Surf City attorney Brian Edes urged Council to enter a closed session on Tuesday, citing a couple items “legal in nature.” (Port City Daily photo/Mark Darrough)

Surf City attorney with history of questionable closed meetings calls for another

May 07, 2020 in Port City Daily

SURF CITY — Surf City’s town attorney Brian Edes urged Council to enter a closed session Tuesday morning, but failed to state the specific purpose for doing so as required by state law. For Edes, who represents other towns in the Cape Fear region, this isn’t the first time this has happened.

Staff at the Pender Correctional Institution sit in a van on Thursday wearing face masks and checking the temperatures of employees entering the facility. (Port City Daily photo/Mark Darrough)

Pender slow to announce Covid-19 outbreak in prison near downtown Burgaw

April 25, 2020 in Port City Daily

BURGAW — Pender County waited to announce a small Covid-19 outbreak at the Pender Correctional Institution (PCI), located about a half-mile from Burgaw’s downtown courthouse, 11 days after identifying its first positive test and four days after identifying a second — which, according to the state’s top health official, constitutes an outbreak at that point in a congregate setting.

An abandoned trailer in north Hampstead where the body of Hannah Faith was found in late March with a gunshot wound, according to her mother. Days before, when Faith was reported missing, PCSO deputies visited the trailer looking for Hannah and her … — An abandoned trailer in north Hampstead where the body of Hannah Faith was found in late March with a gunshot wound, according to her mother. Days before, when Faith was reported missing, PCSO deputies visited the trailer looking for Hannah and her ex-boyfriend, Micah Howard. (Port City Daily photo/Mark Darrough)

Questions surround death of Hannah Faith as Pender stays silent, citing ongoing investigation

April 24, 2020 in Port City Daily

HAMPSTEAD — Nearly a month after her daughter’s body was discovered in an abandoned trailer in north Hampstead, Monica Faith is still waiting for answers, like whether her death will be ruled a murder, accident, or suicide.

Raymond Brooks of Bladen County makes his first appearance at the Pender County Superior Court as Sheriff Alan Cutler, right, points to where he will stand before Judge Lindsey McKee. (Port City Daily photo/Mark Darrough)

Pender arrests third suspect in ‘heinous’ murder of UNCW student, brother and sister face possible death penalty

April 15, 2020 in Port City Daily

BURGAW — After two suspects — a brother and sister from southern Bladen County — made their first appearances in court this morning for the “heinous” robbery and murder of UNCW student and Army veteran Christopher Stewart, Sheriff Alan Cutler announced that his deputies were searching for a third suspect, Brandon Tyrell Chambers of Willard.

Portraits of Wilmington residents wearing homemade cloth masks, ski masks, bandanas, N-95 respirators, and surgical masks. (Port City Daily photos)

Faces of Wilmington: Portraits of residents masking up for the Covid-19 crisis

April 12, 2020 in Port City Daily

WILMINGTON — Over the past few weeks, more and more shoppers have been wearing face masks at grocery stores, gas stations, and home improvement stores across Wilmington. Some cited the official recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to wear cloth face masks, freeing up the supply of surgical masks and N-95 respirators for health care workers on the front line of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Of the 41 counties of North Carolina's eastern Coastal Plains region, Pender was the latest to declare a state of emergency. Robeson, two counties to the west, remains the only in the state to not yet declare an emergency in response to the Covid-19… — Of the 41 counties of North Carolina's eastern Coastal Plains region, Pender was the latest to declare a state of emergency. Robeson, two counties to the west, remains the only in the state to not yet declare an emergency in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. (Graphic courtesy N.C. Department of Public Instruction)

How the timing of Pender County's emergency declaration compares to other counties [Free read]

April 03, 2020 in Port City Daily

EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA --- When Pender County declared a state of emergency at the end of March in response to Governor Roy Cooper's stay-at-home order, it was the second-to-last county in eastern North Carolina --- and one of the last in the state --- to do so.

This week New Hanover County ABC Board opened its liquor-by-the-drink (LBD) distribution facility off Market Street, behind the Auto Wholesale dealership, to accommodate senior customers who wish to avoid the risk of more crowded ABC stores. (Port C… — This week New Hanover County ABC Board opened its liquor-by-the-drink (LBD) distribution facility off Market Street, behind the Auto Wholesale dealership, to accommodate senior customers who wish to avoid the risk of more crowded ABC stores. (Port City Daily photo/Mark Darrough)

New Hanover ABC retail sales up nearly 50 percent in March, no plans to close stores

April 02, 2020 in Port City Daily

NEW HANOVER COUNTY — In a month when local bars and restaurants took a massive hit from the Covid-19 pandemic, people flocked to their local ABC liquor stores — most to stock up, but at least a few to make their own sanitizer solution.

Neighbors of the Castle Bay subdivision joined other Hampstead residents to protest the proposed Jamestown sand mine at the Pender County Library in Hampstead last February. (Port City Daily photo/Courtesy Chris Oh)

After public pressure, sand mine in Hampstead tabled indefinitely

March 20, 2020 in Port City Daily

HAMPSTEAD — After months of growing opposition from nearby residents and parents of Topsail School students, national developer Jamestown Properties was granted its request to the Pender County Planning Board to table a proposed sand mine project in Hampstead indefinitely.

The past few days, Port City Daily has interviewed residents of Wilmington to better understand how the spread of the coronavirus is impacting their daily lives. Click here to see the full story. (Port City Daily photos/Mark Darrough) — The past few days, Port City Daily has interviewed residents of Wilmington to better understand how the spread of the coronavirus is impacting their daily lives. Click **here** to see the full story. (Port City Daily photos/Mark Darrough)

Faces of Wilmington as the city addresses a rising economic and health crisis [Free read]

March 19, 2020 in Port City Daily

WILMINGTON — As the city addresses a rising economic and health crisis caused by the spread of novel coronavirus cases across the U.S. and North Carolina, every aspect of daily life has been affected.

A DJI Matrice 210 drone at the Pender Emergency Operation Center, identical to the one lost during a training exercise last week. (Port City Daily photo/Mark Darrough)

Pender loses $26,000 drone to the ocean in joint Masonboro Inlet training exercise

March 09, 2020 in Port City Daily

WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH — During a joint training exercise near Masonboro Inlet last week, Pender EMS and Fire lost a $26,000 drone to the ocean when it ran out of battery power while fighting high winds nearly a mile offshore.

Half of the land owned by William McLean and his sister, Melanie Bradshaw, lies in Saint Helena (left of the fence), while the other half lies in Burgaw. Saint Helena approved the construction of a solar farm, behind the one pictured, while Burgaw d… — Half of the land owned by William McLean and his sister, Melanie Bradshaw, lies in Saint Helena (left of the fence), while the other half lies in Burgaw. Saint Helena approved the construction of a solar farm, behind the one pictured, while Burgaw did not. (Port City Daily photo/Mark Darrough)

Solar farm and property owners take Burgaw to court in dispute over property rights

March 09, 2020 in Port City Daily

BURGAW — A solar farm and its landowners are suing the town of Burgaw over a rezoning dispute, pitting the rights of property owners against the jurisdictional authority of local government.

Former mayor of New York City and Democratic presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg prepares to hit the stage during a rally at Laney High School this weekend. (Port City Daily photo/Mark Darrough)

In Pictures: Democratic presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg holds Wilmington rally

February 29, 2020 in Port City Daily

WILMINGTON — A few hundred people squeezed into the courtyard of Laney High School to listen to former mayor of New York City, Michael Bloomberg, days before North Carolinians take to the polls on Super Tuesday to vote for their Democratic presidential candidate.

The Alcove Beer Garden is the city’s newest craft beer bar and the latest addition to a business incubation project known as the ‘Outpost’ inside Wilmington’s growing Cargo District. (Port City Daily photo/Mark Darrough)

Alcove Beer Garden newest addition to Cargo District’s incubator hub the ‘Outpost’

February 20, 2020 in Port City Daily

WILMINGTON — There’s a lot going on in an old metal Quonset hut at the corner of 16th and Queen Street, dubbed the ‘Outpost’ by its creators and home to the city’s newest craft beer bar, the Alcove Beer Garden.

Mason Inlet Distillery owner Tom Curran dips a bottle of his Go Bananas brandy into hot wax to create a sealed top. (Port City Daily photo/Mark Darrough)

Mason Inlet Distillery the latest Wilmington-area liquor maker to hit ABC shelves

February 17, 2020 in Port City Daily

WILMINGTON — No distilleries operated in New Hanover County before this time last year. Now there are three. With plans to hit ABC shelves sometime in March, Mason Inlet Distillery joins Blue Shark Vodka and End of Days Distillery in Wilmington’s emerging craft liquor market.