Frances Weller
Anchor
Wilmington, NC
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Frances Weller is a proud Wilmington native, award-winning journalist, and community advocate. She recently celebrated 40 years at WECT and is a leader of the most trusted news team in Southeastern North Carolina.
She began her journalism career at WECT not long after graduating from UNC-Chapel Hill, joining the news team she grew up watching.
Despite winning countless professional awards as well as the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, North Carolina’s highest civilian award, Fran's greatest joy is her community involvement. Through her two passion projects, Fran’s Fans and Weller’s Wheels, she has kept the elderly cool each summer by gathering fan donations and she has made countless Christmases brighter for local children through her bike collection drive.
She's also the public relations chair for the Willie Stargell Celebrity Invitational, an annual event that raises money for local people living with kidney disease. Her twin sister, Margaret, was married to former Pittsburgh Pirates slugger and Hall of Fame member Willie Stargell who died from kidney failure in 2001.
Fran says she can't imagine life without WECT and has no plans of retiring.
Education
Affiliations
Awards
Updated: Mar. 21, 2023 at 5:56 PM EDT
|By Frances Weller
COMMUNITY CLASSROOM: Teacher wants lounger and wiggler feet for flexible learning for students
Updated: Mar. 14, 2023 at 4:47 PM EDT
|By Frances Weller
She asked for donations to purchase the items through DonorsChoose, an online charity that helps teachers get funding for school projects.
Updated: Mar. 13, 2023 at 5:40 PM EDT
|By Frances Weller
On your mark, get set, go!: Blue Ribbon Run, a colon cancer awareness race, set for March 25
Updated: Mar. 9, 2023 at 5:58 PM EST
|By Frances Weller
COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT: “It’s pure joy”: Coastal BUDS director encourages community to get to know a child with Down Syndrome
Updated: Mar. 7, 2023 at 3:43 PM EST
|By Frances Weller
Cafeteria manager is hoping to purchase a color printer for menus and inspirational quotes with donations through DonorsChoose
Updated: Feb. 28, 2023 at 4:22 PM EST
|By Frances Weller
A special education teacher at Belville Elementary needs help purchasing school supplies for her classrooms
Updated: Feb. 21, 2023 at 5:56 PM EST
|By Frances Weller
COMMUNITY CLASSROOM: Special Education teacher needs help buying supplies for classroom
Updated: Feb. 14, 2023 at 5:51 PM EST
|By Frances Weller
COMMUNITY CLASSROOM: Art teacher needs help purchasing supplies
Updated: Feb. 11, 2023 at 2:19 PM EST
|By Frances Weller
Emeril Lagasse, Rachael Ray headline annual fundraiser to benefit GLOW Academy
Updated: Feb. 9, 2023 at 4:57 PM EST
|By Frances Weller
Community Spotlight shines on Cape Fear Literacy Council
Updated: Feb. 7, 2023 at 4:45 PM EST
|By Frances Weller
COMMUNITY CLASSROOM: Teacher needs help buying sweet rewards for students
Updated: Jan. 31, 2023 at 4:34 PM EST
|By Frances Weller
With her $482 request fully funded, DonorsChoose will purchase the supplies and deliver them to the school.
Updated: Jan. 25, 2023 at 9:12 PM EST
|By Frances Weller
Dr. Philip Brown, a prominent Wilmington physician, was laid off from Novant Health Monday
Updated: Jan. 24, 2023 at 4:32 PM EST
|By Frances Weller
Teacher needs art supplies for students. She's hoping to get donations to purchase the items through DonorsChoose, an online charity that helps teachers get funding for school supplies
Updated: Jan. 17, 2023 at 12:30 PM EST
|By Frances Weller
A teacher at Leland Middle School is hoping to start a hot chocolate station as a reward for students who get good grades and have good behavior
Updated: Jan. 10, 2023 at 12:30 PM EST
|By Frances Weller
Melissa Deal, a teacher at Malpass Corner Elementary is hoping to get donations through DonorsChoose to purchase special seating for her students
Updated: Jan. 6, 2023 at 1:24 PM EST
|By Frances Weller
Trial of man accused of killing beloved school teacher to begin Monday
Updated: Jan. 3, 2023 at 5:51 PM EST
|By Frances Weller
Eric Bradford, a math teacher at New Hanover High School needs $310 to purchase dry-erase markers for his classroom
Updated: Jan. 3, 2023 at 1:45 AM EST
|By Frances Weller
Former NFL kicker, Connor Barth, reacts to Bills' Damar Hamlin collapsing on the field during Bills and Bengals game
Updated: Dec. 26, 2022 at 7:00 AM EST
|By Frances Weller
Top Trials of 2022: A year-end review of top murder convictions in NHCO
Updated: Dec. 16, 2022 at 5:01 PM EST
|By Frances Weller
Bobby Autry was sentenced to over eight years in a Pender County courtroom on Friday.
Updated: Nov. 22, 2022 at 4:54 PM EST
|By Frances Weller
COMMUNITY CLASSROOM: Teacher needs help getting students prepared for Science Olympiad
Updated: Nov. 17, 2022 at 6:29 PM EST
|By Frances Weller and Mara McJilton
Earlier this month, Governor Roy Cooper and NCDHHS Secretary Kody Kinsley convened a roundtable of health, education, and law enforcement professionals to discuss ways to improve efforts already underway to reduce firearm misuse.
Updated: Nov. 17, 2022 at 5:33 PM EST
|By Frances Weller
nCino expands headquarters with new 90,000-square foot modern building
Updated: Nov. 16, 2022 at 6:55 AM EST
|By Frances Weller
Former State Senator Patrick Ballantine writes a children’s book with a powerful message to be kind to one another despite differences and to remember we all have one thing in common
Updated: Nov. 16, 2022 at 12:45 AM EST
|By Frances Weller
Documentary on LGBTQ woman disemboweled 30 years ago to be shown on UNCW campus
Updated: Nov. 15, 2022 at 9:45 AM EST
|By Kassie Simmons and Frances Weller
One of the most well-known athletes from the University of Virginia says he woke up to the tragic news of Sunday night’s shooting and quickly started reaching out to his loved ones.
Updated: Nov. 10, 2022 at 5:54 PM EST
|By Frances Weller
COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT: Non-profit that helps rebuild homes in need of larger one of its own.
Updated: Nov. 8, 2022 at 6:01 PM EST
|By Frances Weller
If Penelope Trammell’s wishes come true, her second grade students will tap into a new class of creativity.
Updated: Oct. 25, 2022 at 4:37 PM EDT
|By Frances Weller
Sheila Rauen is asking for donations to purchase STEM materials for her students through DonorsChoose
Updated: Oct. 13, 2022 at 9:07 AM EDT
|By Frances Weller
Plastic Ocean Projects works to clear the ocean of plastic debris
Updated: Oct. 11, 2022 at 12:31 PM EDT
|By Frances Weller
Sara Todd, a preK-2 teacher at Wilmington School of the Arts would like SEL books for her students
Updated: Oct. 11, 2022 at 8:34 AM EDT
|By Frances Weller
Ana Brown, a Wilmington artist, turns oyster shells into a work of art.
Updated: Oct. 5, 2022 at 9:11 PM EDT
|By Frances Weller
Anthony Brumm, a validated gang member, shares his story about transitioning from a life of violence to one of peace
Updated: Sep. 27, 2022 at 4:42 PM EDT
|By Frances Weller
Stephanie Jacobs, a pre K-2 grade teacher at Williams Township needs donations for a book easel and a new calendar for her classroom
Updated: Sep. 13, 2022 at 4:47 PM EDT
|By Frances Weller
Holly Begley, an English as a Second Language teacher, is hoping to get scholastic magazines and headphones for her students at Shallotte Middle School
Updated: Sep. 9, 2022 at 4:52 PM EDT
|By Frances Weller
O'Neal Varnum, 85, continued an annual tradition this week by doing a backflip into the Lockwood Folly River
Updated: Sep. 8, 2022 at 4:14 PM EDT
|By Frances Weller
Be the One, a volunteer organization, will host suicide prevention gala to benefit Providence Home
Updated: Sep. 2, 2022 at 1:30 PM EDT
|By Frances Weller
Allison Ellis, an art teacher in Hallsboro, needs help purchasing supplies for her students. She's hoping to get donations through Donors Choose
Updated: Sep. 1, 2022 at 1:30 PM EDT
|By Frances Weller
Joan Buck-McGee is hoping to teach her students organizational skills and ways to become more efficient.
Updated: Aug. 31, 2022 at 1:30 PM EDT
|By Frances Weller
Charity Worley, the librarian at Williams Township, is hoping to purchase special folders to help students stay organized
Updated: Aug. 30, 2022 at 1:30 PM EDT
|By Frances Weller
Ms. Victoria Gore of Williams Township would like journals for her students to start the school year. She needs $416 through Donors Choose
Updated: Aug. 29, 2022 at 1:30 PM EDT
|By Frances Weller
Ms. Dippel of West Columbus School would like to purchase math centers and flexible seating for her students.
Updated: Aug. 26, 2022 at 12:37 AM EDT
|By Frances Weller
Local health experts dispelled myths and provided facts about monkeypox during a Facebook live discussion hosted by WECT
Updated: Aug. 24, 2022 at 10:47 AM EDT
|By Frances Weller
The New Hanover County Black Leadership Caucus along with Women Organizing Wilmington and Black Voters Matter will host a March on Washington 59th anniversary rally
Updated: Aug. 24, 2022 at 8:57 AM EDT
|By Frances Weller
Saturday, Aug. 27 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., the Emekas will host a grand re-opening offering samples of several African dishes.
Updated: Aug. 11, 2022 at 1:30 PM EDT
|By Frances Weller
WECT's Community Spotlight this month is on the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina. The non-profit needs to raise $100,000 to fully fund the new facility
Updated: Aug. 4, 2022 at 8:32 PM EDT
|By Frances Weller
60 percent of monkeypox cases in NC are gay, African American men
Updated: Jul. 21, 2022 at 4:39 PM EDT
|By Frances Weller
Cedric Harrison, the director of Port City United, talks for the first time about the February night he was shot in the head
Updated: Jul. 19, 2022 at 2:43 PM EDT
|By Frances Weller
Tony Rivenbark, Executive and Artistic Director for Thalian Hall dies
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