Area Upfront News

By DEUCE NIVEN tribdeuce@tabor-loris.com      Operation Carnivore, a multi-agency law enforcement effort targeting drug trafficking in several areas of Columbus County including Green Acres, Ten Mile Road, and Dessie Road, resulted in the arrests of 17 people early this week, representatives of those agencies said this morning.      “Promises made, promises kept,” state Rep. Brenden Jones said…

By DEUCE NIVEN tribdeuce@tabor-loris.com      U.S. Marshals and other agencies were working in Columbus County on Tuesday, apparently making drug related arrests including some in the Tabor City area, but holding details of the operation close.      Marshal’s spokesman Bryan Konig confirmed that his and other agencies were working in the county Tuesday, and Chief Deputy Aaron…

By DEUCE NIVEN tribdeuce@tabor-loris.com      A detour at NC 410 at US 701 in Tabor City Monday marked the beginning of a traffic improvement project designed to reduce back-ups at one of the area’s most congested highway intersections.      A “continuous-flow” right turn will be constructed on the site, work to be complete no later than next…

By DEUCE NIVEN tribdeuce@tabor-loris.com      A road trip to East Bladen promises to be a challenge for the Stallion varsity football squad from South Columbus High.      Fans unable to make the trip to Elizabethtown can watch all the action online, with ATMC scheduled to Live Stream the game.      Kick-off is set for 7:30 p.m. at East…

By DEUCE NIVEN tribdeuce@tabor-loris.com      One minor injury was reported after a Nissan Sentra plowed into the back of a Columbus County Schools bus east of Tabor City Friday afternoon, its driver disappearing down a nearby logging road, witnesses said.      Witnesses, including the bus driver and the Nissan passenger left behind, said the driver grabbed a…

By JENN CAUSEY tribjenn@tabor-loris.com      Gone but not forgotten, the late Estelle S. Wright continued giving to the city she served and loved this week, six months after she passed away.      Mayor Todd Harrelson and Interim City Administrator Dennis Drozdak have received a check this week for $225,000 to go towards paying off the city’s Public…

By DEUCE NIVEN tribdeuce@tabor-loris.com      No evidence supporting allegations of sexual misconduct by Columbus County Manager Mike Stephens has been found by outside investigators contracted by county commissioners, chairman Trent Burroughs said Monday.      Jackson Lewis, a national law firm with offices in Raleigh, was hired to investigate allegations made by former Columbus County Board of Elections…

By DEUCE NIVEN tribdeuce@tabor-loris.com      A man with a taste for beer was arrested Sunday, accused of using a stolen SUV in thefts from three convenience stores and two grocery stores Saturday, Tabor City Police Department reports say.      Dusty Jonathan Prince, 30, of Will Inman Road, Tabor City, was located by police Sunday and served with…

By DEUCE NIVEN tribdeuce@tabor-loris.com      A second man is wanted for questioning in a triple murder near Whiteville.      Jonathan Walter Watts, 37, of Whiteville is sought for questioning in the Sept. 7 slaying of a 5-year-old child and his parents on Brittany Lane south of Whiteville, a news release from the Columbus County Sheriff’s Office said…

By DEUCE NIVEN tribdeuce@tabor-loris.com      A Tabor City area man has been charged with murder in the of a man’s body who was found shot dead in his car in the Pireway area Monday.      Lakeithy Gene Keller, 44, of Horace Cox Road, Tabor City, was charged Thursday night with murder, assault with a deadly weapon,…