Bladen County Schools had the highest teacher vacancy rate of North Carolina’s 115 public school districts.
Border Belt Independent
Posted inPolitics & Government
Between place and party
Charles Graham has rejected party orthodoxy, gone internet viral, and run a dozen points ahead of the Democratic ticket. Now, his bid for an upset congressional victory highlights the challenge for North Carolina’s moderate rural Democrats.
Posted inHealth
Opioids take heavy toll on Columbus County; solutions are hard to come by
Overdoses and overdose deaths from opioids have increased in Columbus County in the last five years, an analysis shows.
Posted inBusiness & Economy
How one family’s entrepreneurial spirit endures in Scotland County. ‘We’re overflowing’
The Fore family knew it was risky to open a restaurant during the coronavirus pandemic. But they took a chance, like many new businesses owners have done recently – and it paid off.
Posted inNews
Border Belt publisher’s family to receive prestigious Gish Award
The Thompson-High family, owners of The News Reporter since 1938, are the winners of the 2021 Tom and Pat Gish Award for courage, tenacity and integrity in rural journalism. The award is presented by the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues at the University of Kentucky. A news release from the University of Kentucky […]
Posted inNews
New community center will serve Scotland County families in need
By Rebecca Woltz Young Dakoda Cribb was struggling in elementary school, earning C’s and D’s on his report cards. Then, in the third grade, he joined a program through Partners in Ministry in Scotland County that aims to help children improve their reading and math scores. Three years later, Dakoda is getting A’s and B’s, […]
Posted inUncategorized
Writer profile: Ivey Schofield
Today the Border Belt Independent highlights staff writer Ivey Schofield, who majored in languages but has found her calling in journalism. She splits her time between The News Reporter in Whiteville and the BBI. Q. Tell us a little about yourself. I grew up in a small town in South Carolina called Eastover. After […]
Posted inBusiness & Economy
UNCP hub builds the business of farming
Ellery Locklear started selling watermelons in high school. He got an old tractor running and used an acre of his family’s land to create a business for himself — hawking the summer fruits from the back of his pickup truck. Ellery Locklear in one of his greenhouses where flowers and flowers for baskets are grown. […]