Seaside Serenity: "7
Artist turns boards into ocean scenes I I
Slamming Seahawks: ^
Trask crowd creates rowdy environment | I I
February 13, 2003
Volume LIV, Number 19
Economy rising
Taya Owens
Staff Writer
Last week two UNCW econo
mists forecasted a 4 to 4.5 percent
increase in the economic activity
in New Hanover, Pender and
Brunswick Counties during 2003.
Rising almost 2 percent from
2002, this forecast predicts strong
growth in the second and fourth
quarters.
UNCW director of economic
services William Hall, Jr. and pro
fessor of economy Claude Farrell
have worked on a series of eco
nomic forecasts for this region
several years in a row. They
recendy reviewed activity in the
private business sector and deter
mined that spending is rising and
will continue to rise through 2003.
These rates of growth are com
pared to other counties in
Southeastern North Carolina,
which are expected to grow 1 to 2
percent.
“New Hanover has an advan
tage of lying on the coast,” Hall
said.
Compared to last ye^, “there
are more job openings in retail,”
Hall said, noting that one out of
[n?
four jobs in New Hanover County
is a retail position. “You can say
so goes retail trade, so goes local
economy.”
The typically strong fourth
quarter in 2002 showed that
unemployment and building per
mits bottomed out. Now that rates
are rising again, there are more
employment opportunities and
construction endeavors. Hall said.
For a student living in
Wilmington, this information
shows there are more possibilities
of part-time jobs, Farrell
explained. “A student will readily
find work in retailing, construc
tion or fast food,” he said. “Not to
mention that jobs might be better
paid.”
However, Hall forecasted that
other sectors outside of private
business, such as professional
services, would not see much
growth.
Neither Farrell nor Hall pre
dicted that regional military
action would have a noticeable
impact on New Hanover County.
“We receive some of their
business, but we won’t be impact
ed the way Onlsow County will
be,” Farrell said.
UNCW sophomore Karen Rea invetories merchandise at
worked all semester.
Serving UNC Wilmington since 1948
ASTROPHYSICIST
BRINGS IMAGES
OF THE STARS
Courtegy of NOAA.gov
Loggerhead turtles are losing their nesting grounds.
Beach driving
hurts wildlife
V
Lorrie Laliberte
Assistant News Editor
Camping, fires and driving on
the north end of Carolina Beach
were discussed at the Feb. 3 New
Hanover County commissioner
meeting.
Driving on the beach has
"become a hot debate in the past
few years. Citizens for the
Conservation of the North End
was formed at the beginning of
this year to “protect the north end
of Carolina Beach by eliminating
abuse caused by vehicles,”
founder Lynda Bilbrough said.
There are eight major property
owners that own the North End.
All eight want to stop the traffic
on the beach.
The commissioners decided to
put off a decision to look for the
best solution. “It’s a work in
progress,” commissioner Nancy
Pritchett said.
Commissioner Bill Caster said
they are “working on some issues
to solve some problems,” and
hope to have a few solutions in
March.
Todd McLeod, the spokesman
for CCNE at the meeting, specifi
cally addressed the issue of driv
ing on the beach. He talked about
various environmental issues at
George R. Carruthers
J.K. Alston
Staff Writer
An award-winning astrophysi
cist will speak as a featured guest
lecturer for the physics department •
in honor of Black History Month.
George R. Carruthers is a
University of Illinois graduate from
inner-city Chicago. He has held the
senior position in the Naval
Research Laboratory’s space sci
ence division since 1982.
During his professional career
with the Naval Research
Laboratory, Carruthers has become
internationally known for his
research on the conditions of the
earth’s atmosphere using aeronauti
cal technology.
See turtles,Page 3 See LECTURER, Page 2
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