Willy became an instant media darling when she flew in to North Carolina from Britain. The Turtle Who Could Fly Media star Willy the sea turtle gets a clean bill of health from NC State. Article by David Hunt urtles don’t run in packs, but journalists do. That may explain the whirlwind of media coverage for the arrival of a young sea turtle named Willy, who jetted into Tthe Raleigh Durham International Airport last Thursday after two years in Britain. Willy shared her flight across the Atlantic with a BBC documentary film crew that is exhaustively chronicling the repatriation of the rare turtle to American soil. Never mind that Willy probably isn’t a U.S. turtle at all, but a seasonal immigrant from Mexico, according to turtle experts. She apparently wandered outside her usual migratory path along the East Coast in 2007 and, carried by currents, ended up in Britain’s Woolabombe Bay. Discovered on a beach, she was taken to the Weymouth Sea Life Park to recuperate from her ordeal. As the American Airlines 767 carrying Willy made its approach to RDU last week, news teams from four local television stations set up their vans outside Cargo Building 3. Two stations prepared to go live so eager viewers could catch their first glimpse of Willy. Bulletin | April 30, 2009 2 Reporters and photographers from several print publications lounged inside the cargo hangar while a group of youngsters stood nearby in excited anticipation, brandishing signs with red hearts and green stars that proclaimed: “Welcome Home, Sea Turtle.” Dr. Craig Harms gives Willy a medical check-up upon her arrival at RDU. Dr. Craig Harms, director of marine health programs at NC State’s College of Veterinary Medicine, arrived on the scene up to the cargo hangar, photographers of media attention from reporters around early, and began preparations to give Willy from various news outlets began to snap the country who are fascinated by the a complete medical check-up as soon as pictures. turtle’s globetrotting. It’s not surprising, she she landed. Harms serves on the clinical “No photos,” barked a security guard, added. staff at the Center for Marine Sciences and as RDU employees herded the overly “Willy is a Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle, the Technology, a 51,000-square-foot facility eager news people outside the building. A smallest and rarest of the seven types in the coastal community of Morehead City photographer from the News & Observer of sea turtles,” she explained. “Only two that NC State operates in partnership with mused, “If they see how we transport our Kemp’s Ridley turtles are known to have the state’s community college system, and animals, then the terrorists win.” survived after washing up in Britain.” he’s an expert on aquatic animals. Thankfully, Harms concluded his In fact, the last time a Kemp’s Ridley Also on hand were volunteers from the examination of Willy quickly, and the survived a transatlantic trip was 20 years Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and security guards threw open the hangar ago. Beasley said she saw that turtle at Rehabilitation Center in Topsail, N.C., gates to the growing throng of Raleigh Sea World shortly after it returned to the who had agreed to care for Willy until media. Jean Beasley, director of the sea United States. she could be released back into the wild turtle rescue center in Topsail, patiently “We’ve just had a pretty rare event,” she on this side of the Atlantic. The Beasley answered a flood of questions while she said. “Plus, if we ever needed something center contracts with NC State’s College and other volunteers posed with Willy, who to distract us from all the gloomy news, it’s of Veterinary Medicine to provide medical sat quietly on a small table. a feel-good story.” care for all its turtles. A week later, Harms and Beasley And, she added, Willy’s return didn’t cost Security was tight, with a chain link gave the Bulletin a progress report on the taxpayers a dime. American Airlines fence separating those who had been Willy. She was in good condition, the arranged a free flight after bumping a dog cleared by the U.S. Customs Service veterinarian said, although a bit stressed off the plane to make room for the famous from those who had not. The group on from the long flight. A blood test showed turtle. Airline officials thanked the dog (and the outside of the fence included the elevated muscle enzymes, but no cause its family) in remarks on Thursday. media. The group on the inside included for concern. Ironically, Willy was physically fit enough everyone else, even the children, who “She seems to be settling in to her new to make the trip more than a year ago. – coincidentally – had been cleared by digs,” Beasley said. “She likes dozing in But the paperwork involved in bringing a customs days earlier for “Take Your Child the sun in her sunny tank. She’s anchored rare animal into the United States is both to Work Day.” herself by the overflow pipe and then complex and time-consuming to process, The media relations staff at RDU every so often paddles over to take a Beasley said. explained the ground rules for the media shower under the hose.” “It involved embassies and a number event: Willy had to go through customs After living on a British diet for two of federal agencies, including homeland and then get her medical checkup. Then, years, Willy is making a quick adjustment security, customs and immigration,” she and only then, would she be ready for the to more tasty fare, including North Carolina said. “There were all kinds of criteria, press. They weren’t kidding. blue crab. treaties and rules to deal with.” When an SUV carrying the turtle drove Beasley said Willy is still generating a lot 3 Bulletin | April 30, 2009 Benefits and Rates to change in State Health Plan Gov. Perdue signs legislation changing the plan and limiting some coverage. C State employees will see Spending Accounts based on elimination of amount the plan would have paid for changes in health insurance the PPO option, according to the NC Flex the generic equivalent, in addition to the Nbenefits and rates for 2009-10 plan administrator. Universities in the UNC generic copayment. and 2010-11. Here is a summary of the System have asked that the decision be Health Initiatives changes from Senate Bill 287, signed into reconsidered. Effective July 1, 2010, you must attest law April 23 by Gov. Bev Perdue. Deductibles, copays and coinsurance that you or your covered dependents do maximums will increase, effective July 1. not use tobacco products. If not, you may Rate Increases See the Benefit Changes Chart for details only opt for the PPO Basic (70/30) plan. • On July 1, there will be an 8.9 percent As of Jan. 1, 2010, routine vision exams Effective July 1, 2011, you must attest premium increase on all coverage tiers. will no longer be covered under the PPO that your weight and height ratios are • On July 1, 2010 there will be another options. Annual enrollment for the NCFlex within an evidence-based determined 8.9 percent premium increase on all Vision Care Plan will be held in October for range. If not, you may only opt for the PPO coverage tiers. a Jan. 1, 2010 effective date. Basic (70/30) plan. Benefit Changes Prescription Drug Coverage The 90/10 Plus plan will no longer be The number of days’ supply for one Insurance Cards offered as of July 1. Currently enrolled copayment will change from 34 days to 30 Because of the shortened time frame, employees will have the choice of days, effective July 1. not all members who make changes will moving to the PPO Basic (70/30) or Prescription drug copays for preferred receive ID cards by July 1. Providers and PPO Standard (80/20) during annual brand (without a generic available), and pharmacies will accept your old ID cards in enrollment, scheduled for May 6-29. To nonpreferred brand will each increase by the meantime. change options, you must complete an $5, effective July 1. Questions? annual enrollment change form, which Beginning July 1, a 25 percent Health benefits or pharmacy questions: will be posted on the benefits homepage coinsurance will be charged for specialty State Health Plan Web site at http://www. by Monday, May 4. If a PPO Plus (90/10) prescription drugs up to $100 for each shpnc.org participant does not submit a completed 30-day supply. If you are currently taking Toll-free customer service for plan form by May 29, he or she and covered a specialty medication, you will receive questions: 888-234-2416 dependents will automatically default to the additional information in the mail. Medco customer services for pharmacy PPO Standard plan (80/20) effective July The preferred brand copay tier (with questions: 800-336-5933 1. Employees who switch or are moved generic available) will be eliminated NC State Benefits Consultants: http:// to the 80/20 plan will no longer have to effective July 1. www.fis.ncsu.edu/hr/benefits/consultant. pay for employee-only coverage, effective Beginning July 1, if a generic equivalent asp July 1. Premium changes for dependents is available and you choose to have the will occur in June payroll with coverage brand name drug or your doctor prescribes effective July 1. “Dispense as Written,” you will be required At this time, no changes will be allowed to pay the difference between the actual in the contribution level of Medical Flexible cost of the brand name drug and the Bulletin | April 30, 2009 4 Cost-Cutting Measures the economic crisis hits home as employees face a furlough and budget cuts.