44 Overdose Deaths in County in 5 Years
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•Watson captures 4 state gymnastics titles •Lady Ga- tors grab Beach Diamond title • Big first inning propels Wolfpack to 10–0 victory Sports See page 1-B. ThePublished News since 1890 every Monday and Thursday Reporterfor the County of Columbus and her people. Monday, April 4, 2016 44 overdose deaths in county in 5 years Volume 125, Number 80 n25 males among victims of fatally The overdose problem in this county since Whiteville, North Carolina using toxic drugs since 2011. 2011 has been fatal to at least 44, with 25 males OVERDOSE DEATHS included. 75 Cents By BOB HIGH Cocaine, Oxycodone Columbus County Staff Writer Reasons cited on death certificates in the 44 deaths show cocaine mentioned 12 times 12 11 11 There were 16 overdose deaths linked to pills as the culprit or in combination with other 10 Inside and illegal drugs in Columbus County in 2009. drugs, followed by the No. 1 pain medication 9 killer – Oxycodone – 11 times. Oxycodone is 8 This alarming statistic has dropped somewhat 8 3-A in the past five years, but the average number the major drug in the family of opioids that is of deaths per year still tops 10 every 12 months. driving the overdose numbers higher across 6 5* •Musical triumphs The latest figures show 11 deaths in 2014 North Carolina, according to state statistics. keep Barkley going. caused by overdosing on prescription pills and/ The misuse of Fentanyl patches was cited 4 or cocaine. The total for 2015 is still unknown. in seven of the deaths, and “multiple drug 2 Five deaths have been linked to the overdose use” was shown 13 times. Heroin, a very large 4-A problem in neighboring counties, was the cause problem, with another six deaths pending re- 0 •Two killed in ports by the state’s Medical Examiner’s staff of one overdose death here since 2011. Riegelwood Saturday as of last week. Another three deaths in early 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 See Overdose, page 4-A night. 2016 have pending causes. *6 deaths pending cause 5-A •Chadbourn Fire Tax proposed. Tech firm •Syphillis on the rise across state. eyeing Tabor 9-A •Multiplication Mad- By CLARA CARTRETTE ness draws crowd at Staff Writer Tabor City Tabor City’s town council members held a Elementary closed session Friday morning to further dis- cuss an economic development prospect for the town and came away hopeful that the company will be up and running within a few months. DIDYOB? Also attending the meeting were Town Man- Did you observe ... ager Al Leonard, Promotions Director Dianne Nobles Ward and Columbus County Economic Development Director Gary Lanier. John Nicho- Leonard said later Friday that the company is referred to as Project Alexander until the las, formerly of project is a sure thing. The company will open with about 12 high- Whiteville, of the paying computer jobs, then double the avail- Brightmore com- able jobs. It will be located in the former incu- bator building in the town’s industrial park. munity living “We have to fix the incubator and install heating and cooling before they move in,” facility in Wilm- Leonard said. “The building now looks like a ington, nearly warehouse.” Will it fall? Leonard said he thinks a formal announce- sleeping through With school out for Easter break and the NCAA basketball tournament underway last week, children ment about the company will be made within across the county took to the courts, or in this case, West Nance Street, to play. In this game, and a couple of weeks. lunch after stay- perhaps just off camera, were Jonathan Peppers, Andre Jackson, Shyron Peppers, Nevaeh Pitt- The building, which was built some years ago by Brunswick Electric, is now jointly ing up late watch- man, Tre Johnson, Jamaries Thompson, Dashaun Shipman, Arthur Jackson and Tyyquan Davis. owned by Tabor City and Columbus County. One thing that must be cleared up before the ing the Carolina- company can locate in Tabor City is a lease Syracuse game? agreement among the town, county and the company. ... Caroline and Depot Museum curator has big plans; Leonard said Lanier brought the lease agreement prepared by County Attorney Mike Sterling Koonce of Stevens to the meeting and will take it to county Lunch on the Lawn at the Lake May 5 commissioners at their Monday night meeting. Tabor City get- By CLARA CARTRETTE competition. “We have applied to the North Carolina De- ting their pictures Staff Writer Gore believes the competition partment of Commerce for a grant to renovate will serve several purposes: con- the building and the agreement is required to taken with UNC Karen Gore just keeps discover- servation education about rare be eligible for the grant,” Leonard explained. ing creative things to do. Since Janu- and endemic plants for students, “I think it will happen and I feel that Gary coach Roy Wil- ary she has been curator of the Lake outreach to the State Park, unveiling will soon make an announcement about Project Waccamaw Depot Museum and is of the winning art at Lunch on the Alexander,” he added. liams in Houston? already making plans for the annual Lawn with student, parents, princi- Lunch on the Lawn and a variety of pal, art teacher and Park Director ... programs, especially for children. Toby Hall present, coverage in The Well known for her award-win- News Reporter, postcards featuring ning artwork, musical talent, sew- winning art for sale at the luncheon Police take ing, teaching Sunday school and and in the Depot Gift Shop and the County Deaths many other assets, Gore has an- original art will be displayed at the nounced that the Depot Museum’s Depot for a year. Whiteville popular spring event, Lunch on the There will also be an exhibit of roll call to James Robert Dew Lawn, will be held Thursday, May 5 the other competition entries at from 11:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. on the Karen Gore Lunch on the Lawn. Annie M. Bullard Cain Depot grounds. “I think this art competition will street corners Martha Jayne B. Buffkin “Tickets are $20 and will ben- items this year and tickets may be be a highlight for students every Tabor City efit the Depot Museum,” Gore said. purchased at the luncheon,” Gore year,” Gore said. By JEFFERSON WEAVER Staff Writer Michael Dean Duncan “This is our biggest fundraiser of said. An accomplished artist who has the year and the menu will consist The unveiling of the First An- won prestigious awards and painted of baked chicken, potatoes, green nual Lake Waccamaw Depot Mu- portraits, wildlife and other art, Whiteville residents will soon start seeing beans, salad, dessert and plenty of seum’s Student Art Postcard Com- Gore is excited about becoming every officer on a shift on local street corners cold beverages.” petition will be the highlight of the curator of the Lake Waccamaw – but not necessarily because of a reported Index Gore encourages getting tickets luncheon. Her plans are to have Depot Museum and is already mak- crime. students submit art of rare and Starting April 16, evening shifts with the Editorials .......... 8-A early due to limited space for lun- ing plans to make it an even better cheon guests. Tickets are available endemic plant species that grow in museum. Whiteville Police Department will start with Obituaries ......... 7-A at the Depot Museum, Lake Wacca- the Lake Waccamaw area. Winning “When I came on board, there supervisors and officers meeting in neighbor- Sports ................ 1-B maw Town Hall, Columbus Cham- art will be used to print postcards were already plans to renovate the hoods, rather than the station house. Chief Crime ................ 4-A ber of Commerce and Tourism or to sell at the Depot Museum, State gift shop, so I’m really excited to be Jeff Rosier said the new plan is designed to from any Lake Waccamaw Depot Park, Town Hall and N.C. Museum a part of that,” Gore said. “We’re help citizens learn more about the department Museum board member before May of Natural Sciences at Whiteville. planning to make it a unique shop- as well as the officers working their areas. 1. Anyone who would like tickets Plants are the theme this year ping hub for our area. It will feature “It’s a good chance for people to ask ques- mailed to them should send name, and include the Venus Flytrap, an local and specialty gifts, including tions, share information and concerns, and address, phone number, number of endemic plant, and the Greenfly an annual Depot collector’s orna- follow up on reports,” Rosier said. “We won’t tickets requested and a check for Orchid and Venus Hair Fern, both ment by Barlow featuring a histori- share any confidential information, of course, tickets at $20 each to P.O. Box 386, rare plants. Sixth through eighth cal interest at the Lake, along with but this will let people put faces to the names Lake Waccamaw, N.C. 28450. A draw- graders at Central Middle School coasters and a jewelry line by Bar- and badges.” ing for a door prize is included in the in Whiteville, where Mary Louise low. We have specialty soaps, books, The program is part of Rosier’s plan to put cost of the ticket. Bannerman is the art teacher, will T-shirts, hats and other great items. officers in closer contact with citizens, and to be the first students to enter this “We’re having wonderful raffle See Depot, page 2-A See Police, page 3-A 2-A – The News Reporter, Monday, April 4, 2016 Migratory purple Martins resting before their aerial acrobatics around their nesting gourds.