Beaten Vikings Two men are charged WCHS takes win with beating a woman against Red Springs. and her dog during a uuSEE SPORTS 1B break-in. uuSEE PAGE 4A The News Reporter Founded 1890. Published every Tuesday and Friday for the County of Columbus and her people. WWW.NRCOLUMBUS.COM Friday, January 11, 2019 75 CENTS Commissioners told county ‘is being torn apart’ by sheriff ’s election that remains unsettled By Allen Turner ultimatum that Greene be removed [email protected] as sheriff before 10 a.m. Tuesday or Norton would sue the county, Discussion of the disputed elec- presumably in federal court. tion for Columbus County sheriff Neither Hatcher nor Greene between Republican Jody Greene attended the meeting, but a stand- and Democrat Lewis Hatcher dom- ing room only crowd of supporters inated Monday’s meeting of the of both men was on hand. Many Columbus County board of com- Greene supporters left, however, missioners meeting, with three before Norton began speaking. speakers in the public comments Speaking on behalf of Greene portion of the meeting advocating were George Smith, Kevin Harrel- for Greene, who defeated Hatcher son and Steve Creech. Advocates by 34 votes in November’s election, for Hatcher were Karen Thurman, with four who want Hatcher rein- Gloria Smith, Charles Robinson stated as sheriff and with two who and O.C. Jones. Marlando Pridgen overtly took no side but appealed and the Rev. Andy Anderson, with- for the county to come together and out taking sides in the sheriff ’s display integrity. race, called for unity in the county. Staff photo by Allen Turner Those comments came before Smith began his remarks ask- Calvin Norton of Whiteville ap- Supporters of Jody Greene and Lewis Hatcher pack the Columbus County Commissioners peared on the agenda to issue an uuSEE SHERIFF 3A chambers Monday night. Bigger role, bigger offi ce Hunting dog infl ux Jones assumes leadership post as taxes animal shelter By Jefferson Weaver ing a tag with a telephone num- lawmakers return to Raleigh [email protected] ber and contact information. “We have a lot of hounds The senior deerhound moved that end up in the shelter when on his new bed, trying to fi nd travelers see them beside the a position where the tumor on road,” she explained. “People his side was less uncomfortable. are driving through for the holi- A few feet away, a strong, days, and see a hound alongside full-bodied black and tan coon- a highway. They think he’s lost hound leaped and bayed, his or thrown out, but sometimes head nearly reaching the top of the dog is actually working.” his kennel. The well-meaning calls come The shy redtick Walker tried in most frequently during the to hide under her blanket. The summer and holiday seasons, skinny female she said. hound was one “We don’t of the most re- “We don’t have any kind of have any kind cent arrivals at county leash law, so there’s of county the Columbus leash law,” County Ani- nothing we can do about a Craig said, “so mal Shelter, dog that’s just wandering there’s noth- where work- ing we can do ers are dealing around, unless it’s endan- about a dog with the an- gering the public. It’s illegal that’s just wan- Staff photos by Justin Smith nual infl ux of dering around, Rep. Brenden Jones (R-Columbus) works in his new offi ce Wednesday in the Legislative discarded and to turn any animal out and unless it’s en- Building. The offi ce, which is four times larger than his previous one, is a result of Jones’ lost hunting abandon it, but not every dangering the new leadership post as deputy majority leader. dogs. public. It’s il- “Every loose dog is abandoned.” legal to turn and his adult children: son of law enforcement,” Smith By Justin Smith January, when any animal out [email protected] Adam, daughter Natalie and said. Rescue Coordinator deer season and abandon stepson Quinton Juliano. House members haven’t Christina Craig ends, they it, but not ev- Two of Columbus County’s The representative said his been assigned to committees start coming ery loose dog state legislators returned to Ra- House colleagues are eager to yet, but Smith anticipates po- in,” said Chris- is abandoned.” leigh Wednesday to begin their mine his experience as sher- tentially serving on the Justice tina Craig, rescue coordinator January and February are second terms while a newly iff to inform legislation in a and Public Safety Appropria- for the shelter. among the busiest times, she elected member accustomed variety of areas, including tions Committee and one of the With the end of deer season said, because hungry hounds to enforcing laws is now in a criminal law, mental health judiciary committees. on Jan. 1, irresponsible hunters begin turning up at rural resi- position to help write Although he has dump unwanted, aged or under- dences, businesses and along them. spent years in elected performing dogs throughout the highways. Carson Smith of offi ce, Smith said serv- county. Some hunting dogs are “Some of the hunters don’t Hampstead served ing in the legislature truly lost, Craig said, and those want to have to feed the extra for 16 years as Pend- will be different. As can be returned to their owners er County sheriff. sheriff, “you’re the top if the dogs are chipped or wear- uuSEE HOUNDS 9A Rather than seek re- dog and you’re the top election, Smith de- man,” he explained. cided to run for N.C. But in the House, he’ll House. In November, have to work with the the Republican hand- 119 other members to ily beat Democrat get anything done. John Johnson to While Columbus represent the new- County has one mem- ly redrawn House ber of the House who is District 16, which brand new, its return- includes Whiteville, ing member, Brenden eastern Columbus Jones of Tabor City, County and all of is quickly ascending Pender County. Rep. Carson Smith (R-Pender) poses in the Leg- the ranks, entering his Wednesday morn- islative Building for a photo with his wife Jen- second term as deputy ing as the lobby of nifer, daughter Natalie Smith, step-son Quinton majority leader. the Legislative Build- Juliano, and son Adam. The Republican be- ing buzzed with ac- lieves he is one of the tivity ahead of swearing-in and drug issues. first sophomores to hold the Staff photo by Jefferson Weaver ceremonies, Smith posed in “They are very interested front of the grand carpeted red in my opinion as someone who uuSEE RALEIGH 8A Puppies in the Columbus County Animal Shelter Wednesday. steps next to his wife Jennifer has just come off the frontline Volume 128, Number 056 Poinsettias still hanging in there in the hands of those with green thumbs?... Ronnie Smith of e News Whiteville, North Carolina DIDYOB Reporter adopting a two-month-old Chihuahua-Shepherd mix puppy and naming him ‘Big Jim’?... FiA’s DID YOU OBSERVE? annual New Year kickoff which ended in a breakfast feast and fellowship at Susan Deans’ home?... 2A • The News Reporter • Friday, January 11, 2019 ON THE MOVE IN BRIEF Whiteville to end storm debris pick up on Jan. 18 The City of Whiteville will end storm-related debris pick-up on Friday, Jan. 18. While the city has been collecting and monitoring the amount of Hurricane Florence-related debris placed within street right-of-way areas as residents continue to remove construction/demolition and vegetative debris and make repairs, piles have been growing on city streets and the city will not be able to pick up storm-related debris after Jan. 18. The city will be unable to provide information on when specific neighborhoods/streets will be cleared as those decisions are at the discretion of management in order to complete citywide debris removal in the most efficient manner possible. After January 18, it will be the homeowner’s responsi- bility to remove storm related debris from their property. Normal trash, leaf and limb, and recycling will resume on its regular schedules. Residents can assist the city with final clean-up efforts by sorting debris into two separate piles, one for construc- tion/demolition debris and another for vegetative debris. Debris should be placed in between the sidewalk and the road. Debris placed from the sidewalk toward your property will not be picked up. Citizens who do not have a sidewalk, ditch or utility line in front of their home should place debris at the edge of their property near the curb or edge of the road. Placing debris near or on fire hydrants, water meters, sewer manholes, cleanouts, trees, poles or other structures makes removal difficult. Residents should also not block storm drains with debris to help prevent future flooding. Staff photo by Diana Matthews The Columbus County Transfer Station is open at 113 Families first staff members Abby Williams and Greta Sellers carry office equipment back downstairs Landfill Rd. Monday through Friday from 7:30 am to 4 p.m. after four months of repairs to their workspace. Customers requiring assistance or requesting information regarding rates and acceptable materials may contact 910- 642-6852 and staff members will be happy to assist them. Please visit the Columbus County Solid Waste Department for more information at http://columbusco.org/Depart- ments/Solid-Waste. Families First recovering, Martin Luther King Jr. expanding since Florence Day event scheduled By Diana Matthews “Please be patient. Due dating behavior as well as male staff member to [email protected] to storm damage, we are bullying situations and reach out to the estimated Minority Employees of International Paper will host all upstairs.