Heavy rains cause road collapse
Transylvania County
Heavy rains and flooding last week caused the partial collapse of a road in Transylvania County. Wilson Road was closed after about a third of the road had been washed out following the storm. The NCDOT estimates that the road should be able to reopen sometime in the middle of the week. Flooding also caused short-term road closures, including Hannah Ford, Island Ford and East Fork Road.
WLOS
Texans owner awards scholarships to area students
Rutherford County
Houston Texas owner Bob McNair awarded more than $1 million in scholarships to North Carolina students. The Robert and Janice McNair educational foundation gave 192 students at three Rutherford County high schools $5,600 each. McNair grew up in Forest City, N.C., and attended East Rutherford High School.
WSPA
Man faked cancer to get donations
Macon County
Gabriel Bruce Bolick was arrested and charged with obtaining property under false pretenses after he faked cancer in order to get sympathy and cash donations from area residents. At least 14 victims gave Bolick nearly $4,000, as he went door-to-door, asking for money to help pay for surgery. Bolick is in custody on $20,000 bond and will appear in court on June 7.
WLOS
Flooding causes mudslide
Avery County
Heavy rains and flooding triggered mudslides, killing at least one person in Tryon. Avery County reports several road closures, and Polk County officials are searching for a woman whose home was crushed by the advancing mud. Interstate 26 was also closed for several hours over the weekend.
Spectrum Charlotte
State trooper killed on I77
Yadkin County and Surry County
Trooper Samuel Newton Bullard, 24, a three-year veteran of the State Highway Patrol in Surry County, died following a chase and crash on Interstate 77 in Yadkin County Monday night. Bullard was killed in an accident at mile marker 80 while pursuing a black BMW ran a drivers license checkpoint. “Our SHP family is devastated by the loss of Trooper Bullard. We are struggling to find words that describe the hurting we feel right now,” said Col. Glenn M. McNeill Jr., commander of the State Highway Patrol. Trooper Bullard was pronounced deceased at the scene. The SHP is actively working with allied agencies in a search for the suspect or suspects involved.
North Carolina State Highway Patrol
NC officials travel to Hawaii for volcano aid
Lee County
Ten officials from North Carolina left on Saturday to help with the disaster response to Kilauea, the volcano erupting in Hawaii. Emergency managers and fire service officials from Lee, Bladen, Gates, McDowell, Moore and Onslow counties traveled to Hawaii, where they will be on site for about two weeks supporting the Hawaii County Civil Defense agency. The Cary, Charlotte and Greensboro fire departments also sent representatives.
WAVY
Winston-Salem schools battle whooping cough
Forsyth County
Officials from Forsyth County Schools confirmed that multiple students have been diagnosed with whooping cough. Cases of pertussis, as the disease is commonly known, from North Forsyth High, Mount Tabor High and the Career Center have been confirmed and reported to the state health department. The health department warns that pertussis is highly contagious, and anyone with symptoms should see a health care provider as soon as possible.
Spectrum News
Cafeteria worker charged with stealing school funds
Alamance County
April Walker Chandler of Burlington was arrested and charged with felony larceny by employee. The 45-year-old worked in the cafeteria for Western Middle School. On May 10, the school’s nutrition director discovered that $300 in cash was missing. An investigation revealed that the money had been missing since February. Chandler was eventually identified as the culprit and arrested. She was given a $3,000 secured bond.
My Fox 8
Missing Florida woman found safe in Stoneville
Rockingham County
A woman who had been reported abducted in Jacksonville, Fla., was found safe in Stoneville. Kourtney Leino, a 23-year-old, was reported abducted last week, allegedly by Matthew Dalton. The pair were found at the home of Dalton’s grandmother. Deputies recognized Dalton’s car, and the police department received a tip from his grandmother that the missing girl was there. Dalton has been charged with first-degree kidnapping and is being held on $500,000 secured bond.
WFMY
Edenton man wins Mega Bucks
Chowan County
Maurice Fleming won the top prize on Mega Bucks, a scratch-off lottery game. Fleming purchased the $5 ticket at a Speedway on Virginia Road in Edenton. He traveled to lottery headquarters in Raleigh early last week to present the winning ticket and collect his $200,000 prize. Fleming netted $141,003 after taxes. There are still four other $200,000 prizes remaining, lottery officials say.
WAVY
Fugitive arrested visiting inmate at jail
Pamlico County
Kimberly Rossi was arrested on an outstanding warrant when she attempted to visit an inmate at the Pamlico County Detention Facility. The 53-year-old Rossi was waiting in the lobby when deputies discovered she was a fugitive. As officers approached her, Rossi was seen taking a pill bottle later found to contain several types of controlled medicine from her pocket and handing it to a child. She now faces several drug charges as well.
WRAL
Governor visits center helping to rebuild from hurricane
Robeson County
Last week, Gov. Roy Cooper visited ReBuild NC, a disaster-relief center helping Robeson County recover from 2016’s Hurricane Matthew. The storm caused more than $4 billion in damage to the eastern part of the state, and ReBuild is helping provide aid to families still looking to repair and rebuild. There are an estimated 325 families in the area still homeless from the storm. Cooper said the state is looking to release funds in the very near future to help expedite the recovery.
WMBF
Steer rescued after causing car crash
Duplin County
A steer was rescued by Duplin County Animal Services after allegedly causing an accident on I-40 last Wednesday. The steer was being transported by trailer, when he suddenly shifted his weight forward, causing the trailer to strike the road. Animal services were called to free the animal, who had gotten his head pinned between the trailer wall and his body. Rose Hill firefighters and a vet from the Warsaw Animal Hospital also provided aid to the steer, who was moved to another trailer.
WNCT
