Government

Covid-19

COVID claims 64th life here

November 5, 2020 Jefferson Weaver Comments Off

New local data shows a 64th person has died from COVID-19 in Columbus county. The Health Department’s twice-weekly report today said the individual died Nov. 3 at an area hospital. Another 13 local residents are currently [Read More]

Hallsboro saw lines stretching to the other end of the fire station at times Tuesday morning. (Jefferson Weaver photo)

County board seats turn red; governor keeps post

November 4, 2020 Jefferson Weaver Comments Off

Columbus County had a red tide Tuesday night, as three of four county commissioners seats on the ballot saw Republicans take handy victories.The results will not be official until Canvass Day, but some major changes appear [Read More]

Results delayed til 8:15 p.m.

November 3, 2020 Jefferson Weaver Comments Off

Problems at four precincts across the state led the State Board of elections to leave those polls open for extra time tonight, delaying the first release of results until 8:15 p.m. None of the affected [Read More]

Long lines, hand sanitizer and enthusiasm at polls

November 3, 2020 Jefferson Weaver Comments Off

Today is Election Day in what may be one of the busiest political seasons in history. Most of the reports so far today show voting is going smoothly but slowly across Columbus County, although there [Read More]

Front Page

Shots fired call shuts down schools

October 29, 2020 Jefferson Weaver Comments Off

Updated 3:17 p.m. Two homes were struck but no one was injured after a drive-by shooting in broad daylight Thursday. Four Whiteville schools were placed on lockdown. Det. Scott Moody of the Whiteville Police said [Read More]

In addition to electronic calls, nighthunting, dogs and bait, hunters have another tool to use in hoghunting– technology. The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission has unveiled a new online reporting tool for people to report any sightings of feral swine or damage to the agency. Feral swine, also called wild boar and feral hogs, are an invasive species that cause significant damage to plant communities and wildlife habitat, prey on native wildlife, compete with native species for limited food and clean water resources and potentially spread diseases that pose substantial risk to livestock, wildlife, humans and pets. Commission biologists, along with other members of the N.C. Feral Swine Task Force, are seeking information from the public to better understand the distribution and abundance of feral swine across the state, and to estimate type and extent of damages they are causing, including damage to agricultural crops, timber, wildlife habitats, landscaping and others. Reported sightings will help members of the task force determine priority areas where they can focus management efforts. Education and outreach events, technical assistance staff, loaner traps, and other control measures will be focused in areas of greatest need. “Reports we receive from the public will be extremely important for developing a baseline of information, which we will then use to track how feral swine move across the landscape,” said Falyn Owens, the Commission’s extension biologist. “Changes in the reports we receive over time will also provide a measure of effectiveness of feral swine control efforts across the state.” Feral swine are highly adaptable animals that can live in urban, suburban and rural areas from the mountains to the sea. In North Carolina, they are typically found in isolated pockets, and have been reported in most counties of the state. Commission biologists hope that citizen reports will help them better assess the extent that feral swine are impacting the states natural resources. In Columbus county, hogs have displaced deer in many areas around the Waccamaw River. Feral swine are also reportedly moving up the river toward the sensitive ecosystems around Lake Waccamaw State Park. They root cemeteries in Nakina, Old Dock and Crusoe, and destroy crops around Tabor and Clarendon. Rodney Register has become known as the “Hawg Eradicator” for his efforts to trap pigs across the county over the past two years. He expects to top the 300 mark this fall. Opportunistic feeders and omnivorous, feral swine will eat almost anything, include a wide range of vegetative matter. While foraging, feral swine root into and turn up the soil, causing extensive damage to landscaping, stream banks, lawns, and agricultural fields. On agricultural and developed lands, they cause an estimated $1.5 billion per year in damages to crops across the United States. While feral swine eat a wide range of vegetation, they also eat snakes, turtles, lizards, the eggs and young of ground nesting birds like quail and turkey, and white-tailed deer fawns. Feral swine have the potential to carry at least 30 diseases and nearly 40 different parasites that can affect humans, pets, livestock and other wildlife. Diseases like brucellosis, pseudorabies, foot and mouth disease, and African swine fever are just some of the concerns when feral swine and people or livestock interact. “Simply put, feral swine are invasive and undesirable as free-ranging animals on North Carolina’s landscape,” Owens said. “Unfortunately, illegal releases continue to supplement the growing population, making control of these destructive animals challenging. “In order to direct resources that will allow landowners and managers to better control feral swine populations and reduce the damages they cause to North Carolina citizens, the natural environment and our native wildlife, we need the public to report sightings to us.” The N.C. Feral Swine Task Force comprises state and federal agencies that are working collaboratively to learn more about and manage the impacts of feral swine in the state. In addition to the Commission, current members include USDA-Wildlife Services, N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Natural Resource Conservation Service, NCSU Cooperative Extension Service, USDA-Veterinary Services, N.C. Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts and N.C. Department of Health and Human Services. For more information on feral swine in North Carolina, visit the Commission’s feral swine web page.

State seeks feral swine sightings

October 28, 2020 Jefferson Weaver Comments Off

In addition to electronic calls, nighthunting, dogs and bait, hunters have another tool to use in hoghunting– technology. The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission has unveiled a new online reporting tool for people to report any sightings of [Read More]

The Board of Elations is investigating after this woman allegedly appeared to prevent a man from casting a ballot Thursday.

Voting case sent to state for investigation

October 26, 2020 Jefferson Weaver Comments Off

Thursday’s incident involving a mentally challenged man whose caretaker allegedly kept him from casting a ballot as he wished has been sent to the state Board of Elections for further investigation. It also wasn’t the [Read More]

Voting at the Tabor city poll has remained steady but not overwhelming. (contributed photo)

Polls staying busy, see few issues

October 23, 2020 Jefferson Weaver Comments Off

Despite long lines in the first few days, early polls are flowing smoothly across the county. Senior elections specialist Kathy Enzor said Friday that 9,809 ballots have been cast in the county. The county has [Read More]

Caretaker appears to keep man from casting ballot

October 23, 2020 Jefferson Weaver Comments Off

The Board of Elections is investigating whether a caretaker kept a local man from voting for Donald Trump at the Whiteville one stop poll Thursday. Brandon Patrick said he had taken his father to the [Read More]

Rapid testing will be available by appointment Friday at the Health Department in Whiteville.

County marks 60th death from COVID

October 22, 2020 Jefferson Weaver Comments Off

The most recent death from COVID0-19 in Columbus County brings the local toll to 60. The Columbus County Health Department, in its regular Thursday report, said the individual died today (Oct. 22) in an area [Read More]

Phase 3 reopening extended to Nov. 13

October 21, 2020 Jefferson Weaver 1

Gov. Roy Cooper extended the ‘modified’ Phase 3 COVID lockdown to Nov. 13. Meanwhile 36 counties have been told to do more to control the spread of the novel corona virus. Cooper made the comments [Read More]

The sidewalk project currently underway in Whiteville is federally funded and being managed by the NCDOT.

Whiteville vision meeting Tuesday

October 19, 2020 Jefferson Weaver Comments Off

Whiteville officials want to know what residents and business owners think will help downtown grow and become more attractive.The city will be holding the first public meeting for the downtown streetscape master plan Tuesday evening [Read More]

Drive-up testing is continuing at Columbus Regional Health Center by appointment.

County sees 34 new cases, no new deaths as state notes new high

October 15, 2020 Jefferson Weaver Comments Off

Columbus County reported 34 new cases but no new fatalities in Thursday’s COVID-19 pandemic report. The Health Department said that since the pandemic began in March, 1,562 total cases have been confirmed here, with 1,276 [Read More]

Officers will be available, but not at polls

October 15, 2020 Jefferson Weaver Comments Off

Uniformed law enforcement officers won’t be stationed at polls during the early election or on Nov. 3, but they will be on standby if needed. A memo from the state Board of Elections to [Read More]

Early voting starts 8 a.m. Thursday

October 14, 2020 Jefferson Weaver Comments Off

Early voting for the Nov. 2 general election gets underway Thursday at five different sites in Columbus County. Early polls will be open at the county Board of Elections office, Chadbourn Town Hall, Fair [Read More]

Lake Waccamaw's Christmas parade has been cancelled for this year due to the pandemic.

No parade, scaled down Christmas tree event at Lake Waccamaw