Page 25 - Long Leaf Pine News Today

Florida drag queen holds up sign to address neighborhood’s traffic issues Residents say student pick up problems have persisted for years Updated:  Tags:  Dressed in drag, St. Johns County resident addresses neighborhood’s traffic issue ST. JOHNS, Fla. – Neighbors in one St. Johns neighborhood said that for about five years, they were trying to get something done about parents parking their cars in there during school pickup at nearby Creekside High to avoid a long line. It wasn’t unt...

MINT HILL, NC – A letter by Beth Hamrick remembering Troy Pollard. Troy Pollard served as Mayor of the Town of Mint Hill from 1975 until his 1991 retirement from office. Under Mayor Pollard’s leadership, the Town of Mint Hill’s foundation was built to make mint Hill ‘the place’ to live as a thriving Mecklenburg County town known for its small-town atmosphere. During his 16 years as Mayor: ● the Town’s first park was constructed on Wilgrove-Mint Hill Road; ● upon the Town being g...

Gastonia Mayor Walker Reid was expecting a mundane City Council meeting on the evening of Tuesday, Jan. 5. Instead, the meeting turned out to be a high point in his life as he was named to the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, the highest civilian honor available in North Carolina. "Total and tremendous surprise," he recalled. "My family knew. The staff knew. The council knew. Everyone knew but me." Reid knew something was up, however, when his wife and brother walked into the council chambers and ...

Lee County Commissioner Robert Reives Sr. was awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine on Monday, the highest honor that can be given for state service. Reives, a Democrat, has served on the county Board of Commissioners for more than 30 years. He is currently serving his seventh term after winning an uncontested election in 2018. His term will expire in December 2022. Reives was presented with the award by former Lt. Gov. Dennis Wicker during a socially distant ceremony Monday at the Lee County...

Public Slams Plans for Massive Efland Gas Complex at Orange County Commissioners Meeting Orange County Board of Commissioners meeting The Orange County Board of County Commissioners confronted the beaver in the room Tuesday evening during a public hearing regarding the proposed Efland Station, a sprawling complex that would include the construction of a Buc-ees travel center. More than 110 people signed up to speak on Tuesday, with only one person requesting to speak on something other th...

BY KAREN KISTLER When attending the Lake Norman Shrine Club’s Christmas event, Ben Goins thought it was going to be just like any other; however, this year he received a gift that was quite unexpected. During the special occasion held Dec. 7 at the Heritage House, Goins noted that fellow Shriner Randy Marion got up and went to the podium and then proceeded to call Goins to come and join him. Wondering what was happening, Goins said he went up front and then Marion started readi...

MOREHEAD CITY — Friends and family of Carteret County living legend John Tunnell are invited to celebrate his 90th birthday this weekend – COVID-19 style. The family is hosting a drive-by celebration Sunday at Mr. Tunnell’s home in Morehead City. Friends are asked to gather beginning around 2:30 p.m. at the intersection Shepard and 17th streets, lining up on Shepard facing east. At 3 p.m., the parade will drive east on Shepard Street, turning left on 16th Street and pass the Tunn...

A December to remember for App State’s more than 1,700 graduates More than 1,700 Appalachian State University graduates were conferred degrees during the university’s virtual Fall 2020 Commencement Dec. 11. This photo collage shows a handful of the numerous celebratory commencement photos shared by App State’s Class of 2020 graduates via social media. Photos submitted “You have earned one of the most significant achievements of your lifetime, and you did so under historically challengin...

Credit: Todd Pusser Already possessing more salamander species than any other state in the country with 63, North Carolina has just added one more to make it 64. The aptly named Carolina Sandhills Salamander ( Eurycea arenicola) is found in association with springs, seepages and small blackwater streams of the Sandhills region of North Carolina. The Carolina Sandhills Salamander was previously lumped in as an unusual population of the Southern Two-lined Salamander ( Eurycea cirrigera), but res...

Already possessing more salamander species than any other state in the country with 63, North Carolina has just added one more to make it 64. The aptly named Carolina Sandhills Salamander (Eurycea arenicola) is found in association with springs, seepages and small blackwater streams of the Sandhills region of North Carolina. The Carolina Sandhills Salamander was previously lumped in as an unusual population of the Southern Two-lined Salamander (Eurycea cirrigera), but researchers at the North C...