Bladen County Veterans Ceremony 4

Bladen County Veterans Ceremony 2

Bladen County Veterans Ceremony 6

Bladen County Veterans Ceremony 9

Bladen County Veterans Ceremony 5

Bladen County Veterans Ceremony 3

Bladen County Veterans Ceremony 1

Bladen County Veterans Ceremony 7

Bladen County Veterans Ceremony 8

Bladen County Veterans Ceremony 10

By Erin Smith

Bladen County’s veterans were honored for their service on Wednesday morning at the National Guard Armory in Elizabethtown during the 12th annual Bladen County Veterans Day Ceremony.

One Bladen County Veteran’s family was recognized with a memorial tribute in memory of U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. James “Jim” Burney. His widow, Linda Burney, and his family members were presented with a plaque commemorating the tribute.

“It’s an honor first and foremost for me, for him to have been recognized. He loved his time in the service,” said Linda Burney.  “He loved his country. He loved this county. He loved North Carolina.”

Ann Garrett, one of the event’s organizers, said that Jim Burney wore a shirt that read “Burney Strong.” She said he was an inspiration to everyone.

Garrett read the scripture Jeremiah 29:11 which reads, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

The guest speaker for the event was Dr. Jason Wray, US Army Retired and Principal at East Bladen High School. He spoke about his mentor and commanding officer, Staff Sgt. Williams.

“His knowledge and wisdom is alive and well in the US Army,” said Dr. Wray.

He noted that Staff Sgt. Williams gave him a pathway to be successful not in his career in the US Army but also to be successful in his career as an educator.

Dr. Wray said, “He told me, ‘I’m not going to let what happened to me, happen to you.’”

He said Staff Sgt. Williams encouraged him to enroll in and complete college courses, to take PT (physical training) six days per week, and to take any courses the Army offered in professional development.  Dr. Wray said at first he argued with Staff Sgt. Williams regarding the fact he did not intend to stay in the Army. Dr. Wray said Staff Sgt. Williams told him, “I’m not asking you, I’m telling you (to do those things).”

Dr. Wray said he adhered to Staff Sgt. Williams plan and he rose quickly through the ranks. He said it also instilled self-discipline.

“I did not know he was setting me up for success, not only in military life but also in civilian life,” said Dr. Wray.

Dr. Wray said he achieved the rank of Staff Sgt. in 48 months and earned the rank of Sgt. First Class in 7 years.

During the ceremony there were drill team performances and the national anthem was performed by Peyton Fell and Jackson Bostic of East Bladen High School.

The Outstanding Cadets were also recognized during the ceremony. They were Cadet Captain Maria Baza of Paul R. Brown Leadership Academy, Cadet LTC Denzel Burney of East Bladen High School JROTC and Cadet Sgt. George Paris III of West Bladen High School.

You are cordially invited to a celebration musical at Bladen Community College tonight, November 9, at 7 P.M. in the college auditorium.

Talented local entertainers will perform music, dance, and skits in honor of the 50th anniversary of the college. Doors open at 6:30 P.M. The event is free and the public is invited.

For more information, contact Cathy Kinlaw at 910-876-2403.

By Lynn Good
Duke Energy chairman, president and CEO

Duke Energy lineworker Joe’l Gonzalez of Charlotte, N.C. – a former Army infantryman who now serves in the North Carolina National Guard, in addition to his job at Duke Energy.
(Duke Energy photo)

Integrity, initiative, judgment, courage and enthusiasm – these are traits businesses across America seek in job candidates. They also happen to be qualities servicemen and servicewomen develop in the military.

As a citizen, I honor the tremendous sacrifices made by these men and women. As a CEO, I also recognize how these attributes make them invaluable to the workforce.

I witness this positive impact daily.

More than 2,000 veterans work at Duke Energy, from engineers who operate our nuclear fleet, to lineworkers who connect our customers to the grid. Each one plays a critical role in powering the lives of 25 million people.

While the business community has made strong progress with veteran hiring, we need to do more. We need to increase hires and make veterans’ transition to civilian life easier.

It’s not only the right thing to do – it’s also good for business.

Valuable skills
Veterans possess training, technical skills and leadership qualities that transfer to business. They excel at working in diverse teams and adapting to new environments and assignments. And, they have a determination to see a job through to the end, no matter the circumstance.

This is never clearer than when the veterans we hire as lineworkers are on the front line of restoration efforts. After severe weather knocks out power for large numbers of customers, lineworkers often travel and stay far from home, working 16-hour days in pouring rain, freezing sleet or hurricane-damaged areas – staying until the last customer is restored.

Partnering for success
Because of the skills they bring, Duke Energy is finding innovative ways to hire veterans. This will be particularly important as we look to hire a large number of lineworkers to support our $25 billion grid modernization initiative. Veterans are prime candidates for these jobs and have a significantly higher success rate passing a test the industry requires for the position.

In order to make the hiring process easier, we collaborated with Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) on legislation he championed in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

Sen. Graham pushed for a pilot program to ease the transition from active duty to civilian life, and we worked together to include language that would allow active duty service members to take pre-employment tests while still in uniform.

For Duke Energy, this means they can take the lineworker test and leave the military with an industry-recognized qualification, accelerating and simplifying the hiring process. The language was included in the bill passed by the Senate and final agreement on NDAA is expected later this year.

This is just one way we’re thinking creatively about this issue. More importantly, this is an approach that could work for other industries and companies.

Our goal
When I think about the behaviors and leadership traits we encourage at Duke Energy, the military is a perfect training ground. That’s why our goal this year is to fill 12 percent of our open positions with qualified veterans.

So as we celebrate Veterans Day this year, I hope we not only thank veterans for their service, but also reflect on how we can better serve them as they transition from serving our nation. We owe it to our veterans, and to our customers.

Lynn Good is chairman, president and chief executive officer of Charlotte-based Duke Energy, one of America’s largest electric power companies.

The Bladen County Educational Foundation, Inc., a non-profit corporation organized and existing to provide financial help for the public schools and educators of Bladen County, will hold its regular monthly meeting on Monday, November 20, 2017, at 5:30 P.M. in the public meeting room of the Bladen County Board of Education on US Highway 701 South, in Elizabethtown.

All members and other interested parties are asked to attend this meeting, and the same should not last more than 30 minutes. All individuals who have an interest in and care about the public schools of Bladen County are urged and invited to attend this meeting.

There will be a program on Thursday, November 30, from 3 until 5 p.m. called “Pecan Treats.” The event will take place at the Bladen County Cooperative Extension office located at 450 Smith Circle, Elizabethtown.

Everyone is encouraged to bring their favorite pecan treat to enter and share. Cost to enter is $1 and the winner will receive a $10 gift card.

There will be a program on Pansy Pots with Spring Bulbs on Monday, November 27th. The program will be offered at greenhouse located next to the Bladen County Cooperative Extension Office at 450 Smith Circle in Elizabethtown.

All materials, bulbs, and fertilizer will be provided. The cost for the program is $25 and you must pre-register by November 22nd.

To pre-register call 910-862-4591.

There will be a class on WreathMaking with Fresh Greenery offered on Wednesday, December 6th, from 6 until 9 p.m. at the Bladen County Cooperative Extension Office.

Learn how to make elegant wreaths for the holiday season using fresh greenery. You will need to bring your own 12-inch or 24-inch straw or green wreath base. Cost is $10 and you must register by December 4th.

For more information or to register, call 910-862-4591.

All Bladen County Recreation Football games scheduled for tonight (Thursday) at Bladen County Park have been postponed due to the weather.

ELIZABETHTOWN – East Bladen’s Eagles open the 2017 NCHSAA Class 2/A Football Play-offs Friday night when they host the James Kenan Tigers from Warsaw.

The Eagles and Tigers have not met on the gridiron since 2010. East Bladen posted regular season victories over James Kenan 25-0 in 2009 and 49-35 in 2010.  In 2006 and 2007 the Tigers claimed Class 1A third round play-off victories over the Eagles.

This season the Eagles claimed a huge 35-16 opening victory on the road at Clinton then split their first two games in Three Rivers Conference play winning 14-6 at Whiteville and dropping a 14-13 decision to South Columbus.

East Bladen closed the regular season with 7 straight wins surviving challenges from Fairmont 42-38 and St. Pauls 34-28. The Eagles’ 8-1 conference record secured a share of the Three Rivers title along with Whiteville and South Columbus.

Senior Xavier Wooten has rushed for 1,274 yards and 20 touchdowns to lead the Eagle offense. Junior halfback Eric Chancy has totaled 469 yards and 8 touchdowns. Fullback Xavia McDowell has added 409 rushing yards to an East Bladen attack that averages 277 yards rushing and 313 total yards per game.

Seniors Quinton Bedsole and Sincere Smith have split time at quarterback for the Eagles. Bedsole threw for 279 yards, while Smith threw for 119 yards and ran for 163 yards. Smith is also the team’s leading receiver with 8 catches for 193 yards. Junior Shy Pone who returned a kick-off for the winning touchdown against Fairmont gives the Eagles another weapon.

The Eagles averaged 35 points per game and allowed only 12 ppg. Wooten led the defense with 59 tackles, senior Lakeyed Lesane followed with 40 tackles, and senior Davonta McIver had 36 tackles and 3 fumble recoveries. Smith led the team with 3 pass interceptions.

The Tigers finished fifth in the East Central 2A and posted a 3-7 overall record. However James Kenan losses were 49-7 to No. 1 2AA seed East Duplin, twice to Class 2A No. 5 seed Wallace-Rose Hill by scores of 50-0 and 34-10, 49-12 to No. 9 2A seed Clinton, 42-7 to Class 3A Jacksonville Northside and 31-23 to No. 14 2A seed Goldsboro.

Junior John Thomas Avent directs the James Kenan spread offense that features speedy senior Teshawn Savage, junior Rasheed Simmons and 240-pound fullback Jibril Johnson. Junior Jalen Faison is Avent’s favorite receiver.

Defensive leaders for the Tigers include linebacker Savage, Johnson, safety Deandre Burgess, defensive end Dontae Miller and Donte Legette.

Gametime Friday night will be 7:30 and the Eagles will honor military veterans at halftime.

Bladenboro Middle School has released the honor roll for the first quarter.

5th Grade

Superintendent’s List:  (96 +) – Holland Davis, Erin Hewett, Deikan Moretz, Richard Severine, Navaeh Singletary, and Madison Wilkins.

A Honor Roll (90+) – Cade Allen, Jerrah Basbson, Kallie Bass, Cole Dowless,  Laura Garcia-Martinez, Danny Chavez-Ortiz, Flor Jacome Duarte, Emmaleigh Dunn, Kara Gause, Chason Harris, Elizabeth Howell, Joshua Lennon, Nicholas Rich, Hillary Roblero Sandoval, Eileen Rojas Sandoval, Aiden Russ, Leigha Sellers, and Marissa Taylor.

A/B Honor Roll (80+) – Jade Black, Hezekiah Blanks-Adams, Tucker Bordeaux, Caroline Britt,  Caleb Clark, Nathan Collins, Jack Combs, Alanna Dowless, Ashton Dowless, Jonathan Guijosa-Santiago,  Hailey Hunt, Lashantiana Jackson, Dallin Johnson, Noah Johnson, Aiyana Jones, Addison King, Valeria Lopez Marinez, Faith Marlowe, O’Mara McDonald, Joselin Mendiola-Gamas, Issac Munoz, Connor Nance, Luke Pait, Jackson Pait, Alayna Parnell, Kaylee Pidgeon, Dorien Rivera, Haleigh Seabolt, Jordan Sellers, Hailey Strange, Gracie Todd, and Jordan Weaver.

6th Grade

Superintendent’s List:  (96 +) – Mary Davis

A Honor Roll: (90+) – Malachi Barnett, Jordan Hester, Kinley Hilburn, Jenna McLean, Kaci Nance, Megan Pait,  Kaelan Pittman, and Brookee Singletary.

A/B Honor Roll:(80+) – Katie Branch, Mallory Bryan, Montserrat Castro Vergara, Benjamin Davis, Madison Evers, Rebekah Gregg, Shamaria Jackson, Hayden Larrimore, Winston Martin, Brandon McDonald, Shakira Singletary, Amerie Smith, Landon Stanley, Aloni Wade, and Emmee Ward.

7th Grade

Superintendent’s List: (96 +) – Maycee Bullard, Catherine Dowless, Alyssa Hales, Whitney McLean, and Mackenzie Singletary.

A Honor Roll: (90+) – Lainey Autry, CeeJai Batten, Trinity Bedsole, Maycee Bullard, Julia Deavers, Catherine Dowless, Alexis Edwards, Conner Freeman,

Ricardo Gutierrez, Alyssa Hales, Whitney McLean,  Wadeyn Norris, Brandon Pope, Mackenzie Singletary, Kaden Thurman, Lydia Villagomez, and Emily Young.

A/B Honor Roll:(80+) – Raegan Blackmon, Alan Breakfield, Rylee Chadwick, Nadia Deleon, Camryn Hales, Shanyla Hunter, Kendasha Lesane, Jordan Ludlum, Isaac Mendoza, Haylie Robinson, Chandler Russ, Summer Singletary, Kolee Wilkins, and Aaron Wren.

8th Grade

Superintendent’s List: (96 +) – Tamia Barber and Elijah Crabtree.

A Honor Roll: (90+) – Ricky Brisson, Cailey Collier, Dalton Davis, Jennifer Gonzalez, Chase Gordon, Hannah Hester, Daniel Kinlaw, Hannah Kriner, Taylor Lewis, Lorenzo Lloyd, Ashley Martinez, Abigail McLaughlin, Trent Pittman, Karlee Roberts, and Kylee Ward.

A/B Honor Roll: (80+) – Kaytee Bedsole, Shelby Bryant, Jadde Cruzalta Vergara, Jessica Diaz Deleon, Amber Hickman, Hannah Pait, Lauren Pait, Shawn Parker, Morgan Skipper, Stephanie Smith, Mary Emma Walker, Grace West, Lainy West, and Carianna Williams.

The Veteran’s Day holiday is a time for recognizing our Veteran’s and their families. In honor of the holiday, area offices have announced their schedule.

All federal offices will be closed on Friday, November 10, in observance of the holiday. They will resume their regular schedule on Monday, November 13.

All state, county and municipal government offices will also be closed on Friday, November 10, for the holiday. They will resume their regular schedule on Monday, November 13.

Bladen County Schools will be closed on Friday, November 10th, in honor of the holiday. They will resume their normal classes on Monday, November 13.

All branches of the Bladen County Public Library will be closed on Friday, November 10th, and Saturday, November 11th, in observance of Veteran’s Day.

All convenience sites will be operating on their normal schedule on Friday, November 10th,  from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. However, the Transfer Station will be closed in observance of the holiday. Normal operations shall resume on Monday, November 13th.

By Erin Smith

The Clarkton Town Board met on Tuesday night and dealt with a light agenda.

The board approved the 2017 Longevity/Vacation Sellback. Town Clerk Katrina Woods said the sellback works similar to a bonus and is equivalent to 2 percent of an employee’s pay.

The board also approved hiring Alton Boswell was the Spray Field Backup Operator.

Also, installers are anticipated to be in Clarkton on Tuesday, November 14th, to complete the installation of the camera system. There are three cameras remaining to be installed. The installers are anticipated to conduct a training session with the Bladen County Sheriff’s Office on-site in Clarkton also on November 14th, said Woods.

The Tar Heel Town Commissioners were also scheduled to meet Tuesday evening; however, the board chose not meet due to the election, said Mayor Roy Dew. Their next town meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, November 14th, at 7 p.m.

By Congressman Robert Pittenger

Rep. Robert Pittenger

America is the greatest nation on earth because of the freedoms and liberties afforded to all of our citizens.  Yet all too often, we are guilty of taking these freedoms for granted.

Our freedoms and the way of life we enjoy have been purchased and protected by the brave men and women of our Armed Forces.

This weekend, Suzanne and I join a grateful nation in honoring and thanking our active duty military, veterans, and their precious families here in North Carolina and across the country.

On this Veterans Day, one veteran in particular is on my mind.

Mr. Garland Denny, a Navy veteran from Union County, spent his retirement advocating on behalf of other veterans.  Garland Denny creatively explored ideas to increase funding for veterans services without increasing the tax burden.  His efforts culminated in his proposal for a “Stamp Out PTSD” semi-postal stamp.

Mr. Denny spent years fighting to create the special PTSD stamp, but was unable to successfully navigate the government bureaucracy.  Upon learning of Mr. Denny’s mission, I joined his team and got to work arranging meetings with the White House, exploring legislative solutions, and leading multiple bipartisan letters from Congress urging the Postal Service to take action.

Sadly, Mr. Denny passed away two years ago.  His son, Chuck, is making his father proud by continuing the mission.

Last month, the United States Postal Service supported our efforts and approved Mr. Denny’s “semi-postal” stamp to raise funds and awareness for PTSD, with sales to begin in 2019.  A semi-postal stamp sells for more than the cost of first-class postage, with the difference donated to a charitable cause.

Mr. Denny was a true patriot who recognized a need and dedicated his retirement to meeting that need.  This was Mr. Denny’s final mission, and I am honored to have been part of this mission for our veterans.

The brave men and women who answer the call of duty to serve our country deserve to come home and receive the best quality of care this nation has to offer.

Sadly, every day, my phone rings with veterans who are not receiving the care they need and rightfully deserve.  Countless veterans are caught in the massive backlog at the Veterans Administration, or simply receive poor care from incompetent employees who for years have not faced accountability.  On average, my office is handling 500 VA cases at any one time.

To help restore accountability at the VA, this year I co-sponsored and helped pass the Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act, which makes it easier to fire incompetent employees.  Our legislation, which President Trump signed into law, also makes it easier to hire good management.  Previously, there was so much red tape in the hiring process that qualified candidates went elsewhere.

This year I also helped pass the bipartisan Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act.  Currently, the VA disability claims appeals process is one of the top reasons veterans call my office for help.  We’re working to fix this.

We should never play politics with veterans benefits, nor allow the services they need to succumb to a bloated and non-responsive bureaucracy.

My Charlotte office is led by the most experienced veterans specialist in the Southeast, who has helped thousands of local veterans navigate red tape at the VA.  If you need assistance, please call my Charlotte office at 704-362-1060.

This weekend, our nation is rightfully focused on thanking veterans.  Hopefully, we can all remember that veterans deserve our appreciation and utmost support each and every day.  They are truly the best among us.

Congressman Robert Pittenger (NC-09) is Chairman of the Congressional Task Force on Terrorism and Unconventional Warfare, Vice Chairman of the Subcommittee on Terrorism and Illicit Finance, and serves on the House Financial Services Committee, with a special focus on supporting small businesses, community banks, and credit unions.

Rep. Robert Pittenger

WASHINGTON – In an effort to counter increased Chinese aggression, Congressman Robert Pittenger (NC-09) and Homeland Security Chairman Michael McCaul (TX-10) this week introduced the Taiwan Security Act.  This legislation strengthens the U.S.-Taiwan defense relationship and supports ongoing efforts to cut economic ties with North Korea.

“America’s relationship with China is challenged by their current provocations in the South China Sea, cyber threats, business investments which impact U.S. national security, and economic support for North Korea.  This legislation strengthens our relationship with the freedom-loving people of Taiwan and provides a necessary counter-balance to China’s increased aggressiveness in the region,” said Congressman Pittenger.

“For far too long, the United States has prioritized the demands of Beijing over the consistent support of our friends in Taiwan.  China is a nation that continuously bullies its neighbors, undermines U.S. economic and national security, threatens global trade in the South China Sea, and has refused to use its leverage over North Korea to help resolve the crisis on the Korean peninsula.  For these reasons, among many others, it’s time to relinquish China’s unabated power to dictate U.S. foreign policy.  While respecting our One-China policy, we must return to our normal process for approving arms sales to Taiwan and encouraging their participation alongside the U.S. on the international stage when and where appropriate.  The United States should stand firm behind our ally Taiwan, and I commend Senator Cotton for leading this effort in the Senate,” said Chairman McCaul.

The Taiwan Security Act:

·        Mandates senior defense and diplomatic exchanges between the United States and Taiwan at the flag officer and assistant secretary level or above.

·        Reestablishes an annual strategic dialogue between the United States and Taiwan on arms sales in order to ensure the regular transfer of defense articles.

·        Directs the U.S. Secretary of Defense to invite Taiwanese forces to participate in the 2018 Rim of the Pacific naval exercise and a 2018 edition of the Red Flag air-to-air combat exercise.

·        Requires U.S. Navy port visits to Taiwan and vice versa.

·        Expresses Congressional support for Taiwan’s plan to spend 3 percent GDP on defense and its ongoing efforts to suspend all economic ties with North Korea.

Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) has introduced companion legislation in the Senate.

There will be a Prescribed Burners Association Interest meeting on January 18th from 6 until 8 p.m. at the Bladen County Cooperative Extension Office located at 450 Smith Circle in Elizabethtown. Dinner will be provided.

Prescribed burns are one tool you can use to help manage your land. The speaker will be Jesse Wimberly with the Sandhills Prescribed Burners Association.

Please pre-register by January 5th by calling Benjy Strope at 910-874-5562.

ELIZABETH CITY – Secretary Erik A. Hooks today met with employees at Pasquotank Correctional Institution to listen to ideas, observations and concerns following the violent attack Oct. 12 that resulted in the deaths of four employees. As part of his visit to the prison, he also took a tour of the facility and met with staff at all levels.

The Secretary had a brief message for employees, but his primary goal was to listen to them and hear what was on their minds.

“First and foremost I want to do everything in my power to help ensure your safety,” Secretary Hooks emphasized. “Part of that is hearing from each of you, the ones who are walking the halls and housing areas in the prisons. It does not matter your role, your rank or how much experience you have, all of you matter. To make a change, we have to all work together and look at every aspect of the job.”

At the Secretary’s request, the National Institute of Corrections (NIC) has started its independent and comprehensive review of the safety and security operations at Pasquotank CI, as well as all aspects of Correction Enterprises’ safety protocols to include staffing patterns, inmate worker placement assessments, training and operational procedures. The NIC team will be in North Carolina all this week. Today, they were at Pasquotank CI and they plan to conduct reviews at several other prisons while here.

“We will be looking at everything from top to bottom reviewing policies, how they are written and how they are being interpreted,” Secretary Hooks added. “I do not take for granted that all of you in the criminal justice family have some risk and potentially walk into dangerous situations every day. I will continue to investigate ways to make prisons safer and to take action to reduce those risks.”

Employees brought up numerous topics including changes to policy; changing shift hours; frequency of paychecks; the need for more training; and wanting more support from supervisors. Some also expressed concerns about inmates who take advantage of current disciplinary policy and those who file false reports.

Tomorrow, the Secretary, along with some of his executive team, will meet with employees at Bertie Correctional Institution. More facility visits are planned for the coming days.

In the past few weeks, Secretary Hooks took several actions to make North Carolina prisons safer. Immediately after the tragedy at Pasquotank, the Department began a thorough assessment of the incident. As part of that, the Secretary has been looking at a variety of areas to include personnel, policies, procedures and safety measures. Based upon the ongoing review of the incident, Secretary Hooks has initiated the following actions to date:

*Shut down operations at the Pasquotank sewing plant permanently.
*Conduct a thorough review of all inmates currently assigned to work in Correction Enterprises operations.Pending that review, a specific set of inmates with convictions for assaultive crimes will be suspended from participation in Correction Enterprises operations that involve the use of cutting and/or impact tools until further risk assessments can be completed.
*Those with convictions of a violent crime against a government official and/or law enforcement are ineligible for assignment to any work station utilizing or providing access to cutting and/or impact tools without expressed approval of the Director of Prisons Office.
*Organize an advisory committee to consider and recommend additional technology and individual devices to enhance the safety and security of prison and Correction Enterprises staff, prison facilities and plant operations. (Committee to include representation from Prisons operations, Adult Correction Special Operations and Intelligence, Legal, State Highway Patrol and Emergency Management).
*Review the safety of all Corrections Enterprises operations at all state prisons.
*Increase the number of correctional officers who provide security in Correction Enterprises areas, and increasing the number of rounds by the officer in charge within those areas until such time as we are able to conduct a security review to ensure the safety of employees.
*Review emergency procedures at all facilities to enhance safety and security.

Here is a list of road openings and closings in Bladen County, according to the NC Department of Transportion.

OPENINGS:

None

UPCOMING OPENINGS:

SR 1100 (Center Road) will open late Friday afternoon (delayed due to unavailability of asphalt Thursday)

CLOSINGS:

SR 1709 (Coley Road) is closed in order to replace the bridge over Hammonds Creek. The bridge replacement project will take until late November / early December. A signed detour will be in effect to use SR 1704 (Airport Road) / SR 1713 (White Plains Church Road) / SR 1719 (Vause Road) / SR 1708 (Rosindale Road)

SR 1145 (Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd) is closed at a location 0.15 miles south of SR 1148 (Quail Street) in order to replace a large crossline pipe and repair a huge washout caused by Matthew. The road could be closed at this location through the end of November. There will not be a signed detour in place as most traffic is local. Use either SR 1148 (Quail St) or SR 1212 (Richardson St) to SR 1150 (Peanut Road) for access around the work area.

SR 1100 (Center Road) remains closed at a location 1.05 miles west of SR 1103 (James Pait Road) in order to replace the last of 3 crosslines on the road. This location will open on Friday afternoon.

UPCOMING CLOSINGS:

SR 1514 (Mote Road) will be closing beginning Monday, November 13 at a location 3.3 miles north of NC 41 in order to begin replacement of the first of 5 crosslines on the road. This location will be closed through Thursday of next week.

1766 – The last Colonial governor of New Jersey, William Franklin, signs the charter of Queen’s College (later renamed Rutgers University).

1801 – Kentucky outlaws dueling.

1885 – German engineer Gottlieb Daimler unveils the world’s first motorcycle.

1891 – Granville T. Woods patents electric railway.

1898 – Race riots in Wilmington, NC (8 blacks killed).

1908 – 1st Gideon Bible put in a hotel room.

1911 – Andrew Carnegie forms Carnegie Corporation for scholarly and charitable works.

1920 – George Bernard Shaw’s “Heartbreak House” premieres in NYC.

1938 – Nobel for literature awarded to Pearl Buck (Good Earth).

1940 – Walt Disney begins serving as an informer for the Los Angeles office of the FBI: his job is to report back information on Hollywood subversives.

1945 – College football’s #1 Army beats #2 Notre Dame 48-0.

1951 – 1st long distance telephone call without operator assistance.

1954 – Iwo Jima Memorial (servicemen raising US flag) dedicated in Arlington.

1964 – Braves sign a 25-year lease to play in the new Atlanta stadium.

1969 – “Sesame Street” premieres on PBS TV.

1982 – Vietnam Veterans Memorial opened.

1989 – Word Perfect 5.1 is shipped.

1996 – 46th NASCAR Sprint Cup: Terry Labonte wins.

2010 – 44th Country Music Association Award: Brad Paisley, Miranda Lambert & Blake Shelton wins.

2015 – Fourth Republican presidential candidates debate, sponsored by “The Wall Street Journal”, held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Sen. Thom Tillis

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) issued the following statement after the Senate Finance Committee released its tax reform proposal, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act:

“The Senate has taken a big step toward passing tax reform that will lead to bigger paychecks for hardworking Americans and stimulate wages and jobs. I look forward to advancing this legislation through an open process so we can fulfill the promise we made to the American people to overhaul and modernize our tax code. I urge my more independent-minded colleagues on the other side of the aisle to ignore the reflexive, partisan opposition of Democratic leaders and instead work in a bipartisan manner to provide much-needed tax relief to hardworking families.”

Thursday night NFL football results:  Seahawks 22, Cardinals 16.

Friday night high school football action – NCHSAA Class 2A Football Play-offs: 7:30 p.m., James Kenan at East Bladen.

West Bladen Booster Club is sponsoring their annual reverse raffle fund-raiser, Saturday, 6 p.m. at the school.  Tickets are $100 each, includes 2 meals and a chance to win cash.  It is a fund-raiser.  Contact a booster club member or call the school today for more info.

Bladen County Commissioners will hold a Special Meeting Monday, 5:30 p.m.

Commissioners will elect new leadership Monday, December 4.  Who would you like to see leading your business, and it is your business?

Star TMC’s annual meeting Saturday beginning at 10 AM at Expo Center in Clinton.  All members encouraged to attend.  Registration begins at 8 a.m.

Do you still send Christmas cards?  Mailing list updated?  So many changes related to how we communicate.  Facebook, Twitter, Snap, Messenger, Instagram, LinkedIn, E-mail, Postal Service and there are more.  All are good, I suppose, but a simple Christmas card is most appreciated.

My, my, times have changed, and continue to change.

Be sure to communicate with someone who needs a kind word, a note that shows you care, not just during the holidays, but all year long.  We all get slack!

And, speaking of Facebook, it is a great way for groups of people to stay in touch, example, high school attendees and other such groups

Have you visited a restaurant that serves fresh oysters lately?  Most appear to be operating at full capacity!

The key to dealing with stress is simple: stay cool and stay focused.  Ashton Eaton

I’m just thankful for everything, all the blessings in my life, trying to stay that way.  I think that’s the best way to start your day and finish your day.  It keeps everything in perspective.   Tim Tebow

Aim higher.  Stay focused.   Brandon Adams