r3BNTSJEJOHIJHI i"TL6TuUPEBZêFMETRVFT 5PEBZT rHMJO3FHJPO5PVS UJPOTBCPVUWJDJPVTEPHT UIF US "NFSJDBO1SPêMF OBNFOUr#BSOFT NFEJBOTFUGPS4NJUI4USFFU GFBUVSFTi"$FOUVSZ IPMET1SJODFUPOIJU BOE1PXFMM#PVMFWBSE BOE PG4QFFEѮF*OEZ MFTTJO(BUPSTêWF KFUTOPSUIPG8IJUFWJMMF JOOJOHWJDUPSZ Inside $FMFCSBUFTB Sports Ask 4FFQBHF" 3BDJOH.JMFTUPOFu 4FFQBHF# ThePublished News since 1890 every Monday and Tursday forReporter the County of Columbus and her people. Monday, May 16, 2011 Jury divided on death sentence for Tomas nDeliberations began again behind bars or goes to Death Row. change their mind simply to unite with about being deadlocked. It is believed Volume 114, Number 89 today at 9:30 a.m. Judge Thomas Lock let the jury de- the others. one juror moved to the side of the Whiteville, North Carolina liberate a total of 11 hours Friday and The group’s lunch break ended majority, and the count is now 11-1, By BOB HIGH Saturday, and the announced position Saturday at 2 p.m., and they went to although there has been no disclosure Staff Writer of the jury was 10-2 Saturday morning, the jury room five minutes later just to the court about the majority’s stand 50 Cents a position that showed some movement as an ominous sign developed outside – life or death. The six-man, six-woman jury – from Friday afternoon. the courthouse. Three sharp bolts of Deliberation began Friday at 9:05 which began on Friday the 13th to de- ‘Meaningful’ lightning followed by loud thunder a.m. and continued until 4:55 p.m., with Inside Today cide life or death for a killer who wore “The jury is still in meaningful de- broke as the jury settled in for the two recesses and lunch included. a “Jason-style” hockey mask – began liberation,” Lock said as he dismissed afternoon session. What next? 4-A the 12th week of the trial as they con- them at 4 p.m. Saturday and ordered ‘Strong opinions’ Jurors announced Friday at 2:25 r#+GSFFE tinued deliberations here this morning the session today. He noted there had But there was announced move- p.m. they could not reach a unanimous (Monday). been communication from the foreman ment from the 10-2 position Saturday decision, and wanted to know “what XJUIPVUTPVSDF Danny Lamont Thomas, declared about being deadlocked and unable to afternoon. The foreman said there do we do next?” Lock told them to con- rѮSFFSPCCFSJFT guilty Thursday of four murders in continue. were “strong opinions” among the ju- tinue, and denied the first of several JODMVEJOHCBOL this county in 2005, is the man about Each juror was told by Lock Satur- rors, and “nobody is willing to change motions by the defense to declare an whom the jury – in a reported position day at 11:40 a.m. they should examine their minds.” end to the sentencing phase. DIDYOB? of 11 to 1 in favor of taking his life – the possibility of changing their However, there were no more notes Chris Gentry began the prosecu- will decide if he lives out his years opinion, but were told they shouldn’t Saturday afternoon from the foreman See Jury, page 4-A Did you observe ... Mary Mintz getting State budget installed as vice regent College board of the DAR on her proposal 93rd birthday last meets with Wednesday? ... Court calls for reporter Bob High commissioners getting his cell phone trafc court By NICOLE CARTRETTE By NICOLE CARTRETTE seized when it rang in Staff Writer the courtroom during Staff Writer a murder trial? ... Mike The way minor traffic of- Years of underfunding threaten the reputa- Tompson arriving fenses are handled across the tion and upkeep of Southeastern Community state may change under a pro- College, trustees told Columbus County Com- home to fnd his yard vision in the House’s version missioners in a Tuesday meeting of the two decorated with Happy of the state budget proposal. boards at SCC. 50th Birthday decora- House Bill 200 includes a College officials recently requested $151,000 provision that instructs the in local funds to finish out this fiscal year. tions last Wednesday? Administrative Office of the “How did this happen? There are several ... Dottie Hill, Olene Courts to “develop protocol things. We’ve always been coming up short,” Utley and Ann Sauls and to offer regular Adminis- SCC Trustee Chairman Randy Britt said. trative Court sessions in each While commissioners for years allowed driving the streets of district court district in the capital outlay money that is designated for Whiteville Friday in state for Chapter 20 infractions repair of buildings and other such projects a 1975 red Chevrolet by Oct. 1 of this year.” to be used in current operating expenses to Typically, administrative pay things like utility bills and salaries of Capri convertible? ... courts operate differently from grounds workers they opposed such a request Joey Gore witnessing regular court procedures. In Photo by Kyrstal Hawkins two years ago. some counties such as Guilford Britt said the college has tapped into all son Matt Gore score Flag waver other resources including a food-vending fund his frst hole-in-one See Traffic, page 2-A A youngster enjoys herself during Sunday’s Pre-Memorial Day celebra- at Land-O-Lakes tion at Lower Cape Fear Hospice and Angel House Care Center. See College, page 9-A last week? It was the same hole where the Lake eyes County may elder Gore scored his hole-in-one years savings on County unveils new change economic ago. … Lillie Royal workers’ and Meredith Gore spending plan tonight incentives policy receiving a look and a benefts nComes on heels of recent recipient wave Saturday from By NICOLE CARTRETTE were increased by $5 annually. firm now “idle.” nPlan could save town Staff Writer The county’s solid waste fund is American Idol’s North currently operating in the negative. funds, without seriously By NICOLE CARTRETTE County officials will unveil their Auditors reported in December that Carolina contestant affecting coverage. Staff Writer spending proposal for the coming user fees collected totaled about $6.2 Scotty McCreery? ... fiscal year at tonight’s regularly million while expenses were more Columbus County commissioners will be By JEFFERSON WEAVER scheduled commissioners meeting. than $6.8. asked to make a number of changes to the Staff Writer Columbus County Manager Bill Clark said there are no plans in county’s economic development incentive Clark said the budget as drafted holds his budget proposal to cut any posi- County Deaths policy tonight. Bids are coming in to pro- the county’s property tax rate steady tions with the county, although the The policy was revised in 2009 to give the vide health insurance for Lake at the current rate of 81.5 cents per health department is eliminating Whiteville county more flexibility in offering incentives Waccamaw town employees, as $100. one position in environmental health Harriett Haywood Warlick to companies. That policy did not include a town leaders look for ways to The proposal recommends in- effective July 1. That matter did not “claw back” provision that speaks to the coun- Linda Harrelson Cox save money without pinching creases in the county’s trash col- come before the Board of Commis- ty seeking reimbursements from companies Coreen Brown employee – or taxpayer – pock- lection fees, though Clark did not sioners but was decided by the Board that fail to meet the requirements for grants. etbooks. disclose the amount. of Health. Latha Jacobs When Hart and Cooley shut down, the Town Manager Darren Cur- County residents currently pay Under state law the budget must Chadbourn county was unable to recoup some $20,000 in rie said Friday he is cautious- $215 per year for curbside solid waste be presented by June 1 and a bal- Myrtle Duncan Hughes incentives it gave to the company. ly optimistic that the town collection while municipal residents Willie Ralph Bellamy See Spending, page 2-A See Benefits, page 2-A are billed $128. Last year those rates See Incentives, page 12-A Delco Gayle Stocks Sr. Riegelwood Rossie Lee Waddell Bolton Going organic: Tyrees’ farm changes direction Marsal L. Tompson By RAY WYCHE The Tyrees are devoting about It’s a challenging way to farm. Staff Writer four of their 32 acres of cleared land Since regular fertilizer is not al- to chemical-less farming, and in this lowed, the organic farmer must Gary and Terrie Tyree were second year of going organic, are use natural products. Most spread Index renting their farm in the New Hope pleased with the results. It’s not an Feather Meal, a powdered form of &EJUPSJBMT" community, reserving only a small easy way to grow things. Extensive ground-up poultry feathers, across 0CJUVBSJFT" portion for growing vegetables for record keeping is required, every their fields and supplement this 4QPSUT# their own use. operation must be documented, nitrogen- and phosphorus-bearing $SJNF" But they kept hearing about a and diligence is necessary to ensure material with a natural material -JGFTUZMFT" new type of vegetable farming that that even the tiniest bit of chemical containing potash. was attracting new adherents, par- residue does not land in their fields So strict are the federally man- ticularly people who wanted to eat or on their plants. dated organic growing rules that vegetables free of chemicals. It requires total commitment poultry house litter, considered by It is organic farming, essentially and long hours of labor but the re- most farmers to be a natural fertil- growing crops without the aid of wards can be great. izer, is not allowed except under chemical pesticides or herbicides, There’s usually a higher price at stringent conditions; the fowl that and using only natural fertilizers.