With North Carolina’s spring wildfire season arriving at a time when most of the state is experiencing moderate to severe drought, the N.C. Forest Service is urging the public to apply best practices and common sense with all outdoor fires, especially yard debris burns.

The West Bladen boys and East Bladen girls will travel Saturday for third-round games in the N.C. High School Athletic Association basketball playoffs. Admission is $12.

West Bladen’s Knights exploded with a 32-10 second half run that wiped out a 10-point deficit and produced a 73-61 victory over Greene Central on Thursday night in the second round of the NCHSAA 3A boys basketball playoffs.

Ariel Cromartie spent time following Thursday’s basketball playoff game posing for pictures and accepting congratulations for surpassing 1,000 career points.

Woodmen Life Chapter 262 has established an endowment at Bladen Community College that will provide scholarships to support Bladen County students pursuing any degree program at the college.

HOPE MILLS — Hunter Hester and J.T. Hepler belted home runs and drove in two runs Wednesday as West Bladen opened its baseball season with a 12-11 victory against Gray’s Creek.

The West Bladen boys and East Bladen girls will host second round games Thursday in the N.C. High School Athletic Association basketball playoffs.

Four days ago the East Bladen boys’ basketball team was on top of the mountain after making a surprising run to the Carolina Conference tournament championship.