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Tax Listings Sports Today’s issue includes •South nips West on Pickell no-hitter. the 2015 county-wide •Lenoir takes two from Southeastern. •Wolfpack takes victory over A.C. property tax listings. Reynolds. See page 1-B. ThePublished News since 1890 every Monday and Thursday Reporterfor the County of Columbus and her people. Monday, April 6, 2015 The new Old Dock School? SEGS Academy Volume 124, Number 82 closure leaves Whiteville, North Carolina unanswered 75 Cents questions By JEFFERSON WEAVER Inside Staff Writer 3-A A local charter school closed last week, •Beaver program leaving behind a lot of unanswered financial questions. enters last month. A member of the board of directors for SEGS Academy in Riegelwood said Thursday that the school’s finances are in order, and 4-A that the division of the state’s Department of •Teen runs into path Public Instruction was aware of the school’s of pickup. difficulties. The school’s board of directors, after completely changing its members, made the decision to close the school, rather than An artist’s rendering of one design for the new Old Dock Elementary School under consideration have the state revoke its charter. by the Columbus County Board of Education. The design makes a smooth connection to the exist- “It’s a shame, but in light of all the specula- ing upper grades building that opened in 2013, creating a matching wing on the opposite side of a tion and the publicity, it was decided the best central section that contains a new media center. thing we could do was close the doors at this time,” said Randolph Keaton, a member of the SEGS board and its chair since August 2014. Keaton said the school had come into com- plete compliance with instructions handed Reach Out and Read is a down by the state, but after a letter was sent to the state Department of Public Instruction from a number of teachers, the school was in healthy prescription for children danger of losing its charter. nGrant funds help allow for A copy of the letter has not been made avail- Today’s book sharing, free books for able to the media. Keaton and both current and children to keep, and waiting former board members contacted refused to American Profile rooms full of books. comment on the specifics in the letter. features “Raising Second chance Kind Kids: Mom- By WALLYCE TODD SEGS Academy – its full name was Science, Staff Writer Technology, Engineering and Mathematics approved tips for (STEM) for a Global Society – opened its cultivating compas- April is “Month of the Young doors in 2013 with 64 students from Columbus, Child.” For those who care for the Brunswick and Bladen counties. Most of the s i o n .” children in Columbus County, a new SEGS students had problems in a traditional program is being implemented at learning environment, and parents hoped Columbus Pediatrics and Adoles- they could benefit from the smaller classes DIDYOB? cent Care (CPAC) that is an exciting Did you observe ... addition to the healthy development See SEGS, page 9-A of local youngsters. Members of Sacred The program is called Reach Out Heart Catholic and Read (ROR), and it’s an initia- tive that is allowing Dr. Randolph Bill would Church’s congrega- Matthews to “prescribe” free books tion taking in part for young children to take home and enjoy. Staff Photos by WALLYCE TODD in a “carry the Columbus County Partnership Reading is a healthy prescription, demonstrated here as a Reach decide who cross” walk through for Children (Smart Start) received Out and Read book entertains some of those who are working to $4,500 to expand work through make the program a success in Columbus County. From left: Sele- Whiteville to honor ROR’s early literacy program. These na Rowell, Dawn Watts, Dr. Randolph Matthews, Amanda Spivey gets to play Good Friday? ... All funds were part of the recent award and LaTonya Brown. By FRANKLIN DAVIS of a total of $67,500 to Smart Start Sports Writer of the Easter egg partnerships across North Carolina. visits. Smart Start is working with giving of books to children and ad- hunts that hap- ROR is a national program that CPAC to promote early literacy and vice to parents about the importance Public schools would be required to allow supports doctors in their efforts to school readiness. of reading aloud. This includes any charter school, home school or private pened at schools “prescribe” reading to young chil- They are doing this within pediat- school student the opportunity to participate and churches in the dren and families during well-child ric exam rooms by the provision and See Reading, page 3-A in a public school’s extracurricular activities, including sports teams. last week? ... The SB 649, if passed, would open public high Easter egg drop at school extracurricular activities to any public, Western Prong? charter, private or home school student if that Turkey hunters asked to help student is not offered that activity at the school A vintage biplane in which he or she is enrolled. By JEFFERSON WEAVER key, and avoid getting fluids around sion plans to collect and test samples The public high school that receives the made the drop flying Staff Writer eyes, nose, mouth or open cuts. from 500 hunter-killed wild turkeys non-enrolled student may charge a “reason- just yards above the The virus was first recognized to determine the prevalence rate able” fee for participation. While extracur- ground. After it had Spring means the start of turkey in domestic turkeys in and distribution of the virus in ricular is used in the bill’s text, the main focus season, and state officials are asking the United Kingdom North Carolina. is athletics. cleared the “drop hunters to share information about in 1972 and later in Successful hunters whow want to Whiteville City Schools Superintendent zone,” the children their harvests in hopes of tracking domestic turkeys in participate are asked to remove Kenneth Garland makes it clear that he “be- a dangerous disease. Europe and Asia. the un-feathered portion of a lieves in and is a huge advocate for traditional were turned loose. ... Statewide, six turkeys have been The first document- lower leg, place it in a public high school academics and extracur- diagnosed with lymphoproliferative ed cases of the virus sealable plastic bag la- ricular activities.” Local school districts must disease virus (LPDV). Wild turkeys in North America beled with the county provide funding for each student who chooses that carry the virus may exhibit out- occurred in wild where killed, to attend a charter school. County Deaths ward signs similar to those of avian turkeys in 2009. date taken, Garland said he has no qualms if a student pox, including nodules around the It has since been beard length, Evergreen chooses to attend an alternative educational head and feet, weakness, lethargy found through- spur length, sex of the setting but believes that “if the alternative Linda Carol Price White and disorientation. out the Midwest, turkey (bearded hens setting is the best choice academically, then the Testing of more than 200 hunter- Southeast and are lawful harvest) and school should also be responsible for providing killed turkeys in 2013 revealed Northeast. the Big Game Harvest ID a complete education to the student, including Index that many of these birds had been The statewide number. Samples should be appropriate extracurricular activities.” exposed to the disease previously, spring hunting sea- frozen as soon as possible and He also questions the fairness of someone Editorials .......... 8-A despite showing no symptoms. son for wild turkeys – male can be submitted at any time coming in and taking advantage of programs Obituaries ......... 7-A While there is no evidence LPDV or bearded turkeys only during the 2015 wild turkey that have taken “a lot of time and sweat equity” – runs April 11 through May season by calling (919) 707-0050. Sports ................ 1-B poses a threat to human health, by people 100 percent committed to Whiteville hunters should wear latex gloves 9. Youth-only turkey hunting season Hunters will be directed to mail the City Schools to provide the best possible sce- Crime ................ 4-A and eye protection when dressing is April 4-10. samples or arrange for pick-up by Living ................ 1-C any wild game, including wild tur- This year, the Wildlife Commis- agency staff. See Who plays, page 3-A 2-A – The News Reporter, Monday, April 6, 2015 A beaver lodge, such as this, are built in the ponds created by beavers daming a creek or stream. Beaver program enters last month By JEFFERSON WEAVER extremely successful this year, eradicated in the eastern Unit- are still responsible for trap- Staff Writer and the group is looking at ed States due to the popularity ping on state and government ways to further help landown- of beaver hats in the 1800s. As properties such as highway Local trappers are closing in ers with beaver problems next styles changed and trapping rights of way. on a goal many never thought year. pressures decreased, govern- Davis said that the commit- possible. The bounty program was ment agencies worked with tee has gone the extra mile As of last week’s bounty established after complaints conservation groups to rebuild each year with several failsafe pickup at the Soil and Water to county commissioners about the beaver population to cre- markers to ensure that tagged Conservation office, the total beaver control efforts by the ate wetlands for endangered beavers are trapped only on of nuisance rodents removed USDA Beaver Management waterfowl.

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