Historic building

may have a buyer

LUMBERTON — City officials say they have an offer to purchase an historic 100-year-old downtown building that once had a date with a wrecking ball, but was saved by residents and a successful petition drive.

In a letter, Cathleen Turner of Preservation North Carolina, which is marketing the property, said the Burgess Group Consolidated LLC of Clinton is interested in purchasing and investing in renovations.

The Burgess Group, which has restored six historic downtown buildings in Clinton, has proposed to invest $600,000 to renovate the 1917-vintage building and pledged to return the 7,520-square-foot, red-brick structure to its original state as much as possible. Burgess Group plans to turn the building into commercial, office and conference space.

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Board of Education

buys out Till’s contract

FAYETTEVILLE — The Cumberland County Board of Education on Tuesday night voted 9-0 to buy out the contract for the final year of schools Superintendent Frank Till Jr.

The buyout was effective immediately. Associate Superintendent Tim Kinlaw, a 24-year veteran of the Cumberland County schools, will serve as the interim superintendent.

Till will be paid his annual $271,000 salary right away. He had been the head of the Cumberland County schools since 2009.

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Whiteville pitcher

picked No. 3 in draft

WHITEVILLE — MacKenzie Gore, a senior at Whiteville High, was selected by the San Diego Padres with the third pick in the first round of the 2017 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft on Monday.

Gore has committed to East Carolina University to play collegiately if he chooses not to sign with the Padres .

If he does choose to sign, the slotted money for the third pick is $6,668,100.

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Teen wrecks twice

before his arrest

ROSEBORO — A Roseboro teenager has been charged with driving while impaired and several other offenses after leading law enforcement on a vehicle chase, in which he wrecked his car twice — once colliding with another vehicle — and ran off the road and into a tree before being taken into custody.

Kendrick Praizes Bell, 18, was placed under $5,000 bond.

From staff and wire reports.

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