rStallions defeat East Bladen in conference battle. rLady Gators sweep Fairmont to put season at 12-0. rRBR team ready to run at Martinsville. rWolfpack takes fourth straight league victory. rGators sufer loss to Tornadoes. Sports See page 1-B. ThePublished News since 1896 every Monday and Tursday forReporter the County of Columbus and her people. Tursday, March 31, 2011 Tree more charged in Perdue talks Volume 114, Number 78 Whiteville, North Carolina two murders issues with 50 Cents nSuspects charged with killing half brothers last constituents December while robbing them. By NICOLE CARTRETTE Next Issue Staff Writer By BOB HIGH Staff Writer Gov. Bev Perdue, on tour throughout the state, made appearances at both the Colum- Three males, including two bus County Courthouse and Vineland Station from Whiteville, have been Wednesday, sharing her position on issues charged as participants in the from education to job creation. murders of half brothers Lee Perdue said her decision to travel the dis- Otis Vereen and Jerome Wil- trict came about in her inability to “sit still” liams on Dec. 12, 2010 in the amongst “mischief going on in Raleigh.” Ridgeland Acres Trailer Park The Democrat governor has at times been southeast of Tabor City. at odds with the Republican-controlled House Ronnie Eugene Bellamy, and Senate amidst a budget shortfall of more Monday’s 43, of Bellamy-Gore Boule- than $4 billion that has led to cuts and rumors American Profle vard, Antwan “Twezzie” Omar of cuts that in some instances will abolish features “Te Ripken Wright, 22, of Stanley Circle, several programs. both Whiteville addresses, and Whiteville Mayor Terry Mann kicked off Way.” Baseball great Dryan “Drizzle” or “Boss” Ver- the town hall meeting by welcoming Perdue. introduces a new een, 21, of Tabor City, are the Mitchell Tyler set the tone of the discussion by generation to the all- suspects named in warrants introducing Perdue as a “strong leader” who American game. obtained by Sheriff’s Detective inherited massive financial problems when See Murders, page 5-A she was elected. “She didn’t get there by being a sissy,” Ty- DIDYOB? ler said of Perdue’s election to office and her demeanor in dealing with members of the Did you observe ... U.S. 74 legislature who may not share her objectives. Before taking questions from the audience, Jaret Whittington, 12, Perdue announced her support for a program speeders that will give high school students the oppor- hitting his frst home tunity to earn college credit from community run Saturday at a targeted college at no cost to their families. Staff photo by Mark Gilchrist Cerro Gordo baseball See Perdue, page 6-A nAttempt to avoid repeat An electrician and grip adjust a light and its flter during production tournament? ... Win- of last April’s highway of the movie “Hick,” being shot at Powell’s Dairy near Hallsboro ners in the Optimist carnage is goal of troop- and, on April 5 in downtown Whiteville. Club’s Oratorical ers, deputies, police. Faulk named Contest giving a shout By BOB HIGH out to Karen Hall, their Staff Writer Dozens hoping to land interim boss English teacher at Cen- Many lawmen from the tral Middle School? ... Highway Patrol, Sheriff ’s Of- jobs as extras in ‘Hick’ for county fice and several police de- Ricky Bradford of Caro- partments targeted speeders nFilming in downtown White- her children and their friends as lina Southern cleaning and those not using seat belts ville, originally scheduled for well as her vintage 1986 Fleetwood schools up limbs hanging over as they traveled on U.S. 74 this week, has been delayed Braugham Cadillac. nFaulk will assume the job on May 2, Wednesday and today (Thurs- until Tuesday, April 5. Toni Workman of Tabor City plans to apply for the permanent spot. railcars that Whiteville day). brought a group of children. She “We’re very mindful of said she had never seen a movie be- ofcials complained By FULLER ROYAL By FULLER ROYAL ing made before. See Speeders, page 5-A Staff Writer Staff Writer about recently? ... The kids with her said they were familiar with “Hick” star Chloe William and Rachel Scores of hopefuls turned out During its monthly meeting Monday night, Moretz’ films. Saturday for a chance to be cast the Columbus County Board of Education Hannah’s long row of Deborah Gore, Pamela Ward Police, fre as extras in next week’s location named Assistant Superintendent Alan Faulk and Eddie Ward, all of Whiteville, pink azaleas providing filming of the movie “Hick” in as the interim superintendent effective May 2. applied. “We thought this would be annual “eye-candy” for Whiteville. Faulk, who was promoted to his current job departments fun to do,” Eddie Ward said. They arrived wearing 1980s garb in 2005, will fill the shoes of retiring superin- U.S. 701 travelers be- Pamela said she had watched with a mid-Western flare – cowboy tendent Dan Strickland. list needs “Firestarter” being filmed in 1984. tween Williams Town- hats and boots. Strickland, who is headed to Marion Coun- “Firestarter,” based on Stephen The early scenes in the movie ty, S.C., to become that district’s superinten- ship and Sidney? ... nWorkshop a very early King’s book, was the film that take place in Nebraska. dent, said the board’s decision is a good one. preliminary to budget brought DeLaurentis and the movie People also brought their early “This should result in a smooth transition process. industry to Wilmington. 1980s cars – or photos of their cars. for the Columbus County Schools,” Strickland The previous year, a low-budget, Representatives from Fincannon said Tuesday morning. County Deaths locally produced film titled ‘The By JEFFERSON WEAVER and Associates, a casting agency Faulk will serve while the board conducts Agitators” had been filmed with Whiteville Staff Writer headquartered in Wilmington since a search for Strickland’s permanent replace- Hollywood veterans Vince Edwards Telma Lee Hinson the opening of the original Dino De- ment. and Richard Jaeckal. Produced lo- Whiteville City Council Laurentis DEG studios in 1983, were Faulk, who turned 50 on Monday, said he Clarendon cally, nothing came of that film. members met with police and on hand to collect information and is looking forward to the opportunity to fill in Walter Herman Cooper Fincannon representative Dan firefighters last week to exam- make photos of the wannabe extras. for Strickland. He said that once the position Esther W. Todd Cox said that even if someone ine ways to strengthen both Julie Lancaster, of Wilmington, is advertised, he will more than likely apply doesn’t make the cut for “Hick,” Hallsboro departments. read about the open call in The News to make the post permanent. their resumes and photos are kept Herbert S. Formyduval Sgt. Roger Palmer of the Reporter. A regular weekend visitor “Being the interim superintendent will Whiteville Police and Interim Chadbourn to Lake Waccamaw, she brought See ‘Hick’, page 2-A Gary Alva Shaw See Departments, page 7-A See Faulk, page 2-A John Wesley Campbell Mozelle D. George Lake Waccamaw Annette Inman Grainger Robot on duty at Columbus Regional Riegelwood By JEFFERSON WEAVER Stanford University for use by the military in per- Staff Writer forming surgeries remotely, even from miles away. Seth Hayden Beaver Researchers realized the machine could be used for A new surgical specialist is on duty at Columbus a number of commercial applications, according to Regional Health Center – but this operating room the manufacturer. Index worker doesn’t sleep, eat or go on vacation. While the da Vinci at Columbus Regional isn’t Editorials ......... 10-A On top of that, the specialist was originally de- operated by a surgeon in a field hospital hundreds Obituaries ......... 8-A signed for use on a battlefield. of miles from the battlefront, the surgeon has very Columbus Regional recently purchased a da little physical contact with the patient, thus reducing Sports ................ 1-B chances for infection and other problems. Crime ................ 4-A Vinci surgical assistance robot. The $735,000 robot, considered the biggest advance in surgery since The operating surgeon uses a computer to control Living ................ 1-C the introduction of laparoscopic surgery, is being the machine, which uses smaller incisions than even used primarily for gynecological and urological minimally-invasive laparoscopy. The surgeon sees procedures, but can be used for a number of health the process through a high definition three-dimen- problems. sional computer monitor. The machine is capable of Referred to as MIS (minimally invasive surgery) such precise work that a company demonstration initiatives, more hospitals are going to the use of The half-ton da Vinci surgical robot. video shows it making origami, the Japanese art surgical robotics for a variety of procedures. The da of folding paper into figures smaller than a penny. Vinci Surgical System, manufactured by Intuitive complications and post-operative infections; fewer “We are very excited that this is a part of our Surgical Systems, can provide hospitals with greater blood transfusions and less post-operative pain man- hospital,” said Terrie Priest, vice president of busi- productivity and operational efficiencies. The manu- agement, simpler post-operative nursing care. ness development and community relations with the facturer cites use of the da Vinci system in reducing The da Vinci system was originally designed at See da Vinci, page 3-A 2-A – The News Reporter, Thursday, March 31, 2011 Faulk Continued from page 1-A give me the chance to see if this is something I want to do,” he said. “Dan has been a great mentor. Being a superin- tendent is a team endeavor. We have a great leadership team here in the Columbus County Schools.