The Mustang men (16-3, 11-1) won 74-44 behind  points 19 from Will Carpenter. Tanner Cogdill added 13, and Nathan Neesam had 12.

The Lady Mustangs (12-7, 7-5) won 51-23 as Sarah Henson scored 18 points and Maris Ridenour had 14.

The Primitive Quartet of Candler will sing at  Mount Zion Baptist Church’s Sunday, Feb. 5, at 7 p.m. The time was incorrectly listed in the Feb. 2 newspaper as as 2 p.m.

The Lady Mustangs (11-7, 6-5) rallied from a 14-point deficit in the first half to win 60-45 and keep East winless in the conference. Courtney Fish led the way with 19 points. Sarah Henson followed with 15, and Hannah Tritt had 14.

Numerous entertainment publications are reporting that filming will begin soon for the motion picture adaptation of “Serena,” the bestselling novel penned by Ron Rash, Western Carolina University’s Parris Distinguished Professor of Appalachian Culture.

Actors Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence, who recently played leading roles in the to-be-released David O. Russell movie, “The Silver Linings Playbook,” will team up again in “Serena,” which is set for release in 2014. The location of the filming has not been announced.

Lawrence was in North Carolina last year for filming of “The Hunger Games,” to be released next month.

Rash’s Depression-era novel tells the story of a timber baron, George Pemberton, and his ruthless wife, Serena, who move to Western North Carolina to create a business empire. When Serena finds out she cannot bear children, her anger becomes directed toward her husband’s illegitimate son. Cooper and Lawrence will portray George and Serena Pemberton.

The movie will be directed by Academy Award winner Susanne Bier for 2929 Productions. Bier recently finished her work on an Italian drama with Pierce Brosnan titled “All You Need Is Love.” Her other films are “Things We Lost in the Fire” and “In a Better World.”

The release of the book version of “Serena” in September 2008 resulted in a cascade of glowing reviews for Rash, a descendant of Southern Appalachian families who was raised in Boiling Springs. Reports about the movie version of “Serena” are appearing as the literary world looks toward the April 10 release of Rash’s new novel, “The Cove.” That book is set in Western North Carolina during World War I.

Rash teaches creative writing and Appalachian literature at WCU. His nine works of fiction also include the short story collection “Burning Bright,” which garnered him the Frank O’Connor Short Story Award, the world’s richest prize for the short story literary form.

Sylva Police officers confer Tuesday (Jan. 31) after an incident at Wells Fargo bank around noon. According to Detective Aimee Watson, Sylva Police got a call about a possible kidnapping/hostage situation that had originated in Swain County after a vehicle and two people came to Sylva. “We located both women at Wells Fargo, and it was turned back over to Swain County,” she said. Officers assisting during the incident include Matt Rathbone (by car) and, from left, Sgt. Caleb Harris, Watson, Chief Davis Woodard and Assistant Chief Tammy Hooper. – Herald photo by Nick Breedlove

Franklin pulled away down the stretch to win the women’s game 67-51. Sarah Henson had 23 points for the Lady Mustangs (10-7, 9-1).

According to court documents, Ronnie Austin Riddle, 56, of Sylva is charged with 13 counts of obtaining property by false pretenses. His wife, Thomasine Riddle, 55, is charged with nine counts of obtaining property by false pretenses. Both of them are charged in nine of the same fraud cases, and Ronnie Riddle is charged in four that his wife is not named in.

Their attorney, Asheville-based Andrew Banzhoff said he and the Riddles believe the charges are the result of a “series of misunderstandings.”

According to the N.C. Department of Insurance, investigators believe there may be more victims of the alleged scheme. Those who have information or believe they may be victims, are asked to contact the DOI’s Criminal Investigations Division at (919) 807-6840.

The former owners of Melton-Riddle Funeral Home have been charged with a number of counts of obtaining property by false pretense.

Melton-Riddle changed names to Melton Funeral Home when it was sold in 2009, and the charges do not relate to the current funeral home or its present director.

According to court documents, Ronnie Austin Riddle, 56, of Sylva is charged with 13 counts of obtaining property by false pretenses. His wife, Thomasine Riddle, 55, is charged with nine counts of obtaining property by false pretenses. Both of them are charged in nine of the same fraud cases, and Ronnie Riddle is charged in four that his wife is not named in.

Court papers allege that between 2000 and 2009, the pair took some $50,000 in life insurance premiums for burial contracts, but did not remit those payments to a number of insurance companies. It is unclear where those funds ended up.

Both Riddles turned themselves in Tuesday, Jan. 17, to the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office and were released from custody that same day after posting bond. Ronnie Riddle’s bond was set at $26,000, and Thomasine Riddle’s bond was $18,000. Their initial court date is set for Tuesday, Jan. 24.

Their attorney, Asheville-based Andrew Banzhoff said he and the Riddles believe the charges are the result of a “series of misunderstandings.”

“The Riddles have been long standing members of the community in Jackson County and try very hard to work fairly and deal fairly with folks,” Banzhoff said. “They were disappointed the Department of Insurance decided to handle this situation this way. They have confidence in the justice system and believe the truth will come out in the end.”

Melton-Riddle Funeral Home, which the Riddles operated until it was sold and changed names in 2009, had legal woes documented in court filings dating back to 2006.

In 2006, disciplinary action was taken against the business by the state funeral board but Ronnie Riddle was permitted to continue operations.

The violations were over discrepancies in pre-need contracts, accounting records and failing to provide requested information to the agency’s auditors.

The March 2006 agreement included the revocation of Melton-Riddle’s pre-need establishment license and funeral establishment permit, which were stayed for three years on conditions they pay a $2,000 penalty, require all pre-need licensees to complete a continuing education course, and correct all cited violations.

Ronnie Riddle continued to operate the funeral home in subsequent years with significant lapses in coverage of having a permit to operate. He later admitted during a hearing to violating N.C. General Statutes by conducting 298 funerals in 2008 while unlicensed and 19 in 2009 while both he and the funeral home were unlicensed.

According to the N.C. Department of Insurance, investigators believe there may be more victims of the alleged scheme. Those who have information or believe they may be victims, are asked to contact the DOI’s Criminal Investigations Division at (919) 807-6840.