North Carolina
Fairfield residents turn RV's into homes for North Carolina Helene victims
FAIRFIELD, Va. (WDBJ) – It’s been over a month since Hurricane Helene and communities in North Carolina are still working to recover.
But here in our hometowns, people are still stepping up to lend a hand, and those in Fairfield are lending a home.
A group in Fairfield is packing campers full of everything a family might need to become the new home for those who lost everything in Hurricane Helene.
Home has always been where you have a roof over your head and a bed to sleep in. But in Lake Lure, N.C., that no longer exists for many residents.
Bonnie Wilmer has seen it herself.
“I believe Lake Lure alone had 60 families that’s in tents,” said Wilmer. “They don’t have anything right now except sleeping bag in the ground.”
So she and a few friends are creating homes and sending them down to those people.
“[My friend] said she was going to purchase campers and some of them would need to be cleaned, I said bring them to my house, my friends will come help,” said Wilmer.
For the past week, people have been donating campers to Wilmer. Someone came all the way from Ohio to drop one off.
She and her crew clean them up and pack them with the basic necessities that have also been donated and other items to make it feel like a home.
“They have a new grill here, charcoal grill, new toaster, new dishes, new brooms, mops, new sheets for their bed, new bed pillows, and all the toiletries and anything that they would need [and] stocked it with some food,” said Wilmer, walking through the camper.
So far, three campers have been sent down to Lake Lure.
“They’re very, very grateful,” said Wilmer, recalling the reaction of the North Carolina residents. “I know they said one little girl was so excited to have a home. And these people are in tents, and it’s getting a little too cold for that.”
And two more families will have homes delivered Friday.
“We’ll just keep on going, as long as we continue to get money to pay for them,” said Wilmer.
Wilmer said she and her group are always accepting donations. They are collecting everything from food to hygiene products, mattresses and clothing. Monetary donations will go toward buying more campers to fill.
The best way to help out is through Wilmer’s Facebook. You can find her page here.
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The North Carolina Tar Heels will be a young program across the board next season, with well over two dozen freshmen and numerous additions from the transfer portal this offseason. Expectations for the 2026 season are lowered dramatically after a disastrous first season for head coach Bill Belichick, though those expectations could help the Tar Heels fly under the radar.
As the Tar Heels approach the end of spring ball, it is time to look at the veterans of the team—the ones who have the experience to lead, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Let’s look at three underrated seniors for the 2026 football season.
Ade Willie, Cornerback
Willie joins the Tar Heels program after four years with Michigan State, as the former 4-star player in the 2022 recruiting class gets an opportunity to not only provide depth to the secondary, but potentially start Week 0 against TCU.
Willie played in over 30 games with the Spartans and brings experience in the secondary at cornerback and safety, along with quality length and closing speed to the football. For a defense that needs players to step up, the redshirt senior from IMG Academy will be asked to do so.
Isaiah Johnson, Defensive Lineman
The defensive line is beginning to look like one of the Tar Heels’ strengths for the 2026 season. Johnson, a former transfer from Arizona, enters his redshirt senior year looking to add another year of production after 40 tackles and two sacks this past season.
North Carolina has an impressive group of starters with Malkart Abou-Jaoude, Leroy Jackson, and incoming transfer Jaylen Harvey. Johnson adds value to the group as a run defender with the ability to penetrate the pocket. While not discussed as a key player, Johnson’s name will be used plenty during the regular season as a potential standout for the program’s defensive front.
Coleman Bryson, Safety
Bryson was a reserve player for the Tar Heels’ secondary last season as a big nickel defender in the rotation. Heading into his redshirt senior year, the former Minnesota Gopher is looking to become a full-time starter in the secondary.
It wasn’t long ago when Bryson was making plays as the 2022 Pinstripe Bowl Defensive MVP. His special teams abilities were valuable for North Carolina last season, and he flashed at times in coverage against tight ends, including a pass breakup in the season-opener against TCU. The Waynesville, North Carolina, native could be a key defender on the back-seven in 2026.
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Friends and family members gathered in Washington state on Saturday, remembering former Miss North Carolina Carrie Everett, who died on Easter Sunday. Another memorial service is planned in North Carolina next month.
Web Editor : Sydney Ross
Posted
Virginia 3, North Carolina 0 | First Quarter
Virginia 3, North Carolina 0 | Q1 8:19
After a faceoff win by Henry Metz, Brendan Millon finds Truitt Sunderland to give the Hoos a 3-0 lead. Timeout North Carolina.
Virginia 2, North Carolina 0 | Q1 9:00
Brendan Millon gets the scoring started for the Cavaliers with a question mark style goal. On the defensive end, Jake Marek opens the game with three early saves with his third save setting up a transition goal by Tommy Snyder.
Virginia vs North Carolina pregame notes
UVA owns a 59-33 advantage since the series began in 1938.
The 59 wins are UVA’s most against any opponent in program history (followed by 51 against Duke).
In Chapel Hill last year, the Tar Heels defeated the Cavaliers 18-9, snapping UVA’s six-game series win streak.
UVA has won nine of the last 11 meetings, dating back to 2018.
The Hoos have won the last two meetings with Carolina at Klöckner Stadium, 11-4 in 2022 and 14-6 in 2024.
The Tar Heels’ four goals in 2022 marked the fewest goals in a game under Joe Breschi, who was named UNC’s head coach in 2006.
The last time the Tar Heels knocked off the Cavaliers at Klöckner was a 16-13 decision during the first of three games between the two teams in 2021.
Later that year, UVA claimed back-to-back meetings against the Heels, including in the NCAA semifinals on the way to capturing the 2021 national title over Maryland.
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