Area News

By DEUCE NIVEN tribdeuce@tabor-loris.com      A family mountain get-away left Tabor City Mayor Royce Harper badly injured Sunday when he lost control of his motorcycle on a scenic highway in western North Carolina, his sister Janelle Dawson said.      “He’s in a lot of pain,” Dawson said from the family owned Tabor City Auto Parts Tuesday. “They…

Memorial Day observances across America included this, Monday morning at the Veteran’s Memorial Park of America south of Whiteville. New Hope Baptist Church pastor Rev. Darrin Moore offered prayers, Bill Thompson led in the singing of The National Anthem, and speakers included VMPA President Randy Norris, Vietnam Veterans President Mike Creen, VFW President W.H. Morris,…

By DEUCE NIVEN tribdeuce@tabor-loris.com      One consultant’s view on future impacts of a proposed “superstreet” in Tabor City errs on the process and results, a North Carolina Department of Transportation spokesman said.      F. Richard Flowe, President and CEO of planning consultants N•FOCUS, said the DOT’s “superstreet” plan would eventually force some businesses to relocate, specifically…

By DEUCE NIVEN tribdeuce@tabor-loris.com      An arrest in the murder of Willie Lee Wheeler at his home in Tabor City was made Wednesday afternoon, Chief Donald Dowless of the Tabor City Police Department said.      Kason Durante Johnson, 43, of Grice Road, was charged with first degree murder. He allegedly “unlawfully, willfully and feloniously did of malice…

By DEUCE NIVEN tribdeuce@tabor-loris.com      An “altercation” between two students at South Columbus High School on Tuesday has prompted a request from the Columbus County Sheriff’s Office for a state investigation into a School Resource Officer.      Sheriff Jody Greene, in a news release Wednesday, said the incident took place during lunch, and the altercation “between the…

By DEUCE NIVEN tribdeuce@tabor-loris.com      Former Columbus County Sheriff’s officer Jason Soles bested another former deputy, Victor Jacobs, in the Democratic Primary vote Tuesday, earning the right to challenge their former boss and incumbent Sheriff Jody Greene on the November general election ballot.      Though turnout was light, at less than 16 percent of eligible voters casting…

By DEUCE NIVEN tribdeuce@tabor-loris.com      A woman and her mother died following a head-on auto crash on U.S. 701 just north of the Sidney Community Wednesday morning.      An 18-year-old man driving the second vehicle was seriously injured, First Sgt. Andrew Pait of the North Carolina Highway Patrol said.      Teva Norris, 44, of Tabor City died in…

By DEUCE NIVEN tribdeuce@tabor-loris.com      An assistant who helped a former doctor operate a “pill mill” in Tabor City has been handed a five year prison sentence for her crimes.      Tammy Lynn Thompson, 57, a Bladen County resident, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan Thursday, said a news release from the U.S. Attorney…

By DEUCE NIVEN tribdeuce@tabor-loris.com      UPDATE: Willie Lee Wheeler, 67, died after apparently being shot at his Lewis Street home in Tabor City Monday morning, Maj. Russell Conway of the Tabor City Police Department said Monday evening.      A “person of interest” has been identified in the shooting, and is being sought by law enforcement, Conway said.…

By DEUCE NIVEN tribdeuce@tabor-loris.com      A pipe replacement project on NC 904 near Dulah Road, east of Tabor City, begins Monday and will include a detour that adds about five miles to the route, NC Department of Transportation officials said.      Signs mark the detour route, eastbound leaving NC 904 (Swamp Fox Hwy) onto Ramsey Ford Road,…