•Lady Gators edge South Robeson to claim Three Rivers Conference title. •Kligerman drives Ricky Benton Racing entry to third place in CWTS opener. •Fabulous debut at East Carolina University for Turner Brown. •Salkahatchie sweeps doubleheader over SCC. Sports See page 1-B. ThePublished News since 1890 every Monday and Thursday Reporterfor the County of Columbus and her people. Monday, February 22, 2016 Leaks plague Volume 125, Number 68 Whiteville, North Carolina Whiteville’s 75 Cents water system By JEFFERSON WEAVER Inside Staff Writer 3-A Water leaks led to low or no water pressure in uptown Whiteville last week. •Heavy rains, high “This is just part of having an older water water create problems system,” said City Manager Darren Currie. for county. “The city is always working to improve and upgrade the system, but unfortunately, breaks are going to happen.” 5-A Monday saw two breaks in the area of Lee •Molinas, Dorman and Calhoun streets, Currie said. An 8-inch receive Tabor City line ruptured in the early morning hours, and Chamber awards. a second leak was discovered in the same area around 2 p.m. The third leak occurred early the next day, Tuesday, according to Hal Lowder, the city’s risk management and safety officer. “The main areas affected were from High- way 701 to Madison Street, and Lewis Street to Williamson Street,” Lowder said. City crews had final repairs made by around 6 p.m. in Staff photo by FULLER ROYAL both breaks. “The public works guys were really going Water tower light show above and beyond,” Lowder said Tuesday. Just after sunset Wednesday, a member of the water tower sandblasting and painting crew smooths “They were out there shoveling mud out of a weld on the temporary supports for the curtain that will be raised to contain the lead paint as it is re- the hole in the driving rain to find and fix the moved from the 60-year-old structure. The worker, standing on the railing, is tethered to safety lines. leaks.” Today’s The breaks are not related to the rehabilita- American Profile tion project on the Wyche Street water tank, Currie said. That tank has been taken offline features “Get Heart for a complete cleaning, sealing and repaint- Healthy.” How three ing. The city’s wells were rerouted to the other Hawks’ legacy: tank to maintain water pressure during the women beat heart project. disease. Hydrants are open in many neighborhoods to prevent the backflow of sediment and rust DIDYOB? Excellence at SCC from the system. By CLARA CARTRETTE The Water Department is currently evaluat- ing the system to determine the cause of the Did you observe ... Staff Writer breaks, Lowder said. Matt Long out on a Sue Hawks’ name has been associ- “The water department is keeping an eye two-hour run Saturday ated with Southeastern Community on everything, to try and catch more breaks morning? ... Whiteville’s College (SCC) since 1974, when she before they happen,” Lowder said. was employed by the college’s late Meg Garner, a UNC president, Dr. Ronald McCarter, as student, getting isolated recruitment coordinator. McCarter on the “dance cam” at saw in Hawks a vivacious, energetic young woman with a natural talent House votes the UNC-Miami game for relating to the public, excellent Saturday? ... The Com- public speaking skills and a creative, munity Choir, directed can-do attitude that continues to on new maps, by James Marley, re- serve her well. After 42 years of service to SCC, ceiving a standing ova- the most longevity of any SCC em- primary date tion at the Carolyn T. ployee, Hawks will retire May 1. “Few people are as fortunate as I High Preaching Mission By ALLEN TURNER am to have had two positions at one Staff Writer after singing, “Jesus institution, spanning a 42-year ca- Walked the Lonely Val- reer that they were perfectly suited The March 15 Primaries in North Caro- for,” Hawks said. “I’m not sure if I ley” Sunday night? ... lina will go on, but not with the U.S. Congres- conformed to the positions or the sional primaries on the ballot. positions took on the qualities that Lawmakers in Raleigh voted Friday, I brought to them, but either way, it mostly along party lines, on redrawn district County Deaths was a win-win for me and I believe maps and to move the Congressional prima- Whiteville it was for SCC.” Stellar work ethic ries to June 7. Charles Ransom Raised on a farm in Craven Friday was the deadline to correct two dis- Rachel Spivey County, Hawks developed a stellar tricts that federal judges said were racially Janis M. Butler Bryson work ethic, like many of her era did, gerrymandered. in the tobacco fields of her family’s The plan, adopted by the North Carolina Earl Cartrette General Assembly, eliminates runoff prima- Julius Ford farm. She attended East Carolina University, earning a Bachelor of ries in any races held in 2016. Brunswick Arts. “We still believe the maps as they are Marie J. Evans During her college years she presently enacted are fair, legal and consti- Hallsboro became familiar with SCC when tutional,” said Bob Rucho, R-Mecklenburg, Lorraine Galloway Jackson her older sister Marsha Griffin was chairman of the Senate redistricting com- mittee prior to the vote on the new maps. Nakina hired in 1972 to develop an early childhood development program If the U.S. Supreme Court overturns the Thurston Long and a child care center. lower court ruling (that existing districts are Bolton The original childcare center was unconstitutional), the existing districts will Martin Eddie Jacobs Sr. located in the Mt. Olive community, remain intact. where other programs were also The U.S. Supreme Court has not agreed located. Sue Hawks is retiring after 42 years with SCC. to take up the case, and many suggest it is Index One of those programs was sheet unlikely. metal fabrication, taught by Jerry hear the educational possibilities television, radio advertising and A three-judge federal panel on Feb. 5 or- Editorials .......... 8-A Hawks, who had just completed six awaiting them at our college. Stu- print ads were all in my job descrip- dered that new maps be drawn on the basis Obituaries ......... 7-A years as a submariner in the U.S. dents, parents, teachers, principals, tion, jobs done without the use of a that the state’s 1st and 12th congressional Navy and had returned home to superintendents and the public computer,” she remembers. “The districts were not constitutional. Sports ................ 1-B Whiteville. opened their doors to me and were students I recruited in the 70s now The panel said they had been drawn using Crime ................ 4-A Marsha made the life-changing eager to hear of the many ways have grandchildren at SCC. The race as the predominant factor. Lifestyles ........... 5-A introductions, and the rest, as they that they and their families could college is 52 years old and we have On Feb. 17, Gov. Pat McCrory called for say, is history. Married in 1973, Sue utilize this community college. SCC generations of students who have a special legislative session to address the worked for Collier’s Jewelers under was on the quarter system then and found success by attending SCC.” issue. the mentorship of Pebo Collier for tuition was only $27 per quarter. Scholarships increase Republican leaders say the new district her first six months in Whiteville, Tuition was such a bargain, then In 2000, Dr. Brantley Briley hired maps should alleviate those concerns. and when a position for a recruiter and now, but many still needed to Hawks as the dean of the SCC Foun- Only minor changes were made to the 7th at SCC opened, she applied and was be convinced. As a recruiting tool, I dation, Inc. In that year, investment Congressional District, of which Columbus hired. founded the Miss SCC pageant and it holdings of the Foundation totaled County is a part, and none of those changes “I recruited students for SCC was a huge hit. Our representatives $600,000. Under Hawks’ leadership, impact Columbus County. for 27 years,” she recalls. “I made traveled across the state. the Foundation currently boasts In separate legislation, solons also Friday contacts with so many wonderful “Media presentations, county holdings of $5 million and is ranked set the filing period for the rescheduled con- people, and they were anxious to fairs, career fairs, parade floats, See Hawks, page 2-A See House, page 10-A 2-A – The News Reporter, Monday, February 22, 2016 Sara Galloway Lennon writes children’s book Museum By CLARA CARTRETTE of Frank and Peggy Squires All this proves that no matter hosts open Staff Writer Galloway, she is married to what our differences, a team Gregory Lennon and they working together that has the Dr. Sara Galloway Lennon, have three sons, Lawrence, desire to change can make house for a guidance counselor for the Forrest and Chandler. something wonderful. Public Schools of Robeson “A Class of Colors” can be volunteers County, has written and had found at Amazon.com, Barnes published a book for children and Noble and Pages Publish- Democrats meet Friday around the age of 8. The book, ing. Following is a synopsis: titled “A Class of Colors,” is When the bright yellow in Whiteville The North Carolina Mu- written as a Native American sun becomes bored with his seum of Natural Sciences at folktale. daily view of the green and on April 30 Whiteville will host a Volun- blue earth, he strikes a deal teer Open House Friday, Feb.