Today's News

CALABASH—Town leaders have agreed the town’s first New Year’s Eve bonfire was an overwhelming success.

Calabash Mayor Mary Knight even awarded a plaque at Tuesday night’s monthly town board of commissioners meeting to longtime town services employee Jim McCartney. He was recognized for all of his help with the festive celebration that took place on the Calabash riverfront.

McCartney, who also works with the Calabash Fire Department, later said he had plenty of help from others.

BOLIVIA—“May I see your ID?”

Voters in Brunswick County might hear those words at the polls during an upcoming election—if a measure supported by a majority of Brunswick County commissioners makes ground in the General Assembly.

The statewide push to require a photo ID at the polls was overturned last year by N.C. Gov. Bev Perdue’s veto, however, local governments are now taking up the cause.

RALEIGH—North Carolina Supreme Court Justices on Tuesday heard arguments in the matter of Brunswick County’s Administrative Traffic Court.

Three of the high court’s seven justices were recused from hearing arguments, leaving four justices to hear arguments Tuesday morning. Court official Dick Ellis said Chief Justice Sarah Parker, associate justice Patricia Timmons-Goodson and senior associate justice Mark Martin were recused.

Justices are not required to disclose the nature of his or her conflict leading to a recusual, Ellis said.

BOLIVIA—The Brunswick County Board of Education may make changes to the school calendar that would require approval of the state’s General Assembly.

An option being considered for the 2012-2013 school year could push the district’s start date up sooner than current state law allows.

The board will consider school calendar options for the 2012-2013 school year at its upcoming meeting next month. Members tabled a discussion on the matter at their Jan. 3 meeting, opting to take up at its next meeting on Feb. 7.