White chooses to
play for Georgia
LAURINBURG — From a list that included Alabama, Ohio State, North Carolina and Clemson, high-school running back phenom Zamir White chose the Georgia Bulldogs on Tuesday.
White, a junior at Scotland High and the No. 1-ranked running back in the country, made the selection on his mother’s birthday.
During his junior season, White rushed for 1,784 yards and 26 touchdowns despite missing four games with an injury. Through his first three years with the Fighting Scots, White has 5,174 rushing yard and 85 touchdowns.
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Huggins is crowned
Miss North Carolina
RALEIGH — Victoria Huggins on Saturday night finished a five-year quest when she was named Miss North Carolina.
Huggins, 23, competing as Miss Greater Sampson County, won the title over 43 other women vying for the crown in the 80th annual Miss North Carolina Pageant, becoming the second pageant winner from St. Pauls.
The new Miss North Carolina received a $20,000 scholarship and the opportunity to represent North Carolina in the Miss America Pageant in September.
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City hires its
newest police chief
FAYETTEVILLE — Gina Hawkins, deputy chief of the Clayton County, Ga., Police Department, was announced this week as Fayetteville’s police chief.
Hawkins, who will begin the job on Aug. 14, is the first woman and first minority to serve in the permanent position of police chief for Fayetteville.
Hawkins will be paid $140,000 and oversee 433 sworn and 187 non-sworn employees and a $53.9 million budget.
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Fire damages
hog farm office
WHITEVILLE — Firefighters from several departments needed a handful of hours to completely snuff out a blaze that heavily damaged a White Marsh hog farm office on Tuesday.
The call came in at about 3:30 p.m. and firefighters remained on the scene until about 7:30 p.m.
The hog farm is located off Batten-Burney Lane near Farmer’s Union and Red Hill roads.
Bladen County fire departments assisted with the blaze.
From staff and wire reports.