'It Was Just Something That Hit
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Today is Sports r)BMMTCPSP.JEEMF4DIPPM5PVSOBNFOU Martin IFBETJOUPUIJSEEBZPGBDUJPO5VFTEBZ Luther r1BDLUSJQT$PVHTr8BSSJPSHJSMTGBMM King Jr. UP'MPSB.BDEPOBME Day 4FFQBHF" ThePublished News since 1896 every Monday and Tursday forReporter the County of Columbus and her people. Monday, January 17, 2011 Sherif hopes prosecution Federal funds Volume 114, Number 58 Whiteville, North Carolina tougher in for 911 radio 50 Cents drug cases system lost nEight of those arrested nUnreliable radio communications last week on felony drug between emergency responders and charges have prior drug Inside Today dispatchers persist. convictions. 4-A By NICOLE CARTRETTE By BOB HIGH r.VSEFSBOESPC- Staff Writer CFSZJO5BCPS$JUZ Staff Writer The days of sporadic and failed emergency Eight of the 19 people ar- r'PVSNPSFBSSFTUFE radio communications in Columbus County rested last week on charges of continue. JOESVHDBTFT selling cocaine, pain medica- A federal appropriation that was antici- tion or marijuana have prior pated to help improve the system may be lost felony drug convictions, ac- due to federal spending cuts. cording to court records. Congressman Mike McIntyre announced Sheriff Chris Batten said last year that a key U.S. House Subcommit- this new group of defendants tee had approved $400,000 in federal funds to would be watched closely as upgrade the existing public safety communica- they go through the court tions system in Columbus County, but the item process because a new district was removed from the federal budget when a attorney is now overseeing the decision was made to do away with earmarks. prosecution. The county will have to look elsewhere for “Things may be different funds to upgrade the county’s existing UHF under our new district attor- and VHF emergency radio communication ney,” the sheriff said. Chris systems. Thomas, one of the assistant Columbus County Emergency Services DAs, has already broached a Today’s Director Jeremy Jernigan said the county will different approach to prescrip- have to request as much funding as possible American Profle tion medication cases in talk- from a restricted 911 account maintained by ing with Lt. Steven Worthing- features “Dream the state. The account is funded with a month- ton of the drug unit. Walker.” Astronaut Repeat offenders ly, per-phone surcharge paid by phone users. A new state law passed last year allows “We haven’t had a chance to Dr. Bernard Harris 50 percent of reserved 911 fees to be used for sit down with Thomas and Jon public safety purchases such as radio funds brings outer-space David and see what specifics that are not typically allowed for that purpose. they’re talking about. I hope inspiration to Staff photo by Mark Gilchrist That means Columbus County could use up it’s not more plea deals that inner-city teens. carry short prison terms, or Sunday sitting See 911 system, page 7-A See Tougher, page 4-A Eddie Pierce sits on the porch of his Lake Shore Drive home Sunday, DIDYOB? enjoying temperatures in the 50s after chopping and stacking piles of Did you observe ... pecan wood for his freplace. State prepping 4OPXBOEJDFTUJMMPOUIF Pruning to HSPVOE "XBSNSBJOJT boost pecan Whiteville Chamber banquet, for hearing on OFFEFE$PVOUZSFTJ EFOUTUIJOLJOHUIBUUIJT output at mini-expo slated for Jan. 24 septage site XFFLTIJHIUFNQFSBUVSFT JOUIFTXJMMGFFMiMJLF Boys Home By JEFFERSON WEAVER to attend and participate.” nNo date or location yet announced. TVNNFS u8IJUFWJMMF Staff Writer Among the activities for the evening will be the installation of By NICOLE CARTRETTE )JHI4DIPPMTFOJPSTHFBS By RAY WYCHE Staff Writer The Greater Whiteville Chamber Henry Hawthorne, CEO of Colum- Staff Writer JOHVQGPSUIFJSHSBEVB of Commerce will kick off what bus Regional Healthcare, as the UJPOQSPKFDUQSFTFOUBUJPOT In a move to increase pro- many hope will be a better year with new chamber president. Hawthorne The N.C. Division of Solid Waste permitting UIJTXFFL duction in future years, the pe- its annual banquet and expo Jan. 24. replaces outgoing president Butch section has yet to announce a date and location can orchard at Boys and Girls “This is a good chance for people Hooks. for a public hearing on Waste Management’s Homes at Lake Waccamaw is to come out and find out about our Hooks will present a video retro- proposal to apply septage to a 41-acre site in now in the midst of a pruning local businesses, what they have to spective of the year in business in the Green Swamp south of Bolton. program. offer and how they can help each Columbus County, Young said. Officials announced more than a week ago County Deaths Last week’s weather put a other,” said Janice Young, executive The expo has seen some growth that a public hearing would be held, although in recent years, Young said, despite Whiteville temporary halt to trimming director for the chamber. “It’s always not required by state law. the tips of old limbs in the 600 a big night.” the poor economy. “The division had expected to be able to Iris Odell Stevens Norris trees that are scattered among The event starts with a business “This is a place where new and announce the official details for the public Virgina C. Powell Fletcher the residential cottages and on expo and social hour at 5:30 p.m., established businesses can meet hearing this week, but while all other details Larue Reeves Ward the farm north of N. C. High- leading up to the banquet at 6:30 p.m. new customers, and really showcase are ready to go, the recent inclement weather way 214 (old U. S. 74-76). Tickets are $25 per person and must what they have to offer,” Young said. has complicated the process of finalizing the Fair Bluf The event will be held in Room J.S. “Stan” Tompson “We’re pruning to get more be purchased in advance. date,” spokesperson Kathy Akroyd said. pecans,” Farm Manager Chuck “Everything was pushed aside 120 of the T Building at Southeast- “While the Columbus County commis- Bolton Ward said. due to the winter storm,” said ern Community College. For more sioners graciously offered the Commission- Bessie Helen K. Wagner “Pecan trees need new Young, “but now we’re finishing off information, contact the chamber ers’ Chambers in the Courthouse Annex as Brunswick the final details and inviting people at 642-3171. a location for the hearing, the division was Memory Evans See Pecans, page 2-A See Septage, page 2-A Hallsboro Jean Smithers Jordan Tabor City Harry Allen Simmons Linda F. Guyton ‘It was just something that hit me’ Chadbourn By RAY WYCHE at 7:30 p.m. During the busy day, the veterans George Woodberry Staff Writer will have the chance to visit some of the many Cerro Gordo monuments erected in their honor. Telma Inez M. Nance David Trogdon of Chadbourn is not a mili- Among the sites to be visited will be the tary veteran but thanks to his interest in those World War II Memorial, the Air Force Memo- who served in World War II, a lot of ex-military rial, the Korean War Memorial, the Vietnam men and women who were in the big war are Wall and other memorial sites. Index getting the chance to see expressions of thanks In addition, the bus moving the veterans the nation is giving them. around Washington will stop in Arlington &EJUPSJBMT" Trogdon helps with the Honor Flights in National Cemetery to view the Marine Corps 0CJUVBSJFT" the Columbus County area after learning that Memorial based on the famous photograph 4QPSUT# other places were flying WWII veterans to of Marines raising the American flag on Mt. $SJNF" Washington for a day’s viewing of the monu- Suribachi on Iwo Jima. ments erected in honor of the veterans. At each stop on the bus tour around the city, -JGFTUZMFT" “It’s something I took upon myself to be someone will be at the monuments to comment involved in,” he says. “It’s important for these on the memorial. Some veterans on the tours people to get the opportunity to go to Washing- know more about the event being commemo- ton. It’s just something I wanted to do. It was rated than the guides, Trogdon says. just something that hit me.” Everything connected with the Honor There have been three Honor Flights out of Flights is aimed for the veterans’ benefit. The Wilmington and one from New Bern. pilots of the aircraft leave the cockpit door A fourth flight from Wilmington will carry open during the flight so veteran-passengers 101 veterans, about 34 escorts, and a three- can have a look at the pilots at work. person medical team that will leave Wilmington It’s a busy day for the veterans, most of at 7:30 a.m. on April 20 and return the same day See Flights, page 2-A Trogdon wth pictures of some Honor Flight veterans. 2-A – The News Reporter, Monday, January 17, 2011 This week, on... Pecans AskUS Continued from page 1-A growth to bear a crop. It’ll Pills in daily-dose pillbox doesn’t probably be two years down normally put user at risk of arrest the road before the new growth will start bearing,” he added. January 17, 2011 “I have a medical condition told to “use good sense” in The pruning work is being and take Xanax, which is con- case they find a daily pillbox done by Powell’s Tree Service Whiteville.com sidered a controlled substance. in possession of a motorist. from Whiteville that is using Reader I keep one in a small pillbox in “If the officer doesn’t sus- a lift-truck to reach the top Photos my pocketbook in case I have pect or have information that branches of the trees that were an attack.