Today started as a busier-than-normal day for me. I tried to leave my house early, because I needed to stop by the State Highway Patrol office in Morehead City to pick up a report about a potentially newsworthy car accident. When I got to my office and started making beat calls to all the law enforcement agencies in the area, it quickly became clear that the past few days had seen a small surge in criminal activity-- and it was going to take me a while to gather all the information about some of the newsworthy criminal activities.
I also had to check the area for storm-related damage after this weekend's nor'easter, as well as get an update on the latest about the Carteret Co. wildfire that started Friday afternoon.
Things really got crazy when I had to drop everything I was working on right around noon and turn a story on the state auditor's report in to the Gallants Channel land transfer and the whole Tall Ships hullabaloo.
At some point in the middle of all that, I made a mental note that I needed to come home and
update my blog tonight. At that point in time, though, I had planned on ranting about how Don Imus got shortchanged ... or how I had originally believed every word Mike Nifong said, but that I've now joined the chorus calling for his head.
That was all before someone turned on a valve, and emails started pouring in to my inbox. See, WNCT is owned by Media General, a company which owns about 25 TV stations throughout the US. There's a "Breaking News Alert" that is sent out to every employee of every station when something particularly newsworthy happens.
The function isn't utilized all that often. Today, it was used more than I've ever seen.
The first Breaking News Alert hit my inbox at 12:15 p.m., and it had a simple Subject -- "20 Dead." I opened the email and saw, for the first time, that someone had gone on a rampage on the Virginia Tech campus.
Throughout the day, 64 more Breaking News Alert emails trickled in as more facts became available. Sadly, the death toll kept climbing. No doubt more emails will continue to come -- I can only pray that the death toll doesn't rise any higher.
The rest of the afternoon was a mix of sadness, stress and disbelief. I'm less than a year removed from college, and I just am having a hard time grasping that someone could destroy the lives of so many at a place that is supposed to be so safe.
When you're in college, you're so insulated. You're so care-free. And you're supposed to be living it up. I can remember days in Chapel Hill when I felt on top of the world. I was living in a bubble, and it felt like the world ended at the Orange County line -- like all that existed was held within the stone walls of our campus. To have that tranquility shattered is gut-wrenching and sobering.
It happened twice my senior year -- first when two students fell from a third-story window. One died, another was seriously injured. Days later, Muhammad Taheri-Azar drove a Jeep through the heart of our campus and injured nine people. He was intent on killing many more, but thankfully everyone survived and made a full recovery.
That tranquility was again shattered in Chapel Hill recently, with the death of Jason Ray. His death shook that campus to the core. I can only imagine what students, staff and family in Blacksburg must be feeling right now -- 32 people, not including the gunman, are now dead. It's just hard for me to wrap my mind around that number -- 32 people who started their day dodging snow flakes on their walk across a beautiful campus to class. That's 32 futures that were cut short for no reason. That's 32 kids, killed in their prime. That's 32 sons, daughters, sisters, brothers murdered -- and for what?
It just doesn't make sense to me -- and to be honest, I'm still kind of numb right now. These shootings could have just as easily happened on Carolina's campus -- and I could have lost dozens of vibrant, fun-loving friends in their primes. That's a scary, scary thought.
It's going to take a long time for us to figure out exactly what happened at Va. Tech -- and we may never know why. But it only takes a couple of minutes to stop and pray for the students, faculty and staff there. That's something we should all do.
Monday, April 16, 2007
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
How Slack Am I?
It really has been too long since I last updated the ol' blog. I feel like I find myself saying that a lot.
This time, part of that was by design, though -- I wanted to go about a week or so without posting to make sure that anyone and everyone had a chance to read about the Jason Ray that I knew. He was a great guy, and I can tell you, folks are still reeling from his death. I've been up to Chapel Hill a couple of times since JRay died -- and folks there are still hurting and trying to make sense of what happened. I get the sense that his close friends have accepted what happened and are really working hard to move forward. But there is simply no questioning the tremendous impact he had on everyone around him. Even folks that didn't know him personally are coping -- he was truly an amazing person.
So while part of my lack of posting has been by design, that still leaves a few days when I simply didn't do it. I apologize -- I hope that the folks who've made this blog a part of their web-surfing routine will tune back in.
As a matter of fact, I'm at WNCT's corporate headquarters (our station is owned by Media General, by the way) in Richmond, Va. right now -- learning more about blogging and connecting with folks like you over the internet! So I hope to learn some cool lessons that can benefit all of us soon.
I hope this finds you doing well!
This time, part of that was by design, though -- I wanted to go about a week or so without posting to make sure that anyone and everyone had a chance to read about the Jason Ray that I knew. He was a great guy, and I can tell you, folks are still reeling from his death. I've been up to Chapel Hill a couple of times since JRay died -- and folks there are still hurting and trying to make sense of what happened. I get the sense that his close friends have accepted what happened and are really working hard to move forward. But there is simply no questioning the tremendous impact he had on everyone around him. Even folks that didn't know him personally are coping -- he was truly an amazing person.
So while part of my lack of posting has been by design, that still leaves a few days when I simply didn't do it. I apologize -- I hope that the folks who've made this blog a part of their web-surfing routine will tune back in.
As a matter of fact, I'm at WNCT's corporate headquarters (our station is owned by Media General, by the way) in Richmond, Va. right now -- learning more about blogging and connecting with folks like you over the internet! So I hope to learn some cool lessons that can benefit all of us soon.
I hope this finds you doing well!
Monday, March 26, 2007
More than a mascot
In moments of weakness, I like to rely on what strengths I do have. I think most of us work that way. For many in the UNC family, myself included, now is a time of great sadness.
The Tar Heels lost a basketball game on Sunday -- and with it went a chance at a National Championship.
Jason Ray lost his life this morning -- and with him go dreams, hopes and a legacy that will last longer than the memory of this basketball season.
You tell me which is more important.
It's a time of weakness for the UNC campus, for Jason's friends and family, and even for folks who never knew him.
Fortunately for me, I knew him. That's made the last couple of days difficult. But the pain that I -- and so many others -- have felt (and are still feeling) is only a testament to the great man that Jason Ray was.
It's a time of weakness -- and all I know to do right now is write. So I'm going to tell you about what I know of JRay.
Many of you may now know him as Rameses -- the UNC mascot. Jason played the part of Rameses for the last three years, and was in East Rutherford, NJ last week to cheer on the Tar Heels in the Sweet 16. All that went sour, though, on Friday afternoon, when he was hit by an SUV outside of his hotel. He suffered massive head injuries and a broken hip. Despite the prayers and pleas of many, he died this morning at 8:38.
I was lucky to learn so much more about Jason Ray over the last three years than what has been splashed across television screens and websites the last several days. To say I knew him well would be a stretch. But I knew him well enough to benefit from his vibrance.
He lived in the apartment across from mine when I was a student at UNC. I was good friends with his roommates, and I saw him from time to time in the parking lot or at random gatherings. Whenever we were in the same place, we'd be sure to say hello to each other. Whenever I'd go back to visit Chapel Hill during the last seven months since I've moved here, to Eastern North Carolina, we'd seek each other out at church, and make a point in saying hello. I'm going to miss that -- a lot.
Although he couldn't say anything back, I'd always be sure to give him a pat on the back or a quick "hello" when I was at a sporting event and he'd pass by dressed as Rameses. He'd return the pat on the back, or offer a strong handshake -- which is fitting, because JRay was a strong, strong man.
Strong in his faith. Strong in his relationships. And strong in his passion for Carolina.
I spent some time with some of my closest friends this weekend -- and we tried hard to make sense of this tragedy. I don't think we ever managed to come up with a reason for why something like this could happen to someone like JRay.
We were certain of a few things, though. Few people we've ever met were as radiant and vibrant as Jason. He was truly so full of life. His personality was addictive -- and there was no way you could have a conversation with him and not walk away feeling encouraged.
He was a leader in InterVarsity, a Christian fellowship on campus. His faith that he lived out and displayed every day makes me certain that I know exactly where he is right now.
But it's that same faith that I hope will have an impact on people for some time to come. In life, for most folks, JRay was a symbol of our university when he dressed up like Rameses. He represented one of the most powerful, most elite and most storied colleges in the United States.
In death, I hope he remains a symbol -- of love, of courage, of youthful exuberance and of a life fully dedicated to Christ. To borrow a line from Tim Nelson, of ABC 11 TV in Raleigh, JRay was much, "much more than the man behind the mascot." He was the man who stood behind his friends, and stood up for what he believed in.
I hope people will be able to take a long, hard look at what exactly Jason believed in, and what (or Who) he lived his life for. He's responsible for countless smiles, high fives and good times at Carolina basketball and football games -- but I think he can be responsible for revival at UNC. If more people lived like JRay, the world would certainly be a much better place.
"Jason was a wonderful son, brother and friend," his brother, Allen, said through a news release. "He leaves behind a legacy of friendship, laughter, excitement for life and a genuine love for all the people he touched during his all-too-short life."
That's not an exaggeration. That's the honest-to-goodness truth. Anyone who knew Jason would tell you the same thing.
"He may have performed in the anonymity that comes with playing the mascot, but his life has had an overt and lasting impact on the people whose lives he touched," said UNC Athletics Director Dick Baddour.
Normally I don't agree with what Baddour has to say. But in this case, I couldn't agree more.
"His legacy will be one of caring and joy, of hard work and enthusiasm for life," said UNC Chancellor James Moeser. But I'd take it a step farther. His legacy will be one of passion for his friends, his family and his Father -- passions that we could all learn something from.
I, like many folks, am doing a little bit of hurting right now. But not as much as his family and close friends -- both at Carolina and from Concord, his hometown. So please, keep them in your prayers. And keep JRay's legacy alive.
If you'd like to contribute financially to doing that, in lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Jason Kendall Ray Memorial Fund, Concord Christian Church, 3101 Davidson Highway, Concord, NC 28027.
But the easiest way you can keep his spirit alive is to pass it along. Live each day with a smile, a sense of humor and a sense of purpose.
This picture really struck me today -- and though its meaning has changed a bit since Jason has passed, it's still moving -- and shows how JRay impacted so many -- even folks he may have never known:
We'll miss you, JRay.
The Tar Heels lost a basketball game on Sunday -- and with it went a chance at a National Championship.
Jason Ray lost his life this morning -- and with him go dreams, hopes and a legacy that will last longer than the memory of this basketball season.
You tell me which is more important.
It's a time of weakness for the UNC campus, for Jason's friends and family, and even for folks who never knew him.
Fortunately for me, I knew him. That's made the last couple of days difficult. But the pain that I -- and so many others -- have felt (and are still feeling) is only a testament to the great man that Jason Ray was.
It's a time of weakness -- and all I know to do right now is write. So I'm going to tell you about what I know of JRay.
Many of you may now know him as Rameses -- the UNC mascot. Jason played the part of Rameses for the last three years, and was in East Rutherford, NJ last week to cheer on the Tar Heels in the Sweet 16. All that went sour, though, on Friday afternoon, when he was hit by an SUV outside of his hotel. He suffered massive head injuries and a broken hip. Despite the prayers and pleas of many, he died this morning at 8:38.
I was lucky to learn so much more about Jason Ray over the last three years than what has been splashed across television screens and websites the last several days. To say I knew him well would be a stretch. But I knew him well enough to benefit from his vibrance.
He lived in the apartment across from mine when I was a student at UNC. I was good friends with his roommates, and I saw him from time to time in the parking lot or at random gatherings. Whenever we were in the same place, we'd be sure to say hello to each other. Whenever I'd go back to visit Chapel Hill during the last seven months since I've moved here, to Eastern North Carolina, we'd seek each other out at church, and make a point in saying hello. I'm going to miss that -- a lot.
Although he couldn't say anything back, I'd always be sure to give him a pat on the back or a quick "hello" when I was at a sporting event and he'd pass by dressed as Rameses. He'd return the pat on the back, or offer a strong handshake -- which is fitting, because JRay was a strong, strong man.Strong in his faith. Strong in his relationships. And strong in his passion for Carolina.
I spent some time with some of my closest friends this weekend -- and we tried hard to make sense of this tragedy. I don't think we ever managed to come up with a reason for why something like this could happen to someone like JRay.
We were certain of a few things, though. Few people we've ever met were as radiant and vibrant as Jason. He was truly so full of life. His personality was addictive -- and there was no way you could have a conversation with him and not walk away feeling encouraged.
He was a leader in InterVarsity, a Christian fellowship on campus. His faith that he lived out and displayed every day makes me certain that I know exactly where he is right now.
But it's that same faith that I hope will have an impact on people for some time to come. In life, for most folks, JRay was a symbol of our university when he dressed up like Rameses. He represented one of the most powerful, most elite and most storied colleges in the United States.
In death, I hope he remains a symbol -- of love, of courage, of youthful exuberance and of a life fully dedicated to Christ. To borrow a line from Tim Nelson, of ABC 11 TV in Raleigh, JRay was much, "much more than the man behind the mascot." He was the man who stood behind his friends, and stood up for what he believed in.
I hope people will be able to take a long, hard look at what exactly Jason believed in, and what (or Who) he lived his life for. He's responsible for countless smiles, high fives and good times at Carolina basketball and football games -- but I think he can be responsible for revival at UNC. If more people lived like JRay, the world would certainly be a much better place.
"Jason was a wonderful son, brother and friend," his brother, Allen, said through a news release. "He leaves behind a legacy of friendship, laughter, excitement for life and a genuine love for all the people he touched during his all-too-short life."
That's not an exaggeration. That's the honest-to-goodness truth. Anyone who knew Jason would tell you the same thing.
"He may have performed in the anonymity that comes with playing the mascot, but his life has had an overt and lasting impact on the people whose lives he touched," said UNC Athletics Director Dick Baddour.
Normally I don't agree with what Baddour has to say. But in this case, I couldn't agree more.
"His legacy will be one of caring and joy, of hard work and enthusiasm for life," said UNC Chancellor James Moeser. But I'd take it a step farther. His legacy will be one of passion for his friends, his family and his Father -- passions that we could all learn something from.
I, like many folks, am doing a little bit of hurting right now. But not as much as his family and close friends -- both at Carolina and from Concord, his hometown. So please, keep them in your prayers. And keep JRay's legacy alive.
If you'd like to contribute financially to doing that, in lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Jason Kendall Ray Memorial Fund, Concord Christian Church, 3101 Davidson Highway, Concord, NC 28027.
But the easiest way you can keep his spirit alive is to pass it along. Live each day with a smile, a sense of humor and a sense of purpose.
This picture really struck me today -- and though its meaning has changed a bit since Jason has passed, it's still moving -- and shows how JRay impacted so many -- even folks he may have never known:
We'll miss you, JRay.
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Games gone wild...
I'm kind of at a loss for what to blog about tonight, but since I have a few minutes of free time on my hands, I definitely wanted to hit you with an update.
While I'm pondering what to write about, let me first say thanks to those of you who take the time to comment on my posts. I read each and every one of them, and your voice is definitely heard. And to Marie: I very much appreciate your compliments and words of encouragement. You'll probably be pleased to know that I have done a lot of organizing over the last couple of days. My work load has been forgiving enough to allow me to reorganize my office and get a few things in order. If I could only order up more sleep!
Well, I've been combing the internet trying to find some weird news that could spark some discussion. I think I've found it. Take a look at this:
For the full story, click this link. Sounds like a pretty rotten competition, though. (Sorry, awful pun.) Reading about that reminded me of something I heard on the radio this morning. Apparently some lucky folks have been able to parlay a childhood game into some cold, hard cash.
Someway, somehow, someone found a way to turn Rock, Paper, Scissors into an organized sports league. That National RPS Championships are held each year in Las Vegas. And get this -- the winner walks away with $50,000. The whole thing is televised on A&E (click this link and watch a preview) and apparently it's a big deal.
So in the absence of any ideas for me to write about, I want to hear from you! Click the "Comments" button below, and tell me about some of the games you used to play as a kid -- or any lesser-known sports or competitions you take part in!
While I'm pondering what to write about, let me first say thanks to those of you who take the time to comment on my posts. I read each and every one of them, and your voice is definitely heard. And to Marie: I very much appreciate your compliments and words of encouragement. You'll probably be pleased to know that I have done a lot of organizing over the last couple of days. My work load has been forgiving enough to allow me to reorganize my office and get a few things in order. If I could only order up more sleep!
Well, I've been combing the internet trying to find some weird news that could spark some discussion. I think I've found it. Take a look at this:
"Thirteen-year-old Katharine Tuck's sneakers are equal opportunity offenders. They smell as bad as they look. Now, the Utah seventh grader is $2,500 richer because of it: On Tuesday, she out-ranked six other children to win the 32nd annual National Odor-Eaters Rotten Sneaker Contest, stinking up the joint with a pair of well-worn 1 1/2-year-old Nikes so noxious they had the judges wincing."
For the full story, click this link. Sounds like a pretty rotten competition, though. (Sorry, awful pun.) Reading about that reminded me of something I heard on the radio this morning. Apparently some lucky folks have been able to parlay a childhood game into some cold, hard cash.
Someway, somehow, someone found a way to turn Rock, Paper, Scissors into an organized sports league. That National RPS Championships are held each year in Las Vegas. And get this -- the winner walks away with $50,000. The whole thing is televised on A&E (click this link and watch a preview) and apparently it's a big deal.
So in the absence of any ideas for me to write about, I want to hear from you! Click the "Comments" button below, and tell me about some of the games you used to play as a kid -- or any lesser-known sports or competitions you take part in!
Thursday, March 15, 2007
It's the most wonderful time of the year...
I'll admit it -- I've done an absolutely, positively awful job of staying connected with y'all over the last few weeks.
The last month has definitely been a roller coaster for me -- physically, emotionally and creatively. I've experienced burn-out in each of those areas, sometimes all three at once. And unfortunately, it's come at the expense of the blog.
Let's see, since I last chatted with y'all there's been some food poisoning, about three migraines and not nearly enough sleep. And now my sinuses and allergies are attacking me! I feel like I've aged a few years in just a couple of weeks.
But this past weekend I got to spend some quality time with my closest friend, who I hadn't seen in more than a month. That, coupled with time outside in this recent phenomenal weather, has helped put me on the road to rejuvenation.
And then there's some of the best medicine of all -- March Madness! In my mind, it truly is the most wonderful time of the year. Especially since my Heels are rolling, picking up a share of the ACC regular season crown and looking strong en route to an ACC tourney crown. Now they're a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament -- and as I'm writing this, they're leading Eastern Kentucky at halftime.
I'll admit it -- as much as I hate Dook, I never could have predicted a first-round exit from the Big Dance. That's not to say I'm not happy about it...
It's crazy the difference a year makes. A year ago this week I was in New Orleans on Spring Break doing work in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. I went with some of my closest friends and made some more great friends while I was there. It's amazing to think that was a whole year ago. Tomorrow marks one year from the night we watched UNC squeak into the second round. About 80 of us Carolina students crammed into a sports bar in downtown New Orleans (one of the few such places open, even months after Katrina). Not long after we got settled, Presidential candidate and UNC alum John Edwards walked in the door, and ended up watching the game with us. Definitely a fun and interesting memory.
March Madness is definitely going to be a little harder this year, though. As a college student, the world pretty much stopped whenever basketball was on TV. And if you absolutely couldn't skip class, you could watch the games live (in class) on your laptop. It was great!
Well, it doesn't work that way in the Real World -- I didn't get to catch a minute of the action until the Dook game tonight. I wish I still had the luxury of watching every second of the games, and I envy my friends who are still able to do so.
It's just one more thing about the Real World that I've got to get used to. Anyways, the second half is about to start for my Heels, so I'm gonna run.
But let me hear from you -- click the "Comments" button below and tell me who YOU'RE rooting for this March Madness! I look forward to hearing what you have to say...
The last month has definitely been a roller coaster for me -- physically, emotionally and creatively. I've experienced burn-out in each of those areas, sometimes all three at once. And unfortunately, it's come at the expense of the blog.
Let's see, since I last chatted with y'all there's been some food poisoning, about three migraines and not nearly enough sleep. And now my sinuses and allergies are attacking me! I feel like I've aged a few years in just a couple of weeks.
But this past weekend I got to spend some quality time with my closest friend, who I hadn't seen in more than a month. That, coupled with time outside in this recent phenomenal weather, has helped put me on the road to rejuvenation.
And then there's some of the best medicine of all -- March Madness! In my mind, it truly is the most wonderful time of the year. Especially since my Heels are rolling, picking up a share of the ACC regular season crown and looking strong en route to an ACC tourney crown. Now they're a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament -- and as I'm writing this, they're leading Eastern Kentucky at halftime.
I'll admit it -- as much as I hate Dook, I never could have predicted a first-round exit from the Big Dance. That's not to say I'm not happy about it...
It's crazy the difference a year makes. A year ago this week I was in New Orleans on Spring Break doing work in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. I went with some of my closest friends and made some more great friends while I was there. It's amazing to think that was a whole year ago. Tomorrow marks one year from the night we watched UNC squeak into the second round. About 80 of us Carolina students crammed into a sports bar in downtown New Orleans (one of the few such places open, even months after Katrina). Not long after we got settled, Presidential candidate and UNC alum John Edwards walked in the door, and ended up watching the game with us. Definitely a fun and interesting memory.
March Madness is definitely going to be a little harder this year, though. As a college student, the world pretty much stopped whenever basketball was on TV. And if you absolutely couldn't skip class, you could watch the games live (in class) on your laptop. It was great!
Well, it doesn't work that way in the Real World -- I didn't get to catch a minute of the action until the Dook game tonight. I wish I still had the luxury of watching every second of the games, and I envy my friends who are still able to do so.
It's just one more thing about the Real World that I've got to get used to. Anyways, the second half is about to start for my Heels, so I'm gonna run.
But let me hear from you -- click the "Comments" button below and tell me who YOU'RE rooting for this March Madness! I look forward to hearing what you have to say...
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Just can't do it...
Hey y'all,
I know I'm long overdue for an update, and I was planning on writing something up tonight. But my folks just called an told me my best friend of almost 15 years -- my cocker spaniel -- had to be put to sleep yesterday. So, I'm sorry -- but I just don't have an update in me tonight.
Soon, though, very soon, I'll have some fresh content.
Have a great night...
I know I'm long overdue for an update, and I was planning on writing something up tonight. But my folks just called an told me my best friend of almost 15 years -- my cocker spaniel -- had to be put to sleep yesterday. So, I'm sorry -- but I just don't have an update in me tonight.
Soon, though, very soon, I'll have some fresh content.
Have a great night...
Saturday, February 24, 2007
What a wild week...
Let's be honest -- it's a struggle that all reporters face: there are some days (and even weeks) when finding stories is a tough task. Trying to find news items in the Carteret County area that appeal to WNCT's very broad viewing audience is sometimes an added challenge.
This week, however, was not one of those weeks. Monday morning all the way through Friday night, I was busy -- and I offer apologies for not keeping the blog updated a little more often.
For me, the week started out on a somewhat disturbing note -- a Jacksonville pediatrician was arrested and accused of sexually abusing two children. The ordeal began when the police got a call from Social Services on Friday, saying that they'd heard from the parents of one of the alleged victims. The police conducted a quick investigation, and by Friday night, Dr. Gustavo Rios was under arrest. By Monday, he'd lost his job at the Jacksonville Children's Clinic and his privileges had been revoked at Onslow Memorial Hospital.
Thankfully, Tuesday brought brighter news. I was able to tell y'all about the multi-million dollar improvements that the Carteret County School system is making at 15 of its 17 schools. I get the impression that Carteret County administrators are very serious about giving kids here a great environment in which to learn. That's good news, as Eastern North Carolina often gets a bad rap for the quality of its education system.
Wednesday brought more sad news -- Camp Lejeune told us late in the day that a Marine died from injuries sustained in a training exercise. They wouldn't tell us much more than that, until Friday when we learned the identity of the Marine. The base still won't tell us what type of training exercise was going on when PFC Joshua A. Bailey died. His family says he was killed when a vehicle rolled over him as he was sleeping. Makes me wonder exactly what was going on -- and leads me to encourage Camp Lejeune to go ahead and come forward with the details.
Thursday came early, as I awoken by a call from our Newsroom that the public information officer from Carteret County Schools had told us classes at Broad Creek Middle School had been called off for the day due to vandalism. As I bolted out the door, I called the PIO, and tried to get more information. At that point, she wasn't sure of the extent of the damage. Thankfully, there wasn't a great deal. Someone broke a few windows on a couple of buses, bashed in a big window on the front of the school and made a mess in the halls. The school's principal, Cathy Tomon, was shocked that someone would vandalize a place of learning -- but maintained a great attitude throughout the day and made it very easy for me to bring you as much information as possible about the situation. At last check, the Carteret County Sheriff's office hasn't made an arrest in the case -- but I hope to bring you an update on Monday.
Just down the road in Morehead City, police say that in an unrelated event, a 15-year-old student at the Bridges Alternative School called in a bomb threat to the building that houses that school and the Cape Lookout Charter High School. That 15-year-old was charged with a felony and taken to a juvenile detention center in Wilmington.
Friday began early as well, with another call from the Newsroom. Earlier that morning, Storm Team 9 meteorologist Gannon Medwick (who does a phenomenal job, if you ask me) spotted an odd sight on our Vipir radar over Carteret County. With no rain in sight, Gannon speculated that the reflection off the radar could be smoke. I called the North Carolina Forest Service, and they told me that there indeed was a fire on Piney Island -- a Cherry Point MCAS bombing range. Between 300-500 acres were on fire, but Cherry Point and the Forest Service said the blaze was under control. Even from Onslow County, I could see smoke this morning. A couple of other wildfires popped up late in the day in Carteret County, but they were very quickly put out.
I've spent the day today trying to catch my breath from such a crazy week -- but I'm very thankful for it -- and I hope next week will be just as busy.
And I hope you have a great rest-of-the-weekend, too!
This week, however, was not one of those weeks. Monday morning all the way through Friday night, I was busy -- and I offer apologies for not keeping the blog updated a little more often.
For me, the week started out on a somewhat disturbing note -- a Jacksonville pediatrician was arrested and accused of sexually abusing two children. The ordeal began when the police got a call from Social Services on Friday, saying that they'd heard from the parents of one of the alleged victims. The police conducted a quick investigation, and by Friday night, Dr. Gustavo Rios was under arrest. By Monday, he'd lost his job at the Jacksonville Children's Clinic and his privileges had been revoked at Onslow Memorial Hospital.
Thankfully, Tuesday brought brighter news. I was able to tell y'all about the multi-million dollar improvements that the Carteret County School system is making at 15 of its 17 schools. I get the impression that Carteret County administrators are very serious about giving kids here a great environment in which to learn. That's good news, as Eastern North Carolina often gets a bad rap for the quality of its education system.
Wednesday brought more sad news -- Camp Lejeune told us late in the day that a Marine died from injuries sustained in a training exercise. They wouldn't tell us much more than that, until Friday when we learned the identity of the Marine. The base still won't tell us what type of training exercise was going on when PFC Joshua A. Bailey died. His family says he was killed when a vehicle rolled over him as he was sleeping. Makes me wonder exactly what was going on -- and leads me to encourage Camp Lejeune to go ahead and come forward with the details.
Thursday came early, as I awoken by a call from our Newsroom that the public information officer from Carteret County Schools had told us classes at Broad Creek Middle School had been called off for the day due to vandalism. As I bolted out the door, I called the PIO, and tried to get more information. At that point, she wasn't sure of the extent of the damage. Thankfully, there wasn't a great deal. Someone broke a few windows on a couple of buses, bashed in a big window on the front of the school and made a mess in the halls. The school's principal, Cathy Tomon, was shocked that someone would vandalize a place of learning -- but maintained a great attitude throughout the day and made it very easy for me to bring you as much information as possible about the situation. At last check, the Carteret County Sheriff's office hasn't made an arrest in the case -- but I hope to bring you an update on Monday.
Just down the road in Morehead City, police say that in an unrelated event, a 15-year-old student at the Bridges Alternative School called in a bomb threat to the building that houses that school and the Cape Lookout Charter High School. That 15-year-old was charged with a felony and taken to a juvenile detention center in Wilmington.
Friday began early as well, with another call from the Newsroom. Earlier that morning, Storm Team 9 meteorologist Gannon Medwick (who does a phenomenal job, if you ask me) spotted an odd sight on our Vipir radar over Carteret County. With no rain in sight, Gannon speculated that the reflection off the radar could be smoke. I called the North Carolina Forest Service, and they told me that there indeed was a fire on Piney Island -- a Cherry Point MCAS bombing range. Between 300-500 acres were on fire, but Cherry Point and the Forest Service said the blaze was under control. Even from Onslow County, I could see smoke this morning. A couple of other wildfires popped up late in the day in Carteret County, but they were very quickly put out.I've spent the day today trying to catch my breath from such a crazy week -- but I'm very thankful for it -- and I hope next week will be just as busy.
And I hope you have a great rest-of-the-weekend, too!
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