By DEUCE NIVEN tribdeuce@tabor-loris.com      All public schools, colleges and universities across South Carolina will be closed for the rest of the month, at least, Gov. Henry McMaster announced Sunday afternoon.      “School closings are inconvenient, we know that,” the governor said. “They’re inconvenient for everyone, for working parents, for families as well as employers.”      The decision…

By DEUCE NIVEN tribdeuce@tabor-loris.com UPDATE      Southeastern Community College will be closed to students and employees Monday as leadership there works to determine the next steps for the college in the midst of the COVID-19 outbreak, the college announced Saturday.      The announcement came hours after Gov. Roy Cooper announced a two-week closing of all public schools…

By DEUCE NIVEN tribdeuce@tabor-loris.com UPDATES: Columbus schools remain open, with preventive measures taken; County Commissioners expected to limit Monday’s meeting. See below.      Disruptions to daily routines in response to the growing Coronavirus COVID-19 risk continued to grow locally, nationally, and globally on Friday.      Local impacts involving healthcare, the court system, area festivals and events, and…

By DEUCE NIVEN tribdeuce@tabor-loris.com      Columbus County Dixie Softball has suspended activities for at least two weeks, calling off scheduled opening ceremonies this Saturday in Riegelwood, another impact from concerns over the spread of the Coronavirus COVID-19.      That announcement came Thursday afternoon from the Columbus County Dixie Softball Facebook page, administered by Shane David Hardee.      All…

By DEUCE NIVEN tribdeuce@tabor-loris.com      High school athletics will take a pause after this week due to concerns over the spread of the Coronavirus COVID-19.      Middle school athletics will be impacted in the same way, at least in the Columbus County Schools, school system spokesman Kelly Jones said Thursday afternoon.      All interscholastic athletics has been suspended…

By DEUCE NIVEN tribdeuce@tabor-loris.com      Columbus County’s Coronavirus COVID-19 risk remains low, but public health, government and business leaders planning for any local impact met in Whiteville Thursday afternoon.      County Health Director Kim Smith led discussions with more than 60 representatives from various local governments, public safety agencies, industry, and at least one pastor.      Smith described…

    A bass tournament at Lake Waccamaw this weekend will raise funds to aid the family of retired Tabor City Fire Department member Phil Cox, event organizer Levern Bass said.      Bass said he has scheduled the event prior to the March 7 death of Cox, who had been battling cancer, and that the event will…

By DEUCE NIVEN tribdeuce@tabor-loris.com      Spring field trips and other out-of-county travel by students and staff in the Columbus County Schools has been cancelled due to concerns over COVID-19, the coronavirus outbreak, a notice from the school district says.      Athletic events within the Sandhills region will continue, at least for now, the notice said, with change…

By TARA JACOBS sports@tabor-loris.com      A familiar face in this region’s prep gridiron world has been named the new Head Football Coach at Green Sea Floyds High School.      Joey Price was named to the post by the Horry County Board of Education Monday, and will succeed Donnie Kiefer in the post. Kiefer, who led the Trojan…