•West Columbus High School’s Eric Jenkins selected in second round to ride with Rangers. Sports See page 1-B. ThePublished News since 1890 every Monday and Thursday Reporterfor the County of Columbus and her people. Thursday, June 11, 2015 Repo man Volume 124, Number 101 Whiteville, North Carolina killed here 75 Cents Tuesday Inside nRobeson County man killed early Tuesday trying to repossess pickup 2-A truck from Whiteville resident. •Commissioners By BOB HIGH considering Staff Writer $60,000 grant A 37-year-old Robeson County man was to Tabor City. killed by a single shot to the head here early Tuesday as he attempted to repossess a pickup truck DIDYOB? from a residence in the Did you observe ... 1400 block of Sunset Ter- race just west of the White- Photo by JEANE NEWTON Carol Caldwell sing- ville city limits. Jeffrey David Lowe of ing her favorite child- Crusade kick-off N.C. 72 West, Orrum, died hood song, “When Rick Gage gets the faithful fired up during the kick-off dinner Monday for the Go Tell Columbus Cru- at the scene in the 2:45 a.m. sade, which runs Oct. 4-7 at the South Columbus football stadium. More than 650 people packed You Wish Upon a incident in which a father Kohler Northwood Assembly to sing, hear testimonials and raise money for the countywide crusade. and son have been arrested Star,” during the for murder. Circles of Hope gradu- William Roy Kohler Jr., 51, and his son William ation ceremony at Young lawyer announces as judge candidate Roy Kohler III, 18, were First Presbyterian arrested later Tuesday Church Tuesday? ... nAshley Gore, young assis- Hill in 2009, and gained her law de- and made their first court tant district attorney, wants gree at Campbell University in 2012. appearances Wednesday. The 650 people at to be District Court judge. “I’ve always dreamed of being a Both are being held with- Northwood Church public servant, out bond. By BOB HIGH “It’s important and I’ve always Chief Deputy Major Bob- Kohler Jr. Monday for the Go Staff Writer been interested by Worley said there were Tell Columbus cru- to have young in law. Colum- apparently no warning yells or words spoken sade kick-off banquet? Carolyn Ashley Gore, the 28-year- people begin bus County is by the Kohlers with Lowe before the victim was old assistant district attorney who where I plan to hit with a bullet. ... Harold Hughes has been handling District Court to take roles be married this Santana Hammonds, a There were thrilled to receive his cases here for several months, is of leadership September, live 30-year-old Indian female the first candidate to announce in- and work,” she from Lumberton, accom- apparently no 50-year Lions Club said Wednesday. panied Lowe to the Sunset tentions of running for the District in Columbus warning yells or membership certifi- Court judge’s seat currently held County.” “It’s impor- Terrace location. She was tant to have not injured when at least words spoken cate? ... Proud parents by the retiring Chief District Judge Jerry Jolly. Ashley Gore young people be- one other shot hit the tow by the Kohlers posting pictures of Gore said she spoke to Jolly re- gin to take roles truck she occupied. their children who did cently, and he told her he was not of leadership in Columbus County, A Winchester lever- with Lowe be- seeking a ninth four-year term next and I can contribute in several ways action .30-30 rifle, and fore the victim well on EOGs or who year. Jolly has served 32 years and as a District Court judge. I can help a Eksen Arms 12-gauge received academic or is currently one of two Columbus from the bench, and by being an shotgun were found by was hit with a County judges for the three-county Ashley Gore active and concerned citizen to im- investigators. It’s not clear bullet. athletic honors? ... The district of Bladen, Brunswick and prove the lifestyles of our citizens. if the shotgun was fired current issue of Focus Columbus counties. Degree in 2012 More youth during the incident. Bobby Worley Jolly confirmed Wednesday he Gore is a summa cum laude and “From the bench I can render un- Several offenders were on the Coast, which will not seek a ninth term in the Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the Uni- derstandable judgments after evalu- listed. Six people, ages 14 to 51, were shown features Dr. Sam non-partisan election. versity of North Carolina at Chapel See Gore, page 10-A in Deputy Joseph Gore’s report. Several, not including the Kohlers, were witnesses to the Wheatley dancing event, and most of them were in Kohler’s home with daughter, Tess when the shots were fired, Worley noted. Wheatley Cash, at her Veterans Memorial Park $5 Challenge kicks off See Murder page 4-A wedding reception? By JEFFERSON WEAVER ... Final prepartions Staff Writer under way for Satur- For the next year, Angela Norris Hospital to day’s BugFest South hopes every Columbus County resi- at the N.C. Museum dent will value their freedom more open urgent of Natural Sciences at than the cost of a single lunch. The Veterans Memorial Park $5 Whiteville? ... Challenge kicked off Tuesday on care center the steps of the county courthouse. More than 30 veterans, along with a Columbus Regional Healthcare System has military service dog and a handful announced the opening of an urgent care, County Deaths of civilian supporters, met to start which will include occupational medicine, the year-long effort. on the campus of the hospital and will begin Whiteville Norris and a core group of vol- accepting patients as early as September. The David Martin Hooks Sr. unteers have been working for two facility will be open seven days a week from Brandy Lucretia Memory years to build a Veterans Memorial noon to 8 p.m. A well-known face in the community, phy- Frances Elnita N. Sikes Park in the county. The park will feature static displays, a memorial sician assistant Larry Burroughs, will be the Grace Ellis Gore wall, and other features. A memo- More than 30 veterans and several supporters – including Erosz the primary provider. In addition to his role as Tabor City rial hall is planned where the group Military Service Dog – turned out Tuesday for the kickoff of the Vet- physician assistant, Burroughs will be respon- William Henry Vereen hopes to hang a photo of every erans Memorial Park $5 Challenge. Former service members with sible for managing the occupational medicine Ollie Jane Rouse Cross county veteran. enlistment dates from 1949 through the War on Terror were on hand services component of the clinic that deals “We want this to be for all our at the courthouse to promote the a countywide fundraiser. with the prevention and treatment of diseases veterans,” Norris said. “Every and injures in the workplace. American owes them a debt, and we to nine acres of land in a central the plate. The new center, adjacent to the visitors’ Index should have a place to honor those location near U.S. 74-76. The com- The $5 Challenge, Norris said, entrance parking lot on the east side of the who have served.” mittee hoped to place the park at is a goal that the group feels can be hospital, will offer walk-in treatment for ev- Editorials ......... 14-A eryday illness and injury, including X-rays, Obituaries ......... 7-A The county commissioners have Southeastern Community College, easily met. committed to the effort, along with but trustees backed out on the plan. “We hope to have a $5 donation labs, stitches and treatment for broken bones, Sports ................ 1-B several civic groups and numerous Norris had hoped someone would from every person in the county, sprains and strains. Crime ................ 4-A individual donors, but the main donate an appropriate location, but or the equivalent,” she said. “It’s a The clinic will offer employer health problem has been locating two so far, no donor has stepped up to Living ................ 1-C See Park, page 10-A See Urgent, page 10-A Prestage Farms - Buying grain in Whiteville Corner of S. Canal & Maultsby Streets 641-8900 800-524-3732 2-A – The News Reporter, Thursday, June 11, 2015 Commissioners considering $60,000 grant to Tabor City By ALLEN TURNER would come from the county’s McKenzie; Staff Writer fund balance. County Manager • Hear a departmental up- Bill Clark’s proposed budget is date from Purchasing/Safety The Columbus County expected to result in the com- Director Stuart Carroll; Board of Commissioners Mon- missioners adopting a spend- • Approve a contract with day will consider a special ing plan that, for the eighth Maximus Consulting Services appropriation of $60,000 for an straight year, would mean no for administration of the In- economic development initia- property tax increase. direct Cost Plan relating to tive by the Town of Tabor City. The commissioners also are employee health coverage; and The item appears on a pre- expected to: • Make several routine ap- liminary agenda for Monday’s • Hear a monthly depart- pointments/reappointments meeting released on Wednes- mental update from Social to county boards and com- Services Director Algernon mittees. day. PASS SAU Efforts to reach Columbus Economic Developer Gary Lanier, who was out of town for a conference, were un- successful Wednesday and his administrative assistant, LifeYour is priceless. dream home Samantha Alsup, said she Insuring it should be could not discuss details on affordable. the proposed appropriation.