Some city employees dropped from insurance policy

Submitted by Gavin Johnson, Reporter

Monday, May 20th, 2013, 6:31pm

Some city employees dropped from insurance policy

WHITEVILLE, NC (WECT) - Some workers with the city of Whiteville are once again having issues with their insurance policy.

According to Whiteville's city manager two city employees had their insurance policies with AFLAC dropped without them knowing. City officials are looking into the matter.

You may remember last year, there was confusion when some employees were paying for insurance policies they didn't have.

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Nurse uses vapor alternative to kick smoking habit

Submitted by Gavin Johnson, Reporter

Monday, May 20th, 2013, 2:01pm

COLUMBUS COUNTY, NC (WECT) – A nurse at Columbus Regional Healthcare System in Whiteville turned to a vapor alternative to stop smoking cigarettes.

After his successful attempt to stop smoking cigarettes, Lenard De Jong decided to open Vapezilla in an effort to get others to make the switch as well.

He said being a nurse in the state's unhealthiest county made him realize he had to do something to turn that around.

According to Jong, vapor cigarettes are similar to electronic cigarettes, but are gentler on the throat.

He says doctors are referring people to his business as a way to quit smoking cigarettes.

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'Click it or Ticket' campaign celebrates 20 years

Submitted by Caraline Waldrep, Traffic Reporter

Monday, May 20th, 2013, 11:04am

'Click it or Ticket' campaign celebrates 20 years

WILMINGTON, NC (WECT) – Monday, May 20th marks the 20th anniversary of North Carolina DOT “Click or Ticket” campaign.

According to the press release, North Carolina was the first state to launch this safety program in 1993.

The release also states, The Click it or Ticket campaign runs through Memorial Day weekend and ends on June 2nd. During this time officers will cite driver’s state wide who do not buckle up.

To learn more information about this campaign visit this link or visit their website at, http://www.ncdot.gov/.

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WEATHER: Heavy rainmaking thunderstorms

Submitted by Colin Hackman, First Alert Meteorologist, Reporter

Monday, May 20th, 2013, 7:47am

Grab the umbrella for sure today, as showers and thunderstorms will soak our area into the afternoon.

While severe weather is not likely, some good old fashioned gully washers are - as the atmosphere moistens to a typical summer type scenario.

That means low visibility and some roadway flooding concerns this morning are likely as heavy rain falls in swaths across southeastern North Carolina.

Some rumbles of thunder and gusty conditions are possible, particularly as we head in to the warmer hours this afternoon.

High temps remain a bit cooler today with the added cloud cover. Look for most spots to near 80F. Some spots may pull in an inch of precipitation.

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Newspaper delivery man killed in crash

Submitted by WECT Web Staff

Saturday, May 18th, 2013, 10:40pm

COLUMBUS COUNTY, NC (WECT) - A 60-year-old newspaper delivery man died in a car crash in Columbus County Friday morning.

The accident happened on US 76 near the Cerro Gordo community.

According to investigators, John Campbell, 60, was turning onto Bird Cage Road when he struck the back of a car driven by John Obourne Jr.

Troopers say the impact of the crash caused Campbell's car to hit another vehicle. He died at the scene.

Obourne is charged with failure to reduce speed and misdemeanor death by vehicle.

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SCC offers continuing education training

Submitted by Justin Smith, Southeastern Community College Director of Marketing and Public Affairs

Saturday, May 18th, 2013, 2:00pm

SCC offers continuing education training

COLUMBUS COUNTY, NC (WECT) - Southeastern Community College’s Workforce and Community Development Division will offer continuing education training in the coming weeks. To pre-register or for more information, call (910) 642-7141, ext. 296, 397 or 425.

Financial assistance with registration fees and books to gain new employment-related skills may be available through the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) and other funding sources. To see if they qualify, students should contact the Columbus County JobLink Career Center immediately at (910)642-7141, ext. 261 or by visiting the Center in A-Building on the SCC campus.

Health Care Billing & Coding Specialist Part I – ICD-9

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Several new businesses opening in Columbus County

Submitted by Gavin Johnson, Reporter

Friday, May 17th, 2013, 5:42pm

Several new businesses opening in Columbus County

COLUMBUS COUNTY, NC (WECT) - Business in Columbus County is booming, according to Jennifer Holcomb, Director of the Greater Whiteville Chamber of Commerce and Director of the Tourism Development Authority Business.

Holcomb says that so far this year, 14 new businesses have opened, with most of them being small businesses.

Holcomb says that next week, two more ribbon cuttings are scheduled, and five more are in the process of being scheduled.

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