Latest news with #Locklear
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Yahoo
1 dead, 1 charged in head-on Robeson County crash, highway patrol says
Editor's note: This story has been updated to correct the name of the person who died in the crash. We apologize for the error. ROBESON COUNTY, N.C. (WBTW) — A woman was killed and a man has been charged after a two-vehicle head-on crash in Robeson County over the weekend, the North Carolina State Highway Patrol said. Dominique Anthony Chavis was charged with misdemeanor death by motor vehicle and driving left of center, but was not jailed because he sustained serious — but not life-threatening — injuries, First Sgt. S.B. Lewis said. The crash killed Ethel Mae Locklear. The crash happened at about 6:30 p.m. Saturday on McGirt Road near Juanita Road north of Maxton, according to Lewis. Chavis' vehicle, a 2011 Honda CR-V, was traveling west on McGirt Road when it went left of center and crashed head-on with Locklear's vehicle, a 2020 Chevrolet Impala. Locklear was pronounced dead at the scene, Lewis said. Another person in Locklear's vehicle sustained non-life-threatening injuries, while two others in Chavis' vehicle suffered non-life-threatening injuries. Lewis said impairment is not suspected and speed does not appear to be a factor. * * * Caleb is a digital producer at News13. Caleb joined the team in January 2023 after graduating from Liberty University. He is from Northern Virginia. Follow Caleb on X, formerly Twitter, and read more of his work here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
29-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Rainiers roll over Triple-A Round Rock for Opening Day win, Locklear eyes MLB return
Could Tyler Locklear's first swing of the season get any sweeter? Triple-A Tacoma's first baseman crushed the very first pitch he saw in 2025 — a sweeper on the lower outside corner that barely grazed the strike zone. A perfect pitch, by all standards. No problem for Locklear: Seattle's No. 11 prospect started the 2025 campaign with a bang, a two-run blast golfed into the left field bullpens at Cheney Stadium. Rainiers starter Logan Evans navigated six hits (one earned run) across 3 ⅔ frames, and Tacoma cruised over Triple-A Round Rock, 6-1, for an Opening Day win on Friday night. 'I'm just trying to be as consistent as I can be,' Locklear said, who went 2-for-2 with a home run, walk, and two RBI. 'I'm putting the work in and seeing what happens.' Rainiers shortstop Leo Rivas launched a three-run home run to right field in the fifth, part of a nine-batter frame, and third baseman Ben Williamson rifled an RBI single up the middle four batters later. Mariners No. 3 prospect Cole Young (1-for-4) and No. 4 prospect Harry Ford (1-for-3, BB) collected hits in their Triple-A debuts, and Tacoma's bullpen shut down the visiting Express — shifting Friday night's opener into cruise control. Express shortstop Jonathan Ornelas plated Round Rock's only run with an RBI single to center field in the fourth. 'At the end of (last) season, it's nice to get home and just relax a little bit, get away from it. But as the winter goes along, you start getting that itch to go back,' Rainiers manager John Russell said. 'Then you get to spring training, and it's hard to keep the thought of Opening Day out of your mind. It's something you look forward to. 'It's a holiday for us.' Tyler Locklear remembers the magic of his MLB debut — the impromptu flight to Kansas City, family members supporting from Kauffman Stadium's seats, and the first baseman's go-ahead, seventh-inning RBI double rifled to right center in an eventual Mariners win on June 9, 2024. Now, he's on a mission to find his way back. 'All of the work you put in to get to that day… it was really surreal,' Locklear told The News Tribune outside the Triple-A Tacoma clubhouse Friday afternoon. 'My family was able to get there. Having them in the stands… It was just a great day. 'Not everybody gets to (play in the big leagues). It's one of those things where you're just thankful you were able to get the call and go up there.' When the club optioned him back to the Rainiers after just 45 major-league plate appearances last July 30, Locklear crushed Triple-A pitchers in September (.302/.413/.413). He'll receive everyday reps in Tacoma again this spring, still on Seattle's 40-man roster with a chance to rejoin a relatively-thin Mariners infield. If those numbers continue, it's a matter of waiting for the phone to ring. 'Me and JR (manager John Russell) talked about it when I got here,' Locklear said. 'He was just like, 'Be where your feet are. Do what you can down here, and go take it up to (MLB) when the call comes.' 'He said to be ready for the phone call, and just keep going.' Locklear, 24, is Seattle's No. 11 prospect, per a right-handed slugger with raw power to all fields. The Mariners selected him 58th overall (second round) in the 2022 MLB Draft, a former VCU star with a .402 batting average as a junior. He's battled through obstacles before. With High-A Everett in 2023, a wayward pitch fractured Locklear's hand and sidelined him for more than two months. Last August, another pitch found his hand upon returning to Tacoma, and an 0-for-14 slump followed. 'It was the first time in my career I ever got hurt in the middle of the season,' Locklear said. 'It was something where… you have to learn about yourself a little bit. Just putting in the work every day to get back, and not taking any days off. Being really consistent, being smart about your work so you don't have any setbacks.' Then, a revelation. Locklear worked with Tacoma hitting coach Shawn O'Malley and opted for a lighter, shorter, 33-inch bat. It's when the September slugfest began, including an eight-game hitting streak as the Rainiers raced to the PCL West title. 'I guess it ended up working,' Locklear smiled. This year's Tacoma squad features another pair of Seattle's top prospects: INF Cole Young (No. 3), selected one round before Locklear in 2022, and C Harry Ford (No. 4). Both made their Triple-A debuts Friday night. 'We're young,' Locklear said. 'All of the guys in there seem to really like each other a lot. No matter what the age difference, you've got guys in there who're 21 and guys who are 28, 30. 'Just the camaraderie. Everybody's pulling for each other, giving each other insights whether you're young or old.' — The Rainiers tapped Rylee Pay to serve as the team's new play-by-play radio voice, becoming Triple-A baseball's first female lead broadcaster. Longtime Rainiers voice Mike Curto retired last November after 31 years on the air. '(Making history) has definitely never been the reason that I've gotten into this job,' Pay said last month. 'I've just always loved baseball. Growing up, I just really felt the magic of it. 'I've been a part of some other firsts before, and for me, it's never the reason that you do it. But it is so exciting knowing that once there is a first, it won't be the last.' — The Rainiers stole 286 bases last season, a new modern Pacific Coast League record previously held by the 1981 Albuquerque Dukes (281). Tacoma infielders Ryan Bliss (now with the Mariners) and Samad Taylor co-led the PCL with 50 stolen bases; OF Cade Marlowe added 43. 'We want them to be aggressive,' Russell said. 'It was our identity heading into (last) season. We wanted to put pressure on opposing teams, the pitcher, the defense. It played well, and we had the personnel to do it. 'Any time you can put pressure on the opposing team on the bases, it's a plus.' — When John Russell dwells on the milestone, it makes him feel 'a little old' — but Tacoma's manager joined an exclusive club last Aug. 20, notching his 1,000th career managerial win. Rainiers first baseman Tyler Locklear sealed a 2-0 shutout over Triple-A Sacramento with an unassisted putout, and Samad Taylor unloaded a Gatorade bucket full of water onto the unsuspecting skipper at Cheney Stadium. 'I enjoy it. I love what I do,' Russell told The News Tribune on Friday. 'I equate it to a toolbox. Fortunately for me, I've been doing it a long time. I've got a lot of tools in the box and I try to use as many as I can. 'It's all about the players, especially at this level. It's making sure they're prepared if Seattle needs them, or if another major league club does… whatever it is.' Before joining the Rainiers in 2023, Russell directed MLB's Pittsburgh Pirates for three seasons (2008-10) and managed in 10 minor league seasons for the Minnesota Twins and Philadelphia Phillies organizations dating back to 1995. In 2002, Russell guided the Edmonton Trappers (81-59) to a Pacific Coast League championship. Tacoma's Casey Lawrence takes the mound for Saturday night's middle game with Triple-A Round Rock, a 6:05 p.m. first pitch at Cheney Stadium.
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Yahoo
Florida man facing DUI, drug charges following traffic stop by Somerville PD
SOMERVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) — A Florida man is now facing multiple charges after a traffic stop took place in Somerville on Tuesday. On Tuesday, Somerville Police were patrolling in the area of AL-67 and AL-36 before pulling a 1989 Chevy Camaro over for failing to signal 100 feet before turning. While questioning the driver, Tony Ray Locklear Jr., 28, of Crestview, Florida, showed signs of intoxication. Somerville Police then conducted field sobriety tests on Locklear, which indicated that the driver was under the influence of an illegal substance. As a result of the sobriety tests, Locklear was placed under arrest. Officers then began a search of the vehicle which led to authorities finding a small amount of a white powder substance that field tested positive for cocaine. Officers also found a white crystal-like substance that field tested positive for methamphetamine. Several pieces of drug paraphernalia were also found along with prohibited liquor. Locklear was charged with the following: Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance (Cocaine) Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance (Methamphetamine) Illegal Possession of Prohibited Liquor Failure to Signal Failure/Refusal to Display Insurance Open Container Unlawful Possession of Drug Paraphernalia Driving Under the Influence (Any Substance) Tony Ray Locklear Jr. was transported to the Morgan County Jail. 'This arrest highlights our commitment to keeping Somerville safe and continuing our proactive efforts through the FULL-STOP Initiative. We encourage the public to stay vigilant and report any suspicious activity.' Somerville Police Department Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
17-02-2025
- Yahoo
Robeson County deputies announce arrest of Rowland man in woman's 1996 stabbing death
ROBESON COUNTY, N.C. (WBTW) — Robeson County authorities on Monday announced the arrest of a 55-year-old Rowland man in connection with the stabbing death of a woman in December 1996. Homicide investigators arrested Kenneth Locklear of Rowland at about 5:30 p.m. Friday at his home, Sheriff Burnis Wilkins said at a news conference announcing the arrest. Locklear allegedly stabbed 45-year-old Margaret Bell to death at her home near Rowland on Dec. 4, 1996. DNA evidence was used to link Locklear to the crime, Sheriff Burnis Wilkins said at the news conference. Bell lived alone at the time she was killed. A member of Bell's family attended and spoke at the news conference. The sheriff's office also recently announced an arrest in another high-profile murder case in which the suspect had been on the run for 18 years. Authorities announced Omar Gray's arrest on Jan. 31. He was captured in Los Angeles under the alias 'Timothy Bloxson' and returned to Robeson County to face murder charges in the July 2006 killing of St. Pauls resident Patrick Carlton Ashley. Gray's indictment on murder charges in May 2007 sparked a nationwide search that landed him on 'America's Most Wanted' and an Interpol Red Notice. This is a developing story. Count on News13 for updates. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
USA Today
29-01-2025
- Health
- USA Today
'Just crushed': Former Fayetteville VA employee testifies to Congress about son's death
'Just crushed': Former Fayetteville VA employee testifies to Congress about son's death The Raeford mother of a Navy veteran who took his own life while waiting for mental health care from Veteran's Affairs testified before Congress last week about how she thinks the VA failed her son. Logan F. Willis served in the United States Navy from August 2017 until December 2018, his mother, Lori Locklear, told the House Veterans Affairs Committee on Wednesday during an oversight hearing on veterans' community healthcare. Locklear, a former 12-year employee of the VA, said her son's father was an Army veteran, and her son spent his summers volunteering at the VA. After Willis graduated from high school in 2014 and the University of North Carolina at Pembroke in 2016, he enlisted in the Navy to further his education, his mother said. Locklear said her son's first duty station was in Sasebo, Japan aboard the USS Wasp. 'It was during that time that Logan's mental health began to decline,' she told the committee. Suicide Willis attempted suicide several times while in Japan and later in San Diego until he received an honorable discharge on Dec. 31, 2018, Locklear said. She said she didn't understand why the military didn't provide mental health assistance immediately after his discharge. During the next few years, Locklear said, she saw her son struggle and distrust the VA. In the fall of 2019, he worked through his depression and anxiety to attend a master's degree program at Wake Forest University, she said. But he became more isolated during the COVID-19 pandemic when his classes shifted online, she said. In May 2022, Willis earned his master's degree in divinity and moved back home but was unable to find a job. 'As his mother, I encouraged him to seek the services he was eligible for, but once again he was skeptical,' Locklear said. Locklear, who worked in the Fayetteville VA's pharmacy, was concerned that her son's healthcare provider was overprescribing him medications, and in September 2022, she encouraged him to talk to the VA's pharmacist. Locklear said that after Logan spoke to the pharmacist, she told him to check in with the VA and request a mental health provider. But the soonest appointment was five months out. By then it would be too late. On Nov. 4, 2022, Willis killed himself in his family home. It had been 63 days since he'd scheduled the appointment with Veteran's Affairs. He was 27 years old. Would community care access have made a difference? During Wednesday's hearing, committee chairman, Rep. Mike Bost, R-Illinois, asked Locklear if she thought access to community care would have made a difference for her son. The VA provides care to veterans through community providers when it cannot provide the care needed. Locklear said that after his death, she found bank statements that showed he paid more than $800 in two months for private mental health care. She said he also spent $288 for his mental health medications. 'My son was going into a hole trying to take care of his mental health,' she said. Rep. Abraham Hamadeh, R-Arizona, an Army veteran, said that the bipartisan Mission Act signed into law by President Donald Trump in 2018 puts veterans in charge of their healthcare decisions. 'Yet, today, we're seeing bureaucratic roadblocks that prevent veterans from accessing timely care … The VA system should work for the veteran not the other way around,' Hamadeh said. He asked Locklear if veterans should have the right to immediately seek mental health care from any qualified provider and also asked if Willis' outcome might have been different if he had that same access. Locklear agreed that veterans should have immediate access, but said that in her son's case, he attempted to find a private provider because he didn't trust the VA. 'Unfortunately for Logan, I think he got a provider that just continued to prescribe him medications and he was so desperate to get better, to honestly get better, and so I think she was over-medicating him,' she said. Locklear said that by the time the VA approved Willis for community care, it was two days before his death, and no one called him in time to let him know he had that option. Locklear said she didn't know why it took 60 days for someone to look at her son's medical charts to realize his prior suicide attempts and depression. Mother blames VA in Fayetteville veteran's death: 'Look at what they've done to Logan' Are waits continuing? Congressman Mark Harris, Locklear's representative, was recognized to speak at Wednesday's hearing and said that he hopes Locklear's testimony prevents future veterans and their families from experiencing the same thing. Harris said that while Logan was given a five-month wait between his initial request for a mental health appointment and a date, the law says the wait should be no longer than 20 days before a referral is made for community care. Harris said that in his review Tuesday of the Fayetteville VA Medical Center's waitlist, he learned there is a 60-day wait time for new patients to get access to individual mental health care. 'I'm concerned about what you went through, and I just want you to have an opportunity to really help us understand how this experience has affected you mentally and what this had led to in your own life,' Harris told Locklear. How mother's own mental health has suffered Locklear said that she believed in the VA system and loves veterans, but to see her veteran son fall through the cracks has taken a toll on her. She said that the week before Willis died, she thought he was doing better. 'Then that Friday when we found him, I was just crushed,' she said. Locklear said she received support from the pharmacy department, but she knew she needed to report the suicide. She said a VA official she first spoke to seemed interested in wanting to know what happened and how to fix things until they learned the veteran was her son. She said she felt like she was treated like a whistleblower. 'I kept waiting for someone to call me and say, 'Can we talk to you? How can we fix this? What happened?' All the while, I was trying to work and still trying to figure out – I didn't understand what was going on,' Locklear said. 'I knew my child was gone.' Locklear said that she finally contacted the Fayetteville VA director who told her she was unaware of Logan's death and told Locklear she would follow up. Locklear said she didn't hear back, and her work performance continued to fail. 'I felt like the VA had caused my child's death, and it made me feel like I contributed because I was part of the VA,' she said. Locklear said that after exhausting her paid time off, she had to take an early retirement. 'When my child died I went in and just said, 'Can you help me? Just explain to me what happened to him.' And they acted like they didn't see me,' she said. 'Now I feel like I'm disabled. I still don't function well.' Staff writer Rachael Riley can be reached at rriley@ or 910-486-3528.
