🌱 Leak Repair Program Launch + Wilmington Teen Sentenced To 20 Years

Hi there, Wilmington! I'm here in your inbox today to tell you everything you need to know about what's going on around town.

But first, your local weather:

• Wednesday: A couple of thunderstorms. High: 84 Low: 62.
• Thursday: Not as warm. High: 73 Low: 62.

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Here are the top three stories in Wilmington today:

1. A new program has launched with the nonprofit WATERway NC that seeks to assist people with repairing broken or damaged pipes. WATERway NC has teamed up with the Cape Fear Public Utility Authority (CFPUA) and Wilmington Area Rebuilding Ministry (WARM), an organization that helps with home repairs in low-income households. Together, these organizations created a program to test whether a leak repair program would be successful in the Cape Fear area. WARM looks forward to the new partnership with WATERway NC and believes that information collected from this new program will also help the organization identify leaks before serious damage occurs. Although only New Hanover County residents are eligible for this new initiative, the organization intends to eventually provide services to all seven counties that WARM supports through its existing programs. (WECT)
2. Cashaun Harvin, 26, of Wilmington, pleaded guilty Monday to a February 2015 murder that occurred on Queen Street. Harvin was given a sentence of 12 to 15 years after entering a guilty plea to second-degree murder, assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, and assault, as well as pleading guilty to assaulting a government official, according to District Attorney Ben David. According to earlier reports, Harvin and Tyler Greenfield made a phone call to purchase marijuana from Robert Scott at his home on Queen Street. When the pair entered the residence, Greenfield’s phone accidentally redialed Scott’s phone, capturing the incident on Scott’s voicemail. Harvin and Greenfield demanded money and drugs and then started firing their guns at Scott, who then returned fire. Harvin and Greenfield discharged their weapons, ultimately killing Scott. Greenfield is currently serving a life sentence. (StarNewsOnline.com)
3. Daquan Curtis Long, 18, of Wilmington, will serve between 20 and 25 years for shooting Ziyon Cuttino, 17, outside of a home on Anderson Street in September 2022. Cuttino was walking by Long’s residence with a group of friends when Long and one of his friends engaged in a verbal dispute with the group which escalated into a fistfight. Long took out a shotgun from his home and began chasing Cuttino's friends along the sidewalk. Long then fired one shot at Cuttino, which struck him in the abdomen. Cuttino was transported to the hospital, where he later died during surgery. (WWAY NewsChannel 3)

Today and tomorrow in Wilmington:

Wednesday, May 17

• Poplar Grove Farmers Market At Poplar Grove Plantation (8:00 AM)
• African American Business Council Meeting At 106 Market Street Suite 200 (11:30 AM)
• Crafty Kids At The Children's Museum of Wilmington (3:30 PM)
• Haunted Pub Crawl At The Ghost Walk Sign At Market & Water Streets (7:15 PM)

Thursday, May 18

• NC Black Film Festival At UNCW Upper African American Cultural Center (12:00 PM)
• NCS Annual Meeting With Luncheon At NC Sorosis Clubhouse (10:30 AM)
• Sunset Cruise At Wilmington Water Tours (7:00 PM)
• The Rhythm Bones DUET At Wine Knot Sky Bar And Lounge (7:30 PM)
• Open Mic Comedy At Dead Crow Comedy Room (8:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• Reminder! NCDOT has announced that both lanes headed towards Wilmington on the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge will be shut down overnight from 9 p.m. to 4 a.m. through Thursday, May 18. Both northbound lanes of U.S. 17/74 will be closed overnight for inspection work, which began on Monday. Work is expected to be complete by 4 a.m. on Thursday. Traffic going into Wilmington during those hours will use the Isabel Holmes Bridge. (WECT)
• Congratulations to the Wilmington Fire Department, which officially "rolled in" its new fire engine. The new engine is a 2023 Pierce Mfg. Impel model that has been upgraded for safety and efficiency, while also allowing strategic maneuverability in the downtown area. The engine company will have a 500-gallon water capacity, with a hose totaling over 3500 feet and other significant upgrades. (Wilmington, NC Fire Department via Facebook)
• Save the date! This weekend, Wilmington will host the American Cancer Society Relay for Life of the Cape Fear Area. The relay will take place on Saturday, May 20, from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. in the gymnasium at Hoggard High School. The survivor and caregiver laps will come right after the opening ceremony at 6:00 p.m. (WWAY NewsChannel 3)

You're all caught up for today. See you all soon for another update!

— Lauren Kubiak

About me: Lauren is an Editor for Lightning Media Partners. She graduated from Rowan University with a Bachelor’s in journalism. She was previously a full-time editor at an association management firm, editing peer-reviewed nursing journals, textbooks, and newsletters.