The State Port Pilot Blog

Residents might be wondering what happened to the charming old Southport Christmas wreaths that used to hang on the lampposts in Southport. The city decided to retire them, and by law was required to do so with a publicly advertised process.
There were 50 available and people or businesses could bid on one or all. There was a possibility a speculator or another municipality would bid on all 50 and they would leave Southport forever. Therefore, I structured a bid to still allow individuals to “win” wreaths through the advertised bid process.

These wreaths have been sold and are on display across town now. Merry Christmas!

Steve Simon

A sneak peek at the lights and music show at the Kapparos house in Boiling Spring Lakes. Click the link below to watch video of the show, and to learn more about how you can see and hear it for yourself.

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Monday’s severe traffic gridlock in Southport and along Long Beach Road was the result of a highway contractor’s error and is not expected to happen again, a state transportation official said Tuesday.

Although the construction project on Long Beach Road at Fish Factory Road will create congestion through Christmas, a significant traffic jam occurred Monday when work was done in the roadway at the wrong time, said Jon Roan, assistant district engineer for the state Department of Transportation. Drivers reported delays of more than one hour as they attempted to leave Southport on North Howe Street-N.C. 211.

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With help from local police departments and probation officers, the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Department organized a roundup of 81 suspected drug offenders in the county.

After a briefing at 5 a.m., officers started serving warrants and arresting suspects; by 9:30 a.m. there were 32 in custody.

Read tomorrow’s issue of The State Port Pilot for the complete story.

Construction on Long Beach Road could mean heavy traffic congestion now through the holidays.

Work began Monday to adjoin Airport and Long Beach roads in preparation for a stoplight at the new intersection.

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Monday afternoon, South Brunswick defensive standout A.J. Ferguson committed to North Carolina State University to play football next season. Ferguson just completed a senior season in which he had 10 sacks, two interceptions, two defensive returns for touchdowns and also caught seven passes and one touchdown as a tight end on the offensive side. More to follow…

South Brunswick’s wrestling team took first place at West Brunswick last Saturday, beating out six teams, including West and North Brunswick, for the Cougars’ first dual tournament win of the year. Individual weight class champions from South were Matt Craven (103), Jeromy Roundtree (119), Charlie Martin (125) and Rick Logan (285). Robert Capps, Sebastian Brothers, Jonathan Marvin, Justin Stickle, Stephen Ikalowych, Robert McHenry and Roy Lague all garnered second place finishes.
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A former employee with the Brunswick County Department of Social Services was arrested Tuesday and charged with obtaining property by false pretenses. April Shawnette Stuckes, 33, of Wilmington, is accused of defrauding more than $135,000 in benefits from the agency over three years. Stuckes was fired in April of this year. A joint investigation by the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Department and the State Bureau of Investigation led to charges against Stuckes, and against six others who illegally received benefits.

Sheriff’s detective Vince Saponaro said Stuckes set up fake files for receiving Work First benefits and used the agency’s P.O. Box to receive the checks. She then allegedly cashed the checks at a store in Wilmington and kept the money. Stuckes previously worked in the Richmond, Va., area, and she allegedly took a list of clients with her when she left; she used real names and information from the list to create fake files in Brunswick County. Stuckes is also accused of setting up files for her boyfriend and other friends, allowing them to receive benefits while demanding half the money in return as a kickback.

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Day three of a statutory rape trial continued in Brunswick County superior court Wednesday morning, but without the defendant. Brian Keith Perry, 39, didn’t show up for court. Over defense attorney Brian Wilson’s objections, judge Gary Locklear let the prosecution continue its case.

The judge also issued an order for Perry’s arrest and doubled his bond to $600,000. Perry is accused of statutory rape involving a 13-year-old girl, indecent liberties with a child and possession of a firearm by a felon.

The charges stem from an incident in August of 2007; the victim was a friend of Perry’s daughter and was staying at his home in Leland when the alleged statutory rape occurred. Jury selection began Monday, and the victim and her mother testified Tuesday. On Wednesday morning, assistant district attorney Meredith Everhart continued her case with Cpl. Laurie Smith, the Brunswick County deputy who interviewed the victim after the incident.

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A video from the Town of Oak Island shows a girder as it falls from bridge supports shortly before noon Wednesday. One man died in the accident and two more were injured.

Click the link below to watch the video:

Girder collapse

Oak Island’s new public information officer Kyle Thomas was recording bridge construction for a documentary when the girder fell shortly before noon Wednesday.

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