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Wilson This Week -- August 14, 2024 |
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City workers showed grit in Debby response
Last Thursday Tropical Storm Debby brought tornadoes and torrential rains to Wilson County, leaving destruction and heartache in its wake. While the City of Wilson was spared the worst of its fury, our thoughts and deepest condolences go out to our neighbors in Lucama, who faced significant damage and tragically lost a member of the community.
We want to express our sincere thanks to our Wilson Energy workers who responded to 17 downed utility poles, quickly reconnecting nearly 2,000 customers. Greenlight was also able to reconnect people and businesses to fiberoptic services.
But we must also thank our police, fire, streets, public works and other employees who worked quickly to respond to emergencies, flooded streets, and other issues. We note that our employees are also residents, many of whom worried about their families' safety, yet they still did their jobs in a professional manner.
As someone once said, "adversity doesn't build character; it reveals it." Team Wilson has once again shown we have the best men and women around!
Let us also remember that Debby was only the fourth named storm this year, but the Atlantic is expected to have 17-24 total by November, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's updated forecast. NOAA says to expect 8-13 hurricanes and 4-7 major hurricanes.
So if you didn't last week, please take a moment to review what supplies everyone should have on hand during hurricane season.
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Council meets Thursday
Wilson City Council will meet Thursday, August 15, beginning at 7 p.m. at Wilson City Hall, 112 Goldsboro St N. Enter through the alleyway door and come to the third floor.
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Watch in person or online
The public is always welcome to attend Council meetings, but we also stream them so that anyone can watch them live or later. The link below will go live shortly before 7 p.m. Thursday.
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City Council will honor Police Chief Biddle
Wilson City Council will hold a short ceremony Thursday night to honor Wilson Police Chief Scott Biddle for his 35 year career at WPD, including three years as chief.
Mayor Carlton Stevens is expected to read a proclamation at the start of the City Council's meeting that will note some of the highlights of Chief Biddle's history. The public can watch at the link above, either live or after the event has been archived.
Biddle has worked for the department since 1992, working through the ranks as Sergeant, Lieutenant, Captain and Major before being named Chief in June 2021. He has an outstanding record of service, but he may be best known for his community service. He helped create the Wilson Police Athletic/Activities League (PAL) by starting a baseball team in 1994 and has been involved in PAL's many projects over the past 30 years. He has coaching youth baseball with the Wilson Parks and Recreation Little League and the Wilson Boys and Girls Club for more than 20 years, and also football and baseball at Toisnot Middle School.
Chief Scott Biddle has volunteered with several Boards of Directors and nonprofit organizations throughout the City of Wilson. He was presented the Leon Wilson Live United Humanitarian Award by the United Way of Wilson County in 2017 and the Paul Stevens Humanitarian of the Year Award by the Wilson Human Relations Commission in 2020, both in recognition of his lifelong contributions to the community.
Biddle's retirement will be effective at the end of this month. The city will soon announce plans for naming his replacement.
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Some Wilson County railroad crossings will temporarily close
CSX Transportation will soon temporarily close several railroad crossings in Wilson County. Starting August 26, 2024, CSX will begin work with both a surfacing team and a tie team, which will require the complete closure of certain railroad crossings.
What to Expect:
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Double Closures: Each listed crossing will be closed twice due to the double-track system. The surfacing team will work on Track 1 from August 26 to September 6. The tie team will follow, working on Track 2 from September 3 to September 27.
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Google Map: The map link below shows all affected crossings. By clicking on each location, you can view the expected closure dates. Please note that each closure may last between 3 to 5 days. For crossings that are the only access point for residents, CSX will aim to complete the work within 12 hours.
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Traffic Impact: Traffic will be rerouted around the closures. Detour routes will be clearly marked with signage. Please plan ahead for possible delays and consider avoiding these areas if possible.
We appreciate your patience and cooperation during this time. Please stay safe and plan accordingly for these temporary disruptions.
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