Morgan Road over Colly Creek near Currie

For more information about funding for infrastructure improvements in North Carolina and other projects, go to www.ncdot.gov.

Copyright 2012 WECT. All rights reserved.

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Lane closures expected on East Oak Island Drive

Submitted by Ashley Barker, Community Web Producer
Monday, March 26th, 2012, 7:26am
Lane closures expected on East Oak Island Drive

BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NC (WECT) – Parts of East Oak Island Drive will be closed for two weeks beginning Monday.

Intermittent lane closures are scheduled in both directions from Monday, March 26 until Friday, March 30 and again on Monday, April 16 until Friday, April 20 from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. each day.

Contractors from the N.C. Department of Transportation will be patching and resurfacing the area.

Drivers are advised to avoid the area if possible and allow for extra travel time.

Copyright 2012 WECT. All rights reserved.

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DOT: Lane closures expected on East Oak Island Drive soon

Submitted by Ashley Barker, Community Web Producer
Tuesday, March 20th, 2012, 10:26am
DOT: Lane closures expected on East Oak Island Drive soon

BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NC (WECT) – Parts of East Oak Island Drive will be closed for two weeks beginning next Monday.

Intermittent lane closures are scheduled in both directions from Monday, March 26 until Friday, March 30 and again on Monday, April 16 until Friday, April 20 from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. each day.

Contractors from the N.C. Department of Transportation will be patching and resurfacing the area.

Drivers are advised to avoid the area if possible and allow for extra travel time.

Copyright 2012 WECT. All rights reserved.

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Two Sheriff's Office vehicles hit during car chase in Brunswick Co.

Submitted by Ashley Barker, Community Web Producer
Thursday, March 1st, 2012, 12:27pm
Two Sheriff's Office vehicles hit during car chase in Brunswick Co.

BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NC (WECT) – Two Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office vehicles were hit during a car chase on Highway 17 near Shallotte.

The Shallotte Police Department attempted to pull over 27-year-old Montey Andrea Murray on Thursday morning, according to deputies on the scene. He refused to stop, so the Sheriff’s Office was called for assistance. When the agencies tried to force the vehicle off the road, two Sheriff’s Office vehicles were struck near 1583 Ocean Highway in Supply.

Sheriff John Ingram, who was at the scene, said that both of his deputies are okay and the suspect was being checked out.

Murray was charged with two counts of assault with a deadly weapon and fleeing to elude arrest with a motor vehicle.

The Sheriff’s Office is investigating the incident. The road was cleared around 11:30 a.m. and traffic resumed as usual.

Copyright 2012 WECT. All rights reserved.

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15 miles of Hwy. 17, other local roads to be resurfaced soon

Submitted by Ashley Barker, Community Web Producer
Friday, February 10th, 2012, 1:32pm
15 miles of Hwy. 17, other local roads to be resurfaced soon

BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NC (WECT) – More than 37 miles of primary and secondary roads in Brunswick and New Hanover counties are going to be resurfaced soon.

N.C. Department of Transportation Secretary Gene Conti awarded a $9.2 million contract to Barnhill Contracting Co. of Tarboro to begin work as early as March 19, according to a news release.

The following roads in Brunswick County are expected to be resurfaced by Nov. 16:

  • 15.5 miles of U.S. 17 from U.S. 17 Business on the south end of Bolivia to U.S. 17 Business near Shallotte
  • 4.5 miles of Royal Oak Road from U.S. 17 to Big Macedonia Road near Shallotte
  • 3.6 miles of Boones Neck Road from N.C. 130 to the end of the road near Holden Beach
  • 2 miles of Randolphville Road from U.S.17 Business to Galloway Road in Bolivia
  • 2 miles of U.S. 17 Business from U.S. 17 to N.C. 179 in Shallotte
  • 1.6 miles of Kirby Road from Seashore Road to N.C. 130 near Holden Beach
  • 0.7 miles of N.C. 211 from U.S. 17 to Lockwood Folly River Bridge in Supply

Copyright 2012 WECT. All rights reserved.

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Troopers: Red light runner causes fatal accident

Submitted by WECT Web Staff
Thursday, January 19th, 2012, 11:22am

BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NC (WECT) - A woman was killed Wednesday afternoon after another driver ran a red light on US-17, according to the North Carolina State Highway Patrol.

Troopers say 72-year-old Barbara Brunson, of Bolivia, was driving west on NC-211 around 3:50 p.m. when 51-year-old Danny Chase, of Shallotte, ran a red light while traveling north on US-17.

Chase's pick-up truck collided with the driver's side door of Brunson's 1990 Mazda Miata. Officers say both cars are likely totaled.

Brunson was later pronounced dead at the hospital.

Chase was arrested and was in custody in the Brunswick County Jail. He's facing three charges: misdemeanor death by vehicle, driving with a suspended license, and failure to stop at a red light. Chase is being held on a $15,000 bond.

Copyright 2012 WECT. All rights reserved. 

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