WILM News Desk

   Four Brunswick County deputies are on desk duty and three New Hanover County deputies are on leave as the result of last week's shooting at a DWI checkpoint in Leland.

   Officials say that's standard operating procedure following a shooting that involves officers, and Sheriff John Ingram says law enforcement responded appropriately.

   One suspect, Antoine Graham, remains in the hospital.

   The other, Jerry Melvin is jailed on 8 counts of assault with a deadly weapon on a government official, along with other charges.

   The SBI has launched a probe into the incident, which is also standard procedure.

  The alleged driver in last week’s fatal hit & run made her first court appearance.

   23-year-old Judith Nemeth of Brevard is charged with felony hit and run and misdemeanor death by vehicle.

   27-year-old Zachary Tyler was killed while riding his bicycle on Wrightsville Avenue.

   Nemeth is free on bond but had to surrender her license while the case is being resolved.

   She's due back in court next month.
 

   Former New Hanover County commissioner Brian Berger has filed a petition with the court, asking to be reinstated.

   Berger was ousted by the board of commissioners last month in what is called an amotion hearing.

   His lawyers say Berger's removal violated the state constitution.

   Officials say they voted Berger out after a series of incidents made them feel unsafe.

   Berger's appeal asks that the court hold a hearing to see if the amotion hearing was fair, and to determine if Berger is fit to serve in office.

   The New Hanover County Board of Commissioners approved the new budget for the 2013-2014 fiscal year.

   The $280 million spending plan does not include a tax increase for residents.

   However, there are significant cuts to Department of Social Services programs, including the elimination of $635,000 for county-funded day care programs for low-income families, and a cut of $320,000 to the department's general assistance fund.

A first court appearance today for one of the suspects in Friday's shooting at a Leland DWI checkpoint.
42-year-old Jerry Melvin is charged with 8 counts of assault with a deadly weapon on a government official.
Investigators say Melvin and Antoine Graham tried shooting their way out of the checkpoint--but no officers were hurt.
Graham is in the hospital.

Also making a first court appearance today--the suspect in last week's fatal hit and run in Wilmington.
Zachary Tyler was killed while riding his bicycle on Wrightsville Avenue.
23-year-old Judith Nemeth of Brevard is charged with suspicion of felony hit and run and misdemeanor death by motor vehicle.

Pender County Commissioners will vote on a plan today to merge its E-M-S and fire departments.
Leaders say the move will help streamline services and provide better protection to residents.

   A memorial service is set for tonight, honoring the South Brunswick High School student who drowned off the coast of Oak Island.

   The body of 17-year-old James Michael Prince was pulled from the water Tuesday evening.

   Officials say Prince had been swimming in the area shortly before he was reported missing.

   Prince, a popular student and athlete, was supposed to graduate this Saturday.

   Tonight's service is at 7:30pm on the South Brunswick High School football field.

   Two area men will begin serving federal prison sentences after pleading guilty to downloading child pornography.

   43-year-old Lonnie Balog of Wilmington will serve 12 and a half years.

   Prosecutors say Balog was caught with about 4,000 illegal images on his home computer in June of last year.

   In an unrelated case, 49-year-old Paul Schmura of Burgaw was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

   Schmura pleaded guilty one count of downloading child pornography.

   He was arrested after a search of his home in February of 2012.

   If you have to go to Wilmington International Airport this Friday, you'll want to allow yourself some extra time.

  Airport officials say the HBO series "Eastbound and Down", starring Danny McBride, will be filming a drag racing scene near the intersection of Princess Place Drive and 23rd Street.

  Expect traffic delays in that area between 9am and 4pm.

A teenager drowned off the coast of Oak Island last night.
Rescue crews were called to the Oak Island Pier around 7-30 p-m.
A 17-year-old swimmer had gone missing---his body was pulled from the water a short time later.
So far--authorities have not released his name.

The second-in-command for the Narcotics Division of the New Hanover County Sheriff's Office is off the job--and being investigated by the SBI.
Lieutenant Joseph LeBlanc had been with the sheriff's office for 18 years.
He was fired for violating policy--and now officials say LeBlanc is being investigated for alleged diversion of prescription drugs.

Police in Boone say carbon monoxide poisoning is likely the cause of three deaths at a Best Western hotel.
An elderly couple was found dead inside Room 225 in April.
This weekend--an 11-year-old boy died in the same room.
The room is near a natural gas heater used for the hotel's indoor pool.

A three hour standoff involving the Wilmington Police SWAT team ended peacefully.
Officers were called to a home in the Hillcrest community yesterday around 10 am.
A woman was inside--and was said to be a danger to herself and others.
Police were able to get into the home around 130pm--and the woman was taken for treatment.
No one was hurt.