Football season ends ... basketball begins r5BSCPSPEFSBJMT4UBMMJPOTTUBUF"QMBZPĒSVO r8PMGQBDLCPZTPQFOIPPQTFBTPOXJUIWJDUPSZPWFS Sports 4PVUI3PCFTPO ThePublished News since 1890 every Monday and Tursday forReporter the County of Columbus and her people. Monday, November 26, 2012 Night coyote Public hearing hunting here Volume 122, Number 43 not afected on abolishing Whiteville, North Carolina DSS board is 75 Cents by ruling By JEFFERSON WEAVER set for Jan. 21 Staff Writer Inside Today By NICOLE CARTRETTE A controversial rule allow- Staff Writer 4-A ing night hunting of coyotes r.BOTUBCCFECZ has been temporarily halted in Columbus County commissioners voted HJSMGSJFOE4VOEBZ five counties after the deaths of last week to continue their pursuit to dissolve endangered wolves. the county’s social services board. OJHIU The move last year brought “I need this board to say that is the inten- protests from landowners, tion if they still have that intention,” County hunters and farmers, who Attorney Mike Stephens said in a meeting last were concerned night preda- week. “It might be you don’t want to do it.” tor hunters might accidentally County Commissioner Buddy Byrd made kill other game or livestock. a motion to set the public hearing date on the Wildlife officers also expressed dissolution of the social services board for concerns over allowing night Jan. 7, 2013. Commissioner James Prevatte predator hunting for coyotes seconded the motion. Only Byrd, Prevatte while still prohibiting poach- and Chairman Amon McKenzie were in favor. ing of deer. Other commissioners wanted more time While the Wildlife Resourc- before the hearing. es Commission moved ahead “I just want some more understanding with plans to make night hunt- about demolishing the board,” Commissioner ing of coyotes and hogs legal, Edwin Russ said. Today’s the rule was placed on tem- Commissioner Ricky Bullard suggested American Profle porary status before it can be Russ ask any questions he had at last Monday’s approved by the legislature. meeting but Russ said during the public hear- features “Main Five separate incidents in ing would be more appropriate. Street Merchants” the northeastern part of the Still, Commissioners Bullard, Russ, Charles state have led to a ban on all McDowell and Lynwood Norris were opposed Catering to custom- night hunting of coyotes in to the Jan. 7 public hearing. ers for 150 years or five counties pending an in- They wanted to have the hearing on Jan. 21 more. vestigation. and won with a majority in their favor. Coyote hunting at night See DSS, page 9-A with the aid of an artificial light will be disallowed tempo- Staff photo by Mark Gilchrist DIDYOB? rarily in five counties — Dare, Did you observe ... See Coyote, page 3-A Pulling for Christ Recount is Tuesday Macedonia Baptist John Brookfeld and Kirk Nobles of the Xtreme Strength Team pull a 40,000-pound truck one mile through Tabor City Saturday. The men in 7th District race Church youth choir tried to break their record of 69 minutes, but the haul took twice that packing 120 Opera- Farm mart long, fnishing in 2 hours, 18 minutes as more than 100 people watched for Congress tion Christmas Child along the route. Yule show By NICOLE CARTRETTE shoeboxes in two Staff Writer hours? ... Columbus residents out shop- is planned Two arrested for night hunting Columbus is one of several counties that will be participating in a recount in the 7th ping in the wee hours for Dec. 1 nIncreased patrols continu- Arrested in the 4:25 a.m. incident Congressional District. of Friday morning? ing, officers say. were Robert Neil Stocks, 21, of Arn The Columbus County Board of Elections By RAY WYCHE Ward Road, Whiteville, and Joseph will conduct the recount Tuesday, Nov. 27 at ... Te line at Belk Allen Armakovitch, 21, of Seven Staff Writer By JEFFERSON WEAVER 9:30 a.m. at the American Legion Post 137 on Creeks Highway, Tabor City. extending to Ray’s Staff Writer Legion Drive. The Columbus County Hinson said he seized guns and Incumbent Rep. Mike McIntyre, a Lum- Grill? ... spotlights from the two suspects, who Community Farmers Market, Nights should be a little quieter berton Democrat, has a 655-vote lead over his were released on bond. known for its unique line of for a while in the Dothan community. opponent David Rouzer, a Johnston County Public cooperation is necessary home-produced gifts, will put Wildlife Enforcement Officer Republican and N.C. House member. to make night hunting cases, Hinson County Deaths on its sixth annual “Christmas Charles Hinson said two young men Last week, Rouzer formally requested a said. While officers are out in force from the Heart” Craft Show were arrested on charges of night recount in the election and in a press release Whiteville pursuing poachers, “we can’t be ev- and Sale from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. hunting early Thursday morning. claimed that an “irregularity” in Bladen Gene Wesley Treadgill erywhere at once. this Saturday. Officers had increased patrols in the County cast doubt on the outcome. “Any information people can pro- Jamie Lynn Hardie All items in the show, in- target area after complaints from the “We knew all along that this election would vide to us can make a big difference,” Tabor City cluding jams and jellies, baked public about people illegally shooting be close, and it is. In fact, this is the closest he said. Lora Kay Strickland goods, pickles and relishes, and deer at night. Congressional race in the country,” Rouzer The Wildlife Commission does crafts items must be produced “It’s a dangerous practice, but a said. “With only a 655-vote margin and in light Johnny Ray Huggins Sr not turn a blind eye to night hunt- by local residents. common one,” Hinson said. of an irregularity found in Bladen County Clarendon ing, despite rumors to the contrary, The show has proved to The two men were stopped before not long after Election Day where votes in a Hinson said. Ernest Ben Gore be a popular shopping site they managed to kill a deer, Hinson precinct overwhelmingly favoring McIntyre A.Z. Tompson in the previous five years. said. See Night hunt, page 2-A were double counted, I feel it is important to Keith Fowler See Yule, page 2-A See Rwcount, page 3-A Lake Waccamaw Elgy Walker Stephens Riegelwood Deedre Reene B. Flowers Waccamaw water testing gets half support of board Chadbourn By NICOLE CARTRETTE the county schools — Nakina Middle School — to way Landing at N.C. 904. Teresa Edwards Staff Writer involve students in the project. Ellis explained that only the lake sites were being Evergreen Since 2006, the Waccamaw Riverkeeper has part- monitored for lack of volunteers at the river sites and Bedford Sulton Davis Sr. A Waccamaw River water quality monitoring nered with Coastal Carolina University’s Watershed volunteers had to drive to Lake Waccamaw to have project got the support of Columbus County Com- Academy for a river monitoring project in South the water tested with equipment at the state park. Bolton missioners last week – well, half of their support. Carolina. With grant funds expended, Ellis asked Columbus Ralph Jacobs The board, in a unanimous vote, approved half Riverkeeper Christine Ellis said it was the vision County commissioners to consider funding the full of the $2,865 requested to support the purchase of of volunteers and others to expand that project to $2,865 needed for additional supplies and equipment testing supplies, hand-held meters, a hatch turbi- include the North Carolina portion of the Waccamaw to be housed at Babson’s Landing. dimeter, and other supplies that volunteers will use watershed. Commissioners wanted to pull the funding from Index at sampling sites along Lake Waccamaw and Wac- In 2011, Lake Waccamaw and portions of the river the health department but Health Department camaw River. in North Carolina were included with the support Director Kim Smith explained that her funds were &EJUPSJBMT" Commissioner Charles McDowell pointed out of partners like the Lake Waccamaw State Park, earmarked and limited. 0CJUVBSJFT" that Babson Landing is in Brunswick County and Southeastern Community College and others. County Manager Bill Clark said there were funds 4QPSUT# the board suggested that Brunswick County share Grant funds were used for equipment and sup- in the Home Health budget but Smith cautioned that the cost. plies with the dam, Canal Cove, Maple Street and using the funds for other purposes could lead to a $SJNF" McDowell also suggested the equipment to be used Big Creek sites along the lake targeted for sampling, bad situation. -JGFTUZMFT" for the benefit of the river sites be housed at one of along with Babson’s Landing off N.C. 130 and Pire- See Waccamaw, page 9-A 2-A – The News Reporter, Monday, November 26, 2012 This week, on... Yule Continued from page 1-A Some unique items, such as honey-based homemade soaps and lotions, and fancifully decorated hand-painted gourd crafts, have proved popular gift November 26, 2012 choices in previous shows. “There are lots of talented Whiteville.com cooks and craft persons in the area and the Farmers Market is The Number a great place for people looking for locally produced products,” said market manager Carol Shuman. In addition to the special crafts and gift items offered at the show, the usual assortment of locally grown fall vegetables ... people0 who said robo- will be available. calls actually have helped The Farmers Market is lo- convince them to vote for cated in Government Com- a political candidate. See plex off U.S. 701 business and Poll Question, below. bypass north of Whiteville. Newspaper During the fall “off-season” for Whiteville.com vegetable production, the mar- Biser Ball needs your ket is open only on Saturday Sports Trivia memories mornings.