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Submitted by Sarah Crandall, Web Producer

Sunday, April 21st, 2013, 3:30pm

SOUTHEASTERN NC (WECT) – Find out the latest on what’s happening in your area by signing up for email and text alerts from WECT.

You’ll receive up to five alerts a day, keeping you in the loop when it comes to breaking news, severe weather conditions, traffic tie-ups and more.

Message and data rates may apply. You can text STOP at any time to cancel your subscription, or text HELP for more information.

To sign up, click here.

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Man accused of robbing pizza delivery men charged

Submitted by WECT Web Staff

Friday, April 19th, 2013, 4:17pm

Man accused of robbing pizza delivery men charged

COLUMBUS COUNTY, NC (WECT) – A suspect faces charges in connection to the robberies of four pizza delivery men.

Kenneth Gray Ford, also known as Worm, is accused of robbing men who were delivering pizzas from Papa John’s, Zeko’s and Pizza Hut in February and March, according to a spokesperson with the Columbus County Sheriff’s Office.

He has been charged with four counts of robbery with a dangerous weapon.

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Dept. of Aging owes more than $68,000

Submitted by Debra Worley, Digital Content Director

Tuesday, April 16th, 2013, 12:13pm

COLUMBUS COUNTY, NC (WECT) – Officials in Columbus County wrapped up a self audit Monday on the county’s Department of Aging.

The report reveals the department will have to pay the state a little over $68,000 for money it received for services the department did not give to clients.

The self-audit stemmed from complaints from a client earlier in the year about not receiving services from the Department of Aging that were paid for.

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Still time to sign up for Relay For Life

Submitted by Sarah Crandall, Web Producer

Friday, April 12th, 2013, 4:44pm

COLUMBUS COUNTY, NC (WECT) – If you haven’t signed up for Relay For Life in Columbus County yet, there’s still time.

The event will take place Friday, April 19 at 6 p.m. at Southeastern Community College, according to the event’s website.

Proceeds from the event benefit the American Cancer Society.

To learn more, or to sign up, visit http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/RFLCY13SA?pg=entry&fr_id=53016.

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More than 450 cited in Columbus Co. during “No Need 2 Speed” campaign

Submitted by Sarah Crandall, Web Producer

Friday, April 12th, 2013, 8:30am

More than 450 cited in Columbus Co. during “No Need 2 Speed” campaign

COLUMBUS COUNTY, NC, (WECT) – More than 42,000 traffic and criminal citations were issued across the state during this year’s “No Need 2 Speed” campaign, according to a news release from a North Carolina Department of Transportation spokesperson.

The campaign ran from March 25 – 31, and law enforcement officers teamed up with the Governor’s Highway Safety Program to crack down on drivers speeding.

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Surprise proposal caught on cam

Submitted by Debra Worley, Digital Content Director

Monday, April 1st, 2013, 10:35am

WHITEVILLE, NC (WECT) – One lucky woman in Whiteville recently got the surprise of her life…and it was all caught on camera.

Kat Newton’s boyfriend, Kyle, orchestrated an elaborate surprise proposal at Collier’s Jewelers.

She hosts a show called Brunswick Biz for ATMC and thought an interview with a jeweler at the business was just part of the job. Instead, her fiancé showed up on one knee to surprise her.

You can watch the entire proposal in the video above or by clicking here if you're on a mobile phone.

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Budget cuts could be coming to department of social services

Submitted by Gavin Johnson, Reporter

Friday, March 29th, 2013, 7:56am

COLUMBUS COUNTY, NC (WECT) - Sixty-four families who were recently notified they would lose daycare assistance due to a shortfall are saved for now, but cuts could be on the way.

After facing a $100,000 shortfall, workers at the Columbus County department of social services said additional funding by the state which came in two weeks ago will prevent families from losing daycare assistance.

Algernon McKenzie the DSS director in Columbus County said they recently received $200,000 from the division of child development and used money from other programs to allow families to keep receiving daycare assistance.

According to McKenzie, they're also hoping to get more than $4,000 from a Smart Start partnership. He said although they survived a shortfall this time, there are proposed cuts in Governor Pat McCory's budget that could impact department of social services across the state.

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