Public Safety

Detectives have charged a Clarendon man with sexually abusing a preadolescent boy.  Frederic William booth, 56, is being held on a $50,000 secured bond on a charge of indecent liberties with a minor, according to jail reports. Booth is alleged to have inappropriately touched the boy multiple times in a sexual manner. He is acquainted with the child. The incident happened in a home in Clarendon. The investigation...

A Whiteville-area man was charged with a felony after an Animal Protective Services officer found a starving, sick and injured puppy at his home. The puppy was seized, but had to be euthanized due to its poor condition, according to the APS report. Ronnie Pryor, 60, was charged with a single county of killing an animal by starvation, and released on a $1,000 secured bond, jail records show....

Thursday’s shooting incident at Whiteville’s Sandy Ridge apartment complex beside Nolan Park has increased calls for a larger, county-owned park outside of the city. Shane Hardee, whose daughters play Dixie Youth ball, will address the county commissioners tonight (Monday) on the advantages of establishing a larger park outside of the city.  Hardee said in a Facebook post that he was talking with commissioners and others before Thursday’s incident...