The State Port Pilot Blog

Former sheriff Ronald Hewett began his 16-month sentence in federal prison today. Staff at the federal prison facility in Butner, North Carolina, confirmed Tuesday that Hewett did report to serve his sentence.

In June, Hewett pled guilty in federal court to obstructing justice. He was sentenced in October to 16 months in prison. He also pled to four felonies in Brunswick County on Oct. 13, and got another four months active time. That sentence will run at the same time as his federal prison sentence. When he is released, Hewett will spend two years on probation for the federal case.

For more on this story, check Wednesday’s edition of The State Port Pilot.

South and North Brunswick entered Friday night’s first round playoff games considered underdogs, but both emerged victorious on the road in exciting contests. South came out 41-32 winners at East Duplin, while the Scorps held on for a 21-14 overtime win over Southwest Onslow.

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N.C. Center for Missing Persons has issued an amber alert for Chesney Anne Gaskin, last seen north of Wilmington in Sampson County.

Chesney Anne Gaskin is a 3-year-old white female standing two-feet, six-inches tall and weighing 30 pounds. Chesney has shoulder length straight red hair and blue eyes. Chesney was last seen wearing yellow pajamas. Chesney was last seen with Danielle Star Simpson. Ms. Simpson is described as a 24-year-old white female standing five-feet, five-inches tall and weighing 135 pounds. Ms. Simpson has blonde hair and green eyes. Ms. Simpson was last seen wearing a white shirt with blue jeans and an army jacket. Ms. Simpson was last seen driving a gold 2001 Chevy Malibu with WA license plate number 113 YAE.

If you have any information regarding this abduction please contact the Sampson county sheriff’s office at 910-592-4141 or 911or * HP

As the attorney for Boiling Spring Lakes predicted, a superior court judge has ruled in favor of three city residents who contend that last year’s rezoning for the proposed Willow Brooke subdivision violated city ordinances.
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The canvass of provisional ballots scheduled for Thursday won’t change any local election outcomes.

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Frank Clarence Jones, the man behind most of the azaleas, camellias and countless other flowers that adorn Orton Plantation Gardens, died Friday, November 7, at New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington. He was 100 years old.

Two months prior to his centennial birthday on August 8, Jones was interviewed and featured in the June 4 edition of The State Port Pilot.
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Brunswick Community College made short work of Caldwell Community College and Surry Community College on Saturday and Sunday at West Brunswick High School. The Dolphins hammered Caldwell 107-63 and then held off a game Surry team on Sunday 77-65.
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Fresh off of heavy losses last Friday night, South and North Brunswick will travel this coming Friday in the first round of the North Carolina high school football playoffs. South, the number 11 seed in the 2AA East with an 8-2 record, will head to East Duplin, the number six seed with an identical 8-2 record. North Brunswick (6-4), the number 10 seed in the 2A East, visits Southwest Onslow, the number seven seed with a record of 8-2.

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After three days of fine attempts, crews with Lee Construction of the Carolinas laid the first girder for the second bridge to Oak Island Saturday morning.

Project manager John Keel said he was sorry crowds were disappointed Friday when the girder didn’t make it to its spot atop a concrete support.”But safety has to come first,” he said.

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Oak Island Town Council met in a closed session for more than an hour Friday morning. But the board didn’t take any action during the closed session or after it.

The special meeting was called earlier this week and was scheduled so the board could discuss land acquisition and meet with town attorney Brian Edes about pending litigation. Council’s regular meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, November 12.