NC Happenings - Page 4 of 79

Bomb Found On Shelly Island

Bomb Found On Shelly Island Causes Evacuation

This morning on Friday July 14 at about 8:00am a local fisherman was fishing on the new island (Shelly Island) across from Cape Point on Hatteras Island at the Outer Banks. The fisherman founded washed up on the island some type of unidentified explosive device. The device could be an old military device such as an unexploded ordnance. The island was quickly evacuated. Now multiple agencies are involved. Those agencies involved include the Hatteras Island Rescue Squad, Dare County Emergency Management, the National Park Service, the US Coast Guard, and several local fire departments. Now the Navy and Marine Corp Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technicians out of Virginia are on the way to Buxton. That ODT team is expected to arrive sometime Friday afternoon. The device on the island is causing a lot of excitement for the Outer Banks. Shelly Island was making the news before but now this explosive device that has been discovered washed ashore on the new island will cause even more headlines in the news!

Shelly Island across from Cape Point at Buxton, NC

Shelly Island is a national news maker. The growing sandbar is just off of Cape Point at Buxton, NC at the Outer Banks. The new sandbar/island was not there just a few months ago. About April the small sandbar was noticed just off Cape Point. Over the next few months the sandbar kept getting bigger and bigger. Now the new island named Shelly Island is over a mile long and about three football fields long. The island is covered in seashells. One end of the new island is close to the beach at Cape Point. At low tide the narrow channel is only about 5 ft deep. Many people are swimming over from the beach to the new island at low tide. But officials ware that swimming to the island is not recommended. The current can be quite strong not to mention the sharks and stingrays that have been seen swimming in the channel. And if people stay too long and the tide rises the water gets deeper and the current is too strong for swimmers to safely swim back to Cape Point.

The safest way to get to the island is by other ways. Many people are using kayaks, boogie boards, canoes, small boats and SUPs to get to the newly formed island. The fishing is great on the ocean side of Shelly Island. Shellhunters are in heaven due to the large numbers of shells being found. Some beachcombers come back with bags and bags of conch shells and other great finds like colorful pieces of seaglass, scotch bonnets and other shells.

The island has made national news. Ginger Zee from Good Morning America broadcast live from the island a few weeks ago. FOX News has reported about Shelly Island and CNN has also covered the new island. Numerous local TV stations from NC, SC and Virginia as well as others have had stories about the newly formed island. Now this possible unexploded bomb washing ashore on Shelly Island will surly make more news.

Kayaking to Shelly Island Near Cape Point at the Outer Banks

301 Endless Yard Sale 2017 Dates

Dates For 301 Endless Yard Sale 2017

The annual 301 Endless Yard Sale 2017 will be held again this summer in eastern North Carolina. This year it takes place the weekend of June 16-17, 2017. This will be the 5th year of this huge and popular endless yard sale along NC Highway 301. This huge multiple-county yard sale starts on Friday 6/16/17 and runs through Saturday 6/17/17 with the hours being 7:00 am-5:00 pm for both days. Many communities in multiple counties along US 301 participate each year from Dunn to Weldon. Shops, churches, schools, groups, individuals, families and more will be set up along Highway 301 selling items, antiques, collectibles, toys, games, clothing, crafts, furniture and more. Participants set up all along Highway 301 between Roanoke Rapids to Dunn. The 301 Endless Yard Sale 2017 will be over 100 miles beginning in the Johnston County towns of Smithfield, Selma, Kenly, and Benson, and continuing thru Wilson County, Nash County, Halifax County and Harnett Counties.

Participating counties include Halifax, Nash, Wilson, Johnston and Harnett with over 500 vendors set up along US Highway 301. Many more vendors each year join in on the fun of selling their wears in this gigantic yard sale event. Many flea markets along the route have space available! For more information see 301 Endless Yardsale. This is so fun to do to ride along Highway 301 to see all the yardsales, do some shopping or just see all the people at this multi-county huge event!

This huge event is getting bigger and more popular each year. It also is getting more attention from the news media. Each year more and more churches, groups, families, farms, and businesses join in on this popular and fun event. Last year was a huge success bringing in lots of yard sale shoppers from all over the United States.

Some sellers will be located along the highway in established visitor sites like Riverside Mill in Weldon, the Tobacco Farm Life Museum in Kenly, and TWM Antiques in Selma. Also, families, churches and schools along the route will have vendor setups. If you like yard sales, antiques and travel you will love this unique US 301 Endless Yard Sale!

People shopping at 301 Endless Yard Sale

Big tent on 301 for endless yard sale in Kenly

Shopping along the route is really a lot of fun. Last year there were tents along Highway 301 for miles in the Johnston County and Wilson County areas. Cars were parked all along the highway with people browsing and shopping. It is a lot of fun to shop the 301 Endless Yard Sale. There is no telling what you might find at this unique yard sale!

Location of NC Highway 301 and the 301 Endless Yard Sale 2017

Southern Farm Show Raleigh

Southern Farm Show Raleigh 2017 at NC State Fairgrounds

The Southern Farm Show Raleigh 2017 takes place Feb. 3-5, 2017 at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds. This fun event is not just for farmers. It has grown into a fun event to go to for everybody. Children love all the tractors and large farm equipment at the farm show. Even the big kids love the huge tractors and farm equipment on display. There are hundreds of vendors at the farm show with all types of outdoor, hunting and farm equipment, devices, supplies, products and more.

At this year’s farm show you can test drive a Chevrolet on a track setup just for the test drive. A long line of people was waiting to test drive the bright blue Chevy Camaro, a Chevy Suburban and a Chevy pickup. Ford was also there with several vehicles on display with all their doors open and completely accessible to anyone who wanted a close look. You could sit in the vehicle, inspect it, walk around it, check out the motor. No salesperson around to annoy you!

There were multiple gigantic tents with all types of equipment inside. Things like dirt bikes, four-wheelers, ATVs of every size. There were displays of zero-turn lawnmowers big and large, farm planters, harvesters, tobacco equipment. grain equipment, combines big, small and ginormous! There were some of the biggest tractors you could ever imagine. As I said big kids and little kids really enjoy going to the Southern Farm Show to see all the sights.

Farm Equipment at Southern Farm Show in Raleigh

The Forestry Service is at this event. Many children were at this table talking with and getting their pictures taken with a Forest Ranger. They also have a lot of information about selling timber and how to reforest your timber. There was information on proper forest management what to do and what not to manage woodland.

There is also entertainment with bands playing. And this year there was a lumberjack show which was fun to watch. Last year there was a cattle dog demonstration as the cattle dog rounded up a herd of sheep.

You can also do some shopping. Many vendors offer clothing, boots, capes and hats, gloves, coats, tee shirts, hoodies and other apparel. Carhartt was there this year with some nice coats and other apparel. John Deer was there with apparel and other items. There are license tags, keychains, caps, coffee mugs and more.

The food is also good. Several vendors are set up around the grounds offering funnel cakes, fried twinkies, fried oreo cookies, hotdogs, hamburgers, steak and cheese hoagies, blooming onions, curly fries, drinks and more. Inside the Graham building is the Murphy Barbeque House severing hot meals of BBQ, hamburger steak, hotdog, hamburgers, cake and other desserts and more.

The Southern Farm Show in Raleigh is held each year in early February. The three-day event is getting bigger and better every year. If you think you don’t need to go because you are not a farm you’re making a mistake! Take the family, take the children and go enjoy this fun farm show.

Groundhog Day Raleigh 2017 With Sir Walter Wally

Sir Walter Wally and Groundhog Day Raleigh 2017

North Carolina’s own groundhog Sir Walter Wally will make his appearance on Groundhog Day Raleigh 2017 on Thursday Feb. 2, 2017 in downtown Raleigh. Will he see his shadow and predict winter for 6 more weeks? Or will he not see his shadow meaning spring will come sooner? Groundhog Day is an annual tradition. It’s the day we find out if there will be 6 more weeks of winter or an early spring. The capital city of Raleigh brings out their own Sir Walter Wally each Groundhog Day. The exciting ceremony takes place on the steps of the Museum of Natural Science in downtown Raleigh. Each year the celebration grows with more people attending and more news stations covering to report the big news. This year more than 1200 people are expected to gather on the steps of the museum to see if the famous North Carolina groundhog sees his shadow or not.

Sir Walter Wally did not see his shadow this morning in downtown Raleigh. So his prediction

for North Carolina is an early spring!

Sir Walter Wally on Groundhog Day in Raleigh 2/2/2017 — Sir Walter Wally to Make Appearance on Groundhog Day in Raleigh 2/2/2017

Sir Walter Wally has a pretty good record of predicting a long winter or an early spring. Wally has a 50% success rate as compared to a 39% success rate of Punxsutawney Phil in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. In fact the Weather Channel puts him in the Top 11 Groundhogs to watch on Groundhog Day for an accurate prediction!

Our on Sir Walter Wally is of course named after Sir Walter Raleigh. Raleigh’s Groundhog Day Celebration The Shadow Ceremony takes place Thursday Feb. 2, 2017 from 9:00am – 1:00pm with the big reveal at noon in front of the North Carolina Museum of Natural Science. (See map for location below.) Watch Sir Walter Wally with special guest Governor McFarlane on Thursday morning. The museum will have several special exhibits related to the history of Groundhog Day, games, hats of Groundhog Day, animal facts related to winter and many other fun exhibits. Plus meet Sir Walter Wally!

Do you want an early spring or do you want more winter (and more snow)?! Let us know in the comments below!

Raleigh, NC 27601

Bulluck Warehouse Sale 2017

Annual Bulluck Warehouse Sale 2017 Starts Jan 21

The annual Bulluck Warehouse Sale 2017 begins Saturday, January 21, 2017. The warehouse sale will again take place at Phipps Warehouse at 218 N. Church Street near downtown Rocky Mount, NC. Phipps Warehouse is located next to the Imperial Centre on Church Street. See the map below for directions. Parking is to the left of the warehouse when coming down Church Street. The gigantic Bulluck Warehouse Sale 2017 is one of the most popular sales in Eastern North Carolina. Thousands of shoppers travel many miles to attend this popular sale. This huge fine furniture sale is held every year in late January and goes through February.

Bulluck Furniture Warehouse Sale 2019 starts on 1/26/2019

Location will be at 218 N Church Street, Rocky Mount, NC

(same location as last few years)

More details and a complete list of dates and hours here!

The huge warehouse has over 80,000 square feet of area with sale items from Bulluck’s Furniture. Sale items include scratched and dented fine reproduction furniture, lamps, lamp bodies, lampshades and lamp parts, wood accessories and items, bronze statues and items, crystal pieces, chandeliers, ceramic planters of all sizes, floor and wall screens, traditional and transitional furniture, vases, bowls, statues plus so much more. The sale is huge and after the first seven days the warehouse is restocked with more and different sale items added. So more than one trip to this sale is a must!

Bulluck’s Gigantic Warehouse Sale takes place in an old tobacco warehouse in downtown Rocky Mount. The warehouse is full of fine furniture, lighting and decorative accessories. Row and rows and rows of tables are set up and covered with lamps, bowls, statues, brass, art, vases, pots, candlesticks and more. Chandeliers hang from the rafters, mirrors and art are hung on the walls. Furniture of every type (contemporary, traditional and transitional) are out on display with prices slashed. Even outdoor furniture is included. The furniture is just beautiful! Bed frames, china cabinet, dining room tables and chairs, end tables and more. The smell of leather is wonderful! Leather couches, leather office chairs and leather formal chairs all on sale.

This is a complete list of dates and hours for 2017:

Saturday Jan. 21, 2017 9:30am-5:00pm
Sunday Jan. 22, 2017 1:00pm-5:00pm
Monday Jan. 23, 2017 9:30am-5:00pm
Tuesday Jan. 24, 2017 9:30am-5:00pm

Friday Jan. 27, 2017 9:30am-5:00pm
Sat. Jan 28, 2017 9:30am-5:00pm
Sun. Jan. 29, 2017 1:00pm-5:00pm

Restock to take place with thousands of new items added

Sat, Feb. 4, 2017 9:30am-5:00pm
Sun. Feb. 5, 2017 1:00pm-5:00pm
Mon. Feb. 6, 2017 9:30am-5:00pm
Tues. Feb. 7, 2017 9:30am-5:00pm

Fri. Feb 10, 2017 9:30am-5:00pm
Sat. Feb 11, 2017 9:30am-5:00pm
Sun Feb 12, 2017 1:00pm-5:00pm
Mon Feb 13, 2017 9:30am-5:00pm
Tues Feb 14, 2017 9:30am-5:00pm

Fri Feb 17, 2017 9:30am-5:00pm
Sat Feb 18, 2017 9:30am-5:00pm
Sun. Feb. 19, 2017 1:00pm-5:00pm
Mon. Feb. 20, 2017 9:30am-5:00pm
Tues. Feb. 21, 2017 9:30am-5:00pm

Fri. Feb. 24, 2017 9:30am-5:00pm
Sat. Feb. 25, 2017 9:30am-5:00pm
Sun. Feb. 26, 2017 1:00pm-5:00pm

All sales are final. Items are 60-90% off retail prices! The Bulluck Warehouse Sale 2017 is a great event to shop if you want to add or redecorate your home or office. Save hundreds on fine furniture, lamps and accessories. All tables and sections of items are marked down 60-90% in the whole warehouse. As the days goes into February prices will drop.

The warehouse will be closed and restocked with additional items for sale with even better prices after Jan. 29th. When the sale resumes on Sat. Feb. 4th items left from the first few days of the sale are slashed for the second portion of the gigantic Bulluck Warehouse sale.

Make plans to get to the Bulluck Warehouse Sale 2017! It is so much fun to go to this sale. You do not want to miss this huge fine furniture warehouse sale! Trust me, I have been and it is worth the trip! To see the old warehouse alone is worth the trip. But to add all those beautiful pieces of fine furniture inside the warehouse and put them on sale! Once the sale starts I will post pictures here. Make sure to check back to Travel NC to see the pictures and find out more information.

This year if you buy a certain amount you get a free gift! After this Sunday they close to restock! They reopen the following Saturday with even more items! See the days and hours listed above.

Here are the pictures from this week’s trip to the warehouse sale!

Bulluck Furniture Warehouse Sale 2019 — Bulluck Furniture Warehouse Sale 2020

Location and Map for the Bulluck Warehouse Sale 2017

Rocky Mount, NC 27804

Fires in NC Mountains

Multiple Fires In NC Mountains

There are several fires in the NC mountains that continue to burn out of control. These fires have burned over 44,000 acres now. Many areas of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park as well as several NC State Parks have been closed due to these out of control fires. Over 2000 firefighters are fighting these fires with more on the way for backup and relief. There are 10 fires burning with minimal containment. Several counties have called for evacuations of residents. Counties affected by evacuations include Henderson, Buncombe, Graham, Swain, Clay and Macon. Shelters have been opened to provide a safe environment for those affected. Many counties are also handing out special mask for people to wear due to the poor air quality from the smoke produced by the fires. Ashe from the wildfires is a problem for many towns nearby. Smoke from the wildfires is drifting hundreds of miles away to cities such as Raleigh, Greensboro, and Charlotte in North Carolina. Even Atlanta, Georgia is having hazing conditions from the smoke from the fires to the north. Many areas are under a Code Orange Air Quality Alert.

Fighting Wildfire in NC Mountains (photo by wncn)

Smoke from all the fires can be seen drifting as far away as North Georgia, East Tennessee, the NC piedmont area, Asheville and Charlotte. One of the major fires is in the Lake Lure area and another major fire is at Party Rock. Other areas with fires include Tellico Fire, the Boteler Fire, the Maple Springs Fire, the Nantahala National Forest, Dick’s Creek (near Sylva), Knob (near Franklin), a small area near Cherokee, Whitewater (Upper Whitewater Falls), and a small area at Cliffside ( near Highlands).

FEMA will assist with helping pay for fighting the fires. Twenty-five counties have been declared a State of Emergency due to a large number of fires in the NC mountains. Some fires are being investigated due to the possibility of arson.

Equipment being used to fight the fires include helicopters, over 100 fire engines, bulldozers and other heavy equipment. There have been no injuries or deaths so far due to the fires. The fires have been difficult to control due to the dry conditions in the western areas of the state. The humidity is also very low and no significant rain is in the forecast for the next week.

Many NC State Parks have been closed due to fire, smoke or personnel being pulled to other areas to help with the fires in other areas. The following parks in North Carolina are closed until further noted: New River State Park, Elk Knob, Mount Mitchell, Lake James and Gorges, Mount Jefferson State Natural Area, South Mountains State Park, and Chimney Rock State Park. Due to the extremely dry conditions and increased risk of fire all NC state parks have banned campfires and open cooking fires for now.

Smoke from fires in nc mountains (photo from abc11.com)

Several trails in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park have been temporarily closed. One is Chimney Tops Trail because of a wildfire burning near the trail summit. Other trails that have been closed until further notice are Sugarland Mountain Trail, Huskey Gap Trail, and Road Prong Trail. The wildfires are resulting in a large amount of smoke that is settling in the valleys of the Great Smoky Mountains. There is a temporary ban on campfires in the park’s backcountry. The fire ban only applies to campers in the backcountry sites and shelters.

Live Web Cam Links that show smoky conditions from fires in NC mountains

Here are some webcam links that show locations in the NC mountains that are affected by the fires.

Chimney Rock State Park live webcam showing smoky conditions

Nantahala area by Nantahala Outdoor Center

Joyce Kilmer area live webcam view

Lake Lure live webcam

GSMNP Purchase Knob live webcam

US Wildfire Activity Public Information Map

Here is a link to the US Wildfire Activity Public Information Map showing the locations of all the different wildfires in NC mountains, East TN and the Great Smoky Mountains, Georgia, Kentucky, South Carolina and Virginia.