Chattanooga beat out Port Angeles, Washington, to be named Outside magazine’s Best Town Ever.
The magazine’s editors wrote online that they will have coverage of both cities both online and in print this September and will later be rolling out coverage of all the towns in the contest.
With 129,562 votes, Chattanooga won out with 52 percent of the vote.
Port Angeles was a “wild card” pick in the competition, getting in the contest by reader suggestion after Outside magazine editors chose 60 other cities, including Chattanooga.
There were six rounds of voting in the March Madness-style bracket faceoffs.
In addition to Port Angeles, Chattanooga beat out Roanoke, Virginia; Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina; Beaufort, South Carolina; Boone, North Carolina; and Bar Harbor, Maine.
Residents in both cities made passionate pleas for votes in the last round. And people in both cities created videos showing off the towns. Click here to see Chattanooga’s video.
After the contest, residents from both Chattanooga and Port Angeles showed sportsmanlike spirit in Outside magazine’s comments section.
Here are some examples:
faugaun: Congrats to all towns in the competition from Chattanooga; may your tourism coffers flourish!
debbie_nibbles: Congratulations, Chattanooga! It was fun and second isn’t a bad thing for how small we are! Still think it will get us some recognition.
JamesJohnson6: A job well done on both towns’ parts. Enjoyed seeing all the great photos. PA people if y’all are in the Chattanooga area, come to my restaurant and we will treat you like family.
shawnzig: So many kind and gracious comments have been made from the people from Chattanooga to Port Angeles. We put up a really good fight. This contest really brought our community together … Beautiful photos were posted of both cities. Thank you all for that. Congratulations on your win, Chattanooga, but to come on as a wild card and end up in second to your beautiful city, I think we’re all winners.
DaveSantucci: I’ve been to Port Angeles and can’t wait to get back. You’ve got one of the most unique and amazing spots in the country. Congratulations on being a wild card and making it to the finals. Outside will do you well!
RALEIGH, N.C. — Safety officials are still trying to find patterns in the series of shark attacks on the North Carolina coast that might help keep the key tourism region safe for visitors, Gov. Pat McCrory said Thursday.
McCrory spoke after the seventh shark attack in the past three weeks, the most for the state’s coast in the 80 years for which the Florida Museum of Natural History’s International Shark Attack File keeps records. The highest previous total was five attacks in 2010.
“We’re still looking for a pattern,” McCrory said. “I am going to be talking to my secretary of public safety to see if there is any one fit-all approach to dealing with this issue. I doubt there is because each circumstance is so different.”
Local governments could consider restrictions on luring sharks to fishing hooks around areas where people swim, especially during the summer tourist season, McCrory said.
The latest shark attack was Wednesday, when 68-year-old Andrew Costello was bitten repeatedly in waist-deep water off Ocracoke Island on the state’s Outer Banks. Reports list Costello’s hometown as Wareham, Massachusetts, National Park Service Outer Banks spokeswoman Cyndy Holda said. He was the former editor-in-chief of the Boston Herald, the newspaper reported early Thursday.
A spokeswoman at Vidant Medical Center in Greenville could not provide an updated report of Costello’s condition Thursday. He was in fair condition Wednesday night.
Costello suffered wounds to his ribcage, lower leg, hip and both hands as he tried to fight off the animal, said Justin Gibbs, the director of emergency services in Hyde County. The attack happened around noon on a beach watched by a lifeguard as Costello swam in waist-deep water about 30 feet offshore, the National Park Service said in a news release. No other swimmers were injured.
Most of this year’s North Carolina shark attacks happened in shallow water. The injuries ranged widely: An 8-year-old boy had only minor wounds to his heel and ankle, while at least two other people required amputation. Another person, attacked Saturday, had initially been considered at critical risk of dying.
McCrory said he may visit the North Carolina mountains for the upcoming holiday weekend and plans to spend Independence Day at several community parades.
Meanwhile, a 12-year-old boy was bitten by a shark while swimming off the Isle of Palms northeast of Charleston, South Carolina on Tuesday. There have been at least two shark attacks off the South Carolina coast this year.
‘South Carolina is eating our lunch,” quipped a legislator at a recent committee meeting about economic development. For a native Tar Heel, those are painful words.
First we lost the race for Volvo to South Carolina, and now we’re losing our advantage in the preservation of architectural and historic resources.
South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley just signed a bill to expand her state’s credit for the rehabilitation of historic buildings from 10 percent to 25 percent. Even though South Carolina modeled its tax credit after ours, last summer North Carolina’s tax credit became a thing of the past, having been allowed to sunset.
This spring the N.C. House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly to enact a revised version, with strong support from Gov. Pat McCrory. Unfortunately, the bill was assigned to the Senate “graveyard,” an inactive committee where bills are sent to quietly die. The House, with the strong support of its leadership, recently included the credits in its budget, but the Senate didn’t.
South Carolina isn’t the only state to replicate our tax credits. Texas this year enacted a new tax credit program. Other states have been impressed with the remarkable impact that this incentive has had all across North Carolina – in large cities, small towns and the countryside.
The revival of downtown Durham, Raleigh, Winston-Salem, Asheville, Salisbury, Mount Airy, New Bern and Edenton, to name a few, hasn’t been coincidental. Nearly $2 billion have been spent by the private sector, stimulated by this statewide incentive. The impact has been tangible.
Studies show that the state actually makes money from the incentive. Properties must be renovated according to preservation standards. Only after all the work has been satisfactorily completed does the owner or developer get the incentive. Before the state puts out a penny, it gets taxes off of labor and materials. Local governments also benefit from property tax increases.
Historic rehabilitation is superb as a local jobs producer. You can’t outsource renovation jobs. Rehab requires more skilled jobs than new construction and returns much more money to local economies. Renovation also has a lower carbon footprint than even the “greenest” new construction.
Historic downtowns, mill villages, older neighborhoods, vacant industrial factories and even barns have been transformed by the tax credits. Places that were downright scary 20 years ago are now magnets for businesses, tourists and locals alike.
Heritage tourism, a major industry for North Carolina, used to focus mainly on museums. Now, entire communities are heritage destinations, thanks to the tax credits.
For example, this summer you might go to Asheville to visit Biltmore Estate, a wonderful attraction. Now, you’re likely to stay over a couple of days and enjoy the revitalized downtown, visiting shops, galleries, restaurants and breweries – just chilling out amid historic charm. You’ll quickly see why several new businesses have moved to Asheville, another spinoff from the tax credits. Twenty years ago, you wouldn’t have even ventured into downtown Asheville; it was pretty depressing. Now it rocks.
South Carolina figured it out: The tax credits are working in North Carolina, so let’s up the ante. If North Carolina is offering 20 percent, let’s go to 25 percent. And then the North Carolina legislature goes and shuts down a huge economic development success story. What a shame!
At first, the objection to the rehabilitation tax credits was: We don’t like tax credits, any tax credits, because that goes against tax reform. That argument didn’t get much traction. It’s hard to deny that these tax credits strongly enhance the economic vitality of our state.
So, a new objection was trotted out: Local governments need to have “skin in the game.” In reality, local governments have put a lot of skin in the game – expensive infrastructure updates, such as parking decks, roads, water, sewer and sidewalks, all necessary to make projects work.
Probably no tax incentive in North Carolina has generated a better return for the state in jobs, economic development and community livability and pride. Without this incentive, North Carolina is losing out; jobs and investors are leaving the state in droves. Buildings are sitting empty.
In the past, legislative support for these tax credits hasn’t just been bipartisan – it’s almost always been unanimous, bringing together liberals, conservatives and everyone in-between. We believe a majority of Senate members support the credits, and the House has already shown its overwhelming support. Let’s revive this important incentive.
Don’t let South Carolina eat our lunch once again. That would be devastating to Tar Heel pride – and to our rich heritage.
Myrick Howard is president of Preservation North Carolina.
Nothing says “summer in America” like a road trip. But you don’t want to blow your whole vacation budget on gas, so we’ve rounded up the best destinations that you can get to (and back!) on just one tank of gas from major cities around the country. Whether you’re looking for an adventurous, romantic weekend escape, or a quick kid-friendly day trip, we’ve got you covered. Read on to find out where to go, and what to do once you get there.
Fort Myers one-tank trips
Everglades, Fla.: Explore Florida’s wild side on an Everglades Pole Boat tour in Ochopee (about 80 miles away). The low-profile pole boats will get you up close and personal with the cypress swamps, grasslands and sub-tropical mangrove jungles. If you’re not afraid of creepy crawlies in the dark, you can even stick around and do a night tour here if the weather cooperates. (In warmer weather, the tour can’t run because there are too many bugs.)
Sanibel Island, Fla.: Conchologists rejoice: Sanibel Island is the spot for shell-collecting. In truth, anyone with a heartbeat will instantly fall in love with Sanibel Island, and not just for the pastel-colored shells blanketing the beaches — which, by the way, are celebrated during the island’s annual three-day festival and exhibited at its shell museum. Sanibel Island is also known for its wildlife refuge — more than half of the island has been set aside for nature conservation. The J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge is navigable by foot, car and water, and offers plenty of up-close encounters with the endemic wildlife.
Las Vegas one-tank trips
Zion National Park, Utah: Leave the bright lights and clanging slot machines of the Strip behind and head to Zion National Park, about 160 miles away from downtown Las Vegas. Here, the only slots you’ll find are the narrow slot canyons, surrounded by giant, colorful sandstone cliffs. See the park from the bottom up by starting at the Narrows, one of the most popular areas of the park — located at the bottom of a thousand-foot gorge. Prepare to get wet, as the hike involves walking (or wading depending on the time of year) through the Virgin River. Not into camping but want to spend the night? Treat yourself to one of the comfortable cabins or lodges at nearby Zion Mountain Ranch.
Lake Havasu City, Ariz.: The U.K.’s original London Bridge just celebrated its 40th anniversary — in Lake Havasu City, that is. The iconic bridge was purchased from the city of London for nearly $2.5 million; and unlike in the nursery rhyme, the London Bridge still stands tall.
With a striking Southwestern backdrop amidst the red-orange Sonoran Desert and crystal-blue Lake Havasu, Lake Havasu City — known as the jet ski capital of the world — is dotted with lakeside resorts offering jet skiing, sky diving, off-road tours and other activities for the thrill-seeker. After all that play, get pampered at one of the many area spas, or take it easy as you watch the desert sun set while aboard a hot air balloon.
During the winter months, Lake Havasu City hosts Music, Brews, and BBQ Competition, Arizona’s largest barbecue competition; the annual ’50s-themed Rockabilly Reunion; and the popular Havasu Balloon Festival and Fair — designated one of the top 100 events in North America by the American Bus Association.
Houston one-tank trips
Bluebonnet Wine Trail, Texas: Doubt that Texas is a wine lover’s paradise? You’ll be convinced when you hit the Bluebonnet Wine Trail, which starts in Montgomery, about 55 miles northwest of Houston. There are seven stops on the tour, and you’ll visit local vineyards like CorkThis!, Bernhardt Winery and Peach Creek vineyards. Although your designated driver may miss out on some of the tastings, he or she will still get to enjoy the amazing atmosphere and scenery at each spot. You won’t have to drive far to find a great place to sleep on the wine trail, either — the Messina Hof Winery has a resort on site.
Austin: Austin, best known to outsiders as the home of mega-music festival SXSW, is also great for families who like their Texas with a dose of flair — the city’s motto is “Keep Austin Weird,” after all.
Family-friendly cultural activities include the LBJ Presidential Library and Museum; Austin’s version of the children’s museum, the Thinkery; and in keeping with the sentiment of the city’s motto, the Museum of the Weird, packed with exhibits on UFOs, Bigfoot and other oddities for the young and the young at heart.
Austin is also known for its hip food trucks — estimated at more than 2,000 citywide. Satisfying even the pickiest tot is easy at one of Austin’s version of the mall food court — a food-court trailer park, where several food trucks park to create a dining experience. The city’s food truck scene is so prolific that your best bet for choosing a dining experience is to download an app. Try the free iPhone-geared AustinFoodCarts app or Austin Food Trailers for Droids, or choose from plenty of others.
Omaha one-tank trips
Madison County, Iowa: An all-American road trip isn’t complete until you’ve passed through a covered bridge — or six of them, as can be experienced in Madison County, the setting for the famous novel, movie and musical, Bridges of Madison County. Each erected 145 years ago, both the Cutler-Donahoe and Imes bridges are the oldest in Madison County; but the most famous is the 132-year old Roseman Covered Bridge, as that’s the one featured in the film starring Meryl Streep.
Roadways aside, this historically rich piece of Iowa countryside is also the birthplace of John Wayne and home to the first Red Delicious apple. It just doesn’t get more Americana than this.
North Lawrence, Kan.: It’s time to utilize that bike rack on your car — load up the cycles and drive to North Lawrence, Kan. (approximately 210 miles away), where you’ll find the Lawrence River Trails. The main 9-mile loop is very popular with bikers and runners (bikers should go clockwise, while runners go counterclockwise). You’ll be rewarded with fresh air, exercise and beautiful river views. When you’re done, craft beers and local farmhouse fare will be waiting for you at the nearby Merchants Pub and Plate.
Detroit one-tank trips
Holland, Mich.: There’s a slice of Dutch heaven — complete with an authentic windmill, wooden clogs, Delft craftsmanship and a tulip festival — on the shores of Lake Macatawa. The small town of Holland is not only steeped in Dutch heritage, but also natural beauty alongside the smooth-sand beaches at Holland State Park.
Find America’s only working windmill in Holland. The 125-foot De Zwaan windmill was originally built in 1761 in Krommenie, Netherlands, and made its trans-Atlantic voyage to its new home back in 1964.
The 254-year old De Zwaan (Dutch for “graceful bird”) lives in Windmill Island Gardens, surrounded by lush floral gardens and a Dutch-themed mini-village and theme park.
Saugatuck, Mich.: It’s been voted “The Best Coastal Small Town in America” by USA TODAY readers, and it’s called “The Art Coast of Michigan” — Saugatuck is the perfect day-trip getaway from the big city (about 190 miles from Detroit). Saugatuck definitely lives up to its nickname, as there are over a dozen art galleries in this tiny town. Outside of the charming and lively downtown area, you’ll find beautiful public beaches on the banks of Lake Michigan (don’t miss Oval Beach), a hand-cranked chain-ferry that is still in operation, and plenty of sailing tours. Saugatuck is known for its plethora of quaint bed and breakfasts — the Hidden Garden Cottages and Suites are a romantic choice based right in downtown.
Charlotte one-tank trips
North Carolina Triangle: Why settle for a single getaway when three is just as manageable? The three destinations within the North Carolina Triangle (Raleigh, Chapel Hill and Durham) are all within a hop, skip and jump from each other, and when combined, make for a perfectly balanced weekend trip.
Raleigh, North Carolina’s capital city, offers visitors trendy restaurants, luxurious spas, vineyards and one of the nation’s most innovative museums, the North Carolina Museum of Art. Peppered with the museum’s sculpture collection, the 164 acres of woodlands and fields surrounding the museum makes for a romantic stroll or creek-side picnic.
Then head to historic Chapel Hill for a whiskey tasting at Topo distillery, the only certified-organic distillery in the South. Take in the area around the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill — the nation’s oldest public university — for its nightclubs and microbreweries, and the 88-year old Chapel Hill movie house, the Varsity Theatre.
At one time filled to the rim with tobacco, the rows and rows of warehouses at retro-modern Brightleaf Square in Durham now make up a trendy center filled with eclectic restaurants, bars and shops, while the tree-lined courtyards are filled with street performers and alfresco dining.
Grandfather Mountain, N.C.: Looking for something a little more outdoorsy than strolling around downtown Charlotte? Grandfather Mountain, just around 105 miles away, has all of the adventure that you require. Like: The Mile High Swinging Bridge (America’s highest suspension footbridge), 11 hiking trails (all free if you enter the trails without going to the Swinging Bridge) and plenty of wildlife (seven environmental habitats house everything from cougars to bald eagles). Don’t miss a stop at the Grandfather Mountain Fudge shop inside the park, which serves up seasonal flavors like pumpkin pie and peppermint candy.
Jacksonville one-tank trips
Flagler Beach, Fla.: Get a little relief from the Jacksonville heat at Gamble Rogers Memorial State Recreation Area at Flagler Beach, just under 75 miles away. There are kayaks and canoes to rent if you want to get out on the water, or you can go for a cool swim for free. If you’re in the mood for something a little more active, there is a nature trail that makes for a great walk or hike. Don’t forget to pack a lunch to enjoy at the picnic table! If you’re not ready to head back to Jacksonville yet, there are some great camping sites here, some with views of the ocean.
Jekyll Island, Ga.: A barrier island off the coast of Georgia — with mainland access via a paved causeway — Jekyll Island offers visitors a serene setting of marshland, dunes and beaches, as well as historic landmarks and world-class golfing.
The island’s historic district has more than 30 grand structures, most built a century ago by the nation’s wealthiest businessmen, including J.P. Morgan, Vanderbilt and Rockefeller. At the center of the district is the Jekyll Island Club Hotel, now a national historic landmark operating as a luxe resort hotel.
Golf is a popular activity on the island, inspired by the beautiful scenery and courses from acclaimed designers at the century-old Jekyll Island Golf Club.
Milwaukee one-tank trips
Lake Geneva, Wis.: Lake Geneva has been a getaway destination since just after the Civil War, when it became a resort community for wealthy Chicago families. It’s not far from Milwaukee either (about 60 miles). One of the best things to do here is to check out all of the amazing mansions (one just fetched over $5.8 million in a 20-minute auction). Visitors also enjoy golfing, shopping, zip lining, fine dining and spa treatments . In fact, the Grand Geneva Resort and Spa offers triple the benefit, with a great spa, a hotel and a well-regarded restaurant.
Mt. Horeb, Wis.: Don’t believe in trolls? You just might after a visit to Mt. Horeb, the Troll Capital of the World. This Norwegian-influenced spot in the Wisconsin countryside is filled with small-town charm. Stroll the Trollway (Mt. Horeb’s downtown area), dipping in and out of the mom-and-pop shops and bakeries, tour the plentiful craft scene at the museums and galleries, or get the family on the bike trails to visit the various nearby caves — all the while keeping an eye out for the 15 life-size, tree trunk-carved troll sculptures.
Syracuse one-tank trips
Thousand Islands, U.S.-Canada border: You’ll be hard-pressed to find anywhere more beautiful and peaceful than the Thousand Islands this close to Syracuse. In just under 130 miles, you can be on a boat tour of this incredible area, where you’ll see castles, lighthouses, mansions and wildlife. If you don’t want to leave the car behind, there are plenty of open roads that tour the shoreline as well. Foodies shouldn’t miss the 1000 Islands Agricultural Tour, which showcases local farms, wineries and crop stands.
Niagara Falls, N.Y.: Because no visit to Niagara Falls is complete without feeling the full wrath of the thunderous falls cascading around you, a voyage aboard the Maid of the Mist is absolutely necessary. Get dry, then head over for another soak at the Journey Behind the Falls attraction, where you get a close-up encounter of the Falls from an observation deck.
Nashville one-tank trips
Birmingham, Ala.: As the largest city in the state of Alabama, Birmingham also has many of the state’s top attractions.
If you have a need for speed, then you’ll have to head over to Leeds (just outside Birmingham) for racing fun at Barber Motorsports Park. The racing events might be the top draw, but stop inside the museum to marvel at the nation’s largest motorcycle collection as well, where more than 750 bikes are exhibited at the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum.
Even for those not of the Christian faith, the historically significant 16th Street Baptist Church — where in 1963 a bomb killed four school-age girls — should be a stop for its mark on the Civil Rights Movement.
Just across the street from the church find the ever-enlightening Birmingham Civil Rights Institute. Exhibits currently showcased at the BCRI include photography showcasing the Freedom Rides of the civil-rights movement and stills of the Martin Luther King, Jr.-led march from Selma to Montgomery.
Foster Falls Recreation Area, Tenn.: Rock climbing, waterfalls and hiking — Foster Falls Recreation Area has it all, and it’s only about 100 miles away from Nashville. The namesake Foster Falls is of course the main attraction — the amazing 60-foot waterfall can’t be missed, so be sure to take the easy hike up to the top. From there, you’ll follow a trail down over a suspension bridge to the base of the falls for a totally different view. There are plenty of camping and picnic facilities here if you choose to spend the night.
Tucson one-tank trips
Kachina Hot Springs, Ariz.: Soak away your cares at the Kachina Hot Springs, located about 120 miles from Tucson. The mineral waters purportedly have healing and detoxifying effects, so think of this as a getaway for your health! The private hot-springs-fed tubs built for two boost the romance factor at this spa. Or book an individual private tub for some peace and quiet. While you’re treating yourself, you might as well toss in one of the many massages or other spa services offered here.
Apache Trail, Mesa, Ariz.: There are plenty of opportunities to fill a Mesa family excursion with rich history, Native American culture and outdoor fun. A popular trip from Mesa is to follow the Apache Trail past the volcanic 2,000-feet-high Superstition Mountain, get spooked at Goldfield Ghost Town, emerge wet from Canyon Lake’s steamboat cruise, and chow down at authentic saloons and restaurants serving up Old West delicacies like prickly pear ice cream. The Apache Trails is 65 miles round-trip from Mesa.
San Diego one-tank trips
Big Bear, Calif.: Big Bear (150 miles from San Diego) is most famous for its ski resort, but it’s a destination for all seasons. In warmer weather, you can kayak or canoe on the lake, or walk or bike around it. The village is great year-round, with plenty of cute local shops, ice cream stores and restaurants. Planning on coming back often? Invest in the Cali4nia Pass which gets you unlimited access to the four big ski mountains in California, plus other discounts (like 15% off at Big Bear Cabins).
Ojai, Calif.: L.A. — been there, done that. Bypass the City of Angels with all its smog and congestion and head north 90 minutes to reach the town of Ojai.
Ojai maintains its small-village feel with a ban on corporate chains, its vibrant local art scene, and because it’s one of the jumping-off points for treks into Los Padres National Forest — the vast 2-million-acre forest extending from southern to central California.
If s’mores is what the family’s after, the Wheeler Gorge Campground offers creeks-side campsites. And don’t forget Fido because, as Virtual Tourist user rudysmom626 says, “I don’t think I’ve ever been to a place as dog friendly as Ojai!”
Flint one-tank trips
Traverse City, Mich.: Traverse City borders not one but two bays, the Grand Traverse Bay’s West and East arms, both extensions of Lake Michigan. This coastal city also has beautiful inland lakes, and is balanced out by diverse dry landscapes, the Traverse City State Forest Area and the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.
Plan your visit to Traverse City by taking advantage of the great outdoor options with ranger-led hikes in Sleeping Bear, or play in the water along the 35 miles of scenic shoreline.
Kalamazoo, Mich.: Kalamazoo may sound like a made-up place, but this destination is real (and really worth a visit)! About 130 miles away from Flint, this vibrant city has world-class dining, unique local shops and galleries and a thriving food scene. The Craft Beer Trail is fun if you’re into suds — you’ll get a special passport that you can have stamped when you visit each of the 12 breweries, which you can then trade in to the Discover Kalamazoo visitors’ center for free swag. If you’re coming for the brews, you may be tempted to return in January 2016 for the annual Kalamazoo Beer Week.
Gov. Pat McCrory said Thursday he is more anxious about safety than tourism this holiday weekend following seven shark attacks along the North Carolina coast.
“We are optimistic that he will make a full recovery”, Toschlog said. “The other side of the coin, people want us to go out and kill all the sharks – like they did in “Jaws” – and let people hang them up and let tourists come and take pictures with them”. As the man attempted to fight the shark off, he suffered bites to his rib cage, both hands, lower leg and hip. “I love the water, so I won’t let the fear of a shark attack hold me back”.
He said, “I could see the fin slowly coming by me, a shark is upon me, it’s attacking me”.
The Boston Herald’s ex- editor in chief, Andrew Costello was severely injured after he tried to fend off a seven foot shark with an appetite for severe destruction along the Atlantic coast.
The victim was swimming in waist-deep water with his adult son about 30 feet (9 meters) offshore, the National Park Service said in a news release.
It’s the seventh shark attack in the state’s coastal waters in less than a month.
Fourth of July weekend is a popular time to hit the beach, but this year, vacationers may not be the only ones swarming the waters off North Carolina.
“You never know what could have happened, he could have gotten dragged out to sea, he could have gotten his whole leg pulled off”, said Lynzie Weakley, the boy’s sister. Salinity is the salt content in the ocean, and sharks tend to like water with a high salt content. This means more sharks close to shore where swimmers usually hang around. There have also been reports of larger numbers of sea turtles along the coast, which sharks also like to eat. Then swims for his life scrambling to get away to the main fishing boat. “It was an open-wound gash”, said Lynette Holman, a journalism professor at Appalachian State University.
Lynette Holman from Boone, N.C. says she and her husband saw the victim right after the attack. “He was transferred to Vidant Medical Center in Greenville, NC via air ambulance, where a team of emergency physicians and trauma surgeons was standing by to provide the proper treatment associated with these types of injuries”, he says.
Just a couple hours later, swimmers had returned to the water and one holidaymaker reported that “nobody seemed to be that scared”. He was conscious while waiting for medical care, she said.
NEW YORK — Rapper Flo Rida, the Macy’s department store chain and football Hall of Famer Emmitt Smith all had something in common on Wednesday: They’re the latest to distance themselves from Donald Trump following his remarks about Mexican immigrants.
The Republican presidential hopeful’s team is struggling to hold the Miss USA pageant together following defections by hosts, performers, judges and the two television networks that were scheduled to broadcast the event on July 12. Trump, who fired back at Macy’s, owns the Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants.
Flo Rida had been the highest-profile performer scheduled for Miss USA in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and his representative confirmed Wednesday that he would not perform. Country singer Craig Wayne Boyd, winner of “The Voice” last year, and pop singer Natalie La Rose, whose single “Somebody” hit the Billboard Top Ten this year, also dropped out. There were no more announced performers.
Smith, the former Dallas Cowboys running back who was a judge for Miss USA, cited Trump’s statement and NBC’s decision in backing out. He said that knowing how much women prepare for the event, he sent his best wishes to the competitors.
HGTV “Property Brothers” star Jonathan Scott was also one of the pageant’s judges but backed out, too, saying on Facebook that he could not support Trump’s views.
“We are all on this big rock together,” he said, “and I choose love.”
Trump’s presidential campaign announcement contained his assertion that some Mexican immigrants to the United States bring drugs and crime, and some are rapists. The comment struck many Latinos as insensitive, and Univision’s decision last week to back out of televising Miss USA and break off its business ties with Trump led to a cascade of others following suit. Trump responded by suing Univision on Tuesday.
Macy’s said in a statement that the retailer is “disappointed and distressed” by Trump’s remarks and will end its relationship with him. Macy’s has carried a Donald Trump menswear line since 2004, including $70 button down-shirts and $65 striped ties. Most items were heavily discounted on Macy’s website on Wednesday.
“We have no tolerance for discrimination in any form,” the company said. “We welcome all customers, and respect for the dignity of all people is a cornerstone of our culture.”
The move comes after an outcry on social media, including online petitions, for Macy’s to drop the line. NBC, TV Company Ora TV and Mexican TV network Televisa have also cut ties to Trump.
Trump said in a statement that he had decided to end his relationship with Macy’s because of pressure put upon them by outside sources. He said he was never happy that the ties and shirts were made in China, and if he were to do another product line in the future, he would insist they were American-made.
“Both Macy’s and NBC totally caved at the first sight of potential difficulty with special interest groups who are nothing more than professional agitators,” Trump said.
Besides Smith and HGTV’s Scott, Miss USA listed country singer Jessie James Decker, E! News anchor Terrence Jenkins and TV host and former Miss Universe winner Zuleyka Rivera as pageant judges in a news release issued last month. Of that quintet, only Decker’s name was listed as a judge by Miss USA on its website Wednesday. A show spokeswoman said she had no information about judges or performers.
The pageant lost both of its co-hosts, Cheryl Burke of “Dancing With the Stars” and MSNBC anchor Thomas Roberts, on Tuesday. On Wednesday, Jeannie Mai, who hosted a show on the Style Network, was listed as a show host.
Last week, the hosts of the Univision simulcast, Roselyn Sanchez and Cristian de la Fuente, said they wouldn’t take part in the Spanish-language telecast.
The pageant issued a statement earlier this week that “we are disheartened by recent events but the show will go on.”
Thumbs down to Educational Data Resources and Brevard Public Schools officials who hired the contractor in 2013 to provide software to manage district contracts, payroll and human resources. Two years later, the package is 10 percent operations, the struggling company was sold to another firm and school board members are under pressure to rescue the project. Politically, the $7-million, sole-source software contract with EDR couldn’t have been signed at a worse time: right after the controversial decision to close three schools to save $2.5 million a year. Today, the school board is working to rebuild public confidence in its ability to spend sales-tax revenue wisely on building repairs and technology. The Canadian firm that bought EDR says it will make things right. The stakes are high, to say the least.
FLORIDA TODAY
$5.5 million later, Brevard Schools still don’t have EDR software
Thumbs up to Cocoa resident Charles Stevens, 89, who recently was awarded the French Legion of Honor medal by the French government during a ceremony at the Brevard Veterans Memorial Center. Stevens, drafted at 18, was at Normandy six days after the D-Day invasion, as bodies floated near the beach. Seventy-one years later, the French have not forgotten the sacrifices made by Stevens and other Allied troops who stormed in to help liberate them. “We give it to exceptional people. Thanks a lot. We will never forget what you did,” said Philippe Letrilliart of Normandy, Consul General of France in Miami, at the medal presentation. Mr. Stevens, we salute you, too.
Thumbs down to SpaceX, for spoiling the launch party in addition to the more serious loss of its rocket and payload. Its Falcon 9 rocket disintegrated Sunday minutes after blasting off with supplies for the International Station. On the ground, meanwhile, the Space Coast Office of Tourism and Space Florida were hosting their first launch-viewing party for the public at Space View Park in Titusville. The party included giveaways of neon-green t-shirts with the slogan: We Are Go. Awkward. But we’re confident SpaceX will learn and improve. In which case, yes, we’re still go.
Thumbs up to space and science fans — including moon-walking astronaut Buzz Aldrin — for standing by SpaceX and its future endeavors after Sunday’s disaster. Likewise to the corporate customers who have contracted with SpaceX to launch satellites. On social media, tweets flew like crazy after Aldrin wrote, “The #SpaceX launch failure is disappointing but remember — rocket science is hard so we try try again and again.” And Bill Nye The Science Guy wrote, “Very sorry about Falcon-9. Rocket Science is hard. Stick with it SpaceX, you’ll be back.”
FLORIDA TODAY
Customers keep faith in SpaceX after Falcon 9 failure
Do your job or someone else will
Thumbs down to county and state officials who refuse to comply with the U.S. Supreme Court decision that struck down bans on marriage for same-sex couples. There’s been pushback and some resignations nationwide since the June 26 ruling — an Associated Press poll found one-third of the counties in Alabama, 22 of them, not issuing licenses to same-sex couples. In Grenada County, Mississippi, it’s reported that County Clerk Linda Barnette wrote in her resignation letter, “I choose to obey God rather than man.” That’s her prerogative. But this part’s not negotiable: The Supreme Court made its decision. Those who tried to ban same-sex marriages lost. It shouldn’t be hard to fill political vacancies with Americans who can balance personal faith and public service.
Not everyone wants to dine or fly with dogs
Thumbs up to a new Florida law that makes it a misdemeanor to pass off an unqualified dog as a “service animal.” The same law also makes it illegal to deny service to someone with a real service animal. Why is this law necessary? Because a small number of Floridians are obsessed with their pets and can’t resist trying to take them to the beach, restaurants or home-improvement stores where they’re otherwise not allowed. And anyone can buy a cheap vest and certificate online. How to spot a fake: Look for tugging at the leash or excessive barking, behavior REAL service dogs learn to stop during their 100 hours of training.
Thumbs down to the revelation that Orlando International Airport has the second-highest rate of lost, stolen and damaged passenger items in the country. Ripped-off jewelry. Watches. Bags. A USA TODAY investigation showed The Transportation Security Administration, TSA, paid more than $130,000 since 2010 to settle such claims at OIA, and $3 million nationwide. Between 2010 and 2014, Orlando International passengers filed 2,054 claims against the TSA, leading to 656 settlements and payments to passengers. Another 323 claims went unresolved. Of large airports, only Dulles International paid more claims on a per-passenger basis. U.S. Rep. John Mica, R-Winter Park, said the situation merits more investigation. For passengers already gouged for checking bags, it also screams packing as lightly as possible — and using only carry-on bags when possible.
FLORIDA TODAY
Orlando airport 2nd in nation in TSA claims
Bees on the rebound?
Thumbs up to Florida beekeepers and their invaluable-but-threatened insects for a 150 percent increase in managed bee colonies in eight years. Experts credit a surge of interest among amateur bee enthusiasts, a seasonal influx of out-of-state beekeepers and a campaign to educate the public about the importance of bees to our food supply, the Orlando Sentinel reports. Florida’s $120-billion agriculture industry depends on pollination from honeybees. But bee populations continue to face the threat of collapse due to pesticides, fungi and disease.
Arson a grim reminder of hate
Thumbs down to arsonists who have endangered lives, destroyed history and fanned flames of hate at Southern churches. Arson has been cited at least three predominately black churches torched in the past few weeks — all since a white gunman killed nine people June 17 at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston. Fire has struck in Florida, Tennessee, North Carolina and South Carolina. The timing of several recent fires could be a cause for concern, said Mark Potok of the Southern Poverty Law Center. It hasn’t been proved they’re related (and at least one fire was caused by lightning), but it’s little wonder people are scared and suspicious.
Thumbs up to the news that Wawa’s bringing its convenience stores/gas stations to the Space Coast. As many as six stores are planned in Brevard (and several more in other Central Florida counties), with the first one to open later this year in Palm Shores on the Pineda Causeway extension. The stores are big, clean and bright, with a tasty menu of on-the-go, for-the-road food offerings. And they have a track record of community service: The Wawa Foundation has partnered with the USO to benefit U.S. Armed Forces families, through donations made in stores through Aug. 30.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Handcuffed and shackled to a block of steel, the young boy would brace himself when he heard footsteps outside his bedroom door. He knew that once the grown-ups entered, the abuse would begin.
For years, he was whipped with belts, his face was burned with electrical wires and his fingers were broken with pliers — all to “teach him a lesson.” The abusers, who have since pleaded guilty, were his legal guardian — a supervisor with the Department of Social Services in Union County, North Carolina — and her longtime boyfriend, an emergency room nurse.
The abuse ended in November 2013 after police discovered the boy in handcuffs, chained to the front porch of the house with a dead chicken hung around his neck.
When police entered the roach-infested house “covered with urine and animal feces,” they found something else: four other children, ages 7 to 14, who had been adopted by the couple over the years. They were removed and placed in protective custody.
All were abused, but authorities say the boy bore the brunt of the couple’s rage.
“I was scared to death,” the boy, now 13, told The Associated Press on Tuesday. “I thought I wouldn’t survive.”
The AP is not naming the boy because of the nature of the abuse.
Three months after Wanda Sue Larson and her boyfriend Dorian Harper were sentenced, the boy is telling his story. Larson was released from prison in April, just nine days after pleading guilty to child abuse charges. Now, the boy wants everyone to know she didn’t serve enough time.
“I want her to be in jail longer,” he says.
His mother agrees.
“It’s ridiculous,” his mother said. The AP isn’t identifying the mother, to avoid indirectly identifying her son.
Jeff Gerber is founder of the Justice for All Coalition, which organized protests against the plea deal that led to Larson’s release. He said there is widespread outrage over Larson’s lenient sentence.
Harper, 58, was sentenced to up to 10 ½ years in prison after pleading guilty March 17 to maiming, intentional child abuse inflicting serious injury and assault with a deadly weapon.
Two weeks later, Larson, 58, was sentenced to nearly 17 months in jail after pleading guilty to four counts of child abuse. But she was given credit for time served in jail after her arrest and was released April 9. She lives in the same county where the boy now lives.
Telephone messages left for District Attorney Trey Robison were not returned Wednesday. Robison has said he agreed to the plea deals mainly to spare the child-victims from having to testify.
Messages left for Larson’s attorney, Robert Leas, were not returned Wednesday.
At her sentencing, Larson expressed remorse for failing to protect the boy and the four others. She blamed most of the abuse on her boyfriend.
The boy, however, says Larson not only knew about the abuse, but encouraged it. As he tries to recover, he worries that he might run into her at a neighborhood store, a mall. What would happen then?
“That’s why I want to tell my story,” he said, softly.
He now lives with his mother in a Charlotte apartment. Wearing a green Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles T-shirt and blue gym shorts, he sat on a couch in his living room, patiently answering questions.
Barely 5 feet tall and slender, with brown hair and brown eyes, he looked younger than 13.
Court documents say he was put in foster care a decade ago after problems arose at the home of an aunt where he had been staying while his mother was moving from another state, and he ended up with Larson. When the boy’s mother found out he was in foster care, she tried to get him back. But Larson said the boy had developed a bond with her family and he stayed with her. Eventually she became his legal guardian.
The mother only got to see her son a few times a year at a neutral setting, and he said nothing about the abuse.
Meanwhile, the boy says Larson told him his mother was sick and he couldn’t visit her.
“She’d say, ‘Your mom is in the hospital. She’s there because of your behavior. You’re killing her,'” he says.
Eventually, Larson and Harper pulled the children out of a Union County school, saying they’d school them at their secluded home where they also kept farm animals.
The boy says he was handcuffed and chained to a steel anvil in his locked room where he slept on the floor. At times, they’d starve him and he’d have to beg for scraps. Sometime, the other children would sneak food to him and he’d hide the wrappers in a hole in the wall. Many nights, he wasn’t allowed to use the bathroom.
The boy says he was even shackled when he went outside. The only time they removed the chains was when he cleaned the house, or picked up animal feces.
One time, he says Harper cut his left arm and poured salt in the wound. The scar is still visible. It reached a point that every time they entered his room, he’d pray: “I hope I don’t get hurt.”
Then he’d think about his mother, that maybe they’d be reunited. He kept dreaming of escaping, and that kept him going.
A few days before the boy was rescued, Harper blamed him for the death of a chicken and made him wear it around his neck — even at night.
The police were responding to a call about a loose animal when they stumbled on him, chained up on the front porch.
The boy is still recovering. His mother says it will be a long road. Her son goes to therapy twice a week. He’s in summer camp and public school. Still, there are times he can’t escape. He had a nightmare that Larson came to his house and took him away. He couldn’t find his mother.
“I woke up and I thought it was real,” he said. “It was just a dream, but I couldn’t go back to sleep.”
Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
It was the rain that got people out of the water at Wrightsville Beach on Friday morning. Before the scattered showers, several children were jumping waves, and surfers were catching them to ride to shore.
“The clouds will keep more people away from the beach than the sharks,” said Tim Isacco, a visitor from Holly Springs. His children had been in the water all week and were not concerned about sharks, he said.
The first day of the Independence Day holiday weekend saw crowds of vacationers on the beach, soaking up the sun and showing little panic about what lurked in the waters a few feet away, despite two weeks of media reports about sharks biting people swimming in North Carolina waters.
Andrew Costello, a 68-year-old vacationer from Massachusetts who was bitten Wednesday while swimming offshore at Ocracoke Island, was the seventh person bitten on North Carolina beaches since June 11, an unusual number in a state that has averaged three shark bites per year. Costello had injuries to his torso, his left leg, hip and both hands. Earlier in June two youths lost limbs after encountering sharks.
Karen Woomer, also from Holly Springs, said her kids and their friends were aware of the recent shark bites, but that hadn’t stopped them from swimming out on their boogie boards.
“Their chances are higher to get hurt in some other incident,” she said.
Woomer owns a vacation house in Wrightsville Beach and said it is booked solid all summer. No one was canceling because of the sharks, she said.
Some beachgoers did exercise caution.
A little further down the beach, 9-year-old Tyler Jumper from Wilmington said he usually likes surfing and being in the waves, but not since he learned about the sharks. He said he’s only going into the water up to his knees.
“Are we staying out of the water now? Yes,” said Tyler’s mother Jennifer Jumper. “We are just being reminded of what’s out there – more aware. We still love the beach. We live here and aren’t going to stop coming to the beach.”
Private surfing instructor Sean Griffin said he has experienced about one cancellation per day since the shark bites in North Carolina hit national news. He said half of the people canceling their lessons indicated that they are not coming to the beach at all now because of the sharks.
While most have been tourists, Griffin said even some of the local moms aren’t letting their kids take surf lessons now. Griffin has lived in Wrightsville Beach most of his life, has been giving surfing lessons for 13 years and is in the water every day.
He said there are more shark bites than make the news because they are just not as severe. Griffin said his friend’s hand was bitten by a smaller shark near Masonboro Island in March, and the news never traveled past the locals.
“This is something that happens every year. It’s been somewhat abnormal in the intensity of the attacks, but not frequency,” he said. “To be honest, the news companies and media are fueling the fire and making it worse.”
“Sharks aren’t looking to bite people. It’s just poor luck. You’re entering the ocean, you’re choosing to get in with sharks,” Griffin said.
Many of the surfers said they don’t like the term “shark attack” that some in the media use to describe the recent encounters.
Justin Kuperus, a surfer from Wilmington, said the sharks are not biting humans on purpose.
“I compare it to going out in the woods and coming across a bear. You’re going into their territory,” he said while waxing his board off the bed of his truck.
When Kuperus started surfing seven years ago, he thought about sharks more often and jumped at any shadow in the water. Now he’s aware of them and pays attention to where the fishermen are, but he’s not afraid.
“You can’t let it stop you from having fun,” he said.
Some experts say sharks are more likely to gather where people are fishing. Regular fishermen were out as usual on Friday.
William Price has hooked a number of sharks while casting lines for large fish off the end of Johnnie Mercer’s Pier on Wrightsville Beach. He’s fished there every weekend for the past 10 years, considering it his home pier.
Shark fishing and throwing chum – chopped up, bloody fish – are not allowed on Wrightsville Beach. Price said that 95 percent of sharks caught off the pier are caught with live bait. The fishermen said they don’t try to hook sharks, but the sharks are attracted to the same bait as all the other big fish.
The same weekend in June that two people were attacked by sharks at Oak Island, Price said he and fellow pier fishermen caught upward of 30 sharks averaging between 7 and 9 feet long and 150 to 175 pounds.
There have been fewer sharks around in recent days, Price said while fishing for king mackerel. He said he saw three 4-foot dusky sharks last weekend.
Despite the unusual number of shark bites this year, Price said overall it doesn’t seem like he’s encountered more sharks this year than any other year of fishing in North Carolina.
“This year is just a fluke,” added his wife, Michelle Price. “The sharks are always here.”
She blamed commercial net fishing off the North Carolina coast, saying that there is less food for the sharks, causing them to venture closer to shore.
“If North Carolina is worried about losing tourism because of sharks, it should stop commercial net fishing,” she said.
Jeremy Owens, Ocean Rescue captain of Wrightsville Beach, said the lifeguards have a protocol for a shark bite and are prepared to treat any laceration. However, he said the worst cuts he’s seen are from surf board fins and boat propellers.
“We see sharks, dolphins, turtles – they are here every year. It is their environment,” Owens said.
He said people are more likely to get in a car accident on their way to the beach than encounter a shark in the water.
“I would have people be more concerned about rip currents; knowing their swimming ability; and watching their kids instead of worrying about sharks,” Owens said.
c 2014, WLOS ABC 13 | Portions are Copyright 2014 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or distributed.
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