WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — One Wilmington business hosted a scavenger hunt for their customers on Friday.

Mac’s Speed Shop Bar and Grill located off Oleander Drive spread clues all over the city for folks to find.

The restaurant announced different clues online, and the first person to make it to the right location received a gift.

Renee Marinier, a marketing intern with Mac’s Hospitality Group, said they came up with the idea to “spice things up” for their customers.

“This was a way to bring some personality to the brand and give the customers an experience that would hopefully stick with them for a while and also competition just drives a lot of inspiration, a lot of motivation,” Mariner said.

The locations included O2 Fitness, Outer Banks Hammock Company, Blue Moon Gift Shop and Aussie Island Surf Shop. The winners of the scavenger hunt were given coolers or a portable grill stuffed full of Mac’s swag.

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) –The 2023 Cape Fear Habitat for Humanity Home Builder’s Blitz will construct two homes next week.

One of the homes will be built by local builder Stevens Fine Homes. The other home will be built by the Cape Fear Professional Women in Building Council, a combined effort of three local building companies: The Anchor Group, Charter Building Group and Kent Homes.

The event takes place Friday, July 28 through Friday, August 4 in Legacy Landing, Habitat’s new 10-home development located in Castle Hayne.

During this vigorous build-a-thon event, these builders and their sub-contractors donate their time, skills, and all materials needed to completely build two homes from foundation to roof.

The Home Builder’s Blitz allows professional builders to partner with families who have completed the Habitat Homeownership Program and are ready to build and purchase their home with an affordable mortgage. This year, future homeowner Tonesha, a Certified Nursing Assistant in New Hanover County, will be working alongside the Stevens Fine Homes team to construct her home.

The Professional Women in Building Council, made up of women in all facets of the building industry, along with the Anchor Group, Charter Building Group, and Kent Homes, will construct another home to be purchased by a second homeowner.

RALEIGH, NC (AP) — Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper vetoed on Friday another bill related to North Carolina charter schools that would ease enrollment growth caps and allow county commissioners to give them property tax proceeds for capital projects.

The measure, which received final legislative approval last week, also would allow charter schools to admit out-of-state students and let more categories of students attend while avoiding enrollment lotteries that are sometimes required.

Earlier this month, Cooper vetoed a measure that would transfer decision-making on approving new charter schools from the State Board of Education — where most panelists are picked by Cooper — to a charter review board for which Republican legislative leaders choose most appointments.

Cooper’s veto message Friday focused on opposition to the lessened growth limits and the capital spending. Current laws direct giving charter schools a per-pupil share of operating funds provided to local school boards, but counties don’t share capital funds with them.

“Diverting local resources to build charter schools without clear authority on who owns them risks financial loss to county taxpayers who have no recourse,” Cooper wrote.

As for enrollment, charter schools labeled as low-performing now can’t grow more than 20% in a year. Under the vetoed bill, these schools could ask the State Board of Education for permission to go beyond 20%. The bill also says charter schools that aren’t low-performing could set their enrollment each year as they wish. Currently, these schools can grow up to 30% annually on their own, with approval by the state board required for percentages above that.

“Allowing more students to attend failing charter schools risks their education and their future,” Cooper wrote. “The State Board of Education should continue to oversee the enrollment growth of charter schools to assure success.”

The bill now returns to the legislature, where the Republican bill received at least some Democratic support in each chamber, for a potential override. There it will sit with the proposed Charter School Review Board bill and four other measures that Cooper vetoed this month. The legislature isn’t expected to return to Raleigh for votes until early August.

Cooper’s vetoes this year on eight other bills have been overridden. All but one occurred since the GOP gained veto-proof majorities in both chambers in April.

Also Friday, Cooper signed two other bills and said he will let a bill addressing changes to the state retirement system become law without his signature.

NEW YORK (AP) — More than 345,000 children’s cups are being recalled due to lead levels that exceed the federal content ban, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said Thursday.

Soojimus is recalling 8-ounce and 12-ounce models of its Cupkin Double-Walled Stainless Steel Children’s Cups — sold in various colors on Amazon and the Cupkin website from 2018 through earlier this year.

Consumers in possession of the recalled Cupkin cups are urged to stop using them immediately and contact Soojimus for a full refund. No illnesses or injuries related to the recall have been reported to date.

According to Cupkin, liquid in the now-recalled cups is “not exposed to lead due to the double walled construction.” The exposure to lead can occur if the cup bottoms are mistreated, the brand said.

In a response to the recall on its website, Cupkin noted that it initiated the voluntary recall after receiving consumer feedback and conducting additional testing. Lead was not detected during the products’ initial development, the brand added.

“When we initially developed these cups, our manufacturing partner confirmed multiple times that absolutely no lead was used in any part of our production process,” Cupkin’s message read, adding that the cups were also tested by two separate third-party labs accredited by the CPSC.

“Learning that our manufacturing partner and not one, but two CPSC-accredited labs let us down is a heavy set back both financially and emotionally,” Cupkin continued. “However, no matter the cost…we are going to be as transparent and proactive as possible to resolve this ASAP.”

Soojimus and Amazon will be directly contacting all known purchasers of the recalled Cupkin cups, the CPSC said Thursday. To receive a refund, consumers can submit photographs of the cups showing their destruction and fill out a form on Cupkin’s website.

“My wife and I have two little girls. As parents, our intentions with the Cupkin cups were to be lead-free from the beginning,” Max Kang, one of the co-founders of Cupkin, said in an emailed statement to The Associated Press. “I just want all of our customers to know that we take this very seriously and will rebuild from here.”

Kang reiterated that their manufacturer initially confirmed no lead was used in the cups’ glass beads, which are placed at the bottom of the products for vacuum sealing. But the manufacturer later admitted fault, he said.

Health officials maintain there is no safe level of lead, which can harm brain development in young children. Kids can be exposed to the metal through bits of old paint, contaminated dust and sometimes drinking water that passes through lead pipes.

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY)– There were crowns for everyone as boys and girls of all ages and abilities took the stage for the 5th Annual “Shine Your Light Talent Show” in New Hanover County. 

Shine Your Light is an opportunity for people with disabilities to dress up and showcase their unique gifts and talents.   

The talent show has been happening for the last several years and has been growing.  

It allows the performers to sing, dance, read poetry and perform in any way they choose. It’s fun for everyone on stage and in the audience. 

The event is a fundraiser for the First in Families Holiday Shop, an opportunity for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to get presents for their family free of charge. 

 Pat Wiegand, Organizer of Shine Your Light, says this event means everything to the contestants. 

“I have one young girl who is like “I can’t wait to sing. I can’t wait”. Everyday. “I can’t wait to sing, I’ve never sung in front of people. I can’t wait to sing.” Everything. It gives them just a moment to shine their light,” said  Wiegand. 

Our very own Hannah Patrick was the emcee for the show. 

 

LELAND, NC (WWAY)– America’s new favorite pastime just got bigger in Brunswick County.  

As Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in the country, the House of Pickleball, or HOP, is keeping up.  

HOP celebrated its expansion on Saturday by hosting a “HOPalooza”.  

The ribbon cutting of 6 new counts was followed by a day-long pickleball extravaganza with free play for all including introductory classes for beginners, and adult-kid games.  

There were also raffles and prizes, as well as food for everyone to enjoy. 

Through her program, Off-Road Outreach, Buckner has helped more than 1,000 veterans in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Using her own off-road vehicle – a Jeep that has accommodations for water, heating, and cooking – Buckner provides mobile showers, laundry services, and meals to homeless veterans in her hometown, known for its proximity to Fort Liberty, a military installation of the US Army.

Buckner also connects veterans to support services and often shares with them her personal story of struggle and survival.

“I was released from the hospital in a wheelchair,” Buckner said. “I still wasn’t completely walking on my own. I had a stutter. No one wanted to hire me.”

Buckner worked to regain her speech and motor skills, and with the help of an organization that supports people with disabilities, she was ultimately placed in a job at the Fayetteville VA Medical Center. Her day-to-day tasks included calling and reminding veterans about their upcoming appointments.

As she learned more about issues facing veterans in her community, especially those experiencing homelessness, she began reaching out to those in need in her spare time.

“On my way to work, I would drive past the strip mall. And I noticed that there was a lot of homeless people that lived behind there,” Buckner said. “I brought them hygiene packs, food.”

One day a woman refused a hygiene pack, and her explanation was eye-opening for Buckner.

“I was actually burdening her because she’d have to carry it around all day,” Buckner said. “She said, ‘I’m homeless. Where am I supposed to shower?’”

An outdoor and off-road enthusiast, Buckner had existing modifications to her Jeep for camping and recreation purposes, including a shower hookup. In that moment, “it was like God spoke to me,” Buckner said.

“I wrapped a tarp around my awning and set up the shower. … It was life-changing for her. Just to see her go from someone that looked so defeated to smiling and to feeling so good about herself, it was just like, ‘I have to do this more often.’”

Soon, Buckner was offering weekly showers to those living in homeless camps. Many of them, she learned, were veterans.

According to the most recent count by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, more than 33,000 veterans were experiencing homelessness in the US.

“A lot of these veterans, they’re deep in the woods. It takes boots on the ground to find them and meet their needs,” Buckner said. “Gaining trust amongst the homeless veteran community is really important.”

Since 2015, Buckner has been doing just that. Each week, she travels to hard-to-reach places to serve veterans who are unwilling or unable to access services. Without judgment, Buckner asks what she can do to help them.

“There should be no homeless vets, period,” Buckner said. “I am to a lot of them their only family.”

Buckner offers immediate services like showers, food, and clothing to anyone living in the encampment. For homeless veterans, she also provides wrap-around services and works with volunteers – whom she calls “community ambassadors” – as well as local nonprofits to connect them to medical care, employment, housing, and suicide prevention programs.

“We have a huge suicide problem amongst our veterans,” Buckner said. “They need that camaraderie after they get out of the military. Even though I’m not a veteran, I do have mental health issues related to my TBI (traumatic brain injury), so I can relate. Finding your purpose and peer support is huge.”

Off-Road Outreach helps about 50 to 75 homeless veterans a week through its services, Buckner says, and often teams up with local businesses to offer other services like haircuts and to distribute items like mattresses, socks, and shoes.

“We have shoe companies that will donate nice shoes to our homeless vets,” Buckner said. “It really makes a difference when you’re homeless because you’re doing a lot of walking.”

Buckner also launched a fresh food initiative called Veggies for Vets that serves about 50 veterans a week through a community garden. In tandem with veteran-owned farms, Buckner also distributes fresh produce to combat food insecurity and health issues. She does not take a salary for the work and credits her own disability for giving her new abilities.

“Coming out of the hospital with a traumatic brain injury, you don’t know your purpose anymore, you’re a completely different person,” Buckner said. “This is a lifetime process of recovery. I’m just thankful that I’m walking, and talking, and being able to inspire people, and give them hope, too.”

For the full story, click here. 

Check out the Off-Road Outreach website and see how to help.

To donate to Off-Road Outreach via GoFundMe, click here

ROCKY MOUNT, NC (WRAL) — A North Carolina couple is battered and bruised after a tornado ripped the roof off their home.

They’re safe, but their home was destroyed and they don’t have insurance.

The tornado blew through Dortches Wednesday, slamming into the Puckett Mobile Home Park where Michael Poythress and Deborah Moore called home.

“I looked over to the west and it was already in the field right next to the house,” Poythress said.

quickly, he, Deborah and their dog Sabot ran to the bathroom.

“She got into the bathroom next to the tub. I started climbing into it. I had my shoulder against the door. I’m holding on to the dog with my left arm and I’m holding under her shirt tail with the other.”

They said about 15 seconds went by.

“I didn’t know what to think. I was just praying. The Lord let me live,” Moore said.

The couple says while in the bathroom, the roof blew off and they tumbled and rolled around in the rubble.

“She fell out of the tub and if I hadn’t held on to her, she would have been gone. She would have been in the tub,” Poythress said.

When the storm passed the couple and their dog were buried inside this heaping pile of their whole livelihood.

“We were both, head to toe, covered in insulation on a humid afternoon,” Poythress said.

Miraculously though, help wasn’t far.

“And luckily, an EMS was just happened to be passing by,” he said.

They got Deborah — who is already under hospice care — quickly onto a stretcher, the tornado leaving her with bumps, bruises and abrasions all over her body.

“I got a mean lump on my head. I got, they said they got it covered up. My skin is real thin. It just peeled the skin off my leg and you can almost see the bone,” Moore said.

But at the end of the day, the couple still had each other.

For the full story, click here. 

ROCKY MOUNT, NC (WRAL) — St. Stephen’s Loving Daycare Center in Rocky Mount has some repairs to do after Wednesday’s EF3 tornado damaged the ceiling and shattered a window.

“We saw the devastation of everything,” Carolyn Slade said.

As the tornado approached, there were 67 children playing inside at the day care center at 3861 North Wesleyan Blvd. in Rocky Mount.

No one was injured thanks to quick actions of Slade and her staff.

“Of course, I started crying because I’m emotional,” Slade said. “It was a miracle.”

Slade described what happened Wednesday afternoon as the tornado ripped through the area.

“I came in the inside, it blew the door open, that door came open from the force, and I pushed it, I don’t know how I did it,” Slade said. “It was the grace of God, and I locked the door.”

The only damage to the building was part of the ceiling and a shattered window.

For the full story, click here. 

CHARLOTTE, NC (WSOC) — A Charlotte-area agency is stepping up to help a woman with cancer who is also experiencing homelessness.

People who are newly homeless can’t get into shelters, which is a problem on the rise in the region.

Cynthia Nantz didn’t have a home in June and a month ago, Nantz was sleeping and living at a shopping plaza in Pineville near a hospital where she gets cancer treatment.

“It was scary because it seemed like I was in the hospital like every month,” Nantz told Channel 9 Wednesday. “I’d probably still be in the hospital.”

Nantz said she has had many misfortunes over the past year.

She said her medical problems prevented her from getting to her job and when her disability ran out, she was living out of a shopping cart.

“I had a really good run with a career,” Nantz said. “I was in management all those years and then life happened.”

Nantz said she spent months trying to get into a shelter.

However, Nantz said she didn’t qualify because she hadn’t been homeless long enough or didn’t have children.

Courtney Denton, who runs the Life House Women’s Shelter in Rock Hill, said a lot of people are struggling with similar issues.

“I was drawn to Cynthia’s story,” said Denton after seeing Channel 9′s report in June. “I think homelessness now looks like Cynthia in a lot of people’s lives.”

The Life House provided Nantz with a bed and transportation to her medical appointments.

“Getting here, I was very grateful,” Nantz said. “I am so appreciative that this was available for me, but it is not long-term. This is just a stepping stone.”

For the full story, click here.

ROCK HILL, SC (ABC NEWS) — Police in South Carolina are investigating whether Gilgo Beach murder suspect Rex Heuermann may have been involved in the 2014 disappearance of a teenager, authorities confirmed to ABC News on Thursday.

In November 2014, 18-year-old Aaliyah Bell vanished in Rock Hill, about 20 miles from the vacant lots associated with Heuermann that police had been searching in connection with the Gilgo Beach case.

“Our investigators have been reviewing any information to see if there is a correlation between the disappearance of Aaliyah Bell and Rex Heuermann,” Rock Hill Lt. Michael Chavis said in an email to ABC News. “So far there is no indication that leads us to identify Heuermann as a suspect in this case. We will continue to investigate Bell’s disappearance and follow up on all tips and leads.”

Unsolved murders and missing persons cases “around the nation” are getting a second look a week after Heuermann’s arrest for the murders of three young women whose burlap-wrapped bodies were found along Gilgo Beach, Suffolk County Police Commissioner Rodney Harrison said.

Among those cases getting a second look are the 2006 killings of four women working as prostitutes in Atlantic City. Their bodies were found in a watery ditch along Black Horse Pike in Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey.

Police in Las Vegas, where Heuermann owned a timeshare, said this week they are also looking at possible connections to unsolved cases.

“We are working with partner law enforcement agencies, obviously the FBI continues to be engaged, to see if there are any other connections that need to be made,” Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone told New York ABC station WABC on Thursday. “I can tell you this: the investigation continues. We will remain and our police department will remain focused on bringing justice for our other victims.”

Evidence technicians were scouring Heuermann’s Massapequa Park home for a seventh consecutive day on Thursday. The search of the house is expected to last at least another three days, a law enforcement official familiar with the search told ABC News.

Heuermann was arrested on July 13 in connection with three of the 10 victims linked to the Gilgo Beach murders. The 59-year-old father of two was charged with the murders of Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman and Amber Costello, whose bodies were found along Ocean Parkway on Long Island’s South Shore in December 2010, according to court records unsealed last week in Suffolk County Criminal Court.

Barthelemy disappeared in July 2009, Waterman disappeared in June 2010 and Costello was last seen in September 2010. The three women were between 22 and 27 years old and all worked as sex workers, court records said.

A fourth victim, Maureen Brainard-Barnes, who vanished in July 2007, was also tied to the three women. While Heuermann is not charged in the death of Brainard-Barnes, the court documents said he is the “prime suspect in her death.” The investigation into Brainard-Barnes’ death is ongoing, officials said last week.

Defense attorney Michael Brown entered a not guilty plea on Heuermann’s behalf at his arraignment on Friday on three counts of first-degree murder and three counts of second-degree murder.

Brown told ABC News this week that the state has amassed “circumstantial evidence” against his client and that there were no eyewitnesses to the murders and no confessions from his client.

RALEIGH, NC (AP) — North Carolina’s unemployment rate fell to 3.3% for June, the state Commerce Department said on Friday, continuing a slow decline that began late last year.

May’s seasonally adjusted rate was 3.4%. The last month-over-month increase based on revised figures occurred last August, when the rate reached 3.9%. The U.S. rate in June was 3.6%.

The commerce office reported that the number of employed people in the state grew by 14,580 during June to almost 5.05 million, while those unemployed dropped by 3,060 to 172,680.

Based on another counting format from monthly worksite surveys, the department said seasonally adjusted total nonfarm employment grew by 4,900 to almost 4.91 million workers. The business and professional services sector and the manufacturing sector reported the largest numerical employment growth based on the surveys.

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Candidate filing closed Friday for the upcoming municipal election in November.

Some area mayors will run opposed, while others will face several challengers for their seat.

Mayors in Holden Beach, Ocean Isle, Southport, Carolina Beach, Wrightsville Beach and Surf City will all face opponents in this election.

Meanwhile Wilmington’s longest-serving mayor Bill Saffo will run unopposed as he seeks his ninth term.

Also running unopposed are incumbents Brenda Bozeman in Leland and Terry Mann in Whiteville, among others.

Election Day is Tuesday, November 7. The voter registration deadline for municipal elections is October 13, and the deadline to request an absentee ballot is October 31. As a reminder, voters now have to show photo ID to vote in North Carolina.

For a full list of candidates, click here.

RALEIGH, NC (WWAY) – A great start to the weekend for players who bought two Mega Millions tickets in North Carolina worth $1 million each in Friday’s drawing.

One winner purchased their ticket at the Pikeville Mini Mart on South Goldsboro Street in Pikeville. The other winner purchased their ticket through Online Play. Both $2 tickets matched the numbers on all five white balls to win the $1 million prize. The odds of matching numbers on all five white balls are 1 in 12.6 million.

Winners have 180 days from the drawing to claim the prize.

North Carolina became one of five states with $1 million winners in the drawing. Players purchased two $1 million winning tickets in Florida and New Jersey as well, with one each in California and Michigan.

Since nobody won Friday’s Mega Millions jackpot, Tuesday’s drawing offers a $820 million jackpot worth $422 million in cash. The odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot are 1 in 302.5 million.

HAMPSTEAD, NC (WWAY) – Topsail residents in need will soon be able to enjoy fresh produce from their very own community garden.

The Kiwanis Club of Topsail Island, Surf City Rotary Club and Share the Table have received a $10,000 grant from the Kiwanis Children’s Fund, to be used to establish the Greater Topsail Area Community Garden in Hampstead. Through community volunteer leadership, the garden project’s goal is to grow and harvest fresh produce for Share the Table, which feeds neighbors in need in Pender and Onslow Counties.

The partnership between the Kiwanis Club of Topsail Island, Surf City Rotary, and Share the Table reflects a shared commitment to address food insecurity and promote healthy living in our local communities. With the support of the Kiwanis Children’s Fund, this project will create a sustainable solution to meet the nutritional needs of families and individuals who struggle to access fresh, healthy food options.

The Greater Topsail Area Community Garden will serve as a vibrant hub for community volunteers, fostering collaboration, education, and engagement, as individuals of all ages learn about sustainable garden practices, and promote environmental stewardship.

“We are thrilled to partner with Share the Table and receive this grant from Kiwanis Children’s Fund,” Community Garden Director Cathi Litcher said. Litcher also currently serves as the Community Liaison for the Kiwanis Club of Topsail Island Area. “ The Greater Topsail Area Garden will address the pressing issue of food insecurity in our region and empower our community members to take an active role in their health and nutrition. Together, we can significantly impact our neighbor’s healthy food choices.”

The funds will be allocated toward essential infrastructure and resources for the community garden, including constructing raised garden beds, a greenhouse, and irrigation systems and procuring high-quality seeds and plants. Future educational programs and workshops will be offered through Share the Table to guide individuals in food selection, preservation, and healthy cooking practices.

“We are extremely grateful to the Kiwanis Children’s Fund for their generous grant,” Share the Table Executive Director Dawn Ellis said. “Through this collaboration, we will create an inclusive space that brings our community together while promoting food security and healthy fresh produce choices. The Greater Topsail Area Community Garden will symbolize unity, where people from all walks of life can connect and learn from one another.”

“Our Rotary club members are excited about this opportunity to serve and grow needed food while enjoying healthful outdoor activity. Our volunteers will benefit as much as our neighbors in need,” Surf City Rotary Club President Hugh Hawthorne said.

Infrastructure for the garden will be complete in the summer, and planting will begin in the fall of 2023.

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — One of the biggest Hollywood events of the summer is proving to be one of the best and silliest events of all time.

Barbenheimer is the combination of ‘Barbie’ and ‘Oppenheimer’, two movies that were officially released in theaters on Friday, July 21st.

Barbenehimer is also a viral sensation where people watch both movies back-to-back.

Both movies have a lot of hype behind them, for very different reasons.

The ‘Barbie’ movie brings the popular girl’s doll to life, while ‘Oppenheimer’ is the latest movie by renowned director Christopher Nolan.

James Slawter went to see both movies on July 21st and was dressed up in a suit for ‘Oppenheimer,’ with a ‘Barbie’ costume in his car to change into later.

For many people like James, it’s a unique experience they haven’t ever seen before.

“It’s pretty much as different as they get, in terms of movie,” Slawter said. “I think that’s what makes people so drawn to it is that it’s so polar opposite that combining them and them coming out on the same day just kind of makes it so funny.”

Nathan Bailey came to see Barbie and was wearing ann pink costume.

He said its great to see so many people at the movies again.

“I think it’s really exciting,” Bailey said. “I haven’t seen this many people in a movie theater since like 2018, so it’s really exciting to see people finally all coming together and dressing up for a movie and getting excited.”

While both movies are expected to do well, ‘Barbie’ is expected to have a much larger opening.

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Temperatures have been soaring across the Cape Fear area, leaving many people looking for creative ways to beat the heat.

While many head to the beach or to a community pool, another cool option that’s free is Long Leaf Park at Oleander and South College Road.

One of the amenities of the park that’s a favorite for kids during the hot days is the splash pad in the center of the park.

It’s been several weeks since the pad was closed due to a maintenance issue.

With the issue fixed, dozens of kids have enjoyed the pad.

If you’re interested in visiting the pad, it’s important to remember that it closes at 7:30 at night.

And that isn’t the only way people are trying to stay cool this week.

One of the best-tasting ways to cool off is by enjoying some scoops of ice cream.

For many ice cream shops, this summer is really helping make up for the slow winter months.

Boombalatti’s downtown location is one shop enjoying high sales this summer.

Annalise Vanderveen is the manager for Boombalatti’s. She said she hopes more people see the shop as a special place to come and cool off.

I hope they see it as a welcoming place, a happy place, a place to just come in and get a treat and enjoy some family time,” Vanderveen said. “It’s (Boombalatti’s) Wilmington exclusive. So, it’s only here in Wilmington, it’s all homemade, so I just hope people really get the feel that its quality and it’s a good time.”

Vanderveen also said many people stop by on their way to enjoy concerts at Live Oak Pavilion.

 

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — The much anticipated “Barbie” movie has finally arrived in theatres and some people who showed up to watch it in Wilmington were in for a big surprise.

Dozens of fans showed up for the daytime screenings of the movie and they met a real life “Ken and Barbie” at The Pointe Fourteen movie theatre.

Wearing blonde hair, stylish wardrobe and pink corvette, they greeted fans of the film and took pictures with them.

Dane Britt and Tela Alley dressed up as the popular characters for the movie. They wanted to give fans something extra when they saw the movie today. According to the couple, it was just as much fun for them as the folks there to see the movie.

“It’s been fun, no it’s been great. Everybody’s been very receptive, the staff here has been very helpful, so it was a lot of fun. Lot of kids got to hangout, take pictures and stuff, it was great,” said Dane Britt who dressed up as Ken.

“I’m a huge barbie fan, so just to be able to show off a little bit has been really fun, but just the whole experience has been awesome, cause everyone else is able to love it as well,” said Tela Alley who dressed up as Barbie.

BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — Have you ever heard of “WisTLing?” It’s a term trademarked by a single mom, who also labels herself an inventor. 

Vanessa Silva is the inventor of ‘WisTL’. 

‘WisTL’ stands for “where is that location” and it’s an app that allows film fanatics to find production locations of movies and T.V. series. She shared a little about her life and how the app came to be. 

Vanessa Silva said following a divorce, she began waitressing.  

With customers constantly inquiring about nearby filming locations, she decided to come up with a way to help answer those questions.   

“About a year ago, I set out to give the activity a term. So, we’re calling it “WisTLing” and I trademarked that term and then built a tool for people to use,” Silva said. 

Silva said with Southeastern North Carolina being a popular place for filming, she can’t think of a better place for this app to have originated.

“The Summer I Turned Pretty” is a popular Amazon Prime series and it was filmed in Southport.  

‘WisTL’ will direct you to various filming locations from the series and will include facts and tidbits about the show for fans to enjoy. 

She said she is thankful for the support she has received as ‘WisTL’ continues to grow. 

“To have an idea years ago, to finally see it out there and see people using it and excited about it, and behind — behind me. It means everything,” Silva said. 

‘WisTL’ is a web-based app. So, to download it, access it first online and you’ll be prompted to add it to your home screen. This app extends worldwide. So, you can join in on the wave of “WisTLing” from anywhere!  

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Williston Middle School students were given the chance for two weeks to experience some of the hands-on careers that Cape Fear Community College offers.

The CFCC hosted “Career Academy” gives students the experience with careers such as nursing, law enforcement, aviation and more.

“They come in and they see the depth and the breadth of our programs and like you say, put hands on and experience it. It really, you can see it in their eyes, it really gets them exited,” said Cape Fear Community College’s President Jim Morton.

This session had rising 6th, 7th and 8th graders from Williston from July 10th to July 21st. They were picked up, dropped off and even fed for lunch during the program. The next session will be for West Pender Middle School students from July 24th to August 4th.

11-year-old Corbin Adams is a rising 6th grader who says one career really piqued his interest

“Veterinary Technician, which was very cool. We learned about dog CPR and played bingo, that’s cool. We also looked at parasites that can latch on to your dog that can possibly hurt them, such as like a heartworm that goes into your blood.”

Madison Drakes, a 12-year-old Williston student, says there were more than a few careers she could see perusing.

“Nursing, real estate and baking, cause like those are more hands-on activities and nursing I felt like you know, I learned how to tell if somebody was having a stroke and they gave us a stethoscope, and it was fun.”

If you would like to learn more about the program itself, you can do so here.

BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — As the building boom continues in southern Brunswick County, developers are moving ahead with a new shopping center in Oak Island. 

Located at 211 Midway Commons, the shopping center will have lots of businesses including a bowling alley, arcade, coffee shop, and more.  

According to a Star News Article, Holden Brewing Company and a car wash will also join the center. 

Cape Fear Commercial is leasing property at the site. 

There’s also outparcels available for sale as the center continues to attract more businesses to the area. 

BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NC (WWAY) —  A Brunswick County Schools employee is on administrative leave after being arrested on charges involving minors.

David Andrew Smith, 50, faces nine counts of third-degree sexual exploitation of a minor and one count of second-degree sexual exploitation of a minor. According to Brunswick County Schools Spokesman Gordon Burnette, Smith worked in the IT department and did not have direct contact with the students. He has been employed by Brunswick County Schools since March of 2013.

Brunswick County Schools released a statement after Smith’s arrest.

“District leaders are working closely with Chief Humphries and the Leland Police Department while they conduct their investigation. The employee has been placed on administrative leave. At this point in the investigation, there has been no connection to any student that attends Brunswick County Schools. Due to the ongoing nature of the investigation, the district cannot provide any further information at this time.”

Smith is being held in the Brunswick County Jail under a $500,000 bond.

 

 

PENDER COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — More library service is coming to Hampstead, but Pender County officials are hoping the public will help them decide whether to expand… or replace.

There are two potential options under consideration, both on Highway 17.

The first option is to renovate and expand the existing Hampstead Branch on Library Drive, while the second proposes building an entirely new library next to the Pender County Government Annex in Hampstead.

The county says no matter which option is chosen, the size of the new, larger library will be the same at either location and associated project costs are expected to be roughly equal.

To gather public opinion, a survey is available in paper form at the Hampstead Branch Library at 75 Library Drive and the Main Library in Burgaw at 103 S. Cowan Street. There is also an online survey available at penderpubliclibrary.org. The survey will be open from July 20 to August 20.

There will also be two public information sessions at the Hampstead Branch Library on Tuesday, August 8 at 6 pm and on Saturday, August 19 at 10:30 am. These sessions will provide attendees the opportunity to ask questions and to learn additional details about the two locations under consideration.