BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NC (WECT) – The 41st annual Odell and Virginia Williamson Oratory Scholarship Competition was held at Brunswick Community College on Thursday, May 3, 2012. Eight seniors representing North Brunswick, South Brunswick, West Brunswick, and Early College High School competed for top honors. 

Congratulations to Christina Marie Tolley, SBHS and James Daniel White, ECHS! Tolley and White both walked away with $2,500 scholarships and engraved plaques! Presenting the awards were Michael and Heather Borton of the Williamson family. All 8 participants advancing from the school competition to the county competition received an attractive framed certificate and check for $100.00.

The following students competed in the county competition:

• Joseph Riley Denman (NBHS)--"The Illusion of an Institution"
• Taylor Elizabeth Benson (NBHS)--"Wouldn't You Want to Know?"
• Erin Brooke Phelps (ECHS)--"Retaining the Resurrection"
• James Daniel White (ECHS)--"My Houseguest, Cancer"
• Christina Marie Tolley (SBHS)--"Society's Serial Killer"
• Kenneth Casey Shadid (SBHS)--"Abused by Alcohol"
• Megan Elayne Mauldin (WBHS)--"Filling in the Blanks: What School Really Teaches"
• Jacob Hamilton Hill (WBHS)--"Capacity for Evil"

Serving as Master of Ceremonies was Mike Sapp, Director of the Odell Williamson Auditorium at Brunswick Community College and a theatre professional. 

Judges included Donald Byrum, former Director of the School of Art and Design at Wichita State University and Brunswick Arts Council Board Member; Dr. David Corley, retired secondary director and principal for Brunswick County Schools; Tiffany Fullwood, Assistant Clerk of Superior Court for Brunswick County; MaryAnn Nunnally, retired principal and former New Hanover County Board of Education member; and Dr. Edward Pruden, Superintendent of Brunswick County Schools.

BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NC (WECT) – Fire officials said lightning is to blame for a fire at a home in Shallotte Point on Mary Sheldon Road Monday night.

Brunswick County Fire Marshal Scott Garner said no one was home at the time of the fire and no one was injured.

The home is in a fairly remote area and somewhat difficult to get to. Firefighters were already on the street at the time of the fire clearing a fallen tree out of the road. Garner said a firefighter spotted the fire. But by that time, the home was already up in flames.

The fire damaged the roof, and the structure is still standing.

Dr. Peter Fischer, the homeowner, said he was out of town when the fire occurred.

Copyright 2012 WECT. All rights reserved.

BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NC (WECT) – The last class of North Carolina Teaching Fellows hit the road this week for the annual Discovery Bus Tour.

The North Carolina Teaching Fellows Program was established in 1986 to provide high school seniors who wanted to enter the teaching profession a scholarship/loan to make their dreams reality. Students repay the debt through service in a North Carolina public school system. The program, recognized as the most ambitious teacher recruitment program in the nation, was eliminated through state budget cuts last year.

The Discovery Bus Tour allows all rising sophomore Fellows the opportunity to explore North Carolina School systems from the mountains to coast. Bus 2, which visited Brunswick County on Monday, started its journey at East Carolina University and will end the trip Friday at Western Carolina University.

Fellows were greeted in Brunswick County by Board of Education Chairwoman Shirley Babson and Vice-Chairwoman Catherine Cooke. Joyce Beatty, Executive Director of Student Services, coordinated the tour stop which included visits to Supply Elementary, West Brunswick High School, and the Ingram Planetarium.