The News Reporter’s FOOTBALL GET OUTDOORS Outdoors The News Reporter’s outdoors TONIGHT section includes fall hunting Heavy rains expected Friday move high school seasons and much more football games to tonight. uuSEE SPECIAL INSERT TODAY Hunting & Fishing in Columbus County September 1, 2016 The News Reporter Published since 1890 every Monday and Thursday for the County of Columbus and her people. WWW.NRCOLUMBUS.COM Thursday, September 1, 2016 75 CENTS MUSIC TEACHER OF ALL AGES Beloved music teacher found slain Tuesday By Jefferson Weaver [email protected] The death of a beloved retired music teacher sent shock waves through Whiteville Tuesday. Carol Greer was remembered not only as a gifted music teacher at Primary School, but also as someone whose love of children and others extended well beyond the classroom. Greer, 65, was found slain in the garage area of her Smyrna Drive home in Whiteville Tuesday just after 3:30. Police had no new information as of presstime this morning. Detective Aaron Herring of the Whiteville Police Depart- ment said the victim’s car, a “Carol touched hundreds, if 2012 Subaru Outback, is miss- not thousands, of lives. She ing. The white station wagon’s license tag is ZYV 5224. was just such a fine person “We believe the car may be and a great teacher. She’d have in the Southport or Bolivia given anyone the shirt off her area,” he said. “It could still be in Columbus County, but we back if they needed it.” have reason to believe it may be Fuller Royal in Brunswick County.” A suspect is being sought in another stabbing that occurred on neighboring Nance Street less than 24 hours before Greer’s body was found. That victim, Reshonta Love, managed to fight off her attacker and drive herself to the hospital where she is recovering from multiple stab wounds. Police are searching for James Edward McKamey, who is alleged to have stabbed Love in her car at home and fled the Photo by Karen Clore scene. Love drove herself to Columbus Regional, where she is Carol Greer recenlty plays an autoharp for Rev. Ryan and wife Jenny Clore’s daughter Shannon at First Baptist Church. being treated for serious, life-threatening injuries. A few hundred yards from the Love stabbing, Greer’s neigh- bors gathered in the street and neighboring yards when they heard of the murder. Greer remembered for love uuSEE TEACHER SLAIN 4A of children, helping others Inadequate records By Greer’s children. kept at Social Services Nicole Cartrette, “She was a very, very in- By Allen Turner terest log is inadequate, said Wallyce Todd, volved parent and had very [email protected] Kate Murphy, senior manager Diana Matthews of media relations in the state and successful children in school. Grant Merritt She was very supportive and State law requires that DHHS Office of Communica- very involved in the commu- child fatalities be reported tions. Friends and coworkers nity,” Russ said. “She was a by Social Services to state A ‘responsible individual continue to remember Carol lady in every sense of the term authorities within five busi- list’ isn’t inclusive and doesn’t Greer as a devoted mother, and always has been.” ness days. track the entire process, and loving grandmother, talented Carol’s compassion for It took seven months for there is no evidence of re- singer and dear friend. others and love for children one such case to be reported in quired national criminal his- The retired Whiteville Pri- did not end when she retired Columbus County, according tory record checks of provid- mary music teacher, former a year ago. to state documents released ers, according to Murphy. children and youth choir di- “Even after retirement this week. Nationwide information rector at First Baptist Church, she came to the school every Columbus County Social is not available directly to and church and school volun- week to deliver backpacks Services’ inadequate con- Social Services, according to teer, was found murdered at (filled with food for needy chil- flict of interest log and lack the documents. State officials her home Tuesday. dren) from the First Baptist of proof of national crimi- suggest a memorandum of News of the tragedy leaves Church’s backpack ministry,” nal history record checks on understanding be entered the community in shock but Russ said. “We had a Radio providers are also among a into with a local law enforce- also brought a flood of memo- Flyer wagon. She’d fill it up list of concerns noted in the ment agency to conduct those ries of Greer. with food and deliver it for the North Carolina Department national checks. Greer is credited with children to take home over the of Health and Human Services There had been limited ef- building a strong elementary weekend. We were just getting records. fort to document and engage music program in the White- ready to start that back up.” In the program area of noncustodial and incarcerated ville City Schools. She touched Russ said music was a big child protective services as- parents of children subject to thousands of lives through part of Greer’s life and that sessments the conflict of in- CPS intervention, according her volunteer work and teach- she nurtured a love of music to the report. ing career. in students that they carried uuSEE DSS CONSULTANT 8A “It is a school full of red, for the rest of their lives. Staff photo by Grant Merritt puffy eyes,” said Kimberly “She developed that and Whiteville Primary Coach Matt Gore mourns the loss of Ward, principal at White- nurtured that in our young his neighbor and former music teacher Carol Greer af- Take The Lake event set ville Primary on Wednesday. children and certainly sup- ter the prayer group for teachers at Whiteville Primary Though the new principal ported children as they went School on Wednesday afternoon. never worked with her, Greer on into the upper grades, cho- for this weekend left a lasting impression at the rus, band and piano and gui- By Jefferson Weaver school that won’t be forgotten. tar. She made sure that they Mrs. Greer brought out the on Facebook. [email protected] “She definitely cared about had that foundation in these autoharp, led us in singing “Honestly, I’m at a loss for the children and even after lower grades as they matured “Witches Brew” for the PTA words,” said Mary Ellen Davis. Despite the ever-changing threat of Tropical Storm Hermine, retiring did work with food into adults,” Russ said. meeting, or handed you the “But I will say that she did not the Take the Lake challenge is set to continue this weekend at bags and was very respected “Both my children, like so tiny cymbals to play on instru- deserve to die the way she did. Lake Waccamaw. by the staff.” many in this community, love ment day. In the midst of this I know she was probably ready This year’s theme is “Be Prepared,” honoring Boy and Girl ‘Touched lives’ music because of the guid- horrific evil and sadness, I re- to go home to Heaven and be Scouts. Friday’s Take The Lake spaghetti dinner will feature a “She touched a lot of lives,” ance they received from Carol member and celebrate the joy with her husband, but not by special ceremony honoring longtime lake resident and scout said Cheryl Russ, assistant Greer at Whiteville Primary that Carol Greer brought to murder. Mrs. Greer was one of supporter Johnny McNeill. Sandy McNeill will introduce his principal at WPS who worked and First Baptist Church,” her students, her church, her the kindest and most caring father. Donations are appreciated for the dinner, with all pro- with Greer for nearly two de- said Terrie Priest. family, and her community. people I ever had the privi- ceeds going to the Lake Waccamaw United Methodist Church cades, and as a former teacher “You knew it was going to “Grieving for my home- lege of knowing and growing missions programs. The dinner will be held at the church from at Whiteville High, taught be a great day in music class town, but especially the at Whiteville Primary when Greers,” Jenny Biser wrote uuSEE GREER 2A uuSEE TAKE THE LAKE 3A Volume 126, Number 103 Jordan Ray of Old Dock featured on the cover of the Methodist University fall sports publication? She is a senior soc- Whiteville, North Carolina DIDYOB cer player who starred at Whiteville High School…Downtown Whiteville businesses wondering if they’ll need sand- DID YOU OBSERVE? bags Friday to stop the type of flash flooding that occurred three weeks ago? 2A • The News Reporter • Thursday, September 1, 2016 children. She had a beautiful ‘Tragic loss’ voice,” Lennon said, adding “When I think of First that her volunteer work was Baptist, I think of her. Choir, impactful. “She is truly going Choir Camp and fun sleep to be missed –not only here overs at the Greer home. It’s but in the community. It’s just a tragic loss for us all,” said a tragedy in so many ways.” Catherine Phillips Ackerman, Virginia Palmer remem- who grew up with Carol’s chil- bers visiting First Baptist dren and was in the children Church shortly after she and and youth choirs when Greer her husband were wed. was music minister. “Carol Greer sang a solo,” “I remember the words to Norris said. “I thought that so many songs she taught us was the prettiest song I ever in youth choir. Many of those heard. ” songs I sing in a litany of ‘Was special’ prayer during difficult times -- Years later, Greer, taught one I remember well “His love music at Whiteville Primary.