Area News
Police seek man who tried to lure girls to Jeep
Were two young girls potential kidnap victims as they got off a school bus near their Longs area home last Thursday afternoon? Horry County Police Department officers are looking for the driver of a black Jeep Cherokee, described as a “suspicious vehicle,” after the appearance of an adult prompted the rapid departure of…
Read MoreMayor Stoudenmire says he’s not running
After hinting that his time as mayor of Loris may be ending this year, David Stoudenmire made it official to city department heads Thursday. Department heads received a letter from Stoudenmire, saying that he would not seek re-election on December 1. Filing began today and ends at noon on Oct. 4. In…
Read MoreDeputy OK after car overturns
By DEUCE NIVEN A Columbus County Sheriff’s Deputy whose car overturned near Chadbourn while responding to a call Thursday morning was not seriously hurt, Maj. Bobby Worley of the Columbus County Sheriff’s Office said. The deputy was taken by ambulance to Columbus Regional Healthcare in Whiteville, where he was released after being evaluated,…
Read MoreOverturned gas tanker shuts down NC 410
By DEUCE NIVEN AFTERNOON UPDATE: With assistance from the Wilmington Regional Hazardous Materials Team and Tabor City based HERR, the gasoline tanker incident on NC 410 was resolved Thursday afternoon, and the highway reopened to traffic, Columbus County Deputy Emergency Services Director David Ransom said. Residents of three nearby homes, evacuated early Thursday…
Read MoreCherry Grove crash claims man
UPDATE: James Robert Bowman, 60, of Winston-Salem, died in Tuesday afternoon’s crash, Trooper Melvin Campbell of the North Carolina Highway Patrol said. His wife, Susan Bowman, 51, suffered non-life threatening injuries and was taken by helicopter to New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington. James Bowman ran the stop sign on…
Read MoreHorry men charged with Columbus heroin trafficking
By DEUCE NIVEN Three Horry County men face charges of trafficking heroin throughout western Columbus County, Lt. Steven Worthington of the Columbus County Sheriff’s Office said Tuesday. All three were arrested late Thursday and early Friday as they made heroin deliveries into Fair Bluff, Worthington said in a news release. Detectives seized 200…
Read MoreFoggy flip
While visibility was good on the highway, morning fog was still evident just after 9 a.m. Tuesday as this Scion overturned on U.S. 701 just north of Tabor City. No other vehicle was involved, and the lone driver was taken conscious and talking to rescuers as he was taken by Tabor…
Read MoreWPD detective leader suspended
By DEUCE NIVEN Possibly mishandled cases have resulted in the suspension of the Whiteville Police Department lieutenant who leads the detective division, City Manager Darren Currie said Friday. Lt. Bobby Fowler was suspended with pay early this week in what Currie described as a “non-disciplinary suspension” as an internal investigation is conducted, Currie…
Read MoreLabor Day traffic checkpoint
An early morning traffic checkpoint on U.S. 701 at NC 410 in Tabor City left several motorists walking, with vehicles seized because of unlicensed and/or uninsured drivers, Tabor City Police Chief Donald Dowless said. Involving most of the department’s officers, the checkpoint was part of a Governor’s Highway Safety Program initiative and the state’s campaign…
Read MoreHabitual felons given long prison terms
By DEUCE NIVEN Lengthy prison terms have been ordered for two Columbus County men convicted in separate cases as habitual felons this week, District Attorney Jon David said Tuesday. Paul McCollum, 32, of Whiteville pleaded guilty to felony breaking and entering, and larceny after breaking and entering on Tuesday, David said in a…
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