Public Safety

The sheriff’s office has arrested the third suspect in the Nov. 29 ambush that left a grandfather injured and his grandson dead. Christopher Jermaine Reaves Jr., 22, was arrested Thursday night on charges of murder, armed robbery, assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, inflicting serious injury, and possession with intent to manufacture, sell and deliver marijuana and opiates. He is being held under no bond,...

The water is rising fast across Columbus County.  In addition to five days of measurable rainfall over the past week, an additional two-plus inches have fallen in Columbus since Wednesday night, part of a winter storm ravaging other parts of the state. The National Weather Service is warning that flooding is likely along all the major basins as storm runoff flows downstream through the weekend.  Water is up...

A Whiteville man who was arrested in a drug raid last year has received federal prison time. Alfonzer Shavaar “Showtime” Blanks, 37, was sentenced to eight years in prison for possession of firearms during the furtherance of drug activity, and possession with intent to sell and deliver cocaine, crack and marijuana, according to the Columbus County Sheriff’s Office. The sentence was handed down in federal court. Deputies, Vice-Narcotics...