Daily News Briefs for February 5, 2025
President Donald Trump’s new policies on deporting illegal aliens has sparked a flurry of rumors throughout the region. Whiteville City and Columbus County Schools issued statements that they will not allow students to be detained or release student records to any law enforcement agency without a warrant. Bladen County schools made a similar statement last week. Bladen Sheriff Jim McVicker addressed rumors of ICE sweeps, saying that there have been no roundups in Bladen County. Columbus County Sheriff Bill Rogers did not return a request for comment. A state law passed last year requires local sheriffs to cooperate with ICE agents.
Whiteville Police are investigating a series of car break-ins at Love Mill Apartments. The thefts were reported just before 2 a.m. Tuesday. Columbus County Sheriff’s office is also advising residents along Peacock Road and Old Lumberton Roads to keep an eye out for a suspicious individual caught on security cameras. read more here
County Commissioners on Monday turned down a request to give Columbus County status as a high risk wildfire area. Shane Hardee of the Forest Service explained that the shift from moderate to high risk category would require more regulation on anyone burning to clear land. In a split vote, commissioners refused the request out of concern for adding an additional burden of farmers.
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