COLUMBUS COUNTY, NC (WECT) – Thank you cards, balloons, pictures, drawings and a cake filled the nurse’s office at Williams Township School recently.

Students and staff celebrated School Nurse Day by decorating Toni Stocks’ office, according to a post on the Columbus County Schools website.

Copyright 2012 WECT. All rights reserved.

WHITEVILLE, NC (WECT) – Thursday will mark the first time Whiteville City Council members will get to look at recommendations for next year's budget. However, the mayor says council is already facing some unexpected expenses.

According to Terry Mann, the basement at city hall has a moisture problem, and if it's not fixed soon, it will spread to other parts of the building.

Mann says the city also needs a new fire truck, which is estimated to cost around $450,000.

Mann says the city's fund balance has increased, but the budget will likely come down to the extra expenditures.

Copyright 2012 WECT. All rights reserved.

COLUMBUS COUNTY, NC (WECT) - A week after the primary elections, workers at board of elections around the state completed vote canvassing, which is the process that ensures numbers are accurate and everything is up to par.

But in Columbus County, it was a county commissioner race that stood out and showed a change from the original voting numbers.

Many in Columbus County knew the District 3 County Commissioner race was going to be one to watch between incumbent Buddy Byrd and former Sandyfield Mayor Perry Dixon.

Tuesday, during vote canvassing, it was discovered Byrd beat Dixon by 26 votes, which is six more votes than on election night.

Mostly black and Indian voters reside in District 3, and Dixon, the challenger, is black.

Hence, Byrd raised some eyebrows when he was quoted in The News Reporter saying the votes were close because folks voted their color.