News

Columbus Co. residents collect supplies for Kansas tornado victims

Submitted by Gavin Johnson, Reporter

Wednesday, May 22nd, 2013, 2:14pm

Columbus Co. residents collect supplies for Kansas tornado victims

COLUMBUS COUNTY, NC (WECT) – Wednesday, several citizens in Columbus County held an event call Columbus County Cares.

As part of the event, a tractor trailer is set up in the Whiteville Walmart parking lot, where volunteers are asking people to donate toiletries and non-perishable items to victims of the Oklahoma tornado.

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WEATHER: Thursday cold front

Submitted by Colin Hackman, First Alert Meteorologist, Reporter

Wednesday, May 22nd, 2013, 7:46am

Some of the showers we had for the predawn hour may return to coastal locations as we head into the late morning and early afternoon hours.

For the most part, however, will continue to dry things out today and tomorrow with partly to mostly sunny skies through midday Thursday afternoon.

It's Thursday afternoon that we will have the increasing chance of showers and Thunderstorms over eastern north Carolina as much cooler air ahead of a cold front moves in aloft.

The front itself is poised to move through during the first half of the day on Friday, bringing showers and thunderstorms.

The bonus however, is this feature will set us up for some cooler and drier conditions for the Memorial Day weekend.

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Greater Whiteville Chamber of Commerce quarterly meeting

Submitted by Gavin Johnson, Reporter

Tuesday, May 21st, 2013, 5:43pm

Greater Whiteville Chamber of Commerce quarterly meeting

WHITEVILLE, NC (WECT) - The Greater Whiteville Chamber of Commerce and Columbus County Tourism Bureau are merging. Tuesday, business owners and elected officials got to hear about it.

The director of both organizations says they'll work with towns that don't have a chamber to make sure everyone is on the same page.

"I'd like to bring in some more legislative advocey. I think our business community needs someone to coordinate those efforts. So we can make sure when things are going on in Raleigh or Washington that we can have a voice and make sure we're well represented," said Jennifer Holcomb, director for Greater Whiteville Chamber of Commerce and Columbus County Tourism Bureau.

The merger is expected to be complete by the end of the year.

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NC Museum of Forestry on back on the chopping block

Submitted by Debra Worley, Digital Content Director

Tuesday, May 21st, 2013, 4:25am

NC Museum of Forestry on back on the chopping block

COLUMBUS COUNTY, NC (WECT) - The NC Museum of Forestry in Whiteville is back on the chopping block.

According to Mayor Terry Mann, there's a proposal in the state senate's budget to sell the museum to the city of for $1 and the state would give the city $58,000 to operate the facility.

Mann says, despite getting $58,000 the museum's budget is about $300,000 and the city cannot afford it.

Mann said he hopes members of the museum and people in the community will reach out to state lawmakers about how much the museum means to the city like they did in 2011 when then Governor Beverly Perdue proposed to close the museum.

In 2011 the museum went under a $2,000,000 renovation.

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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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