Area News
UPDATE: Armed robbery at Loris McDonald’s
By DEUCE NIVEN Tuesday update Three employees of the McDonald’s in Loris, ushered into a store freezer by two men who robbed the business early Monday, remained inside until help arrived though they were not locked in, an Horry County Police Department report released Tuesday said. Three young women, two who were 17,…
Read MoreFire claims Cherry Grove Baptist sanctuary
By DEUCE NIVEN Lightning may be to blame for fire that claimed the four-year-old sanctuary at Cherry Grove Baptist Church Friday evening, fire officials said. Firefighters from across Columbus County, Brunswick County and Horry County, South Carolina battled the blaze beginning at about 4:30 p.m., fire mostly contained before 10:30 p.m., Columbus County…
Read MorePETA offers $5K reward in case of dog tied to bridge
By DEUCE NIVEN With no leads in the case of a young dog found tied to a rural bridge early this month, PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) is offering a reward of up to $5,000 in the case. That reward is payable “for information leading to the arrest and conviction…
Read MoreHeroin, cocaine trafficking charged
By DEUCE NIVEN Drug trafficking charges face two men arrested near Tabor City Thursday afternoon, Columbus County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Michelle Tatum said Friday. Those arrests followed a six-month investigation by the sheriff’s Vice-Narcotics Unit into the distribution of cocaine and heroin in the southern region of Columbus County, including Tabor City, Nakina,…
Read MoreClarkson leads First Reliant’s Horry expansion
By DEUCE NIVEN Former Horry County State Bank CEO, a founder of the Loris based bank, has been named to head the expansion of a Florence based bank into Horry County. First Reliance Bank is moving to the Loris, Conway and North Myrtle Beach markets, with initial plans to open a loan production…
Read MoreSouth Columbus Angels advance to World Series
South Columbus Dixie Angels are the North Carolina Dixie Softball Angels X-Play champions following a decisive 12-0 victory in three innings over Duplin County in state tournament action in Brunswick County on Wednesday. They will join the Dixie Debs from Columbus County at the Dixie Softball World Series starting Friday, July 29, in…
Read MoreExotic animal law enforcement begins with a slither
By DEUCE NIVEN Enforcement of Columbus County’s new exotic animal law began quietly, with a slither, in an early morning visit to a Mollie area home, Columbus County Animal Control Director Joey Prince said. Until recently there’s been nothing to prevent anyone locally from possessing the pythons voluntarily surrendered, Prince said. Columbus…
Read MoreSouth Columbus falls in Dixie Coach Pitch first round
Lightning prolonged an already delayed opening game for South Columbus in the Dixie Youth Coach Pitch North Carolina State Tournament in Tabor City Saturday. Play resumed in the top of the sixth inning, the host South Columbus squad determined to catch up, falling short with a 5-6 final score. South Columbus takes…
Read MoreLoris crash kills toddler, two more
By DEUCE NIVEN Three Loris area residents, including a toddler, died in a violent head-on crash on Red Bluff Road Friday night, Horry County Deputy Coroner Darris Fowler and the South Carolina Highway Patrol reported. At least one other person was taken to a hospital, Lance Cpl. Matt Southern of the South Carolina…
Read MoreDeputy’s car “drifted left of center” in fatal crash
By DEUCE NIVEN A Fair Bluff man died after a Columbus County Sheriff’s patrol car “drifted left of center into the path” of an oncoming pickup truck early Friday, Lt. Jeff Gordon of the North Carolina Highway Patrol said. Robert Brownlee, 30, of Fair Bluff, died following the 7 a.m. crash on Princess…
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