Morton Blanchard, who served more than a decade as a town commissioner, was appointed Topsail Beach mayor last fall following the death of former Mayor Steve Smith.
News Briefs
Registration open for 2025 Coastal Summit in Raleigh
Register now for the North Carolina Coastal Federation’s 2025 Coastal Summit taking place April 8-9 in downtown Raleigh.
‘Donor marsh’ to allow improved restoration plant sourcing
The North Carolina Coastal Federation is partnering with two private firms to build a 1-acre salt marsh to serve as a “donor marsh” for scarce native salt marsh plants coastal restoration projects.
Living shoreline construction, design courses set for March
Carteret Community College is launching in March its Living Shoreline Academy, a course of instruction to help people design, permit and install their own living shoreline projects.
Wildlife commission seeks advisory committee nominees
Eligible North Carolina residents’ names may be submitted for the state Nongame Wildlife Advisory Committee membership through April 18.
Comment period open for state flounder management plan
The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries is accepting input through March and hosting four informal, open-house-style public scoping meetings on an amendment to the state’s Southern Flounder Fisheries Management Plan.
DEQ adds meetings on greenhouse gas reduction efforts
The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality is hosting a series of public meetings to discuss efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
NC Catch Summit March 10 to promote local seafood
Organizers have planned discussions on North Carolina fisheries, the value of community-based seafood businesses, seafood trends, marketing strategies, the new commercial fishing academy at Carteret Community College and consumer education.
State awards funding for wastewater, drinking water projects
The governor’s office announced more than $265 million in funding for drinking water and wastewater infrastructure projects to help to pay for 99 projects in 45 different counties, including several on the coast.
Navassa Superfund site progress update set for next week
Ongoing and future work at the former Kerr-McGee Chemical Corps site in Navassa will be discussed during a March 4 meeting at the town’s community center.
Wildlife officials suspend Roanoke River striped bass season
The striped bass population in the Roanoke River Management Area is not recovering, despite state-imposed harvest reductions in years past, state Wildlife Resources Commission officials say.
Apart from the rest
A lone cypress stands apart from those closer to the shoreline at the old mill pond in Carteret County that was originally part of a tract owned by Welshman Robert Williams, who settled in Carteret County in 1763. Williams created the mill pond by having a dam built on Black Creek. A gristmill and a sawmill operated at each end of the dam, which is now below a bridge span on Mill Creek Road. Williams was also one of two county landowners whom historians say received money to build salt works in the county to assist in the Revolution. Photo: Dylan Ray
Commission to consider changes to some fisheries rules
At its meeting mid-March in Kitty Hawk, N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission will consider next steps in the process to approve amendments for southern flounder, eastern oysters, hard clams and spotted seatrout management plans.
Comment period on migratory bird hunting season to end
The public has until 5 p.m. March 2 to comment on the state’s 2025-26 migratory game bird hunting season.
Old-Growth Forest Network adds Bald Head Island Reserve
A nearly 200-acre forest of large, old live oak trees on Bald Head Island has been added to the national Old-Growth Forest Network.
Committee calls special meeting on industry dischargers
Updated Feb. 25: The Environmental Management Commission’s water quality committee special meeting scheduled for Feb. 25 has been canceled, NCDEQ officials announced Tuesday morning.
