By Lauren Hodges
12-29-10 – We are halfway through the countdown of WHQR's Top Ten Stories of 2010. Number 5 is the January arrest of Willie Nelson's band members and the drastic effects that had on the Duplin County Events Center.
The excitement over Willie Nelson's performance at the Duplin County Events Center was short-lived when Alcohol Law Enforcement agents boarded the singer's bus prior to the show and charged six of Nelson's band members with possession of marijuana and moonshine.
The public questioned whether Nelson, an outspoken advocate for pot legalization, was targeted by the ALE, when it was revealed that the pre-planned bust was named "Operation On the Road Again."
ALE denied the claims and three band members pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct. Their fines were only $25, but the aftermath devastated the events center. The incident not only shut down the Nelson show, but also the entire concert season. All 26 employees lost their jobs. The center has some private events and expos planned for 2011 but there is no word on the popular summer country series.
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