Public Safety

The State Highway Patrol today announced 55 new troopers graduated from its 166 Basic Patrol School, and one of them is coming to Columbus County. Christopher Renzi will begin work here Dec. 10. The troopers callsign will be B-541. Troopers must graduate a 15-week program designed to prepare them for the physical, mental, and moral challenges of modern law enforcement. Training included instruction in firearms proficiency, vehicle operation,...

The driver of a Columbus County school bus was injured Wednesday when the bus and a work truck collided near Nakina. No children were on the bus at the time of the wreck, according to Nakina Fire and Rescue. The wreck occurred in the 4000 block of Ervin T. Richardson around 4:40 p.m. The bus and truck collided head on, sending the bus into a roadside ditch. The...

Columbus Animal Protective services has reopened the shelter to intakes. Sheriff Bill Rogers said the shelter was closed to new arrivals due to the anticipated arrival of 34 dogs in a pending animal cruelty case. Deborah Dahl, 70, of Hallsboro was charged with multiple counts of cruelty to animals after nearly 100 dogs were seized from inhumane conditions this summer. Almost all the cases were dropped when the...