05/14/2025
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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

THIS DAY IN HISTORY ARCHIVE



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