CFA student honored with full ride to US Naval Academy

Submitted by Debra Worley, Digital Content Director

Tuesday, May 21st, 2013, 2:06pm

CFA student honored with full ride to US Naval Academy

WILMINGTON, NC (WECT) – Students of Cape Fear Academy were recognized Tuesday for excellence inside and outside of the classroom.

William Purdom was honored with the opportunity to attend the United States Naval Academy on a full scholarship.

He was presented with a certificate Tuesday for his achievement.

William was inspired by his late grandfather, and found a piece of history when he traveled to Annapolis that motivated him to reach this point.

"He was a great man and from what I heard,” explained William. “Actually, that uniform was one thing that sparked my interest. But beyond that, in the 7th grade, I went to lacrosse camp and I found a plaque from 1800 with another William Purdom, so it's like a continuation."

William will begin Plebe School in five weeks, which is an intensive training program for new members of the Navy.

View Comments | Post a Comment

Gator visits family neighborhood

Submitted by Debra Worley, Digital Content Director

Tuesday, May 21st, 2013, 11:30am

NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WECT) - Marsha Roush got quite a surprise while walking her dog Monday afternoon.

They came across a 6 foot alligator in the Beau Rivage area.

She got out her cell phone and took a video of the incident and sent it to WECT via See it, Snap it, Send it.

"He just looks scared and lost," Roush said about the alligator in her post.

Don't forget you can submit pictures and videos to pics@wect.com.

View Comments | Post a Comment

What it took to remove Brian Berger from office

Submitted by Craig Reck, Reporter

Tuesday, May 21st, 2013, 7:51am

Commissioners voted 3-2 to remove Berger from office.

NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WECT) – Elected leaders voted 3-2 Monday afternoon in favor of removing one of their own from the New Hanover County Board of Commissioners.

By the process of an amotion hearing, commissioners kicked Brian Berger out of public office. Amotion is not bound by state law, but the county conducted the hearing similar to one that would happen in a courtroom.

It didn't take long in the process for Christopher Anglin, representing Berger, to question the board's ability to allow evidence against his client without having the ability to cross examine it.

Berger said a few days was not enough time to prepare his case. Anglin later said he was contact about a week ago to take the case. Sheriff's deputies served Berger with the charges against him almost a month ago.

Attendance

View Comments | Post a Comment

Commissioners vote 3-2 to remove Brian Berger

Submitted by WECT Web Staff

Monday, May 20th, 2013, 10:12pm

NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WECT) – Commissioners in New Hanover County voted 3-2 Monday in favor of removing Brian Berger from the board.

The amotion process started after the board's meeting Monday. It was the first hearing in the state in more than 100 years.

Berger retained a lawyer for the process, Chris Anglin who is based in Raleigh. Anglin filed a Temporary Restraining Order in an effort to delay the process, but a judge ruled against it.

Jonathan Barfield said early in the hearing he was not pleased with the process. He said it seemed like the decision had already been made. Woody White reminded Barfield that elected leaders don't have the ability to choose which issues to deal with.

Berger's tardiness and other run-ins with the law were mentioned during the hearing.

View Comments | Post a Comment

'Click it or Ticket' campaign celebrates 20 years

Submitted by Caraline Waldrep, Traffic Reporter

Monday, May 20th, 2013, 11:04am

'Click it or Ticket' campaign celebrates 20 years

WILMINGTON, NC (WECT) – Monday, May 20th marks the 20th anniversary of North Carolina DOT “Click or Ticket” campaign.

According to the press release, North Carolina was the first state to launch this safety program in 1993.

The release also states, The Click it or Ticket campaign runs through Memorial Day weekend and ends on June 2nd. During this time officers will cite driver’s state wide who do not buckle up.

To learn more information about this campaign visit this link or visit their website at, http://www.ncdot.gov/.

View Comments | Post a Comment

Area congregation honors civil servants

Submitted by Bailey Hicks on Monday, May 20th, 7:35 am

NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC - (WECT) - The congregation of one New Hanover County church served lunch to local civil servants Sunday, to honor the hard work they do.

View Comments | Post a Comment

Investigators figure out what caused fire on Aqua Vista Drive

Submitted by Nikki Bussey, News Producer

Monday, May 20th, 2013, 7:32am

NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WECT) –We now know what caused landscaping equipment to catch fire at a Christmas Tree Farm on 100 Aqua Vista Drive, off Masonboro Loop Road.

The fire broke out Friday evening.

Fire officials said some kind of mechanical failure caused the blaze. Firefighters said it's hard to determine exactly what failed, due to the heavy fire damage to the machinery.

Crews were able to contain the fire before it could spread to a 500 gallon diesel tank nearby.

View Comments | Post a Comment