Hobbton High band is

invited to special parade

NEWTON GROVE — After Hurricane Matthew struck North Carolina, the season for the Hobbton High School Marching Band came to a halt. Days of practicing to execute the right marches and hitting the right notes were lost.

Little did they know things were about to get bigger and better.

After winning the grand champion award at South View High, Hobbton was invited to march in 75th Governor and Council of State Parade for the inauguration of Roy Cooper. It is scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 7. They received the offer after a performance during a Christmas parade in Raleigh.

***

Men pass out in car,

face drug charges

WHITEVILLE — Two men were placed under arrest Wednesday afternoon after being found unconscious in downtown Whiteville.

The Whiteville Police Department said Hunter Mcrae Morgan, 35, of Lake Waccamaw, and Owen Hobson Morgan, 27, of Wilmington, were found passed out in a gold Mercedes automobile, which also contained drug paraphernalia and packages of what appeared to be narcotics.

Hunter Morgan was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, and felony possession of a controlled substance. He was held under an $11,000 bond.

Owen Morgan was charged with felony drug possession, maintaining a vehicle for drug activities, misdemeanor possession of marijuana, and drug paraphernalia. His bond was set at $14,500.

***

Body ID’d in burned

car near Hope Mills

FAYETTEVILLE — The remains of a man found in a burned car Dec. 15 have been identified as Martino Anthony Jones, 31, a Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office news release said.

Firefighters extinguished a car fire that night and found the body inside afterward. The car, a 2005 Lincoln Town Car, was reported on fire just before 8 p.m. at the intersection of Gateway Drive and Manning Circle, off Snow Hill Road and not far from Rockfish Memorial Park.

The incident remains under investigation by homicide detectives. Anyone with information on the incident is asked to call 911 or contact the Sheriff’s Office at 323-1500.

***

Train strikes, kills

man in Lumberton

LUMBERTON — A CSX train stuck and killed an identified man Friday morning in the South Lumberton area.

Details were sketchy as police continued to work the scene, which was near the Kawasaki dealership.

The incident happened on West Fifth Street, but the victim was carried to the intersection of Second Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Drive before the train could come to rest, according to witnesses.

Lumberton police detectives declined to comment, saying they would not be issuing any statement until the investigation was complete.

From staff and wire reports.

News concept: Regional News on Red puzzle pieces background, 3d render
https://www.bladenjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/web1_depositphotos_34906627-News-concept-regional-news-on-7.jpgNews concept: Regional News on Red puzzle pieces background, 3d render