The Hampstead public boat ramp land deal is finally ready to launch. Closing documents for the deal were signed at 3:15 p.m. Monday, said Brian Dillin, secretary to the board of the Pecan Grove Plantation Homeowners Association. Published March 15, 2010
The budget hole in New Hanover County is so deep that officials could close every library, abandon every park, and cancel every other discretionary program and the county would still be short nearly $3 million. Published March 15, 2010
Three Wilmington City Council members and two city staff members are in Washington, D.C., this week for the National League of Cities 2010 Congressional City Conference. The conference began over the weekend and will continue through Wednesday. Published March 15, 2010
The New Hanover County Alcoholic Beverage Control board is studying the feasibility of re-opening the shuttered store at 6015 Castle Hayne Road, which closed in 2007 because it wasn’t making enough money. Published March 15, 2010
Bald Head Island | The Brunswick County Board of Elections on Monday removed 37 people from Bald Head Island's voter rolls. The formal challenge hearing of 39 registered voters on Bald Head Island came after former Bald Head Island Mayor Larry Lammert challenged the voter registrations after losing last year's election. Published March 15, 2010
Making sure buildings are safe and built right is one of the basic and most important functions a government can do for its citizens. But what if there's little to nothing for inspectors to inspect? Published March 15, 2010
A Wilmington woman told lottery officials she planned to travel to Cancun or Jamaica with the $250,000 she won last week in the North Carolina Education Lottery’s Mega Millions drawing. Published March 15, 2010
Ferries between Southport and Fort Fisher will run fewer times Wednesday and Thursday as annual maintenance is done on ferry ramps, according to a news release. Ferries will depart Southport at 5:30 a.m., 7, 7:45, 11:30, 1 p.m., 1:45, 2:30, 3:15, 4, 4:45 and 6:15. Published March 15, 2010
Detectives served a search warrant at 1108 Zinnia Court on Friday night. According to a news release, they found 65 bags of heroin, more than 1/2 ounce of marijuana, $6,000 cash, a handgun and items used for packaging and distributing the drugs. Published March 15, 2010
The New Hanover County Board of Commissioners wants to hold a special meeting next week to enact a moratorium on sweepstakes gambling parlors until regulations can be put in place. Published March 15, 2010
Construction work to build a stretch of the U.S. 17 Wilmington Bypass in Brunswick County may prove more beneficial to current employees of contractors and subcontractors than those seeking jobs. Published March 15, 2010
The Coast Guard Cutter Mendota was stationed in Wilmington from January 1947 until February 1972, participating in ocean patrols, law enforcement and search and rescue operations. Published March 15, 2010
My family likes to celebrate St. Patrick's Day because of our Irish heritage. So this week I made a Shepherd's Pie for the holiday. Published March 15, 2010
Dressings, cheeses and toppings such as crumbled bacon are easy ways to add zest to your veggies. Of course, they also bring gobs of fat and calories with them. Published March 15, 2010
Birthday bonuses available by joining area restaurants e-mail lists can make turning a year older not seem quite so bad. Free food just might make it all worth it. Published March 15, 2010
The month-long round of women's runway shows came to an end Wednesday in Paris, where designers heralded the return of clean, classic sportswear. Published March 15, 2010
John Edwards' mistress Rielle Hunter didn't want him to run for president and considered it “reckless” for him to stay in the race after his wife's cancer returned, she said in an interview released Monday. Published March 15, 2010
As Americans, it’s hard to grasp the idea of being attacked and forced away from the only life you’ve ever known. That is exactly the tragedy that more than 40,000 Sudanese boys had to endure. Published March 15, 2010
The 2010 N.C. Blueberry Festival will award up to $20,000 in scholarships to high school seniors in the blueberry region of North Carolina. Published March 15, 2010
Pender County artist Rick Austin will demonstrate clay pottery sculpture techniques on Tuesday at the library in Burgaw. Participants can bring a bag lunch and enjoy the one-hour demonstration. Published March 15, 2010
The Topsail High Parent Teacher Student Organization will award a $500 scholarship this year to a graduating THS senior registered to attend a community college or vocational school. Published March 15, 2010
Wilbur D. Jones Jr.'s 1998 book, “Gyrene: The World War II United States Marine,” was used as a “training manual” to prepare civilian actors to portray 1940s-vintage Marines convincingly. Published March 15, 2010
Wilmington Bloggers had its first revitalized meetup Tuesday night. The group now meets 5 to 7 p.m. the second Tuesday of each month on the third-floor at Front Street Brewery, 9 N. Front St. Published March 15, 2010
At age 65, a dizzying array of health care options suddenly becomes available. Fortunately, SHIIP explains it all. SHIIP stands for Senior Health Insurance Information Program. Published March 15, 2010
The 2010 Census will help communities receive more than $400 billion in federal funds each year for things such as hospitals,schools, bridges and other public works projects and emergency services. Published March 15, 2010
North Carolina’s liquor control system isn’t really a “system” so much as a collection of happy-go-lucky boards that operate pretty much as they please. The state Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission sets prices and approves plans for new stores, but beyond that has been a hands-off overseer. Published March 15, 2010
Those who order Domino’s Pizza between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. Monday could get either a free pizza or smoke detector, officials said. Published March 15, 2010
Evidence is mounting that Beijing uses inconsistencies in international trade rules to spur its own economy at the expense of others. Published March 15, 2010
Ruptures in aging water systems cause pollutants to seep into water supplies, but in many cities residents have protested rate increases to fix pipes. Published March 15, 2010
The first enforcement action of its kind is part of an offensive by the health department against nightclubs it says flouts the rules. Published March 15, 2010
Senate Democrats are ready to introduce legislation meant to overhaul the nation’s financial system while trying to overcome partisanship. Published March 15, 2010
A disputed plantation is owned by the extended family of a presidential candidate, Benigno Aquino III, whose mother started a land reform program. Published March 15, 2010
The growing complexity of our times is reflected in the history of the agency whose officers took on a gunman at the Pentagon. Published March 15, 2010
The White House responded angrily to deadly attacks that appeared to be the first on U.S. officials and their families by Mexico’s drug cartels. Published March 15, 2010
Three treatment strategies that doctors had expected would prevent heart attacks among people with Type 2 diabetes have proven to be ineffective or even harmful. Published March 15, 2010
Authorities warned that Google’s partners must comply with censorship laws even if the search giant does not, an industry expert said. Published March 15, 2010
Final Fantasy XIII is a milestone of artistic conception and technical execution that has been egregiously undermined by obstinately prosaic overall design. Published March 15, 2010
Discovery Communications is well positioned in cable TV, analysts say, because it owns most of its shows and can cheaply replay them in dozens of countries. Published March 15, 2010
Phillips-Van Heusen, the clothing conglomerate that owns Calvin Klein, is near a deal to buy Tommy Hilfiger for about $3 billion. Published March 15, 2010
A Defense Department official set up a private network of spies in Pakistan and Afghanistan to gather intelligence on insurgents, according to officials. Published March 15, 2010
German publishers are worrying that Apple’s desire to limit offensive material on its iPhone applications is spilling over into censorship. Published March 15, 2010
Clouds will linger today, but highs will reach mid 60s
Forecast
Monday: Partly cloudy. Highs in the mid 60s. Northwest winds 10 to 15 mph. Monday Night: Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 40s. Northwest winds 10 to 15 mph. For more local weather and live radar information, go to www.StarNewsOnline.com/weather. Published March 14, 2010
