rPack grabs win over Farmville in third round of 2A baseball playofs. rRecord-shattering WHS girls soccer season comes to an end at Swansboro. rLady Gators fall in third round to Hobbton. rRoad-weary Lady Stallions absorb Sports second-round loss to South Lenoir. See page 1-B. ThePublished News since 1890 every Monday and Tursday forReporter the County of Columbus and her people. Monday, May 21, 2012 City budget Board to hear would add Volume 121, Number 92 waste-to-diesel Whiteville, North Carolina six cents on proposal tonight 75 Cents tax rate By NICOLE CARTRETTE Staff Writer By JEFFERSON WEAVER Inside Today Staff Writer A company that proposes to convert mu- nicipal solid waste to diesel fuel and wants to 3-A Citing the poor economy, use county land at the landfill near New Hope rRecount granted a need to build up the fund to do it will make a presentation to Columbus in District 3 race. balance and rising operating County commissioners tonight. costs, Whiteville City Manager “We are going to listen to the presentation,” rFire tax districts Larry Faison has proposed a County Commissioner Chairman Amon McK- six cents per $100 increase in enzie said. “I can’t say if we will vote on that sought in North property taxes. or table it.” Whiteville The proposal—double last Melvin Ezzell, of Whiteville, is the South- and Evergreen. year’s request, which was east Regional Development Manager for Stan- turned down by the city coun- dard Oil International. 9-A cil—was made Thursday dur- The company, headquartered in China, is rChickens not a prob- ing the first presentation of seeking to establish a pyrolysis liquefaction lem in area towns. the city’s proposed budget for facility estimated to cost $20 to $40 million, Fiscal Year 2012-13. Ezzell said. The totals for the proposed Rather than transport waste out of the budget are $4,866,071 for the county to dump in a landfill, the county could general operating budget; reap $800,000 in annual savings by avoiding $727,650 in anticipated Pow- tipping fees, he recently told Economic Devel- ell Bill funds; $25,763 for the opment Commission board members. municipal service district; Ezzell said the process breaks solids down $2,295,749 for the utility fund, by essentially cooking them in an enclosed and $26,129 in water and sewer chamber at 1,150 degrees. This results in infrastructure fees. carbon-based items like plastic, tires, wood, The numbers include an leaf and limbs turning into diesel fuel. increase of 2.9 percent over County Economic Developer Gary Lanier last year’s approved budget. said that the county alone produces 130 to That increase would include 150 tons of trash per day and that there was placing 2.95 percent of next no mention of the company hauling in waste year’s revenues into the gen- from outside the county. Today’s eral fund balance, demolishing American Profle the old skating rink (estimated See Diesel, page 2-A features “Farmers at $35,000) and other expenses. Market. A four- See City tax, page 2-A Staff photo by Mark Gilchrist ishing farm-fresh Running for fun Squads seek to tradition.” Hospital was More than 200 people participated in the third annual Farmers Market Fun Run 5k in Whiteville Saturday. Awards were given in age groups double county DIDYOB? prepared for and overall, and participants won door prizes and bought fresh fruits and vegetables. Did you observe ... rescue tax dry times By NICOLE CARTRETTE Staff Writer Jerry Hall chasing By JEFFERSON WEAVER down his 15-year-old Staff Writer ECU awards Malpass Independent, non-profit rescue squads pet dog afer the dog across the county are seeking an increase in Patients at Columbus Re- the Columbus County rescue tax to 4 cents escaped while being gional Healthcare were never full academic scholarship per $100 value. in danger after a possible con- given a bath? ... A line The tax is currently set at 2 cents per $100 tamination of the city water By FULLER ROYAL of 100 motorcycles valuation and is shared among all nine rescue supply last week, according to Staff Writer squads across the county, except Whiteville, heading north on U.S. a hospital spokesperson. which has its own two-cent district. Terrie Priest, vice president East Columbus High School se- 701, escaping Tropical Residents with property valued at $150,000, of marketing and community nior Natalie Malpass, of Hallsboro, for example, are billed $30 in rescue taxes, but Storm Alberto as it relations, said the hospital acti- is among 20 incoming freshmen se- the amount would increase to $60 under the vated its own emergency rules lected for the EC Scholars program at aims at Myrtle Beach proposal. as soon as CRHS got the call East Carolina University in the fall. – meeting southbound Rescue officials say the tax, adopted in about the bad test results. “It’s incredibly humbling to be 2000, needs to be adjusted to cover today’s minivans loaded with The City of Whiteville is- recognized as an EC Scholar,” said “increased cost of supplies, fuel, equipment, sued a boil water advisory May the 17-year-old Malpass, the daughter racing bicycles head- payroll” and other expenses. 11 after test results showed of Amy and Eddie Malpass. “This is “The EMS departments have increased ing for a tour in South possible contamination of a wonderful opportunity that I don’t their level of care from basic to intermediate, Carolina? ... Wacca- part of the water system. The take for granted. Great privileges bringing a higher level of care for citizens order was extended May 12 come with this scholarship, but it maw Academy’s last in the county,” the request of the Columbus after additional test results demands high levels of success in County Fire and Rescue Association reads. senior class eating at were suspect, according to city academics, service and leadership.” “There are probably going to be a lot of officials. Restaurants and busi- The four-year merit scholarship Natalie Malpass Our Place Friday? ... people from rescue squads there,” Commis- nesses closed or limited sales recognizes outstanding academic for study abroad, for a total value of sioner James Prevatte said Friday. “I think to avoid possible contamina- performance, commitment to com- approximately $45,000. we need to have a public hearing to hear from tion. Residents and business munity engagement and strong EC Scholars program candidates the people of those districts. County Deaths owners have complained that leadership skills. Recipients receive “You are talking about quite an increase the city didn’t notify many a scholarship, along with a stipend Whiteville See Malpass, page 9-A in rescue taxes,” Prevatte said. “Two cents Gregory Baldwin Collier See Hospital, page 2-A See Rescue tax, page 3-A Lisa Cole Tucker Chadbourn Clara Ruth McPherson Nakina Robert Tomas Watts Forsyth Tech students sample lake hospitality By RAY WYCHE Winston-Salem. Staff Writer The Interior Design Club makes one trip each two Index years to observe different styles of interior designs, A group from Forsyth Technical Community Col- and MacIntosh arranged for the group to visit several Editorials ......... 10-A lege in Winston-Salem got a taste of Columbus County locations in southeastern North Carolina to observe Obituaries ......... 8-A hospitality last week when eight students and two various decoration and interior design themes. Sports ................ 1-B faculty members, plus Lake Waccamaw native Susan The group visited Johnny McNeill’s pier off Canal McLean MacIntosh, visited the area as part of their Cove Road at the lake to observe the flower-bedecked Crime ................ 4-A studies in interior design classes. pier which was designed by a professional architect. Lifestyles ........... 5-A McIntosh, who owns an interior design business Betty Timberlake of Lake Waccamaw gave the in Winston-Salem, is the daughter of Eloise McLean group a private tour of Oakland Plantation, her fam- and the late Francis McLean of Lake Waccamaw and ily’s hunting lodge and turf grass farm in adjoining is a graduate of Hallsboro High School and UNCW. Bladen County. Timberlake gave a history of Oakland She later studied interior design at Salem College in and explained the additions and restorations to the Winston-Salem. home, as well as entertaining the group with stories She is a member of the Interior Design Advisory of hunting expeditions on the plantation. Board of Forsyth Tech and arranged tours for the MacIntosh’s cousin, retired Wildlife Commission school group on the visit to view a variety of design Supervisor Milton McLean, guided the group on his styles in area homes. boat around Lake Waccamaw, including a cruise up The group stayed at the former home of Eloise the wild and undeveloped Big Creek on the northeast Forsyth students tour the caboose at the McLean at the lake. McLean presently resides in See Forsyth, page 2-A Lake’s museum. 2-A – The News Reporter, Monday, May 21, 2012 This week, on... Forsyth Continued from page 1-A shore of the lake. ing the plans of the late Oscar The tour group also visited High, an early proponent and the Waccamaw River dam on developer of Lake Waccamaw. the south shore of the lake Other homes of interest where they caught sight of a visited at the lake included the May 21, 2012 bald eagle, a rare resident of Gray Cottage, built in 1903 and the lakeside forests. later owned by Dr. J. R. Thom- Whiteville.com The students and faculty son. An impromptu tour of Biser Ball toured Southport, where for- the home of Donna and David mer Lake Waccamaw resident Scott, an early lake cottage, Sports Trivia and childhood friend of Ma- gave the group a look at how Question #140: Ronald cIntosh, Becky Richardson- the earlier summer homes at Williams, a former West Bowles, conducted the group the lake looked.