The Sarah Owens Welcome Center/Rest Area on Roanoke Island will temporarily close beginning Wednesday to undergo a $1.4 million renovation project.
William Matthias to lead Carteret Emergency Services
Carteret County announced Monday that Emerald Isle Fire Chief William Charles “Billy” Matthias II has been selected to serve as the county emergency services director, effective Jan. 26, 2026.
Annual TreeFest in Wilmington set for Jan. 16-17
The 28th annual TreeFest in Wilmington is scheduled for Jan. 16-17 at the JCPenney atrium in the Independence Mall, where more than a dozen species are expected to be available.
Commercial fishing fund committees to meet jointly in January
Committees that oversee funds collected from an increase in commercial fishing license fees that have been in effect since 2015 will meet jointly Jan. 14.
CFPUA head to discuss impacts of proposed water transfer
Cape Fear Public Utility Authority Executive Director Kenneth Waldroup will discuss at Cape Fear River Watch’s First Saturday Seminar on Jan. 3 the potential impacts of Fuquay-Varina’s request to transfer millions of gallons of water a day from the Cape Fear River Basin to the Neuse River Basin.
New Hanover decoration recycling program to begin Dec. 26
Live Christmas tree disposal services, many free of charge, are being offered in areas of the lower Cape Fear Region after Christmas day through to January.
Brunswick Nuclear Plant’s sirens to be tested next month
The first quarterly test of Duke Energy’s Brunswick Nuclear Plant sirens is scheduled for Jan. 7.
NCDOT releases proposed comprehensive state rail plan
The North Carolina Department of Transportation’s Rail Division is accepting comments through Jan. 20 on the proposed Comprehensive State Rail Plan, which officials say “establishes the vision for rail transportation across the state for the next 30 years.”
Second ‘Landscapes that Last’ webinar set for Jan. 15
The second in the online education series explores the core principles of conservation landscaping and how they support healthy land and water systems.
Segment of US 24 in Jacksonville closed for repairs until Jan. 9
NCDOT expects a section of N.C. 24 near the U.S. 17 Bypass in Jacksonville to be closed for utility repairs until Jan. 9.
Untreated sewage released into Jacksonville’s Scales Creek
A broken sewer line found Saturday near Lejeune Boulevard in Jacksonville led to the discharge of an estimated 129,000 gallons of untreated wastewater into Scales Creek.
Three NC ferry routes to follow adjusted schedule Dec. 25
Hatteras-Ocracoke, Cherry Branch-Minnesott Beach, and Southport-Fort Fisher ferry routes are to follow an adjusted schedule during Christmas.
Revised discharge permit issued for Vanceboro quarry
The N.C. Division of Water Resources on Wednesday issued Martin Marietta Inc.’s Vanceboro Quarry a revised wastewater discharge permit, which allows for the release of 12 million gallons per day from two outfalls into unnamed tributaries of Blounts Creek.
Mechanical oyster season extended in parts of Pamlico Sound
Beginning last Monday, the mechanical oyster harvest season is extended in portions of Pamlico Sound.
Artist presents painting of beloved historian Darrell Collins
Darrell McNary Collins, who died last year on Christmas Eve and was a historian at the Wright Brothers National Memorial for more than 40 years, is memorialized in James Melvin’s painting, “A Legacy of Greatness.”
Navassa chemical firm guilty of Cape Fear discharges
The chemical processing firm American Distillation Inc. in Brunswick County is guilty of purposely discharging pollutants into the Cape Fear River, and company owner Andrew J. Simmons Jr. pleaded guilty to failing to pay federal taxes.
