Pete Luter III, a 68-year-old Roanoke Rapids skydiver and owner of Countryside Chimney Sweeps, died after having a problem with his parachute in Florida.

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Complaints of drug and prostitution activity in south Weldon have led to several arrests following a six-month long investigation.

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Thus far results from Tuesday’s special election in Scotland Neck look good, Halifax County Board of Elections Supervisor Kristin Smith said.

The board of elections will meet Tuesday at 11 a.m. to canvass the votes and no one has sent in paperwork challenging the outcome. Candidates in the special mayoral race have until Thursday to do so.

Raymond Watson collected 51 percent of the votes to become Scotland Neck’s new mayor, according to unofficial results.

Watson got 448 votes to incumbent James Mills’ 434.

Watson swept Mills in Precinct 2 voting by an 89 percent margin while the incumbent won in Precinct 1, collecting 86 percent of the votes.

Fifty-one percent of the town’s voters came out for the special election.

A new election was ordered after irregularities were found in the November mayoral election.

A part of Halifax’s history burned to the ground this morning when one of the cabins of the Halifax Fishing Club caught fire.

The fire was called in around 1 a.m. when a neighbor awoke to find their power was out and the building was on fire, Halifax Fire Chief Ed Johnson said.

When firefighters arrived — 13 from Halifax on three trucks and five from Weldon on one truck — the cabin was engulfed and past saving.

Former Halifax County District Attorney Bob Caudle, who could not be reached for comment, owned the building.

Johnson said the building dates to 1947 and was built by Caudle’s uncle. “There’s a lot memories and history for all the community.”

Assistant Chief John White said in an email correspondence with rrspin.com the two-story cabin was one of the oldest, if not the oldest, structure on the site.

Johnson said the cause of the fire remains under investigation although foul play is not suspected. Power was connected to the structure. “It’s possible with the warm weather rats or mice could have got in and started gnawing something.”

Randy Birdsong, president of the club, said, “It’s a big loss and a bigger loss to Bob.”

He said the club used that cabin for its meetings. “We’ll have to make different arrangements.”