SBI Arrests Fair Bluff Chief in Drug Conspiracy

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Tursday, May 10, 2012 SBI arrests Fair Bluf chief in drug conspiracy Volume 121, Number 89 Whiteville, North Carolina 75 Cents Inside Today 3-A r8$)4QSFNJFST i)BJSTQSBZuUPOJHIU 6-A r8IJUFWJMMFBQQSPWFT GPSQBWJOH DPOUSBDU Next Issue Staff photo by Mark Gilchrist Surrounded by police chiefs, other law enforcement personnel and elected offcials, District Attorney Jon David, center, addresses the media after a frst appearance and bond hearing for Fair Bluff Police Chief Marty Lewis on the steps of the county courthouse Wednesday afternoon. David brought the chiefs together to show a “united front” in the wake of the law enforcement offcer’s arrest Tuesday afternoon on felony drug charges. Monday’s nMarty Lewis, chief for past Lewis, who posted a warrant. American Profle six years, indicted Wednesday $50,000 bond Tuesday after Other charges include con- Fair Bluf on several charges involving his 4 p.m. arrest, was the spiracy to deal in cocaine and features Te Spirit cocaine, pills. subject of a bond hearing prescription pills, possession Wednesday afternoon in of cocaine – found in his home terminates of Route 66/ Histor- By BOB HIGH Superior Court. Judge during a search-warrant raid. ic highway becomes Staff Writer Jack Hooks Jr. raised his Trista Renee Rhinehart of police chief, an Americana bond to $150,000 and for- Academy Street, Fair Bluff, Marty Allan Lewis, 42-year-old bade him from the prem- convicted drug dealer Ear- town clerk destination. chief of police in Fair Bluff, was ar- ises of Fair Bluff ’s police nest Quandre “Skeeter” Smith, rested Tuesday afternoon while in offices, or any other law Marty Lewis James Manuel Scott and Fran- By ALLEN TURNER uniform and charged with at least five enforcement agency in the cisco Diaz were named in the News-Times Editor DIDYOB? counts of dealing in cocaine and/or county, and told him to stay away from conspiracy charges. Did you observe ... prescription medication. and not contact his co-defendants. Drug dealer After meeting in a closed hour- Lewis was indicted here Wednes- Shocked community Smith, 28, living along Rough-N- and-a-half emergency session late day by the grand jury on the same The community of Fair Bluff was Ready Road, Fair Bluff, was convicted Wednesday afternoon, members of Folks who attended charges stemming from a seven-month shocked with the developments involv- in 2005 of dealing in cocaine and mari- the Fair Bluff Board of Commis- Tuesday’s White- investigation by the State Bureau of ing Lewis, who has been chief in the juana. Scott, 63, of Academy Street in sioners resumed open session and Investigation. Five others, including small border town for six years. Fair Bluff, has a checkered past includ- voted to terminate immediately the ville City Council Fair Bluff Town Clerk Tamika Packer, The charges include selling Oxy- ing three convictions involving drug employment of Police Chief Marty 33, of Rossie O’Berry Road, Whiteville, codone to Packer on Tuesday, May 8, paraphernalia, in addition to forgery, Lewis and Town Clerk/Treasurer meeting enjoying are named in conspiracy indictments, the day of Lewis’ arrest. The number the Arts Council? but only four of the five were indicted. of pills involved was not stated in the See Lewis, page 4-A See Fair Bluff, page 10-A Several suggested that all city meetings be moved Whiteville Waddell tops Leonard Prevatte keeps District 2 there. ... Karen keeps same Davis fashing her in Democrat House run county commission seat trash hauler By NICOLE CARTRETTE By NICOLE CARTRETTE diamond ring from Staff Writer Staff Writer Carl A. Hinson at By JEFFERSON WEAVER Staff Writer Chadbourn Mayor Ken Waddell won his bid for the Demo- Incumbent County Commissioner James Prevatte will keep Ruby’s Alterations? cratic nomination in the N.C. House District 46 race. his seat on the board. Unofficial voting results that do not include The solid waste company Waddell, a retired teacher, with 7,050 votes has a 1,215-vote provisional ballots give Prevatte a 100-vote lead over his closest ... whose rising rates led to a co- lead over Tabor City Town Manager Al Leonard who had 5,835 opponent, Whiteville Town Councilman Tim Blackmon. operative effort to save money votes. Prevatte had 47.8 percent of the vote with 640 votes to Black- will keep its contract with the Overall Waddell took 54.7 percent of the vote in the new mon’s 40.33 percent with 540 votes. Department of Social Ser- County Deaths City of Whiteville. district that includes all of Columbus and portions of Bladen vices Board Chairman Michael Lewis picked up 159 votes and On a motion by Council- and Robeson counties. 11.87 percent of the vote in the three-way race. Whiteville woman Sara Thompson and a Election results are unofficial counts until the canvass on “I thought it was a low voter turnout but I have won the elec- second by Councilman Robert Tuesday, May 15 scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. tion,” Prevatte said Tuesday evening at the Board of Elections Wilmer Otis Watkins Jr. Leder, the city council Tuesday Waddell carried 51.6 percent of the vote in Columbus County office. “I’m eager to serve the people another four years.” Marlow “Archie” Jernigan instructed City Manager Larry or 4,695 votes to Leonard’s 48.4 percent of the vote, or 4,403 votes. Prevatte said that he thought he had received a higher per- Chadbourn Faison to finalize contract de- Waddell carried Bogue, Bolton, Cerro Gordo, Chadbourn, centage of the vote than what was reported. Barbara S. Hammonds tails with Waste Management. Cherry Grove, Fair Bluff, East Lee’s, South Lee’s, Ransom, Ta- “My results come from the precincts,” Prevatte said. “I felt Tabor City At a previous meeting, Faison tum Waccamaw, Welches Creek, Western Prong, West Whiteville like I was going to get at least 50 percent.” recommended that the board See Waddell, page 2-A See Prevatte, page 2-A Lloyd Dick Hinson give the contract to Waste Industries after months of discussions and meetings with both companies. Index Leder and Thompson were &EJUPSJBMT" joined by councilmen Jimmy Dixon trails Byrd by 20 votes; race cited Clarida, Tim Blackmon and 0CJUVBSJFT" Harold Troy. Mayor Terry By NICOLE CARTRETTE lead over opponent Perry The highly contested race jority minority district after 4QPSUT# Mann and Councilwoman Staff Writer Dixon could change. is one that could lead to a defeating Sammie Jacobs, a $SJNF" Vickie Pait voted against the Those ballots include five recount. member of the Waccamaw -JWJOH$ measure. County Commissioner Bud- from Bogue, one from Bolton, Strickland said that a vote Souian Tribe, four years ago Last month, Waste Man- dy Byrd has an 879-859 lead eight from Ransom, one from difference of “not more than for the seat. agement convinced the board over his opponent in the pri- Waccamaw, one from White- 1 percent” means that under Byrd said that race played to delay a final decision until mary election for the District ville 1 and two from Whiteville the law a candidate could file a role in the outcome of the it could re-submit bids using 3 commissioner seat, but it’s 2 precincts. a written request for a recount election. the same guidelines as Waste not over until all the ballots Tuesday night Byrd re- but must do so by 5 p.m. the His opponent, Dixon, is the Industries. The latter company are counted. mained confident it was a win. first business day after the former mayor of Sandyfield used the standards set down Board of Elections Direc- “It feels good to win,” Byrd canvass next Tuesday. and an African American. by the consortium and then tor Carla Strickland said 28 said Tuesday night. “I am cer- The two candidates were “They just voted their col- later modified after several provisional ballots within tainly surprised with it being blunt with their word choice or,” Byrd said of the close vote. meetings with the prospective the district have not yet been that close. So many said they following the election. “Ransom is where I really counted. were with me – supporting me. Byrd, a Caucasian, is serv- See Trash, page 6-A That means Byrd’s 20-vote You don’t ever know.” ing his first term in the ma- See Dixon, page 2-A 2-A – The News Reporter, Thursday, May 10, 2012 Amendment One passes By NICOLE CARTRETTE Baptist Association told the amendment prior to the vote Staff Writer board weeks prior to the pri- with the General mary. “Do not let marriage It read, in part that the Voters across North Caro- be redefined. Let the people of term “domestic legal union” lina agreed to make a change Columbus County know you used in the amendment is not to the state’s constitution are in support.” defined in North Carolina law and amend it to read that the Opponents argue it was which already bans same sex only civil union recognized anything but a simple issue marriage. in the state will be marriages and about more than banning “There is debate among between one man and one same-sex marriage.

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