ROCKINGHAM — A dangerous Independence Day game turned deadly in the Little Philadelphia community Thursday evening.

ELLERBE ― One set of Independence Day festivities has been postponed.

RALEIGH — Elevated wildfire risks due to abnormally dry conditions in Eastern North Carolina are prompting N.C. Forest Service officials to urge extreme caution with fireworks and to celebrate safely this Independence Day. Forecast chances for rain are slight at best and are unlikely in the southeastern counties for the next several days where warm temperatures will continue to raise the risk of wildfires.

ROCKINGHAM — Richmond County will have one less fireworks display on Independence Day.

ROCKINGHAM — Plans for what is being billed as one of the largest Independence Day fireworks displays in the southeast have been finalized.

ROCKINGHAM — Fireworks will light up the Marston sky this summer for the inaugural “4th of July at the Rock” extravaganza.

ELLERBE — Despite last week’s initial cancellation, the Ellerbe Lions Club’s Fourth of July festivities are back on schedule.

ELLERBE — Days after cancelling its annual Independence Day festivities, the Ellerbe Lions Club is seeking public input on how to proceed.

ELLERBE — For the first time since Lynn McCaskill joined the Lions Club more than 40 years ago, the organization is cancelling its Independence Day activities.

HAMLET -- The Hamlet City Council held its July meeting Tuesday night at council chambers located at 201 Main Street in Hamlet.

In the first city council meeting since the cancellation of the Fourth of July events, constituents and city employees filled the chambers to hear a variety of reports of the city's well-being. In an atmosphere that can be defined as "calm, cool and collected," the council was readily prepared to discuss last week's holiday events.