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RALEIGH,NC (WWAY) — NC State to Open Season vs. Tennessee at Chick-Fil-A Kickoff Game

NC State will open the 2012 football season on Friday, August 31 in Atlanta at The Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game. The Pack will take on Tennessee in the Georgia Dome and the game will be broadcast on ESPNU. The game time has not been determined.

“We are very excited about the opportunity to compete against a great program in a great venue,” said Wolfpack head coach Tom O’Brien. “Tennessee is an SEC school with a rich heritage and our players are already looking forward to the game. We know that our loyal fans will make sure that there is more red than orange in the dome that night.”

The following day, Auburn will face Clemson in the same facility in what will be the first-ever double hosting of marquee, BCS-style games on back-to-back days in the same venue.

Between the two games, more than 145,000 fans are expected to be in Atlanta to celebrate the opening of the 2012 season. The pair of Chick-fil-A Kickoff Games is expected to generate more than $60 million in economic impact.

Both games will include their own tailgate and cook-off events as well as their own FanZone events with the traditional team walks to keep fans entertained over the 48 hours of football frenzy.

“NC State fans love Atlanta and participating in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game is a particularly exciting way to kick off our 2012 season,” said Deborah A. Yow, NC State Director of Athletics. “We think there will be a lot of State red there to cheer on our team.”

All tickets to the game will be sold through the NC State Athletic ticket office and are expected to go on sale by March 1. No tickets will be available through the Chick-fil-A Bowl office.

State’s schedule has not yet been released by the ACC Office. Following is a statement put out by the league this morning:

“We at the Atlantic Coast Conference realize that there’s tremendous anticipation for the release of the 2012 ACC Football schedule. The conference office and member institutions are equally in anticipation and are taking steps to expedite finding appropriate solutions. As has been documented, there are a number of unusual circumstances beyond the control of the ACC and its member schools that have directly impacted a number of our school’s nonconference schedules, which in turn effects the development and completion of the overall schedule. Please know that all parties are working diligently and we appreciate everyone’s continued patience.”

WILMINGTON,NC (WWAY) — Some schools are movin’ on up. Some are staying put. In Wilmington the new conference looks like it’s going to be a split conference. Either way you slice it the North Carolina High School Athletic Association released its second realignment plan on Thursday.

Most athletic directors in our region are content with the new plan, but Topsail is not included in this group. Topsail, which used to be a 1-A school until the last realignment, doesn’t want to be placed into a 3-A/4-A conference with the four Wilmington high schools. North Brunswick athletics director Gary Baldwin isn’t happy with the proposal either. As of Thursday afternoon he’s not ruling out an appeal.

The 2013-17 realignment plan is expected to become official on March 15th.

Second & current realignment proposal:

4-A 3-A Conference
Ashley 4-A
Hoggard 4-A
Laney 4-A
New Hanover 4-A
South Brunswick 3-A
Topsail 3-A
West Brunswick 3-A

2-A 1-A Conference
Clinton 2-A
East Bladen 2-A
Midway 2-A
West Bladen 2-A
Pender 1-A
Trask 1-A
Union 1-A
Wallace-Rose Hill 1-A

2-A 1-A Conference
Fairmont 2-A
Red Springs 2-A
South Columbus 2-A
St. Pauls 2-A
East Columbus 1-A
South Robeson 1-A
West Columbus 1-A
Whiteville 1-A

2-A Conference
Croatan 2-A
Dixon 2-A
East Duplin 2-A
North Brunswick 2-A
Northside 2-A
SW Onslow 2-A

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — A New Hanover County mother is charged for assaulting a teenager during a fight at Ashley High School.

The New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office says on February 7 Shellie Cloyd Rodriguez, 38, went to the school to pick up her 16-year-old daughter. The mother and daughter reportedly went to a classroom to get the girl’s assignments. When they got to the room, investigators say the daughter got into a fight with another girl.

Deputies say Rodriguez pulled the other girl, who is 15, off her daughter, pushed her down and got on top of her. At that point, they say another girl tried to pull Rodriguez off the girl. Rodriguez allegedly then hit the second girl before turning her attention back to the girl on the floor until they were finally separated.

Rodriguez, her daughter and the girl she fought with were charged with affray after the fight. Investigators believe there were already tension between the girls leading up to the fight.

After the District Attorney’s Office reviewed the case and a video of the incident, deputies today arrested and charged Rodriguez with assault and battery, contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile and disorderly conduct. She is out of jail on a $1,000 secured bond.

A Sheriff’s Office spokesman says investigators have decided not to release the video because of its potential impact on the case and because of the juveniles involved.

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Wilmington Police were searching for three men early Thursday morning after a cab driver was robbed at gunpoint.

According to New Hanover County Dispatch the call came in at 1:44 am and the robbery took place in the parking lot of Codington Elementary School on Carolina Beach Road. The cab driver’s money and keys were stolen.

Police used the SABLE helicopter to search for the three suspects, two black males and one white male. Police suspended the search before 3:30 am and did not find the men.

The cab driver was not harmed during the robbery.

The three robbers were described as:
1.) Black male approximately 6’2” tall, wearing a flight jacket, blue Dickies pants and black boots.
2.) White male, wearing a gray “Volcom” seatshirt, blue jeans, white tennis shoes and a white beanie.
3.) Black male, wearing a black sweatshirt, black Dickies pants and white tennis shoes.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to call the Wilmington Police Department at 910-343-3600. Information also may be submitted anonymously through Text-A-Tip. Enter “Tip708″ and the information and send to CRIMES (274637).

WILMINGTON,NC (WWAY) — Some schools are movin’ on up. Some are staying put. In Wilmington the new conference looks like it’s going to be a split conference. Either way you slice it the North Carolina High School Athletic Association released its second realignment plan on Thursday.

Most athletic directors in our region are content with the new plan, but Topsail is not included in this group. Topsail, which used to be a 1-A school until the last realignment, doesn’t want to be placed into a 3-A/4-A conference with the four Wilmington high schools. North Brunswick athletics director Gary Baldwin isn’t happy with the proposal either. As of Thursday afternoon he’s not ruling out an appeal.

The 2013-17 realignment plan is expected to become official on March 15th.

Second & current realignment proposal:

4-A 3-A Conference
Ashley 4-A
Hoggard 4-A
Laney 4-A
New Hanover 4-A
South Brunswick 3-A
Topsail 3-A
West Brunswick 3-A

2-A 1-A Conference
Clinton 2-A
East Bladen 2-A
Midway 2-A
West Bladen 2-A
Pender 1-A
Trask 1-A
Union 1-A
Wallace-Rose Hill 1-A

2-A 1-A Conference
Fairmont 2-A
Red Springs 2-A
South Columbus 2-A
St. Pauls 2-A
East Columbus 1-A
South Robeson 1-A
West Columbus 1-A
Whiteville 1-A

2-A Conference
Croatan 2-A
Dixon 2-A
East Duplin 2-A
North Brunswick 2-A
Northside 2-A
SW Onslow 2-A

COLUMBUS COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — A day after a mom speaks out about the rape of her child another Columbus County mom is speaking out saying the school district did little after her daughter was sexually assaulted by her classmates.

Kim Coston says her 12 year-old daughter was sexually assaulted numerous times at Acme-Delco Middle School back in October. The mom says her daughter was attacked by her fellow classmates. Coston says her daughter had been picked on repeatedly by three boys but then one day the bullying turned into assault while her daughter was in the gymnasium.

“The boys proceeded to touch her breast, grab her in between her legs, to the point that one boy, as she put it, dry humped her to the point where she can feel his personal area, hard and pressed to hers, “said Coston. “Then they just stopped when they got whatever arousal out of it. They turned around and walked away and went on and played.”

Coston says her daughter has not been the same since, adding that she was then bullied by other girls after reporting her attack.

“She attempted suicide,” Coston said. “She has nightmares and is going on medication tomorrow.”

Coston has since moved her daughter to a different school but she’s hoping the Columbus County School Board will change the way it handles victims and their attackers.

“I don’t think it’s right that our kids are going to school with predators even though they’re the same age. The School Board needs to step up and take action,” said Coston. “Take those children out; I don’t care how old they are. Take those children out and make it a safe place for our children.”

WWAY tried contacting the school board today but we were told by one board member that the chairman is the one designated to speak with the media. So far we have not heard back from him.

ELIZABETHTOWN,NC (WWAY) — The Bladen County School Board will hold a special session on Monday, February 20. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss personnel matters. We understand the board members will discuss the vacant head football coaching position at West Bladen High School.

Earlier this week the board did not approve the hiring of current Red Springs assistant coach Joe Salas. The vote was 4-3 against Salas. Some board members have been under scrutiny for not approving Salas. We understand his nomination will come up again on Monday. West Bladen athletics director Kim Cain is also in the running, but at this time Salas is expected to get the board approval.

Pat Byrd served as the West Bladen head football coach in 2010 and 2011. He was forced out shortly after the conclusion of the 2011 season.

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Wilmington Police were searching for three men early Thursday morning after a cab driver was robbed at gunpoint.

According to New Hanover County Dispatch the call came in at 1:44 am and the robbery took place in the parking lot of Codington Elementary School on Carolina Beach Road. The cab driver’s money and keys were stolen.

Police used the SABLE helicopter to search for the three suspects, two black males and one white male. Police suspended the search before 3:30 am and did not find the men.

The cab driver was not harmed during the robbery.

The three robbers were described as:
1.) Black male approximately 6’2” tall, wearing a flight jacket, blue Dickies pants and black boots.
2.) White male, wearing a gray “Volcom” seatshirt, blue jeans, white tennis shoes and a white beanie.
3.) Black male, wearing a black sweatshirt, black Dickies pants and white tennis shoes.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to call the Wilmington Police Department at 910-343-3600. Information also may be submitted anonymously through Text-A-Tip. Enter “Tip708″ and the information and send to CRIMES (274637).

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — It’s no secret Ilario Pantano was going to run for Congress. Today he made it official.

Pantano filed paperwork today in Raleigh to run for North Carolina’s 7th District seat in the US House. He won the 2010 Republican nomination for the seat before losing to incumbent Rep. Mike McIntyre in the general election. Pantano vowed that night to run again.

Pantano joins Randy Crow in the Republican primary May 8. State Sen. David Rouzer is also expected to run, but he has not yet filed.

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — It’s no secret Ilario Pantano was going to run for Congress. Today he made it official.

Pantano filed paperwork today in Raleigh to run for North Carolina’s 7th District seat in the US House. He won the 2010 Republican nomination for the seat before losing to incumbent Rep. Mike McIntyre in the general election. Pantano vowed that night to run again.

Pantano joins Randy Crow in the Republican primary May 8. State Sen. David Rouzer is also expected to run, but he has not yet filed.