WHITEVILLE, NC (WECT) - People who work in Whiteville could soon face furloughs.

City leaders are starting to work on the new budget and say it could be a nearly $600,000 shortfall, because the state might change the way cities and towns get money from privilege licenses and liquor sales.

Currently, Whiteville city officials have a hiring freeze on five positions. City officials say that they have also postponed buying a new fire truck and doing construction on city hall.

Mayor Terry Mann says that the city manager is trying to be proactive with what could happen in Raleigh.

The city has 11 patrol officers, and two other positions are open. But Mann says that those vacant positions will be on hold for at least the next few weeks. 

The decision to not fill the positions come after several recent shootings in the city, one which lead to the police chief in Bolton being shot in the leg.

COLUMBUS COUNTY, NC (WECT) – Concerned citizens in Columbus County will continue to talk about cracking down on crime.

Another community in Whiteville is planning to bounce ideas off each other next week.

Mayor Terry Mann said people on the west side of town have invited city officials and police to attend a meeting at the Dream Center.

The meeting will be held Monday, April 29 at 6:00 p.m.

Last week, three other neighborhoods came together for a community safety meeting. There have been several shootings in the city over the past few weeks, including one where the police chief in Bolton was shot.

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High pressure moves in finally bringing some much nicer weather today with daytime high temperatures running close to 70F this afternoon. 

While we will start the day with some clouds, by this afternoon it will be mostly sunny and nice.  That high pressure moves directly overhead for Wednesday keeping conditions improving and warming quickly as we roll into the upper 70s on Wednesday near Wilmington. 

Fact is some inland locations could push above the 80 degree mark as we will see temperatures push above average.

Thursday the chance for showers increases in association with an advancing cold front from the west. 

Shower are by no means a given, but the middle levels of the atmosphere become more favorable for the development of showers and thunderstorms as this system skirts the area.  Slightly cooler than normal conditions are expected as we head into the weekend - with more shower chances for Sunday afternoon.