Jim Gentry
Digital Content Manager
Wilmington, NC
Jim joined the staff at WECT and Fox Wilmington in 2015 after spending two decades working for newspapers.
He’s been a digital content producer at the station since December 2015 and also took on the role of morning executive producer in January 2018.
He never planned to get into journalism but when he was 21, he took a job as a sports editor at a newspaper in his hometown of Havelock N.C., thinking he could do it until he figured out what he really wanted to do with his life.
After a stints in the sports departments at the Washington (N.C.) Daily News and New Bern Sun Journal, Jim was hired as a sports writer at the Greenville (N.C.) Daily Reflector in 2001.
Jim was the beat writer for the East Carolina football and baseball teams for three years before being promoted to sports editor in 2004. He stayed in that role until January 2015 when his family relocated to Wilmington when his wife, a Port City native, got a job offer that was just too good to pass up.
After a stint working on the Wilmington StarNews sports desk, Jim was hired by WECT to help with the digital platforms.
When not working, he loves spending time with wife and our two kids.
While he doesn’t cover the sports beat anymore, he still gets his sports fix by coaching his son’s various teams.
The North Carolina Court of Appeals determined that David Mark Fields received a fair trial when he was sentenced to life in prison in 2022 in the murder of Scott Whitmeyer.
Crews will burn about 361 acres as part of Orton’s “management plan to improve forest health and restore longleaf pine habitat.”
The couple had been planning the trip to Disney for more than a year.
According to the Columbus County Sheriff’s Office, Marty Davene Soles is facing murder and robbery with a dangerous weapon charges.
According to Whiteville police, officers responded to the 400 block of Britton Street for a report of gunshot victims shortly before 7:30 p.m.
The Elizabethtown Police Department is asking for the public’s help in identifying a person of interest in connection to a recent break-in at a church.
Jevontae Marquez Ellison, 26, was arrested Wednesday by Wilmington police and charged with two counts of assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury.
A developer hopes to build a 276-unit apartment complex along Carolina Beach Road near Codington Elementary.
Kenneth Bernard Wooten, 20, was taken into custody Monday.
Officers with the Wilmington Police Department responded to the 600 block of Steamboat Springs Ave. in the Redpoint neighborhood at approximately 2:45 a.m. in reference to shots fired.
A man attempted to rob a gas station with a knife early Thursday morning, according to the New Hanover County Sheriff’s Office.
According to the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office, Chandler Grey Adkins, 19, and Willie Aaron Fullwood, 18, were arrested on Nov. 27.
According to State Highway Patrol officials, Charles Robert Xiao, 19, died as a result of the wreck, which took place just after 9 p.m. near Exit 389.
The building located at 4716 Carolina Beach Road appeared to suffer heavy damage as a result of the wreck.
Two people were injured in a shooting at Smithfield Packing in Tar Heel early Thursday morning.
A Leland man could serve up to 35 years in prison after being convicted of multiple sex crimes involving children Thursday.
Juan Sanchez Rebolledo pleaded to assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury in the shooting of Manuel DeJesus Silva-Bonilla in November 2017.
The developer wants to build a large housing development on a 51-acre tract of land located near where Market Street and I-140 meet.
The development would be located near the Masonboro Loop Road-Beasley Road intersection between the Magnolia Plantation and Windward Oaks subdivisions.
Authorities say that Amy Lynn Miles, 38, was a passenger in a car driven by Thomas Willoughby Jr., who is accused of leading law enforcement on a chase that resulted in a collision that killed an innocent bystander on Wrightsville Avenue.
The wreck took place at a gas station in the 1000 block of Market Street.
Robert Alexander was the victim of a late night shooting on Oct. 17.
William Matthew Fortney was found guilty of of first-degree murder and robbery with a dangerous weapon, according to District Attorney Jon David.
The Kiwanis Club of Wilmington will hold its largest fundraiser of the year Saturday, Nov. 2, with its 49th Annual Kiwanis Pancake Day.
According to WPD, the shooting took place shortly after 7:30 a.m. in the 900 block of Nutt Street.
Hundreds of participants are expected to take part in the Wilmington Walk to End Alzheimer’s on Nov. 2, in Wrightsville Beach.
The obesity rate among adults has increased by more than 20 percent in North Carolina over the last 30 years, according to a new study.
The Oleander Company, Inc., submitted plans for Metro Park to the City of Wilmington’s planning department Wednesday.
ILM officials say 4,076 passengers responded to the survey.
Heading to Downtown Wilmington for Riverfest this weekend? Here’s some information that might come in handy.
A 79-year-old man told deputies that armed men forced their way into his home and stole cash and guns early Wednesday morning.
Tribute Companies, on behalf of the property owner, Coswald, LLC, has submitted a special-use permit request to the county to allow residential uses within a commercial district for approximately 15.6 acres of land located in the 200 block of Lendire Road, near the 7200 block of Market Street.
Officers responded to a multiple-round ShotSpotter alert in the area of N. Liberty Court just after 9:30 p.m.
Barkym Lamar James, 28, was arrested on Sept. 27 and charged with attempted first-degree murder, first-degree kidnapping, attempted robbery with a dangerous weapon, discharging a weapon into an occupied property causing serious injury and possession of a firearm by a felon.
The New Hanover County Board of Commissioners will hold the first of a series of public hearings on the future of New Hanover Regional Medical Center on Tuesday, Oct. 15.
According to a film permit, filming will take place on Monday, Oct. 7, and Tuesday, Oct. 8, at the the corner of Walnut and Water streets as well as the Galehouse Building located at 411 N. Front Street.
Zibree Brawley Washington, 21, was sentenced to 6 to 8 years in prison after pleading guilty to a charge of voluntary manslaughter.
According to the Bladen County Sheriff’s Office, a truck driven by Anthony Brown was pulled over on Sept. 25, for multiple traffic violations.
A boil water advisory will go in effect Tuesday morning for about 160 Cape Fear Public Utility Authority customers in the Ogden area.
The fire department building, which is located at 120 E Columbus St., was bathed in red light Sunday night.
According to its Facebook page, Bone & Bean BBQ on Carolina Beach Road was the victim of a break-in early Sunday morning but the suspect didn’t get away with much.
Beginning Sept. 30, a portion of River Road will be closed for approximately six months so a large drainage culvert can be replaced and a CFPUA force main sewer line can be relocated.
According to Michele Tatum with the sheriff’s office, deputies responded to Columbus Regional Hospital in reference to a stabbing victim.
The Wilmington Police Department is investigating a string of catalytic converters thefts.
Officials say that 27-year-old Skyler Brister is wanted for first-degree burglary and robbery with a dangerous weapon.
Edward Chamberlain, 30, was arrested by the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office Sunday and charged with first-degree arson and first-degree attempted murder.
The Wilmington Police Department says a man accused of robbing a Wilmington bank has been captured in Tennessee.
Access to Freeman Park will be limited through Labor Day to only those with annual permits and campers with reservations, Carolina Beach officials announced Friday.
Nearly 30 miles of I-40 in Pender and Duplin counties soon will receive improvements.
