•County, Riegelwood to meet today in state Dixie Youth baseball tournament elimination game. •Columbus County posts victory; Riegelwood, Whiteville Optimist fall in Saturday’s opening round. •South Columbus Angels take state tournament victories. Sports See page 1-B. ThePublished News since 1890 every Monday and Thursday Reporterfor the County of Columbus and her people. Monday, July 20, 2015 Volume 125, Number 6 Whiteville, North Carolina 75 Cents County tops Inside state in toll 2-A •Boys and Girls for non-use Homes of N.C. dedicates Bill Thompson Lane. of seat belts By BOB HIGH 4-A Staff Writer •Woman, sitting in Anastounding 58 lives have been lost on car, shot in legs here. Columbus County’s rural roads in the past six years because of the lack of seat-belt use, 3-A according to statistics released by the Gover- •Community VBS nor’s Highway Safety Program. Of 132 road fatalities in Columbus County brings together six Staff photos by ALLEN TURNER from 2009 through 2014, 58 are attributed to local churches. non-seat belt use. At 44 percent, it is the high- Watermelon festivities est ratio in the state. Left: Outgoing N.C. Watermelon Queen Salem Sherill of Troutman takes part in a watermelon-seed- The county is one of seven North Carolina DIDYOB? spitting contest Saturday afternoon in Fair Bluff. Top right: Roger Strickland slices watermelons so counties to be the focus of a crackdown on the members of the public can enjoy free slices of the fruit following the watermelon quality contest. lack of seat belt usage beginning today and Did you observe ... Bottom right: Fair Bluff Rotarian Jeff Prince snags the winning entries following the duck race. Jeff continuing through Sunday, July 26. Burroughs of Cerro Gordo sponsored the winning duck and Helen Waddell of Fair Bluff sponsored Ironic honor Most of John and the second place duck. They would have won $1,000 and $250, respectively, but their winnings were Ironically, Columbus County’s Highway Shari Gardner’s chil- cut in half because they were not present for the race. Denise Conklin, Deborah Martin and Warren Patrol unit was honored in 2013 by having the Hammond won third through fifth place prizes of $100, $75 and $50. highest increase in estimated seat-belt usage dren and grandchil- – climbing more than 15 percent to 91 percent for all drivers in vehicles with manufactured dren coming togeth- seat belts. er for a family photo “This is another report from the state that on the steps of Grace shows what Columbus County drivers and Attorneys honored for more vehicle passengers are risking by not using Episcopal/Christ seat belts,” said Highway Patrol First Sgt. the King Lutheran Tony Parrish. than 50 years of practice Six other counties Church because “We’ve got 14 troopers regularly working they had all come to By NICOLE CARTRETTE News Editor See Seat Belts, page 4-A town to celebrate the church’s centennial The Columbus County Bar hon- on Sunday? The all- ored two of its most senior mem- bers Thursday at Dale’s Seafood in Commissioners female choir’s melo- Whiteville. Benton Walton III and R.C. Soles dious worship Sun- Jr. have been practicing law for more okay $1.8 million day during Baptist than 50 years. The two attorneys received a rail incentive Women’s Day at Na- standing ovation from fellow Colum- kina Baptist Church? bus County Bar members after local By ALLEN TURNER ... The families bar president Tabitha Etheridge Staff Writer presented plaques on behalf of the gathering at Lake group. The Columbus County Board of Commis- Waccamaw for lake- “We are very proud of them and sioners in a special session lasting less than appreciate what they have done over two minutes Thursday approved a lump sum gazing and water the years,” Etheridge said. payment of $1.8 million in economic develop- activities between Attorney Bill Gore, a former ment incentives for the R.J. Corman Railroad judge, said he had both tried and Group. thunderstorms and heard cases with Soles and Walton. Benton Walton III, of William- R.C. Soles Jr. of the Soles Law The measure requires the county dip into rain showers? ... The “They are two of the finest advo- son, Walton & Scott continues Firm has been practicing law for its fund balance – or rainy day reserve. cates in courtrooms in North Caro- to practice law after 52 years as nearly 55 years and was recog- Commissioner Buddy Byrd recused him- tobacco growing lina that I have ever seen,” Gore said. an attorney and was recognized nized by the Columbus County self from the unanimous vote because he thick in the fields on “I’m glad to have been part of their by the Columbus County Bar bar last week. owns a rail spur at the intersection of Grist careers and to be in the courtroom last week. and Braswell Roads west of Chadbourn, a N.C. 905? with them. They are recognized all property he obtained before Carolina South- across the state for the good lawyers in the courthouse and all the air you windows open and fans going,” he ern Railroad ceased operations in 2011. that they are and we are privileged had was to open the windows. There said. “Things have changed a lot.” “If I thought this was going to be a close to have them as part of our bar.” was no court in the summertime be- Soles, who founded the Soles Law vote, I wouldn’t recuse myself,” Byrd said, County Deaths Soles said it was an “honor and cause you had to open the windows Firm, said the practice of law is a “but I feel like it’s going to easily pass because surprise” to receive the recognition. to get air,” Soles said. “wonderful” profession. it’s the right thing to do. To be sure everything Whiteville 55 years Soles recalled the loud sound of “I am delighted to have had 55 is on the up-and-up, I think it’s best if I don’t Nancy Gail Reece Duncan The 80-year-old Tabor City native oil trucks from Wilmington chang- years now,” Soles said. “I’m look- vote.” Oliver Wendell Spaulding has been practicing law for nearly ing gears and how it carried from ing around in here and there are R.J. Corman is scheduled to close on the many of you in here now that were Calvin Cordon Creech Sr. 55 years. the roundabout into the courtroom. purchase of the defunct Carolina Southern “When we started out there was not born when I started. There are John Leonard Zandy Jr. “You could not hear yourself Railroad (CSR) on Aug. 1. one courtroom in the county,” Soles holler because of the oil trucks go- several of you in here whose fathers Tabor City attorney Dennis Worley, co- Chadbourn said. “There was no air conditioning ing around the courthouse with the See Lawyers, page 9-A chairman of the two-state Interstate Railroad Mabel McCracken Soles Committee, which brokered the deal, was among three people who spoke in support of the incentive during the 30-minute public hearing prior to the vote. Index Ward fills seat on elections board Other speakers were Lex Johnson, of At- lantic Corporation in Tabor City and Lannie Editorials ........... 8-A By ALLEN TURNER nated Ward to fill the seat. two board members can belong to McCoy of PlyGem Industries in Fair Bluff, Obituaries ......... 7-A Staff Writer His appointment appears to the same political party. whose companies were users of rail freight Sports ................ 1-B have been approved by the State Longtime board member and service before Carolina Southern suspended Crime ................ 4-A A retired magistrate will re- Board of Elections, although N.C. former county commissioner operations in 2011. Lifestyles............ 5-A place David L. McPherson in the State Board of Elections spokes- McPherson resigned his seat in Johnson and McCoy both told the com- Democratic seat on the Columbus person Josh Lawson did not return June, saying he could no longer missioners their companies will welcome County Board of Elections. phone calls and emails seeking serve as the Democratic member the opportunity to resume shipping by rail Mack Ward, who served 16 years confirmation. of the board because the national instead of having to rely on more expensive as a law enforcement officer and Ward will join Republicans Democratic Party has gotten so shipping by trucks. another 16 as a magistrate, will be Harold Fipps and Jo Ann Garrell far away from where he stands Commissioners previously approved the sworn-in with other board mem- on the three-member board. Their ideologically that he felt he no $1.8 million in incentives to be paid out over bers at noon tomorrow (Tuesday) reappointments were announced longer could represent the party a 10-year period. However, Boone Aiken, at the Columbus County Board of earlier this month. on the board. appointed by the South Carolina courts to mediate a suit between R.J. Corman and CSR, Elections office at 50 Legion Dr. in By state law, the political affili- With Ward’s appointment, all ruled that the entire $1.8 million be deposited Whiteville. ation of the governor dictates the three members of the county The Columbus County Demo- majority party on local boards of board of elections will be from See Rail, page 9-A cratic Executive Committee nomi- election in the state. No more than Chadbourn – thought to be a first. 2-A – The News Reporter, Monday, July 20, 2015 Hot weather slows honey production in county By RAY WYCHE than usual this summer.