Area News
Wreck at busy intersection injures two
Story & Photo By DEUCE NIVEN A mid-morning wreck at Tabor City’s busiest intersection sent a man and woman from separate vehicles to the hospital Monday. Neither of those hurt appeared to have life threatening injuries, though the man was immobilized on a spine board for his ambulance trip to McLeod Loris hospital,…
Read MoreNearly two years of sex crimes with a child alleged
By DEUCE NIVEN Sex crime warrants involving a minor were served on a Whiteville man Thursday, landing him in jail with a bond of more than $2 million, the Columbus County Sheriff’s Office reported Friday. Christopher McDaniel Parker, 44, of the 2000 block of New Britton Hwy, was charged with eight counts each…
Read MoreMurder-suicide in Loris area home
Murder-suicide has been determined to be the cause of death for a couple discovered shot dead inside their Loris area Monday night, the Horry County Police Department said Wednesday. Bodies of John Steere, 36, and his wife Candace Steere, 34, were found inside the home at 275 Hulls Island Road by a family…
Read MoreTwin pleads to lesser charges in murder case
By DEUCE NIVEN A guilty plea to attempted armed robbery and second-degree kidnapping in a three-year-old murder case was accepted by prosecutors and a judge Wednesday, District Attorney Jon David announced Friday. Lapolean Ricky Cooper, 35, of Tabor City, was sentenced to serve from 219 to 288 months, 18 years and three months…
Read MoreHome invasion murder in Fair Bluff
By DEUCE NIVEN Investigators are trying to hold information close in a deadly home invasion in Fair Bluff early Sunday, Police Chief Chris Chafin said Tuesday. Connie Jean Nealey Simmons, 60, died in her home on Main Street near the western edge of the river town, shot “multiple times,” Columbus County Assistant Coroner…
Read MoreLog truck overturns, blocks Wright Road
An east-bound log truck overturned on Wright Road before 10:20 a.m. Monday, spilling its load mostly on the shoulder and in a ditch, the tractor and trailer completely blocking the rural roadway. No other vehicles were involved, and the driver who did not appear to have life threatening injuries was taken by Tabor…
Read MoreBoy charged with Porter murder
By DEUCE NIVEN A boy has been charged with murder in the death of Tabor City area resident Felicia Moore Porter last month, the Columbus County Sheriff’s Office announced Monday. Investigators will not provide the age of the suspect, or say how Porter was killed, because the investigation into her death is ongoing,…
Read MoreSchool bus overturns, no one hurt
Story & Photo By DEUCE NIVEN No one was hurt when a South Columbus High school bus overturned before it’s first passenger was picked up Monday morning. Driver Donterius Mytrell Rich, 22, of Tabor City lost control of the bus on Richard Wright Road, coming out of a curve, allowing the right wheels…
Read MoreTwo more sought in insurance fraud case
By DEUCE NIVEN Two people are wanted in connection with an alleged insurance fraud scheme that has already resulted in the arrests of four Tabor City area women, North Carolina Department of Insurance (DOI) investigators said Tuesday. Warrants charge Elfonza Demetrius Riggins, 29, of Tillman Avenue, and Hattis Tean Galloway, 34, of Kinlway…
Read MoreRed-letter railroad days
Ribbons fell as rail service inched closer to Columbus, Horry and Marion counties this week. R.J. Corman Railroad Group hosted ribbon cuttings in Chadbourn Tuesday, Loris (seen here) Wednesday morning, celebrating the return of rail service on the former and long-idled Carolina Southern Railway lines. Good crowds were present for both events,…
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