State Port Pilot

The Richard H. Stewart American Legion Post 543 hosted its monthly general membership meeting on July 22, at the Homer E. Wright Event Center in St. James. Following the presentation of the colors and an opening prayer offered by Post Chaplain Tom Bednarczyk, Commander Mike Carton presented former Post 543 Adjutant Aaron Largent with the 2026 Legionnaire of the Year Award.

Military Appreciation Day (MAD) returns to Southport Saturday, Sept. 12, at Dutchman Creek Park and Safe Harbor South Harbor Village Marina on Fish Factory Road. MAD is an event where local fishermen and landside volunteers pull together to show their appreciation to active members of the military and reserve. MAD is a statewide nonprofit with multiple chapters across North Carolina, including Southport.

Let’s start out this week with some really good news. NOAA National Weather Services, which operates the National Hurricane Center, updated its tropical weather forecast for the remainder of the year on August 6 and it looks good – really good. This update shows a 75% probability this will be a lower than normal year for tropical weather activity. The update further listed the predictions as being for 7-13 named storms, 2-6 hurricanes and 0-2 major hurricanes.

Oak Island Police Department hosted its fourth annual “soapbox derby on water” August 1 at Dutchman Creek. OIPD’s Dutchman Dinghy Dash returned with its largest lineup to date, as more than a dozen entries took turns testing the waters in makeshift cardboard boats. This year’s D3 featured former competitors, several family team-ups and a lone sinking in a community event that continues to grow in size and scale. The competition included youth, adult and first responder divisions.

Southport Board of Aldermen could officially end the issue of the city’s historic preservation commission if it follows the advice of its staff to eliminate the ordinance. City Manager Noah Saldo placed an item on this Thursday’s meeting agenda recommending the board adopt an ordinance repealing the historic preservation commission ordinance in order to conform with state law.

Southport Elementary School students will start school in less than two weeks, and when they come through the doors they will find a new principal to welcome them into another year of learning. Brunswick County veteran educator Jodie Pender was recently named as the new principal at Southport Elementary this summer. It is her first principal position, with a distinguished career as a kindergarten teacher and as an assistant principal also on her resume.

The Brunswick County Board of Commissioners approved a motion at its August meeting that enables fire departments to increase the fire fees they charge local property owners. Commissioners held a public forum then voted 4-1 to allow fire districts to increase fire fees by as much as 50% over a two-year period. Each district can now increase fees by 25% in the current fiscal year and another 25% next year. Commissioner Pat Sykes voted nay.

The Southport-Oak Island Area Chamber of Commerce welcomed H & R Home Mold and Moisture Services with a ribbon-cutting Ceremony on Tuesday, August 4, celebrating the company’s commitment to helping homeowners maintain safe, healthy living environments. Owner Damon Newsome was joined by Chamber Board members Heather Kinlaw and James Boatwright, Chamber Ambassadors, and business community representatives for the ceremony marking this milestone.

Members of the Southport-Oak Island Area Chamber of Commerce gathered on Wednesday, July 29, for the Chamber’s monthly Business Networking After Hours, hosted by Oak Island Elks Lodge #2769, located at 106 E. Dolphin Drive on Oak Island. The evening provided chamber members with an opportunity to build new business relationships, strengthen existing connections, and learn more about one of the area’s long-standing community organizations.

Brunswick County 2026 property tax bills will soon arrive in mailboxes and balances are now available online via the Brunswick County Tax Office’s Property & Tax Information Tool. Your 2026 tax bill may include your county property tax, municipal property tax and any applicable fees (if you live within a city/town/village), and fire fee for the fire department that serves your property. Taxes are due and payable on Sept.1, and can be paid without interest up through Jan. 5, 2027. After Jan.