Shopping & Services

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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Basketball game will honor cancer survivors, Relay for Life

Submitted by Sarah Crandall, Web Producer

Wednesday, February 13th, 2013, 5:01pm

Basketball game will honor cancer survivors, Relay for Life

BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NC (WECT) – A lot of spectators at Wednesday’s West Brunswick High School basketball game against Whiteville will be decked out in pink.

According to West Brunswick’s website, it’s all part of the school’s Pink Game tradition to honor cancer survivors and raise money for Relay for Life.

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EMS director named in Columbus Co.

Submitted by Debra Worley, Digital Content Director

Tuesday, August 21st, 2012, 12:01pm

COLUMBUS COUNTY, NC (WECT) – Officials in Columbus County have named a new emergency services director.

Commissioners voted to hire Kay Worley, who has been with the department for 14 years.

Worley was formally the deputy director under Jeremy Jernigan. He accepted a job with the Columbus Regional Health Care System in February.

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Electrical problems to blame for fire at Beautiful Interiors

Submitted by Ashley Barker, Community Web Producer

Thursday, June 21st, 2012, 5:53pm

Electrical problems to blame for fire at Beautiful Interiors

COLUMBUS COUNTY, NC (WECT) – Firefighters in Whiteville said electrical problems are to blame for a fire at Beautiful Interiors on Wednesday.

The owner was with a customer and when she walked back inside there was a fire, according to investigators. It took firefighters over an hour to get the flames under control.

The roof of the building wasn’t damaged, but officials said they’re not sure if the building, which was built in the 1800s, is a total loss.

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Chadbourn woman becomes an instant millionaire

Submitted by Ashley Barker, Community Web Producer

Tuesday, May 15th, 2012, 5:19pm

Chadbourn woman becomes an instant millionaire

COLUMBUS COUNTY, NC (WECT) – A Chadbourn woman became an instant millionaire after purchasing a winning N.C. Education Lottery ticket.

Clariece Hammonds became the second person to win the top prize in the $4,000,000 Cash Blowout game, according to a news release from spokesperson Van Denton.

She collected her winnings on Tuesday and was given the option of claiming the prize in annuity payments of $200,000 over a 20-year period or a discounted lump sum of $2.4 million. The release stated that Hammonds chose the discounted lump sum and, after taxes were withheld, received $1,632,006.

She reportedly bought the lucky ticket at the Minuteman Food Mart on JK Powell Boulevard in Whiteville.

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$116K given to 11 Columbus County fire departments

Submitted by Ashley Barker, Community Web Producer

Tuesday, May 15th, 2012, 3:51pm

$116K given to 11 Columbus County fire departments

COLUMBUS COUNTY, NC (WECT) – Over $8 million was awarded to over 600 fire departments across the state recently through the 2012 Volunteer Fire Department Fund.

The Fund was created in 1988 to provide dollar-for-dollar matching grants to assist volunteer fire departments, according to a news release from Insurance Commissioner and State Fire Marshall Wayne Goodwin. A total of $8,717,495.18 was awarded to 644 departments and some of that money is going to Columbus County. Here’s the list of local grants:

Acme-Delco-Riegelwood Fire-Rescue, Inc., $11,000
Bolton Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department, Inc., $5,785.37
Cerro-Gordo Volunteer Fire Dept. and Rescue Squad, $20,933.96
Evergreen Volunteer Fire Department, $10,774.50
Fair Bluff Fire Department and Rescue Squad, Inc., $5,406
Nakina Fire & Rescue Squad, Inc., $11,060.54
North Whiteville V.F.D., $10,650
Old Dock/Cypress Creek V.F.D. and Auxiliary, $15,000
St. James Vol. Fire Department, Inc., $2,514.50
Tabor City Fire Department, $12,390.50
White Marsh-Welches Creek Community V.F.D., $10,614.74

“I’m proud that so many fire departments are taking advantage of this important grant program. These grants help our volunteer fire departments stretch their budgets to better serve our communities,” stated Goodwin in a news release.

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