History

Chance to glance a fossil that's nearly 3-million years old

Submitted by Heather Setzler, Executive Producer, Theater/Arts Reporter

Tuesday, August 14th, 2012, 12:15pm

Chance to glance a fossil that's nearly 3-million years old

LAKE WACCAMAW, NC (WECT) - An ancient discovery at Lake Waccamaw State Park years ago is now on display.

The park dedicated a new exhibit later this month to display a 2.75 million-year-old whale fossil discovered in the park's bay lake in 2008.

The fossil is the skull of a Balaenula whale, a class of whales that includes today's humpback and right whale species. The skull is the most complete Balaenula fossil known in the world and one of the first discovered in North America.

A resident found the seven-foot long fossil near the shoreline in waist-deep water back in 2008.

The exhibit is in the lobby of the visitor center near the entrance to the park's exhibit hall.

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ONE YEAR LATER: Remembering worst N.C. tornado outbreak

Submitted by Eric Davis, Meteorologist

Monday, April 16th, 2012, 10:24am

STATEWIDE, NC (WECT) – April 16, 2011 is a day that will go down in infamy in North Carolina weather history.

Thirty confirmed tornadoes touched down in the state making it the largest one-day total in history. There were 24 fatalities and hundreds of injuries statewide.

The most single destructive tornado was an EF-3 storm that started near Sanford and moved through parts of Raleigh. This storm killed six and caused over $328 million in damage. Another EF-3 tornado in Bertie County killed 12 people.

Southeast North Carolina didn't escape mother nature's wrath. Two separate tornadoes in Bladen County near Ammons and Bladenboro caused four fatalities. Large EF-2 or EF-3 tornadoes touched down in Sampson, Cumberland, and Onslow counties. Other smaller tornadoes touched down in Columbus, Robeson, and Duplin counties.

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Traveling theater groups presents 'The Parchman Hour'

Submitted by Debra Worley, Digital Content Director

Thursday, March 22nd, 2012, 4:37pm

Traveling theater groups presents 'The Parchman Hour'

WHITEVILLE, NC (WECT) – Actors in the play The Parchman Hour are traveling across North Carolina and will perform in Whiteville Thursday night.

The play is a part of Southeastern Community College’s Performing Arts series. The Parchman Hour showcases how young people who were called Freedom Riders in the 60s protested to end segregation in interstate bus travel in the south.

Actors will take the stage at the Whiteville High School Auditorium Thursday night at 7:00. Admission is $10.

The director said the play will be performed at UNCW April 13.

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