•WHS teams capture Three Riv- ers Conference baseball, softball tournament titles. •East’s Palacios, Borja gain state 1A tournament berth. •Lady Gators turn back SCHS in TRC Tournament semis. Sports See page 2-B. ThePublished News since 1890 every Monday and Thursday Reporterfor the County of Columbus and her people. Monday, May 9, 2016 State park sets Volume 125, Number 90 birthday bash Whiteville, North Carolina By JEFFERSON WEAVER 75 Cents Staff Writer Lake Waccamaw State Park is hosting a birthday party. Inside As part of the ongoing centennial celebra- tion of the State Parks System, Superinten- 4-A dent Toby Hall said Lake Waccamaw will host an all-day “and into the evening” music •Several pleas taken festival May 14 from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m. in Superior Court. “This is going to be one of the biggest events of its kind we’ve ever had,” Hall said, “and we want everyone to show up. We have a DIDYOB? lot of out-of-town visitors as well as our faith- ful locals, but we want everyone who might Did you observe ... have been thinking about visiting the park to come out and see what we have to offer.” Joseph Hackney Hall said four local bands will provide Deans, grandson entertainment during the entire event. Gene Wayman and the Depot Jammers will start of Bob Deans, and the day, followed by Southern Just Us, Jimmy Camille Louise Ann Gatlin and Ronnie Fisher with the Backroads Brown, granddaugh- Band. “We’re going to have a little something for ter of Bob High, Strawberry Festival Grand Marshal Phil Ford, left, was driven in the parade by Whiteville attorney Bill Gore. every musical taste,” Hall said, “so we really graduating from N.C. hope folks turn out and enjoy a day at the park.” State University Sat- Lake Waccamaw Fire and Rescue will be urday? ... Sweaters selling hot dogs and chili, and the Dixie Youth and jackets replacing Parade marshal Phil Ford wows baseball league will have ice pops for sale. Popcorn will be available on site as well. shorts and flip-flops Alma Galloway from Maze Craze will be Friday? ... Boy Scouts crowd at Strawberry Festival offering tractor rides around the park, and a number of educational booths and arts and ready to get to work By ALLEN TURNER crafts vendors are scheduled to attend. on a new exercise Staff Writer Best of all, Hall said, the entire event is free. “It’s just going to be a day of food, fun, good area at the Colum- Bill Gore couldn’t stop smiling. music and fellowship,” Hall said. “We’ll have The Whiteville attorney has had several impressive bus County Animal three sets of bleachers set up, but we encour- titles over the years: Chief District Court Judge, Chief age everyone to bring a lawn chair as well. You Shelter? ... Paving Resident Superior Court Judge and N.C. Commissioner can relax and visit, dance or just explore the almost finished on of Motor Vehicles. But it was his most recent moniker park, whatever you like.” that had him beaming Saturday: chauffeur for Phil Ford, the Nolan Park walk- Donations for the ongoing trail projects are the basketball legend who served as grand marshal of also being sought, Hall said. Treated lumber ing trails? They are the 84th annual N.C. Strawberry Festival. in a variety of sizes is needed to complete the Ford first gained fame at UNC-Chapel Hill, where already being used expansion of the walking trail. he was a three-time consensus All-American. After his daily by some park “We have a great community and a lot of sophomore season, he starred for the U.S. Olympic team local support,” Hall said. “This is a way for the patrons. ... Visitors that won the gold medal in 1976. A first-round pick in the Parks System to say thank you to everyone, 1978 NBA draft, he played pro basketball from 1978 until at Whiteville Rent- and hopefully show some new folks what the 1985 before becoming a coach, first at UNC and then in parks have to offer all across the state. They’re als fascinated with the NBA. He now works for the Educational Foundation, Phil Ford hugs Whiteville artist Jenny Greco and your state parks, after all – everyone can come the fund-raising arm of UNC Athletics. the Strawberry Festival’s Densil Worthington ap- Mitzi the blue-tailed enjoy them.” When Ford accepted the invitation to be the festival’s plauds as Ford receives a gift of Greco’s still-life Pomeranian? ... The For more information, call 646-4748. grand marshal, festival President Guy Long immedi- oil painting of strawberries Saturday. first boaters using ately knew the car he wanted to obtain for Ford to ride in the parade: Gore’s Carolina-blue Ford Thunderbird the newly renovated Festival and then was keynote speaker for the annual convertible. Gore readily agreed with one string at- festival luncheon where about 300 people heard him Canal Cove boating tached: Gore, a Carolina graduate, Rams Club member County shelter reflect on his life and on his basketball career. and avid fan of all things Tar Heel, wanted to drive Ford access area? ... WHS It was during the luncheon that he revealed a small in the parade. senior Abigail Owens somewhat local connection. Ford’s father was the son of to offer rabies Ford delighted thousands with smiles, waves and a tenant farmer on a small farm in Marietta where the leading the nation in handshakes along the parade route in Chadbourn Sat- elder Ford grew up about seven miles from Fair Bluff. soccer assists, ac- urday afternoon. Earlier, he attended a private reception vaccinations for 70 sponsors who helped bring him to the Strawberry See Strawberry, page 5-A cording to Max Prep By JEFFERSON WEAVER Sports? ... Staff Writer Keeping a pet safe and legal will soon be Newspapers in Education supports easier in Columbus County. Loretta Shipman of Columbus County County Deaths Animal Control is now certified to give rabies lessons not found in textbooks vaccinations, according to Supervisor Joey Whiteville Prince. The shelter will begin giving rabies Reta Ellis Hinson By SHALON SMITH shots June 1. Martha Ann H. Stevens Contributing Writer “We’re excited to be able to offer this to our area pet owners,” Prince said. Vaccinations Hodges Green Twice a week, about 450 copies will cost $8.25, and are available by appoint- Evelyn Whitted Robertson of The News Reporter are delivered ment. Fair Bluff to elementary and middle school “We ask that people contact the shelter and L.V. Reel classrooms in Columbus County as see what time Loretta is available,” Prince Riegelwood part of the Newspapers in Educa- said. “We can’t always guarantee that we can tion (NIE) program sponsored by, vaccinate drop-ins.” Linda Ann Woods International Paper, MaxPro Films, The shelter partnered with the Columbus Tabor City and Duke Energy Progress. County Department of Health to obtain the Velma Clay Teachers have incorporated use Certified Rabies Vaccination (CRV) Certifica- Nakina of the newspapers into their lesson tion for Shipman, Prince said. William Edward Beking II plans in various ways. Scavenger “Currently, only 57 of North Carolina coun- hunts and fluency drills to writing ties have a CRV in their county and only 350 exercises and discussion of current people statewide have obtained this certifica- events are ways the newspapers tion,” Prince explained. “This is a big plus for Index have supplemented learning. our shelter and our county. Editorials .......... 8-A Charmin Strickland is a fifth- “This represents a lot of hard work on her grade teacher at Edgewood El- part and highlights her dedication to the ani- Obituaries ......... 7-A ementary. She said students find mals of this county.” Sports ................ 1-B examples of the reading skills they According to the state veterinarian’s office, Crime ................ 4-A have covered in class like cause and certified rabies vaccinators are appointed by effect and fact and opinion in the Central Middle School teacher Jessica Rogers helps guide Daisha the local health director in their county, and newspaper scavenger hunt. Selena Lee and Artasia Jackson through the obituaries as part of a class- must be trained and certified under the direc- Gore, also a fifth-grade Edgewood room assignment tion of the state public health veterinarians. Elementary teacher, uses the news- parts of speech in print. Non-fiction elements involve real The local health director supervises the CRVs. papers in reading, grammar, and “These activities follow our Com- people, events, or ideas narrated Shipman completed courses in rabies epi- writing activities. Students read an mon Core Standards,” Gore said. from the point of view of an author demiology, prevention and control and rabies article and then write a summary Lisa Lennon teaches language who is a real person. Non-fiction control laws as well as vaccinating dogs, cats, of the article. arts and social studies at Cerro Gor- also presents facts or discusses and ferrets through online training from the The newspapers give students an do Elementary. The News Reporter concepts. Elements of print include Wake County Community College. She also opportunity to identify persuasive is a tool for students to identify ele- headlines, artwork, logos, and body trained with a local vet. writing, practice fluency, summarize ments of non-fiction and elements main ideas, and recognize different of print, she said. See NIE, page 6-A See Rabies, page 9-A 2-A – The News Reporter, Monday, May 9, 2016 Gator issues growing at Lake Waccamaw By JEFFERSON WEAVER themselves getting hurt if Staff Writer they end up around a gator that expects to be fed.” Jake Faircloth is used to Hyatt said he thinks more seeing alligators – but not as signs reminding folks to “look close as those he encountered but not feed” are a good idea— in the canal at Lake Wacca- but the town can’t do much maw last week.