Sports & Recreation

Olympic news already buzzing on WECT.com

Submitted by Ashley Barker, Community Web Producer

Saturday, June 23rd, 2012, 2:34pm

Olympic news already buzzing on WECT.com

The 2012 Olympic Games don’t begin until July 27, but there is already plenty of London news over at WECT’s 2012 Olympics page.

Our Olympic Zone page highlights athletes with connections to North Carolina and features exclusive video and slideshows.

You can also relive the 2008 summer games that Michael Phelps dominated, read about the top five U.S. newcomers, meet the Olympic pets and find out what happened to legends after their big games.

WECT’s 2012 Olympics page will be buzzing throughout the games, so make sure you check it out!

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Walk for Elder Abuse Awareness held at Hugh MacRae

Submitted by Sarah Crandall, Web Producer

Wednesday, June 20th, 2012, 10:57am

Walk for Elder Abuse Awareness held at Hugh MacRae

WILMINGTON, NC (WECT) – The inaugural Walk for Elder Abuse Awareness, hosted by the New Hanover County Senior Resource Center, was held Wednesday morning at Hugh MacRae Nature Trail.

North Carolina designated May 11 to June 18 as Vulnerable Adult and Elder Abuse Awareness Month. As a result, New Hanover County commissioners signed a proclamation on June 4.

North Carolina social workers received nearly 20,000 reports of abuse, neglect or exploitation of elderly folks across the state in 2011.

Participants wore purple to support the cause.

“The goal of this walk is to bring greater awareness to the issues of aging and to bring the problem of elder abuse to the forefront,” said event organizer Shantel Davis in a statement.

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University police donate forgotten bikes to charity

Submitted by Craig Reck, Reporter

Thursday, May 31st, 2012, 6:21pm

University police donate forgotten bikes to charity

WILMINGTON, NC (WECT) - Anyone that's been on UNCW's campus knows that the students are always walking, skating and biking to class, but what happens when classes are over?

University Police collect stranded bicycles like they would any other lost property on campus. Students are notified of the roundup, but Detective Christopher Padgett said the department still finds hundreds left behind.

"It's definitely labor intensive," said Padgett.

Owners can easily reclaim their bikes whether or not they're registerd with the department. If the bikes wait in holding for 90 days, police donate them to the Boys and Girls Home of Lake Waccamaw.

"They're real good about taking all of them - the spare wheels, the seats, the handlebars - good shape or bad," said Padgett. "They can turn them into something for the kids to have."

Padgett added the department works to make all of the donations in time for the holiday season.

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Wilmington receives $200K to put towards Cross City Trail

Submitted by Ashley Barker, Community Web Producer

Wednesday, May 30th, 2012, 2:23pm

Wilmington receives $200K to put towards Cross City Trail

WILMINGTON, NC (WECT) – More than $200,000 of a $1.56 million grant from the N.C. Parks and Recreation Trust Fund will be distributed to Wilmington, according to a news release from Governor Bev Perdue.

The City will use $219,308 to work on the Cross City Trail.

Grants were also awarded to New Hanover County for Castle Hayne Park ($287,817) and Brunswick County for Town Creek Park work ($359,354).

“Creating new jobs has been one of my top priorities,” Perdue stated via the news release. “These grants put people back to work building new parks and new facilities. They also enhance our state’s quality of life by creating recreational opportunities and protecting significant open spaces. CEOs consistently rank North Carolina one of the nation’s best places for doing business because of our state’s excellent quality of life.”

Since 1995, the Parks and Recreation Authority has reportedly awarded 696 grants worth $156 million.

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City hopes new golf course will help expand program

Submitted by Debra Worley, Digital Content Director

Tuesday, May 29th, 2012, 10:57am

City hopes new golf course will help expand program

WILMINGTON, NC (WECT) – The City of Wilmington hopes to expand its golf program by adding a 9-hole, par-3 golf course at Inland Greens.

The plans include improvements to the drainage system in the area to ease flooding that occurs during heavy rains.

The city will hold a public informational meeting Thursday at Blair Elementary School on Market Street to talk about the Inland Greens Park and golf course.

Representatives from the city and firms contracted for park design will be on hand to answer questions. The meeting starts at 6:00 p.m.

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First annual Walk for Elder Abuse Awareness scheduled

Submitted by Sarah Crandall, Web Producer

Thursday, May 24th, 2012, 1:55pm

First annual Walk for Elder Abuse Awareness scheduled

WILMINGTON, NC (WECT) – The first annual Walk for Elder Abuse Awareness, hosted by the New Hanover County Senior Resource Center, will be held Wednesday, June 20 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Hugh MacRae Nature Trail, according to a press release from a county spokesperson.

North Carolina has designated May 11 to June 18 as Vulnerable Adult and Elder Abuse Awareness Month. As a result, New Hanover County commissioners will sign a proclamation June 4.

North Carolina social workers received nearly 20,000 reports of abuse, neglect or exploitation of elderly folks across the state in 2011.

Participants don’t need to register – however, they are asked to wear purple to support the cause.

“The goal of this walk is to bring greater awareness to the issues of aging and to bring the problem of elder abuse to the forefront,” said event organizer Shantel Davis in a statement.

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Diver Alert Network experts to go over scuba safety procedures tonight

Submitted by Ashley Barker, Community Web Producer

Thursday, May 24th, 2012, 7:39am

Diver Alert Network experts to go over scuba safety procedures tonight

WILMINGTON, NC (WECT) – A dive safety seminar to help prevent future scuba diving accidents in the waters off the Cape Fear Coast will take place Thursday, according to a news release from UNCW.

Diving experts from the Diver Alert Network (DAN), UNCW and Scuba Now dive shop will review safety procedures for divers of all experience levels during a free seminar in the Golden Hawk Room at UNCW’s Nixon Annex, adjacent to Trask Coliseum, from 7 until 9 p.m.

For more information about the seminar, contact Frank Chapman at 910-962-3531 or chapmanf@uncw.edu.

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