News

CFPUA crews make emergency repairs, expect detours on Wrightsville Ave.

Submitted by Debra Worley, Digital Content Director

Wednesday, June 19th, 2013, 9:43am

WILMINGTON, NC (WECT) – Construction crews with the Cape Fear Public Utility Authority are making emergency repairs to a collapsed sewer service on Wrightsville Avenue.

Some traffic is being detoured from Wrightsville down 42nd to Park, to 43rd, and back to Wrightsville because of the depth and location of the collapse.

According to CFPUA, only westbound traffic will be detoured – eastbound traffic will not be affected.

The utility company expects repairs to take most of the day. Please avoid the area if possible.

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Wilmington boy promotes charity on his birthday

Submitted by Alex Giles on Wednesday, June 19th, 7:51 am

WILMINGTON, NC (WECT) – One Wilmington boy wants to use his birthday to help others.

Leo Jack will turn six on June 24. Instead of receiving gifts, Leo wants his friends to donate money to the ‘Flytrap Fund."

The Flytrap Fund was setup to help restore the Stanley Rehder Carnivorous Plant Garden behind the Alderman Elementary School.

Over Memorial Day weekend, someone stole most of the Venus Flytraps from the garden.

"They are interesting, and I don't want them to go extinct," said Leo.

The Flytrap Fund was also set up to offer a reward for information leading to the arrest of the person that stole the plants and to enhance security at the garden.

If you would like to donate to the fund, you can do so at www.coastallandtrust.org.

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UNCW swim team loses three swimmers in wake of athletic review

Submitted by Bob Bonner, Sports Director

Wednesday, June 19th, 2013, 7:42am

WILMINGTON, NC (WECT) - A little less than three weeks has passed since UNCW Chancellor Gary Miller made the decision not to cut any athletic programs.

While the cuts didn't happen, the swimming and diving program has still taken a hit.

"We have lost three of our current male swimmers, two will be transferring to other schools and one incoming freshman has decided to not come and to go to another school," head coach Dave Allen said Tuesday morning.

Rising juniors Nick Lowe and CJ Fiala have both left the program to join the teams at North Carolina and Virginia Tech.

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UNCW's Nick Rupp wins NSSA individual surfing title

Submitted by Bob Bonner, Sports Director

Tuesday, June 18th, 2013, 7:42am

UNCW's Nick Rupp after winning the NSSA individual title

DANA POINT, CA (WECT) - UNCW's Nick Rupp went from fourth to first in his final heat to win the National Scholastic Surfing Association men's individual championship Monday.

Rupp caught a wave in the final 45 seconds of his heat to claim a second championship for the club. Michael Powell won the individual title in 2010.

As a team UNCW finished fifth out of 17 teams. The fifth-place showing was the highest among the teams from the East Coast. UNCW advanced to the NSSA championship after winning the East Region for a fifth-straight year.

Since finishing as a runner-up in 2009, the club has a fourth, two thirds and now a fifth place finish in the championship.

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WPD's new mobile force field is ready for action

Submitted by WECT Web Staff

Monday, June 17th, 2013, 3:35pm

WILMINGTON, NC (WECT) – The Wilmington Police Department's new Mobile Field Force is now in operation.

According to the city, "the new unit is another step the department is taking to keep crime at historic lows with a new 12-officer unit that will be able to respond quickly to crime, or fear of crime, anywhere in the city."

Half of the officers will be in uniform and the other half will be in plain clothes. The entire force will be working in areas of the city where police presence is needed most.

This force follows on the heels of several targeted crime prevention efforts by police. Those efforts will continue and this unit will complement the existing efforts.

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Berger issues appeal, asks to be reinstated on board of commissioners

Submitted by WECT Web Staff

Monday, June 17th, 2013, 1:09pm

Former New Hanover Commissioner Brian Berger has issued an appeal to new Hanover County Superior Court against his removal from office last month.

NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WECT) – Former New Hanover Commissioner Brian Berger has issued an appeal to new Hanover County Superior Court against his removal from office last month.

Elected leaders voted 3-2 in May in favor of removing Berger from the New Hanover County Board of Commissioners during an amotion process, the first hearing in the state in more than 100 years.

Board members cited Berger's weak attendance record, his criminal history and mental health as reasons for their decision.

In Berger's appeal, he asks for a temporary restraining order to prevent commissioners from filling the vacant seat on the board and asks to be reinstated in that position.

Berger also asks the court declare the Board of Commissioners did not have the authority to have an amotion process and also requests a permanent injunction to prevent the use of the process in the future.

The appeal was issued June 13, within the 30 day limit.

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Parents of troubled kids learn disciplinary tactics

Submitted by Ben Powell on Monday, June 17th, 7:34 am

Dozens of concerned parents learned how to better handle disciplinary problems with their children Saturday, as the Wilmington Police Department hosted a Family and Juvenile Intervention Seminar.

WILMINGTON, NC (WECT) - Dozens of concerned parents learned how to better handle disciplinary problems with their children Saturday, as the Wilmington Police Department hosted a Family and Juvenile Intervention Seminar.

The event was called Help! My Child is Out of Control. The seminar was targeted toward area parents, guardians, youth educators, and leaders.

Those who attended received training and instruction on the following topics:

Parents and guardians rights
How to discipline my child legally
How to handle an undisciplined juvenile
Resources for troubled youth

The event was free and open to the public.

Parents who attended say they were happy to see the police department step up to provide public awareness and crime prevention training to the city of Wilmington.

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