The potential for high winds and some flooding has led both the city and county school systems to shift to a storm footing for Friday.
Hurricane Helene is forecast to come ashore today as a powerful Category Four in western Florida. While no direct impacts are expected here, the Columbus area will likely see tropical storm force gusts, high sustained winds and potentially tornadoes spinning off the eastern side of the storm. One to three inches of rain are expected through Friday night. Western North Carolina counties are bracing for historic flooding. The governor has declared a state of emergency for all 100 counties.
Columbus County schools will go to remote learning for Friday. Afterschool activities will go as normal today, but are camncelled for Friday.
Whiteville students will have a day off Friday, with teachers having an optional work day. The system will make up the lost day Sept. 30 (Monday). All extracurricular activities are cancelled in the city system for Friday.
Due to the possibility of rain and tornadoes, all football games have been rescheduled for tonight. Whiteville will play at Heide Trask at 7 p.m. South Columbus takes on the Pender Patriots at 7:30 p.m. at Pender. East Columbus goes up against East Bladen at 7:30 p.m. in The Swamp
West Columbus has the week off. The steak fundraiser for the athletic department will be held Tuesday.
