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Click image for White Lake Water Festival Guide
3 Things To Know For May 15
1. New Beginnings Book Club: Today, 6 p.m., Bridger Memorial Public Library, 313 South Main Street, Bladenboro.
2. Blood Drive: June 3, Noon-5 p.m., Hickory Grove Baptist Church, 6414 Center Road, Bladenboro.
3. Ecoexplore Skills Session Hike-Herpetology: June 7, 2-3 p.m., Jones Lake State Park, 4117 NC 242 North, Elizabethtown. READ MORE
• BLADEN ONLINE’S COMMUNITY CALENDAR
This Day In History For May 15
1928 – Mickey Mouse made his first appearance in the silent animated short film “Plane Crazy.”
1940 – Richard and Maurice McDonald opened the first McDonald’s restaurant in San Bernardino, California.
2023 – Martha Stewart was Sports Illustrated’s oldest cover model at 81, appearing as part of its swimsuit issue. READ MORE
STORIES FROM WEDNESDAY, MAY 14
Kaleidoscope of Hope Columbus County’s only child advocacy center
Contributed
LAKE WACCAMAW – Carolyn’s Kaleidoscope Child Advocacy Center (CAC) will celebrate six years of serving physically and sexually abused children in Columbus and Bladen counties with the Kaleidoscope of Hope Soiree at 5:30 p.m. May 30 at Vineland Station in downtown Whiteville. The fundraiser will include dinner, dancing, a photo booth wall and a program showing the incredible impact of the CAC in the region with speaker Whiteville Chief of Police, Paul Rockenbach. READ MORE
North Carolina’s 2025 Got to Be NC Ag Festival
Contributed
The Got to Be NC Festival will take over the N.C. State Fairgrounds in Raleigh May 16-18 for three days of food products, tractors, rides, music, agricultural exhibits and fun for the whole family. The best of North Carolina food and agriculture will be celebrated across the fairgrounds. And admission is FREE! READ MORE
What a week to be a sports fan in North Carolina
By Kevin Ellis
The golf crowd is excited for the start of the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, while NASCAR fans have the All-Star Race about 100 miles north at the North Wilkesboro Speedway. A unique point is that all tickets are all-inclusive for food and drink, excluding alcohol. READ MORE
NCDOT Seeks Feedback on NC By Train Service
Contributed
RALEIGH – NCDOT is seeking input about NC By Train intercity passenger rail service and expected improvements and an expansion being planned in the next couple of years.
NCDOT’s Rail Division will host informational meetings in numerous locations between Raleigh and Charlotte beginning in May. READ MORE
Waccamaw Siouan Tribe Bridge Dedication Ceremony
Contributed
The N.C. Department of Transportation will join tribe officials and other guests to dedicate the newly constructed Old Lake Road overpass spanning U.S. 74/76 near Lake Waccamaw on Saturday, May 17 at 2 p.m. at Waccamaw Siouan Tribal Center, 7239 Old Lake Road, Bolton.
Known as the “People of the Falling Star,” the Waccamaw Siouan Tribe received state recognition in 1971, and it incorporated as a tax-exempt nonprofit in 1977. READ MORE
STORIES FROM TUESDAY, MAY 13
Elwell Ferry Closure until May 20
Contributed
The NCDOT has announced the temporary closure of Elwell Ferry (SR1730):
The ferry will be closed until Tuesday May 20th at 7:00am due to high water. READ MORE
Bladen County Sheriff’s Office held their Peace Officer Memorial Service
Contributed
Bladen County Sheriff’s Office held their Peace Officer Memorial Service honored eight Fallen Officers from Bladen County. This year’s ceremony included the announcement of the naming of four local bridges after four Bladen County Deputies who paid the ultimate sacrifice. READ MORE
Bladen 4-H Annual Chicken Show at White Lake FFA camp
Contributed
On May 6, 2025, Bladen 4-H held our annual chicken show at White Lake FFA camp. We had a great turn out with beautiful birds. READ MORE
Academic Awards Ceremony
Contributed
Bladen County Schools is excited to celebrate our outstanding students at the District Academic Awards Ceremony on Monday, May 19 at Elizabethtown Middle School.
Letters were sent home last week with students inviting students to be recognized—the District Academic Awards Ceremony recognizes students who achieved A Honor Roll during the first three grading periods or the Superintendent’s List for at least one of the first three grading periods. READ MORE
Preserving Cherokee language ten books at a time
By Anya Petrone Slepyan
At the entrance to the New Kituwah Academy in Cherokee, North Carolina, a big red sign reads ‘English Stops Here.’ The school, which teaches preschool through the sixth grade, is a Cherokee language immersion program. READ MORE
NCDOT Announces All Trains Will Stop for Cheerwine Festival in Salisbury
Contributed
The N.C. Department of Transportation’s Rail Division announced today that all service on NC By Train, the state’s passenger rail service, will stop in Salisbury for the annual Cheerwine Festival on May 17.
In addition to regularly scheduled trains stopping in Salisbury, Train 71 will stop in the town at 8:45 a.m. and Train 76 will stop there at 7:23 p.m. READ MORE
WARM NC bits and pieces
Contributed
Yasheka has lived in Supply, North Carolina, for years, raising four children under one roof. Like many working single mothers, she juggles long hours and tight finances, but her home, once a source of pride, began slipping into disrepair. READ MORE
Board of Elections monthly meeting
Contributed
The Board of Elections monthly meeting on Tuesday, May 13th at 5:30 pm. We will also be conducting a Mock election with Verity/Hart Inter civic voting system that will begin at 11:00 am with training for poll workers. READ MORE
Slow Down and Move Over for Stopped Emergency Vehicles
Contributed
Enforcement campaign in place May 12-18
RALEIGH – The N.C. Governor’s Highway Safety Program and state and local law enforcement are launching a statewide enforcement campaign to remind drivers of the importance of the Move Over Law.
North Carolina’s Move Over Law requires drivers to move over a lane or slow down when approaching emergency vehicles stopped on the side of the road with flashing blue, red or amber lights. READ MORE
Chamber Members Breakfast
Contributed
Elizabethtown-White Lake Chamber of Commerce Members Breakfast at 8:00am. on May 20th, at the Farmers Market. Breakfast will be served by Burney’s Bakery. READ MORE
USDA to Open General and Continuous Conservation Reserve Program Enrollment for 2025
Contributed
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced several Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) enrollment opportunities for agricultural producers and landowners. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) is accepting offers for both the General and Continuous CRP through June 6, 2025. READ MORE
Cape Fear Valley to break ground on daycare expansion
Contributed
Members of the media are invited to attend a groundbreaking ceremony as Cape Fear Valley Health celebrates the upcoming expansion of its First Adventures Child Development Center. The event will take place on Wednesday, May 14 at 10 a.m., at 1727 Roxie Ave., Fayetteville. READ MORE
NCDEQ launches online Construction Stormwater Permit Application
Contributed
RALEIGH – The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality has launched a new online construction stormwater (NCG01/NCG25) permit application for the Division of Energy, Mineral, and Land Resources (DEMLR). It is the second DEMLR permit application now available online through the AccessDEQ digital hub. The first online permit application was for Erosion and Sediment Control. READ MORE
STORIES FROM MONDAY, MAY 12
Routine Weather Briefing
Staff Report
Outlook Period: Monday 5/12/25 through Friday 5/16/25
OVERVIEW:
Unsettled weather will continue through mid-week with a low risk of localized flash flooding and damaging winds/tornado. Drier and warmer conditions expected late week. READ MORE
Congratulations to our state winners!
Contributed
Three Bladen County Schools students placed in the 2025 NC Soil & Water Conservation Contest at the state level. We’re proud of their creativity, knowledge, and commitment to conservation! READ MORE
Calling all plant lovers in Bladen County
Contributed
Ready to dive into the wonderful world of herbs? Join us for our exciting TWO-PART Herb Workshop! READ MORE
SEC filing of the day: DraftKings
Contributed
DraftKings, one of North Carolina’s eight licensed sportsbooks, reported a $33.9 million loss nationwide for the first quarter of calendar 2025.
That was a 76% improvement on the $142.6 million loss it booked in the first quarter of 2024, the Massachusetts-based company told investors, and the SEC. READ MORE
Housing bill’s density targets reduced
Contributed
One of the co-sponsors of the House’s omnibus housing-development bill says he worked out a deal to scale back the proposal to set statewide by-right residential density minimums.
House Deputy Majority Whip Jake Johnson, R-Polk, said House Bill 765’s density minimums would now “only apply to the counties with populations over 275,000 people in the 2020 census.” READ MORE
SAS strikes first partnership with Epic Games
Contributed
Data analytics company SAS Institute is now using technology from the video game maker Epic Games to make “digital twins” for its customers.
It’s the first time that Cary’s two largest tech firms, led by the state’s two richest residents, have ever publicly partnered together on a project. READ MORE
Genentech Will Build New Manufacturing Plant – Creating 400 Jobs
Contributed
Genentech, one of the world’s premiere biotechnology companies, will invest $700 million to build a new manufacturing plant in Holly Springs, creating 400 jobs.
World-class companies like Genentech recognize that North Carolina is a leading state for biotechnology. READ MORE
German energy firm bringing $50M factory
Contributed
Berlin-based Trench Group GmbH will open its first U.S. plant in Charlotte, investing $50M and creating 74 jobs by early 2026. HSP US LLC will produce high-voltage transformer bushings, offering an average wage of $77,315. READ MORE
Bladen County Headlines … 50 Years Ago
Here were some of the stories making news in Bladen County in 1975:
• Three Bladenboro youths were charged with breaking and entering a home on Owen Hill. READ MORE
STORIES FROM SATURDAY, MAY 10
Summer Fun in Bladen County
Staff Report
Get Ready for some Summer Fun in the sun. Bladen County 4-H has big plans for all ages with several low-cost summer camps and activities that will teach crafts and skills and escape any pesky boredom. (Youth must be enrolled in 4-H online before registration.) READ MORE
The SUN Bucks food program is back for 2025
Contributed
The SUN Bucks food program is back for 2025 and is expected to provide benefits to more than 1 million school children in North Carolina this summer.
SUN Bucks provides a one-time payment of $120 per eligible child on a debit-like card that can be used to buy nutritious food at retailers and farmers markets that accept EBT, including most major grocery stores in North Carolina. READ MORE
Trail News from the Mountains to the Sea
Contributed
In the coastal plain, significant progress is being made in Johnston, Sampson and Bladen counties.
In Bladen County, the final construction plans for the nearly 200-foot bridge over Turnbull Creek have been submitted to the State Construction Office and we are eagerly awaiting their approval. READ MORE
Britt Nicole to Speak at Harrells Christian Academy
Contributed
Harrells – North Carolina native, Britt Nicole, will deliver the commencement address for the class of 2025 at Harrells Christian Academy, May 22, 2025.
Britt has been singing since the age of three in her grandfather’s church. READ MORE
STORIES FROM FRIDAY, MAY 9
Routine Weather Briefing
Staff Report
Outlook Period: Friday 5/9/25 through Sunday 5/11/25
OVERVIEW:
A cold front will sweep through Friday night, with isolated to perhaps scattered showers and thunderstorms during the afternoon and evening ahead of it. The front will stall south of the area on Saturday with low pressure along the Gulf Coast bringing an increase in rain chances from south to north over the weekend. READ MORE
NC schools targeted for extortion again, months after PowerSchool data breach
By Ben Humphries
After a PowerSchool data breach in December 2024 that compromised student and teacher information, “threat actors” have made contact with North Carolina school districts, once again requesting payment.
On Wednesday, threat actors reached out to public school employees across North Carolina claiming to have obtained the student and teacher records stolen in December, according to the Department of Public Instruction (DPI). READ MORE
NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher set for major renovation
Contributed
The North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher is set to undergo a transformative $65 million renovation and expansion starting this fall, marking the first major upgrade to the facility in more than two decades.
Aquarium officials say the multi-year project will include the state’s largest shark habitat, a new interactive touch pool, a live coral reef habitat, an advanced education center with a direct connection to outdoor learning spaces, and a scenic rooftop sky deck. READ MORE
Krispy Kreme sinks after 2025 forecast withdrawn
By Chris Burritt
The shares of Krispy Kreme lost almost a quarter of their value after the Charlotte-based doughnut retailer withdrew its previous full-year financial forecast, partly due to an unprofitable start for its national McDonald’s rollout. Shares closed at $3.26, down 24.7%. READ MORE
Bridging Families foster program expands in NC
By Jennifer Fernandez
A contract with the state will allow the program to add more sites and staff. A separate grant will be used to create the Bridging Families Institute, which will help other areas of the state replicate the program. READ MORE
Governor Stein Calls for Fentanyl Control Unit
Contributed
RALEIGH Governor Josh Stein joined law enforcement and North Carolinians impacted by the fentanyl crisis to call for funding for a Fentanyl Control Unit dedicated to investigating and stopping the flow of narcotics into North Carolina.
Governor Stein’s 2025-2027 budget proposal includes funding for a Fentanyl Control Unit, made up of law enforcement and prosecutors dedicated to getting fentanyl off of the streets. READ MORE
Background information and studies on raw milk
Contributed
Raw milk presents a significant public health risk as there is absolutely no way to ensure its safety. Raw milk is 150 times more likely to cause an outbreak than pasteurized milk. READ MORE
NC Council on the Holocaust Meets May 29
Contributed
The NC Council on the Holocaust will hold a meeting on Thursday, May 29 from 11:45 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Jewish For Good Community Center, 1937 W Cornwallis Rd, Durham, NC 27705. Questions regarding this meeting may be directed to NCDPI Communications at 984-236-2000. READ MORE
Golden LEAF Scholars graduate with plans to return to rural communities
By Emma Godwin, Golden LEAF External Affairs Intern
As commencement ceremonies unfold across North Carolina, a unique group of graduates carries with them not only their diplomas but also a commitment to the very communities that shaped them. This spring, 184 Golden LEAF Scholars will be graduating from a North Carolina College or University. READ MORE
Bladen County Solid Waste Hours of Operation for Memorial Day
Contributed
All convenience sites will be operating on their normal schedule, 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM. The Transfer Station will be closed in observance of the holiday. READ MORE
WWTP reports elevated 1,4-dioxane levels to NCDEQ Division of Water Resources
Contributed
RALEIGH – The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Water Resources (DWR) has been informed of elevated 1,4-dioxane levels discharged from the City of Asheboro Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) to Hasketts Creek, which drains to the Deep River within the Cape Fear River Basin.
1,4-Dioxane is categorized by the EPA as a likely human carcinogen, or a substance that likely can cause cancer. READ MORE
State Capitol Police Seeks Public Feedback
Contributed
RALEIGH — The North Carolina State Capitol Police is seeking initial law enforcement accreditation through the Commission on Law Enforcement for Accreditation (CALEA). As a part of this process, an opportunity is provided to citizens of North Carolina for public feedback via the CALEA Portal. READ MORE
Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program recruiting North Carolina cohort
Contributed
Golden LEAF is sharing a business growth opportunity available for rural North Carolina business owners, thanks to the Goldman Sachs Foundation. The Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program is recruiting approximately 30 North Carolina rural business owners to gain access to tools and knowledge to grow their business. READ MORE
Justin Burney was sentenced to 104 years to 147 years 3 months
Contributed
After a nine-day trial, a Brunswick County jury found Justin Burney guilty as charged on five counts of statutory sexual offense with a child by an adult and nine counts of taking indecent liberties
with a child. Senior Resident Superior Court Judge Jason C. Disbrow sentenced the defendant to four consecutive active sentences of 300-420 months followed by three consecutive sentences of 16-29 months or 1,248-1,767 months. READ MORE
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
The India McLaurin Nursing Scholarship Foundation Sunday Dinner Sale
Staff Report
The India McLaurin Nursing Scholarship Foundation invites you to our Sunday Dinner Sale! So, mark your calendars: May 18th, 11 AM – 3 PM.
Join us at The Ballroom of Whimsical Florist, at 314 Poplar St, Elizabethtown, NC. READ MORE
Spring has sprung — and so has the fun!
Staff Report
Join us for the Spring Fling & Health Fair hosted by the Bladen County Division on Aging. This event will be held on May 21st, from 10:00 am. to 12:30pm., at 608 McLeod Street, Elizabethtown, NC 28337. READ MORE
FrogWatch Training Sessions June 20-21 At Jones Lake State Park
The N.C. Aquarium Chapter of FrogWatch USA has scheduled two-day training for adults interested in becoming volunteers for FrogWatch USA.
The sessions are set for June 20-21 at Jones Lake State Park, 4117 NC 242 North, Elizabethtown. READ MORE
Revving Up for a Cause: “Riding for Russ” Rolls Into Elizabethtown
Staff Report
Get ready to feel the rumble of community spirit and chrome on Saturday, June 21st, as the Blue Shepherds LERC invites riders, road warriors, and barbecue buffs to join the “Riding for Russ” fundraiser at the Elizabethtown Farmers Market, located at 106 M.L.K Drive. At 12:30 PM, enjoy a special live performance by country music guest Brent Underwood, guaranteed to keep spirits high and boots tappin’. READ MORE
