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New superintendent for Bladen Co. state park announced

New superintendent for Bladen Co. state park announced

BLADEN COUNTY, NC (WECT) — A new superintendent of Singletary Lake State Park in Bladen County has been named.

Kristen Woodruff, a veteran park superintendent and ranger, will succeed James Sessoms, who retired earlier this year, according to the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation.

She'll be responsible for supervising the White Lake and Bay Tree Lake management areas, staffing the area, training rangers, and educating people about the environment.

Woodruff graduated from UNCW in 2004 with a Bachelor's degree in parks and recreation management. She worked as a season employee at Carolina Beach State Park and Falls Lake State Recreation Area. She joined the state parks system full-time in 2005 as a ranger at William B. Umstead State Park and transferred to Goose Creek State Park in 2008.

“Kristen has wide-ranging experience as a ranger and park superintendent as well as strong supervisory skills necessary for the effective management of Singletary, Bay Tree and White lakes,” said Lewis Ledford, director of the state parks system in a news release. “We’re glad to have her talents available for this position.”

Flying friends greet Bladen County students

Flying friends greet Bladen County students

BLADEN COUNTY, NC (WECT) — This past summer, approximately 70 students from East Arcadia School spent time in the classroom learning about butterflies and even took a field trip to the Durham Museum of Life and Science's outdoor butterfly house.

When they returned to school on Aug. 25 they were greeted by several flying friends, according to Valerie Newton with Bladen County Schools. The fourth through sixth grade students researched different types of plants that attract butterflies and plotted them in the school's garden.

Larry Bowman, an ESL teacher assistant, reportedly helped the students till the earth and prepare the soil for planting. Once the garden was completed, principal Ronald Coley was given a tour of the garden by the students and a brief lesson of each plant.

Copyright 2011 WECT. All rights reserved.

Burn ban lifted in Bladen County

Burn ban lifted in Bladen County

BLADEN COUNTY, NC (WECT) — The burn ban will be lifted at 5 p.m. on Monday, August 8 in Bladen County, according to Bradley Kinlaw, the Fire Marshal and Emergency Management Director for the county.

This will reportedly include the ban put in place from the State of North Carolina and the Bladen County Fire Marshal's Office.

Copyright 2011 WECT. All rights reserved.

Pre-K students feed, weigh two international tortoises

Pre-K students feed, weigh two international tortoises

BLADEN COUNTY, NC (WECT) — Tortoises from Burma and South Africa visited the Bladen Lakes Primary School pre-kindergarten students recently.

According to Bladen County Schools, students feed the tortoises fresh bananas and weighed the reptiles to learn several mathematical concepts.

Volunteer Wanda Hayes reportedly arranged the visit through The Tortoise Reserve, Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to the international conservation of tortoises and freshwater turtles.

Copyright 2011 WECT. All rights reserved.

Nature Conservancy plans controlled summer burns

Nature Conservancy plans controlled summer burns

BLADEN COUNTY, NC (WECT) - Longleaf pines need regular fire to survive and thrive. So do carnivorous plants like venus flytraps and pitcher plants. In fact, many of the southeast coastal plain’s most important residents are fire dependent. That’s why the Nature Conservancy will be conducting burns at its coastal preserves during the coming months.

Controlled burning will reportedly take place with public and fire crew safety as the main priority. “These burns are designed to improve the ecosystem and reduce fuels that diminish the risk of larger wildfires,” said Angie Carl, who directs the Conservancy’s burning program in the Southeast Coastal Plain. “Fire is good for forest health and for protecting nearby local communities.”