Public Safety

The driver of a soft drink truck became the county’s 11th road death today(Friday). The victim was ejected when the delivery truck collided with a tanker on U.S. 74-76 between Whiteville and Hallsboro. The wreck snarled westbound traffic for more than an hour. Traffic was detoured down N.C. 214 while the wreck and debris field were cleared. The Highway Patrol is investigating. The fatality was the fifth here...

Two men have been jailed after an eight year old girl was allegedly forced to watch a pornographic movie and perform sex acts.  Alton Lee Rhue, 47, was charged Monday with felony child abuse, and was released on a $5,000 secured bond. His son Tommy Rhue, 22, was released on a signature bond on charges of statutory rape, statutory sex offense, and indecent liberties with a minor. Both...

An “airsoft” fight in Whiteville has caught the attention of police. Whiteville Police said on their Facebook page that a group of individuals is shooting at each other using gel pellet guns, which are similar to airsoft BB guns. Gel pellets are larger, and are designed to shoot people without causing serious injury. WPD has received several reports of “innocent bystanders” being hit by gel shooters, and the...