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Tuesday, 03 June 2025
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Written by Sheila D. Barker
Hope Mills Lake is now offering a revolutionary way to experience lake adventures with on-demand kayak rentals. In partnership with Whenever Watersports, Hope Mills Lake Park provides a hassle-free way for residents and visitors to enjoy kayaking at their convenience. No more waiting in lines or dealing with complicated rental processes, just pure, unadulterated lakeside fun.
Seasoned kayakers and first-timers can experience this new service, designed to make their outdoor experience as smooth and enjoyable as possible. The fully automated rental kiosk is located conveniently by the water, so kayakers can get on the lake in no time.
Renting a kayak at Hope Mills Lake is simple using Whenever Watersports' self-serve rental system. All hopeful kayakers need to do is scan the QR code at the kiosk, book the kayak from a smartphone, and they're ready to hit the water.
The process is entirely automated, which means water enthusiasts can rent a kayak any time from 6 a.m. to sunset, seven days a week. Just choose the rental duration, select the equipment, and enjoy the day on the lake without any hassle.
Hope Mills Lake is a gem in North Carolina, offering 73 acres of natural beauty, including the lake itself. The lake is perfect for kayaking, with its calm waters and scenic surroundings. It's an ideal spot for both relaxation and adventure.
Hope Mills Lake Park features amenities like a boat ramp, a gazebo, a playground, and even an observation dock. Whether you're looking to swim, fish, or simply enjoy the great outdoors, Hope Mills Lake has something for everyone.
Whenever Watersports offers a range of rental options to suit your needs. Single kayaks are available for $19.99 for one hour, $29.99 for two hours, and $49.99 for a full day. Tandem kayaks are priced at $39.99 for one hour, $59.99 for two hours, and $79.99 for a full day. Additional hours are charged at $14.99 per hour for single kayaks and $29.99 per hour for tandems. A full day rental is eight hours or until sunset.
All rentals include paddles, personal flotation devices of various sizes, and whistles. With nine single kayaks and three tandem kayaks available, there's plenty of equipment to go around.
Whenever Watersports was founded in 2022 by Mike Ulitsch and Aran Gillette, two outdoor enthusiasts with a passion for making water recreation more accessible. Their mission is to provide an easy, hassle-free way for people to enjoy kayaking and other water activities.
Driven by their love for the outdoors, Mike and Aran have created a service that allows anyone to experience the beauty and fun of kayaking without the usual complications. Their vision is to make on-water recreation a possibility for everyone, one kayak rental at a time.
Ready to hit the water? Check out this great step-by-step video on how to rent and return kayaks before heading out to the lake: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VO1qhPMOgz8&t=2s
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Tuesday, 03 June 2025
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Written by Staff Report
Earlier this month, two paramedics with Cumberland County EMS made history as the first all-female team to win the NC Emergency Medical Services Expo’s annual EM Today Paramedic Competition in its 33-year history.
Paramedics Hannah Thompson and Jessica Haines represented Cumberland County EMS as one of the top six teams from across the state on May 4 at Greensboro. The expo is an educational conference for paramedics, EMTs and county emergency services directors to sharpen their skills with presentations from faculty from across the state and the U.S.
“We’re very proud of Hannah and Jessica’s win,” said Brian Langston, Corporate Director Patient Logistics and Mobile Integrated Health. “These competitions prepare our paramedics to improve the treatment of real patients in our community and set the benchmarks for our paramedics to have a high level of medical knowledge.”
The Cumberland EMS team outperformed the 2024 returning champions, as well as four other regional champion duos who earned their respective spots following competitions in March in Brunswick, Catawba, Cumberland, Johnston and Surry counties. Those teams included Mecklenburg EMS and Whiteville Rescue as well as two Surry County EMS crews.
Originally from Wyoming, Haines has been with Cape Fear Valley for a year and became a paramedic in September, but she has been in EMS for over two years.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology from Campbell University. Before going to college, Haines was a member of the U.S. Army and deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. She is also a mother with a three-year-old son.
“When Hannah and I said we were going to do the competition, we did it to learn and have fun,” Haines said. “We had no expectation of actually winning. Then we won the regionals, and it got a little more serious. When we were training, we learned that no all-female team had ever won the competition, and that no Cape Fear Valley team had ever won, either. That was our motivator, once we found that out.”
Thompson is originally from New Mexico, where she previously worked as a paramedic before moving to Fayetteville. She’s been with Cumberland County EMS since 2022 and worked in Cape Fear Valley Medical Center’s Pediatric Emergency Department for a year.
She holds an associate’s degree in emergency medical services and a bachelor’s degree in organismal biology. Additionally, she is an adjunct instructor with Fayetteville Technical Community College, where the two spent much of April practicing complicated patient and logistic scenarios before the final competition.
“From complex cardiac cases, extensive traumatic injuries, and a plethora of complicated overdoses, we used scenarios that always had two, if not three or more patients,” Thompson said. “We fine-tuned our assessment skills and critical thinking. Our dedication and shared perfectionistic traits made our teamwork and patient care smooth and methodical.”
At the preliminary competition site, teams are judged and scored in three categories: a practical scenario, a short written examination, and professionalism.
During the final competition, teams are graded on professionalism, didactic knowledge, and their clinical management as they face realistic scenarios, environments and simulations within a set time limit.
This year’s scenario involved managing three critical patients at the scene of a high school football game. They initially had to manage a seriously injured player with a collapsed lung on the field. Soon after, the coach became ill after having taken too much of his blood pressure medication.
Finally, an argument broke out between the inebriated father and mother of the injured player, resulting in the mother being stabbed.
Competing teams were challenged to respond to all of these individual crises as part of the mock emergency.
"These incredible EMS teams work hard all year to prepare for this event and for their day-to-day duties,” said Tom Mitchell, chief of the N.C. Office of Emergency Medical Services. “Just like in this competition, these paramedics never know what they may face when responding to the needs of North Carolinians. Their extensive training results in improved quality of care for all residents and visitors who may experience illness or injury in an emergency situation."
(Photo: From left, Cape Fear Valley Health Vice President of Operations and Development Brian Pearce, Paramedics Hannah Thompson and Jessica Haines, and Corporate Director Patient Logistics and Mobile Integrated Health Brian Langston at the North Carolina Paramedic Competition State Championships held in Greensboro on May 4. Photo courtesy of Cape Fear Valley Health)
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