Area News

By JENN CAUSEY & DEUCE NIVEN UPDATE, Friday      An investigation into the robbery of the BB&T branch in Loris continues Friday with the release of a surveillance image to the robber, Chief Cary Buley said.      Police have released no new details on the robbery, which took place about 1:30 p.m. Thursday when a person, believed…

By DEUCE NIVEN tribdeuce@tabor-loris.com      A thief who took a saw from a Williams Township area business this week was caught by store surveillance, leaving Columbus County Sheriff’s Office investigators asking for help to identify the man.      The man walked out of Singletary Small Engines, 9511 James B White Hwy South, Whiteville, just after 5 p.m.…

By DEUCE NIVEN tribdeuce@tabor-loris.com      District Court in Tabor City has been cancelled for today, Columbus County Clerk of Court Jess Hill said.      Significant renovations to the Tabor City Courthouse, scheduled to be finished Thursday, remained incomplete this morning, Hill said.      “Therefore due to the concerns in regards to the safety of all, court has been…

By DEUCE NIVEN tribdeuce@tabor-loris.com      Already facing a death penalty trial for the murder of a state trooper last fall, Chauncy Askew has been indicted on an unrelated murder near Tabor City.      Askew, 18, has been indicted by a Columbus County grand jury in the June 21, 2016 murder of Jerome Parrott, District Attorney Jon David…

By DEUCE NIVEN tribdeuce@tabor-loris.com      A day of reckoning has come for a Tabor City area man who admitted guilt to drug and money laundering conspiracy charges a year ago.      Justin Lee Myers, 34, who has also previously listed an address in Myrtle Beach, was sentenced this week to serve 14 years in prison for his…

By DEUCE NIVEN tribdeuce@tabor-loris.com      Lunch left unattended on a stove started a fire that a sprinkler system quickly extinguished at Forest Edge Apartments Tuesday, Tabor City Fire Chief Jeff Fowler said.      “The sprinkler did what it was supposed to do,” Fowler said.      Witnesses said the tenant had stepped out from the second floor apartment. Fowler…

By DEUCE NIVEN tribdeuce@tabor-loris.com      Drugs and guns were seized during a traffic safety checkpoint coordinated by the Tabor City Police Department Saturday, First Sgt. Michael Edwards said Monday.      Delvin Kwamaine Scott, 24, of Porter Road, Tabor City, faces the most serious charges of those arrested at the checkpoint set up on NC 904 at Pireway…

By DEUCE NIVEN tribdeuce@tabor-loris.com      Neither Jody Greene nor Lewis Hatcher will be running the Columbus County Sheriff’s Office for the time being, but the confidential agreement hammered out between the men during mediation Thursday was likely better for both than scheduled litigation would Monday would have been, Superior Court Judge A. Graham Shirley said during…

By DEUCE NIVEN tribdeuce@tabor-loris.com UPDATE: Friday morning      Formal action ending former Sheriff Lewis Hatcher’s lawsuit against new Sheriff Jody Greene and Columbus County could happen in a Whiteville courtroom this afternoon.      Superior Court Judge A. Graham Shirley of Wake County is expected to keep a scheduled 2:30 p.m. hearing schedule in Columbus County Superior Court…

By DEUCE NIVEN tribdeuce@tabor-loris.com      Killing a Loris teen who had been a standout athlete will send a Longs man to prison for 35 years, a judge and jury in Conway ruled Thursday.      Devonta Edward Williams, 21, was convicted of murder and two counts of attempted murder in a Nov. 12, 2016 altercation that claimed Levi…