Area News
Loris leader Hoyt J. Hardee dies
Hoyt J. Hardee, one of Loris’ eldest business and civic leaders, died Monday following a brief illness. He was 86. A native of Loris, Hardee was a farmer and former owner of Hardee Manufacturing Co. He previously served as chairman and a member of the Loris Community Hospital Board of Commissioners, was a…
Read MoreSwitching chairs
Newly elected Columbus County Commissioners Chairman Edwin Russ (center) congratulates outgoing chair Charles McDowell during Monday’s board meeting. Trent Burroughs (left) was elected vice-chairman. (Deuce Niven photo)
Read MoreJayden’s health battles just a ‘speed bump’
By DEUCE NIVEN Editor’s Note: Jayden Watts’ fight took a turn last week with unexplained seizures that put him in the hospital. He was discharged from the hospital on Sunday, and is still expected to undergo a bone marrow transplant later this month. Follow his journey at Jayden Watts’s Journey on Facebook, and see…
Read MoreElderly hunter dies in accident
By DEUCE NIVEN Elderly and still active as a hunter, Vernon Gurganus died when his rifle discharged as he pulled it from his truck during an afternoon outing into the woods on Monday, Columbus County Assistant Coroner William Hannah said. Gurganus, 79, was just a few miles from his Butler Town Road home,…
Read MoreMurder follows drug deal, bogus cash: HCPD
By DEUCE NIVEN Anger over a drug deal involving counterfeit cash prompted gunfire that claimed the life of a man with Fair Bluff ties during the weekend, Sgt. Robert Kegler of the Horry County Police Department said. Courtland Gore, 25, who shows an address in Fair Bluff and has family ties in Fayetteville…
Read More30 lbs. of marijuana seized from grow house
By DEUCE NIVEN An estimated 30 pounds of marijuana was seized in a fast moving investigation that followed a citizen complaint in the Thompson Town/Pleasant Hills Community, Lt. Steven Worthington of the Columbus County Sheriff’s Office said. Daniel Donald Battista, 52, was arrested inside the house on Schoolhouse Lane after detectives conducted a…
Read MoreYoung Tabor man killed when Jeep overturns
By DEUCE NIVEN A young man from Tabor City was killed, a second man seriously hurt, in a single-vehicle crash near here Thursday night, Columbus County Assistant Coroner William Hannah said Friday. Jacob Riley Causey, 18, died after being thrown from a soft-top Jeep on Boswell Road, just off of U.S. 701 south…
Read MoreHelping Harrelson a community event
Story & Photo By JOYCE GRAHAM A bush hogging accident that claimed part of Todd Harrelson’s right leg in August isn’t keeping him down, and a community rallied to help meet his financial needs last week. Family and friends were joined by some who don’t even know Todd in a barbecue and chicken…
Read MoreNov. 21 FINAL: NCHSAA denies Stallion appeal
By DEUCE NIVEN North Carolina High School Athletic Association board members have voted to uphold decisions by their commissioner and executive committee, letting stand last week’s Southern Vance High School victory at South Columbus High School in the first round of the North Carolina 2A varsity football championships. Columbus County Schools Superintendent Alan…
Read MoreSmoke cleared, TC McDonalds is open for business
McDonald’s in Tabor City was back open for business about a half-hour after a strong smell of smoke forced it to close today (Tuesday), Tabor City Fire Chief Jerry Hodges said. “It was a belt and a pulley in an air handler on the roof,” Hodges said. “It took us a while to…
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