5BYFTNVTU r4UBMMJPOTHFUUIJSETUSBJHIUXJOUP DBQUVSF+JHHT1PXFSTUJUMFr1JOF CFêMFECZ 'PSFTUDMBJNTXJOPWFS7JLFTJO NJEOJHIU UPVSOFZêOBMFr-BEZ1BDLTPDDFS 5VFTEBZ UFBNQPTUTTIVUPVUWJDUPSZPWFS Sports 5PQTBJM "QSJM 4FFQBHF# ThePublished News since 1890 every Monday and Tursday forReporter the County of Columbus and her people. Monday, April 16, 2012 Wife fnds murdered County Volume 121, Number 82 Whiteville, North Carolina husband looking 75 Cents in Hallsboro at pay rates nVictim, found in his Inside Today home, shot in head. By NICOLE CARTRETTE 4-A By BOB HIGH Staff Writer Staff Writer r8IJUFWJMMFNBO Pay increases may be in some Columbus DBVHIUJO4$JO Keith Douglas “Gadget” County employees’ futures. #MBEFODBTF Gachett, 46, of Red Bug Road, Commissioners are considering at least Hallsboro, was found mur- one revamp of the county’s salary schedule dered in his home Friday af- and pay plan that would increase the starting ternoon by his wife returning salaries for a number of positions. to the residence from work, Hundreds of existing employees would ad- according to sheriff ’s reports. vance across the new pay range in a four-year Gachett was in the living phase-in of the option at a cost of roughly room of the brick home near $500,000 in the first year. Those employees Palmetto Bay Road at the in- would see varying salary increases depend- tersection of Red Bug and Pa- ing on how underpaid they are, according to meter roads west of Hallsboro. the study. Investigators pursued im- “It is not a raise, it is a catch-up. You are See Murder, page 4-A catching people up to where they should be already,” Becky Vezeay of the MAPs group, an independent consulting firm, told commis- Today’s sioners recently. “It will take grades up but Chamber not nearly as much as needed. You will still American Profle be behind in four years. sponsoring “You are in a pretty deep hole. The people features “Girls & most underpaid will get the biggest increases. Sports, Forty Years candidates’ In some cases, people underpaid don’t get any- thing in year one or two,” Veazey explained. afer Passage of forum She added that an individual’s grade may Title IX.” go down but the employee’s pay go up based The Greater Whiteville on the new scale. Chamber of Commerce will See Pay rates, page 2-A sponsor a candidates’ forum DIDYOB? on Thursday, April 19, at Staff photo by Mark Gilchrist Did you observe ... Vineland Station. It begins Ready for Relay at 6:30 p.m. and is open to One-Stop early the public. Shonna Norris attaches a purple bow to a tree outside the Columbus Andelyn Ray meet- Candidates will be given County Arts Council Sunday afternoon during the Relay for Life Paint ing Scotty McCreery an opportunity to make the Town Purple Parade. Participants walked through downtown White- voting begins opening statements fol- ville, hanging more than 500 bows to promote the annual American before his concert in lowed by questions. Cham- Cancer Society fundraiser this Friday. Wilmington Friday ber members may submit Tursday questions ahead of time. The night? Ten chat- chamber will forward ques- By NICOLE CARTRETTE Staff Writer ting with his Sister, tions to the governmental affairs committee that is BBQ on the Bluf is April 20-21 Ashley at the Krispy coordinating the event. One-Stop early voting will begin Thursday By CLARA CARTRETTE will receive $500, $300 and $150, in at the Columbus County Board of Elections Kreme. ... Clint News Editor addition to trophies. Showmanship office in Whiteville but satellite One-Stop sites (Buddy) Boswell en- trophies will also be awarded to the do not open until April 25. An exciting event is planned in winning teams. Those who wish to get an early start can joying Peace Baptist Strawberries Fair Bluff on Friday and Saturday, BBQ teams can register for the do so by casting an absentee ballot in the May April 20-21. competition by contacting the Fair 8 Primary Election at the board of elections Church’s new play- weather last Dave with the Swamp Loggers is Bluff Chamber at 649-7202. The contest office in Whiteville from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m ground equipment? coming to cook in the town’s first BBQ is limited to 20 teams and a $200 entry Monday through Friday. cold snap on the Bluff, which some say will prob- fee is required. From presidential preference to local ... ably become an annual event. Barbe- Teams may begin setting up at elected offices, a number of races are on the By RAY WYCHE cue – by the plate with all the fixings, noon Friday and must finish by 6 p.m. ballot this year in both the Democrat and Re- Staff Writer or by the pound – will go on sale at 11 Entertainment will be provided on publican primaries. County Deaths a.m. Saturday. Event T-shirts will also Riverside Drive stage from 7 p.m. until, Commissioners Just at the time the county’s be available. and the BBQ showmanship judging Four county commission seats are up Whiteville small strawberry acreage was The barbecue cook-off is a com- will be held at 7 p.m. Teams must meet for grabs. District 2 Commissioner James reaching the peak of produc- Prevatte of North Whiteville faces opposi- Clarence W. Floyd munity event, with most townspeople in the visitors center at 8 p.m. and pig tion last week, the much-feared involved in the sponsorship through arrival and distribution will be from tion from DSS Chairman Michael Lewis and Clarence R. Williams cold snap hit the area Wednes- the Greater Fair Bluff Chamber of 9 until 10 p.m., when cooking begins. Whiteville Town Councilman Tim Blackmon Nina Evans Elliott day night. Commerce, Fair Bluff Rotary Club, Teams will be served breakfast at 7 in the Democratic Primary. Lake Waccamaw Low temperatures Wednes- Fair Bluff Fire and Rescue, Fair Bluff a.m. Saturday and pigs will be judged District 3 Commissioner Buddy Byrd of Samuel Charles Jr. day night and Thursday morn- Library, Progressive Women’s Club from 8 to 9 a.m. Entertainment will Hallsboro faces opposition from former San- ing varied throughout the area, dyfield Mayor Perry Dixon in that primary. Riegelwood and Fair Bluff Senior Center. begin at 9 a.m. and trophies will be ranging from 28 degrees at 6 Some of the finest BBQ cooks in awarded to winners at 10 a.m. District 4 Commissioner Edwin Russ of Costella White a.m. Thursday at the Green North and South Carolina are ex- The public is encouraged to par- Lake Waccamaw is unopposed. Clarice Lacewell Daniel Swamp station of the N.C. pected to show off their skills in the ticipate in this premier event to enjoy Tabor City Town Councilman Trent Bur- Chadbourn Forest Service to 35 degrees fine art of outdoor cooking. North the BBQ by the Bluff competition, roughs is unopposed for his bid for the Dis- Marvin McCallister Miller at the Border Belt Tobacco Carolina Pork Council rules will be the barbecue sale, entertainment and trict 5 seat held by Lynwood Norris. Norris is Research Station northwest of retiring this year and did not seek reelection. Evergreen followed and the top three winners fellowship. Fannie T. Graham Weston See Strawberries, page 9-A See Voting, page 3-A Cerro Gordo Mildred Dudney Blackwell Tabor City ‘Completely a God thing’ Delbert Jackson Food bank up and rolling at Lake Index By JEFFERSON WEAVER A local Cub Scout troop collected on the most basic principle—helping list for several food charities as well. Staff Writer food and donations to help out, Shum- others.” The Food Bank was looking for a local &EJUPSJBMT" way said, and slowly, donors began The churches began brainstorming partner to help distribute groceries to 0CJUVBSJFT" Four churches at Lake Waccamaw lining up. and collecting what donations they needy families. 4QPSUT# have put aside their philosophical dif- “Lake Waccamaw Presbyterian col- could. First Baptist was chosen as the The partnership was an answer $SJNF" ferences to get back to the most basic lected a special Thanksgiving offering repository and distribution center, to prayer, Shumway said. The Food -JGFTUZMFT" rule of the gospel—feeding the hungry. for us,” Shumway said, “then the Meth- since it has the largest facility. The Bank charges 18 cents per pound for Lake Waccamaw First Baptist odists and Little Wheel of Hope got on churches were trying to find ways to grocery-store quality staples, which Church is working with its Presbyte- board as well. This was just something spread the word about the food pantry the local group then distributes for rian and Methodist neighbors, along the Lord brought together.” and raise donations at the same time free to the needy. with the independent Little Wheel Shumway said he already had a when they contacted the largest food “We have a very high number of of Hope, to host a food distribution good relationship with the other local charity in the area, the Food Bank of people who are on food stamps but program twice per month. FBC Pas- pastors, and that helped open doors to Eastern North Carolina. can’t make it through the month,” tor Stuart Shumway called the effort cooperative efforts to help the needy. That was when the leaders got some Shumway said. “They need good, “completely a God thing.” “Sometimes you have small church- surprising news — the Food Bank was wholesome meals, and we have gospel “We had a small scale food bank to es that don’t want to work together,” already eying Columbus County. instruction that we are to feed the begin with,” Shumway explained, “but he said.