Officials tell NBC-17 News, one person is dead, four others have been injured.

It happened shortly after 9 a.m., Saturday morning near the island's south dock in the parking lot of the NCCAT campus.

"The Ocracoke Volunteer Fire Department and Hyde County EMS were here and promptly responded en masse immediately after the incident", said Jane Hodges, Hyde County interim Emergency Manager.

"There was an immediate response from Hyde County Sheriff’s Department, the National Park Service, NC DOT Ferry Division, Marine Fisheries, and volunteers to handle the crowds and assess the situation. Fortunately, there were three doctors including a medical examiner and volunteer nurses who responded immediately along with the staff of the Ocracoke Health Center and Hyde County EMS."

Officials say they are all from Melrose Pyrotechnics in South Carolina, and they were setting up the Island's fireworks tonight when the explosion happened.

The Hatteras Island ferry was temporarily suspended but is now open and Highway 12 is clear. The south dock on Ocracoke island for the Swan Quarter and Cedar Island ferries remains shut down until the scene is cleared to ensure safety.

Once clearance is received from Homeland Security, the ferry will resume operations to and from Cedar Island and Swan Quarter. The hours will be extended to accommodate all travelers who had reservations and those in the stand-by lanes.

Gwen Myers of Washington, who used to work at WITN, is at Ocracoke this holiday weekend.

"The explosion happened near the ferry docks," Myers said. "It was unreal. There was a huge boom. The explosion peeled the top off the 18-wheeler truck."

Myers said even hours after the explosion you can still smell fireworks in the air. She said it’s believed all those hurt are exployees of the company putting on the fireworks.

Two patients are currently enroute to North Carolina Jaycees Burn Center at UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill.

Two volunteer firemen were transported by Dare Co. EMS to be treated for inhalation and exhaustion.

Representatives from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) Company will be on site this afternoon to evaluate the scene.

Ocracoke's fireworks display was scheduled for 9 p.m. tonight.

Officials hoped to release additional details surrounding the explosion at 5 p.m. press conference

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Many cities held their fireworks displays Friday night instead of on the fourth, including Garner.

Fireworks lit up the night sky with a heavy dose of reds, whites and blues for more than half an hour.

"I like the blue ones," said Kareem Alhertani. "Blue is my favorite color."

It's a spectacle that some 20,000 people came out to Lake Benson Park to see up close -- and that doesn't even count the folks watching from backyard bar-b-ques all over town.

The display capped off what has turned into a major event for Garner.

Hundreds of kids spent the afternoon swarming over a carnival-style play area, while the rest of the crowd sat back and listened to music ranging from classic soul hits by Johnny White and the Elite Band, to patriotic standards by the North Carolina Symphony.

"They come from all over because the communities they live in don't have anything that will rival this," said a proud Mayor Ronnie Williams.

And then of course, there was the food; thousands of picnic blankets covered the grass with all sorts of options.

"Mom and apple pie. You can't beat that," said one woman. "Baked it myself."

"We've seen some hot dogs and chicken over there. We brought sub sandwiches," said Ed Walaski. "If you look around people bring pizza; all kinds of stuff."

The celebration cost Garner about $50,000, but organizers say they're proud of the fact that they can keep it going without ever considering charging folks for it.

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A Garner man wanted in connection with three home invasions is behind bars tonight.

Wake County Sheriff’s Detectives arrested Terrance Sherrod Trice, 28, Thursday evening. 

Around 10 p.m. on the evening of June 12, Trice is accused of breaking into a Knightdale home on Amber Acres Lane, arrest warrants stated.

During the robbery Trice reportedly assaulted and stabbed a female victim inside the residence in the arm. The suspect made away with the victims pocketbook containing about a hundred and fifty dollars. 

Several hours later, the suspect is accused of breaking into a home on Seward Drive where a husband and wife were home at the time. The suspect reportedly knocked the female victim to the floor, grabbing her purse before fleeing the house.

Trice is also accused of breaking into a home on Ballston Place. Once inside, he reportedly grabbed the female’s purse containing a small amount of cash and a cell phone inside it.

The arrest warrant states, the suspect threatened the victim with a knife during the assault, putting the knife to the victim’s throat several times. 

Tonight, Trice is in the Wake County Jail under a $1.2 million dollar bond.

He faces charges of common law robbery, robbery with a dangerous weapon, three counts of first degree burglary, kidnapping, assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill among other charges.

In the 1760's, taxation without representation had colonies questioning authority, including farmers and merchants in Orange County, North Carolina.

Joel Turner with the Orange County Historical Museum explained the issue of taxes led to an uprising called the "War of Regulation."

"Everything was in upheaval, people knew something was going to change, they weren't really sure how."

After the war, six "Regulators" or rebels, were convicted and hanged in Hillsborough.

"At least in North Carolina it was kind of the first little tremor before the revolution," Turner said.

On July 4, 1776 the colonies broke away from the crown by signing the Declaration of Independence. One of North Carolina's three delegates to sign the declaration was from Hillsborough, William Hooper, whose house still stands today.

And in the heart of Hillsborough is the original site of where North Carolina's delegates debated the Constitution of the United States, and helped change it, to how we know it today.

"They sent it back to Philadelphia and said no we're not going to ratify it until you guarantee us certain rights," Turner explained. "It's because of North Carolina because of the delegates that met here in Hillsborough that we have the Bill of Rights, so, it's something you should be proud of."

Hundreds of people hit Jordan Lake Friday afternoon to kick off the Fourth of July holiday weekend. Including Elizabeth Wilkie and her family from Siler City.

"It's $5 to get in, we brought snacks, it's not a whole lot of money to spend," said Wilkie.

Although she said they're enjoying the three-day weekend, they're still remembering the reason for it.

"It's for our independence day as a nation," said Adam Bullard, Wilkie's nephew. "I think it's an important holiday."

For Ashley Wilkie, Elizabeth's husband, the Fourth of July is extra special. He has a friend serving in Iraq.

"You talk about sacrifice, he has three young ones," said Wilkie. "It's his third tour, when I think of the Fourth of July, I think of him."

He said his family will spend the rest of the weekend with friends, going to the pool and watching fireworks. Wilkie said doing that in a free country is something he doesn't take for granted.

"It means a lot that he's over there fighting for us," said Wilkie. "He's doing it so most of us won't have to."

Instead, many will be at the lake or beach the next couple days, celebrating America and what it stands for.

"Why wait another day? Why not ask store owners to be good servants," Melvin Whitley said Friday. "Safe communities are good for business."

On Thursday, Whitley once again went to three convenience stores to buy glass stems that he says addicts can easily use as a crack pipe.

"Sixteen years ago this was my instrument. This was my tool of misery," he said as he held one up. "I think it's wonderful that today ... I'm God's tool of hope."

Whitley pushed lawmakers to regulate the glass tubes for years now. Last week, Governor Bev Perdue signed a law that will force store owners to keep better track of who's buying novelties like glass pens and "rose in a glass."

"They'll find ways and means to get high," Whitley said. "But why make it easier for them?"

Starting Dec. 1, retailers will require buyers of potential paraphernalia to:

• present a photo ID that includes the person's name and current address
• enter his or her name and current address on a record that the retailer keeps on hand to track these items
• sign his or her name, verifying by signature the glass tube or splitter will not be used as drug paraphernalia in violation of the criminal laws of the State of North Carolina.

Bekee Food Store owner Steven Ikecachukwu said the products like the "glass pen" only account for less than two percent of sales in the store, but can be used legitimately.

"If you look at it ... it's a pen. You can use it to write," he said. "It's none of my business to ask them - ‘what are you going to use it for.'"

He thinks regulating the items should start somewhere else.

"If this is a great problem that people abuse some of this, why should the government allow the products even brought into the country," he said. "Most of them are made overseas ... from China."

But Whitley believes controlling problems starts in communities.

"It's like saying the pharmaceutical companies shouldn't be allowed to sell narcotics. It's regulated," he said. "What we're doing now is regulating the sell of an instrument that we already know has a history towards drug addiction."

He hopes store owners will feel the new regulations will mean keeping items like glass tubes on-hand isn't worth the work required.

"Why not send a message: if you want [drug users] to take one step towards recovery, why not use this as a step to say ‘we understand; we're going to help you to do so.' They can take one small step and with this we take a small step."

Read more about the new law.

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According to the police report, 19-year-old John Michael Dean was travelling west on New Bern Ave. at a high rate of speed when he lost control while approaching a curve.

The car collided with a stone wall and "ended in a vertical resting place between two trees", according to the report. Dean was ejected from the vehicle.

The accident report also states that alcohol is suspected in the crash.

Dean has been charged with DWI, careless and reckless driving and provisional DWI.

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The Orange County Sheriff's Office says someone broke into the Abundant Life Church around 6:30 p.m. Wednesday.

According to police, the church, located at 512 US 70, was unlocked at the time of the incident.

The suspects got away with four Sanyo flat screen TV's, a Playstation, a Wii, and games with a combined value of about $1,000.

But "Fun in the Sun" summer camp in Durham says it doesn't have to.

The program is being offered through the non-profit organization Star Foundation.

"Fun in the Sun" is a full day camp designed to accommodate working parents and runs from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

And at just $100 per week, per child, it's a bargain compared to most camps.

Camp organizers say their program includes playtime and exercise outside.

And when the sun's at its peak, the children go inside for arts and crafts and lessons on things like creative writing, and even ecology.

"If the camp was not around, we would have a lot of young kids that couldn't volunteer this summer, we'd have a lot of kids without summer jobs, we'd have kids who would be getting in trouble with gangs and stuff this summer," said camp administrator Joyce Waller.

The camp's in its fourth year and directors say it's about more than just having fun.

The non-profit also tries to teach life lessons to its campers and teenage volunteers, encouraging the older kids to be mentors and role models to the younger ones.

"I actually like when they smile at me and they make me feel good about myself. Making them happy, makes me happy," said teen staffer Janelle Whitley.

"If you take a smaller kid and you show them what you've learned so far, then someone a little older than you show you what they learned, then that's the way to just pass it down," said Ron Williams, another administrator with the camp.

Some days there are more volunteers than campers.

Directors blame the recession for low enrollment.

Even though the camp's running on a shoestring budget, organizers don't have the heart to turn anyone away.

"If you have a child that wants to go to camp, bring the child in, let's make some reasonable payment arrangements and hopefully the people in the community will start sponsoring these children," said Waller.

If you have more than one camp-aged child, it's only $75 for the second child and $50 for a third.

And because the camp is struggling financially this summer it has a couple fundraisers planned this month.

To find out when and where, click here.  

It was the North Carolina National Guard's largest single combat loss since World War II, said Maj. Matthew Handley a North Carolina National Guard spokesman. The deaths bring to 15 the total number of North Carolina National Guard soldiers killed in action since Sept. 11, 2001.

The Department of Defense said an improvised explosive device detonated near their vehicle, killing the four men who were assigned to the 120th Combined Arms Battalion in Wilmington.

Officials identified the men as Sgt. 1st Class Edward C. Kramer, 39, of Wilmington, Sgt. Roger L. Adams Jr., 36, of Jacksonville, Sgt. Juan C. Baldeosingh, 30, of Newport and Spc. Robert L. Bittiker, 39, of Jacksonville.

"The North Carolina National Guard and the people of our state mourn today with the families of these fine soldiers," said North Carolina National Guard commander Maj. Gen. William E. Ingram Jr. "The Guard is a very close-knit organization, and the loss of these brave men will leave a lasting impact on us all."

Three of the soldiers - Baldeosingh, Kramer and Adams - were former Marines. Kramer, a firefighter in Wilmington, was a veteran of Desert Shield and Desert Storm in 1991. He joined the National Guard in 1994 and deployed with the guard to Iraq in 2004.

His family described Kramer in a statement Thursday as "a family man who put his family first and believed in serving his country." He liked ride his motorcycle and fish.

"That's where he was most at peace - out on the beach," said firefighter Michael Bannon.

He started as a firefighter as a volunteer with the Seagate Fire Department before joining the Camp Lejeune Fire Department and finally the City of Wilmington. He recently transferred to the Sunny Point Fire Rescue.

He is survived by his wife Vicki and two daughters, 9-year-old Erica and 7-year-old Megan.

"He loved us very much and he did this for his children so they wouldn't have to," his wife said in the statement.

Adams served more than a decade as a Marine before joining the National Guard in 2006. His family declined to speak to the Associated Press Thursday.

Baldeosingh was a graduate of Holy Trinity Catholic School in Hicksville, N.Y., who subsequently joined the Marine Corps and was stationed at Camp Lejeune. He left the Marines to take a job as sergeant of security at the Carteret General Hospital where he also assisted as a Spanish translator. He joined the National Guard in June 2008.

His family described him as "funny, kind, thoughtful, and a family oriented man who loved to watch his three daughters dance and make arts and crafts with them."

He met his wife, Rebecca Baldeosingh, at Camp Lejeune.

"He is truly an American hero. I am so proud of him for fighting for our country. He did what he wanted to do and that was to be in the military," Rebecca Baldeosingh said in a statement. "I loved him so very much. I will miss him terribly. He will forever be in my heart!"

Bittiker enlisted in the North Carolina Army National Guard in 1990. This was his third combat deployment, having served in Bosnia and Iraq in 2004.

His mother, Mary Wheat, said she talked to her son on Father's Day.

"He said it was quiet around there, but I am not sure he didn't say that so we wouldn't worry," she told The Associated Press on Thursday night.

She said her son liked to fish, cheer for the Washington Redskins and work on an old beat-up truck and Ford Mustang.

"They were pretty rough and unfixable," she said. "But you probably couldn't convince him of that."

Bittiker's family has a history of service. His father served in the Marines and his mother worked for the Department of Defense.

"We all supported the mission there. He knew what he was doing was for a good cause and he believed in what he was doing," Wheat said.

Funeral arrangements for the four Soldiers are incomplete, the National Guard said in statement.

The 120th Combined Arms Battalion is part of North Carolina's 30th Heavy Brigade Combat team, headquartered in Clinton. The 30th consists of 4,000 soldiers, mainly from North Carolina, with additional troops from West Virginia and Colorado. The 30th mobilized at the end of last year and left North Carolina in late April. It is expected to return from the deployment in early 2010.

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