BUXTON N.C. officials said a device that contains a radioactive material was stolen last week and could pose a health risk to residents of the Outer Banks.

The N.C. Radiation Protection Section said Tuesday there would be a problem if someone broke open the sealed, stainless-steel capsule containing radioactive cobalt 57.

The device measures lead in painted surfaces and looks like a large, pistol-grip garden hose sprayer attachment.

It's owned by Matrix Health and Safety and was stolen from a blue 2000 Chevy Silverado in Buxton on Friday. The company is offering a reward for the return of the sealed device.

Meck briefs

Charlotte

Rep. Drew Saunders has stepped down from the state legislature to work for an umbrella group of N.C. municipal power companies.

The Mecklenburg County Democrat resigned from the House effective Oct. 31, ending his sixth term in office about two months early. He will work for ElectriCities, which represents dozens of municipal power companies that serve 500,000 customers in the state.

Saunders will ultimately lobby on the group's behalf at the General Assembly. State law requires he wait six months before registering as a lobbyist. Saunders will work on other matters beforehand.

Saunders' term would have ended in December since he lost the Democratic primary election to Nick Mackey in May.

Regional briefs

North Carolina
Raleigh

North Carolina's attorney general is investigating a Nevada company that offers to help collect child support payments in return for taking a third of the monthly payments.

The News & Observer of Raleigh reported some parents thought Child Support Services of Wake County was a government agency. One mother signed a contract that would have cost her $10,000. The actual local government agency would have charged no more than $25.

Authorities in Florida and Georgia also are investigating. The company and its owner, Stuart C. Cole, have been ordered to shut down in Florida.

Cole spent five years in prison for mail fraud and money-laundering involving construction firms along the East Coast.

Fayetteville

On the holiday meant to honor military servicemen, the metal flagpole at the Haymount post office stood bare – contrary to protocol on Veterans Day.

The lack of an American flag irked at least one veteran in this community outside Fayetteville.

Ralph White, an Army veteran with a financial services office near the post office, noticed the omission a year ago when he checked his personal post office box. He was so upset that he called Sen. Elizabeth Dole and Rep. Mike McIntyre to complain. He said he was later assured that the flag would fly on Veterans Day 2008.

“There are a lot of people who served who aren't with us anymore,” White said. “The least we can do is fly the flag for them.”

Management for the Haymount post office could not be reached for comment this afternoon. The former manager, John Cobb, said the office didn't fly the flag on days like today because there is no one working at the post office to put it up.

South Carolina
Georgetown

The state-owned utility Santee Cooper is testing whether small-scale wind turbines can be placed along the coast.

Crews on Tuesday installed a 60-foot pole at Georgetown High School with sensors to measure wind speed, direction and frequency. Students will download and help analyze data during the coming months.

It's the first of four towers to be put up along the coast — a second will be set up in coming weeks at Coastal Carolina University in Conway.

Santee Cooper wants to see if the sites will provide enough wind for 1.8-kilowatt wind turbines that could be installed next year.

Police digest

Gaston County
Belmont

Belmont police capped a five-month investigation Tuesday morning by knocking on doors at more than two dozen Gaston County homes and arresting 15 people on drug charges.

Belmont police Chief David James said officers were looking for 26 suspects and will continue searching for the 11 who weren't found Tuesday.

Officers said one suspect arrested Tuesday was a mother, suspected of selling drugs to support her four children. “Most of these people have families, have kids, and they're trying to make money to take care of their kids,” police Lt. Basil Marett told WCNC-TV, the Observer's news partner.

Cramerton

Police say a teenager listening to his MP3 music player didn't hear a train approaching before he was struck and killed.

Joshua Lee Phillips, 16, was walking along the train tracks Monday afternoon on his way home from South Point High School in Cramerton. Crew members of the Norfolk Southern train told police they sounded the horn but Phillips never reacted. Police said he died at the scene.