Wilmington, NC News

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — The use of seclusion rooms in local schools has some parents fired up. One group NC Fear Free Education has filed a civil rights complaint over the use of these rooms. At Tuesday night’s New Hanover County Board of Education meeting, the rooms were questioned and defended.

As a parent, no one wants to have their child locked in a seclusion room, while intended for the child’s safety, the rooms can be frightening.

Sara Raider is a parent with experience having her child in these rooms.” They are padded rooms they look something like you would see in a prison, that’s what comes to mind. There’s nothing colorful on the walls just pads on both the walls and the floor. It’s very stark and not a place I would want to be.”

One of Sara’s concerns is the process for placing a child in seclusion. “I think that the laws that are in place allow for a lot of leeway, subjectivity where teachers make the call whether it’s an emergency situation or not. They can throw a book and that’s destroying property. I think the law and the system are set up to invite misuse of the practice.”

On the contrary, Assistant Superintendent Dr. Rick Holliday says the rooms are a necessity, one that schools use with care. “The bottom line is we are following the law. No one wants any child hurt so our whole purpose in everything that we do is keeping all of the children safe, both the children who are having the issue and the other children as well, and we want to do that as safety as possible .

Also at Tuesday night’s meeting the board unanimously approved Superintendent Tim Markley’s proposal of how the former Virgo middle school will open as a public school next fall.

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — More than half of the candidates expected
on North Carolina’s presidential primary ballots in May come from
the Libertarian Party.

The three parties recognized by the state had until today to
file letters with the State Board of Elections to identify their
candidates for the May 8th presidential preference primary.

The Democrats have one candidate in, President Barack Obama. The
state Republican Primary named four candidates – Newt Gingrich, Ron
Paul, Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum.

The North Carolina Libertarian Party listed six candidates -
Roger Gary, R.J. Harris, Gary Johnson, Carl Person, Bill Still and
Lee Wrights. The party says it would mark the first time it has had
a presidential primary in North Carolina.

The State Board of Elections is expected to formally approve the
candidates next month.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Wilmington City Council has unanimously approved a plan to negotiate with Mandalay Baseball Properties and the Atlanta Braves about bringing a minor league baseball team to the Port City.

During an hour-long pitch to council, the groups claimed Wilmington is part of “Atlanta Braves Country,” which makes Wilmington a natural fit. The presentation included Braves General Manager Frank Wrenn and former Braves Manager Bobby Cox.

The city will now have a six-month period to negotiate with Mandalay and the Braves on a public/private partnership to plan for, finance, develop and construct a ballpark in the city. The Braves want to bring their high-level Class A team in the Carolina League to town. That team is currently the Lynchburg (VA) Hillcats.

The question now is how the city will pay for it. Mayor Bill Saffo says constructing the estimated $40 million stadium could mean a property tax hike. Councilwoman Laura Padgett and Councilman Earl Sheridan said they support exploring the possibility, but they are not sure Wilmington taxpayers should have to pay for the stadium on their own.