Bladen County began its celebration of America’s 250th anniversary Thursday, Feb. 12 with a resounding tribute from the 82nd Airborne Division All American Band and Chorus.

LAKE WACCAMAW — K.J. Thurman scored seven points in overtime Thursday in lifting East Columbus to a 51-45 overtime win against East Bladen in a boys’ basketball regular season finale.

TAR HEEL — Domani Grimes scored a game-high 19 points and Tar Heel pulled away in the third quarter Thursday in beating Clarkton School of Discovery 47-27 in a Bladen County middle school boys’ basketball game.

Retiring State Rep. William Brisson received the N.C. Ag Partnership Award on Feb. 5 for his decades of service to agriculture, rural communities and the state. The event was held at the Angus Barn in Raleigh.

To Farrell Murchison it was a “special night.”

Bernard Frink celebrated his 100th birthday Jan. 7. Friends and family gathered Jan. 17 at Galeed Baptist Church in Bladenboro to celebrate.

The beginning was shaky and the ending got a bit tight, but, in between, the East Bladen boys’ basketball team controlled play Tuesday in beating Lakewood 56-49 on Patty Evers Court.

BLADENBORO — West Bladen’s Knights clinched the Southeastern Conference championship Tuesday night with an 87-43 boys’ basketball victory over South Columbus. It was the fourth consecutive conference title for Coach Travis Pait’s Knights.