Area News

By DEUCE NIVEN tribdeuce@tabor-loris.com      A correctional officer was in handcuffs Friday afternoon, charged with trafficking synthetic cannabinoids inside Tabor Correctional Institution.      Wesley Thompson, 24, of Twin Pines Road, Whiteville, was charged after another correctional officer discovered contraband hidden in a podium in the close custody (maximum security) section at the state prison west of Tabor…

By DEUCE NIVEN tribdeuce@tabor-loris.com      In more than seven decades as a barber, Stewart Watts seldom, if ever, had an audience like the one he enjoyed Saturday.      Family, and just a few friends watched the end of an era, Watts’ hands perhaps more steady than his legs as ended his career with one last haircut, a…

Some three dozen people gathered at the Veterans Memorial Park of America, between Tabor City and Whiteville, for a Veterans Day observance last week. District Court Judge C. Ashley Gore (center, above) was among the speakers, and was watched by (from left) Bill Thompson who sang The National Anthem, park board members Rob Williams and…

By DEUCE NIVEN tribdeuce@tabor-loris.com      A traffic stop for a non-working headlight resulted in the arrest of two men on weapons charges, one who is awaiting trial in a 2018 Loris murder case, a Tabor City Police Department report said.      Heath Cherife Reaves, 23, of Mitchell Sea Road, Green Sea, was held without bond following his…

By DEUCE NIVEN tribdeuce@tabor-loris.com      Threats by social media and text message alleging planned violence at South Columbus High School brought a heavy law enforcement response and resulted in numerous students leaving campus early.      Threats on social media accounts were reported to the Columbus County Sheriff’s Office Friday morning, a news release from the agency said.…

By DEUCE NIVEN tribdeuce@tabor-loris.com      Approval to increase an already approved USDA loan for the new Tabor City School by nearly $3.4 million, necessary to cover higher than projected bids, was approved by Columbus County Commissioners Thursday.      Commissioners met in a rare emergency session to give time for county and Columbus County Schools leaders to petition…

By DEUCE NIVEN & JENN CAUSEY      To the surprise of, perhaps, no one, five unchallenged candidates sailed to easy victories in two Tabor-Loris Community elections Tuesday.      Tabor City Council incumbents Lamont Grate and Sam Rogers were challenged by five write-in votes in Tuesday’s voting, with only 157 voters making it to the Tabor City District…

By DEUCE NIVEN tribdeuce@tabor-loris.com      Details of a weekend shooting on Lewis Street that wounded three men are emerging this week as the Tabor City Police Department continues its investigation.      Two of the three were flown by AirLink helicopter from near the scene to a Myrtle Beach hospital.      All three men are expected to survive, Maj.…

By DEUCE NIVEN tribdeuce@tabor-loris.com UPDATE A third victim of a shooting that took place on Lewis Street in Tabor City Saturday afternoon was located later at Columbus Regional Healthcare in Whiteville, Maj. Russell Conway of the Tabor City Police Department. That victim was taken by private vehicle from the shooting scene before police arrived, delivered…

By DEUCE NIVEN tribdeuce@tabor-loris.com      A COVID-19 related quarantine impacting the East Columbus High School football team has forced cancellation of tonight’s scheduled varsity football matchup with the Stallions of South Columbus, CC Schools spokesperson Kelly Jones said.      Because the regular season ends next week, there will be no opportunity for the two Waccamaw Conference teams…