Local

By Gary Popp

Wilmington, NC – The Myrtle Beach Pavilion, an amusement park that has entertained the public for nearly five decades, will be turning off the lights to make room for new development.

Tim Rudy, an executive with the company that owns the park, says Saturday is the final chance to be amused at the Pavilion in what will aptly be called The Last Ride Experience.

Rudy says the Pavilion's shutting down because it was no longer making money.

By Nan Graham

Wilmington, NC – Nan Graham's book, In A Magnolia Minute, is available in bookstores or online at www.nangraham.com.

By Megan V. Williams

Wilmington, NC – Police say they have no identifying information for the man whose body was recovered south of the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge Wednesday night.

The body is a black man, estimated between the ages of 30 and 50. The John Doe was found wearing khaki pants and black shoes. Officers say his only identifying mark is a US Marines tattoo on his left upper bicep.

An autopsy revealed the man drowned, with no sign of foul play. Officers say it will take a month to get results from toxicology tests.

By Catherine M. Welch

Wilmington, NC – Wilmington City Council candidate J. C. Hearne says he thinks it's too early to tell if the proposed convention center design is on the right course.

Hearne made the remark last night at a WHQR, Star-News city council candidate debate with challenger Pat Delair.

By Gary Popp

Wilmington, NC – North Carolina Victim Assistance Network, know as NC VAN, held its training conference yesterday in Wilmington.

North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper, District Attorney Ben David and other state law enforcement figures thanked service providers for their service and sharing strategies to best serve victims of serious crimes.

David says providing proper representation for victims is the goal of NC VAN.

By Gary Popp

Wilmington, NC – In South Carolina, officials in Horry County are itching to rid the area of an increase in mosquito hatchings.

Horry County spokesperson Lisa Bourcier says the county is working to close the mosquito season with another phase of aerial spraying.

The county pays for the aerial mosquito spraying and Bourcier says this is the fourth year it has done this.

By Catherine M. Welch

Wilmington, NC – The Robeson County Humane Society is looking for homes for more than 50 cats that have been living with an elderly St. Paul's woman.

A code enforcement officer alerted the Humane Society earlier this month that Lessie Smith had been taking care of 60 cats.

Shelly Carey is Adoption Coordinator for the Robeson County Humane Society. She says the cats are well feed and in generally good condition because Smith bought food for them before feeding herself.

By Catherine M. Welch

Wilmington, NC – The University of North Carolina, Wilmington says while black freshman enrollment has dropped from last year to this year, overall the campus is bringing in more people of color.

In this year's freshman class of 1,987, 105 of those students are African-American. That's eight less than in last year's freshman class.

Associate Provost Terry Curran says the university needs to work harder to reach out to the black community and high school counselors.

By Catherine M. Welch

Wilmington, NC – Governor Mike Easley announced yesterday Pender County will get a nearly $300,000 development grant.

The money will go toward renovating and equipping a facility at Cape Fear Community College in Burgaw that teaches entrepreneurs commercial food preparation.

The facility will also help the develop product lines from produce grown in the area such as blueberries.

Pender is one of seven rural counties that received Community Development Block Grants.

By Megan V. Williams

Wilmington, NC – William Ivey Long has created costumes for movies, ballets, and more than fifty Broadway shows, including Guys and Dolls and Hairspray. He toured the Cameron's galleries last week to begin designing the exhibit. Having grown up in the Carolinas, Long says he's honored to be asked to display at the Cameron.