SPORTS RELIEF AREA HIGH SCHOOL SOUTHERN BAPTIST SPORTS STILL ‘UP IN THE CONVENTIONS, AMERICAN AIR’ RED CROSS BRING HOT MEALS uu SPORTS 1B uu MEALS 5A The News Reporter Published since 1890 every Monday and Thursday for the County of Columbus and her people. WWW.NRCOLUMBUS.COM Monday, October 17, 2016 75 CENTS Boardman washout, U.S. 701 are ‘long term’ projects By Jefferson Weaver [email protected] Repairs to two major roadways in the wake of Hurricane Matthew are being called “long term” projects. Unprecedented flooding of the Lumber River in the wake of Matthew caused major damages to the U.S. 74 interchange at Boardman, shutting down the county’s primary east west route at the Robeson county line. Traffic has been restored to most of the highway, but Boardman remains impassable and, as of Friday, largely unapproachable. “We have to wait for the water to go down and have some drying before it can be properly evaluated,” said Drew Cox of the N.C. Department of Transportation. Water began receding at Boardman Friday, Cox said, but not enough for in- spectors to safely get in to the bridge and see what needs to be done. Pavement and upper surfaces have crumbled and buckled in at least one section. The primary north-south route, U.S. 701, was washed out at Western Prong, necessitating a winding detour up roads not designed for major truck traffic. Crews were widening the detour route along Wooten Store Road and N.C. Staff photo by Nicole Cartrette 130, and resurfacing of the road will be required, Cox said. Governor Pat McCrory speaks with residents, business owners, and relief workers Friday at Fair Bluff. “That detour will be in place for some time,” Cox explained. The passage over a branch of Western Prong Swamp was routed through six pipes, Cox said. “They haven’t built like that for years,” he said. “We will have a design-build team in there as soon as possible, but it likely will require a bridge.” Neither the repairs to U.S. 74 nor U.S. 701 will be done quickly, Cox said. McCrory on Fair Bluff: “We’re talking long-term here, depending on what the final inspections ‘It’s devastation… uu ROADS 2A Governor says teamwork it’s heartbreaking’ critical in recovery By Nicole Cartrette displaced from their homes due to historic flooding in By Les High [email protected] Fair Bluff following Hurricane Matthew. Many have [email protected] sought refuge with family members. Roughly 100 people were moved from the West The move comes days after Gov. Pat McCrory made Gov. Pat McCrory said in Whiteville Friday that Hurricane Matthew Columbus High School shelter to the non-air condi- stops in Whiteville and Fair Bluff Friday after getting had devastated North Carolina towns and left 24 dead, mostly where people tioned gym at Columbus Career and College Academy a look at flooding across the region via helicopter. attempted to cross rushing waters in vehicles. The number is now 26. Sunday morning. McCrory met with several city and county officials, then held a brief news “It is being run pretty much by the Red Cross,” Gov. McCrory arrives conference in front of Mann’s, which flooded for the first time since the family CCCA Principal Nicky Hobbs said Sunday. A school “It’s devastation, the hurricane probably hit this business opened in 1922. He then talked with downtown merchants as they custodian is assisting with the transition and Hobbs area harder than any place in addition to Princeville. worked to clean up the mess Matthew had left of their businesses. said he went to the site Sunday to make sure volunteers This compares to Princeville and Lumberton,” McCrory also got to see Soules Swamp, the source of much of the flooding had what they needed. McCrory said as he stood in the parking lot of S&L in downtown Whiteville. Whiteville City Schools reopened today on a 2-hour Funeral Home in Fair Bluff. The building has been “This is nine or 10 days out,” McCrory said. “We’re dealing with a major delay, and Columbus County Schools could resume used as a distribution point for food and water. catastrophe in which 24 people’s lives have been lost. The sad news about this as early as Tuesday. A principal’s meeting is planned “I also see resolve by the people to come back stron- hurricane is that it’s impacted the people who can least afford to be impacted. today (Monday)to discuss needs for the county schools. ger and resilience. It is heartbreaking but I do see We’re going to have to do everything we can to help them because they’ve “It’s just a mess. There are so many road closures. resolve and that’s what we need to keep: resolve and got nothing, no flood insurance, nothing. That’s our challenge right now.” No matter where you try to go you run into a road clo- hope for these individuals and get them help as quick McCrory said that he intends to talk with federal officials about the clas- sure but we will get through this,” Hobbs said. as possible,” McCrory said. sification of hurricanes. “We need to try to get them housing as quick as “We’ve learned that water kills,” he said. “We’ve also learned that a Hundreds displaced The 100 at the CCCA gym are among hundreds more uu FAIR BLUFF 10A uu TEAMWORK 3A Matthew attended, but didn’t spoil the wedding By Clara Cartrette traveling to get there. As soon as the vows were ex- [email protected] Pam Cutchin, mother of the bride, changed, the power went off and al- was most amazed and pleasantly most spoiled the bride’s and groom’s What does a bride do when a hurri- surprised that everyone who had a first dance. However, someone blue- cane blows through with heavy rain part in the wedding came through. toothed a cell phone to provide mu- pounding the roof of the wedding site Flowers were delivered and arranged, sic and the maid of honor’s and best during the time she should be walk- food for the reception was prepared, man’s speeches. Tiny LED lights on ing down the aisle? the DJ and photographer were there each table provided adequate light For Briana Kelli Hammond of and everything else was taken care after the power went off. Whiteville, the storm didn’t stop of. Kelly Burchette of Evergreen, the Douglas Hayes of Ivey’s restaurant her show. She got married to Sean seven-months-pregnant hair stylist cooked 500 chicken wings for the Mannion and then spent the night in and make-up artist was in tears when reception, in spite of water coming Vineland Station, the wedding site, she called to say she couldn’t make into the front of the restaurant, but with the groom and the wedding to Whiteville to perform her duties, it hadn’t gotten to the kitchen when party. but she did get there, thanks to her he finished. They exchanged wedding vows on mother. A lot of invited guests were un- Saturday, Oct. 8 during the height of The bride’s mother was amazed able to make it but the bride’s mother Hurricane Matthew’s disaster. Just a and thankful that everyone who had said there were 70 to 75 people there. few feet away, streets and stores were a role to play came through. However, no food went to waste. The getting flooded from heavy rain that “But Mama and Daddy (Oscar and remains of the wedding cake, cup began sometime before daylight and Mary Cutchin) almost didn’t make cakes, fruit, cheese, chicken wings continued all day. Then the wind it,” she said. The presiding minister, and anything else left over was came forcefully, a duo that would the Rev. Roger Coffee, also made it but likely cancel any event that required it took an hour and a half to get there. uu WEDDING 5A Briana Kelli Hammond and Sean Mannion Hayden Byrd, who was with his grandfather Buddy Byrd, getting a big hug from Governor Pat McCrory Friday? Volume 126, Number 31 Whiteville, North Carolina DIDYOB • Heidi K. Enzor and Jennifer K. Kulbersh raising $3,000 for Columbus County disaster relief in two days with a gofundme.com page? • Bucket trucks and heavy equipment filling streets during the weekend and last week, thanks DID YOU OBSERVE? to Matthew? 8 95297 00000 6 2A • The News Reporter • Monday, October 17, 2016 Recovery assistance available for residents impacted by Hurricane Matthew By Nicole Cartrette sated by insurance are also North Carolina residents [email protected] available. should register with FEMA even if they have insurance, Columbus County is among Small Business but only if their property roughly 18 counties in the state Administration was damaged by the floods or where homeowners, renters Low-interest disaster loans wind-driven damage. FEMA and business owners are urged from the U.S. Small Business cannot duplicate insurance to register with the Federal Administration (SBA) are payments, but under-insured Emergency Management available for businesses of all applicants may receive help Agency, as they may be eligible sizes (including landlords), after their insurance claims for disaster assistance. private non-profit organiza- have been settled. As of Oct. 15, more than tions, homeowners and rent- For flood insurance ques- 2,400 applications for assis- ers. Disaster loans cover losses tions, call 800-621-3362 Monday tance had been filed in North not fully compensated by in- through Friday from 8 a.m.