Festivals and Fugitives

Good Morning, Leland, Winnabow, Town Creek and more! We’re glad you joined us to kick off the half-way point of the week!

In today’s LLLLeland:

• Festivals Next Weekend

• Reward Offered for Suspect in 2024 Brunswick County Murder

• BSL Residents Still Feeling Effects from PTC8

THE NEWS

Festivals!

Belville

On Saturday May 2nd from 10am to 3pm, Belville will have its 48th annual “Founder’s Day” celebration at Belville Riverfront Park. There will be music from the Port City Rockers from 11am to 3pm. There will also be:

⭐Food Trucks, Arts & Crafts vendors

⭐ Face Painting

⭐ Balloon Sculpture (Animals and Objects) Extraordinaire - Mr. Twister!

⭐ Kids Play Areas featuring Inflatables, Games & more!

⭐ Scavenger Hunt, Raffles & Family Adventure!

Wallace

The 2025 Carolina Strawberry Festival will take place May 2–3 in Wallace, with festivities kicking off early on April 27 with a Strawberry Recipe Contest at the Wallace Depot. Events include a 5K Run & Walk at 8 a.m. and a pageant at 10:30 a.m. There will be live music throughout the weekend from Carl Newton’s Review, Band of Oz, Chocolate Chip & Company, and The Embers featuring Craig Woolard. The festival will also feature family-friendly activities ranging from dinosaurs to carnival rides.

$25,000 Reward Offered for Suspect in 2024 Murder

Governor Josh Stein has announced a reward of up to $25,000 for information leading to the arrest of Bryan Tyronne Montreal Goodwin, 31, in connection with the murder of Jaquin Kymane Bethea. Bethea was found shot to death on August 6, 2024, in an abandoned home on Ridge Road in Brunswick County. Anyone with information on Goodwin’s whereabouts is urged to contact the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office at (910) 713-6071 or the State Bureau of Investigation at (919) 662-4500.

Recovery Efforts and Fears Continue in BSL After PTC8 Settlement

Tiffany Braden and her family were displaced for 96 nights, living in a trailer after their home in Boiling Spring Lakes flooded during Potential Tropical Cyclone 8 in September 2024. Despite being in a minimal-risk flood zone, the storm dropped 16 inches of rain, leaving their home one foot underwater and causing over $40,000 in damages. Braden didn’t have flood insurance and has faced significant emotional and financial strain.

The flooding raised questions about who was responsible for maintaining neighborhood drainage systems. A lawsuit between the city and developers ended with a settlement holding the city liable and requiring a ditch maintenance program within 120 days. Although ditches were recently cleared, standing water remains, and Braden fears future flooding as hurricane season approaches. “I don’t know if I can do it again,” she said.

Read the rest of the story and the settlement at WECT’s website

WHAT’S HAPPENIN’

Living after a loss Presented by Tina Vesely Today From 1pm-3pm

Today at Gio Fund Event Center from 1pm to 3pm:

A bereavement support group that aids in working together on how to live our lives now. Yes, we need to process our loss, we sometimes need support, encouragement, or just being understood by someone who has experienced something similar.

But where do I go from here? How can I go on?

You may be surprised how some others have gone through the same and have made some adjustments.

Participation in the group is at your own comfort. No Pressure!

The Gio Fund Event Center is located at 117 Village Rd, Unit G in Leland

Hug A Tree Tomorrow (For Kids)

Tomorrow from 4:30pm to 5:30pm in the Leland Library Meeting Room:

Learn about the Hug-a-Tree program with local K-9 teams and Brunswick Search and Rescue! The program teaches kids what to do if they should find themselves lost. For ages 6-12.

Register here.

The Leland Library is at 487 Village Road NE.

Do you have an event? Reach out to us! [email protected]

WEATHER

Wednesday

78 🌡️ 61 | ⛈️ | 80% | 🌬️ SSW 7 mph

Thursday

79 🌡️ 61 | ⛅ | 20% | 🌬️ E 9 mph

Thank you for taking the time to read this issue of Live, Laugh, Love Leland!

Forward this to a friend and ask that they sign-up! Have ideas, suggestions or comments? Send them to [email protected]

See you tomorrow!