Michigan family donates photo collection showing Waccamaw Lumber’s operation in Bolton.
By BOB HIGH
Staff Writer
Local historian Robb Cross was in the county library about four months ago doing his usual work – trying to find out more about Columbus County.
A man and woman entered and inquired of library employees if anyone knew anything about Bolton, the small eastern county town at the northern edge of the Green Swamp.
Elected officials won’t get to bid on surplus items
By Jefferson Weaver
Staff Writer
Government auctions are gold mines for bargain hunters, but Whiteville’s City Council won’t join the bidders Sept. 14.
To avoid any appearance of impropriety, the board voted Tuesday to prohibit members of the city council from bidding on items at the city’s next surplus auction. Cars, trucks, a van, tools, computers and other extra equipment will go on the auction block in the first city auction since 2005.
By FULLER ROYAL
Staff Writer
The Whiteville City Schools Board of Education will consider reinstating the minimum 2.0 grade point average (GPA) requirement for participation in all extracurricular activities at Whiteville High School.
The requirement, originally implemented by former superintendent Jerry Paschal, was overturned in late 2004. That requirement applied only to athletes.
The removal of the requirement pushed the school down to the level of the minimum High School Athletic Association’s academic requirement – that athletes pass a majority of their classes each semester.
Because a student could pass three courses with a “D” and flunk the fourth, the new minimum GPA became 0.75.
Few school systems – and no others in the same athletic conferences as Whiteville – ever raised the minimum.
Superintendent Randall Shaver said that in his discussions, a significant portion of the community would like to see the minimum GPA requirement restored. (See full story by clicking on title.)
School board will make ban official at Sept. 10 meeting
By FULLER ROYAL
Staff Writer
Unless another system beats it to the punch, the Whiteville City Schools will become the 88th school district in the state to ban all tobacco on its campuses and property and at all school or school-sponsored events.
This will mean an end to smoking by students or employees on any campus and by spectators at any sporting event, indoors or out.
The decision, which comes in the wake of the North Carolina General Assembly’s smoking ban on any state property, was made through unanimous consent of the four board members present – chairman Carlton Prince, Dave Flowers, Jim DiMuzio and Larry Hewett. Board member Greg Merritt was absent. (See full story by clikcing on title.)