Group in Columbus Co. wants countywide voting for commissioners

Tuesday, August 16th, 2011, 9:43am

COLUMBUS COUNTY, NC (WECT) - Members of the group Concerned Citizens for Better Government are asking Columbus County commissioners to put a referendum on the November 2012 ballot so citizens can vote on whether they want countywide voting for commissioners.

Members of the group believe everyone would benefit from the entire county electing commissioners.

"Like the landfill for example. If a commissioner didn't want a landfill in his district, he would vote on it to go in another district because he knows the people in the other district can't vote him out," said Sammy Henson, a member of Concerned Citizens for Better Government."

The group will make recommendations to commissioners during their meeting Monday night.

In 2005, the group presented the same idea to commissioners, but they didn't even vote on it.

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Whites Crossing Plaza in Whiteville to be auctioned off

Submitted by Ashley Barker, Community Web Producer

Tuesday, August 16th, 2011, 8:09am

Whites Crossing Plaza in Whiteville to be auctioned off

COLUMBUS COUNTY, NC (WECT) — A Whiteville shopping center is going on the auction block on Tuesday, Aug. 16.

Beginning at 1 p.m., buyers can bid for the 93,911 square-foot Whites Crossing Plaza, located at 1820 S. Madison St. The starting bid for the lot is $700,000, according to a news release from Auction.com's Max Sucee.

The shopping center is 75% occupied and is anchored by a Belk department store chain. The auction will end at 1 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 18.

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Retirees honored at SCC with glass pyramids

Submitted by Ashley Barker, Community Web Producer

Tuesday, August 16th, 2011, 7:30am

Retirees honored at SCC with glass pyramids

COLUMBUS COUNTY, NC (WECT) — Southeastern Community College honored its recent retirees during Convocation on Monday, Aug. 8, according to the Communications Specialist Justin Smith.

SCC President Kathy Matlock presented engraved glass pyramids to Angela Herring, who retired earlier this year as cashier, and to Robert Carter, dead of Arts and Sciences, who will retire on Aug. 31.

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When lightning strikes: Whiteville man describes his experience

Submitted by WECT Web Staff

Monday, August 15th, 2011, 5:15pm

WHITEVILLE, NC (WECT) – A man from Whiteville was busy preparing the grill for his twin sons' birthday party Sunday when a lightning strike fizzled the celebration.

Lamont Bethea, 31, said it was only raining when he was outside adding charcoal to the grill and there was no thunder to be heard. Then all of a sudden, Bethea said there was a boom loud enough to rattle the entire neighborhood.

"I just started feeling my body burning and I felt hot, real hot and I looked at the fire [on the grill] and thought it had to be the fire," explained Bethea.

Bethea remembers holding his chest and running a few feet before he fell to the ground and started shaking.

"I couldn't hear and I couldn't see," said Bethea. He said all he could see where white spots and he felt extremely tired.

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SCC names new softball coach

Submitted by Ashley Barker, Community Web Producer

Monday, August 15th, 2011, 3:12pm

COLUMBUS COUNTY, NC (WECT) — Southeastern Community College has a new softball coach.

Julius Ryan of Whiteville will coach the Lade Rams in several tournaments this fall before the regular season starts next February, according to SCC’s Communications Specialist Justin Smith.

The 28-year-old coach moved to Columbus County in 2009 to work as program coordinator for the City of Whiteville Parks and Recreation Department.

“I am going to do all I can to encourage and motivate them and push them to pursue their goals not only on the field but also in the classroom,” Ryan said in a news release.

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Whiteville couple wins almost $250K

Submitted by Ashley Barker, Community Web Producer

Monday, August 15th, 2011, 2:23pm

COLUMBUS COUNTY, NC (WECT) — A Columbus County couple won almost a quarter of a million dollars from the N.C. Education Lottery recently.

Lottie and Sylvia Williams of Whiteville claimed a prize totaling $248,982 after their Carolina Cash 5 ticket was the only one to match all five numbers in the Saturday, Aug. 13 drawing, according to the Lottery's Social Media Specialist Christopher Bushnell.

Lottie Williams purchased the ticket, worth $169,308 after taxes, at the Hill's Food Store on JK Powell Boulevard in Whiteville. He discovered that he won the ticket early Sunday. “I jumped up out of my truck, went inside and told my wife,” he told officials at the N.C. Education Lottery. The couple plans to pay off some bills and take care of house repairs with their winnings.

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New academy offers culinary arts, interior design certification for high school students

Submitted by Ashley Barker, Community Web Producer

Monday, August 15th, 2011, 11:43am

New academy offers culinary arts, interior design certification for high school students

COLUMBUS COUNTY, NC (WECT) — Over 150 people attended the dedication of the new Columbus Career and College Academy recently, according to Columbus County Schools.

Speakers included former students of the old Fair Bluff High School. The first students arrived on campus on August 1.

The school offers certification in Broadcast/Communications, Culinary Arts, Metalworking, Green Construction and Interior Design, according to its website.

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