High Schools Provide Creative Outlet for Young Area Dancers
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•Brown named recipient of 2015 Jiggs Powers Award. •ECHS Christ- Lifestyles mas Tournament set to open today. ‘Colorful cardinals, where are you?’ •Wolfpack trips Eagles, Gators fall to Counting birds for science dur- Cougars in final round of Woodmen ing annual Christmas Count. Sports Life Tournament. See page 2-B. See page 5-A. ThePublished News since 1890 every Monday and Thursday Reporterfor the County of Columbus and her people. Monday, December 28, 2015 New photo Volume 125, Number 52 Whiteville, North Carolina identification 75 Cents law to take Inside effect Jan. 1 By ALLEN TURNER 2-A Staff Writer •Veterans Park group A new law taking effect Jan. 1 means that still seeking North Carolina voters in the March 15 primary, donations. subsequent runoffs and general elections must present a government-issued photo identifica- 3-A tion to cast a ballot. Valid IDs include a North Carolina driver’s •New room set up for license or ID card issued by the Department of adoptable cats at Motor Vehicles, a U.S. passport, a U.S. military shelter. ID or veterans’ identity card, a tribal card from a federally- or state-recognized tribe, or 5-A an out-of state driver’s license (if the voter’s registration was within 90 days of the election). •Colorful cardinals, Student ID cards and employee ID cards will where are you? not be acceptable for voting purposes. 70 years 9-A No IDs can be expired with the exception •Hardison is new of those belonging to voters 70 years of age or older. An expired ID may be used if the ID was lieutenant with fire unexpired on the voter’s 70th birthday. Military department. and veterans’ IDs also can be expired. Persons who are qualified to vote at curbside due to age or physical disability must present DIDYOB? an acceptable photo ID or acceptable document Did you observe ... including his or her name and address (such as Photo by KELLY JONES a current utility bill, bank statement, govern- South Columbus High School dance students complete a high-flying manuever during a recent dance ment check, paycheck or other government- Youngsters festival. issued document). No photo ID across the Casting absentee ballots requires no photo county enjoying ID. There are other narrow exceptions. High schools provide creative Voters with no acceptable photo ID due to a “reasonable impediment” may cast a provi- warm weather sional ballot. as they try out Examples of a reasonable impediment outlet for young area dancers include the lack of proper documents, family new Christmas nColumbus County and Whiteville City obligations, transportation problems, work Schools dance students are among 3 percent schedule, illness or disability. bikes, skates of public school students across the state en- Those people will be required to sign a dec- rolled in dance classes at school. laration describing their impediment, provide and four-wheel- their date of birth and the last four digits of their Social Security number or present their By NICOLE CARTRETTE ers? ... Flowers current voter registration card or a copy of an News Editor blooming on acceptable document bearing their name and address (such as a current utility bill, bank Evan Allen now can say he loves homework. statement, government check, paycheck or some trees and “Our homework, in here, is to go home and dance,” said Allen, a sophomore in Julia Heckathorn’s dance other government-issued document). shrubs, con- class at Whiteville High School. Provisional ballot Whiteville City and Columbus County high school Voters who have an acceptable photo ID but fused by the dance students are among 3 percent of public school do not present it at the elections site will be able warm weather? students across the state enrolled in such programs. In the weeks leading up to a performance, Allen and See ID, page 10-A ... Swimmers in other students collaborated on dance routines, discussed music and perfected their moves. Dance and theatre teacher Julia Heckathorn helps area lakes and On the stage at Bowers Auditorium, Allen is not WHS students with dances they choreographed. afraid to try new things. ponds during “I can come here and do something I love doing,” he musical theater. Whiteville said. “I like dancing because it helps me express myself Her coursework in singing, acting and dancing led the weekend? ... in ways that I can’t in talking to people.” her to teach privately after college. Just a few years ago dance wasn’t offered at WHS. Her and her husband’s love for North Carolina City Hall “I noticed all the county schools had a dance pro- brought them to Whiteville three years ago. gram,” Heckathorn said. “I just asked ‘Hey, can we do She and her husband sought jobs in the state, after that here?’ And they said yes, which was awesome.” tightens County Deaths The WHS dance and theatre teacher is trained in See Dance, page 8-A Whiteville Ronald Dale McKeithan its security Mildred E. McGuinness Good habits, goals put Tabor City By JEFFERSON WEAVER Gloria Jean Auten Chance Staff Writer Chadbourn native on path to become a JAG officer Along with the move to new quarters, Gerald Jacob Boyd By SHALON SMITH In order to be selected for the Whiteville City Hall is now a bit safer. Secu- Kenneth Britt Contributing Writer highly competitive Judge Advocate rity cameras at city offices, ID badges for all Hallsboro General (JAG) program, the son employees and active shooter training are all Jack Burchette Not every high school athlete of Jimmie Sr. and Dianna Bellamy part of the security upgrades. could imagine that a continued com- had to have a bachelor’s degree and In a memo to the council, City Manager mitment to fitness and academics a law degree and be able to practice Darren Currie said the steps might “seem would lead them to a career that in- law in at least one state. Jimmie a little overboard,” but in light of a string Index cludes worldwide travel and lifestyle Bellamy Jr. received a Bachelor of of shootings in offices and stores across the perks few employers can offer. Arts degree in political science from country, the measures were necessary. Editorials .......... 8-A Former South Columbus quar- the University of North Carolina “I want our offices to be as safe as they can Obituaries ......... 7-A terback and class of 2006 graduate at Chapel Hill in 2010, a law degree be within reason,” Currie said. Sports ................ 1-B Jimmie Bellamy Jr. can. He has from North Carolina Central Uni- Many of the renovations completed earlier Crime ................ 4-A made his way into a career with versity School of Law in 2013, and this year at the Police Department were made those very benefits by completing is licensed to practice law in North with security in mind, Currie said. The recep- Lifestyles ........... 5-A Air Force Commissioned Officer Carolina. tion desk was previously accessible to anyone Training—the first step in a Judge With a selection rate of less than coming through the front door of the building, Advocate General career—last seven percent, Bellamy said the se- and several police department employees have month in Alabama. lection board uses a “whole person” been assaulted through the years when sus- He recently completed four and concept in order to select a diverse pects climbed over the counter. Visitors now a half weeks of training at Maxwell team of applicants. must wait in the entryway until escorted in Air Force Base, the home of Air Uni- “Although strong academic cre- by an employee or officer. versity, the intellectual and leader- Jimmie Bellamy Jr. dentials were important, board Improved security was one of the factors in ship center of the USAF in Alabama. members considered an applicant’s selecting the location for the temporary city Through physical conditioning, Commissioned Officer Training are demonstrated leadership skills, offices, Currie said. training, and academic leadership transformed into officers and lead- studies, the men and women of the ers of moral character in the USAF. See JAG, page 22-A See Security, page 2-A 2-A – The News Reporter, Monday, December 28, 2015 Christmas Day swimmers Dianna Bellamy, Jimmie Bellamy Jr. and Jimmie Bellamy Sr. Ginger Littrell submitted the top photo of Mikey JAG Wall’s grandchildren – the Continued from page 1-A Heaver family – taking advantage of the record- work experience, quality of War. Bellamy said he didn’t daily, has no other choice but breaking heat to swim character, ability to overcome know he wanted to be in the to manifest in some manner in in Lake Waccamaw on adversity, motivation, cultural military but he did know he your life,” he said. Christmas Day. At right, expertise, performance in an wanted to serve. Bellamy’s journey to suc- Maria Lanehart Hyatt post- interview, and public service “Service is a part of the fab- cess has come as no surprise ed this photo on her Face- records,” he said. ric that makes up my purpose to those familiar with his book page of her sons and Bellamy’s work experi- and calling in life. I believe character and work ethic. ence included an internship that everyone in some capac- Bellamy’s mother, Dianna their friends swimming with the Defense Intelligence ity, no matter at what level, Bellamy said, “Jimmie was in an area pond, also on Agency after he completed his should willingly serve others,” a well-mannered and focused Christmas Day. undergraduate studies. He he said. child at a very early age. He spent three months working When it comes to having would get up at four or five with CIA, FBI and Pentagon long-term plans laid out in o’clock in the morning to employees in Washington, DC.