Local Charlottean Started The Next Viral Charity Challenge – The #ALSPepperChallenge

Steve
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Local Charlottean Started The Next Viral Charity Challenge – The #ALSPepperChallenge

A few years back, everyone in America was doing the ‘ALS Ice Bucket Challenge’ – even Bill Gates, Oprah, Donald Trump, and Mark Zuckerberg. It was a viral internet sensation that challenged people to dump a bucket of ice on their head, then challenge several of their friends to do the same, and to donate to the ALS Foundation.

Now a new ‘ALS challenge’ is starting to pick up steam (pun intended) – a challenge that was started by a local Charlottean.

Last year, Tom Haberstroh’s mother was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. On Christmas Day, he came up with a bold but simple new plan to help his mom and thousands more suffering with ALS – eat a hot pepper, challenge your friends, and donate.

The ALS Pepper Challenge has now been performed by tens of thousands of people – including Charles Barkley, Sharon Osbourne, Mario Lopez, and Shaq;

Will you take the challenge and and donate?

Make sure to tag #ALSPepperChallenge

Here’s How You Can Get 1 Dozen Krispy Kreme Donuts For $1 This Weekend

Steve
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Here’s How You Can Get 1 Dozen Krispy Kreme Donuts For $1 This Weekend

Krispy Kreme is offering a limited-time special for all Charlotte Stories readers – 1 dozen donuts for $1 with the purchase of another dozen on January 27th and 28th.

The following special coupon is limited to 2 dozen donuts per customer;

All 5 Kripsy Kreme locations throughout the Charlotte region will be participating in this weekend’s special;

charlotte-krispy-kreme-locations

Considering that a dozen original glazed Krispy Kreme donuts contain a total of 3,120 calories, you could eat for 2 whole days for just $1!

Lowes Announced They’ll Be Hiring 1,250 New Charlotte Employees In Coming Months

Steve
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Lowes Announced They’ll Be Hiring 1,250 New Charlotte Employees In Coming Months

Home improvement retailer Lowe’s just announced that they will be hiring 1,250 new employees over the next few months in their Charlotte-area stores.

The Mooresville-based corporation plans to hire over 53,000 new full-time, part-time and seasonal employees across the country.

According to their press release, “In-store seasonal positions, which typically support stores between March and September, include cashiers, lawn and garden associates, stockers, assemblers of outdoor products and loaders. Lowe’s seasonal employees benefit from competitive pay, a 10 percent employee discount and flexible hours, including the ability to see their schedule 17 days in advance and swap shifts with others as needed.”

To learn more about the positions and to apply online, visit Lowes.com/SpringHire.

These 3 Charlotte Women Are Bringing Movie-Making Back To The Queen City

Steve
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These 3 Charlotte Women Are Bringing Movie-Making Back To The Queen City

Over the past decade, Charlotte has been the set of dozens of blockbuster movies, but when North Carolina removed their film incentives, most feature-length production companies either moved down to Atlanta or out west.

A new female-led production company is now working to reverse that trend and bring movie-making back to Charlotte, starting with their first feature film, Calm Before, a Gillian Flynn-style psychological thriller set within a haunted lake house.

Photo by Scott Jensen – pictured clockwise from bottom right – Kathryn J. Hatam, Jordyn Kennedy, Tara Lynn Marcelle, Vanessa Ore, Jerry Keys, Dave Perry

According to their press release, “4 Pies Productions, LLC is a newly-formed production company formed and led by women with one vision in mind: To produce quality independent films of all genres with women as the central leads. Partnered with an additional female-driven production company, ElFilms Productions, producers Vanessa Ore, Tara Lynn Marcelle and Catherine Trail will create and support both dramatic and comedic projects that bring to life the stories of female characters who demand their voices be heard.”

The company has already produced 2 shorts films, their first, Four Pies, even won a top award at the Tryon International Film Festival in 2016.

This week they’re filming the last scenes of their first feature-length film, Calm Before, in a suburban home in Steele Creek, and at a sprawling lake-front estate on Lake Wylie.

Even though it’s their first movie, and it’s considered by SAG (professional actor’s union) to be “ultra-low-budget”, the three ambitious women were somehow able to amass a truly impressive cast and crew.

Calm Before stars Vanessa Ore (Imperium and The Vampire Diaries) as Gia, Michael Lombardi (Last Knights, Rescue Me, Castle, CSI: Miami) as Shane, David Bianchi (West World, Pretty Little Liars) as Isaac, Darby Camp (Big Little Lies, Grey’s Anatomy) as Young Gia, Bonnie Johnson (The Punisher, Big Fish, Sleeping With The Enemy) as Renee Gallo, Karen Abercrombie (star of War Room) as Dr. Marcum, Brad Coffey (Escape The Night, Executor) as Jedi, and Leah Wasilewski (Love & Everything in Between) as Wanderer.

The film will spend the next few months in editing, after which 4 Pies Productions will submit Calm Before to at least 50 film festivals. They’ll then bring it to the American Film Market, the world’s largest motion picture business event, to try to sell it to Netflix, Hulu, or ideally, a company that would want to bring it to theaters.

4 Pies is also in the beginning stages of starting at least 2 more feature-length films here in Charlotte.

They are hoping to not only change women’s roles in movie making, but also Charlotte’s.

You can follow all their progress on Calm Before’s Facebook page here and 4 Pies Production’s Facebook Page here.

USDA Issues Recall on 3,420 Lbs of Meatballs Sold In The Carolinas

Steve
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USDA Issues Recall on 3,420 Lbs of Meatballs Sold In The Carolinas

The USDA has just issued an emergency recall on frozen meatballs due to a listeria contamination.

Approximately 3,420 pounds of beef meatball products have been affected, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service.

The following products are subject to recall:

  • 36-lb. cases containing six 6-lb. bags of “Member’s Mark Casa DI BERTACCHI ITALIAN STYLE BEEF MEATBALLS” with a “Best if Used By 17 DEC 2018” label and a lot code of 15507351 on the packaging.

The meatballs were produced on Dec. 17, 2017 and sold in Sam’s Club stores throughout the South East, including the following stores in the Carolinas;

The problem was initially discovered on Jan. 24, 2018 when FSIS received notification from the firm that they shipped adulterated product into commerce.

According to the press release, the recalled product has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, “Consumption of food contaminated with L. monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, a serious infection that primarily affects older adults, persons with weakened immune systems, and pregnant women and their newborns. Less commonly, persons outside these risk groups are affected.” Listeria infection has also been known to cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.”

If you or anyone you know has purchased these products, please do not consume them. They should either be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.

Amber Alert Issued For Missing NC 4-Year-Old Boy

Steve
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Amber Alert Issued For Missing NC 4-Year-Old Boy

The North Carolina Department of Public Safety has just issued an emergency Amert Alert for a missing child.

4-year-old Raul Johnson is described as being an Indian male, approximately 3 feet  0 inches tall, weighing 38 pounds, with black hair, and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing white and orange tiger striped shirt with tigers on it and white pants with rocket ships printed on them.

Raul’s last known location was on Village Drive traveling on foot towards Crestline Road in Laurinburg, NC.

If you have any information regarding this abduction, call the Scotland County Sheriff`s Office immediately at (910) 276-3385, or call 911.

Bankrupt Toys R Us Now Closing 180 Stores Including 4 In The Carolinas

Steve
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Bankrupt Toys R Us Now Closing 180 Stores Including 4 In The Carolinas

Toys R Us just announed that it will be shutting down 180 stores throughout America (about 1/5 of all US locations), including 4 stores in the Carolinas, as part of their restructuring plan under bankruptcy protection.

America’s largest toy retailer filed for bankruptcy protection about 4 months ago, and has been working agressively to restrucure ever since.

“The reinvention of our brands requires that we make tough decisions about our priorities and focus,” Chairman and Chief Executive Officer David Brandon wrote this week in a memo. “The actions we are taking are necessary to give us the best chance to emerge from our bankruptcy proceedings as a more viable and competitive company.”

As part of the closures, Durham, NC’s 3 stores, and Columbia, SC’s 1 store will be closing. The Charlotte area’s 3 locations in Pineville, Concord, and Gastonia will all remain open.

Here’s a complete list of all the closings throughout the country;

Alabama

2600 McFarland Blvd. East, Tuscaloosa AL

335 Summit Blvd., Birmingham AL

Arizona

801 W. 32nd Street, Yuma AZ

12801 North Tatum Blvd., Paradise Valley AZ

9139 Indian Bend Rd., Scottsdale AZ

4619 N. Oracle Rd., Tucson AZ

7000 E. Mayo Blvd., Scottsdale AZ

US 60 and Signal Butte Rd., Mesa AZ

Arkansas

2616 S. Shackleford Rd., Little Rock AR

5609-E Rogers Ave., Fort Smith AR

California

42500 Jackson St., Indio CA

1189 Simi Town Ctr. Way, Simi Valley CA

26573 Carl Boyer Dr., Santa Clarita CA

960 Lakes Dr., Covina CA

1600 S. Azusa Ave., Puente Hills CA

2575 E. Imperial Highway, Brea CA

530 Westminster Mall, Westminster CA

20120 Hawthorne Blvd., Torrance CA

2550 Canyon Springs Pkwy S., Riverside CA

700 “A” Onstott Rd., Yuba City CA

2785 E. Bidwell St., Folsom CA

1330 Fitzgerald, Pinole CA

4505 Century Blvd., Pittsburg CA

600 Francisco Blvd., San Rafael CA

5461 Lone Tree Way, Brentwood CA

1400 Gateway Blvd., Fairfield CA

3938 Horton, Emeryville CA

2179 Monterey Hwy., E. San Jose CA

865 Blossom Hill Rd., San Jose / Almade CA

3520 W. Shaw Ave., Fresno CA

31250 Court House Dr., Union City CA

10640 Trinity Pkwy., Stockton CA

3900 Bristol Street, Santa Ana CA

3665 Grand Oaks, Corona CA

1240 W. Morena Blvd., Mission Bay CA

8181 Mira Mesa Blvd., Mira Mesa CA

1990 University Drive, Vista CA

Colorado

1150 S. Ironton, Aurora CO

Connecticut

376 North Universal Drive, North Haven CT

275 Union St., Waterbury CT

3491 Berlin Turnpike, Newington CT

169 Hale Road, Manchester CT

Delaware

1061 N. Dupont Highway, Dover DE

Florida

1625 Apalachee Pkwy., Tallahassee FL

1900 Tyrone Blvd., St. Petersburg FL

3908 West Hillsborough Avenue, Tampa FL

6001 Argyle Forest Blvd., Orange Park FL

Spring 708 West State Rd. 436, Altamonte FL

21697 State Road #7, Boca Raton FL

10732 SW Village Pkwy., Port St. Lucie FL

450 South SR 7, Royal Palm Beach FL

2601 W.Osceola Parkway, Kissimmee FL

6001 West Sample Road, Coral Springs FL

3214 N John Young Pkwy., Kissimmee FL

Georgia

2601 Dawson Rd., Albany GA

2955 Cobb Parkway, Smyrna GA

6380 No. Point Parkway, Alpharetta GA

1155 Mt. Vernon Hwy., Dunwoody GA

6875 Douglas Boulevard, Douglasville GA

8160 Mall Parkway, Conyers GA

221 Newnan Crossing Bypass, Newnan GA

132 Pavilion Parkway, Fayetteville GA

Indiana

3928 E 82nd Street, Indianapolis IN

8800 US 31 South, Greenwood IN

Iowa

1211 E. Army Post Rd., S. Des Moines IA

8801 University Ave., Des Moines IA

Illinois

1610 Deerfield Rd., Highland Park IL

16 East Golf Rd., Schaumburg IL

295 Center Drive, Vernon Hills IL

5001 Lincoln Highway, Matteson IL

6420 W. Fullerton, Bricktown IL

7750 South Cicero Avenue, Burbank IL

5660 Touhy Avenue, Niles IL

Kansas

4646 W. Kellogg, Wichita KS

8500 W 135th Street, Overland Park KS

Kentucky

4900 Shelbyville Rd., St. Mathews KY

1155 Buck Creek Rd., Simpsonville KY

1965 Star Shoot Parkway, Lexington KY

Louisiana

137 Northshore Blvd., Slidell LA

Maine

6 Bangor Mall Blvd., Bangor ME

200 Running Hill Road, Portland ME

Maryland

8401 Mike Shapiro Drive, Clinton MD

Massachusetts

302 Providence, Dedham MA

70 Worcester Providence Tpk/Rt. 146, Millbury MA

50 Holyoke Street, Holyoke MA

217 Hartford Ave., Bellingham MA

6110 Shops Way, Northborough MA

Shoppers World Plaza, 1 Worcester Road, Framingham MA

Michigan

5363 Harvey Street, Muskegon MI

2620 Crossing Circle, Traverse City MI

5900 W. Saginaw Highway, Lansing MI

4923 28th Street South East, Grand Rapids MI

3725 Carpenter Road, Ann Arbor MI

3725 Washtenaw, Ann Arbor MI

Minnesota

14100 Wayzata Blvd., Minnetonka MN

170 89th Ave., Blaine MN

8236 Tamarack Village, Woodbury MN

900 West 78th Street South, Richfield MN

Mississippi

1003 Bonita Lakes Circle, Meridian MS

200 Bass Pro Dr., Pearl MS

Missouri

1901 Bernadette, Columbia MO

201 Silver Springs Rd., Cape Girardeau MO

5590 St. Louis Mills Blvd., Bridgeton MO

220 THF Blvd., Chesterfield MO

Nebraska

3505 S. 140th Plaza, Omaha NE

Nevada

2150 North Rainbow Blvd., Las Vegas NV

7020 Arroyo Crossing Parkway, Spring Valley NV

New Mexico

45 Hotel Circle, Albuquerque NM

North Carolina

801 Fairview Road, Asheville NC

7001 Fayetteville Road, Durham NC

3300 Westgate Drive, Durham NC

New Hampshire

29 Gusabel Avenue, Nashua NH

New Jersey

1280 Rt. 22 & St. James Ave., Phillipsburg NJ

137 Route 35, Eatontown NJ

100 Promenade Blvd., Bridgewater NJ

2700 Route 22 East., Union NJ

909 US Hwy 1 South., North Brunswick NJ

Rt. 541 & Cadillac Road, Burlington NJ

2135 Route 38, Cherry Hill NJ

7 Wayne Hills Mall, Wayne NJ

545 Route 17 South, Paramus NJ

98 Route 10 West., East Hanover NJ

Kids World 900 Center Drive, Elizabeth NJ

50 International Drive South, Mt. Olive NJ

New York

139-19 20th Ave., College Point NY

24-30 Union Square E, Union Square NY

5181 Sunrise Hwy., Sayville NY

5214 Sunrise Hwy., Massapequa NY

2335 Marketplace Drive, Henrietta NY

1569 Niagara Falls Blvd., Buffalo NY

401 Frank Sottile Boulevard, Kingston NY

708 Upper Glen St., Glens Falls NY

221 Wade Road Extension, Latham NY

2700 Central Park Ave., Yonkers NY

66 Metropolitan Ave., Middle Village NY

1350 Corporate Drive, Westbury NY

108 Veterans Memorial Highway, Commack NY

461 Lycoming Mall Cir, Williamsport NY

1530 Ridge Rd. West, Greece NY

Ohio

6251 Glenway Ave., Western Hills OH

2661 Miamisburg-Centerville Rd., Dayton OH

7841 Mentor Ave., Mentor OH

3610 West Dublin-Granville Rd., Dublin OH

Oklahoma

1119 SE 66th St., Oklahoma City OK

560 Ed Noble Pkwy., Norman OK

Pennsylvania

100 Welsh Road, Horsham PA

6680 Peach St., Erie PA

3700 William Penn Highway, Monroeville PA

104 Bartlett Ave., Exton PA

2003 Cheryl Dr., Ross Park Mall PA

301 Oakspring Road, Washington PA

18/Valley View Dr., Beaver Valley Route PA

Rhode Island

300 Quaker Lane, Warwick RI

South Carolina

254 Harbison Boulevard, Columbia SC

South Dakota

450 E. Disk Drive, Rapid City SD

Tennessee

7676 Polo Ground Blvd., Memphis TN

5731 Nolensville Rd., Nashville TN

Texas

801 Mesa Hills Dr., West El Paso TX

9730 Katy Freeway, Houston TX

170 E. Stacy Road, Allen TX

7730 N. MacArthur Blvd, Irving TX

420 E. Round Grove Rd., Lewisville TX

13710 Dallas Parkway, Dallas Galleria TX

1309 W. Pipeline Rd., Hurst TX

5800 Overton Ridge Blvd., Hulen TX

Utah

4042 Riverdale Rd., Ogden UT

1122 Fort Union Boulevard, Midvale UT

Virginia

14173 Crossing Place, Potomac Mills VA

12153 Jefferson Ave., Newport News VA

Washington

3567 N.W. Randall Way, Silverdale WA

1325A S.E. Everett Mall Parkway, Everett WA

6104 N. Division Street, Spokane WA

Wisconsin

18550 W. Bluemound Rd., Brookfield WI

2161 Zeier Road, Madison WI

Store closings are now expected to start early next month and will finish by mid-April of this year. There will be massive clearance sales at each closing store.

 

Rock Hill Building $6 Million ‘Miracle Park’ – A First of Its Kind For The Charlotte Region

Charlotte Stories
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Rock Hill Building $6 Million ‘Miracle Park’ – A First of Its Kind For The Charlotte Region

A new ‘world-class’ $6 million sports park is about to be built in the heart of Rock Hill.

Miracle Park will be the first of its kind for the Charlotte region – a park and sports facility specifically designed and built for children and adults with disabilities.

The new park will become the newest member of the ‘Miracle League’, which started about 20 years ago as a baseball team for children with disabilities.

“Presently there are over 300 Miracle League Organizations across the country including Puerto Rico, Canada and our newest member in Australia. The Miracle League is proud to serve over 200,000 children and young adults with disabilities,” according to TheMiracleLeague.net.

Winthrop University, in partnership with the City of Rock Hill will be transforming Winthrop Park (between Cherry Rd and Eden Terrace) from this;

into this;

The re-purposed park will feature two baseball fields, multi-purpose fields, an inclusive playground to accommodate children with disabilities, and retail space that will employ people with disabilities.

The first phase of the new $6 million park is expected to begin this coming spring.

Top 10 Events Happening Around The Charlotte Area This Weekend

Steve
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Top 10 Events Happening Around The Charlotte Area This Weekend

The weekend is almost here!

There will be tons of concerts, conventions, shows, and bbq!

Here are the top 10 things happening around the Charlotte region this weekend:

#1 14th Annual Home and Landscape Show

Save time with everything for your home and garden under one roof. January 26-28, 2018 marks the 14th Annual Greater Charlotte Home & Landscape Show at the Cabarrus Arena & Events Center. Celebrity guest, Mark Bowe, Star of DIY Network’s Barnwood Builders will present seminars throughout the show. Plus, Boyce Thompson, author, and public speaker will showcase life-changing products to inspire you to redefine life at home. Thousands of square feet of exhibits on the show floor will display the latest in products and services from builders, contractors, materials, decks, pools, spas, storage, plants, landscapes, health services, kitchenware, gifts, and much more.

For more info or tickets click here.

#2 Beech Mountain’s 50th Anniversary 

via beechmountainresort.com

One of North Carolina’s oldest ski resorts will be celebrating their 50th anniversary with a 4-day festival this weekend.

Beech Mountain Resort will honor its half-century milestone from Jan. 25-28, with tons of live music, fireworks, craft beer, trivia, day and night skiing, giveaways, and the Great Cardboard Box Derby.

For more info click here.

#3 Phantom of the Opera

This coming Thursday – Sunday, the Phantom of The Opera will be coming to Charlotte.

One of the first Broadway shows to earn the title “classic,” The Phantom of the Opera is the longest running show in the history of Broadway theater. It is also one of the highest-grossing shows, right alongside The Lion King. According to estimates, the Broadway classic has brought in almost $850 million since it debuted at the Majestic Theater in 1988. And that’s not taking into account the West End production in London, which is just as successful. Despite running for nearly three decades, the fantastical production manages to fill theaters around the world.

For tickets or more info click here.

#4 Lyfe Jennings

Chester Jermaine “Lyfe” Jennings (born June 3, 1978) is an American R&B and soul singer-songwriter, record producer, and instrumentalist. He plays the guitar, bass, and piano which he integrates into his music. The New York Times referred to him as a “socially minded R&B singer”.

He’ll be performing live at the Oasis Auditorium starting at 8pm this coming Friday night.

For tickets or more info click here.

#5 Winter Blues, Brews & BBQ Fest

This Saturday, the Sugar Creek Brewery’s Winter Blues, Brews & BBQ Fest will feature live Blues music by House Stompers 3-6 & Poplar Tent Revival 7-10 and some incredible local smoked meats from Shine BBQ. Enjoy a fresh local Belgian beer by the fire pits or hang out in the tap room and go for a tour around the brewery.

For more info click here.

#6 SHRED Skatedeck Artshow and Auction

(the following video is from last year’s SHRED)

This coming Saturday (Jan. 27th), the 6th annual skatedeck art show and auction returns to benefit families whose kids were born with extraordinary medical needs. This year we expect approx 180-200 pieces of artwork on skateboards, wood framed windows, skulls and more. All are available for silent auction. As usual Vic the Chili Man will live auction 5 pieces of his choosing. 150 raffle prizes! Separate raffle for a FREE WEEK at Camp Woodward, amazing food from Fat and Chili Catering, Cookies by the Dozen bakery, and Queen City Pretzels.

SHRED will take place between 1pm-6pm at the Unknown Brewery.

For more info click here.

#7 Charlotte Mini·Con 2018

Charlotte MiniCon is Charlotte’s longest running comic convention and we stay true to our roots! A high concentration of vintage comics and great comic creators! It’s all brought to you by Heroes Aren’t Hard to Find the same folks who put on Heroes Convention. It will be a great time for the whole family! Check out the comic creators who are coming!

For more info click here.

#8 UFC Fight Night

This coming Saturday night, UFC is coming to Charlotte to pack out the Specturm Center.

For more info click here.

#9 Black Rebel Motorcycle Club

The Black Rebel Motorcyle Club will be performing live this coming Saturday night starting at 8pm.

#10 AOS Short Film Premiere

Acting Out Studio presents its annual film premiere! Our instructors, Michael Ruff and PJ Barnes, have written and directed 5 short films all starring our very own students! We will be premiering “The Shrink”, “V”, “Run”, “The Dinner”, and “Kidnapped Babysitter”.

Check out more information here.

If you think other events should be on this list or future lists, let us know – Scott@CharlotteStories.com

Charlotte FBI Asking For Help In Finding “Heavily Armed” Bank Robbers After Gun Fight

Steve
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Charlotte FBI Asking For Help In Finding “Heavily Armed” Bank Robbers After Gun Fight

Yesterday afternoon, 4 “heavily armed” suspects stormed a PNC Bank, robbed the tellers, and escaped out the front of the building.

Local police responded quickly and a gunfight ensued in front of the bank at 707 N. Chestnut St. in Lumberton, NC

The Charlotte FBI just sent out a press release asking for the public’s help in finding the suspects;

“Immediately following the robbery responding Lumberton Police Department officers spotted the suspects fleeing the area in a Grey Saturn car.  Officers pursued the vehicle out of city limits. During the case, the suspects fired at officers multiple times. The suspects stopped their vehicle, fired additional shots at officers and exited the vehicle in different spots along Old Whiteville Road in both Robeson and Columbus Counties,” according to the press release.

No officers were injured. It’s unclear if any of the suspects were hit.

“The suspects are still at large at this time,” FBI officials said today. “All four suspects appear in the surveillance photos to be white men. However, each suspect wore full head masks and wore long sleeve shirts, so their races are undetermined at this time.”

via FBI

The FBI joined multiple state and local law enforcement agencies to scour the woods last night to look for the suspects.

No one at the bank was injured and the men got away with an undisclosed amount of money. The men should be considered armed and dangerous, FBI officials said.

If you think you’ve seen these men or anything suspicious, please call 911 or Lumberton Police at 910-671-3846.

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