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WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Wilmington Police were searching for three men early Thursday morning after a cab driver was robbed at gunpoint.

According to New Hanover County Dispatch the call came in at 1:44 am and the robbery took place in the parking lot of Codington Elementary School on Carolina Beach Road. The cab driver’s money and keys were stolen.

Police used the SABLE helicopter to search for the three suspects, two black males and one white male. Police suspended the search before 3:30 am and did not find the men.

The cab driver was not harmed during the robbery.

The three robbers were described as:
1.) Black male approximately 6’2” tall, wearing a flight jacket, blue Dickies pants and black boots.
2.) White male, wearing a gray “Volcom” seatshirt, blue jeans, white tennis shoes and a white beanie.
3.) Black male, wearing a black sweatshirt, black Dickies pants and white tennis shoes.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to call the Wilmington Police Department at 910-343-3600. Information also may be submitted anonymously through Text-A-Tip. Enter “Tip708″ and the information and send to CRIMES (274637).

WILMINGTON,NC (WWAY) — Some schools are movin’ on up. Some are staying put. In Wilmington the new conference looks like it’s going to be a split conference. Either way you slice it the North Carolina High School Athletic Association released its second realignment plan on Thursday.

Most athletic directors in our region are content with the new plan, but Topsail is not included in this group. Topsail, which used to be a 1-A school until the last realignment, doesn’t want to be placed into a 3-A/4-A conference with the four Wilmington high schools. North Brunswick athletics director Gary Baldwin isn’t happy with the proposal either. As of Thursday afternoon he’s not ruling out an appeal.

The 2013-17 realignment plan is expected to become official on March 15th.

Second & current realignment proposal:

4-A 3-A Conference
Ashley 4-A
Hoggard 4-A
Laney 4-A
New Hanover 4-A
South Brunswick 3-A
Topsail 3-A
West Brunswick 3-A

2-A 1-A Conference
Clinton 2-A
East Bladen 2-A
Midway 2-A
West Bladen 2-A
Pender 1-A
Trask 1-A
Union 1-A
Wallace-Rose Hill 1-A

2-A 1-A Conference
Fairmont 2-A
Red Springs 2-A
South Columbus 2-A
St. Pauls 2-A
East Columbus 1-A
South Robeson 1-A
West Columbus 1-A
Whiteville 1-A

2-A Conference
Croatan 2-A
Dixon 2-A
East Duplin 2-A
North Brunswick 2-A
Northside 2-A
SW Onslow 2-A

RALEIGH, NC (WWAY) — Nearly three years after a Wilmington Police officer was killed in a car chase, a man involved in the chase is sentenced for drug possession and other charges.

Matthew Gerard Hendy, 28, was sentenced in a federal courtroom yesterday to 11 and a half years in prison and five years of supervised release.

On February 18th of 2009, WPD officer Richard Matthews wrecked his car and was killed while responding to a car chase involving Hendy and three others.

According to an investigation, Hendy was part of a drug trafficking organization that was importing high quality marijuana in bulk amounts from Canada to North Carolina.

RALEIGH,NC (WWAY) — NC State to Open Season vs. Tennessee at Chick-Fil-A Kickoff Game

NC State will open the 2012 football season on Friday, August 31 in Atlanta at The Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game. The Pack will take on Tennessee in the Georgia Dome and the game will be broadcast on ESPNU. The game time has not been determined.

“We are very excited about the opportunity to compete against a great program in a great venue,” said Wolfpack head coach Tom O’Brien. “Tennessee is an SEC school with a rich heritage and our players are already looking forward to the game. We know that our loyal fans will make sure that there is more red than orange in the dome that night.”

The following day, Auburn will face Clemson in the same facility in what will be the first-ever double hosting of marquee, BCS-style games on back-to-back days in the same venue.

Between the two games, more than 145,000 fans are expected to be in Atlanta to celebrate the opening of the 2012 season. The pair of Chick-fil-A Kickoff Games is expected to generate more than $60 million in economic impact.

Both games will include their own tailgate and cook-off events as well as their own FanZone events with the traditional team walks to keep fans entertained over the 48 hours of football frenzy.

“NC State fans love Atlanta and participating in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game is a particularly exciting way to kick off our 2012 season,” said Deborah A. Yow, NC State Director of Athletics. “We think there will be a lot of State red there to cheer on our team.”

All tickets to the game will be sold through the NC State Athletic ticket office and are expected to go on sale by March 1. No tickets will be available through the Chick-fil-A Bowl office.

State’s schedule has not yet been released by the ACC Office. Following is a statement put out by the league this morning:

“We at the Atlantic Coast Conference realize that there’s tremendous anticipation for the release of the 2012 ACC Football schedule. The conference office and member institutions are equally in anticipation and are taking steps to expedite finding appropriate solutions. As has been documented, there are a number of unusual circumstances beyond the control of the ACC and its member schools that have directly impacted a number of our school’s nonconference schedules, which in turn effects the development and completion of the overall schedule. Please know that all parties are working diligently and we appreciate everyone’s continued patience.”

COLUMBUS COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — A day after a mom speaks out about the rape of her child another Columbus County mom is speaking out saying the school district did little after her daughter was sexually assaulted by her classmates.

Kim Coston says her 12 year-old daughter was sexually assaulted numerous times at Acme-Delco Middle School back in October. The mom says her daughter was attacked by her fellow classmates. Coston says her daughter had been picked on repeatedly by three boys but then one day the bullying turned into assault while her daughter was in the gymnasium.

“The boys proceeded to touch her breast, grab her in between her legs, to the point that one boy, as she put it, dry humped her to the point where she can feel his personal area, hard and pressed to hers, “said Coston. “Then they just stopped when they got whatever arousal out of it. They turned around and walked away and went on and played.”

Coston says her daughter has not been the same since, adding that she was then bullied by other girls after reporting her attack.

“She attempted suicide,” Coston said. “She has nightmares and is going on medication tomorrow.”

Coston has since moved her daughter to a different school but she’s hoping the Columbus County School Board will change the way it handles victims and their attackers.

“I don’t think it’s right that our kids are going to school with predators even though they’re the same age. The School Board needs to step up and take action,” said Coston. “Take those children out; I don’t care how old they are. Take those children out and make it a safe place for our children.”

WWAY tried contacting the school board today but we were told by one board member that the chairman is the one designated to speak with the media. So far we have not heard back from him.

BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — The State of North Carolina is still looking at Brunswick County as the potential home for a new deepwater port.

A draft version of the NC Maritime Strategy released this week says the long-discussed site near Southport as well as a piece of land along NC 133 south of Leland are among four places under consideration, as is the existing Port of Wilmington and a site near the Port of Morehead City. The study rules out two other locations up the coast in Pamlico Sound.

RIGHT CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FULL REPORT (19.5 MB)

Opponents have long argued against the Southport site. The report says Progress Energy and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission also have concerns, because of how close the property is to the company’s nuclear power plant.

The report details what would be needed to make any of the options work. It also discusses other infrastructure improvements needed to expand various aspects of existing port business.

Initiated by the Governor’s Logistics Task Force (GLTF), the North Carolina Maritime Strategy takes a fresh look at North Carolina’s maritime assets and the needs for improvement to ensure that our State remains competitive in the future.

BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — The State of North Carolina is still looking at Brunswick County as the potential home for a new deepwater port.

A draft version of the NC Maritime Strategy released this week says the long-discussed site near Southport as well as a piece of land along NC 133 south of Leland are among four places under consideration, as is the existing Port of Wilmington and a site near the Port of Morehead City. The study rules out two other locations up the coast in Pamlico Sound.

RIGHT CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FULL REPORT (19.5 MB)

Opponents have long argued against the Southport site. The report says Progress Energy and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission also have concerns, because of how close the property is to the company’s nuclear power plant.

The report details what would be needed to make any of the options work. It also discusses other infrastructure improvements needed to expand various aspects of existing port business.

Initiated by the Governor’s Logistics Task Force (GLTF), the North Carolina Maritime Strategy takes a fresh look at North Carolina’s maritime assets and the needs for improvement to ensure that our State remains competitive in the future.

ELIZABETHTOWN,NC (WWAY) — The Bladen County School Board will hold a special session on Monday, February 20. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss personnel matters. We understand the board members will discuss the vacant head football coaching position at West Bladen High School.

Earlier this week the board did not approve the hiring of current Red Springs assistant coach Joe Salas. The vote was 4-3 against Salas. Some board members have been under scrutiny for not approving Salas. We understand his nomination will come up again on Monday. West Bladen athletics director Kim Cain is also in the running, but at this time Salas is expected to get the board approval.

Pat Byrd served as the West Bladen head football coach in 2010 and 2011. He was forced out shortly after the conclusion of the 2011 season.

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Some neighbors say a Wilmington bar is causing major problems, including shootings and drug use, but the bar owner says his business is going above and beyond to improve the community.

“We live here, and everybody here is kind of afraid of what might happen,” Michael Bolick said.

Bolick lives on 15th Street in Wilmington. He says the End Zone Sports Bar just up the road on Dawson Street causes major problems, including excess traffic, extremely loud noise and violence in the neighborhood. He says he is always concerned for his safety.

“It’s a little disconcerting to know that at any moment a shooting might occur because of something going on up at the corner,” Bolick said.

Bolick says since the bar opened in 2008, there have been major issues, including stabbings and shootings outside the club.

Tim kenny owns the building that the End Zone is in. He says the bar is not the problem. Kenny says neighbors do not understand the neighborhood they live in.

“It’s clearly an indication of difficulties that have existed in the neighborhood for a very long time, and it has a lot to do with the low-income housing project that’s across the street,” Kenny said.

Kenny says if anything, he thinks the bar has cleaned up the surrounding community.

The owner of the bar, Darryl Brown, told us he works closely with Wilmington Police to keep the area as safe as possible.

Alcohol Law Enforcement says there is an investigation into End Zone. Brown says ALE told him they must investigate any business that has a formal complaint against it.

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Wilmington Police were searching for three men early Thursday morning after a cab driver was robbed at gunpoint.

According to New Hanover County Dispatch the call came in at 1:44 am and the robbery took place in the parking lot of Codington Elementary School on Carolina Beach Road. The cab driver’s money and keys were stolen.

Police used the SABLE helicopter to search for the three suspects, two black males and one white male. Police suspended the search before 3:30 am and did not find the men.

The cab driver was not harmed during the robbery.

The three robbers were described as:
1.) Black male approximately 6’2” tall, wearing a flight jacket, blue Dickies pants and black boots.
2.) White male, wearing a gray “Volcom” seatshirt, blue jeans, white tennis shoes and a white beanie.
3.) Black male, wearing a black sweatshirt, black Dickies pants and white tennis shoes.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to call the Wilmington Police Department at 910-343-3600. Information also may be submitted anonymously through Text-A-Tip. Enter “Tip708″ and the information and send to CRIMES (274637).