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Twenty-fifth Year, Number )4
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Shollotte. North Carolina. Thursday. February 12. 1987
25c Per Copy
28 Pa^s
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Tins DKLlJ\MY DRIVE house occupied by Joe Reeves was the scene of Trlday’s early morning fatal shooting.
siArr PHOiotvsusAfiusMtii
investsQGtion Of Reeves AAurd
Continues; Suspect Still At Large
BY SUSAN USHER
Investigating officers are sifting
through leads as they try to establish
a motive and capture tlic prime
suspect In the Friday morning gun
slaying of a Sliallotle man.
Dead is Joseph Shenvin Reeves
(Reaves), 31, of 2 Bellamy Drive,
Shallotte. He was shot in the back
about 3 a.m. Friday in his home with
a small-caliber handgun, according
to Shallotte Police Chief Don Stovall.
His was the second killing in
Brunswick County in the past two
months and Uie first in Shallotte
since April 1986.
Charged with murder and assault
with a deadly weapon in Uie im.-id^
Is Ronnie Lee Clemmons, 30, of Avon
Trailer Park, Iceland. Stovall said
Clemmons and Reeves knew each
other; he wasn’t sure how well.
After unsuccessful manhunts in
Leland on Friday and Carolina
Beach on Monday, officers arc now
following up on what Stovall describ
ed as ”a multitude of calls,” many of
alleged sightings of the suspect.
While no calls have produced
results 30 far, he added, “We’re
following up on all of them. We don’t
want to discourage anyone from giv
ing us Information. We’ve got lots of
questions, but not any answers.”
Clemmons, he added, apparently
has relatives and friends all over the
county.
Sheriff John Carr Davis said his of
ficers are also pursuing calls and
other leads that have taken them
from Castle Hayne to Brick Landing.
“None of them have panned out so
far,” he said.
Motive Uncertain
Stovall said officers arc in
vestigating several possible angles in
the sheeting. “It’s been renorted to
us it may have been related to drugs
or related to his marital situation,”
he said. "We’re trying to confirm
what the motive rcaiiy was.”
Detective SgL David Crocker of the
sheriffs department drug squad
would not comment on a rumor cir
culating that Reeves had been an in
formant for the squad.
(dicers found Reeves' body ivith
his left arm and head dangling from
RONNIE LEE CLEmMONS
Situ At Largo
the window of the rear bedroom of
the house, which is located several
blocks from U.S. 17 on a dirt lane off
Mulberry Street, part of a cluster of
homes owned by fainUy members.
I’he bullet liad entered his back and
passed through his torso.
I'hc victim was the brother of
Sliallotte’s mayor pro-tern, Paul
A pliunber and a fisherman by
vocation, Reeves had been scheduled
for trial Monday in Brunswick Coun
ty Superior Court on various drug-
related charges. On Oct. 20. 1986, he
liad been indicted by a grand Jury on
multiple charges of possessing and
selUng marijuana and LSD and
maintaining a dwelling for that pur
pose.
His murder launched a day-long
manhunt for Clemmons, who officers
last saw about 7:30 a.m. Friday on
Dupont Hoad in Leland, where he
abandoned Ids auto and fled on foot
into Connor’s Trailer Park.
While officers are niu«itloning an-
qiiaintances of Clemmons across the
county, none apparently resided in
this park.
"Nobody lived there,” said Sheriff
John Carr Davis. “It was where he
abandoned the vehicle when oar of
ficers started closing in.’*
Officers recovered a smaU-caliber
handgun from the car. BaUlstic tests
wiU determine if it was the weapon
that killed Reeves.
"We've got his of
questions, but not any
answers."
—Don Stovall
Shallotte Police Chief
Brunswick County Sheriff’s detec
tives, mounted on horseback, were
joined by tlie New Hanover County
Sheriff’s Department Canine Corp.s
and a N.C. Highway Patrol
helicopter from Fayetteville as they
combed UiG area until nightfall.
Hoddblocks were cstahtkhed at tioth
ends of Dupont Road, Uie Dupont
plant road and the U.k 74-76 over
pass.
The efforts of these 30 to 40 officers
Freed Shallotte Police and the SBI to
investigate the scene of the shooting,
according to Chief Stovall. “V/e’rc
very grateful for all their
assistance,” he said.
Stovall and SBI Agent Rick Gainey
were to take evidence obtained in the
invesUgaUon to Uic SBI crime lab in
Raleigh this week.
Meanwhile, officers’ hopes were
dashed Monday afternoon after a se
cond, three-hour, manhunt in Uie
Carolina Beach area of New Hanover
County led to the capture of a man
matching Clemmons’ description,
blit wanted on other, lesser charges.
“I wasn’t even sure it wasn’t him
until I looked at the picture,” said
Sheriff Davis.
Arrested was Joseph Tate McLeod,
wanted by Kure Beach Police for
driving while his license was revoked
and resisting arrest.
Clemmons Not Alone
Violet A. Evans, identified as a
first cousin of Clemmons, was in
Reevss’ heme st the time of the
shooting. She told Shallotte police
that nothing happened before Uic
shooUng to trigger the Incident.
Recounted Stovall, “She said so
meone wa.s beating on the door and
caiiing Joe. Joe went io the doOf and
the next thing she heard was a loud
noise—the shot She said she came
around (from a second bedroom) and
confronted the suspect.**
Evans told police Clemmons was
accompanied by another white male,
whom .she had not seen before.
Evan.s has taken out a warrant
charging Clemmons wiUi assault
with a deadly weapon.
“She .said he put a gun in her face
and threatened to kill her, too,” said
Stovall.
When the two men left, Evans ran
to a neighbor's house for help. It was
she who sent officers looking for
Clemmons.
The suspect, Clemmons, was ar-
rc.sted Jan. 11 by the Brunswick
County Sheriff’s Department on a
charge of larceny. He was free on
bond at the Ume of the bteident, ac
cording to a spokesman at the
Brunswick County Jail.
Reeves' death Is the second
murder in two months hi the county.
In December, Thomas Gilbart Sum
mer, the sheriff’s .son-in-law, was
found stabbed to death in a van that
also contained two pounds of mari
juana.
While the possibility exists, Sheriff
Davis said InvesUgating officers
have found no evidence linking the
two murders.
Gemmons is described as a five
feet, nine inch white male with blue
eyes and a ruddy complexion. When
last seen he had long dark brown hair
and a small mustache. He has scars
on his face, left and right arms and
wrist and abdomen and tattoos on his
left arm, upper right arm and left
hand.
' He is considered armed and
dangerous and may have in his
possession a No. 32 .25-caliber
autopistol and a hunting knife.
In addition to the Shallotte and
Iceland areas, he has been known to
frequent bars in the state port®, area
in Wilmington and has relatives in
the Silver Hill ccmniMnity near
Holden Beach.
He was last seen wearing faded
blue Jeans and a blue warm-up jacket
willi white striped cuffs. He was
barefooted.
Anyone with information relating
U) his whereabouts or to the case is
asked to call the Shallotte Police
Department or the Brunswick Coun
ty Sheriff’s Department,
1-80(^72^9.
Calabash Board Approves Town Hall Plans
BY Etta Smith
The need for a new town hall was
obvious Monday when the Calaba.sh
Town Council approved plans for the
proposed building.
About 20 people were sandwiched
In the tiny rooms that presently serve
as the town hall when council
members authorized Mayor Doug
Simmons to sign a contract with
Associate Builders Corporation of
North Myrtle Beach, S.C.
The council had awarded the
$28,000 construction contract on Jan.
26, with the stipulation the building
be ciunplctcd within 90 days. The
%2-square-foot cedar buUding will
face Persimmon Street and will in
clude front and side parking. It will
include a meeting room and front of
fice.
When council went Into executive
sCootori to tuSvuss a iegai matter,
visitors had to stand outside the two-
room building.
Mayor Simmons said the crowded
room itself was evidence the building
is needed as soon as possible.
Meeting Planned
The council also agreed to meet
with Brunswick County Water
System Director Kenneth Hewett to
find out what the county could do as
far as billing, meter reading and
maintenance of a proposed town
water system.
Engineer Jerry Lewis of Lewis and
Associates of Shallotte told council
members the estimated cost of the
town system could vary depending on
whether the town chose to operate
the system or let the county do it.
He said his personal opinion was
that the town would be better off sell
ing iiS own water than building a
system and dedicating it to the coun-
J.y.
Lewis said the first step the town
needs to take is to decide how to
finance a water system, whether it be
from general obligation bonds,
assessments or tap-onsl
“1 don’t really feel you’ll be suc
cessful going Uirough the federal
government, ’* he .said. “You might
save some on Interest money but die
grant application process will add to
the time frame and complexity of the
project."
He added that everyone wants
grants the.se day.s and unless the
community is very needy and
predominantly low income the
chances of receiving them are sUm.
VRS Seeks Fuads
Council members took no action on
Board Recommends
Higher Top-On Fee
With Discount Offer
BY SUSAN USHER
Utility Operation.s Board members
will recommend an increase In water
system tap-on fees to county commis
sioners Monday, along with a
I——
uidwujii*! 41^$: iiiwn%ivc |isSn«
Meeting Monday in the commis
sioners' chambers at the Brunswick
coumy liovcmmcni Cemer, uiiiity
board mcinbcrs appvoved rates that
Water Sy.stem Director Kenneth
Hewett said better reflect the actual
cost of hooking on to the county water
system.
They also discussed the general ap
proach to use in assessing residents
of several proposed water districts
for the cost of the lines and met
behind closed doors at the suggesliun
of their staff coordinator, John
Harvey, to discuss hiring a con
sulting engineer as quickly ns posl-
ble.
According to Hewett, the current
$250 rate for a three-quarter inch
residential water tap-on ha.sn't been
increased in several years. The ac
tual cost is closer to $400. the now
rate proposed.
The new rate includes the cost of
pressure-reducing valves that will be
needed by approximately two-thirds
of all new users.
To encourage residents along
water lines to hook on quickly once
public water is available in Uicir
community, board members recom
mended a discount that would bring
the price down to $275.
As proposed, that discount would
be effective the first four montiis in
which county water is initially of
fers in a community.
And, in keeping with commis
sioners’ desire to encourage hook-ons
without making it mandatory, Uie
discount rate would also be offered to
potenUal new customers along ex
isting water lines—bui Only during
the first four months after adoption
of the proposal by the coirtmis-
sioners.
This lower cost reflects some of the
savings to the county when it can
hook on a number of customers while
equipment and per.su.'inei are La the
area, indicated lIcwcU.
He recommended the rate for a
one-inch tap be $iu0 higiivr, lu reilecl
that difference in the cost hard
ware.
Board tnembers will also make
that recommendation to commis
sioners, provided Hewett documents
Uic cost before Uie next commis
sioners’ meeting for their review.
Currently, members were told, an
average of 64 percent of all possible
conneciiuns are hooked on to existing
county water lines. Tlie range cx-
tend.s from 90 percent in subdivisions
to 49 percent along main tnmk lines.
The connccUon figure doesn’t reflect
the total number of units included in
mobile home parks and multifamily
projects that arc served by single
inoler.
Initially mcmliers of both county
boards had discus.scd a six-month
discount period. But, Utility Opera
tions Board Chairman Robert Nubcl
noted Monday, that’s too long
because county installation crews
arc unlikely to remain in one
neighborhood for tluit long a time.
Having to move them back in at a
later time would eliminate any sav
ings realized by the county.
Utility board members went on
record favoring a front-foot assess
ment as their preferred method for
dividing the cost of instaUation
among residents of the benefit rone.
However, in those districts that con
sist of both subdivided lots and open
acreage, a combinaUon of metlwds
may be more appropriate.
At member Bill English's sugges-
uon, ihe board ivitl for new use rough
(See HIGHER, Pagc2-A)
Firefighter Critically
Injured On Way To Fire
BY ETTA SMITH
A Bolivia volunteer firefighter is in
criUcal condiUon in New Hanover
Memorial Hospital following a wreck
a request for more funds from the
Calabash Volunteer Rescue Squad
town to help pay for a new $40,950
ambulance which Chief Barbara
Ruby said is scheduled to arrive In
late March to mid-April. Its purcliase
will deplete the squad's operating
budget, she said. The town gives the
rescue squad and volunteer fire
department each $2,000 per year.
Council members said they’d let the
squad know of any decision made.
Other Business
In other busines.s, the council:
•Voted to transfer $110 set aside for
rent to the utilities fund to pay a
water bill.
•Approved the release of a delin
quent to* ILst for advertisement in
local newspapers. Listed are 38 tax
payers who owe the town $9,400 in
back property taxes.
Moscof Needs Name
A good name for Its doggy mascot
(above) U worth $10 to the
Brunswick Coernty Animal Welfare
League, a non-profit organlzatloo
that promotes responsible pet
owner^lp. To enter (he league’s
contest, send your name, address,
phone number and suggested
mascot name to Teddl Neal, Route 1,
Bolivia, NC 28422.
Tuesday afternoon on Galloway
Road.
Carlene Laws. 44, was injured after
she lost control of the 1981 Gruman
Fire Cat pumper she was driving en
route to a grass fire on Randolph
Road (S.R, 1477), jiwt off Galloway
Road (S.R. 1401). Nursing Supervisor
Marge DuBois said Tuesday night
that I^ws remained in critical condi
tion in the intensive care unit.
Another firefighter, Carla Laws,
was treated and released from the
the Brunswick Hospital in Supply
following the 1:10 p.m. wreck.
Brunswick County Emergency
Management Coordinator Cecil
Imogen left tlie scene of the fire to res
pond to emergency traiTic regarduiK
the nearby wreck.
When he aiTived, said Ixigan,
Carla I^ws was lying in a field
beside the wrecked vehicle while
Carlene I^ws, the driver, was pinned
inside the fire truck.
Two volunteer rescue squads, Boil
ing Spring Lakes and Town Creek,
were paged, with Town Creek
responding. Rescue workers used a
Hurst tool or “jaws of life” to ex
tricate Carlene Laws from the truck.
She was transferred from the
Brunswick Hospital to New Hanover
Memorial Hospital in Wilmington.
Logan said Carlene Laws ap
parently had lost control of the truck
on a curve. It hit a light pole and then
rolled over.
According to Bolivia Fire CJhlef
Wayne Bowling, the $110,000 truck
was totaled.
I.x>gan said the grass fire was one
of three he knew of reported on Tues
day.
Also, Shallotte and Civietown
firefighters outed a brush fire off
Holden Beach Road Friday after
noon, while Shallotte Point
firefighters answered a similar call
Sunday afternoon off Village Point
Road.