Sandy Grove Baptist Church, located at 8299 NC 242 Highway South, Bladenboro, will present their annual Christmas Play.

The play will be held on Sunday, December 17, at 6 p.m.

Sandy Grove Baptist Church, located at 8299 NC 242 Highway South, Bladenboro, will host their annual Christmas Eve service at 5:30 p.m.

ELIZABETHTOWN – The only thing that could slow down sophmore Patience Ward and East Bladen’s Lady Eagles Wednesday night were a pair of electrical outages.

Ward just missed a triple-double with 27 points, 13 rebounds and 8 steals as East Bladen raced to leads of 17-2 and 30-9 en route to a 54-15 season-opening non-conference victory over South Brunswick.

“That’s incredible,” said Lady Eagle Coach Patty Evers when advised of Ward’s final numbers. “She’s got a motor that just keeps on running.”

Ward started the game with a pair of transition lay-ups, and junior Ja’Tyra Moore-Peterson buried a 3-point shot from the right corner for a 7-0 East lead. My-love Haymer cracked the scoring ice for South with a short turn-around at the 3:59 mark.

Ward reeled off 10 straight points turning feeds from junior Ashley Hardin and from Moore-Peterson into lay-ups, putting back a pair of rebound baskets then closing the quarter with a transition lay-up that widened the lead to 17-2.

Moore-Peterson sank a trio of free throws and banked in a runner, and Ward banged in a pull-up 8-footer before Haymer’s 3-point play kept the Lady Cougars within 24-7.

Ward turned another Hardin assist into a lay-up, and Moore-Peterson drilled a 15-footer to pad the lead to 28-7 before the lights blinked the first time 55 seconds before halftime.

When play resumed Hardin snatched a loose ball and powered in a lay-up to give East Bladen a 30-9 halftime lead.

Junior Anna Kate White turned a steal into a lay-up to begin the second half, and sophmore Lorna Mendell dropped in a lay-up off of a Moore-Peterson assist. Ward stole the ball and drove for a lay-up, tossed in a baseline jumper and banked in a 6-footer to push the lead to 40-11 at the quarter break.

All of the lights went out before the final period could begin. According to Coach Evers the problem was with the power company switching feeds and not due to any problem with the school.

When lights were restored, Ward bounced an assist to Moore-Peterson for a lay-up then turned a rebound into a 3-point play. Mendell flipped in a jump-hook and added a lay-up to grow the lead to 49-13.

Sophmore Abbie Cross and junior Kabarah Moore drained 16-foot jumpers, and White netted a free throw for the final margin.

“I’m excited. I didn’t know what to expect tonight because of what we had coming back (only 2 starters),” said Coach Evers. “We played great defense. Our goal was 20 steals and we had 25 steals.” East Bladen also forced 37 South Brunswick turnovers in the game.

Moore-Peterson finished with 12 points, 6 steals, 3 rebounds and 3 steals. “Ja’Tyra did a great job of controlling the game and the tempo,” said Coach Evers.

Mendell made her first start at center and tallied 6 points. “Lorna did a great job,” noted Coach Evers. “She is playing with more and more confidence.”

Hardin grabbed 8 rebounds, dished out 4 assists and had 4 steals. “Ashley had a complete game,” said Coach Evers. “She has her hands in everything and does a lot of things away from the ball.”

East Bladen will host North Brunswick Tuesday at 6 p.m.

South Brunswick   2   7    2    4 -15
East Bladen           17  13  10  14 – 54

EB (54) – Katie Evans, Kaley Smith, Izzy Smith, Anna Kate White 3, Abbie Cross 2, Kabarah Moore 2, Patience Ward 27, Ashley Hardin 2, Ja’Tyra Moore-Peterson 12, Lorna Mendell 6.

1676 – 1st colonial prison organized in Nantucket, Massachusetts.

1776 – 1st gun salute for an American warship in a foreign port – US Andrew Doria at Fort St. Eustatius (Dutch Caribbean island)

1801 – First edition of New York Evening Post.

1824 – New York City’s Fifth Avenue opens for business.

1875 – William Bonwill, patents dental mallet to impact gold into cavities.

1914 – Federal Reserve System formally opens.

1935 – Richard Rodgers & Lorenz Hart’s musical “Jumbo” premieres in NYC.

1939 – Al Capone freed from Alcatraz jail.

1944 – US 9th division & 1st Army attacks at Geilenkirchen.

1945 – “The Lost Weekend”, based on Charles R. Jackson’s novel, directed by Billy Wilder and starring Ray Milland and Jane Wyman is released (Best Picture 1946).

1950 – US President Harry Truman proclaims emergency crisis caused by communist threat.

1957 – Celtic Bill Russell sets NBA record of 49 rebounds beat Philadelphia 111-89.

1959 – “Sound of Music” opens at Lunt Fontanne Theater NYC for 1443 performances.

1961 – US President JFK decides to increase military aid to South Vietnam without committing US combat troops.

1963 – Touch-tone telephone introduced.

1973 – US President Richard Nixon authorizes construction of Alaskan pipeline.

1982 – Space Shuttle Columbia completes its 1st operational flight.

1988 – President Reagan and the First Lady participate in the official state arrival ceremony, meetings and a state dinner with Margaret Thatcher.

2000 – Bill Clinton becomes the first U.S. President to visit Vietnam since the end of the Vietnam War.

2010 – In University Park, Texas, the groundbreaking ceremony for the George W. Bush Presidential Center takes place.

2015 – Largest diamond discovered in more than a century, a 1,111 carat stone found in the Karowe mine, Botswana.

Sen. Thom Tillis

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) chaired a Helsinki Commission hearing on Turkey’s detention of U.S. citizens, including North Carolina native Andrew Brunson.

“As of today, Andrew Brunson has spent 404 days in a Turkish jail without trial and without access to the evidence against him. He is the subject of a vicious smear campaign in the Turkish press, and is facing life in prison on fabricated charges of being a terrorist and coup-plotter,” said Senator Tillis. “It is clear President Erdogan is holding Andrew Brunson ransom and the United States should not expect—much less accept—this sort of treatment from a NATO ally. I will continue to work with the State Department and my colleagues in Congress to secure the release of Andrew so he can return to the United States as a free man.”

Brunson, who is a Presbyterian pastor from Black Mountain, North Carolina, dedicated 23 years to Christian missionary work in Turkey until he was arrested last October. He has been detained in Turkey on national security charges and denied regular and appropriate access to legal counsel and American consular services. Earlier this year, Senator Tillis, Senator Richard Burr (R-NC), and leaders of the Senate Foreign Relations and House Foreign Affairs Committees sent a letter signed by 78 members of Congress to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan seeking the unconditional release of American pastor Andrew Brunson.

Check our Sports page everyday for all the local sports. And our sports crew keeps up with recent, local graduates now playing at the next level.  For instance, last night Lacey Suggs, former East Bladen Eagle, came off the bench and scored 20 points for the UNC Seahawks to lead them to a 66-62 victory over ECU.  Others who had notable efforts included, former West Bladen grad John Bowen had a good night playing with Belmont-Abbey, Hastin McGill, another former Eagle, played a prominent role in Columbia International’s soccer win over Columbia.  The page is updated daily, good reading.

“The Friday Institute for Educational Innovation at North Carolina State University’s College of Education bestowed the 2017 Friday Medal to Dr. Robert Taylor as an innovative superintendent of a North Carolina rural district.  He was also chosen as the 2017 Sandhills Regional Superintendent of the Year”.  Dr. Taylor has served as the superintendent of Bladen County Schools since 2011.  Congratulations, sir.

Bladen will be a busy place this weekend!

Pork & Beats at the Cape Fear Farmers Market on Friday and Saturday, something for everyone including a Pig Cook Off, Car Show, and much more.  Entertainment by Blackwater Rhythm & Blues Band. Call 862-4368 or 862-2066 for more info.

A skateboarding tournament at the Skate Park, next to the old E-town Gym, from 10 AM until 5 PM, Saturday, and disc golf competition at the Tory Hole Park from 10 AM until 3 PM.  The public is encouraged to attend both events.

Still have time to register to be a participant in the 44th annual Bladenboro Christmas Parade, set for Saturday, December 2, 2017.  Contact Amanda G. Sykes at 874-2627 or asykesfd@yahoo.com, Greg Sykes at 879-8502 or sykesgreg7@gmail.com or Jane Walters at 648-4379.

Local seniors thinking about higher education, looking for a good education at a reasonable cost need to contact Dan Kenney at UNCP. The cost of a quality education at the school has been reduced by the state legislature, and Kenney, who is Chief of Staff, has all the details. His contact information includes his phone number, 910-521-6201 or email, daniel.kenney@uncp.edu. Good man, who is ready, willing and able to assist high school students looking for info related to higher education, at a reasonable cost.

East Bladen football team plays Greene Central Friday night as NCHSAA playoffs continue. Game time is 7:30 p.m. at East Bladen.

Full of info this day!

With each new day comes new strength and new thoughts.  Eleanor Roosevelt

It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.  Confusius

If you can dream it, you can do it.  Walt Disney

What would success look like?

Responsible for performing mechanical repair services on cold drink equipment, conv.store equipment, some fuel oil/gasoline equipment to include hose and nozzle repair.
Maneuver equipment in order to perform all mechanical services on cold drink equipment including preventative maintenance.
Keep all refrigeration equipment in proper operating condition.
Provide excellent service to all customers.
Service equipment in accordance with company and federal standards.
Management of all instruments (tools, supplies, keys, etc.) necessary for job.
Maintain clean, safe and organized van and work area.
Minimum Qualifications:

High school diploma or GED.
An ideal candidate will possess experience as a field technician.
Ability to & experience in moving large pieces of equipment and lift 100 LBS
Must be able to work a flexible schedule and be available to work weekends and on-call when assigned.
Must have an excellent driving record and a valid driver’s license.
Must be self-motivated with a high degree of integrity and be able perform job duties with minimal supervision on a timely basis.
Preferred Qualifications:

Refrigeration/HVAC/Electric Trade or Vocational certification with more than one year of related experience.
Type I Refrigeration certification.
Prior diagnostic/troubleshooting experience.
Prior customer service experience.
Benefits

Competitive Pay/Health/Vacation/Sick/401K

Please send all resumes to kre@minutemanfoodmart.com  or call 910-876-1532 with any questions.

When Richard Paul Evans wrote the #1 best-seller, The Christmas Box, he never intended to become an internationally known author. Southeastern Community College is excited to announce Evans as the guest speaker at the SCC Foundation Christmas Luncheon held at Vineland Station on Thursday, November 30, at 11:30 a.m.

His quiet story of parental love and the true meaning of Christmas made history when it became the #1 hardcover and paperback book in the nation.  Since then, more than eight million copies of The Christmas Box have been printed. The Emmy award-winning CBS television movie based on The Christmas Box starred Maureen O’Hara and Richard Thomas.  Two more of Evans’s books were produced by Hallmark and starred such well-known actors as James Earl Jones, Vanessa Redgrave, Naomi Watts, Mary McDonough and Academy Award winner Ellen Burstyn.  He has since written 12 consecutive New York Times bestsellers and is one of the few authors in history to have hit both the fiction and non-fiction bestseller lists.

Tickets are available for purchase by calling the SCC Foundation office at 910-642-714,1 ext. 308 or stop by the college.  Tickets are $35 per person or a table of 8 for $250.00.  Lunch will be served.  These tickets will go fast so make sure you call early.  All proceeds from the event will help fund the SCC Success Scholarship, a free tuition and fees scholarship for recent high school graduates in Columbus County.

By Erin Smith

The Elizabethtown-White Lake Area Chamber of Commerce learned about firearm safety from Maryellen Robeson during the noon luncheon meeting on Tuesday.

Maryellen Robeson is an National Rifle Association Certified Pistol Instructor and the owner and lead instructor of Shooter Ready LLC. She offers both public and private classes.

“I think its very important for us to know about our firearms,” said Robeson.

She noted that if you have firearms in your home, it is important that you properly store them. Robeson said it is important that they not be accessible to young children.

“It is important for you to know how to handle firearms and keep them safe in your home,” said Robeson.

She explained she and her husband, Mick, have visitors in and out of their home. Robeson said along with the right of owning a firearm comes the responsibility to properly store and properly maintain their firearm.

“When we practice responsible gun ownership, firearms are safe,” said Robeson.

She said, if you have a gun in your home, is it accessible to anyone in the home? Robeson warned you must be careful about where you have your gun stored and it should be properly secured at all times. For example, Robeson said a pistol which is kept in the bedroom should be three steps away from the bed. The reason is to allow yourself a few seconds to “gather your thoughts” if you need to retrieve it.

Robeson reminded those in attendance to remember to check that your gun is unloaded before you start to clean it. Robeson said the manual that comes with your firearm will have instructions on how to properly disassemble your weapon to clean it. Robeson said if you don’t have the manual, you can contact the company that made the firearm and they will send you a copy of the manual for your gun.

Other tips Robeson offered.

*Make sure you use the correct ammunition for your firearm.

*Have everyone in your family who shoots take a firearm safety course.

*Become familiar with the firearm laws in states to which you travel. The federal, state and local laws can differ.

*Ensure that young children know what to do if they find a firearm. Robeson said they should be instructed not to pick it up and to tell an adult.

Sen. Thom Tillis

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Robert Wilkie, Senator Thom Tillis’ senior advisor, was confirmed by the unanimous consent of the Senate as Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness.

Wilkie has served as Senator Tillis’ senior advisor since he took office in 2015, advising him on national security and military issues. Tillis currently serves as the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Personnel, which handles all quality of life issues for service members and military families. Wilkie previously served as Assistant Secretary of Defense for Legislative Affairs under Robert Gates and Donald Rumsfeld. He also served as Special Assistant to President George W. Bush for National Security Affairs and as Senior Director of the National Security Council under Dr. Condoleezza Rice.

Wilkie is assigned to the Headquarters of the United States Air Force. Prior to joining the Air Force, Wilkie served in the United States Navy Reserve with Naval Special Warfare Group Two and the Office of Naval Intelligence. Wilkie is a graduate of the College of Naval Command and Staff, Air Command and Staff College, the United States Army War College, and the Joint Forces Staff College. He is the recipient of the Defense Distinguished Public Service Medal, the highest civilian award of the Department.

Wilkie, a native of Fayetteville, North Carolina, holds a Juris Doctor from Loyola University of New Orleans, a Master of Laws in International and Comparative Law from Georgetown University, a Master’s in Strategic Studies from the United States Army War College, and an Honors degree in Politics from Wake Forest University.

Senator Tillis issued the following statement:

“Robert Wilkie is deeply respected by North Carolina’s military community and elected officials on both sides of the aisle. It’s no surprise that he has been unanimously confirmed by the Senate to serve as the next Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness. Robert has been indispensable as my senior advisor over the last three years, playing a vital role in ensuring that North Carolina’s military installations have the resources and assets they need to serve America’s national security mission. I’m excited to continue working closely with Robert on behalf of our brave service members and military families in North Carolina and across the nation.”

The White Oak Family Worship Center will host an Oyster Roast on Saturday, Dec. 2, from 6 to 8 p.m. Cost is $35. There will also be shrimp, fish, chicken bog and hush puppies available.

There will also be a bazaar from 4 until 8 p.m. sponsored by the Children and Youth Department of White Oak Family Worship Center.

For tickets, information or booth rental, call 910-866-3543 or 910-229-6276.

By Erin Smith

Bladen County Law Enforcement officers are invited to take part in a Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) Course which will be offered through Eastpointe MCO at the Bladen County Training Center in White Lake from November 27 through December 1. They are looking for volunteers for role playing scenarios on December 1.

“The officers need to demonstrate their skills through role plays on December 1st and our training department is seeking individuals to assist with the role plays,” said Cheryl Harris, a Community Relations Specialist with Eastpointe MCO. If you would like to volunteer you can email training@eastpointe.net and they will give you instructions on how to volunteer for the role playing.

The CIT training will cover topics such as Alzheimer’s and Dementia, Personality Disorders, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Trauma, Substance Use, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, Mobile Crisis, Hearing Voices, Suicide Intervention, and De-escalation/Use of Force/Practice Role Plays.

Bladen County Sheriff Jim McVicker said he is sending his staff to receive the training. He said his staff will be able to gain valuable insight into how to sit down and talk with someone to learn their needs and to de-escalate the situation.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, call 1-800-913-6109.

ELIZABETHTOWN – Two teams with potent high-scoring offenses will clash Friday night when East Bladen’s Eagles host Greene Central in the second round of the 2017 NCHSAA Class 2/A Football Play-offs.

Senior Xavier Wooten and junior Eric Chancy combined to rush for 398 yards and six touchdowns in East Bladen’s 39-33 first round victory last week over James Kenan.

Wooten ran for 250 yards and 3 touchdowns – 171 yards in the first half – against Kenan to raise his season totals to 1,524 yards and 23 touchdowns rushing. Chancy’s 148 yards and 3 touchdowns gives him 617 yards and 11 touchdowns for the season.

The Eagles have won 8 straight games since their one-point loss to South Columbus in mid-September and have outscored opponents by a 33-14 margin. The East Bladen offense averages 288 yards rushing and 321 yards of total offense per game.

Senior quarterback Quinton Bedsole has thrown for 280 yards and 2 touchdowns for the Eagles. Senior Sincere Smith has caught a team-high 9 passes for 194 yards and a touchdown.

Wooten leads the Eagle defense with 60 tackles, and 300-pound senior Lakeyed Lesane has made 40 tackles. Senior Davonta McIver follows with 36 tackles and 3 fumble recoveries. Senior Xavia McDowell has 34 tackles, and senior Sincere Smith’s 3 pass interceptions leads the team.

The Rams from Snow Hill tied for second place in the Eastern Carolina Conference with Kinston then defeated the Vikings 28-6 in their first round play-off game.

Coach Allen Wooten’s Rams finished 4-2 in league play losing to Kinston 42-26 and to league champion West Craven 37-30. Non-conference losses were to Farmville Central 24-20 and Winterville South Central 45-27.

Greene Central has outscored their opponents by a 33-21 margin. Senior quarterback Jackson Batchelor who has thrown for 1,979 yards and 18 touchdowns presents a huge problem for an East Bladen defense that gave up 385 yards passing in the win over James Kenan.

Senior Torrence Clark leads the Ram receivers with 41 catches for 538 yards and 4 touchdowns. Senior Taboris Bynum has 32 receptions for 665 yards and 8 touchdowns.

While the Eagle defense completely stifled James Kenan’s ground game, the Rams and Willie Edwards present a much more formidable task. Edwards, a 210-pound senior, has rushed for 1,676 yards and 29 touchdowns. Senior Javon Edwards adds 681 yards rushing.

Senior free safety Tyreke Speight leads the Ram defense with 132 tackles followed by senior linebacker Wayne Warren with 111 tackles. Junior linebacker Jared Fields has 67 tackles and 3 fumble recoveries. Speight and Bynum have 5 pass interceptions each.

Senior Nate Madrigal has connected on 13 of 15 extra points for Greene Central while Eagle junior Pierce Melvin has converted 46 of 54 extra point kicks.

Game time Friday night will be 7:30 p.m.

Senior Brooks McGill who led East Bladen to the Three Rivers Conference men’s soccer championship has been named the league’s Men’s Soccer Player of the Year.

McGill fired in 32 goals and was credited with 39 assists (both led the league) as the Eagles rolled to a perfect 14-0 conference record and posted a 21-2 overall mark. His total of 103 points led the Three Rivers and was 13th best in the state as well as 23rd best in the country.

“Brooks was deserving of the Player of the Year honor,” said Eagle Coach Jay Raynor. “He was a game-changer and commanded the attention of multiple defenders or was man-marked during our games.”

A 4-year starter, McGill set an all-time career scoring record at East Bladen with 79 goals and paced the Eagles to 144 goals this season – a team total that was fifth best in the state and seventh best in the country.

“His ability to read the game and find the open guy was a key part of our attack,” noted Raynor. “I am very proud of him for his accomplishments, but he was most excited about bringing a conference championship to East Bladen and being able to share a special year with his teammates.”

McGill is a 3-time first team All-Conference selection and 2-time North Carolina Soccer Association All-Region performer. He has been chosen to play in the North Carolina Powerade State Games for the past 3 years.

Rep. Robert Pittenger

WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Robert Pittenger (NC-09) voted “yes” on historic tax reform that will allow ordinary Americans to keep more of their paychecks, create jobs, raise wages, and encourage companies to do business in America.

“Are you tired of Uncle Sam picking your pocket?” asked Congressman Pittenger.  “You shouldn’t need an army of lawyers and accountants to get special tax breaks.  President Trump and I agree you deserve a tax code that builds a healthy economy and helps make America great again.  Our legislation means more money in your paycheck, more support for middle class families, freedom for small businesses to expand, and more investment in American jobs.”

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (H.R. 1) today passed the U.S. House of Representatives by a vote of 227-205.

According to an analysis by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act will:

*Lead to the creation of 29,264 jobs in North Carolina.

*Raise after-tax income for middle-class North Carolina families by $2,366.

*Increase the Child Tax Credit from $1,000 to $1,600 per child for the 55,106 taxpayers in North Carolina’s 9th District who claim the credit.

*Reduce taxes on the 67,743 small business owners in North Carolina’s 9th District, freeing up vital capital that can be used to expand and create jobs.

Additional highlights of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act:

*Doubles the standard deduction from $6,350 to $12,000 for individuals and $12,700 to $24,000 for married couples.

*Ends corporate welfare and eliminates the special interest deductions and carve outs that benefit the wealthy and well connected at the expense of middle-class Americans.

*Lowers the corporate tax rate from 35%, which today is the highest rate in the industrialized world, down to a competitive 20%.

Sen. Thom Tillis

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) applauded the Senate passage of the FY2018 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) Conference Report that will now head to the President’s desk to be signed into law. The legislation includes several key provisions introduced by Senator Tillis that will make critical improvements to Camp Lejeune and Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, provide an across the board pay raise for servicemembers, and implement important reforms that will make life easier for military families. Senator Tillis chairs the Armed Services Subcommittee on Personnel, which has oversight over half of the Pentagon’s budget. On a bipartisan basis, Senator Tillis and his subcommittee colleagues negotiated through an across the board 2.4% pay raise for our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines. The subcommittee also championed major changes in TRICARE that would benefit North Carolina’s Guardsmen and Reservists.

“The Senate passage of the NDAA reaffirms our nation’s commitment to supporting the brave men and women in uniform and reestablishes America’s commitment to a strong national defense and protecting its interest abroad,” said Senator Tillis. “I’m pleased that my provisions to upgrade Camp Lejeune and Cherry Point, improve military family readiness, and direct the DoD & VA to collaborate closely on establishing interoperability with the new Electronic Health Record are included. I want to thank my colleagues on the Senate Armed Services Committee for this bipartisan effort that will positively affect our North Carolina installations, service members, and military families.”

The NDAA Conference Report contains the following provisions that were secured by Senator Tillis:

Helping veterans exposed to toxic burn pits

Language from the Helping Veterans Exposed to Burn Pits Act, bipartisan legislation introduced by Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) earlier this year that would create a center of excellence within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to better understand the health effects associated with burn pits and treat veterans who become sick after exposure.

Requiring DOD Report on Cyber Security Risks to National Electric Grid

Language from the Securing the Electric Grid to Protect Military Readiness Act of 2017, bipartisan legislation introduced by Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) earlier this year that would require the Department of Defense (DOD) to issue a one-time report on significant security risks to the national electric grid and the effects of those risks on military readiness.

Modernizing the DoD & VA healthcare collaboration

Earlier this year, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary David Shulkin announced that the VA will adopt the same Electronic Health Record (EHR) system as the Department of Defense for veterans’ medical records.

Tillis’ provisions expand authority and allow military treatment facilities to provide health care to servicemembers, dependents, veterans and civilians. The services can maintain critical wartime medical readiness skills while also providing state of the art specialty care to underserved medical communities. Tillis’ provisions would:

*Require the Secretary of Defense to conduct a pilot program to establish integrated health care delivery systems among the military health system, other federal health systems, and private sector integrated health systems.

*Require a Comptroller General report of Department of Defense measures to maintain critical wartime medical readiness skills and core competencies of health care providers.

Expanded Eligibility for TRICARE Reserve Select and TRICARE Retired Reserve

Expands eligibility for TRICARE to allow Guardsmen and Reservists who are eligible for the Federal Employees Health Benefit to purchase TRICARE Reserve Select or TRICARE Retired Reserve.

Military Family Readiness

*Authorizes $40 million in supplemental impact aid to local educational agencies with military dependent children and $10 million in impact aid for schools with military dependent children with severe disabilities.

*Authorizes $1 million for a pilot program on public-private partnerships for telework facilities to facilitate spousal employment on military installations outside the United States.

FY18 Military Construction Budget for North Carolina

Camp Lejeune

Tillis’ provisions allow Camp Lejeune to make much needed improvement to the living quarters and other essential facilities.

1.      $37.983M – Bachelor Enlisted Quarters

2.      $65.784M – Water Treatment Plant Replacement Hadnot Point

3.      $15.3M – Ambulatory Care Center Addition (Defense Health Agency)

4.      $21.4M – Ambulatory Care Center/Dental Clinic (Defense Health Agency)

5.      $22.0M – Ambulatory Care Center/Dental Clinic (Defense Health Agency)

6.      $10.8M – SOF Human Performance Training Center (SOCOM)

7.      $20.539M – SOF Motor Transport Maintenance Facility (SOCOM)

$193.80M – Total

Cherry Point

Tillis’ provisions for Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point guarantees the construction of the Vertical Lift Fan Test Facility and secures the future home of F-35B Joint Strike Fighters in North Carolina.

1.      $15.671M – F-35B Vertical Lift Fan Test Facility

$15.671M – Total

Seymour Johnson

Tillis’ provisions paves the way for a squadron of KC-46 Air Force Tankers.

1.      $6.4M – KC-46A ADAL for Alt Mission Storage

2.      $20.0M – Tanker Truck Delivery System (Defense Logistics Agency)

$26.4M – Total

Fort Bragg

1.      $20.26M – SOF Human Performance Training Center (SOCOM)

2.      $13.518M – SOF Support Battalion Admin Facility (SOCOM)

3.      $20.0M – SOF Tactical Equipment Maintenance Facility (SOCOM)

4.      $4.0M – SOF Telecom Reliability Improvements (SOCOM)

$57.778M – Total

North Carolina Total is $293,657,000.

By: Dora Brogdon

This week’s Bladen County Pet of the Week is a 1 1/2 year old male mixed breed named Chop. This friendly guy needs a loving and caring home for the holidays!

The cost to adopt a dog is $50 and $40 to adopt a cat which includes the animal’s first required shots. The adoption hours are Monday to Friday at 12:00 noon  until 5:00 p.m. Donations of dog food, treats, toys, and cat litter are accepted by the shelter.

Bladen County Animal Shelter is located at 506 Smith Circle, Elizabethtown, NC 28337. For more information or questions call (910)862-6918.

By: Dora Brogdon

This Friday, Nov 17, East Bladen High School will be holding a Holiday Bazaar. They are scheduled to open their doors from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m.

On Saturday, Nov 18, the Pork and Beats Festival will begin at 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. at the Cape Fear Farmers Market. The festival will be filled with entertaining events: Barbecue, Car Show and, Blackwater Rhythm Blues band!

Also, the Skate Park will be holding a competition from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. The entry fee to get in is $40. The age divisions are: 15 and under, 16 to 34, and 35 years and older. there will be an opportunity to win $2,500 worth of prizes and a $1,000 cash purse!

The Tory Hole Park will be holding a disc golf competition from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. while awards will be given out at 4 p.m. There is no entry fee and there will be a contest to name some of the holes at the park.

Another Turkey Shoot will be taking place Saturday evening behind the Elizabethtown Baptist Church Christian Activities Center at 6;30 p.m. Each round for ham is $10 and each round for turkey will be $5.

The Moore’s Creek National Battlefield will be holding its last fall Third Saturday Living History Program. This event will begin at 10 a.m. and will last until 3 p.m. There will be demonstrations near the Patriot Hall picnic area. The demonstrations will be including: Weapon demonstrations, Backwoods and fire starting, Blacksmithing, Bagpiping, Colonial cooking and beverages, Candle Making, Woodworking, and much more. There is no entry fee and dogs are allowed to join, as long as they are on a leash!

Also on Saturday, the Small Business Center at Bladen Community College will be offering a business seminar about Writing Grants. It will begin at 9 a.m. and will last until noon. There is no fee for participants.

By Erin Smith

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality took steps Thursday to begin the process of revoking Chemours wastewater permit and their wastewater discharge permit. State officials announced the move as a result of the company’s failure to comply with its permit and a failure to report a chemical spill in early October at its Fayetteville site. The action could see the company’s discharge permit permanently revoked.

State officials announced the suspension will take place beginning Nov. 30th.

State officials also note in a letter sent to Chemours on Thursday afternoon the revocation does not apply to DuPont or Kuraray. According to the letter sent to Chemours, state officials have requested Chemours to stop discharging GenX and other fluorinated compounds into the Cape Fear River. You can read the letter in its entirety here.

The Environmental Protection Agency notified state officials in October of elevated levels of fluorinated compounds in the Cape Fear River. State officials learned a chemical spill had ocurred at the Chemours Fayetteville Works plant in early October; however, company officials failed to properly notify the state.

The letter for the Department of Environmental Quality states, “The actions by Chemours have thwarted DWR’s efforts to address the numerous and complex issues associated with the Chemours discharge through a fact-based inquiry.”

The letter also makes clear that other wastewater discharge streams from Dupont and Kuraray will not be impacted by the revocation. The letter reads, “The partial revocation will not apply to other permitted waste streams, including process wastewater from the Kuraray and DuPont facilities.

“The positive part about this is this is the first time I’ve seen a public acknowledgment of a partial revocation,” said Bladen County Economic Development Director Chuck Heustess.

“It is unacceptable that Chemours has failed to disclose information required by law, information we need in order to protect the public,” said Michael S. Regan, secretary of the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality “We’re taking action to suspend Chemours’ wastewater permit and moving to permanently revoke it because the company has repeatedly failed to follow the law.”

State officials have determined that Chemours’ violation of the reporting requirements in the permit following the Oct. 6 spill are sufficient basis for the revocation of the permit to discharge process wastewater. The Department of Environmental Quality will continue to collect and test water samples from the Cape Fear River including at the Chemours outfall.

Flag Football

The Broncos defeated the Falcons by one point Thursday night on the final night of action in Bladen Recreation’s Flag Football League. The Bronco victory over the previously undefeated Falcons left the two teams tied for the championship with identical 5-1 records.

7-9 Tackle Football

The Buckeyes claimed their first victory of the season in the 7-9 Tackle Football League with a 20-0 shutout of the Hurricanes.

Luke Pait scored one touchdown and an extra point for the Buckeyes. Teammate Robert McKoy ran for one touchdown and returned a pass interception for a touchdown. McKoy finished the game with two pass interceptions.

McKoy threw a 22-yard touchdown pass to Elijah McCallum. Tylik McCall ran in an extra point and recovered a forced fumble for the Buckeyes.

10-12 Tackle Football

Phillip McKiver scored the only touchdown in the 10-12 Tackle Football League game to lift the Ducks to a 6-0 victory over the Pirates.

Coach Stancil Drew’s Pirates won the 10-12 Tackle League with a 4-2 record, while Coach Dom Whittington’s Ducks finished second with a 3-3 record. The Gators were third with a 2-4 record.