Wrightsville Beach mulls beach smoking ban

The StarNews of Wilmington reports (http://bit.ly/JwPBpq ) that a resident-led petition to ban smoking at the beach was approved by the New Hanover County Board of Elections. That means Wrightsville Beach leaders can either approve the ban or put it up for a vote by the whole town.

The Board of Alderman voted down a similar ban in March, prompting the petition drive. The ordinance would ban smoking in the sand, but not in the entire town.

Steve Mann was smoking a cigarette on Wrightsville Beach on Sunday and said he would consider going somewhere else. But others say the ban could help keep the beaches clean and safe,