Police, Pricing, Postal, and Phones

Good Morning, Leland area friends! TGIF! Hope you have big weekend plans! 😀 

In today’s LLLLeland:

• Postal Worker Arrested

• Dollar General Had Some “Creative Pricing”

• Students + Classroom - Cellphone = Next Year Situation

• Leland PD Welcomes Four New Officers

THE NEWS

Postal Worker Arrested

A Brunswick County man, 46-year-old Jonathan Whitmore, is facing multiple drug charges after Leland police allegedly discovered illegal prescription drugs and marijuana during a traffic stop on South Navassa Road. Officers pulled Whitmore over for speeding and driving with an expired registration. During the stop, they also found a large paper bag containing opened U.S. mail not addressed to him. Whitmore, who claimed to be a Postal Service employee, has been charged with felony possession and intent to sell a Schedule II controlled substance, possession of marijuana, driving with a revoked license, expired registration, and speeding. He is being held on a $10,000 secured bond, and the U.S. Postal Service has been notified regarding the mail. (WECT)

Dollar General Had Some “Creative Pricing”

Eleven stores across eight North Carolina counties, including one in Brunswick County, were fined by the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services for price scanning errors in the second quarter of 2025. The Dollar General at 1745 Southport-Supply Road in Bolivia was fined $3,945 after failing two inspections. In April, inspectors found a 10% error rate with five overcharges in a 50-item check, and a follow-up inspection in May revealed a 9.67% error rate with 29 overcharges out of 300 items. Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler emphasized that even small pricing errors can affect family budgets and undermine consumer trust. (WWAY)

Students + Classroom - Cellphone = Next Year Situation

A new law signed by Governor Josh Stein will require all North Carolina public schools to adopt policies restricting the use of cellphones and other electronic devices during instructional time. House Bill 959 mandates that devices must be turned off while class is in session, with exceptions allowed for teacher-directed use, emergencies, and medical needs. Schools must have policies in place by January 1, 2026, and outline consequences for violations.

While some districts already have rules in place, such as Brunswick County’s expanding Yondr pouch program and Pender County’s existing policy, others like New Hanover and Columbus counties are actively developing or updating their policies to comply. Student perspectives on the policy vary, with some supporting strict rules and others highlighting the potential importance of access in emergencies. The law aims to create more focused learning environments by reducing distractions caused by personal devices. (WWAY)

Leland PD Welcomes Four New Officers

Leland Chief of Police Humphries and Mayor Bozeman welcomed four new police officers to the force Wednesday.

WHAT’S HAPPENIN’

Leland Brewing Company Foam Fest

A celebration dedicated to beer foam? Why not? Tomorrow at Leland Brewing Company, located at 2115 Ale Avenue. Fun starts at Noon.

Brunswick Beer XChange Permanent Jewelry

Tomorrow, starting at 1:00 pm, BBX will be hosing Good As Gold Permanent Jewelry. Go get some bling! Brunswick Beer Xchange is located at 113 Village Road in Leland.

Swifties Night Out Tomorrow

The Town of Leland Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Resources is hosting Swifties Night Out, a family-friendly celebration of all things Taylor Swift at the Leland Cultural Arts Center located at 1212 Magnolia Village Way. The event will feature a Taylor-themed DJ, dance lessons, a friendship bracelet bar, and a photo booth. Open to all ages, tickets are available online through Eventbrite or in person at the Leland Cultural Arts Center. The fun starts at 6:00 pm.

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

WEATHER

Friday

86 🌡️ 74 | ⛈️ | 45% | 🌬️ WSW 8 mph | Humidity 75%

Saturday

87 🌡️ 76 | 🌧️ | 40% | 🌬️ SW 7 mph | Humidity 74%

Sunday

91 🌡️ 75 | ⛈️ | 50% | 🌬️ SSW 7 mph | Humidity 72%

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See you Monday!