Story & Photos By DEUCE NIVEN tribdeuce@tabor-loris.com      Hundreds of people were in line for visitation preceding the funeral of Master Trooper Kevin Keith Conner at South Columbus High School Sunday afternoon.      Conner, 38, was killed in the line of duty during what seemed to be a routine traffic stop for speeding on U.S. 701 in…

By DEUCE NIVEN tribdeuce@tabor-loris.com      A body found in the Hallsboro area on Oct. 13 has been positively identified as Austin Buck Long, 22, a Nakina man who had been missing since Sept. 25, Columbus County Sheriff Lewis Hatcher said in a news release Saturday.      An autopsy conducted at the Office of the State Medical Examiner…

By DEUCE NIVEN tribdeuce@tabor-loris.com      A murder charge has been leveled against a Forest Edge Apartments resident, his girlfriend charged with misleading police after a shooting there left a Georgetown area man dead, Capt. Greg Sibbett of the Tabor City Police Department said Friday.      Chaquan Cortez Bellamy, 24, was charged with second degree murder Friday afternoon,…

By DEUCE NIVEN tribdeuce@tabor-loris.com      “Trust in the process,” District Attorney Jon David said Friday regarding prosecution in the murder of North Carolina Highway Patrol Master Trooper Kevin K. Conner early Tuesday.      “Our system,” David said in a news release, “is designed to provide for a slow and deliberate process to ensure fairness.”      Raheem Cole Dashanell…

A much larger than usual crowd turned out for a special “Meet me at the Pole” observance at the Williams Township School flagpole Friday morning. Gathering in memory of and to honor Master Trooper Kevin K. Conner of the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, killed in the line of duty Wednesday morning, the group prayed…