ONSLOW COUNTY, N.C. (WITN) – East Carolina University’s latest poll shows just how tight the presidential race is in North Carolina.
In a little over two months, residents of North Carolina will cast their ballots for the November election. ECU conducted a poll to learn more about where people stand right now.
“We have a one-point race,” said Dr. Peter Francia. “We have Donald Trump up 48 to 47 over Kamala Harris. That one point difference is the margin of error, which suggests North Carolina is very much a toss up state right now.”
On Tuesday, the standings for governor show Democrat Josh Stein leads Republican Lieutenant Mark Robinson 47%to 41%. North Carolina is a battleground state alongside a handful of others, which means these results show how every vote can make all the difference.
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Craven County Democratic Party Chairman Ryan Ewing says, “I don’t think I’ve missed an election where I can vote. Some people don’t vote every so often, but elections are very important.”
Ewing is not the only one who thinks voting is crucial this time. Onslow County Republican Party Chair Christine Card chooses to vote to see a different outcome.
“Our country has gone downhill so quickly,” said Card. “I mean overtime you can see that it was going downhill, but in the last few years it has taken a dive.”
Whatever the reason, plenty of people are expected to hit the polls this November. “In some cases,” said Dr. Francia, “It’s from family where it’s engrained or there may be issues that motivate people to vote.”
Early voting starts October 17th. The general election takes place November 5th.
West Davidson has had little to cheer about in football for quite a long time.
The Green Dragons, from Lexington, North Carolina, suffered through an 0-10 season in 2023 and haven’t reached the state playoffs since 2010.
They are in the process of flipping the script.
In a stunning turn of events, the Green Dragons overwhelmed Davidson County rival Ledford, 35-0, on Friday and now sit at 2-0. West Davidson hadn’t beaten Ledford since 2010 and fell 42-7 in last year’s game.
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“I’m really tickled for the kids,” said West Davidson head coach Brian Billings. “They’ve been through a lot the last two years.”
The Green Dragons last had a winning season in 2008 and have not been to the state playoffs since 2010. Their last 2-0 start before the current season was in 2010.
Considering what has taken place in the first two weeks of the season, West Davidson represents one of the state’s most dramatic turnarounds. When the final score from Friday popped up on message boards, there was considerable shock.
“It was a good win for us,” said assistant coach Bryan Lingerfelt. “We finally beat those guys. It was a long time.”
Lingerfelt is one of two former West Davidson head coaches on the staff along with Dale Barnes.
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While the score came as a surprise to many, the sense among those close to the program was that something was quietly building the last few years.
“We’ve had a pretty good group of young people the last couple of years in our JV program,” Billings said. “We were 5-5 and then 8-2 last year. And adding those guys to some of the older guys and it’s a good group. They’ve bought into each other and they’re doing a lot of good things.”
West Davidson has produced good football players in the past. The most famous one is Josh Bush, who earned a Super Bowl ring with the Denver Broncos. Barnes was an assistant coach on the excellent 2001 team nearly toppled eventual 1-A state champion Albemarle.
One thing that hasn’t changed over the years is West Davidson likes to run the football. The 250 yards pounded out on the ground against Ledford was music to the ears for Barnes, who especially emphasized the run when he was the head coach.
“That’s Brian Billings and Bryan Lingerfelt football,” Barnes said. “I’m just glad to be along for the ride.”
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One new wrinkle that is helping keep defenses thinking is the passing game. Sophomore quarterback Carson Correll was 11-of-16 for 94 yards and a pair of touchdowns against Ledford.
“We’re going to throw it enough to keep people honest,” Billings said. “You can say we’re multiple-I and we do some shotgun.”
The West Davidson scoreboard displayed the evidence of the Green Dragons’ 35-0 win over rival Leddford. / West Davidson Booster Club
Another thing that stood out in the Ledford game was the number of players turning in solid performances.
Nicholas Huff had 13 carries for 89 yards, Ethan McCloskey ran twice for 57 yards and a touchdown while Aaron Journigan added 56 yards on 13 carries. Correll also had a touchdown run. Mason Miller caught 7 passes for 55 yards and a touchdown. Keegan McCready caught a touchdown pass.
Hayden Perryman highlighted the defense with a 75-yard pick-six and Killian Burr also hauled in an interception. Cooper Moore, a sophomore, recorded 11 tackles, 2 sacks and a fumble recovery. Clayton Gathings led the team with 14 tackles and Nicholas Tierney recovered a fumble.
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“We’ve got guys who are really buying into what we’re doing,” Billings said. “We’ve been able to execute really well the first couple of games.”
West Davidson will try for its first 3-0 start since the 2010 season when they take the short trip to play archrival Central Davidson and the Spartans’ quirky double-wing offense.
“We’re going to get ready for the rugby scrum,” Billings said.
West Davidson has been shut out in its last three games with Central Davidson, so a victory would represent yet another step forward for the Green Dragons.
The owner of the largest landfill in North Carolina has reached a legal agreement to stop pollution of “forever chemicals” and address environmental injustice.
The Environmental Justice Community Action Network filed a proposed agreement Friday with GFL Environmental Inc. that would attempt to eliminate PFAS discharge to surface waters at the Sampson County Landfill in southeastern North Carolina.
The nearly 1,000-acre landfill owned by GFL accepts over 1.8 million tons of waste every year. Under the agreement, the company would reduce its discharge of human-made per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances from approximately 1,000 parts per trillion to 4 parts per trillion — the lowest level that EPA has determined laboratories can measure.
GFL would also decline new contracts for PFAS-contaminated waste from military bases and firefighting foams. Industrial manufacturers have been sending PFAS-contaminated waste to the site for decades, according to the Southern Environmental Law Center, which represents the Environmental Justice Community Action Network.
Yesterday, Doc’s Basement Comics of North Carolina, discovered that the N-word had been graffitied on the side of their store.
Yesterday, the comic book store Doc’s Basement Comics, Toys & Games of Belmont, North Carolina, discovered that the N-word had been graffitied on the side of their store in large letters in white paint. They posted pictures along with the news on their social media channels with an idea of who may have done it. “You know the thing that hurts most about this is if it’s true regarding who the culprits are then it stings because I have seen them several times today as I worked on inventory. They were greeted with smiles, given free comics, even a free water because I knew it was hot out today. If true, instead of being outside playing as I assumed, they were vandalizing the consignment shop and my wall. If true, when they are caught…Parents… I need you to do better.”
The store is owned by Doctor Sam Wilcox II, an African American obstetrician/gynaecologist whi runs the shop with his family. Shortly after the initial posting, the store posted “I appreciate all the support and the outpouring of love from everyone esp in our community! Shout out to Belmont Police Department for quickly catching the perpetrators(and it was indeed the young guys I showed kindness to). They have also been there to help with clean-up efforts. Thanks to the community members who have responded and are helping. I wanted the perpetrators to do it, but folks are on it, and I love and appreciate them and you all! Love Wins Yall!!”
WBTV screencap
Local news picked up the story and reported that police from the Belmont Police Department had identified three juveniles and that petitions would be obtained for them today, to pursue further action.
Doc’s Basement Comics, Toys & Games is located on the second floor (they understand the irony) at 427 E. Catawba Street, opened in 2016.
