Thursday, May 1, 2014

Transcription

1 Inside Taxes Today s issue includes the annual listings of delinquent property taxes. Strawberries Chadbourn s Strawberry Festival kicks off today with its annual pancake supper and runs through the weekend. The parade starts at 2 p.m. Saturday. Sports SCHS wins Three Rivers golf title. Fairmont goes hitless in victory over Stallions. Lady Pack booters take Senior Night victory. See page 1-B. Published since 1890 every Monday and Thursday for the County of Columbus and her people. The News Reporter Thursday, May 1, 2014 Volume 123, Number 90 Whiteville, North Carolina 75 Cents Inside 4-A Nakina student bitten by copperhead. 7-A Part-time Elections employee out of a job until after primary. 8-A Fatal pig disease rages in county. DIDYOB? Did you observe... Buddy Pierce. born in May 1957, celebrating his once in a lifetime 57-year-old birthday Friday night at San Jose restaurant?... The alarms on two cars belonging to Whiteville City Schools administrators and board members sounding Tuesday night while they met for a personnel session? Two boys seen running north on Madison Street may have been the culprits.... County Deaths Whiteville Pearlie James Brown Lake Waccamaw Malcolm Ray Norris Jr. Ella J. Ward Fair Bluff Hazel Cook Lane Tabor City Eunice Mae Hamilton Britney Marie Long Brenda Inez Floyd Acosta Dion Julius Brown Cerro Gordo Betty Rose Smith Ramirez Albert Franklin Lowery Chadbourn Roosevelt Thompson Evergreen William Threeths Kathleen Smith Clarendon Charlie Patterson Index Editorials A Obituaries A Sports... 1-B Crime... 4-A Living... 1-C Staff photos by Allen Turner William Hannah (blue shirt) waits for SBI arson experts to finish a preliminary probe into the death of Eugene T. McQueen, 55, whose body was found in his West Second Street home in Tabor City early Tuesday. At the left, District Attorney Jon David, speaks during a press conference about the fire and the killing of Dion Julius Brown, believed to be the man who set the fire. Murder suspect killed by deputies in Tabor nbody found in burning home identified late Wednesday. By BOB HIGH Staff Writer Early Tuesday, violence for the 12th time in seven months claimed the life of a Tabor City resident. This time, it was two lives. Dion Julius Brown, 22, of Miller Road, Tabor City, was shot and killed by two sheriff s deputies before 2 a.m. during an armed confrontation on West Fourth Street in Tabor City. Thirty minutes later, the body Lake s fire department almost ready By JEFFERSON WEAVER Staff Writer The paperwork is almost complete, the trucks are washed and serviced and the last equipment is on order. Within weeks, Lake Waccamaw s fire department will be back in business. It s been a long road, said Town Manager Darren Currie, and like I ve said before, we can see a light at the end of the tunnel that might not be a train. The fire department was disbanded after a failed inspection, missing records and inoperable equipment. The problems were discovered after Eddy Morgan was dismissed by the town as fire chief, a move that has led to a continuing controversy between the fundraising arm of the department, the Fire and Rescue Auxiliary, and the town. The auxiliary claimed the town had no right to fire Morgan, since their own rules require a public hearing, although the town changed the rules for the department in 2012, making the chief responsible to the town manager. The auxiliary has since claimed ownership of equipment and vehicles owned by the department, and has continued running EMS calls using ambulances and emergency medical equipment while the courts decide who owns the materials. Members of the auxiliary have also accused the town of using the police to intimidate members, hindering EMS workers on calls and going door to door confiscating equipment. A number of radios issued to the fire and rescue members have still not been accounted for. The radios are owned by the county, See Lake fire, page 6-A of Eugene T. McQueen, 55, of Tabor City, was found in a burned home two blocks from where Brown was killed. It was from Mc- Queen s home that Brown was seen fleeing on foot by the sheriff s SWAT unit, and pursued. Mack Norris First since 1990 Brown s death at the hands of law enforcement was the first such Holly Wallace Running to lose nhow a Cerro Gordo woman changed her life and is winning her battle with being overweight. By NICOLE CARTRETTE Staff Writer Last weekend, Holly Wallace was one of thousands of women who hit North Myrtle Beach, S.C. running. The wife and mother of two completed the Divas 5K, a 3.1-mile run, in 32 minutes. For Wallace, it was her personal-best finish since she began running two years ago, something that years ago, she never thought possible. See Wallace, page 9-A incident in Columbus County since Bolton resident Sidney Bowen was killed on Feb. 27, 1990 by Highway Patrol Trooper Al Morris. It was Brown who killed Tabor City resident Malcom Ray Mack Norris, 49, inside the Hill s Food store in nearby Loris, S.C., Sunday about 6:15 a.m. during Brown s armed robbery of the business. Brown had been identified by South Carolina authorities as the man they wanted in the killing of Norris, assistant manager of the Hill s store, who was preparing to open the business Sunday. Warrants for Brown s arrest were obtained Monday in South Carolina. Brown seen running The Columbus County Sheriff s Office was asked Monday afternoon by South Carolina authorities and Tabor City police to assist in Dion Brown the arrest of Brown, determined See Shooting, page 11-A Candidates for DA at odds on pill cases ncurrent DA and his challenger interviewed before next week s GOP primary. By BOB HIGH Staff Writer Current District Attorney Jon David points with pride to the fact that four defendants in prescription medication cases have been convicted of trafficking a conviction that brings an automatic 70 to 84 months in prison. David s challenger in next week s Republican primary, Ryan Smithwick, points out the DA s office misplaces or loses drug detectives felony reports, and needs to do a better job of getting prison terms in pill cases, according to recent interviews with both candidates. Secondly, Smithwick says prosecutors must answer the immediate question, What does this defendant need? The answer will be obvious, either drug treatment or prison, or something in between. If the answer is not obvious, the prosecutor should consult with the drug detectives to get an answer. Communication with law enforcement is vital. Unity of purpose David said his office enjoys a strong working relationship with the Columbus County Sheriff s Drug Unit. Our ability to be effective on this issue depends on a unity of purpose and close cooperation during the investigations and prosecutions. The current DA said Assistant District Attorney Heath Nance has participated in a large number of roundups of drug suspects, and has successfully prosecuted four defendants for trafficking not attempted trafficking in prescription medication. See DAs differ, page 4-A 43 S. Whiteville Village, Whiteville

2 2-A The News Reporter, Thursday, May 1, 2014 Lake Waccamaw programs Lake Waccamaw s State Park, Depot Museum and Rube McCray Memorial Library have coordinated and scheduled several interesting programs for the spring months. The programs are free and the public is encouraged to attend. Following is the May schedule: Alligators of Lake Waccamaw will be the topic of a program on Saturday, May 3 at the Lake Waccamaw Depot Museum. The State Park staff will discuss the alligators of Lake Waccamaw. For more information contact the Depot Museum at (910) Read to Lead will be the topic for a Saturday, May 10 program at 2 p.m. at Rube McCray Memorial Library. Contact the library at (910) for more information. Sea Biscuit Wildlife Shelter will be the topic of a program at Lake Waccamaw State Park on Saturday, May 31 at 1 p.m. Sea Biscuit is a rehabilitator for injured wild birds and representatives from the shelter will be on site with live specimens of some larger birds, including raptors, to show the public. This will be a great opportunity to learn about birds and get information about the shelter. There will also be activities for kids. Pre-registration is required by calling (910) Lake Waccamaw Town Commissioner Martha Lowe was one of the volunteers helping stock books in the Rube McCray Library this week. I just wanted to do my part, she said. The library s important to our town. Lake s library hopes to re-open within weeks By JEFFERSON WEAVER Staff Writer Months after a faulty water heater flooded the building, books are finally going back on the shelves of the Rube McCray Memorial Library at Lake Waccamaw. We re moving right along, Morris Pridgen, the county s head librarian, said Tuesday. Pridgen, library staff and volunteers were restocking the shelves of the library Tuesday, part of a process that s been going on all week. It isn t just a matter of putting books back on the shelves, Pridgen explained. They have to be in order, so when we re open again, patrons can find what they re looking for, he said. It s a tedious process, but we have had some really dedicated people hard at work on this. The library sustained around 50,000 damage when the water heater malfunctioned. While some books and electronics were lost, most of the collection was saved. The entire building, which is owned by the town, had to be stripped and sealed against mold. The books, which are the county s responsibility, had to be evaluated, stored, repaired or discarded. Boxes of books each labeled as to genre or section have been laid out on the now clean and dry library floor, in most cases set out to facilitate easier shelving. In some cases, however, there just isn t room for some boxes, so Pridgen and the ladies hard at work heave the boxes up into their arms, then navigate the narrow passages between stacks of boxes to their destinations. You ll get your exercise, Pridgen laughed. We re all having to remember to lift with our legs, not our backs. It will get to you after a while. Pridgen said that while library patronage has grown in recent years, actual checking out of books has dropped somewhat. We have people come in to use the computers, and we offer access to e-books, since that s what people want nowadays, he said. The library is still a strong part of the community, a necessary part, and we re just learning to adapt like anyone else. I prefer a real book, myself, but we see the attraction in the new things being made available and try to give our patrons what they Library workers don t just throw books back onto the shelves each is carefully checked and kept in order with its neighbors via the old-fashioned, but still efficient, Dewey Decimal System. Columbus County Library Director Morris Pridgen hauls another box of books toward its final destination. want. The community s response to the library flooding was incredible, Pridgen said. From the moment it was discovered, he said, people were calling, texting and ing me, wanting to know how they could help, and how bad it was. People over here at Lake Waccamaw love their library. We get folks knocking on the doors all the time, asking when we re going to reopen. We get stopped in the store, called at the main branch people love their library. It makes you feel good. An exact date for the reopening hasn t been set, Pridgen said, but work crews should start moving furniture back into the building within the next few weeks. County IT crews will be installing new computers this week as well. It s going to be busy around here, Pridgen said, passing a box of books to a worker stocking shelves. She deftly placed the box in a place where she didn t have to bend, and began methodically pulling books out, checking the title and Dewey Decimal number, and putting them in their places. Some towns don t really care about their libraries, Pridgen said, and that s sad. I m glad to say Lake Waccamaw is not one of those places. We re just anxious to throw the doors back open and have people reading books again. GRAND OPENING Shear Delight Salon & Spa 30 Hill Plaza, Whiteville Friday May 2 10am - 1 pm Ribbon Cutting 11am FREE Protein Treatment with purchase of cut & style FREE Conditioner with Blowout 10% off Color Refreshments will be served Cindy Hooks - The Right Choice - The Right Reason Early on in my career in the Clerk s Office, I realized that one day I wanted to be the Clerk of Court. I spent 34 years learning everything I could with the hope that I would one day get the chance to be the Clerk of Superior Court. I don t come from a family with a lot of political power and influence in Columbus County. I realize that those things tend to matter in elections -whether they should or not isn t up to me. I m here to tell you that the single most important thing, in my mind the only important thing, is the candidate s qualifications. I don t have an expensive private school education or a law degree. What I do have is experience, and lots of it. No school can teach you half as well as experience. I worked as a Deputy Clerk in both the civil and criminal divisions. I spent 13 years as an Assistant Clerk, where I was in charge of the criminal division. I was appointed to the Jury Commission to represent the Clerk s Office. I ve handled the judicial responsibilities of the Clerk s Office in vehicle seizure hearings. In the absence of the Judge and the Clerk of Court, I ve heard first appearances on many occasions. And despite beginning my career in the Clerk s Office at a time when everything was hand written, I learned every piece of new technology put in place in the Clerk s Office when I was there. Now I want to be the next Clerk of Superior Court in Columbus County. I ve spent many years working towards this goal. I ask that each of you consider the qualifications of each candidate, and select the only candidate who has ever worked in the Clerk s Office. I believe that makes me the only qualified candidate for this job. Vote Cindy White Hooks for Clerk of Superior Court on May 6th, Don t let 34 years of experience go to waste. Sincerely yours, Cindy White Hooks Paid for by the Committee to Elect Cindy Hooks, Teresa Powell, Treasurer H Loyalty H Integrity H Honesty Elect SHERIFF Lewis HATCHER EXPERIENCE: 38 years Law Enforcement Experience 2 years Clarkton Police Dept. 4 years Bladen County Sheriff s Office 24 Years NC Highway Patrol 1 year Court Supervisor Columbus County Sheriff Office 7 years Chief Deputy Columbus County Sheriff Office According to SBI Statistics for Columbus County over the past four years 13% decrease in overall crime rate 30% decrease in violent crimes 11% decrease in property crimes Average 431 drug related charges per year Sheriff Hatcher s Vision for Columbus County Continue aggressive drug enforcement Continue high visibility of uniformed patrols in communities Seek grants for improved training and equipment Continue to develop community watch through social media, church groups, civic organizations and community meetings Maintain a productive relationship with local, state and federal agencies I thank you for your continued support Sheriff Lewis Hatcher Paid for by the candidate

3 The News Reporter, Thursday, May 1, A Rick Edwards of Affordable Care Inc. presented today 30 laptop computers to Columbus County Sheriff s Office, the Whiteville police and fire departments and the Chadbourn police and fire departments. Standing with Edwards, left, is Columbus County Sheriff Lewis Hatcher, acting Chadbourn Police Chief Robert Mumblow, Whiteville Fire Chief David Yergeau and Chadbourn and Rescue Chief Randy Guiton. Affordable Care Inc. is a dental support organization that provides business support to over 200 affiliated practices in 40 states operating under the Affordable Dentures brand. Founded in 1975, Affordable Dentures is the largest and fastest growing denture services provider in United States. May 1 is Loyalty Day and Law Day By CLARA CARTRETTE News Editor The United States of America was founded by patriots who risked their lives to bring freedom to the nation. The nation s founders are remembered on Loyalty Day, which is a day when people celebrate their freedom while remembering their responsibilities to continue the legacy of liberty. Thursday, May 1, is Loyalty Day, a special day for the reaffirmation of loyalty to the United States and for the recognition of the heritage of American Freedom. Loyalty Day in Columbus County has been recognized by county commissioners, who presented a proclamation to the Ladies Auxiliary of Veterans of Foreign Wars Chapter Veterans placed flags around the courthouse earlier today in observance of Loyalty Day. May 1 is also Law Day in the USA, a special day of celebration by the people of the United States, observed in appreciation of their liberties and the reaffirmation of their loyalty to the US and their rededication to the ideals of equality and justice under law in their relations with each other and with other countries, and for the cultivation of the respect for law is so vital to the democratic way of life. Loyalty Day was first observed in 1921 as Americanization Day to counterbalance Labor Day on May Day (May 1), celebrated in other parts of the world. On May 1, 1930, about 10,000 Veterans of Foreign War members staged a rally at New York s Union Square to promote patriotism. Through a resolution adopted in 1949, May 1 evolved into Loyalty Day. Observances began on April 28, 1950, and climaxed on May 1 when more than five million people across the nation held rallies. In New York City, more than 100,000 people rallied for America. On July 18, 1958, Congress designated May 1 of each year as Loyalty Day to foster loyalty and love of the country. According to the Legal Information Institute, the president is requested to issue a proclamation, calling on United States government officials to display the flag of the United States on all government buildings on Loyalty Day, and inviting the people of the United States to observe Loyalty Day with appropriate ceremonies in schools and other suitable places. Clara Cartrette ext. 226 claracartrette@whiteville.com Double Faced Journey Lockets from 85 For the best steak in town visit... VILLAGE BUFFET & Steakhouse Steakhouse Now Open 5:00-9:30 PM Nightly, Steak Ribs Shrimp Grilled Porkchops and More! Enjoy the same great Daily Lunch Buffet! 10:30-2:30 Mon. - Fri. & 10:30-3:30 Sundays Stackable Charm Bracelets 25 Perfect Mother s Day Gifts CollierÕ s Jewelers View online at Village Buffet 39 South Whiteville Village Jane Smith understands the value of a good education and a good job. Now she wants to put her experience to work as our next State Senator. Jane Smith is running for North Carolina Senate District 13. A 41-year resident of southeastern North Carolina, Smith has dedicated her life and work to improving our community. She s been a teacher, a business owner, and active in economic development. It s just the type of experience we need in the North Carolina Senate. 30 year career as a REALTOR for Robeson and Columbus Counties Teacher in junior high, high school, junior college and Robeson Community College Chair of the Southeastern North Carolina Regional Economic Development Commission VOTE for Jane Smith on May 6th to be YOUR voice in Raleigh Paid for by Jane Smith for NC Senate Committee, Greg Price, Treasurer

4 4A - The News Reporter, Thursday, May 1, 2014 Crime briefs Shoplifting Two women wheeled at least 47 items, valued at 1,029, out of Walmart here on April 29, according to local police. One of the women has been identified. Extradition Marty Devene Soles, 22, of Sandy Place Drive, Tabor City, was arrested April 29 after the arrival in Columbus County of a Arrested Lorenzo/Lurenzo Ray Hardy, 57, of Tom McDuffie Lane, Evergreen, has been arrested on charges of felony larceny and fraud on warrants Soles S.C. governor s warrant. Soles is charged in Horry County with possession and manufacture of prescription pills. Co-defendant Allen Markel Livingston, 28, of Lewis Street, Tabor City, has been arrested on two charges of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, Livingston inflicting serious injuries. He s a co-defendant of Donovan Gore, 27, of Green Sea, S.C., in the wounding of two Tabor City residents on April 16. Jeffrey Antwan Billings, 32, and Davon Jaquest Johnson, 17, were wounded in a flurry of shots apparently intended for a group outside Billings home along Reese Street. Travis Lee Hemingway, Richard Rico Green, Charles Billings, Austin Lee Porter and Paula Porter were not injured during the gunfire. Shell casings from several types of weapons were recovered. Two vehicles were also hit by bullets. Hardy obtained by Sheriff s Detective Scott Norris. Hardy is charged with stealing two chainsaws, other saws, a drill, battery charger and assorted other tools from Walter Roysseau Mason during the period of Feb. 18 and April 19. He s also charged with fraud during March for selling six stolen items to James Maxwell McCormick. Records show Hardy served a prison term in 2005 for felony larceny, and an indictment showing him as a habitual felon was dismissed when he pleaded in Embezzled Todd James Colosimo Jr., 44, of East Webster Street, Whiteville, has been arrested on a Maxton police warrant from 2001 Colosimo charging him with embezzlement of 2,647 from the Maxway store in Maxton. The warrant was obtained on Dec. 13, 2001, and the act took place on Oct. 2 of that year. We re On The Web: Concealed Handgun Class Sat. May 10, 2014 Contact Keith Ward NC State Certified Firearms Instructor Cocaine Curtis Ray Jacobs, 41, of Bussey Road, Hallsboro, was arrested April 28 for possession of cocaine on a warrant obtained by Sheriff s Deputy Michael Manolis. Caught Jasper Floyd IV, 19, of the 200 block of West Nance S t r e e t, Whiteville, was caught shortly after 3 a.m. Wednesday, April 30, during a burglary in the 100 block of West Lewis Street, according to local police. Floyd was seen exiting a white Chevrolet parked in front of the residence, reports Sgt. Andre Jackson. Floyd was charged with breaking and entering, larceny, and theft of a firearm on warrants obtained by Police Detective Scott Moody. Jackson said he arrived at the scene of the burglary at 3:10 a.m., and saw items scattered on the ground, plus the vehicle. Joshua Edward Snyder s home had been entered, and cash, an Xbox game system, games, a laptop and TV, plus a small safe had been stolen, plus a.22-caliber pistol. Two other male suspects are being sought. Some marijuana was also found in the vehicle. Jamie Harrelson, a 14-yearold eighth-grader at Nakina Middle School, spent Tuesday night in Columbus Regional Healthcare after a copperhead Arson An unknown person splashed gasoline inside a storage building, owned by Connelly Builders of Lexington, S.C., located along Copperstone Lane, Whiteville, and the inside of the structure was charred in several locations in a 5:30 p.m. incident on April 28, according to local police. Burglary Benjamin Lamont Blanks of West Walter Street, Whiteville, told police April 26 he was awakened at 2:10 a.m. by a black male beside his bed hitting him. The suspect demanded money, Blanks said. Blanks began to fight back, and the suspect fled. Amanda B. Prince, Attorney at Law Personal Injury Criminal Defense Child Custody & Support Divorce Traffic Tickets Floyd 105 Washington Street Whiteville, NC Staff photo by Allen Turner This scorched hulk of a 2006 Ford police car owned by the Town of Fair Bluff is what s left of the vehicle after it was stolen and intentionally burned early Monday. Fair Bluff police car stolen and burned amandabprincelaw@gmail.com Phone (910) (910) Fax (910) Candidate Norton says that 37 years of Lewis Hatcher s experience of doing nothing warrants his removal. The chief deputy runs the Sheriff s office, while the sheriff is the administrator. According to the court records, there have been 15 lawsuits against the Sheriff s Office, according to the District Attorney. Seven deputies are on leave. Norton has filed an official FBI complaint for investigation at our Charlotte office. This is not associated with, paid for or distributed by the Columbus County Board of Elections. An unknown person stole a Fair Bluff police car shortly after 1 a.m. Monday, April 28, and drove it to the softball field beside the Spring Branch Baptist Church in the edge of South Carolina, and the car was destroyed by fire. The car s engine was not left running, but Fair Bluff Policeman Jordan Hill left the keys in the ignition when he went into the police department s office to get something to eat. There s no convenience store open all night in Fair Bluff. The car was driven away from the police station shortly after Hill went into the city s office building near the N.C. 904 Bridge over the Lumber River. Randy Lovette, owner of the Spring Branch general store along U.S. 76 south of Fair Bluff, said he heard what he believes was a shot while outside his home near the store Snake bites youth at Nakina County Fatalities To this date Total Total snake at school bit him Tuesday morning. The boy was released Wednesday, and told to keep his foot elevated. He stepped on the snake in the edge of the woods beyond the ball field fence, but didn t realize he d been bitten until he went to his classroom about 9 a.m. Harrelson was retrieving baseballs and softballs hit over the fence. He used a softball and a stick to kill the snake. He said he began to feel bad about 10 to 15 minutes later in class, and his foot began to swell. He was treated with anti-venom medication at the hospital, and kept overnight for observation. CONCEALED GUN CLASSES NRA Certified Instructor N.C. State Registered See Ken at The Gun Exchange (Do not call) Sign Up Now Gangs have dominated this county, including other crimes. Things must change. Norton s years of law and order and his campaign offers a future for our youth, inner prevention, protect citizens from danger, and their constitutional rights, and he plans to stop criminals. Paid for by friends to elect Calvin Norton for Sheriff at 1:30 a.m. He heard other sounds he says he now believes were either the car s tires or battery exploding. Then, he heard three more shots. He arrived at where the car was burning in the softball field beside the church at 1:38 a.m. The car was fully engulfed in flames. Lovette said he believes the shots were from exploding ammunition left in the car. Lovette said the fire was started in the front seat area of the car. He could see it was a police car from North Carolina by the license tag. He didn t realize it was from Fair Bluff until Fair Bluff Mayor Billy Hammond arrived within a few minutes. Hammond told Lovette he was looking for the police car. The fire by this time had melted bumpers from the front and rear, and the car was gutted. Hammond and Lovette were soon joined by a Horry County sheriff s deputy, plus a Columbus County sheriff s deputy and Fair Bluff Police Chief Darrell Trivette. The thief was at large as of Thursday morning (today). Lovette commended Hammond for getting out early in the morning, and looking for the car. Not many mayors would have done that, Lovette noted. Police Chief Trivette said it was an unfortunate incident and could have happened to any officer. Break-ins, thefts The following were victims of a recent break-in and/or theft reported on date shown: April 30 Rebecca Suzanne Nobles, Princess Ann Road, Chadbourn break-in, theft of 40-inch Vizio TV, laptop computer, wicker jewelry box with assorted jewelry. April 29 James McArthur Duncan, J.D. Cartrette Road, Chadbourn break-in, theft of Remington Model 1100 shotgun, military-style rifle,.38-caliber revolver,.22-caliber pistol. April 29 Teresa Michelle Troy, Tom Sessions Road, Whiteville break-in, theft of assorted clothing and shoes, table lamp, blue tarp, camping tent, cosmetic case and eight black statues. April 28 Arc of N.C. group home, 400 block of Burkhead Street, Whiteville theft of heat pump. April 28 Loris Nobles Sellers, West Calhoun Street, Whiteville break-in, theft of Dell laptop, 12-pack of Coca- Cola, Galaxy cellphone, necklace and earring set, Nintendo Wii system, pink Apple IPod, Smith & Wesson pistol, Stevens and Remington shotguns. April 27 Mack Edward Freeman, West Nance Street, Whiteville theft of white Jeep Cherokee. April 27 Carol McCauley, West Lewis Street, Whiteville break-in, theft of 40-inch Sharp TV, IBM laptop and portable keyboard. April 27 Jasmarcus Brent Burney Miller, Bladenboro theft of Kawasaki Ninja motorcycle from Tram Road, Whiteville. April 27 Cory Michael McDougal, Mill Pond Road, Whiteville break-in, theft of 40-inch LG TV, Microsoft Xbox system, cash. April 25 Jesse Guy Parrott, 6900 block of N.C. 904 East, Tabor City break-in, theft of Samsung Galaxy 2 computer, Ruger 9mm pistol, Hi-Point 9mm pistol, cash. April 25 Harold David Suplessis, Old Glade Road, Whiteville theft of tiller. April 25 Adrian Lee Emmons, Gaston Sellers Road, Whiteville break-in, theft of 32-inch Samsung TV, Galaxy III and II tablets, Knob tablet. April 25 Joshua Dewayne Cribb, Pear Blossom Lane, Whiteville break-in, theft of Dewalt drill, NAPA battery charger, Greenly volt meter, Stihl Farmboss chainsaw. April 24 Douglas Wayne Hyatt, Soles Road, Whiteville theft of Cixi moped. April 24 Michael Varney, U.S. 701 North, Whiteville break-in, theft of queen-size mattress pillow top, 10-foot folding canopy, lawn spreader. April 24 Joey Brian King, Birdcage Road, Chadbourn break-in of vehicle, theft of Hitachi circular saw, Chicago Electric oscillating power tool, voltage gauge. April 24 Michael Dean Storms, U.S. 701 North, Whiteville break-in, theft of assorted tools, Honda four-wheeler. April 24 Maria Lanehart Hyatt, Smyrna Road, Whiteville break-in, theft of Rossi.38-special revolver, Apple I Pad touch MP3 player, Paris Hilton cologne. April 24 Ferris Lee Calcote II, Whitehall Road, Whiteville break-in, theft of Sony DVD player, Garmin GPS unit, camcorder, Dell laptop computer. April 24 Brentwood Owen Parker, Sidney-Cherry Grove Road, Clarendon breakin, theft of Microsoft Xbox system, six games, Nintendo Wii with three remotes and two games, Xbox accessories, Invicta gold watch, Invicta Black Russian Diver watch, Lenvo and Asus laptop computers, Kindle Fire computer tablet, golf memorabilia and collector coins, assorted gold jewelry, assorted male jewelry, Samsung cell phone, Horry County (S.C) deputy badge, Case law enforcement knife. April 24 Tangy Nicole Brigman, Ashley Danielle Pagan, School Street apartments, Tabor City break-ins, theft of Element TV, 15 gold rings, cash from Pagan; theft of Emerson TV and Microsoft Xbox from Brigman. Dear Fellow Citizens of Columbus County I am Jess Hill and I am running for Clerk of Superior Court. Many of you I have met the last couple of months. Some of you may know me as the son of Jim and Dottie Hill. You may have met when I was working my way through Law School at Dale s Seafood years ago. You may have also met me at my current job as a Magistrate for Columbus County. For those I have not met and I do not know, I promise if I am elected Clerk I will do the best job and work the hardest for the Citizens of Columbus County. I am asking for your vote and consideration in the May Democratic Primary for Clerk of Superior Court. The cornerstone of my campaign of Clerk of Superior Court is commitment. I will be committed to the job. The Clerk of Court is position that is becoming more complex each day. Approximately 1/4 of the counties in North Carolina have Clerk of Courts that are licensed attorneys, Robeson and Brunswick Counties included. I would rely on my NC law license and experience as a Magistrate to make the best and wisest decisions possible. I also want to take advantage of many new ideas and programs that other Clerk of Superior Court s offices are utilizing around the State. Technology is very important and it is here to stay. Our farmers are using it in their fields with GPS on tractors and we should be utilizing it in the Columbus County Clerk of Court s Office. I want Columbus County to be the first in our state to get these new programs and implement these new ideas. It is true that technology can t and should not replace a friendly face. But when technology can be used to help make our Court system more efficient without sacrificing jobs, then we should welcome it. Finally, I want every citizen to feel that when they walk into their Courthouse, they know that this is their Clerk s Office and that I am there to help and serve them. That commitment is already there under the leadership of Sheila S. Pridgen and I would continue it. On a more personal note, I have enjoyed meeting so many people in this campaign. I was honored to speak to a group of Veterans in January. I enjoyed meeting employees at 3 am coming off break at a local company in February. I felt blessed seeing Mrs. Annie Mae Williamson who is 94 years old do her midday show at WVOE in Chadbourn. She has been doing that same show since Finally I enjoyed the lunches at the Columbus County Senior Citizen Centers and meeting those great people. It is these experiences that make me proud to be a Columbus County citizen and proud to call it my home! Therefore on May 6th, I am asking each and every citizen to vote for Jess Hill Clerk of Court. Thank you and God Bless each and everyone of you. Jess Hill ELECT Jess H ill CLERK OF SUPERIOR COURT Experience, Knowledge & Vision for tomorrow Publication costs paid by Committee to Elect Jess Hill Clerk, Matthew S. McLean, Treasurer

5 DA s differ Continued from page 1-A David said Nance makes himself available 24 hours a day to the county s drug agents. I could not be more proud of the team we have established, and the fine work they are doing everyday for the citizens of Columbus County, David points out. Our police/ prosecutor team approach to fighting crime is one of the innovations that I am most proud of, he added. All it takes Smithwick says, All it takes for the community to learn that trafficking in prescription medication will not be tolerated in Columbus County is for a few defendants to be popped for 70 to 84 months in prison. Smithwick says a few defendants sent to prison is defined by enough convictions to see a difference in pills deals on the streets. Detectives are the best gauge of the DA s success. I ve noticed lately in The News Reporter several misdemeanor plea offers in trafficking cases. Unless it s the result of the defendant giving substantial assistance, it s only encouraging that particular defendant to continue the pill dealing, and also others who have not yet been caught, but who are watching, Smithwick added. If the prosecutor is not going to proceed on trafficking in a pill case, he or she should proceed at a minimum on a possession with intent to sell and deliver (PWISD) or attempted trafficking charge. The plea offer for attempted trafficking and PWISD cases should be for an active sentence, the challenger commented. David said the four trafficking convictions sends a message to all pill traffickers that there will be severe consequences to their behavior. David, a resident of Leland, is nearing the end of his first four-year term. Smithwick is a Shallotte attorney challenging David in the Republican primary. The complete interview follows: Why should Columbus County voters choose you in this primary election? David Experience! There are no issues that separate candidates for district attorney. We all want the same things from our criminal justice system fairness, equal justice under the law, and maximum punishment for the worst offenders. The appropriate measure of anyone who wants to be the DA is track record and experience. I have dedicated my entire professional life to becoming the best prosecutor I can be. In this endeavor, I have fought for victims in more than 100 jury trials and handled countless first-degree murder trials in Columbus County. During my time as district attorney, we have never heard the words not guilty in a murder case. My opponent is a criminal defense attorney who has never handled a murder case. The challenges to our justice system are profound, and there is no time for on the job training. Smithwick I will ensure that every prosecutor on my staff is competent and confident to try cases in front of a jury. It takes actual trial experience to look at a new case, after an arrest has been made, and immediately determine what additional evidence will be needed to support prosecution. Right now, the assistant prosecutors need to gain that experience so that they can effectively spot the issues early on with detectives and victims. We will make sure discovery is completed in a timely manner. Once discovery has been Randy Cartrette Jon David Criminal Defense Child Support, Child Custody, Divorce/Settlement, Alimony, Wills, & More The Law Office of Randy CaRtRette 1501 Pinckney St., Whiteville randycartrettelaw.com provided to the defendant and a plea offer has been made, we will demand a trial date if the plea is not accepted in a timely fashion. Second, we must actually put trial-ready cases on the trial calendar and try them. The trial setting is not the time to open the file and realize there is no case, especially if we ve been paying to house the inmate for hundreds of days. By earning quick convictions, we will then have the opportunity to charge the defendant with the status of habitual breaking/entering, should he or she choose to reoffend. This habitual status elevates the punishment to a Class E felony, with a longer period of prison. Third, victims of property crimes will hear from my office on a routine basis. In the current administration, eight or nine months may sometimes pass before the victim may hear from the DA s office. Sometimes, victims end up calling the defense attorneys for a status update on their case. If the defendant has been in jail for that length of the time, we re seeing judges being forced to deny the state s continuance, leading to dismissals. What steps have you taken (or would you take) to reduce the number of break-ins and property thefts? David -- Focused deterrence has been effective in addressing this issue. Crime statistics show that a small number of defendants are responsible for the overwhelming amount of property crime in an area. By targeting repeat offenders we are making great progress, but our work is not done. My office works closely with law enforcement to identify which defendants need their bonds raised and who among them is deserving of the most severe penalties allowed by law. Finally, we realize that a tremendous amount of property crime is driven by a desire to feed a drug habit. Consequently, we try to identify and vigorously prosecute the worst offenders in the drug arena. Smithwick -- I will personally speak with the sheriff and the respective chiefs of police on a regular basis to learn which offenders must be targeted. I personally will follow up with the Detectives working those cases by checking in to make sure the cases are getting the additional attention from my staff. My assistant prosecutors will be instructed to ask the judges to increase the bonds if the offender continues to be arrested on new offenses. Detectives appearing in front of the magistrate with these offenders will be able to say, I ve actually spoken with the district attorney about this case, and we have concerns about this defendant. Again, the elected district attorney must be willing to physically go to Columbus County and speak face-to-face with law enforcement to address these lower-level cases, even knowing that there will not be any media attention. At least two murders pending right now could have been prevented if the defendants had been sufficiently prosecuted the first time around. The recent home invasion/ murder on Shug Norris Road involved a defendant who had just been given probation a month earlier in a case where he was charged with shooting someone 18 times. It s simple, when you shoot someone, you don t get probation. The recent murder in Hallsboro involved at least one suspect who was out on bond for trafficking, fleeing to elude arrest, and even another separate felony assault. The DA s office must prosecute violent crimes in a timely manner to prevent the defendants from harming more citizens while out on bond. What have you done (or would you do) to keep repeat offenders off the streets? Example -- One young man from Chadbourn was arrested four times for property crimes within a few months, and finally his crimes elevated to use of pistol, and now he s facing shooting into a vehicle charge. His bonds on most of the prior felony arrests were very low, and he was out of jail within a few hours. What part can the DA play in raising awareness of magistrates to these type defendants? David -- In every criminal justice system, there is always greater demand than the resources can effectively meet. The challenge for all of us -- law enforcement, magistrates, judges, and prosecutors -- is to identify the highest and best use of our jail space. During my administration, we have been intentional with establishing priorities. Obviously, the best use of our limited jail space is to incarcerate the most violent and dangerous offenders, such as rapists and murderers. Our top priority was to address the tremendous backlog of old murder cases in Columbus County. During this past year, my office put a large number of murder trials in the courtroom and the citizens of this great county found each defendant guilty. We have also aggressively targeted habitual felons and repeat offenders. Many times we are unable to keep property offenders in jail prior to a determination of guilt, however, once a conviction is imposed we have consistently asked the courts for lengthy prison sentences in the State system. Smithwick -- I will personally speak with the sheriff and the respective chiefs of police on a regular basis to learn which offenders must be targeted. I personally will follow up with the detectives working those cases by checking in to make sure the cases are getting the additional attention from my staff. My assistant prosecutors will be instructed to ask the judges to increase the bonds if the offender continues to be arrested on new offenses. Detectives appearing in front of the magistrate with these offenders will be able to say, I ve actually spoken with the district attorney about this case, and we have concerns about this defendant. Again, the elected DA must Ray s PRODUCE & SEAFOOD Fresh Boiled Peanuts Fresh NC Strawberries Quart or Flat Clams Alaskan Snow Crab Legs Lb. 5 Lbs. or more Lb. Fresh Frozen Spots By The Lb. or 25 Lb. Box 65 Fresh Virginia Mullets, Sea Bream, Catfish, White Perch Tilapia Filets 10 Lb. Box 37 Whiting Filets Lb. or 10 Lb. 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The recent murder in Hallsboro involved at least one suspect who was out on bond for trafficking, fleeing to elude arrest, and another separate felony assault. The DA s office must prosecute violent crimes in a timely manner to prevent the defendants from harming more citizens while out on bond. What are the major factors that have the felony justice system moving so slowly in this county? Why are defendants being held in jail up to four years without trial? David -- Under my administration, case efficiency has improved. It s important for citizens to remember that I didn t start out with a clean slate the day after the election and we have been steadily working through a backlog of old cases. We had a jury trial during every session of Superior Court last year with a significant number of those being murder cases. I attribute our success on this issue to the close working relationship that my office has with Resident Superior Court Judge Doug VOTE The News Reporter, Thursday, May 1, A Sasser. In an effort to create a mandate for change, my opponent is speaking in half-truths and sharing only some of the information about the effectiveness of the criminal justice system. He alleges that there is an unusually high backlog of cases in the criminal justice system and things are moving too slowly. His campaign slogan is that two years is too long and that the taxpayers are spending money needlessly as people languish in jail. Well here s the truth: According to statistics maintained by the administrative office of courts, the median age for a felony in the district is 201 days. That s about six months, not two years, it s also faster than the state average of 214 days. Efficiency for misdemeanor and traffic offense in our jurisdiction is now significantly faster than the state average. I attribute this improved efficiency to innovations like the traffic court program. During my administration, we have never had a defendant argue successfully that his right to a speedy trial has been violated. My opponent is pointing to a couple of cases, of the thousands in our system, and trying to create a misleading picture about what is happening. Smithwick -- Apathy. The elected district attorney has allowed defendants to sit in the Columbus County Jail for more than 1,000 days at a time. The current jail list is always available online to the public. Surely the district attorney would keep a running list of priority jail cases to ensure they are prosecuted in a timely manner. If the district attorney maintained regular communication with the sheriff s office, he would be well aware of the age of cases sitting in the jail. The fire sale that has been taking place over the last few months will ultimately lead to more crime by releasing violent offenders back to the street that should be heading to prison. Two years is too long Mike Too Tall WALKER for Sheriff of Columbus County Recently, The News Reporter article confirmed that violent crime and property crime leaped 142% in this area. These are the facts. As sheriff I will hold my staff accountable for proper investigation of crimes to include collection of evidence and finger prints if possible. There will be no more investigations done and reports taken from the front seat of a patrol car, through the window, or over the phone. Proven leadership will make a difference Thank you for your support. Paid for by Walker for Sheriff Committee for victims to wait, four years is absolutely unacceptable. The district attorney has an obligation to be more responsible with our taxpayer dollars. Closing statement David -- A key component of my crime fighting strategy is personal leadership and responsibility of the biggest cases in the office. My proactive approach includes working closely with law enforcement at a homicide scene and later giving the closing argument in the resulting murder trial. When a district attorney leads from the front, it inspires the 35 other employees of the organization to strive for justice in all cases. During my time as district attorney I have spent a considerable amount of time in Columbus County leading from the front. I understand that prosecutors and victim assistants that have local ties to Columbus County take a vested interest in the safety and security of their neighbors. That is why I have hired staff such as Ashley Gore, Heath Nance, Fred Gore, Tammy Gattoni, Liz Claus, Linda Ingraham, Leta Patrick, Rita Cox, Grace Thompson and Kyle Melvin. The culture in our office is one of shared experience and unity of purpose. My track record proves that experience matters. Smithwick -- Over the last eight years I have managed a successful law practice with my partners, Douglas W. Baxley and Kim Baxley Smithwick. As a small business owner, I understand the importance of courtesy and customer service to every member of the public. If elected, my office door will be open for every member of the public. I will also have a set schedule so that the citizens of Columbus County will know in advance what days and times they will be able to personally come and speak with me. Most importantly, I understand the value of the dollar. I understand how wasteful it is spend our local tax dollars warehousing defendants for hundreds of days (at 60 to 80 Continued on page 8A

6 6-A The News Reporter, Thursday, May 1, 2014 Lake fire Continued from page 1-A Photos by Krystal Hawkins Flinging spring Southeastern Community College recently held a Spring Fling for students. Clockwise, from top left: Timothy Fipps tries a few stunts while in a trapeze harness; Meg Sellers makes cotton candy; Haley Tolley tries her luck with virtual surfing Jacob McPherson makes it up a wall; and Ariana Rojaz carefully balances on the surfing simulator. and issued to departments. A judge ordered all radios to be returned to the department until a final decision is reached on who has the right to the equipment. Members of the auxiliary have said that since the radios were in the possession of members at the time the station closed, they planned to keep the units for use on EMS calls. The town s mayor, Daniel Hilburn, recently told county commissioners that the town stands ready to take over and improve EMS service if the county will contract emergency response with the town, rather than the auxiliary. County commissioners have offered no further comment on that discussion since their last meeting. EMS service at the lake has continued under the auxiliary, and mutual aid departments have been supplying fire service to the town and the fire district since December. Lake Waccamaw will soon be ready to answer its own calls, Currie said. We re expecting the additional gear to be shipped by May 12, he said. Everything else has been repaired, serviced or replaced. We re having some backorder problems with radios, but that ll be fixed soon, I think. It s just a matter of having everything in place before we call the fire marshal s office and ask for a re-inspection. We want it right before they get here, so there are no further delays. Currie gave the lion s share of the credit to Jerry Gore, the town s new fire chief. Gore inherited a department with virtually no Eco-Color 5K is Saturday on SCC campus Southeastern Community College will have an Eco-Color 5K Run/Walk Saturday, May 3 at 10 a.m. on campus. There will be no registration fee, but registration is required the morning of the event. The pre-registration deadline has passed. Limited shirts will be available on the day of the event for 5. For more information contact Melody Calli9han at (910) ext remaining volunteers, equipment missing and in disrepair, and lacking much of the paperwork vital for keeping the department open. I don t know that anybody else could have done the job Jerry has done putting this back together, Currie said. He had a tough enough time without the scrutiny and criticism he was facing from some members of the public, but he s come through. The department has around 35 new volunteers, Currie said, including members of the town staff who will be offered an incentive to respond to fire calls. The incentive plan common in many small towns and cities solves much of the problem of having sufficient personnel to respond to fire calls during working hours. All but a handful of the new volunteers live within the town limits, Currie said, and none live outside the fire district. This is a sign of how our community feels about the fire department, Currie said. Lake Waccamaw is a special place, and people care about helping their neighbors. There was a need, and it s being filled. Although the fire department will soon be back up and running calls, Currie said, the fire rating which dropped from a 6 to a 9 won t improve until the new department has established a history. For that reason, homeowners will see drastic increases in insurance rates when they renew during the course of the next year. We re hoping to be able to re-build that history as rapidly as possible, Currie said, but there really isn t anything that can help except training and time. Currie said morale is high among the new fire department members, and the volunteers are anxious to make the station official again. I think we re all ready to get this behind us and get back to helping the town, Currie said. That s what it s all about. Jefferson Weaver ext. 227 jeffweaver@whiteville.com St. Mark music festival is May 3 St. Mark A.M.E. Zion Church will host its annual Missionary Musical program at 3 p.m. this Saturday (May 3) in the church sanctuary. The public is invited to hear vocal soloists and choirs. St. Mark is at 119 W. Virgil St. in Whiteville. Leave Your ALLERGIES in the Dust! Enjoy the Safe, Pain-Free Allergy Solution Cottle Medical Group Ronald Cottle, M.D Exercise and more builds self esteem at Old Dock Editor s Note: This story began in the Thursday, April 24, issue on the front page, and was supposed to end on Page 5-A. However, the rest of the story was inadvertently omitted from last Thursday s paper. Here is the complete story.) By BOB HIGH Staff Writer Brittany White is a firstgrade teacher at Old Dock Elementary and nearing the end of her first year of instructing students. She s had many rewarding moments with her youngsters, but one of the standout moments of this school year came outside the brick building. White organized an afterschool exercise program for young girls in grades three, four and five, and she s led three Tuesday afternoon sessions. Helping young girls to find self confidence is my passion, the 25-year-old Whiteville High School graduate says. I was always shy, and I ve seen a lot of other girls struggle with low self esteem. It was evident among some young women in college, and it s present in some adults, White adds. Change in life It s tough on girls at the middle-school age. There s a change in life going on in most cases, and they need self-confidence, some activities that are positive they can accomplish either alone or with the aid and friendship of other young girls, White explains. The Tuesday afternoons for the Old Dock girls have produced 17 participants. I ve already seen some changes. There were a couple of very shy girls who didn t have a lot of friends, and they ve already made new friends among the ones here on Tuesdays, White relates. White and Amy Stocks, a pre-school assistant at Old Dock who volunteered to help with the program, lead the girls in organized calisthenics after an ice breaker session in White s classroom. One has blossomed The girls will usually talk about certain events or stages in their lives, and they get to hear what others have experienced or how they addressed similar problems. One girl was known to be very quiet, and now she s talkative and more interested in others. She s made good progress in feeling better about herself and handling everyday challenges, White says. There are also some boys at Old Dock, as well as other schools, who could use such a program, but White kept her program to females. Maybe another teacher could start a similar program for boys. There s usually a lot more things for boys to do, such as playing more sports than girls, but I m sure there are boys here who would benefit, White observes. The number of girls in White s first week of organized exercises including running, walking and jogging around the school s ball field and the calisthenics was 14, and this number swelled to 17 by the second week. White hopes the school will organize a field day of various activities for late spring, and she feels the girls in her self-esteem program would fit right in to show their newfound leadership roles in certain activities. Bob High ext. 247 bobhigh@whiteville.com ExclusivE 100% Italian Leather Collection Sofa and Loveseat starting at 1299 starting 4 Piece Set at 1999 FURNITURE DEPOT of Whiteville Mattresses Always On Sale 723 S. Madison St., Whiteville AN UNSTOPPABLE PROMOTION WE NOT ONLY STAND BY, BUT ON. 0% INTEREST FOR 48 MONTHS * Or Up To 1,150 IN TRADE-IN ALLOWANCES An offer as unstoppable as the change of seasons. It s the Trane Unstomppable Spring Promotion, where you can trade-up to Trane, the number one name in reliability. Get 0% interest for 48 months* OR up to 1,150 in trade-in allowances AND package upgrade options like complete home automation with Nexia Home Intelligence and whole-house air filtration with Trane CleanEffects. It happens now through May 31, Call today. 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7 Part-time Elections employee out of a job until after primary ncomplaints of relationship with candidate led to decision By NICOLE CARTRETTE Staff Writer An emergency meeting of the Columbus County Board of Elections last week left one part-time employee without a job temporarily. The public and press were not notified of the meeting which led part-time worker, Alex Hooks, being told he could not work with the elections office until after the May primary. David Lee McPherson, an elections board member, made clear Wednesday when contacted by The News Reporter that the decision to not allow Alex Hooks to continue working with the office through the May Primary was a difficult one. While McPherson was hesitant to discuss the situation, considering it a personnel matter at first, he agreed it was best to make clear what occurred. McPherson said he received complaints about Hooks, the nephew of Clerk of Court Candidate Cindy Hooks, working on computers at various satellite one stops across the county. While the board was aware of the relationship, it was not illegal for him to work with the elections office. There is no law or statute against that, McPherson said, adding that new computer By NICOLE CARTRETTE Staff Writer More than 1,720 Columbus County voters had cast an early ballot in the May 6 Primary Election as of 5 p.m. Wednesday. Early voting began April 24 (Thursday) for the May 6 primary election at one-stop sites across the county. The highest turnout is reported at the lobby of the Board of Elections office in Whiteville where 1,169 had cast ballots as of Wednesday at 5 p.m. Lower than expected turnout at one-stops outside of Whiteville led to a small number of ballots cast at those sites thus far. The Fair Bluff site reported just 44 votes cast and the Bolton site reported just 70 ballots cast. Chadbourn reported 143, East Columbus 139, and Tabor City 114 ballots cast. Columbus County Board of Elections Director Carla Strickland said that the Tabor City site usually has a much higher turnout but she contributes the low early voter turnout at all of the sites to spring break, festivals and other happenings. Absent an unaffiliated or write-in candidate to emerge in the November election a number of local races may be decided in the May 6 primary election. Five Democrats are in the running for Columbus County sheriff. Appointed Sheriff Lewis Hatcher, a long-time employee of the sheriffs office and second in command under former sheriff Chris Batten, faces opposition from four candidates. Mike Too Tall Walker of Whiteville, Larry Williamson of Evergreen, Calvin Norton of Whiteville and former county commissioner David Dutton of Whiteville are looking to unseat Hatcher. A highly contested Columbus County Clerk of Court race between a former clerk, Cindy White Hooks and magistrate, Jess Hill, will be decided in the Democratic primary. Incumbent District Attorney Jon David, a Leland Republican, faces opposition from another Brunswick County Republican, Ryan Smithwick, in the GOP primary. No Democrat has filed for that office which serves Columbus, Brunswick and Bladen counties (District 13). A senate seat (District 13) representing Columbus and Robeson counties is up for programs and many new poll workers meant the elections office needed parttime help in that area. Hooks, a recent law school graduate who is studying for the bar, demonstrated he could do the work necessary, McPherson said. Hooks had no access to information showing how people voted or way of altering the vote, officials say. He was hired because of his expertise, McPherson said. McPherson said Hooks was not fired, but because there was a perception of a conflict of interest, the board decided it was best not to have him working prior to or during the primary. The board met and discussed it, McPherson said. We had an election in process, and with this kind of problem, we had to do something because we believed it would surely be contested depending on the outcome of the election, McPherson said. The last thing I said to him was we are not severing our relationship. This is strictly about the perception that he does have a relative running for office. McPherson said Hooks was told he could work for the office after the primary. McPherson emphasized that with the technology and accountability necessary in elections, there is no way for votes to be altered. Ballots are tracked by bar grabs. Four Robeson County candidates are seeking that seat currently held by Sen. Michael Walters, who is not seeking reelection. Lumberton attorney Marcus Williams, former real estate broker Jane W. Smith, also of Lumberton, former town commissioner David Ayers of St. Pauls and salon owner and restaurant president, Beverly Collins Hall of Shannon, are seeking the senate seat. The winner of the Democrat primary for the District 13 Senate Seat will face Republican Bernard White of Whiteville in the November General election. The U.S. House District 7 seat is also on the ballot in both the Republican and Democrat primaries. Jonathan Barfield, Jr., of Wilmington, a New Hanover County commissioner and owner of Barfield and Associates Realty, is on the ballot. He is being challenged by Princeton town commissioner Walter A. Martin Jr. and owner of Truth Investigations (a private investigation firm). The two are vying for the Democrat nomination. On the GOP ballot for the May 6 Primary in the U.S. House District 7 race is a New Hanover County Commissioner Woody White of Wilmington, former state senator David Rouzer of Benson, and veteran Chris Andrade of Fayetteville. Those who wish to vote are reminded that due to changes in state law, only registered voters may cast a ballot. Sameday registration has been eliminated. Whiteville One-Stop Columbus County Board of Elections, 50 Legion Drive, Whiteville Dates: April 24 to April 26, April 28 to May 2 Hours: 8 a.m. 5 p.m. Special hours: Saturday, May 3: 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Satellite One-stop sites Dates: April 24 to May 2 Monday though Friday Hours: 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. Bolton Bolton Town Hall, 221 9th St. Chadbourn Chadbourn Municipal Annex (old Police Department), 208 E. 1st Ave Fair Bluff Fair Bluff Fire & Rescue, 653 Railroad St. code and there is accountability, McPherson insisted, but ultimately the board was concerned with a possible allegation or complaint of wrongdoing that might arise after the election. Hooks said he was paid 10 per hour and is without a job because of politics. He was sensitive to the suggestion that he would do anything unethical. He said he was played a voic recording from candidate Jess Hill s father, Jim Hill, that was left on David McPherson s phone as the board explained there were issues with the perception of him working for the board. Hook s sister has been a full-time employee with the board for a number of years. In a posting on his aunt s Facebook campaign page, Alex Hooks wrote, in part: For the last several weeks I have been employed as a temporary worker by the Board of Elections. Last night, the Board of Elections was forced to let me go. Apparently, certain members of the Jess Hill campaign felt it necessary to complain repeatedly about my presence at one stop voting sites, Hooks wrote. I was hired as a temporary worker to help with the new computer system (SOSA) to be used for elections record keeping. The program s sole purpose is to keep track of who has and hasn t voted. There is absolutely no way to influence the outcome of an See Elections, page 8-A Early voter turnout at 1,722 Riegelwood East Columbus Senior Center, 696 General Howe Hwy. Tabor City Tabor City Courthouse, 110 W. Fourth St. ELECT Daniel Diehl & Keith Fairfax for all your heating & cooling needs! Call Toll Free / or call locally The News Reporter, Thursday, May 1, A Cooling Heating Electrical May I Save... for the month of May, Kick Off the season with an A/C Tune-Up for only 72 Check out our website for additional savings and coupons! Vote David Dutton for Columbus County Sheriff Vote on or before Tuesday, May 6, 2014 Paid for by the David Dutton for Sheriff Committee

8 8-A The News Reporter, Thursday, May 1, 2014 Fatal pig disease rages in county By RAY WYCHE Staff Writer PEDv porcine epidemic diarrhea, viral a highly contagious disease that is fatal to young pigs, is present in some Columbus County swine operations, according to Phyllis Creech-Greene, local Extension Service livestock agent. PEDv is the subject of intense research as scientists strive to find a cure for the disease that sickens newborn pigs up to a few weeks of age. They re working hard to find a cure, Creech-Greene said of the scientists study of the illness. The few pigs that survive the disease do not put on Elections Continued from page 7-A DAs differ Continued from page 4-A per day per inmate) while they await trial. I understand the DA must dispose of cases more efficiently so that the Department of Correction can house these inmates and the entire state, not our counties, can foot these bills. In order to accomplish this task, we Ray Wyche ext. 229 Belk Charity Sale set for Saturday Belk s Spring Charity Sale on Saturday, May 3, provides an opportunity for customers to support local charities while taking advantage of special discounts of 20 to 70 percent off of purchases made during the four-hour event from 6 to 10 a.m. In return for purchasing a 5 ticket, customers get buys on rarely discounted merchandise and other items throughout the store. Plus, customers receive a 5 credit on Charity Sale purchases completely offsetting the cost of the ticket. Charities get to keep 100 percent of the proceeds from each 5 ticket sold. The first 100 customers in each Belk store on the morning of Charity Sale will receive free Belk gift cards ranging in value from 5 to 100, and a chance to win one of three 1,000 Belk gift cards awarded company-wide. Our biannual Charity Sale is a win-win for Belk and the communities we serve, said Jessica Graham, vice president, communications and community relations at Belk. The upcoming Charity Sale event on May 3 is a great opportunity for our customers to get great bargains on our latest fall fashions and top brands and at the same time benefit their favorite local charities. It s one of many ways that Belk reinforces weight as quickly as pigs that escaped PEDv. The mortality rate for pigs infected with the disease is usually 100 percent of the litter. The older they are the better their chance of survival, Creech-Greene said of the few pigs that survive. U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan of North Carolina is part of a group of six U.S. senators who have asked for funding to discover a way to stop the spread of the disease. Outbreaks of the disease thus far in Columbus County have been limited to pigs being raised in houses, Creech- Greene said, although the disease can attack young pigs being kept outside. election with this program. As I m sure you all know, you fill out your ballot, and it goes into the machine that tallies votes before your very eyes. At what point would I be able to alter or influence a vote even if I wanted to?, Hooks continued. I never touched a ballot - I never touched a machine that touched a ballot. Attempting to influence voters has never even crossed my mind. What I did do yesterday was run a few missing items out to election sites and help set up computers and printers. I also changed out a doorknob in Bolton. And now I find myself out of a job; what offense have I committed? Jim Hill provided a written response to his inquiry about Hooks. On the first day of early voting, a pole worker informed me that Alex Hooks, the nephew of Cindy White Hooks, was working on computers for the Board of Elections at an early voting site, and questioned if this was appropriate. I called a member of the Board of Elections and questioned the appearance of the nephew of candidate Cindy White Hooks working on the computer system for the Board of Elections during this computerized election. I made this inquiry because the Board of Elections staff had stressed on several occasions that the election must appear fair and above reproach in all respects, to maintain the confidence of the voting public in the election process. The Board of Elections met and voted on this matter without my knowledge or personal input. I only found out about the meeting and the status of Alex Hooks after the meeting and need a district attorney that can respectfully establish a strong working relationship with all law enforcement and all courthouse personnel. The DA s office should be the glue that holds the courthouse together, not the wedge that drives it apart. My office Red Cross needs volunteers, donations for storm victims The Red Cross is continuing relief efforts in Beaufort, Chowan, Perquimans and Pasquotank counties to support residents whose homes were damaged or destroyed by tornadoes last week. More than 150 disaster workers have met with dozens of affected families, handed out 162 supplies including clean up kits and tarps, and served more than 3,335 meals and snacks. Donations are used to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from disasters big and small. This includes providing food, shelter, relief supplies, emotional support, recovery planning and other assistance as well as supporting the vehicles, warehouses and people who make that help possible. People can donate by visiting org, calling red cross or texting the word redcross to to make a 10 donation. Many hog growers have posted signs on their property asking people to stay away from areas where hogs are kept in an effort to avoid the disease, she said. I wouldn t go from one hog farm to another in a single day, Creech-Greene said, to avoid the chance of spreading the disease. North Carolina ranks second in the nation in total pork production, accounting for about 14 percent of total U.S. pork output. after the decision was made by the Board of Elections. I did not accuse Alex Hooks of any wrongdoing. It is all about appearances in the election process, and I believe that any other candidate s campaign would have asked the same question. I have been informed by a member of the Board of Elections that Alex Hooks services will resume after this primary is over. All employment decisions are made solely and completely by the Columbus County Board of Elections or its supervisor. I have full faith and confidence in the Board of Elections of Columbus County, Hill concluded. Board of Elections Director Carla Strickland did not return messages for comment on this story as of Wednesday by press deadline. door will be open to every citizen in every corner of all three counties. As an elected official, the district attorney owes it to the citizens to hear their concerns, however large or small. I look forward to serving the citizens of Columbus County. its long-standing commitment to community involvement and charitable giving. Spring Charity Sale tickets are now being sold by participating non-profit organizations, and beginning Friday, tickets may also be purchased at Belk stores. All revenues from in-store ticket purchases are equally divided among participating charities and schools in each local store. In addition, all Charity Sale participants will be entered into a drawing to win one of three 1,000 cash awards (one in each of the three Belk operating divisions) for their school or non-profit organization. The Fall 2013 Belk Charity Sale raised more than 5 million for nearly 8,000 schools and community nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations in Belk markets. Last year, the two Charity Sale events raised a total of more than 10 million for participating charities. For more information about Belk s Spring Charity Sale, contact the local Belk store or visit charitysale. The 5 Charity Sale Ticket discount credit is valid on the first regular, sale or clearance purchase, including cosmetics and fragrances. Purchases of Brighton, Diane Von Furstenberg, My Flat in London, Vitamix, Ugg, and Under Armour are excluded. The discount is not valid on phone orders or belk.com and the limit is one 5 discount per customer. Sign up for News Reporter text alerts breaking news Sign up to get breaking news on phones and other mobile devices via The News Reporter s new text messaging feed. The news staff will send text messages only when consequential local breaking Jobless rate falls in 59 counties The number of North Carolina residents looking for jobs dropped last month in 59 counties. The statewide unemployment rate for March stood at 6.6 percent compared to 8.4 percent in March Columbus County reported an unemployment rate of 8.6 percent for March, compared to 9.1 percent for February and to 10.6 percent for March Figures were released by the state Department of Commerce, which reminded people using the figures that employment figures are subject to seasonal patterns, and the warmer months usually see an increase in the number of jobs available. (Ray Wyche) news occurs. More in-depth information will be posted at Whiteville.com, then in The News Reporter. To get messages, go to Whiteville.com and look for the sign-in area about halfway down the home page and to the right. All that s needed is your phone number and cell phone provider. People can opt-out at any time. The service from The News Reporter is free, but call your provider if you have questions about your texting plan. Why does your Mother deserve a day at the Spa? Send us a letter telling us why your mother is the most deserving to win a spa day with us The winner will be treated to Massage Facial Hairstyle Manicure and Pedicure A second place winner will receive a mini spa day Send letters to Body Beautiful Attn: Mother s Day 125 Harris St. Whiteville NC Be sure to include contact name and number Letters need to be received by Tuesday May 7, 2014 and the winners will be contacted May 9, Body Beautiful Medi-Spa & Salon Whiteville Front Entrance: 108 E. Main St. Back Entrance: 125 Harris St. This is what my campaign has been all about, our community and the future of Columbus County Thank you to all of those who came out to our Family Fun Day on April 29th ELECT Jess H ill CLERK OF SUPERIOR COURT Publication costs paid by Committee to Elect Jess Hill Clerk, Matthew S. McLean, Treasurer Local. News. Now.

9 25 The News Reporter, Thursday, May 1, A Wallace Continued from page 1-A Before and after images of Wallace. Top row, from left: Thomas Jones, Terrie Priest, Stephanie Miller and Staci Ezzell. Second row: Shawn Worthington, Sable Bullock, Rita Capps and Nikki Walker. Third row: Mike Ramsey, Mary Wheatley, Louise Barkley and Joe Floyd. Fourth row: Jodi Council, Jessica Williamson, Geoff Hopkins and Garrett Tolley. Fifth row: Danny McNeill, Butch Pope, Austrin Garcia and Andy Anderson. Votes can still be cast for favorite Dancing with the Vineland stars The inaugural Dancing with the Vineland Stars is Saturday. Although the event is sold out, fans can still support their favorite couples by voting online at until Friday afternoon. The dancing pairs are Louise Barkley and Joe Floyd; Danny McNeill and Sable Bullock; Andy Anderson and Rita Capps; Butch Pope and Staci Ezzell; Geoff Hopkins and Nikki Walker; Thomas Jones and Jodi Council; Garrett Tolley and Jessica Williamson; Terrie Priest and Mike Ramsey; Stephanie Miller and Shawn Worthington; and Mary Wheatley and Austrin Garcia. All funds raised from Dancing with the Vineland Stars will support ongoing maintenance, as well as some necessary capital improvements. I ve been overweight pretty much all of my life, Wallace said. It s been a battle all of my life. At 10 years old I realized I was overweight. She decided after her second child was born and she was at roughly 240 pounds that she would focus more on her health. Wallace started going to a local gym, Bodyshapers, and worked with Cindy Faulk. In time she began training for a 5K. I ran up and down Madison Street, said Wallace, who is an office technician at Liberty Hospice in Whiteville. Wallace said the organized 5K s are thrilling for her. All the excitement and adrenaline really excites me, she said. Wallace eventually dropped about 80 pounds. While she lost a lot, she says she gained so much more. I ve gained confidence, Wallace said. I want to be an inspiration for my friends and family. I love being asked questions about health and that is a big compliment to me. Before, I knew all the rules but now I have started following them. If I can do it I know they can do it. During the last two years, health and fitness have become a passion of mine. I have lost about 80 pounds. I started my journey around 240 lbs and I am now 160 pounds, Wallace said. I have come a long way, but have a long way left to go. She joined the free online weight loss site sparkpeople. com. There she found an encouraging online community of supporters and friends. She started working out six times a week and says she loves the gym now. When I first started training, I ran (mostly walked!) the 3.1 miles in 50 minutes. That was May of last year, Wallace said. She has hopes of completing a half marathon this year. Nicole Cartrette ext. 225 nicolecartrette@whiteville.com Columbus Insurance Agency, LLC Auto Home Life Health Commercial Come see Sammy Jacobs and Alan Roberts for all your insurance needs. Alan Roberts 116 East Main St. Whiteville Wallace said she has a lot of family support. Her parents, Marilyn and Larry Collins of Cheraw, S.C. follow her to virtually every race, as does her husband, Howard Wallace, a Columbus County Cooperative Extension agent. Howard has been so supportive, she said. The couple resides in Cerro Gordo and have two boys: Stephen,6, and Benjamin, 2. In future issues of The News Reporter, learn how seven News Reporter staffers dropped more than 150 lbs in a matter of months. Sammy Jacobs Ask about our doctor visits! DR. MARILYN RODERICK SARAH STEINER, pa-c Jennifer Gartman PA-C Now Accepting New Patients Estamos aceptano pacientes nuevos Same Day Appointments Available Citas disponibles el mismo dia Columbus County Community Health Center 15 Hill Plaza Suite A Whiteville, NC (910) We accept all major insurances including: Medicaid, Medicare, TriCare, Bluecross Board Certified Physicals Sick Care Immunizations Women Services Minor Procedures Preventative Care Lab Services Health Check 25 doctor visits apply to those patients that meet eligibility requirements for our medical assistance programs

10 10-A The News Reporter, Thursday, May 1, 2014 Strawberry Festival President Gayle Williamson and Densil Worthington are all business as they prepare chicken bog plates for sale as part of opening ceremonies for the 82nd N.C. Strawberry Festival Tuesday. Proceeds from the plate sale will go toward heating and cooling system replacement at the Chadbourn Depot Museum. Strawberry Festival underway Good day for a parade Last week, the Farmers Union community held its annual Farmers Union Day celebration. A big part of that celebration is its parade. Clockwise, from top left: Sara McLaurin guides her horse along the parade route; Daquan Carruthers on his fourwheeler; Marissa Six, Alaina Spaulding and Elexis Carruthers on their four-wheeler; sisters Mia and Tia Campbell share smiles and laughs; a flag-bearing youngster smiles at the crowd; and banner-bearers lead the parade. Learn to manage diabetes Rosie Murrell is a specially trained member of the A1C Champions Program and will be leading an educational program on Managing Diabetes: The Next Step at Columbus Regional Healthcare System. The free one-hour educational program will be held on Wednesday, May 8 at 6 p.m. in the Education Center at the hospital. Murrell will share her personal experiences with diabetes and taking insulin to help control her blood sugar. The A1C Champions Program is supported by Sanofi US, which provides a patientled approach to diabetes edu- VA partners with DMV to promote veterans services The North Carolina Division of Veterans Affairs (NCDVA) is collaborating with the N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles and the Motor Vehicle Network (MVN) to build awareness for veterans services. This interagency partnership is an example of how the NCDVA is reaching veterans across North Carolina. The MVN is a closed circuit television network located at 124 driver s license offices statewide that broadcasts messages to DMV patrons. This interagency partnership is a fresh approach to state government and we are excited to be working with DMV to find new ways to communicate with our veterans, said NCDVA Director Ilario Pantano. cation. A1C Champions know first-hand the challenges to managing diabetes and understand the fear and uncertainty about taking insulin. During the program, Murrell will share: Why insulin is not a sign of failure but may help you achieve blood sugar control as part of an overall diabetes treatment plan. The concerns she had about starting insulin. Misperceptions about insulin. If you or someone you know is struggling with diabetes or has an A1C that is 7 percent or above, the A1C Champions can provide motivation to take those first steps to a healthier life. Diabetes patients need to know they are not alone and there are people like Murrell who understand the challenges to controlling blood sugar and starting insulin. For more information call Sonja Green in the Education Center at Columbus Regional Healthcare System If you ne ed extra cash for: Car Rep air Vacation New Cl othing You Nam e It! 608 S. Madison St., Whiteville, NC (910) IT S! E M I GT RINon t forget... P S d and Cardinal Finance Company For those up for a unique challenge, the Strawberry Seed Spitting contest starts at 5 p.m. in the event field. The weekend s festivities wrap up with the N.C. Strawberry Festival Scholarship Pageant starting at 6:30 p.m. at West Columbus High School. Pat s Pet Sitting Service In-home pet care for the Whiteville area In-home pet care for the Whiteville area Patricia Lambert GGififtt CCeerrttifific icat lambertpat54@yahoo.com AAvvaail ateess a ilabblele!! (910) Over 15 years experience! PASS SAU Life is priceless. Insuring it should be affordable. Life is priceless. Insuring it should be affordable. (910) Columbus County Farm Bureau 113 West Smith Street Whiteville, North Carolina An Authorized Agency for NCLFNP41010 Photos by Krystal Hawkins One of North Carolina s oldest agricultural festivals is in full swing in Chadbourn, as the 82nd annual N.C. Strawberry Festival has taken over the town. Chadbour n got its start from the luscious red fruit, along with other truck crops, which were once grown in quantity in the area and shipped out via the railroad. Chadbour n was especially known for its strawberry shipments, and at one time the town was one of if not the largest strawberry shipping points in the country. While the berry has been replaced by other crops, save for a few small producers, the town still celebrates its strawberry heritage every year. Events began Tuesday with the chicken bog fundraiser and opening ceremonies. The Strawberry Jam variety show is tonight (Thursday) at West Columbus High School. The popular Strawberry Encounters dinner and social is Friday night at the home of Tommy and Jean Powell. The carnival opens Friday as well, with rides open all day Friday and Saturday at the Strawberry Field behind Hardee s. Saturday will have a full slate of events for the entire family. Registration for the professional arts and crafts show and food court starts at 7:30 a.m. at the Food Lion parking lot. Both sections open at 9:30 a.m. The Strawberry Quality contest entries will be judged starting at 8 a.m. at Chadbourn Pentecostal Holiness Church, with the auction starting at noon. The Food Products Contest will take entries from 8:30-10 a.m. at the community library on Wilson Street. The popular band concert festival starts at 8 a.m. at West Columbus High School. Entertainment will begin at the event field at noon, with a variety of acts from throughout the area taking part. The show runs through 7 p.m. The N.C. Strawberry Festival Classic Car show will be held at the Food Lion parking lot. Registration is from 8 a.m. until noon, with judging from noon until 2 p.m. Awards will be announced at 4 p.m. Chadbourn Pentecostal will host the Strawberry Luncheon at the Family Life Center starting at 11:30 a.m. The event is by invitation only. The ever-popular Strawberry Festival Parade kicks off at 2 p.m. through downtown. Floats, bands, queens, dignitaries and other floats and participants will fill the streets for this annual tradition. *North Carolina Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Co. *Farm Bureau Insurance of North Carolina, Inc. *Southern Bureau Life Insurance Co.Glenn Ray JeffFarm Jackson *An independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association Agency Manager Revice Butler Agent LUTCF Agent Teddy Tedder Agent THIS ARTWORK CANNOT BE ALTERED, REVISED, RESIZED OR REBUILT BEYOND CHANGING THE AGENT PHOTO OR CONTACT INFO. 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11 The News Reporter, Thursday, May 1, A Shooting Continued from page 1-A bhis past and recent history, to be armed and extremely dangerous. As the SWAT unit approached, the six deputies found the home of McQueen to be on fire, and that s when Brown was seen running from the residence. He was followed by at least two of the deputies, and they ran through a wooded area before reaching Fourth Street. Brown, who shot Norris Sunday seven times, turned and fired his pistol at least eight times at the pursuing deputies. It has been reported Brown fired from inside 10 feet. One of his bullets struck the lower part of the body armor worn by Deputy Justin Hern. The bullet hit on the flap at the belt that provides protection for the upper part of a man s groin. SBI investigating Hern and a second deputy returned fire and Brown fell, mortally wounded. He was hit by several shots. Hern and the second deputy are on administrative leave, with pay, from the Sheriff s Office, while the SBI conducts an investigation into the situation. Sheriff Lewis Hatcher declined to announce the name of the second deputy. Brown, who law authorities in Tabor City believe was involved in the murder of Dion Durham Gore, 27, on Feb. 22 of this year, was a former employee of Hill s store in Loris, and had been rebuffed in his attempts to be rehired. Four in store Brown appeared at the front of the Hill s store Sunday about 6:10 a.m., and used a brick to shatter the glass door, and entered the building. Norris and at least three other employees were inside preparing to open for business at 7 a.m. Brown went to the office area near the front of the store, and demanded Norris and Office Manager Rhonda Bledsoe open the safe. Norris refused, and Brown shot him in a leg. Norris was again told by Brown to open the safe, and Norris again refused. This time Brown shot Norris in the face, and Norris fell to the floor. As Brown swung his pistol in Bledsoe s direction, she grabbed the keys and opened the safe. Norris lunged As the safe was being opened, Norris got up off the floor and lunged toward Brown, and Brown shot him five more times. Norris died on the floor of the store, according to information from a search warrant obtained in Columbus County at 8:10 p.m. Monday. Sheriff s Detective Lt. Jeff Nealey and Detective Brian Wilson of Horry County (S.C.) police obtained the search warrant from Chief Magistrate Sandra Norris. The warrant was to search Brown and his residence in the 5800 block of Miller Road, plus any other person or vehicle found on the curtilage of the property. Brown was described in the search warrant as a black male wearing a black hoodie, black pants with a camouflage backpack and a silver pistol. Video footage Brown, once the safe was opened, grabbed cash and fled the store via the rear door. An Horry County Police dog tracking unit trailed Brown s scent for about 200 yards until it appeared he reached a vehicle. The only exit by vehicle from the area behind Hill s store would be by traveling by the Exxon station on Broad Street. Video surveillance footage from the Exxon station showed a red Ford Explorer moving in the area by cutting through the location of the gas pumps and building at 6:25 a.m. Investigation to get the search warrant also showed Brown was identified by Hill s Loss Prevention Officer Willie Jones. Brown, Jones said, was known to him by his appearance, build, the way he walked, mannerisms and his knowledge of the store layout because he was a former employee. Orange hair tips It was also learned by officers that Brown owned a 2002 Ford Explorer and a 2005 Ford Explorer. The search warrant did not state which Explorer was red. Brown s Facebook page showed photos of Brown with orange tips on the ends of his hair in dreads. The search warrant noted Bledsoe saw an orange string hanging from the side of Brown s head while he was in the store. Horry County Police also learned Brown had a cell phone, provided by his employer (Carolina Home Care) in Whiteville. Police were able to track the phone number to the proximity of Hill s store during the time of the killing of Norris and the robbery. Other agencies Black pants, black shirts and a camouflage facemask were seized at Brown s home Monday night. The SBI was called to investigate the house fire, and his shooting by deputies. Other law agencies involved in Tuesday s action included this state s federal Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agency and the federal Marshal s Service. Loris police found the two remaining store workers in a locked closet. Saved wife Bledsoe was found by Loris police holding Norris body, and would not leave until officers assured her she would have another chance for a goodbye, according to the Tabor-Loris Tribune. I thank God for Mack (Norris). He saved my wife s life, Jimmy Bledsoe told the Tabor newspaper. Norris worked for Hill s in Loris, Tabor City and Whiteville. Dewey Hill, owner of Hill s Food stores, said Norris had worked his way to assistant manager, and was part of a good team at the Loris store. Violent deaths The deaths of Brown and McQueen continue a string of violent deaths tied to the Tabor City area that began late last summer. A Longs, S.C., man was killed on Aug. 25 in a wreck on N.C. 904 near Tabor City. Next, Farrah Faith Prince was stabbed to death by her husband Keith Hewett Jr. in their Spivey Road home. Their bodies were found Sept. 30. The next day, Larry Ray Swinney of Loris was killed when he drove into the rear of a parked trash truck on N.C. 410 in Tabor City. Three days later, Justin Worley of Tabor City was killed in a single-vehicle wreck near Inman Funeral Home there. On Oct. 8, Lee Travis Wright was murdered in a Shug Norris Road home near Tabor City, and on Oct. 24, James Bernard Soles and his stepson Gregory J. McKinnies killed each other in a shooting in Green Acres, southeast of Tabor. On Dec. 10, Rosanna Dixon was killed while walking on Carolina Road, just outside Tabor s limits, and on Dec. 12, Ralph Jorgensen of Tabor City was killed in a wreck near Delco. Richard Jason McPherson died on Feb. 2, 2014 from a gunshot fired in Green Acres, and Dion Gore was killed on Feb. 22. Last Friday, April 25, Brenda Inez Acosta and Britney Long, both of Tabor City, were two of three killed in a wreck south of Whiteville. Then came Norris murder last Sunday, and the events of Tuesday. Bob High ext. 247 bobhigh@whiteville.com WHS 1959 class reunion is May 3 The Whiteville High School Class of 1959 will have its 55th year reunion Saturday, May 3 at the site of the 50th reunion in the yard and barns of David and Jayne Smith, located in the heart of Whiteville on Madison Street. The group will have a 4 to 5 p.m. gathering, a catered dinner at 6 p.m. followed by a class meeting. Dinner, at 12 per person, will include sliced roast beef and gravy, baked chicken, garlic mashed potatoes, layered salad, squash casserole and yeast rolls. Vineland Station Available for wedding receptions & other events Ample rains blessing to forest fire fighters By RAY WYCHE Staff Writer Alzheimer s 5K is this Saturday at Jellystone A 5K run and walk for Alzheimer s will be held Saturday, May 3 at Yogi Bear s Jellystone Park at Daddy Joe s in Tabor City. Registration will be held from 8-8:30 a.m. and the run/walk will begin at 8:30. The cost is 12, which includes a T-shirt. A free Kids Fun Run will begin at 9:30 a.m. Another free event is Daddy Joe s Car Show from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. The public is invited to come out to look and vote for the best in show. Daddy Joe s is located less than half a mile off U.S. 701 near the north entrance into Tabor City. Sweet Glazed & Filled 603 Jefferson St. Whiteville, NC Springtime rains to many Columbus County residents are an inconvenience but to one small group of individuals, muddy feet this time of year are a blessing. Personnel of the N.C. Forest Service rejoice as the slowfalling showers put moisture in the top layer of woodlands, fallen leaves, thereby lessening considerably the danger of a wildfire breaking out on the damp forest floor. It s been a good spring fire season in District 8 of the N. C. Forest Service consisting of Columbus, Bladen, Brunswick, Pender, New Hanover and Duplin counties, with headquarters in Whiteville. District Operations Manager Bryan Council said although the yellow fire plowpulling bulldozers and waterdropping helicopters have been called out, it s been a relatively quiet spring fire season, if you forget the 1,500-acre wildfire that hit the forests of Pender County on April 1. We ve been lucky; we ve had no great big fires, and the good thing is, we haven t had any ground fires. Council said. Ground fires are those in which all visible flames and red- hot coals are wet down or plowed with mineral soils thrown over them, but the fire is still burning underground roots and buried debris. Ground fires play havoc with fire-fighting plans and require, in the absence of rain, extreme measures before being labeled as out. The standard method of handling a ground fire is to cut a ditch around the burning area and fill it with water, either from a natural source or from a newly dug well. The goal is to flood the area of the underground fire. It s a problem to put out and Forest Service personnel dread to hear about a ground fire. The Forest Service pays closer attention to the weather than do most individuals and agencies. Each day is graded as to the likelihood of a wildfire breaking out and the intensity and scope of the possible blaze, along with equipment and manpower available to fight the blaze. In addition to the 17 bulldozers used on the fire line, the district has numerous service vehicles, most equipped with a Add Some Bounce To Your Party! 7 different inflatables including a water slide Bill Gore, Owner Ray Wyche ext. 229 If you like donuts, you ll LOVE our fresh croissants Chocolate Lemon Cream Cheese Apple White Cream Blueberry Bavarian Cream Cinnamon Strawberry water tank and gasoline powered pump. Two fire-retardant dropping helicopters based in Kinston and Lumberton are available for fighting wildfires in inaccessible locations. The helicopters have been active this spring in fighting some blazes. Forestry is a big industry in North Carolina and state s forestry agency has a reputation of being one of the most efficient in the nation. The agency does more than fight wildfires; all types of technical help is available to timberland owners. The service s number one enemy is wildfire. Since record keeping began in 1928, there has been an average of about 4,000 fires burning about 115,000 acres of timberland each year, according to Forest Service records. Most of the wildfires are controlled after burning one to two acres, a tribute to the effectiveness of the Forest Service. Nine of every 10 wildfires in North Carolina are caused by man, usually because of carelessness. 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12 DEATH NOTICE LOUISE BROGDON JORDAN MARSHVILLE -- Louise Brogdon Jordan, 94, passed away Wednesday, April 23, 2014 at her residence in Marshville. Mrs. Jordan was born Sept. 21, 1919 in Dalzell, S.C., the daughter of Robert Joe Brogdon Sr. and Annie Doby Rembert Brogdon. Later her family relocated to Charlotte where she graduated from Central High School. She was preceded in death by her husband, Clyde Jordan; her twin brother, Robert Joe Brogdon Jr.; one sister, Pearl B. Bridges; one half-sister, Rosalie Rembert Edens; two half-brothers, George and Commander Rembert; and one daughter-in-law, Linda Thornton Jordan. Mrs. Jordan loved her family and was loved in return. She and her beloved husband were married 57 years and operated the Nationwide Insurance Agency in Marshville for more than 35 years. They resided on Lake Tillery at Norwood for a number of years before returning to Marshville. They enjoyed traveling. She was a devoted Christian and lived a life that exemplified her faith in Jesus Christ, which prior to her illness included teaching the Ruth Sunday School Class at Faulks Baptist Church. Final rites were held Friday, April 25 at Faulks Baptist Church with Dr. David Richardson officiating. Interment was in Faulks Cemetery. She is survived by one son, Stephen Dennis Jordan of Marshville; two daughters, Patti J. Courtney of Marshville and Janice J. Young and husband, Bob, of Whiteville. She was blessed with seven grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and four greatgreat-grandchildren. Memorials may be made to Faulks Baptist Church, 2234 Faulks Church Road, Marshville, HAZEL COOK LANE FAIR BLUFF -- Hazel Cook Lane, 70, died Tuesday, April 29, 2014 in Columbus Regional Healthcare. She was born April 20, 1944 in Dillon County, S.C., the daughter of the late Allen Cook and Mary Kirby Cook. She was the widow of Grady Cole Lane. She was also preceded in death by one son, Bobby Ray Lane; two brothers, J.C. Cook, Cecil Cook; four sisters, Sadie Mae Porter, Lucille Cook, Dina Cook, Alien Scott; one grandson; and one granddaughter. The family will receive friends from 2-4 p.m. Friday, May 2 at Peacock Funeral Home. Final rites will be conducted at 4 p.m. Friday, May 2 at the funeral home with Rev. Charles Dudley. Burial will be in Currie Lane Cemetery. She is survived by three sons, Grady Cole Lane, Raymond Lane and Tombo Lane, all of Whiteville; two daughters, Bonnie Hill of Chadbourn and Kathleen McMillian of Tabor City; 12 grandchildren; and 16 greatgrandchildren. JOHN O. TOMLINSON BLADENBORO -- John O. Tomlinson, 61, died Friday, April 25, 2014 at Southeastern Regional Medical Center in Lumberton. The funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, May 2 at Bryant Swamp Missionary Baptist Church, 61 Bryant Swamp Road, Bladenboro. Cremation will follow. Viewing will be held Friday, May 2 one hour prior to the service at the church. There will be no viewing after the service. Surviving are his wife, Sandra Tomlinson; sons, Brandon Tomlinson of Winston-Salem and Ajeema Bullock of Raleigh; sisters, Ann Hodges, Portia Tomlinson and Phyllis Tomlinson, all of Raleigh; brothers, Mayso Tomlinson Jr. and Will Tomlinson, both of Raleigh. DEATH NOTICE BETTY ROSE SMITH RAMIREZ CERRO GORDO -- Betty Rose Smith Ramirez, 54, died Monday, April 28, 2014 at her residence. Mrs. Ramirez was born March 29, 1960 in Columbus County. She was a member of Cerro Gordo Baptist Church. Final rites were held Wednesday April 30 at Cerro Gordo Baptist Church with Rev. George Strickland officiating. Burial was in the Hammond Family Cemetery. Meares Funeral Home of Fair Bluff handled the arrangements. Mrs. Ramirez is survived by her husband, Jose M. Ramirez of the home; two daughters, Ashley Ramirez and Kayla Ramirez, both of the home; two sons, Shane Blackwell and Timothy Blackwell, both of Mascot, Tenn.; two sisters, Ginny Nance of Shelby and Crystal Greene of Cerro Gordo; two brothers, Dennis Smith of Fair Bluff and Curtis Smith of Cerro Gordo; and a special friend, Joseph Hill. Memorials may be made to Lower Cape Fear Hospice and LifeCare Center, 206 Warrior Trail, Whiteville, N.C A guest book is available online at MARIE HOBSON DUNN -- Marie Parker Hobson, 91, died Sunday, April 27, 2014 at Lower Cape Fear Hospice & LifeCare Center in Whiteville. She was born Jan. 18, 1923 in Johnston County, the daughter of the late Joseph Elijah Parker and Mary Elizabeth Warren Parker. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Clifford M. Hobson; two sisters, Clydia Edwards and Gertie McLamb; and one brother, Daniel Parker. She was a member of Holly Grove Advent Christian Church in Benson. Final rites will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, May 1 Holly Grove Advent Christian Church with Revs. Mike Bassett and Steve Lawson officiating. Burial will be in Devotional Gardens. Cromartie- Miller & Lee Funeral Home is handling the arrangements. She is survived by one daughter, Kathy H. Thomas of Elizabethtown; one sister, Geneva Tart of Dunn; and one grandson. Flowers are welcome, however, memorial contributions may be made to Lower Cape Fear Hospice & LifeCare Center, 206 Warrior Trail, Whiteville, N.C or to Holly Grove Advent Christian Church, 2050 Holly Grove Road, Benson, N.C MALCOLM RAY MACK NORRIS JR. LAKE WACCAMAW -- Malcolm Ray Mack Norris Jr., 49, died Sunday, April 27, Born in Horry County, S.C., he was the son of the late Malcolm Ray Norris Sr. and Muriel Cribb Norris. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Andy Norris. Final rites were held Wednesday, April 30, in the chapel of Inman Funeral Home, Tabor City. Burial was in Myrtle Green Cemetery, Tabor City. He is survived by his wife, Donna Ward Norris of the home; one son, Matthew Norris of Tabor City; and one daughter, Rachel Norris of Tabor City. Deaths The News Reporter, Thursday, May 1, A DEATH NOTICE PHYLLIS ANN FISHER CONWAY, S.C. -- Phyllis Ann Fisher, 74, died Saturday, April 26, 2014 in the Agape Nursing Center in Conway, S.C. Born in Helena, Ark., she was the daughter of the late Edward and Hester Anderson Hilton. In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her husband, Franklin Delanore Fisher. Final rites were held Wednesday, April 30, 2014 in the chapel of Inman Funeral Home, Tabor City. She is survived by one daughter, Tammy Fisher Cox (Greg) of Tabor City; two sons, Frankie D. Fisher (Lori) of Tabor City, Barry Lee Fisher (Mary) of Dade City, Fla.; one sister, Mary D. Hilton of Mississippi; nine grandchildren, Stephanie Kretzler, Wesley Cox, Ashley Roberts, Amanda Cox, Samantha Leverington, Cory Leverington, Ashton Leverington, Andrew Leverington, Isabella Leverington; and two greatgrandchildren, Daegan Cox and Chevelle Leverington. A guest register is available at inmanfuneralhome. com. SHIRLEY JEAN STRICKLAND GREEN SEA, S.C. -- Shirley Jean Strickland, 59, died Sunday, April 27, 2014 at McLeod Loris Hospital, Loris, S.C. Born in Marion County, she was the daughter of Edna Murrow and the late Johnny Richard Buffkin. She was also preceded in death by one great-granddaughter. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 3 at 4050 Moonshine Trail, Green Sea, S.C. She is survived by three sons, Roy Darin Nealy of Irvine Ky., Brian Nealy and Matthew Bell, both of Green Sea, S.C; two daughters, Tammy Bell of Green Sea, S.C., Lindsey Strickland of Tabor City; two brothers, James Buffkin of Nichols, S.C., Donnie Buffkin of Tabor City; two sisters, Helen Floyd of Nichols, S.C., Judy Powell of Columbia, S.C.; 13 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the family at 4050 Moonshine Trail, Green Sea, S.C., KATHLEEN DOWLESS WILKINS BLADENBORO -- Kathleen Dowless Wilkins, 71, died Monday, April 28, Final rites will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, May 1 at Butters Baptist Church in Bladenboro. Burial will be in Butters Cemetery. She is survived by her husband, Kenneth Wilkins of the home; one son, Kennie Wilkins of Bladenboro; one daughter, Rhonda W. Fields of Lumberton; three brothers, David Williams, Danny Williams and Emery Williams Jr., all of Virginia; seven sisters, Tempie Hays of Prince George, Va., Peggy Turner of Dinwiddie, Va., Connie Chalaire of Texas, Sandy Johnson of Midlothian, Va., Sheila Rodgers of California, Sherry Kidd of Sutherland, Va. and Donna Watson of Virginia; eight grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. CHARLIE PATTERSON CLARENDON -- Charlie Patterson, 69, died Friday, April 25, 2014 at Columbus Regional Healthcare in Whiteville. He was the son of Wade Patterson and Mary Pugh. Final rites will be held at noon Saturday, May 3 in the Westside Funeral Home Chapel, 106 Lewis Street, Tabor City with Bishop Elton Bellamy Sr. officiating. Interment will be in the Columbus County Singing Union Cemetery. Viewing will be held from 5-7 p.m. Friday, May 2 at the funeral home. He is survived by one son, Heshun Love; and two brothers, John Patterson and Tom Bethea. JOCEPHUS BROOKS BLADENBORO -- Jocephus Brooks, 66, died Sunday, April 27, 2014 at Southeastern Regional Medical Center in Lumberton. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army. The funeral will be hel dat 2 p.m. Saturday, May 3 at Center Missionary Baptist Church, N.C. Hwy. 410 South in Bladenboro. Burial, with military honors, will be in Kelly Cemetery. Viewing will be held from noon-7 p.m. Friday, May 2 at Peoples Funeral Home of Whiteville and Saturday one hour prior to and following the service at the church. Surviving are his wife, Selma Brooks; four daughters, Tonya Hill of Matthews, Tamara Thomas of Charlotte, Theresa Brooks of Durham and Tiffany Brooks of Lumberton; one son, Joey Brooks of Bladenboro; and one sister, Perenda Goss of Whiteville. ROOSEVELT THOMPSON CHADBOURN -- Roosevelt Thompson, 85, died Friday, April 25, 2014 at Kindred Hospital in Greensboro. The funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, May 1 at the Brunswick-Waccamaw Baptist Headquarters, 600 Pinelog Road, Whiteville. Burial will be in Belvue Cemetery. Viewing will be held Thursday following the service at the headquarters. Peoples Funeral Home in Whiteville is handling the arrangements. Surviving are one daughter, Roberta Turner of Fayetteville; and five sons, Roosevelt Thompson Jr. of Mesa, Ariz., Ronell Thompson and Randolph Thompson, both of Chadbourn, Rudolph Thompson of Whiteville and Reginald Thompson of Lumberton. Friends may visit the family at 187 Bullard Road, Chadbourn. EUNICE MAE HAMILTON TABOR CITY -- Eunice Mae Hamilton, 85, died Tuesday, April 29, 2014 at Agape Rehabilitation in Conway, S.C. The funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 3 at First Baptist Missionary Church, 304 West Sixth Street, Tabor City. Burial will be in the Columbus County Singing Union Cemetery. Viewing will be held from noon-7 p.m. Friday, May 2 at Peoples Funeral Home of Whiteville and Saturday, May 3 one hour prior to and following the service at the church. Surviving are two daughters, Carrie McKoy of Whiteville and Barbara McKeithan of Tabor City; three sons, Leroy Hamilton of Fort Worth, Texas, Jimmy Hamilton and Earnest Hamilton of Long Beach, N.Y.; and sister, Beulah Stevens of Gainesville, Fla. Friends may visit the family at 158 Floyd Street, Whiteville. ALBERT FRANKLIN LOWERY CERRO GORDO -- Albert Franklin Lowery, 63, died Wednesday, April 30, 2014 at New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington. He was the son of the late Winfred Cox and Jennifer Lee Quick. Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by Worthington Funeral Home in Chadbourn. He is survived by his wife, Earnestina Jacobs Lowery of the home; seven daughters, Jennifer Martin of York, S.C., Elizabeth Lowery of Elizabethtown, Angie Cindy Kay Hunt of Pembroke, Belinda Mauney of Rowland, Tina Louise Smith and Wendy Jovan Williams, both of Cerro Gordo, Ellen Katherine Lawson of Cliffside; six sons, James Franklin Lowery of Lumberton, Gregory Locklear and Walter Edmund Berry, both of Cerro Gordo, Earl Oxendine Jr. of Evergreen, Kenny Oxendine of Whiteville, Jonathan Berry of Red Springs; three sisters, Pearline Carter of Bolton, Mary Caulder of Evergreen, Bernice Faye Quick of Rowland; 43 grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren. BRITNEY MARIE LONG TABOR CITY -- Britney Marie Long, 8, died Friday, April 25, 2014 in an automobile accident. Born in Columbus County, she was the daughter of Jonathon Elgin Long and Savannah Robledo, both of Tabor City. She was preceded in death by her grandfathers, John Vernon Long and Elgin Norris. Final rites will be held at 3 p.m. Thursday, May 1 in the chapel of Inman Funeral Home, Tabor City. Burial will be in Myrtle Green Cemetery. In addition to her parents, she is survived by two brothers, Jonathon Jayden Long and Jonathon Jace Long, both of Tabor City; one sister, Amari Ski Brown of Tabor City; grandparents, Maurice and Elsa Spivey and Junnie Floyd, all of Tabor City; and greatgrandmothers, Alice Norris and Brenda Snell, both of Tabor City. PEARLIE JAMES P.J. BROWN WHITEVILLE -- Pearlie James P.J. Brown, 78, died Friday, April 25, 2014 in an automobile accident. Final rites will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 3 in the Whiteville High School Auditorium with Bishop Tony Butler officiating. Burial will be in Mt. Moriah Church Cemetery. Viewing will be held from noon-7 p.m. Friday, May 2 at Smith Funeral Home and Saturday, May 3 one hour prior to the service at the high school. He is survived by his wife, Larcene Brown; his children, Wanda Pollard, Teresa Ashley, P. Jerome Brown and Anthony Brown, all of Jersey City, N.J., Annie Royster of Temple Hill, Md., Larry D. Williams and Gregory Williams, both of Trenton, N.J., Tony M. Rhodes of Jacksonville, Dennis Rhodes of Reading, N.J., Kimberly Williams of Evergreen, Katrina Adams of Charlotte; one sister, Laurine Johnson of Whiteville; and several grandchildren. DION JULIUS BROWN TABOR CITY -- Dion Julius Brown, 22, of the Dothan community, died Tuesday, April 29, He was the son of Cynthia Brown and Michael Williams. Viewing will be held from 6-8 p.m. Thursday, May 1 at Westside Funeral Home, 106 Lewis Street, Tabor City. Final rites will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, May 2 at Deliverance Prayer Temple, 1795 Hwy. 9 East, Loris, S.C. with Rev. Darryl E. Hardy Sr. officiating. Interment will be in Bristol Creek Cemetery, Dothan. He is survived by, in addition to his mother and father, three brothers, Joshua Brown, Jaylon Smith and Kyrie Smith; and two grandmothers, Joelene Brown and Dorothy Williams. ELLA J. WARD LAKE WACCAMAW -- Ella J. Ward, 86, died Friday, April 25, 2014 at Lower Cape Fear Hospice and LifeCare Center in Whiteville. Final rites were held Wednesday, April 30 at Saint John Missionary Baptist Church #3, 484 Money Hole Road, Bolton. Burial was in Cutler Cemetery. Peoples Funeral Home in Whiteville handled the arrangements. Surviving are two daughters, Terry Cockerham of Chapel Hill and Sharon Ward Castillo of Lake Waccamaw; and one son, Brandon Williams of Lake Waccamaw. BRENDA INEZ FLOYD ACOSTA TABOR CITY -- Brenda Inez Floyd Acosta, 13, died Friday, April 25, 2014 in an automobile accident. Born in Columbus County, she was the daughter of Jeannie Floyd. Final rites will be held at 3 p.m. Thursday, May 1 in the chapel of Inman Funeral Home, Tabor City. Burial will be in Myrtle Green Cemetery. In addition to her parents, she is survived by three brothers, Dakota Floyd, Jose Rodriguez and Tomas Acosta, all of Tabor City; two sisters, Savannah Robledo and Ana Acosta, both of Tabor City; grandparents, Brenda Snell of Tabor City and Foy Floyd of Fairmont; and great-grandmother, Pauline Watts of Tabor City. WILLIAM THREETHS EVERGREEN -- William Threeths, 82, died Friday, April 25, 2014 at his residence. Viewing was held Wednesday, April 30 at Peoples Funeral Home of Whiteville. Cremation followed. Surviving are one daughter, Sarah Stephens of Whiteville; stepdaughters, Betty Gray and Christine Warren, both of Buffalo, N.Y., Lacrechia Stephens of Chadbourn, Darlene Stephens of Evergreen and Vivian Ward of Whiteville; stepsons, Lawrence Stephens and Norman Stephens, both of Evergreen, James Stephens, John Stephens and Larry Stephens, all of Buffalo, N.Y.; five sisters; and five brothers. KATHLEEN SMITH EVERGREEN -- Kathleen Smith, 64, died Monday, April 28, 2014 at Columbus Regional Healthcare in Whiteville. She was the daughter of Claude and Willie Wright. Final rites will be held at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, May 3 at Horace Grove Missionary Baptist Church, Old Hwy. 74, Boardman with Pastor James E. Dockery Jr. officiating. Interment will be in Evergreen Community Cemetery. Viewing will be held from 6-8 p.m. Friday, May 2 at the church. Westside Funeral Home of Tabor City is handling the arrangements. She is survived by three sons, Jason Gainey, Terry Smith and Darvin Smith. BRIAN STUART WARD TAR HEEL -- Brian Stuart Ward, 39, died Tuesday, April 29, Final rites will be held at 4 p.m. Thursday, May 1 at Bladen-Gaskins Funeral Home in Elizabethtown with Rev. Thomas Tedder officiating. Burial will be in Ward Burney Cemetery in Tar Heel. He is survived by his parents, Donald and Jeanette Ward of the home; one daughter, Summer Rose; one brother, Jimmy Mack Ward; and one sister, Patty Hankins. East Side BLM to hold appreciation program May 4 East Side Bible Light Ministry will hold an appreciation program at 11 a.m. for the Mother of the church Hazel Griffin Thomas celebrating her 75th birthday. The guest preacher will be Rev. Paul Stevenson of Little Iron Hill of Tabor City. The church is located at 1599 E. Fifth Street. Antonio and Diana Garcia are the pastors. Card of Thanks The family of Roberta Bert Smith Godwin wishes to express its appreciation of the genuine outpouring of love and compassion to her and family during her recent fall and eventual trip to be with God and her loved ones. There aren t enough words to thank hundreds of everyday friends for their condolences, support and generous gifts of food and love, and expressions of heartfelt sadness and offers of support. There are many people who helped make her final days full of joy and happiness, and they know who they are. We again say thank you for your prayers. She s in a better place, and many lives are better because she lived among us. The Family of Roberta Bert Smith Godwin Visit Whiteville.com for the latest news and updates.

13 City schools ask for 317,000 more from commissioners for By FULLER ROYAL Staff Writer During its April 14 meeting, the Whiteville City Schools Board of Education approved a request for a 10 percent increase in local funding from the Columbus County commissioners for its current expense budget. The proposed amount of 2,111,320 is 191,938 more than the current year s budget of 1,919,382. Combined with other funding sources, the city system is planning for a local current expense budget of 2,498,736. The other sources are fines and forfeitures, 50,000; JROTC revenue, 62,580; indirect cost allocated, 44,000; and fund balance appropriated, 230,836. Local current expenses for the upcoming school year include 230,106 to be turned over to the area charter schools that have Whiteville-based students enrolled. That s a 27.8 percent increase over the previous year and is based on an estimated 268 Whiteville City Schools students enrolled next year in Columbus Charter School, Charter Day School (Leland) and Flemington Academy (Lake Waccamaw). The city system will forward in local current expense funds for each student in the charter schools. The new budget also calls 262,156 to fund teaching positions. That s a 19.8 percent By FULLER ROYAL Staff Writer The Whiteville City Schools Board of Education met in closed session Tuesday night for several hours to evaluate school employees for employment next year and beyond. At Central Services, Annie Newkirk Joson, the chief financial officer, was given a one-year contract. Beth McQueen was given a four-year contract. Four of the five school principals David Bobbitt at Whiteville Primary School, Chris Burton at Central Middle School, Jes Sealey at Whiteville High School and Susan Smith at North Whiteville Academy were given contracts through June 30, At Whiteville Primary School, probationary teachers Michele Briley, Sarai Cannon, Melanie Capps, Mallory Collins, Brooke Fullwood, Elisha Garrell, Matt Gore, Karen Harewood, Ryan Herring, Kaylee Hill, Katherine Scott, Tanya Strickland and Anna Ward were given one-year contracts for the school This chart shows the projected students (average daily membership) per grade in the Whiteville City Schools fo school year Grades one, two and three are shaded because state law requires that no more than 20 students be in each class in those grades. To meet the requirement for the projected number second grade students (196), the city schools either must add two teaching positons or transfer two teachers from the fourth and/or fifth grades grades which do not have a state-mandated caps on classroom size. increase over the current year and would pay for one more teacher for a total of 6.1 teaching positions paid by county funds. Other line items include: 212,399 for non-certified personnel; 168,924 for athletics and extra-curricular; 166,393 for the board of education; 106,263 for central office administration; 77,586 for JROTC teachers and 930,780 for operations and maintenance. Capital Outlay The city schools board is asking for 253,428 in capital outlay funding from the county commissioners a more than double increase over the year. School nurse Clarissa McPherson was also given a one-year contract. Media specialist Jean Lee was given a four-year contract. At Edgewood Elementary School, school nurse Lauren Ward was given a one-year contract. One-year contracts, for the school year, were given to Todd Burney, Shelly Byrd, Jessica McPherson, Tonya Nobles, Ashley Ward and Melissa Williamson. At Central Middle School, John Blake and Michael Thompson were given fouryear contracts. One-year contracts for the upcoming school year were given to school nurse Carolyn Wilson, school counselors Lou Conner and Patricia Shepherd, and to lateral entry teachers Ashley Buro and Kathleen Diehl and to probationary teachers Keonte Edmonds, Wendy Fowler, Fielding Hammond, Priscilla Lance and Patrick Martin. At Whiteville High School, one-year contracts for the upcoming school year were given current year s 128,428. The total capital outlay budget is 1,268,438 and includes revenue of 120,000 from the N.C. Education Lottery, 428,551 in sales tax revenue and 466,459 from its fund balance. Projected expenses include 223,600 for athletic field and facilities; 74,000 for carpeting and flooring, 59,250 for painting; 42,000 for parking lot repairs; 345,000 for roof repairs; 150,000 for window replacements and 184,250 for miscellaneous repairs and renovations. There is no funding for new vehicles such as activity buses. City schools act on personnel to dean of students Rashad George, school nurse JoAnne Biser and to probationary teachers John Bridgers, Belinda Collins, Sarah Cox, Will Dorn, Karina Facer, Drew Frink, Malette Godwin, Libby Hampton, Lori Hinson, Krystal Kelly, Karl McKloud, Glorina Reyes, Emmanuel Ross, Matthew Scott, Anna Strickland, Amanda Thurston and Jason Whalen and to lateral entry teachers Robert Bannerman, Julia Heckathorn, John Conner and Olivia Scott. At North Whiteville Academy, one-year contracts were given to social worker Carolyn Griffin, lateral entry teachers Jami Hinson and Timothy Lee, and to probationary teachers Lasheeda Butler and Lee Heckathorn. Carmen Garland, the wife of newly hired superintendent Kenneth Garland, was given a one-year contract as a K-6 teacher. Fuller Royal ext. 228 fullerroyal@whiteville.com The 223,600 for athletic field and facilities includes 250,000 to remodel the field house at Legion Stadium and 100,000 to build a restroom facility and concession stand at the softball field. Teachers The Whiteville City Schools has 162 teachers, 37 teacher assistants, 18 school support personnel, 12 school office personnel; nine school building administrators, 28 bus drivers, 23 child nutrition personnel, 17 custodians, four maintenance personnel, 14 central office personnel, eight central office administrators, three tutors and seven positions not elsewhere classified for a total of 342 employees. Of those, 33 are paid hourly and the remaining 309 are salaried. The Central Office has 28.5 positions. Central Middle School has 67.5 positions. Edgewood Elementary School has 57 positions. North Whiteville Academy has 9.5 positions. Whiteville High School has 83 positions. Whiteville Primary School has 96.5 positions. Fuller Royal ext. 228 fullerroyal@whiteville.com Softball hitting clinic is May 3 Lauren Edwards will be hosting a softball hitting clinic on May 3 at the Whiteville High School softball field. This fundraiser is in accordance with her senior project, which is based on concussions in high school athletes. Ages 5-11 will be from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and ages 12 and up will be from 1 to 3 p.m. Cost of attendance is 20 and all proceeds will go towards purchasing new sets of softball helmets for the high school and middle school softball teams. The News Reporter, Thursday, May 1, A National Day of Prayer Thursday By JEFFERSON WEAVER Staff Writer People of all Christian faiths will gather at the Columbus County Courthouse and the Chadbourn Gazebo at noon Thursday (today) to pray for the community, the state and the country. In Whiteville, the National Day of Prayer observance will take place on the south steps of the courthouse. In Chadbourn, Rev. T.A. Lance of Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church will deliver a message at the town gazebo, located at East First Avenue and Wilson Street. The annual events feature prayers led by ministers from across the county, said Rev. Terry Green. This year we re trying to demonstrate what the apostle wrote in Romans 15:6, Green said. In the King James Version of the Bible, the passage reads: That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Christians let a lot of doctrinal issues get in the way of fellowshipping with each other, Green said. We all have differences, and we will, but if we all worship Jesus Christ I ve Been Asked How Did I Predict the Future. I Didn t. I Prepared for It. Trying to make money on exciting, unpredictable investments is one of the surest ways to lose it. Which is why at Edward Jones we help you invest in quality investments instead of following the latest trends. There will be no compromise on your principles when preparing for your future s security. To learn how Edward Jones can help you prepare, call your local Edward Jones financial advisor today Eric G Lanier, AAMS Financial Advisor. 117 West Main Street Whiteville, NC Eric G Lanier Financial Advisor as the risen savior and Son of God, we can come together to work on the other issues. Green said unity among churches, without sacrificing biblical truths, is necessary for the people of the church to do God s work in the community. How can we expect to be taken seriously if we fight amongst ourselves? he said. We need to stand 117 West Main Street Whiteville, NC together to pray for our great nation look at the violence, the drugs, the so- cial problems, the unemploy- ment facing our county. Only God can fix these things, and He will do so if people will turn to Him as we should. The service starts at noon, and should last around a halfhour. We want people to be able to come down during lunch, but still have time to do what they need to before heading back to work, hopefully refreshed in spirit, Green said. The events are open to the public, and is part of a series of similar services taking place across the country at the same time. Jefferson Weaver ext. 227 jeffweaver@whiteville.com Member SIPC 0 % Financing up to 36 Mos. YTA 19K42 1, Kohler Courage Single Cylinder, 19.0 hp Automatic transmission. Cutting width 42 in. YTH 24K48 1, Kohler Courage V-Twin, 24.0 hp Fast hydrostatic pedal. Cutting width 48 in. Reinforced cutting deck. Thoroughbred yard workhorses. Mowing with maximum capacity. 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14 Editorials The News Reporter, Thursday, May 1, 2014 Every vote counts, so go cast yours Tuesday s primary races may not have as much interest as some elections, but they are vital to our community and the democratic process. Note the use of the lower case d whether you are Democratic, Republican, Libertarian, Unaffiliated or anyone else, you have the responsibility as well as the right to cast a responsible ballot. North Carolina has gone through some major changes in its electoral process in recent years, notably modifications in the early voting procedure The point Who represents you in public office is your choice, but you have to make your choice by going to the polls. Early voting ends Friday and Election Day is Tuesday. and the upcoming requirement for voter identification. None of these changes have taken away the need to cast a ballot. Every single vote counts the recent liquor by the drink vote in Tabor City proved that. Single-digit vote counts have made the difference in dozens of races through the years, yet people still seem to feel that their vote doesn t matter. With the challenges facing elected officials and the electorate these days problems ranging from the local economy and crime to national issues like health care reform and national security every single person in every community is affected in some way by the actions of those who get the most ballots in November. The May primaries serve to winnow out the harvest so voters can separate the wheat from the chaff in the fall, determining the future of their community, their county, and their country for their children and grandchildren. It is popular for newspapers to proclaim that their editorial writers do not care who you vote for, as long as you vote. We disagree we care who gets your ballot, either in the early voting (which ends Saturday) or on Tuesday. We sincerely hope that every single person who does make their choice does so after doing their own research and spending some time in serious thought about which candidates can do the best job, and which are blowing smoke. Voters here will select the candidate who will be on the fall ballot for the county s top law officer, district attorney, administrative positions (register of deeds and clerk of court), county commissioners, and school board. That doesn t even include the state House and Senate, and congressional and senate seats. Anyone who doesn t think those jobs have a direct impact on their lives should look at their paychecks, their property taxes and values, the crime rate in their communities, assistance for the needy, their children s schools, and whether they have clean water to drink, among dozens of issues. All these things and more are affected by the decisions made by those in public office, and who makes those decisions is determined by the voters in a process created by our forefathers to ensure that government truly remained by and for the people of the country not by the edict of and for the benefit of a select few. Please go to the polls, either during early voting or on Tuesday. Cast your ballot. The state has made it incredibly easy for any registered voter to play their role in the management of the individual s elected leaders. Whether you re a Yellow Dog Democrat, a Right Wing Republican, or like most, just an average person trying to make sense of it all, your vote counts the same as the person next to you at work, at the lunch counter, in the grocery store, in traffic or at the doctor s office. Every single vote counts, and every single vote could be the one that tips the balance to determine whether our county, state or nation charts a new course, or follows the old. The choice is up to you but you have to make the choice. Hurting safety Lake Waccamaw residents, mayor Daniel Hilburn and the town board decided among themselves to fire our fire chief, Eddy Morgan, who for 22 years tirelessly and selflessly spent his spare time coming to the aid of our people. I would like to know how Darren or anyone could fire a volunteer? Morgan was not even here when the town had its secret meeting. When the members said something about this, certain members were banned from the firehouse. Eventually, all rescue members were told to vacate the building. Our rescue squad has had to operate out of their homes with friends letting them store the ambulances at various houses. This caused undo stress and delays getting to people needing medical help. I went to Darren at Town Hall but basically got no answers from him. Curry said in December 2012, the bylaws had been changed, superseding previous ones and making the chief answerable to him. Not only do Curry and Hilburn have their own agendas, Hilburn went on WECT and said he thought the town could do better with its own squad and 24-hour service. Are either of them EMT s? We already don t have a fire department, now we ll have no rescue squad. This puts the people in danger. Before my husband died, we called the rescue squad more than 100 times and Jimmy (my husband) always told me to call and make sure Lynn and Shannon Worrell were called. If Shannon couldn t get to my house, he met the ambulance and got on. There are no more dedicated people than these rescue members. They are dedicated to us, work full-time jobs and still hurry when called to help. Why start a new squad when we already have wonderful and professional people willing to help tirelessly? There is a county commissioners meeting a week from Monday. Come and see how disturbing our town commissioners are acting. If this is allowed to happen, I will go to Wilmington for my care. This is such a waste of talent and professional help that is already here. Currie and Hilburn may pull the wool over the eyes of some, but they can t fool everyone. I intend for my voice to be heard. I love our current squad and stand behind them 100 percent. This is going to hurt the people both in terms of safety and money. Kathy Jackson Lake Waccamaw Dedicated This letter is concerning our Lake Waccamaw town board and its fight to banish our local rescue squad and organize their own. The current rescue squad has come to my house several times in my time of need. Not only are they professional and knowledgeable, they are my friends. I grew up with Eddy Morgan, and the actions of Darren Currie and Daniel Hilburn and the town board are irresponsible with no regard for public safety. I have no Public opinion transportation to get to the ER in an emergency and depend on my rescue squad in times of need. I trust these people and don t want strangers coming into my house. They know my history and health problems and know right away what to do. I trust them with my house keys and to lock my house and contact my children. For the town to want to start their own rescue squad when we already have one is ridiculous. For Hilburn to say on TV that the rescue is in this for money is absurd. The 25 they are paid doesn t even begin to cover expenses. Wow, Darren and Daniel, are you willing to get up at all hours of the day and night to help someone in crisis? Are you qualified? We already don t have a fire department. Now you want our rescue squad, run by people who are dedicated, professional and caring, to stop helping residents. What are you thinking? Or are you? There are no better qualified and caring people than Lynn Worrell, Shannon Worrell, Debbie Pope, Barbara Young, Eddy Morgan and all the rest of the crew. God bless them all. Donna and J.H. Council Lake Waccamaw Helps St. James I am writing this letter to inform you of how much the Lake Waccamaw Rescue Squad means to the St. James community. I have lived in this community all of my life and the EMS of Lake Waccamaw has been a link to life for our community. Even I have had the opportunity of needing their services. It is not something you plan, it is something when your life or a loved one s life is in trouble and you just need these services. We have a fire department within the community, but there is no one to save the lives of those who are in need of services this rescue department provides. Please know that we need rescue within our community because we have an aging population that needs and will need their services. As I have been told, other rescue services will be provided, but we all know that the closer and faster the services can mean the difference between life or death. It is my request that you should consider the people and not the money. I am begging you to allow the same Lake Waccamaw Rescue Auxiliary services to remain for the benefit of all surrounding areas. Theresa J. Blanks and Joann Freeman St. James Deacons support It is with great regret that I have heard of the changes going on with the closest rescue services. As deacons of St. James Missionary Baptist Church, we would like you to know that we have had to call for these services at the church. Of course, they have been called for numerous individuals within the community. They have come to help in time of sickness or an accident. Therefore, we are writing this letter to inform you of how much Lake Waccamaw Rescue Auxiliary services mean to our church, community and surrounding areas. With this in mind, please know that we certainly support the Lake Waccamaw EMS unit remaining at Lake Waccamaw. Thank you for this consideration. Deacon Jeffery Mitchell and deacons of St. James Missionary Baptist Church Deacon Henry Spaulding Deacon Rodgers Young Deacon Van Jacobs Deacon Carthel Moore For Hooks Cindy White Hooks has served Columbus County for 34 years with integrity, fairness and professionalism. She has also been a dear friend of mine for many years. Cindy has always been a person I know I can rely on and trust. That s the kind of person I want to be the next Clerk of Superior Court. Hooks has long dreamed of being the Clerk of Superior Court for Columbus County, and she has waited years for the right time to run for election. Because of Hook s respect for her supervisor and friend, Sheila Pridgen, Hooks has not pursued this dream until now. Like so many other communities, some in Columbus County wish to keep the authority and power with the experienced generation, while others are quick to embrace the new thinking of the younger generation. As is always the case, the best answer lies somewhere in the middle. Columbus County will be best served by people of all generations and backgrounds working together for the good of the community. Hooks has the wisdom to seek counsel from individuals of all ages and backgrounds to ensure that the Clerk s Office is successful in fulfilling its duties. Columbus County is blessed to have young adults coming home to raise their families and pursue their dreams. Without them our county has no future. However, the older generation has the experience necessary to guide the young people and help their dreams come to fruition. The youthful vigor of the younger generation is admirable, but as my grandmother said many times: Step back and learn from your elders; they will teach you better that any book. The people of the older generations in Columbus County have put in many years of hard work to make Columbus County a great place to live. We shouldn t let 34 years of experience in the Clerk s Office go to waste. Hooks has the knowledge and experience to fulfill the duties of the office today, and the desire to do so for years to come. I know that Hooks is the best person to take the Clerk s Office into the new courthouse and the future beyond. I ask all of you to help Cindy and Columbus County by electing her our next Clerk of Superior Court on May 6. Hooks is the right choice, for the right reason. Theresa Fisher Powell Whiteville Ramblin with Ann By ANN WORTHINGTON I looked at this appliance sitting in a cabinet in my kitchen and I had to laugh because I thought about how long it took me to decide to even allow something like this in my house. It was a microwave oven. When these things first came onto the market, I decided on my own that the radiation from a microwave oven would surely land you in a hospital. Of course, I hadn t read any literature explaining the ovens uses, but I had made all the concern up in my mind, My memories take me back to a time when my brother and I had chores around our house. One of ours was to bring armloads of stove wood into our kitchen, throw it into the wood box, and Mom would use it to cook our meals on a wood-burning stove. It sure made a hot room in the summer, but it was cozy during the long, cold winters. I remember how excited we were when my dad went to town and came back with a weirdlooking thing and placed it in our kitchen. It had a large hump on one side, which was the oven and burners on the other side. On one end was clear, glass container that held gas. My parents explained that this was a gas stove and not to be played with. I was relieved that there would be no more dents in my arms from carrying in stove wood. We really enjoyed that, and I know my mom was glad she didn t have all the extra heat from the wood stove. We finally bought an electric stove and the rest is history. No more wood to bring in, no more filling the gas tank on the stove and very happy parents. Even though about the only use I have for my microwave oven is to heat things, it is a great invention and a wonderful time saver. I have to give credit to my son s teacher, who taught science back in the day. She talked me though my radiation fears because I figured she really knew her subject, so I m sure glad I listened to her. Well, my reader friends, I guess I m one of those people who does not accept changes very easily, but I m learning slowly. My memories of the way it was are priceless, but I guess the microwave oven is here to stay. So until next time, enjoy your memories too, and as always, don t forget God loves you and so do I. Political letters and contact info Today was the last issue to run letters to the editor about candidates running for office. Typically, letters run only on Thursday s regardless, but often, candidates or their supporters request that letters be published the day before the election. Our normal policy is as follows: Send letters to the editor or contact editorial page editor Les High at leshigh@ whiteville.com, or mail them to PO Box 707, Whiteville N.C., All letters must be signed and include a phone number, which will not be published. Letters are limited to 400 words and must be signed and include the author s community. Authors are limited to one letter every 30 days. Letters are subject to editing for length and content.

15 People, Places and Things Praising in the storm The News Reporter, Thursday, May 1, A By JEFFERSON WEAVER Staff Writer I can t call it a pity party, but a more earthy phrase came to mind, I am ashamed to admit. I was waiting on a friend who had asked me to drop by; the appointment was mutually beneficial, aside from the fellowship we always enjoy, but my buddy was late, as usual. The day hadn t been the best one; a mis-encounter with Grace the Arabian on Saturday had left me hurting, and besides, it was a Monday at the end of the month, when meals are short, bills are long, and miseries abound. Whilst waiting for my frequently-late friend, I was checking some of the messages about the storms in the deep south and Midwest, and realized I had nothing to grouch about. James Clark and Julee McNeil are some of those friends I ve never met in person, the kind many of us have via social media. I don t mean acquaintances, but true friends, the kind my parents and grandparents knew through letters and cards, and maybe, once every few years, a telephone call. We share a mutual love of Christ and the outdoors. They both live in Arkansas. James was assuring me everything was okay with his family (we bonded during the illness of one of his girls, praying together almost daily). But for a little while, nobody could find Julee. Turns out she was okay, but we found this out when she posted photos of her grandmother s destroyed home, as well as a truck she loves like a good dog, a truck now best described as scrap metal. Everybody was okay, but the shock and heartache they were going through was something most of us can only imagine. Julee s a trapper, and a tough young un, so she managed a few jokes along the way, such as posting a photo of several deer mounts recovered and carefully placed in the beds of pickup trucks, or a box of.22 ammunition found miraculously unscathed in the wreckage of her grandmother s house. Still, you can see the pain in her words as she shares pictures of a piano that didn t move, but was likely destroyed, a beautiful instrument where her grandmother played many a song for the family, now stilled forever. A couple hours later, after effusive and sincere apologies from my buddy, I found myself standing in the barn feeding our horses, watching a line of clouds as ominous as the Book of Revelation on the horizon. I somehow missed the word that a tornado warning had been issued for our community, but thankfully, we didn t see anything worse than some high wind and heavy rain. Sam didn t even wake up from his evening nap, although my drive home was an adventure. Listening to Miss Rhonda s breathing and Hope the Bulldog s snoring later that night, I realized I had nothing to fuss about. True, we re down to one vehicle, but a few weeks back, as another, less violent rainstorm threatened, I gave a ride to a fellow named Harvey. I don t normally pick up hitchikers, but Harvey had an honest face, and let s face it, I can be a little intimidating. I couldn t see anyone standing in the coming rain holding a bag of groceries, so I gave him a ride home. I was glad I did. Harvey was on his way home from work; while he can sometimes catch a ride with his wife (who rides with a co-worker) he had worked late this day, and had sent the ladies on. He assured me, several times over, that he wasn t a criminal, and that he was working all the overtime he could to get one of the tired vehicles at his house back on the road. Harvey and his wife have a daughter who just graduated college, and has a darn good job; however, she needed transportation. They talked about it as a family, and ended up giving her the best they had at home. She comes home every weekend for church, and is saving up for her own vehicle, but Mom and Harvey were making do with his old truck until it gave up the ghost. Rather than jeopardize their daughter s start on her own, they ve been doing the best they could for a while. God s taken care of us, Brother Jeff, he said. Every single day, He supplies our needs, and things are going to get better. I had to think about Harvey s words; for many of us, needs are often too confused with wants, but to my brother in need of a ride, the line is clearly drawn. What right did I have to complain the other night, as I watched the horizon storms that were the distant kin of those who hurt my friends in Arkansas? Earlier, Missus had reminded me to get home soon, since supper would soon be ready. Walter the Dog had greeted me with the ebullience that only comes from a dog who loves a human, and is loved in return. The rescue horse was showing some spunk, and had even put on a pound or two since she came in, starved and weak. My roosters gifts from another friend had decimated a fire ant mound, and fish were popping in the pond by the road. My friend James, who dodged the storms but was helping family clean up, sent me a picture of a sign one survivor-family had painted on the remains of their home. It featured, in bold, broad hand-painted letters, a line from a sign by the group Casting Crowns, I will praise You in this storm. Listening to a hungry horse wolf down welcome and unaccustomed food, looking forward to a good meal at home, remember the innocent, happy eyes of a little girl we consider partly our own, although she belongs to some close friends, smelling the new-cut hay, I watched the lightning cross the skies to the west and I thought, what right did I have to whine? If folks whose house became rubble in seconds can still praise God, what right did I have to complain because things weren t as great as I d like em to be? It s the hard stuff that makes us appreciate the good times, the Old Man always said, and my problems, hard as they might have seemed, were nothing compared to those of other folks. Sometimes you just have to see what s left after someone else s storms to appreciate your own sunny days. CRHS offers lung cancer screenings Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in both men and women in the United States, more than breast, colon and prostate combined. This may be in part because so many cases are diagnosed in later stages, making them harder to treat. Beginning in May, the imaging department at Columbus Regional Health care will be offering screenings for individuals who feel they may be at risk for lung cancer, such as those with a history of cigarette smoking or exposure to lung cancer-causing agents that can help detect lung cancer in its early stages. The Lung Computed Tomography (CT) screening is a quick, painless test in which patients experience low dose radiation exposure, about the same as the average person would receive from background radiation in 1.5 years. Results are read by a board-certified radiologist and given to the patient s physician. A copy of the results will be sent to the patient with a follow-up call from a registered nurse to assist in answering questions pertaining to your screening results. Studies have shown that early detection can help save lives and we are pleased to be able to offer this test to those who may be at risk, says Demir Bastug, MD, CRHS radiologist, It is a quick, painless test that does not require an appointment or a physician referral. Insurance plans do not cover the cost of lung CT screening. The fee for the exam is 150 and is due at the time of the exam. Patients who should be screened yearly are between the ages of 55-80, who have smoked at least an average of one pack a day for 30 years, (including those who still smoke or have quit in the last 15 years) or are over the age of 50 who have smoked at least an average of one pack a day for 20 years and have at least one other risk factor for lung cancer. For more information about CT lung cancer screening at CRHS or to schedule an appointment, call (910) Community Lunch Forum set May 13 The Columbus Chamber of Commerce and Tourism will hold a Community Lunch Forum on Tuesday, May 13 at the Interim Center. Local police chiefs will speak on the topic of Keeping your Business and Employees Safe. The forum begins at 11:30 a.m. and includes a lunch at 10. It will conclude at 1:15. Call by May 9 to reserve a seat and for more information. Cindy Hooks - The Right Choice - The Right Reason Students from Whiteville High School recently took time from their Easter break to assist with heavy lifting at Angel House Hospice Care Center in Whiteville. After receiving a generous donation of two beautiful concrete planters from Merritt s Pottery, we needed some brawn, said Lisa Clark, community outreach coordinator for Lower Cape Fear Hospice & LifeCareCenter. Then (pictured from left) Whit Butler, Brian Wilkins and Peyton Ashley stepped in. We greatly appreciate their willingness to help with such a big task! For more information about LCFH&LCC, visit Did your child struggle with reading? HOMEWORK BLUES? READING STRUGGLES? POOR SPELLING SKILLS? It s a simple process to make a HUGE difference. Cindy Hooks has done things the good old fashioned way. She started working in the Clerk s Office in 1976, and spent 34 years learning how to do every aspect of the job. Cindy has performed the record keeping duties, the managerial role of Assistant Clerk of Court, and the judicial role in vehicle seizure hearings. Cindy never asked for anything to be handed to her. She worked hard for 34 years before she decided to run for Clerk of Court. You wouldn t hire a person with no experience to lead your company, so why would you elect a person with no experience to be in charge of the Clerk s Office? Cindy started at the bottom and paid her dues. Now she hopes to be elected Clerk of Superior Court so that she can lead the Clerk s Office for years to come. Do they forget what they read? Can they sound out words? Do they have trouble paying attention? If your child is struggling in one or all of these areas, contact Coastal Speech Center to schedule an evaluation. Our one-on-one method provides a unique approach to learning. Are they at risk for being held back? WHITEVILLE OFFICE 1014 N. J.K. POWELL BLVD Vote Cindy White Hooks for Clerk of Superior Court on May 6th, Don t let 34 years of experience go to waste. Paid for by the Committee to Elect Cindy Hooks, Teresa Powell, Treasurer

16 16-A The News Reporter, Thursday, May 1, 2014 Congratulations Class of 2014! Do you know a special Graduate? Congratulate them in a unique way. Honor your Grad in The News Reporter only30 Staff photo by Mary Kindschuh Dancing stars Danny McNeill and Sable Bullock practice in anticipation of this weekend s first ever Dancing with the Stars fundraiser in Whiteville. The event will take place at Vineland Station and dancers will include Stars and Professionals from around the county. Tractor Supply helps 4-H Tractor Supply Company, in partnership with National 4-H Council, has announced the launch of its spring 2014 Paper Clover Campaign. Tractor Supply Company (TSC), the largest retail farm and ranch supply store chain in the United States, has raised more than 3.2 million for 4-H programs across the country through the Paper Clover Campaigns over the last four years. Tractor Supply Company and Del s Feed and Food Supply customers have the opportunity to purchase paper clovers between April 23 May 4 for 1 or more during checkout. All funds raised will be used to support 4-H youth development program activities in the communities where Tractor Supply stores are located. We were thrilled by the results of last year s Paper Clover Campaign, and with the help of our dedicated customers we hope to meet and exceed that goal this year, said John Wendler, senior vice president of marketing for TSC. Partnering with 4-H gives us the opportunity to enhance our store s communities and provide support to local organizations. In just four years, across 48 states, the TSC 4-H Paper Clover Campaign has provided more than 2 million to 4-H. The effort has provided direct support for local camps, afterschool programs and other activities, and has granted Studio Name Address Merle Norman Cosmetics 4118 Railroad Ave. Loris, SC Studio Name Address 2014 Merle Norman Cosmetics, Inc. MERLENORMAN.COM 2014 Merle Norman Cosmetics, Inc. MERLENORMAN.COM scholarships to these events that youth can explore their interests in everything from animal science to robotics. This event marks the fourth year of collaboration with Tractor Supply Company, said Jennifer Sirangelo, president and CEO, National 4-H Council. Phone Number Business Hours Phone Number Business Hours Trial sizes include: Anti-Aging Complex Eye Treatment Broad Spectrum SPF 15 Ultra Light Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 50 Perfecting Trial sizes Makeup include: Broad Anti-Aging Spectrum Complex SPF Eye 25 Treatment Liquid Broad Shimmer Spectrum SPF 15 Ultra Light Sunscreen *Free in the U.S. and available for one cent in Canada Broad with Spectrum the purchase SPF of two 50 or more Merle Perfecting Norman cosmetic Makeup products. Cosmetic accessories not included. Offer valid while supplies Broad last Spectrum at participating SPF Merle 25 Norman Cosmetic Liquid Studios Shimmer beginning May 1, Limit one per customer. We reserve the right *Free to substitute in the U.S. individual and available components for one of cent gift. in Canada with the purchase of two or more Merle Norman cosmetic products. Cosmetic accessories not included. Offer valid while supplies last at participating Merle Norman Cosmetic Studios beginning May 1, Limit one per customer. We reserve the right to substitute individual components of gift. Merle Norman Cosmetics Main St. Shallotte, NC Summer 2014 Summer GWP Ad 2014 Slick GWP 73-1 Ad Slick 73-1 S.A.U. system: S.A.U. 2 columns system: x 3.5" 2 columns (4-1/4" x 3.5" x 3-1/2") (4-1/4" x 3-1/2") Steven Johnson County High School Congratulations! We are very proud of you!! Mom, Dad and Amy and at Whiteville.com Steven Johnson County High School Congratulations! We are very proud of you!! Mom, Dad and Amy Submit their photo with your message to ads@whiteville.com or in person at The News Reporter. We ll publish their photo and your message on Whiteville.com and in The News Reporter on the date you choose for only 30! For more information or official rules, call advertising at or click on the ad on Whiteville.com. RESIZING AND CUSTOMIZING INSTRUCTIONS A clear zone of 1/2 the height of the logo must be maintained as shown below. No text or graphic elements can appear in this clear zone. Logo and tagline may not be stretched or manipulated in any way. RESIZING AND CUSTOMIZING INSTRUCTIONS A clear zone of 1/2 the height of the logo must be maintained as shown below. No text or graphic elements can appear in this clear zone. Logo and tagline may not be stretched or manipulated in any way.

17 Sports The News Reporter, Thursday, May 1, B SCHS wins Three Rivers golf title FAIRMONT - Sophomore Matt Register and freshman Wesley Bryant each turned in a 78 Monday to lead the South Columbus Stallions to 2014 Three Rivers Conference Golf championship at Fairmont Golf Club. Register won in a one-hold playoff over his Stallion teammate to claim individual medalist honors. Coach Willie Gore s South Columbus team carded a 325 total to take the title by 12 strokes over second-place Whiteville. Whiteville s 337 secondplace finish topped the 346 turned in by third-place Fairmont. St. Pauls followed at 373, while Red Springs finished at 382 and South Robeson at 434. Also figuring in the scoring for South Columbus were Andrew Register with an 83 and Anthony Catrette with an 86. Other Stallions participating were Hugh Smith and Jared Worthington. This is a good group of young men to work with, Coach Gore said. Four of our top six players are freshmen and Matt is a sophomore so we feel there is a lot of potential still to come in our golf program. For Coach Heath Connor s Whiteville team, Whit Butler carded an 80, followed by Anthony Anderson with an 82 and Bryan Wilkins with a 92. Shay Rogers and Steven Burris also competed for the Wolfpack. The South Columbus squad will make a return trip to Fairmont next Monday to compete in the Regional 2A Tournament. Whiteville will travel to Clinton next Monday to compete in the Regional 1A Tournament at Coharie Country Club. Top regional finishers will advance to state tournament play. Fairmont goes hitless in 3-0 victory over Stallions Staff photo by Mary Kindschuh West Columbus soccer player Chelsea Britt (right) handles the ball while being defended by Ashley Carter in Tuesday night s Three Rivers 1A-2A Conference match at Whiteville. Whiteville won its Senior Night game 9-0 to lift its conference record to 7-0 and season record to Lady Pack booters take Senior Night victory The Whiteville High School girls soccer team beat West Columbus 9-0 Monday night in a match that ended halfway through the second half. Madison Hinson had three goals, Megan Rooks, Lauren DiMuzio, Isabel Shelley, Mia Shelley, Emily Fowler, and Margaret High had one each. Softball Lady Pack blasts South Robeson to gain at least a tie for TRC title Malerie Leviner pitched a one-hitter, struck out 11 batters and connected for three hits Tuesday in the Whiteville Lady Wolfpack s 12-0 romp over visiting South Robeson. The game was halted in the fifth inning by the 10-rule. The Senior Night win assured Coach Olivia Scott s Lady Wolfpack of at least a tie for the Three Rivers 1A-2A Conference championship. Whiteville, which leads the TRC softball Getting assists were, Abigail Owens and Hinson with two each, and High, Chaley Honeycutt and Isabel Shelley with one each. Seniors honored at halftime were Shelby Jecius, Isabel Shelley, Emily Fowler, Marilu Castrejon and Megan and Morgan Rooks. WHS is now carrying a 16-1 record. race with a 12-1 record will travel Friday to play second place South Columbus (11-2) in the conference championship game at 6 p.m. Leviner s three hits included a double, and Sage McLelland parked a two-run homer over the rightfield fence in the third inning. Laura Thompson had two doubles and Eden Brown had a double and a single for the Lady Wolfpack. Sayeh Campbell and Lorna Jackson also had doubles. SCHS grabs softball win at Fairmont FAIRMONT - A day after dropping a 2-1 decision to East Columbus in a weather-shortened game at Lake Waccamaw, the South Columbus Stallins kept their Three Rivers Conference softball championship hopes alive with a 10-2 Tuesday win over host Fairmont. Pitcher Bailey Dyson, coming off an injury that kept her on the sidelines during the recent Touchstone Energy Beach Diamond Classic, struck out 12 batters as the Lady Stallions put their conference record at Coach David Marlowe s Viking netters to meet Tarboro today in state 1A playoff tennis opener; to play in regional tournament Friday Coach W.T. Edwards West Columbus High School boys tennis team is scheduled to take on Tarboro today at 4 p.m. at Tarboro in the opening round of the state 1A dual team tennis playoffs. The match was originally scheduled for Tuesday, but it was forced to be postponed by inclement weather in Edgecombe County. On Friday, three West Columbus players are scheduled to compete in 1A Regional play after copping championships in the recent Three Rivers 1A Conference Tournament. Josh Redwine will be competing in the Regional single bracket while Will Edmund and Tucker Ellis have qualified in the Regional doubles bracket. Top regional finishers will advance to state tournament play. West Columbus was the top 1A finisher in the Three Rivers 1A-2A Conference Tournament this spring. Whiteville High, which over the past three decades regularly qualified players for regional tournament action did not field a boys tennis team this year. Lady Stallions will be out to gain a share of the conference championship on Friday when it is scheduled to play host to the Whiteville Lady Wolfpack (12-1) at 6 p.m. Dyson, Hailey Sarvis and Lindsey Jones each had three hits for South Columbus. Lady Gators beat St. Pauls in TRC clash The East Columbus Lady Gators will close out their regular-season schedule tonight at 6 when they visit the West Columbus Lady Vikings at 6 p.m. Coach John Scharpenberg s ECHS squad took a 10-2 road win over St. Pauls Tuesday to put its Three Rivers 1A-2A Conference record at The Lady Gators took a 2-1 win over South Columbus Monday in a key conference game that was halted by heavy lightning at the ECHS field. The East Columbus softball team now holds a season record of FAIRMONT -The Three Rivers Conference champion Fairmont Golden Tornadoes picked up their 17th win of the season Tuesday without getting a single hit against the visting South Columbus Stallions. The host Golden Tornadoes got all their runs in the bottom of the third inning on a walk, a fielding error on a Fairmont bunt, a dropped fly ball in left field, pick-off throw that sailed into centerfield and a sacrifice fly, WHS overcomes Mustang upset bid The Whiteville Wolfpack avoided a second upset loss to the South Robeson Mustangs Friday at Legion Stadium, managing to pull out an 8-5 victory after giving up four sixthinning runs Whiteville scored five runs in the fourth inning for a 5-1 lead and appeared to have the game in hand as it carried a 6-1 lead into the sixth inning. South Robeson, which had shocked the Wolfpack by a 2-1 score in their earlier conference meeting at Rowland banged out five hits and brought home four runs in the top of the sixth to cut the WHS lead to 6-5. Whiteville came back with two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning behind singles by Nydir Carr and Turner Brown and a double by Hunter Catrette. Zack Pait, who had relieved starting pitcher Hunter Harwood in the sixth inning retired the Mustang side in order in the top of the seventh to end the game. Brown had three hits for the Wolfpack while Carr, Harwood and Connor Grainger had two hits each. Both of Harwood s hits were doubles and Brown and Nick Hood also doubled. The Wolfpack was held scoreless by South Robeson starter Dakota Clark through three innings. All three of Whiteville s outs in the third inning were made by way of tag-outs on the basepaths. We struggled early, and South Robeson came after us when we got the lead, said WHS coach Brett Harwood. It wasn t pretty, but we did what we had to in the end. All five of Whiteville s fourth inning runs came with two outs behind back-to-back doubles by Harwood and Hood, singles by Carr Staff photo by Mary Kindschuh Garrett Wilson was the starting Stallion pitcher and he was relieved in the third inning by Austin Irwin. The two combined to strike out seven batters and walk six. South Columbus committed four errors as their conference record slipped to 9-4 with two of the losses coming against Fairmont. Fairmont sophomore mound ace Cole Lovin allowed just two hits while striking out nine batters and walking none. South Columbus Matt Miller and Jody Harrelson had the game s only hits. The Stallions, now with a 14-8 season record, will play host to Whiteville Friday at 6 p.m., in a battle for the runnerup spot in the Three Rivers Conference. S. Columbus Fairmont x WP: Cole Lovin Staff photo by Mary Kindschuh and Connor Grainger and a double by Brown. Bobby Hunt had three hits to pace South Robeson. Whiteville (9-4 in conference) will play Friday at South Columbus (9-4) at 6 p.m. in a key final regular-season match-up. S. Robeson Whiteville x Dakota Clark and Austin Hunt; Hunter Harwood, Zack Pait (6) and Nick Hood. West Columbus bumps Red Springs 8-6 West Columbus outfielder Madison Benton lays off a pitch in Monday s Three Rivers Conference baseball game at Whiteville. The Vikings lost to Whiteville 4-0 on Monday, but bounced back on Tuesday to defeat Red Springs 8-6. Whiteville s Gerado Maggioli slides home safely in the Wolfpack s Monday victory over West Columbus. CERRO GORDO - The host West Columbus Vikings made its four-game losing streak a thing of the past Tuesday by defeating the Red Springs Red Devils 8-6 in a Three Rivers Conference baseball game. The win avenged a 13-8 conference loss to the Red Devils in their earlier conference meeting. Coach Jeff Lamb s West Columbus team broke away from a 3-3 fifth inning tie with two runs and then brought across three runs in the bottom of the sixth. Chandler Nobles was the winning pitcher for the Vikings with Tanner Daniels coming on in the seventh inning to record the save. The Vikings conference record climbed to 8-5 while their overall record sits at The Vikings came into the game on the heels of a 4-0 loss to Whiteville on Monday after dropping all three of their games in Yadkin Valley Challenge during Easter Break Marvin Edge led a nine-hit Viking attack with three hits, including a double. Eric Jenkins and Madison Benton each had two WCHS hits with Jenkins ripping a double. Nobles helped his pitching cause with a two-run single. Dawson Elliott and Cole Strickland each had an RBI Nobles struck out six and walked three while giving up five hits in six innings pitched. Brad Hardin and Caleb McNeill led Red Springs with two hits each. Maliq Johnson was the losing pitcher. Red Springs W. Columbus x Maliq Johnson, Roosevelt Chavis (6) and Nick Martin Chandler Nobles, Tanner Daniels (7) and Cole Strickland. S

18 Page 2B - The News Reporter, Thursday, May 1, Three Rivers Conference baseball standings W-L W-L Fairmont S. Columbus Whiteville W. Columbus Red Springs S. Robeson St. Pauls E. Columbus MONDAY S RESULTS Whiteville 4, West Columbus 0 South Columbus 7, East Columbus 3 TUESDAY S RESULTS Whiteville 8, South Robeson 5 West Columbus 8, Red Springs 6 Fairmont 3, South Columbus 0 St. Pauls 10, East Columbus 7 TODAY S GAME East Columbus at West Columbus, 6 FRIDAY S GAMES Whiteville at South Columbus, 6 Fairmont at South Robeson, 6 St. Pauls at Red Springs, Three Rivers Conference softball standings W-L W-L Whiteville S. Columbus E. Columbus Fairmont S. Robeson Red Springs St. Pauls W. Columbus MONDAY S RESULTS E. Columbus 2, South Columbus 1 (called after 6 innings, rain). Whiteville 13, West Columbus 0 TUESDAY S RESULTS Whiteville 12, South Robeson 0 Red Springs 8, West Columbus 5 South Columbus 10, Fairmont 2 East Columbus 10, St. Pauls 2 TODAY S GAME East Columbus at West Columbus, 6 FRIDAY S GAMES Whiteville at South Columbus, 6 Fairmont at South Robeson, 6 St. Pauls at Red Springs 6 Pack completes suspended game with Vikings by taking 4-0 victory By DAN BISER Sports Editor Gore struck out 10 batters and walked three for the Wolfpack, which had taken a 7-4 loss to the Vikings their earlier conference Freshman lefthander McKenzie Gore finished off the Whiteville Wolfpack s April 15 suspended game by pitching a two-hit shutout over the visiting West Columbus Vikings Monday at Legion Stadium. The 4-0 Three Rivers 1A-2A Conference base victory lifted the Wolfpack s conference record to 8-4 while West Columbus slipped to 7-5. Whiteville, which scored all its runs in the fourth inning, was led at the plate by Nydir Carr and Turner Brown, each with three of the Wolfpack s nine total hits. The game was suspended in the bottom of the third inning by heavy rain on April 15 with the score tied 0-0. With still no score, Whiteville came to bat in the bottom of the fourth inning and quickly got back-to-back singles by Gerardo Maggioli and Hunter Harwood. West Columbus sophomore righthander Trey Benton then struck out Nick Hood and Taylor Smith. After Maggioli raced home on a wild pitched, Carr stroked a single to right field to bring in another run. Brown and Hunter Cartrette followed with back-to-back singles to bring home two more Wolfpack runs for a 4--0 lead. West Columbus got a big opportunity to match-up at West Columbus. Marvin Edge had first-inning single and Cole Strickland had single for other WCHS hits. It marked the fourth straight loss for the Vikings, who absorbed three setbacks to North Stanly, Albemarle and Greater Cabarrus Athletic Association in last week s Yadkin Valley Challenge at Albemarle. We ve been doing a better job swinging the bats when we have people on base... particularly with two outs, said Wolfpack head coach Brett Harwood. Today, that turned out to be the big key for us. Trey Benton does a great job on the mound for them, and we were fortunate to get the big inning against them when we did, said Harwood whose Wolfpack took wins over East Rutherford and Rutherford-Spindale Central and dropping a game to North Davidson during Easter Break. McKenzie pitched a strong game for us and we came up with some good plays in the field. West Columbus head coach Jeff Lamb said his team continued some of the struggles it had during its holiday tournament schedule. We re in kind of a funk right now, Lamb said. We just didn t give ourselves many opportunities today. answer with some runs when Ozzly Johnson and Madison Benton drew walks and Tanner W. Columbus Daniels reached on an error to load the bases Whiteville x with two outs. Trey Benton and Cole Strickland; McKenzie Gore and Nick Hood. Gore then struck out Eric Jenkins on a 3-2 pitch to retire the side. Stallions top Gators 7-3 LAKE WACCAMAW - Evan Pickell and William Thompson combined to throw a four-hitter, and Blake Stevens and Matt Miller each had two hits Monday in the South Columbus Stallions 7-3 Three Rivers 1A-2A Conference baseball victory over the host East Columbus Gators. Coach T.J. Spivey s Stallions jumped to a 3-0 lead in the first inning and scored three runs in the sixth to extend its lead to 7-0. East Columbus tried to battle its way back into the game when it scored three runs behind a two-run double by Brandon Merritt. Pickell emerged as the winning pitcher after getting relieved by Thompson in the sixth inning. Pickell struck out seven batters and walked six while giving up four hits. Thompson struck out three and walked one while pitching 1-1/3 innings. Bradley Olson went the distance on the mound for East Columbus, striking out five and walking five. Stevens and Miller each had a double for the Stallions and Jody Harrelson smacked a triple. Miller and Zack Stocks each drove in two runs for SCHS. Jalen Dumas had two of the Gator hits and Khysheim Robinson also had a hit for SCHS. Quinlan Hammond, McKenzie Chestnutt and M. Benton also had hits for South Columbus. S. Columbus E. Columbus WP: Evan Pickell LP: Bradley Olson. Whiteville s Ryan Dudney connects on a hard ground ball in the Wolfpack s recent home game with Rutherford-Spindale Centralduring the Easter Break. Whiteville won the game 6-5. The Wolfpack s holiday schedule also included a 4-3 loss to to North Davidson at Topsail and a 10-8 homefield victory over East Rutherford. Columbus County Dixie Youth APRIL 28 Minors The Cerro Gordo Minors beat Evergreen 16-5 Tuesday night to remain tied for the league lead with Lake Waccamaw. Ethan Hilbourn was the winning pitcher for Cerro Gordo. He had six strikeouts while giving up just three hits in three innings of work. Marcos Garcia led Cerro Gordo s bats with a single, a double and thre RBIs.. Colton Powell had a linedrive triple that pushed across two runs and Hinson Haynes also had one hit. Matthew Ivey, Evan Ward, Ethan Hilbourn and J.T. Pate all scored two runs each while Troy Greene also scored a run for Cerro Gordo. The next game for Cerro Gordo is scheduled for 6 p.m. Thursday, May 1, at Hallsboro. Majors Dylan Hamilton helped power Cerro Gordo to a 11-2 win with a 12-strikeout performance over Evergreen Tuesday night. Wesley Ward struck out all three Evergreen batters in the top of the sixth inning to close the game out. Wesley Ward also had two hits and twp RBIs. Jagger Haynes, Wesley Setser, Ethan Hinson and Gabe Davis provided doubles for Cerro Gordo. Dylan Hamilton scored two runs while Austin Booth, Justin Connor, LB Allen and Logan Enzor plated one run each. Cerro Gordo Majors play at Hallsboro Thursday night at 8 p.m. Ping Pong tournament June 7 Whiteville Department of Parks and Recreation will host a Ping Pong tournament on Saturday, June 7, at 10 a.m., at the city rec center. Boys and girls will compete in age brackets of 11-13, and 17-above. No registration is required. All participants will be qualified to be seeded in the Summer Ping Pong Ladder that is also set to be held at the rec center. For more information, contact Lane Coleman at or at Lcoleman@ci.whiteville.nc.us. SHORT BROS. RENT-A-CAR Hwy. 701, South of Whiteville whiteville.com Staff photo by Mary Kindschuh Methodist Men s Golf Tournament set for Friday at WCC The Whiteville United Methodist Men will hold their annual golf tournament Friday,beginning at 1 p.m. at Whiteville Country Club. A meal will be provided following tournament play. Registration fee is 50 per player and hole sponsorships are available for 50. The tournament will be limited to nine four-men teams, so sign-ups need to be made early. Sign-ups can be made at the Whiteville United Methodist Church office or by contacting Frank Hamilton ( ). For questions and further information, contact Hamilton or Marty Sellers ( ). PLEASE RECYCLE After You Read. New Photos! of all sorts whiteville.com/sportsorts submit your photos and videos to us for the summer months! page 3 in sports on Thursday and online everyday The News Reporter stuarthigh@whiteville.com

19 Upcoming SportS EvEntS find the complete calendar on whiteville.com at SportS of all SortS Thursday, May 1 4:00pm MS BB/SB- WTS at NMS, CMS at TC 5:00pm JV SB/BB - WCHS at ECHS 6:00pm Soccer - Harrells Academy at WHS V SB/BB - ECHS at WCHS Friday, May 2 5:00pm JV BB/SB- SCHS at WHS 6:00pm V BB/SB- WHS at SCHS Saturday, May 3 12:00pm Track and Field- Heide Trask host 1:00pm SCC baseball- SCC at Danville CC (DH) Monday, May 5 12:00pm 1-A Regionals Golf Tournament at Clinton 2-A Golf Regionals at Fairmont 3:30pm WCHS Practice Session for Cheerleading Tryouts 4:00pm Three Rivers BB/SB Tournament at Red Springs 5:00pm Soccer - Red Springs at WCHS Tuesday, May 6 4:00pm Three Rivers BB/SB Tournament at Red Springs Wednesday, May 7 4:00pm Three Rivers BB/SB Tournament at Red Springs iberty medical specialties S orts ofallsorts North S. Madison St. McDonald s JK Powell Blvd Columbus Athletes of the week The News Reporter, Thursday, May 1, Whiteville East Columbus West Columbus South Columbus Marilu Castrejon Soccer This WHS senior is a leader for the Lady Pack. In addition to soccer she ran Cross Country and cheered for the Pack. She likes the teamwork and communication that goes into soccer. Expanded Coverage on Whiteville.com Simone Spaulding Softball A sophomore on the ECHS softball team, Spaulding is a strong player. Softball is her only sport at ECHS. She likes softball because she is able to relieve stress. Her favorite game this season was against Whiteville. Josh Redwine Tennis The WCHS senior is a leader for the Vikings tennis team. He also plays soccer for WCHS. He likes tennis because he has to rely on himself to win. Redwine is part of a doubles team that is going to regionals. Matthew Register Golf This SCHS sophomore is a tough competitor on the course. He also plays basketball for the Stallions. He likes golf because it s fun and relaxing. He shot a 78 Monday to win the championship. Middle School baseball Nakina Middle School at Central Middle School Alexis Suggs pitches for Nakina Middle School. Anondre Ganus throws against Central Middle Tuesday. Kelsey Long takes a swing at bat during a recent game at Central Middle School. OUTDOOR YOUTH SPOTLIGHT By Jefferson Weaver Staff Writer Wesley and Evan Ward didn t let the cooler temperatures deter them from fishing Easter Sunday afternoon. Both boys used plastic Jesse Taylor reaches for the ball during a swing. Fishing brothers hit the water again worms and plugs to catch bass all afternoon at one of their favorite fishing holes, the farm owned by grandparents Mike and Mary Hyatt. The brothers, aged 10 and 7 respectively, are avid fishermen they were featured in the Spotlight earlier this year after a warm January day sent them angling. Both are students at Columbus Charter School, and play basketball at Piney Forest Baptist, when they aren t involved in Cerro Gordo s Dixie Youth teams or fishing. The young men are the sons of Kris and Carol Ward of Whiteville. Spring and early summer are popular times Avionna Powell bunts the ball in a recent game. for angling, and we look forward to sharing your young outdoorsmen s stories about fishing, turkey and hog hunting, or just enjoying our natural heritage. Call Jefferson Weaver at , or jeffweaver@whiteville. com for more about the Waccamaw Outdoors Youth Spotlight. Wes, left, and Evan with their bass. Quality Care from Our Family to Yours Bows Home Care Specialists Available 7 Days a Week 612 Jefferson St., Whiteville, NC Ocean Hwy. West, Supply, NC New Merchandise Arriving Daily Top Tobacco Road Lake Waccamaw, NC (910) Ricky Hughes pitches for Nakina.

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Equipment For Any Job whitevillerentals@yahoo.com WhItEVILLE REntALS All Major Credit Cards Accepted Hwy. 130 E., Whiteville JOEY LOGANO LIVES UP TO THE NICKNAME SLICED BREAD WITH VICTORY AT RICHMOND INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY Maybe that Sliced Bread nickname that Joey Logano s backers hung on him several years ago wasn t as bad an idea as it once looked. In the first seasons of his NAS- CAR career, Logano struggled to live up to a nickname that indicated he was the best thing since sliced bread. He did get a win at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in his rookie season, but it came on a pit strategy ploy in a rain-shortened race and got him a win he didn t really earn. His career at Joe Gibbs Racing saw him grow into a confident, winning Nationwide Series driver, but he couldn t duplicate that success on the Sprint Cup side. But since moving to Team Penske last year and hooking up with Crew Chief Todd Gordon, the potential he showed as a teenager is coming to fruition. His win this past Saturday night at Richmond International Raceway -- one in which he raced past three former Cup champions in the closing nine laps -- was his second of the season, and puts him in the position of making the Chase for the Sprint Cup no matter what happens the rest of the year. He and Kevin Harvick are the only Cup drivers with multiple wins this season, as Logano also won at Texas, while Harvick has wins at Darlington and Phoenix. Having a couple wins this early in the season and in two completely different race tracks makes you very confident for the rest of the season, Logano said. At this point, we really have nothing to lose. It s all about going for wins and having fun out there and making sure we re ready for when the Chase starts. We ve put ourselves in a good position this early in the season, and we re going to have some fun. Logano said his success this season is in large part a product of the experience he and Gordon have had in the past two seasons -- the knowledge 2-Wheel Alignment SPECIAL 10 OFF SOUTHERN TIRE & MUFFLER 1123 S. Madison St., Whiteville Hours: Mon-Fri 7:30 am - 5:30 pm Wrecker Service 24 Hours A Day they ve gained from their good and bad runs together. I think you ve got a notebook now, and I think Todd really understands what I need in a race car and what we ve got to do and what we need to go fast, he said. Darlington was our worst race of the year -- really, to be honest with you -- and we were still a very good car. We led a lot of laps, but that was the one race track that we really didn t have any notes to go off of, and as we come to these race tracks over and over again, we ve got something to build off of. We know what we fought last time and we re able to overcome it. Gordon said he and Logano are also able to benefit from the experiences of the other Team Penske entry of driver Brad Keselowski and his crew chief Paul CraCked or Broken Windshield? You have a choice...replacement by someone you don t know from out of town or...locally owned & operated Clark s auto Glass Mobile Glass Service 123 East Commerce St., Whiteville, NC (910) Fax: (910) Clark Dowless, Owner/Manager Wolfe. We re focused on what we need to be successful, and that s I think the chemistry not only between Joey and myself, but between Joey and Brad and Paul and myself, he said. As we ve gotten more successful, it s allowed all of our organization to have more confidence in the notebooks of each other and how we build off of each other, and that s the piece that I think allows us to continue to build and push each other. As Logano pointed out in his winner s interview a few weeks ago at Texas, another factor in his success -- one that distinguishes his career at Penske from his time at Gibbs -- is his own maturity. Over the years, I ve been able to kind of hone in on who I am as a driver, who I am as a person, he said, explaining that he was only 18 when he went to Gibbs. You re not quite done Show AUDIO, TINT & PERFORMANCE Audio by Nick Hinson 510 South Madison St. Your Source For: Lucas Products & Motorcycle Oil Racing Gas Methanol growing up at that point, and I may not be now, but I feel like I m getting closer. When I was able to go to Team Penske -- kind of get that fresh start and be able to take everything you ve learned there -- you re not taken as the 18-year-old kid anymore. I came over there, and I was 22 and you re looked at a little bit more as a man, instead of an 18-year-old kid. I ve been able to take advantage of that and kind of walk in the doors of Penske the first time and say, Here s who I want to be. Here s what I want to do. And here s how I feel we can win races and do it together. It showed at Richmond, as he came from fourth place in the closing laps to pass Jeff Gordon, Matt Kenseth and Keselowski to get his fifth career victory and his third since joining Penske. Tint by Bryan Powell Whiteville, NC Fuel Oil Lubricants Diesel Fuel Gasoline OIL & GAS COMPANY 1476 JK Powell Blvd., Whiteville Let Us Keep Your Car Running Like A WINNER H Lowest Labor Rates Around H FAIR BLUFF FORD Tire Rotate & Balance Whiteville Store Only On Most Vehicles. Not good with any other offer. Expires FREE Brake Inspection Piggly Wiggly #55 Down Home, Down The Street. Riegelwood Shopping Center Hwy 87, Riegelwood, NC (910) Chris A. 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