•Gator boys down Mustangs for first Three Rivers Conference win. •Wolfpack teams trample St. Pauls. •Stallions rally past Red Springs. •Fairmont teams take wins over West Columbus High School. Sports See page 1-B. ThePublished News since 1890 every Monday and Thursday Reporterfor the County of Columbus and her people. Thursday, January 29, 2015 Driver’s license, Volume 124, Number 61 moped rules Whiteville, North Carolina could change 75 Cents By ALLEN TURNER Staff Writer Inside Some major changes in motor vehicle laws and regulations under consideration in Ra- leigh could make a lot of difference to people 2-A whose driver’s licenses are up for renewal and •Brunswick County to people who depend on mopeds for trans- school donates portation. The DMV is considering allowing the online books to Old Dock renewal of driver’s licenses, and allowing Elementary. experienced drivers to skip several examina- tions. A public hearing on the proposal was 3-A held in Raleigh Tuesday and, while no other hearings are scheduled, the DMV is accept- •Veterans memorial ing comments on the proposed rule change park plan through Feb. 13. rejected by college The proposed changes to the N.C. Admin- board. istrative Code would allow for the remote renewal of a driver’s license provided that the Carlton Williamson, Jim High, Gary Lanier, Emlyn Koster and Butch Blanchard gather Wednesday applicant is a resident of North Carolina, and 4-A afternoon to discuss the floor plans for the N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences in Whiteville. Koster, the remove the written test for remote renewals, •South Carolina man director the museum in Raleigh, was in town with others from the state capital to see the renovations remove the road sign test requirement for pleads in 2011 that are taking place for the Feb. 28 re-opening of the museum. remote renewals, remove the road test require- ment for remote renewals, and remove the Tabor City murder. photo requirement for remote renewals if the applicant has an existing DMV photo on file. 8-A DMV Commissioner Kelly Thomas said at •Whiteville Council, N.C. Museum of Natural Sciences Tuesday’s hearing, “This online renewal sys- staff emphasize tem is much like your personal online banking system. You would set up your own personal saving soccer field. at Whiteville set to open Feb. 28 security log-in unique to your experience.” Thomas estimated the system with the rule The newly renovated branch of changes would save the state money and time, DIDYOB? the N.C. Museum of Natural Sci- since DMV officials predict thathis year could Did you observe ... ences in Whiteville will be unveiled bring 1.4 million license renewal requests. He to the public on Saturday, Feb. 28. A said that is why the General Assembly last team from Raleigh, including Em- summer passed legislation giving DMV the au- Magistrate Ava lyn Koster, PhD, director of the N.C thority to make the changes administratively. Ward receiving a Museum of Natural Sciences, was in Reaction to the proposed changes was Whiteville Wednesday. They came to mixed, according to WTVD in Durham. Ryan plaque today for meet with the executive board of the Lee of Raleigh said, “I think it’s a great idea local Friends of the Museum group, years of service as to look over the floor plans and more. See Changes, page 9-A she retires to join Repurposing steps are being with the Friends of the Museum in filiate status. Dating to 1879, it is also made to create a dynamic indoor- Whiteville, this community now has the most visited museum in North former magistrate outdoor nature and science learning an indoor-outdoor learning center Carolina and one of the most inno- Thinking downstream center to feature new exhibits, an to enable its students and families vative institutions of its kind glob- and husband Mack investigate lab, nature exploration to explore the natural world close ally. Based in Raleigh, the museum Ward in their center, an outdoor nature play space, to home and a base from which the strives to reach every region of the City manager and and a distance learning classroom. museum can deliver programs to the state, especially rural communities. Chadbourn home? The grand opening and ribbon cut- surrounding rural region.” “When the doors open to this fa- public works eye ... One year ago to- ting is set for 10 a.m. and the public The N.C. Museum of Natural Sci- cility, we will have a new beginning is invited. ences, based in Raleigh, an agency to provide our children, and the drainage problems day was the first of “It is thrilling to extend the of the N.C. Department of Environ- entire community, with high-quality reach of our mission into Colum- ment and Natural Resources, is the science programming,” said Harold By JEFFERSON WEAVER two winter storms bus County,” said Koster. “Made largest natural sciences museum in See Museum, page 12-A Staff Writer to hit Columbus possible through a partnership the Southeast with Smithsonian Af- Solving a drainage problem today can County? ... lead to more problems years down the road, according to Whiteville City Manager Dar- ren Currie. Chamber honors Collins, McNeill That’s why Currie is working with White- County Deaths ville Public Works to solve current infrastruc- By LES HIGH ture issues while thinking ahead to prevent others down the line. Whiteville Editor “You always have to plan ahead,” Currie Betty Reeves-Williamson The Columbus Chamber of said earlier this week. “If you don’t, it comes Charlotte Inez M. Verrett Commerce and Tourism recog- back to haunt you later.” Nakina nized Johnny McNeill with the Currie, who began work with the city last Sol B. Mann Community Spirit month, is meeting with Newlyn McCullen of Joseph R. Piggott the Wastewater Department and Travis Faulk Fair Bluff Award and Todd Collins with an Honorary Lifetime Mem- of Public Works to hammer out a list of the Clarence Herbert Harp bership at its annual banquet city’s main problem areas, as well as what jessue y Monday night. improvements need to be prioritized. The city’s $11 million renovation of the Lake Waccamaw Geoff Hopkins of First Bank is the organization’s new wastewater plant and establishment of a Anna Lois Blackwell chairman, replacing attorney regional sewer system didn’t end White- Sidney Matthews Kevin Williamson. Monday’s ville’s infrastructure problems, Currie said, although the project was a step in the right Tabor City banquet marked the first anni- versary of the merged Greater direction. There are still aging sewer pipes, Brenda Gail Chavis Whiteville Chamber of Com- worn-out water lines and unmaintained Ricky Dale Godwin merce and Columbus County stormwater drainage ditches to handle. Travel and Tourism. “We have some serious issues in water Terry Mann presented the distribution and wastewater disposal that Sol B. Mann Award to McNeill, still need to be addressed,” he said. “Those Index who was surrounded by sev- problems aren’t always easy to see – they’re eral family members. below ground, obviously – and it’s hard some- Editorials ......... 10-A “This year’s recipient has Whiteville Mayor Terry Mann presents the Sol B. Mann Community Spirit times to know a problem is growing until it’s Obituaries ......... 8-A been contributing to our com- Award to Johnny McNeill Monday night. The award, given annually by the too late.” Sports ................ 1-B munity for a long, long time,” Columbus Chamber of Commerce and Tourism, recognizes community Stormwater drainage continues to be a Crime ................ 4-A Mann said. “He had a close members who “go beyond the call of duty to make this a better place to headache for the city, Currie said, although live.” At center is McNeill’s daughter, Mary Hooks. Several of McNeill’s he said some improvements have been made Living ................ 1-C See Chamber, page 6-A family were on hand for the presentation. See Drainage, page 6-A 2-A – The News Reporter, Thursday, January 29, 2015 Raleigh child’s party Friday will benefit Old Dock kids The story last week about 6-year-old Adeline Layton’s birthday party in Raleigh on Friday, Jan. 30, being used to help supply Old Dock Elemen- tary students with art supplies has had further developments. Her grandfather, retired Rev. Paul Layton of the Bladen Springs community in Bladen County, visited The News Re- porter office last week to pur- chase several copies of the is- sue with his granddaughter’s photo on the front page. Adeline’s photo was used with the story about Lacy Elementary School in Raleigh donating almost 400 books and a mass of art supplies to Adeline Layton’s Old Dock’s students. Rev. Lay- ton spent 15 years as pastor “This party for Adeline re- of Chadbourn Presbyterian ally started as an exercise in giving back. We’re fortunate Union Elementary School in Shallotte held a book drive to help Old Dock Elementary School restock its library, which Church before his retirement, our kids don’t really go with- was destroyed in the Feb. 7 fire. More than one hundred boxes of books were delivered to the school on Monday. and he is really a proud grand- father. out, so my wife encouraged Sharing in the event were, from left: Union Principal Vickie Smith, Union parent volunteer Katherine Norfleet, Old Adeline to consider having her Dock Principal Ronna Gore and parent volunteer coordinator Ryan Gore. And, this week Old Dock El- ementary received a phone call friends make contributions to from Nashville, Tenn. The call a cause rather than bringing was from Ms.