The Farm Service Agency encourages producers to consider USDA crop risk protection options:

Federal Crop Insurance obtained from a Crop Insurance Sales Agent.

Federal crop insurance covers crop losses from natural adversities such as drought, hail and excessive moisture. The deadline to obtain coverage for spring planted corn, sweet corn and tobacco is March 15th. http://ctfarmrisk.uconn.edu/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss

Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) coverage is available through your County FSA Office.

NAP covers losses from natural disasters on crops for which no federal crop insurance program is available, including perennial grass forage and grazing crops, fruits, vegetables, mushrooms, floriculture, organic, ornamental nursery, aquaculture, turf grass, ginseng, honey, syrup, bioenergy, and industrial crops  

Free NAP catastrophic coverage is available to beginning, underserved, and limited resource farmers; as well as discounted premiums for additional levels of protection. 

The NAP deadline to sign up for coverage of spring planted crops is March 15th.

To learn more about NAP visit www.fsa.usda.gov/nap?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss or contact your local USDA Service Center at http://offices.usda.gov?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss. 

Bladen County students faired well at East Carolina University. There are 10 students from the mother county who attended the fall semester at the North Carolina university who scored high with their grades.

They are as follows:

Leonor Almazo from Clarkton made Honor roll.

Destiny Baker from Elizabethtown made the Dean’s list.

Megan Bennett from Bladenboro made the Dean’s list.

Cierra Coleman from Council made the Dean’s list.

Sierra George from Clarkton made the Dean’s list.

Cassie Hancock from Elizabethtown made the Dean’s list.

Alton Johnson from Elizabethtown made the Honor roll.

Carlos Murphy from Elizabethtown made the Dean’s list.

Emily Scott from Elizabethtown made the Dean’s list.

Adreiona Smith from Elizabethtown made the Dean’s list.

By Erin Smith

Chemours has been directed by state officials to control additional sources of GenX pollution. On Monday, the NC Division of Environmental Quality (DEQ) issued yet another notice of violation to the company.

The notice of violation indicates a letter was sent to the company in December ordering the company to implement measures to eliminate or control further discharges of GenX. The company responded to that letter in January with a letter of its own outlining additional steps and precautions which would be taken. Those measures included:

* Excavate, treat or control all storm water and wastewater conveyance ditches.

* Remove, treat or control other known sources that could be causing further contamination.

* Clean potentially contaminated equipment and capture any resulting wastewater for offsite disposal.

* Reduce or eliminate air emissions that are contributing to groundwater contamination.

The notice of violation gives the company a deadline of Feb. 26 to have those measures implemented and failure to do so may result in further enforcement actions by state officials.

DEQ also sent a letter recently requesting the company to utilize new technologies to prevent emissions from the facility’s stacks. It was learned at a community information meeting held in Gray’s Creek that a chemical being released in the effluent traveling up the stacks at Chemours will create GenX when it comes in contact with moisture such as rain or humidity.

These actions come on the heels of a meeting held at Bladen Community College earlier this month. Residents were passionate in expressing their frustration in the length of time it has taken state officials and Chemours to respond to the situation.

The company has also reported four additional spills at the Bladen County site in recent weeks. It was reported this week Chemours has also found a well at its Patterson, West Virginia, facility to be contaminated with GenX, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The company is now collecting samples of well water in Ohio and West Virginia following an EPA request, according to reports.

The NC Division of Waste Management also issued a conditional approval to Chemours for a pilot study on carbon well filtration systems in an effort to filter GenX from residential wells. Four wells will be selected by state officials to take part in the study. The permission for the pilot study was granted after a full review of the company’s proposal.

A fourth round of residential well testing has also begun. Currently, 151 residential wells have been tested and results indicated GenX levels higher than the state recommended standard of 140 parts per trillion.

By Joy Warren

During the February White Lake Town Board of Commissioners regular meeting, the Board gave approval to an investigative project of Hydrologic Flows and Nutrient Inputs to White Lake.

Dr. Chris Shanks, Bald Head Island Conservancy Executive Director, (Lake Water Project Manager) and Dr. Peter Zamora, Assistant Professor with the University of NC Wilmington submitted their proposal to the Commissioners. The proposal is to complete the investigation of Hydrologic Flows and Nutrient Inputs to White Lake, totaling a maximum of $78,135.82.

According to Dr. Shanks, the analytical procedures used to analyze nutrient samples by NCSU are the same as the state certified commercial labs, just at a lower cost without all the overhead and administrative fees. The funding will be appropriated from Capital Reserve: Aquatic Control ($14,000), Contract Services: Other ($17,925) and from the General Fund Balance Appropriation ($46,211).

According to the proposal, project reports will be generated every two months for the duration of the project and will include details of tasks accomplished; ongoing activities, and highlights of key analyses. Incurred costs for the project will be billed monthly through the Bald Head Island Conservancy.

After completion of the project, a full report with a comprehensive analysis of White Lake hydrology, groundwater nutrient flows and water quality and phytoplankton community dynamics will be provided by the end of March.

The Board approved the project as presented.

The project is part of the ongoing process by the Town to find short-term and long-term solutions to the changes in clarity and PH levels of the lake water. As stated in earlier data and reports, the water quality has no safety issues.

Mayor Goldston Womble indicated that the Town has received three proposals for a short-term solution to water clarity issues. He will forward to the Board copies of the proposals and will discuss them at the next meeting. He stated that the Town will pursue funding help from the State for the short term project as it would include treatment not only for clarity issues but also for Hydrilla. As for the long term solutions to the water clarity issues, the State has indicated that they do not have the resources or expertise available to help with funding, but they are willing to work with the Bald Head Conservancy and their findings.

In administrative matters, the Board approved Tax Releases ($172.30), Utility Releases ($3,413.28); declared property items from Police Department as surplus and donated the equipment to Garland Police Department; approved advertisement for 2017 tax liens; approved Automatic Aid Assistance with Elizabethtown Fire Department; and approved budget ordinance amendments as presented.

Fire Chief Dale Brennan asked the Board to authorize participation in the 2018 Volunteer Fire Department Fund grant cycle. The grant is a 50-50 matching grant. Highest priority is given to firefighter safety equipment. He plans to apply for personal protective equipment and safety equipment in the amount of $27,762 ($13,881 from grant and $13,881 from local funds). The Board approved the application submission and, if received, the grant will be budgeted in the 2018/19 FY budget.

The Finance Office presented the Capital Project Ordinance Amendment to budget revenues and expenditures for topographic survey services for the multi-use trail project corridor, which is approximately 10,000 feet in length. The amendment increases the total expenditures and revenues for the project to $637,271. The total local match for the project is $81,966. Based on a report from Lester Lowe, P.E., with the Wooten Company, the project is running approximately 60 days behind the original schedules because of the survey delay. The Wooten Company anticipates having the final plans ready to submit in April, receiving permits/bids in June and awarding the project in July.

The Town’s web page has been updated with an innovative design and is now live. Access the site at www.whitelakenc.org.?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss

The meeting adjourned to Tuesday, March 6 at 6:00 p.m. to discuss FY 2018/19 Budget Retreat Items and water clarity issues.

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By Erin Smith

The North Carolina Department of Transportation conducted a public meeting on Tuesday evening at Bladen Community College regarding a proposed roundabout to be constructed at the intersection of NC 410 and NC 41. According to Jim Dunlop, who is with NCDOT, the intersection had a high accident rate which led to the decision to change the intersection.

The purpose of the meeting was to receive public input regarding the roundabout and to present preliminary designs for the project to the public. A comment sheet was provided and those in attendance were encouraged to place comments in a comment box.

The intersection has seen numerous crashes that resulted in serious injuries and fatalities over the years, according to Dunlop. From October 2009 through September 2014, the intersection had 19 crashes which resulted in injuries. The rounadabout project was requested in July 2016.

“We’ve had a crash issue out here. It is why we went to a four way stop,” explained Dunlop.

He said a roundabout is safer as it slows the traffic down as it approaches and enters the intersection. The traffic in the proposed roundabout will flow to the right and the roundabout keeps the traffic moving reducing backups and delays.

Dunlop said the intersection has been converted to a four way stop until the roundabout can be completed. The schedule for construction calls for the right-of-way acquisition process to begin in April 2018 and actual construction will not begin until May 2019.

The proposed roundabout is estimated to cost $1.1 million to construct and the right-of-way acquisition is expected to cost another $100,000 bringing the total project cost to $1.2 million.

Sandy Lewis and his sister Marion Lewis attended the meeting. They said they received a notification in the mail from NC DOT regarding the meeting. They both thought the roundabout was a good idea.

“Nobody wants to stop (at the stop signs). You have to look to be sure people are going to stop,” said Mrs. Lewis of the current intersection.

Bladen Community College President Dr. William Findt stopped by the information session to look over the plans. He says the staff at the college have noticed a difference in the traffic.

“Since they have put up the stop signs, we have noticed at the college much slower traffic on NC 41,” said Dr. Findt. “We like the idea of the roundabout.”

He said with students entering and exiting the campus, the slower traffic on NC 41 makes it much safer.

Not everyone was so happy. Ronald Huggins owns a parcel of land located adjacent to the intersection.

“Its going to mess up my commercial property. You’re only going to be able to turn right going in and right going out (from his property),” said Huggins.

Others said they have reservations about the proposal but will support it.

Gene Lockamy said he likes the idea of a roundabout better than the current four way stop. He added if DOT will install flashing lights to alert the public to the traffic pattern change once the roundabout is installed, it will help, as well.

West Bladen High School Principal Peggy Hester said the roundabout won’t be impacting the school. Hester said everyone leaving the high school’s campus must exit to the right only. They do not allow their bus or vehicle traffic to travel to the intersection. Instead, all traffic leaving campus goes to Center Road and then they may go either right or left or continue on towards Bladenboro.

She added she has noticed an improvement when she must travel to the intersection. “The four way stop has helped with the traffic,” said Hester.

Residents who were unable to attend Tuesday’s information session have until February 27th to submit their comments. You can submit your comments to Project Manager Sean Matuszewski, NCDOT Division 6, Division Engineer, P. O. Box 1150, Fayetteville, NC 28302 or via email at spmatuszewski@ncdot.gov.

On Friday, Feb. 9, a carjacking took place around 7 a.m. at McDonald’s in Elizabethtown. The Elizabethtown Police need the public’s help identifying the person in the picture so that he can be questioned about the incident.

Call the police department at 910-862-3125 if you can identify this person of interest.

1794 – 1st US textile machinery patent granted, to James Davenport, Philadelphia.

1849 – In New York City, James Knox Polk becomes first serving US President to have his photograph taken (by Mathew Brady)

1867 – Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection & Insurance Co issues 1st policy.

1987 – A.G. Bell & Elisha Gray apply separately for telephone patents Supreme Court eventually rules Bell rightful inventor.

1899 – US Congress begins using voting machines.

1912 – 1st US submarines with diesel engines commissioned, Groton, Connecticut.

1924 – Thomas J. Watson renames the Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company (CTR) as International Business Machines (IBM).

1931 – The original “Dracula” film starring Bela Lugosi as the titular vampire, is released.

1939 – Victor Fleming replaces George Cukor as director of film “Gone With the Wind”

1951 – Sugar Ray Robinson defeats Jake LaMotta & takes middleweight title.

1963 – US launches communications satellite Syncom 1.

1965 – 7th Daytona 500: Fred Lorenzen wins (141.539 MPH)

1967 – “Respect” single recorded by Aretha Franklin (Billboard Song of the Year 1967)

1971 – Richard Nixon installs secret taping system in the White House.

1978 – 1st “micro on a chip” patented by Texas Instruments.

1988 – 49th PGA Seniors Golf Championship: Gary Player

1991 – “The Silence of the Lambs” film based on the book by Thomas Harris, directed by Jonathan Demme and starring Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins, is released (Best Picture 1992)

1998 – Authorities in the United States announce that Eric Robert Rudolph is a suspect in an American abortion clinic bombing.

2008 – Northern Illinois University shooting: a gunman opened fire in a lecture hall of the DeKalb County, Illinois university resulting in 24 casualties; 6 fatalities (including gunman) and 18 injured.

2013 – Oscar Pistorius, a South African amputee sprinter, is charged with the murder of Reeva Steenkamp.

A Bladenboro man was sentenced to between 48 and 70 months in state custody Tuesday after pleading guilty to discharging a weapon into an occupied dwelling.

Teonte L. Ray, 30, made the plea during a session of Bladen County Superior Court.

According to the Bladen County District Attorney’s office, the case stemmed when Bladenboro police officers were called to Village Oak Apartments for shots fire on Feb. 18, 2017. Officers learned that two people were inside one of the apartments when they heard gunshots and saw a bullet penetrate a screen door and wall inside the residence.

Another person at the complex identified Ray as firing a handgun in the direction of the apartment, then fleeing on foot. No one was injured in the incident.

Although officers weren’t able to locate Ray immediately, warrants were issued for Ray’s arrest uon completion of the investigation.

RED SPRINGS – Junior Taylynn Atkinson and senior Taya Jones combined for 39 points Tuesday night to lead Red Springs to a 60-30 victory over West Bladen in the Three Rivers Conference Girls Basketball Tournament.

Jones drilled in a 3-point shot and scored 8 points in the opening quarter as the Lady Red Devils raced to a 19-7 lead.

Seniors Elizabeth Allbright and Patience Parker and sophmore Seniah Johnson tossed in first quarter baskets for the Lady Knights, and sophmore Lexie Corrothers added a free throw.

Atkinson canned 4 free throws, and Jones added a basket as Red Springs widened the gap to 30-10 at halftime. Senior Chasitty Lacey sank 2 free throws, and Corrothers made one for West in the quarter.

Parker flipped in a basket and made 5 of 6 free throws for the Lady Knights in the third period. Junior Scjada Ellison powered in a basket, and Lacey hit 2 free throws in the quarter.

Allbright dropped in 2 baskets and a free throw in the final quarter. Johnson drained 2 free throws, and Parker and Lacey added a free throw each.

Parker led the Lady Knight scoring with 10 points, and Allbright totaled 7 points. Lacey finished with 5 points.

Atkinson topped all scorers with 21 points for Red Springs, and Jones followed with 18 points.

The Lady Knights finished their season with an 8-17 record. Red Springs advanced to the TRC semi-finals Thursday night.

WEST BLADEN (30) – Mikayla Winebarger, Lexie Corrothers 2, Carley Dawson, Patience Parker 10, Seniah Johnson 4, Brigit Zuniga, Chasitty Lacey 5, Elizabeth Allbright 7, Scjada Ellison 2, Nyasia Ellison, Jessica Labra.

BLADENBORO – Bladenboro rallied in the second half to defeat Tar Heel 31-24 Tuesday night in Bladen Five Middle School Conference boys basketball action.

Gary Parker nailed a 3-point shot, and center Deonte Lacy battled inside for a basket and free throw to account for Bladenboro’s first-period points.

Center Lancine Soumanoro worked the paint for a pair of 3-point plays that kept the Panthers tied 6-6 at the quarter break.

Tucker Carroll drained a 3-point shot for the Panthers in the second period. Teammate Ke Shawn Ballard dropped in a basket and a free throw, and Soumanoro netted a basket as Tar Heel took a 14-10 hafltime lead.

Bryley Williams and Landon Stanley threw in baskets for the Bulldogs in the second quarter.

Brycen Blackmon drilled in a 3-point shot and turned a steal into a lay-up for the Bulldogs in the third quarter. Lacey powered inside for a pair of 3-point plays, and Stanley popped in a basket as the home team edged ahead 23-21.

Ballard buried a 3-point shot and another basket in the third period, and Soumanoro scored in the paint to keep the Panthers close.

Lacey racked up 3 more baskets in the final period as the Bulldogs padded their lead. Corey Clanton banked in a 3-point shot for Tar Heel in the quarter.

Lacey topped all scorers with 15 points for the Bulldogs, and Blackmon finished with 5 points. Soumanoro led Tar Heel with 10 points, and Ballard followed with 8 points.

Bladenboro improved to 4-2 with the victory.

TAR HEEL (24) – Lancine Soumanoro 10, Ke Shawn Ballard 8, Larry Council, Gustavo Bravo, Gabriel Lara, Todd Richardson, Alex Garza, Deyon McDonald, Serinni Washington, Tucker Carroll 3, Saquon Lewis, Corey Clanton 3.

BLADENBORO (31) – Gary Parker 3, Brycen Blackmon 5, Jaylen Newkirk, Deonte Lacy 15, Ricky Brisson, Bryley Williams 2, Kaiden Stanley, Jude Stanley, Jarrett Kinlaw, Landon Stanley 4, Walter Bealon.

BLADENBORO – Bladenboro raced to leads of 11-0 and 22-5 en route to a 30-17 girls basketball victory over Tar Heel Tuesday in Bladen Five Middle School Conference action.

Hannah Hester threw in a pair of first-quarter baskets, and Lainey Autry and center Hannah Pait tossed in a basket each. Rylee Chadwick, Mallory Bryan and Grace West sank a free throw each as the Lady Bulldogs built an 11-0 lead.

Chadwick fired in 2 baskets and a free throw in the second period, and Hester, West and Hannah Pait pumped in a basket each as the halftime lead grew to 22-5.

Le’nya Harrell connected for 2 baskets and a free throw for Tar Heel in the second quarter. Harrell, Kiera Lewis and Azillyah McDonald netted a basket each for the Lady Panthers in the third period, and teammate Violet Allen hit 2 free throws.

Bryan made a free throw for the only Bladenboro point of the third quarter, but the Lady Bulldogs maintained a 23-13 lead.

Hannah Pait worked the paint for 2 more baskets and a free throw in the final quarter for Bladenboro. Chadwick tallied the other Lady Bulldog basket.

Harrell rang up 2 more baskets in the final period to lead all scorers with 11 points for Tar Heel.

Hannah Pait topped Bladenboro’s balanced attack with 9 points. Chadwick totaled 8 points, and Hester finished with 6 points.

Bladenboro improved to 2-3 with the victory.

TAR HEEL (17) – Le’nya Harrell 11, Harmony Jacobs, Fabiola Sandoval, Kylie Duffel, Violet Allen 2, Kiera Lewis 2, Azillyah McDonald 2, Makayla Jones, Neveah Gaddy, Sarah Dillard.

BLADENBORO (30) – Lainey Autry 2, Rylee Chadwick 8, Hannah Hester 6, Hannah Pait 9, Mallory Bryan 2, Lauren Pait, Kylie Ward, Grace West 3, Ariel Mayers, Whitney McLean, Kelsey Williams.

EAST ARCADIA – A 25-2 second-half surge propelled Clarkton School of Discovery to a 38-20 boys basketball victory over East Arcadia in Bladen Five Middle School Conference action.

Javius Brooks threw in 2 baskets and a free throw, and teammates C. J. Jones and Lee Barnes added baskets as the Blue Devils edged ahead 9-8.

Emanuel Lewis fired in a 3-point shot, another basket and a free throw, and Corey Robbins sank 2 free throws to keep the Panthers close.

Lewis tossed in a basket and 4 of 5 free throw attempts in the second quarter. Trevon Sowers and Aljuan Brown pumped in baskets as the Panthers built an 18-13 halftime lead. Sam Inscoe and Lamont Pridgen dropped in a basket each for Clarkton in the period.

Center Lamont Pridgen powered in a trio of baskets in the third quarter to spark a 13-0 Clarkton spurt that rallied the Blue Devils to a 26-18 lead. Anthony McGill popped in a pair of baskets for CSD. Inscoe scored a basket, and Nazire Smith made a free throw.

Smith connected for 2 more baskets in the final quarter, and teammates Pridgen, Donnie Ezzell and Robert McKoy netted a basket each. Sowers cracked the East Arcadia scoring drought with a basket.

Pridgen led the Clarkton scoring with 10 points. Brooks and Smith followed with 5 points each.

Lewis topped all scorers for the Panthers with 12 points. Sowers finished with 4 points.

The Blue Devils improved to 3-2 with the victory.

CLARKTON SCHOOL OF DISCOVERY (38) – Nyquan Richardson 1, Lamont Pridgen 10, Anthony McGill 4, Sam Inscoe 4, Samaj Dove, Lee Barnes 2, Javius Brooks 5, Joe Lacewell, C. J. Jones 2, Travail Baldwin, Robert McKoy 2, Donnie Ezzell 2, Nazire Smith 5.

EAST ARCADIA (20) – Emanuel Lewis 12, Kenneth Armstrong, Trevon Sowers 4, Quantico Fennell, Aljuan Brown 2, Corey Robbins 2, Malaquie Lewis, Oliverio Matias, David Matias, Shyheem Everette, Tyler Pyatt, Dashawn Ballard.

I have been checking the news and sports pages for local happenings and I amazed at all the coverage of Bladen County events by BladenOnline.

Briefly:
*Round-a-bout discussion at Bladen Community College, well attended
*GenX update
*White Lake water issues being addressed
*Elizabethtown police ask for assistance in solving local carjacking
*Bladenboro man sentenced for firing into an apartment
*Political filing update
*Bladen County students honored for ECU achievements
*Bladen County Beta Club members excel at state-wide events
*Scores and achievements by local high school athletes.

I realize events at the state and national level affect us daily, but so do local events and if not for the staff at BladenOnline, who will cover and report?  Charlotte Smith, Erin Smith, John Clark and other part-timers provide constant updates.  They do an excellent job and deserve a pat-on-the-back, daily.  Oh yes, BladenOnline circulation continues to increase, and the subscription  remains the same—FREE.

Maybe they should cover occasional lunch time get-togethers under the ‘barn shelter’ near Tar Heel, actually the latest edition was held inside the barn, due to weather.  Lot’s of conversation, delicious chicken ‘n rice and an occasional yarn.  All you ever needed to know about most any topic.

Happy Valentine to all the lovely ladies!

It’s amazing that the amount of news that happens in the world every day always just exactly fits the newspaper.  Jerry Seinfeld

Believe it or not, Christianity is not about good people getting better.  If anything, it is good news for bad people coping with their failure to be good.  Author Unknown

You can find poetry in your everyday life, your memory, in what people say on the bus, in the news, or just what’s in your heart.  Carol Ann Duffy

 The National Weather Service office in Wilmington said the Doppler radar in Shallotte (KLTX) will be down for an upgrade Wednesday, February 14th. A team will be installing a Beta-test build which includes four other radar sites from around the country. The outage is expected to take the entire day to complete, according to Steven Pfaff with the National Weather Service.

The upgrade includes some new features including:

*two new surveillance strategies (VCPs 35 & 215)
*control of the radar through all of the office’s workstations (versus one platform)
*addition of model data to the data stream (helps with algorithms that are run from the base data)
*a new data quality dashboard
*operating system upgrade +more

The Clarkton School of Discovery has released their honor roll list.

Superintendent’s List (Having a 96 or above​ in all ​classes)

6th Grade:  Lena Damasco-Trinidad, Caroline Kirby, Reagan Moore

7th Grade:  Luke Barber, Cathleen DeVane, Andrew Dowd, Karli Priest, AnnaGrey Heustess, Jinely Mandujano, Eriana Ripley

8th Grade:  Devin Avant, Hannah Davis, Denitsa Dimova, Hailey Guyton, Heather Hardin, Merritt Martin, Kayla Norris, Skylar Suggs

“A” Honor Roll​ ­(Having all A’s in every class)

6th Grade:  Lee Barnes, Addie Bowen, Rylee Brice, Jake Futrell, Divine Gardner, Levi German, Parker Greene, Jalil Hayes, Reese Hester, Cameron Jefferson, Rodney Lacewell, Emma McDuffie, Riley McIntyre, Arayah McKoy, Octavio Morales, Autumn Nye, Will O’Briant, Michaella Troy, Geniyah Wells, Lacy Young

7th Grade:   Ahonesty Blake, Lillian Davis, Gianna Enloe, Elijah Goree, Sydney Gryczynski, Amaya Johnson, Jacie Kinlaw, Alicia Lawson, Morgan McKnight, Ciara McKoy, Bonnie McLamb, Luz Ramos, Candace Rohrbacher, Martin Rojas Jacinto, Morgan Tatum, Madison Taylor, Emma Turbeville

8th Grade:  Kassie Bagwell, Kaylee Bagwell, Donnie Ezzell, Sydney Gardner, Lauren Gooden, Weslyn Hall, Aubree Jacobs, Jessica Johnson, Kathryn Kirby, Marilyn Musselwhite, Kara Shepard, Trinity Smith, Natalie Spears, Lauryn Williams, Lilu Wilson, Ashtin Wright

“A/B” Honor Roll​ ­ (Having all A’s and B’s in every class)

6th Grade:  Trinity Baldwin, Masion Brooks, Mikayla Cowan, Kaitlyn Edwards, Molly Evans, Traveyuana Gaskins, Ashlie Kearns, Zy’Quan McCullen, Keyon McKoy, Gabby Nealey, Nicholas Phillips, Shy’Asia Ratliff, Kevin Rivera, Dyiamon Robinson, Keiara Robinson, Kelcey Robinson, Jr., Karly Ross, McKenzi Storms, Gabriel Torres, Steven Walker

7th Grade: Ziair Antone, Jamae Atkinson, Ranay Bell, Maegan Burney, Cydney Campbell, Gabryel Colon, Gavin Evers, Mauri Flores-Ulloa, Michelle Hernandez Ortiz, Jennah Heustess, Sean Highsmith, April Huggins, Chase Keiper, Molly Keiper, Mikalah Leach, Azaria Lewis,Sophia Masaid, Kytera McCall, Valencia Moore, Kayla Perez-Arvizu, Shakira Pone, Alex Post, Alyssa Reaves, Trinity Ross, Nyirah Smith, Derik Spears, Johanna Tapia, Ashlyn Williams

8th Grade:  Stephen Allen, Travail Baldwin, Tamera Banks, Kayla Bell, Lexi Blanks, Connor Britt, Ishmael Bush-Morgan, Savannah Clodfelter, Emily Brooke Huber, Samuel Inscoe, Hunter Lockamy, Anthony McGill, Aniya McKoy, ShaQuanna McLean, Cheyenne Pendry, Deshanie Purdie, Hayden Sasser, Isaac Singletary, Arriel Staten, Alex Todd

By Jefferson Weaver

I was talking with a dear friend the other night, one who lost her mother a few weeks back. Kelly told me how she kept hearing Miss Karen’s voice; not in a ghostly way, but she heard her, nonetheless, directing or reminding or reassuring.

I had to tell her I knew the feeling.

Lois C. Weaver was born in 1929, and died Feb. 14, 2004. She was my mother.

And yes, I hear her voice sometimes, too.

Miss Lois loved music; she was always singing something. She sang out of joy, sadness, loneliness, anger, boredom or to comfort a child, regardless of said child’s age. She loved almost all kinds of music; I think she knew everything recorded by Roger Miller, almost every Broadway musical, the entire Broadman Hymnal, and possibly every country song recorded when country was worthwhile. She wasn’t much into rock and roll, but she was harmonizing on The Eagles’ “Seven Bridges Road” before she finished hearing it the first time. She said Pink Floyd was weird, and Three Dog Night was too loud, but she secretly enjoyed singing “Joy to the World.”

When she and the Old Man were moving into the house on Cutchin Street, I went by one day to help. The first thing I heard was my mother’s voice echoing across the plaster walls she had repainted and across the wooden floors she had polished.

I will always remember the sound of my mother singing, but that was just one part of her voice.

When we were kids, Miss Lois would do her best to care for anything we brought home. I reckon I could blame her for igniting Rhonda’s passion for saving baby wildlife.

Miss Lois had a hand with young things; I hear her sometimes when Miss Rhonda is feeding an orphaned squirrel, possum, bird or rabbit. A fledgling thrasher pooping on Mother’s shoulder was something to laugh about. She conducted newspaper interviews with a nestling squirrel sleeping under the ear opposite the telephone.

One of the first critters “we” – meaning Miss Lois – rehabilitated was a barred owl.  I heard joy in my Mother’s voice when a bureaucratic snafu left Rhonda caring for a barred owl long after he should have gone to a rehab center.

Just as Rhonda would call for Horace when the evening’s gloaming settled into the pines at Lagoon, Miss Lois’ voice would sing softly for Barney in Erwin. He would often come when she called, lighting in the big maple tree, clacking his beak in greeting. Mother never made animal noises – she just talked to the critters in her normal voice, as she would any of her children.

I heard my mother’s voice when I was in the courthouse the other day, as a lady of a certain age befriended a scared little kid whose parents couldn’t get along. The lady wasn’t related to the child – she just happened to be sharing an elevator, as was I – but she had the little girl smiling before the elevator doors had really closed. Miss Lois was famous for her ability to calm a little human who was having a bad day; it didn’t matter if she was in church, a grocery store or sitting in a murder trial, she was happiest when she could softly talk a little one.

Mother and I were in a grocery store once when a harried Latina mother came down the aisle toward us. Her baby was crying and the other kids were being kids. Mother didn’t see color or anything else when it came to little kids (or anyone else, for that matter). Miss Lois couldn’t speak a lick of Spanish, and the frustrated mom couldn’t speak more than a word or two of English, but the mothers made friends over a fussy baby. The little one stopped crying, stared, then started smiling at the gray-headed white lady who kept talking nonsense to her.

Just as I have fond memories of my mother’s voice, I still hear Miss Lois sometimes when I screw up, too. Sharp, strong but never shrill. Mother was scary when she was angry or disappointed, but she was no harpy.

She had a happy voice, too, a laugh that rang out unashamedly, sometimes a little too loud, a laugh that made others want to be happy, too.

My mother had another voice I still hear sometimes, when someone stands up for a something important. When she adopted a cause, she didn’t quit. The Small House Arts Center became her baby almost as soon as she and Papa moved to Clinton. She was just as committed to the community theatre, and one of the proudest moments of my life came when some of the folks up that way contacted me about a scholarship that had been named for her. When the N.C. Symphony was considering not returning to town, she worked the phones and convinced the community – and the symphony – that they needed to be there. I sometimes thought Mother could have made a great living as a lobbyist, except she was too honest. You heard that in her voice, too.

I hear all those voices sometimes, as well as the one that read “Listen, Rabbit” time and again as we sat on the porch of the little house in Keener. It was similar in tone to the same voice I heard when I needed advice, whether it was over the telephone or sitting at the kitchen table at 2 a.m. drinking yet another cup of coffee.

Mother didn’t speak while she was dying; the dementia had robbed her of that, although just a few weeks before, she would break out in a few discordant bars of a song in the nursing home. At the end, Miss Lois was in a different place, one where we couldn’t go. We didn’t heard her voice again after the first few days.

The only sounds in the end were from those of us in her hospital room and her determined breathing. Her eyes were sharp and dark and snapping, her mouth set, but her voice was gone.

She followed the advice of the poet, and refused to go gently into the night. She fought to the very end, as she did when she was a child and a forest fire threatened the farm, or when she and grandmother were taking care of the entire family during an epidemic. As she did when one of us was giving up, she refused to quit.

It was appropriate that she went home on Valentine’s Day. My folks never failed to do something special on that day, even when Papa was working. I heard them say I love you a lot. There was never any doubt she meant it when you heard Miss Lois say those words.

I need to tell my buddy Kelly that she eventually won’t hear her mother’s voice all the time, but in the worst moments, she’ll hear her clear as day. When her kids need her the most, they can always count on the sound of a mother’s voice.

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We are looking for a out-going individual with Retail Sales Experience . This applicant must have strong communication skills both in person and on the phone. A solid computer aptitude and the ability to work with modern technology a must (internet, smart phones, etc). The ability to manage a customer base and a daily work plan to set and confirm Sales appointments. Bilingual a Plus.

Qualified applicants should have a professional appearance, a high school degree and a valid driver’s license with an acceptable driving record.

We offer Salary, Commission and bonuses. We Have Paid Training , Benefits include medical, 401k plan, Holidays & paid vacation.

Email Resume’s to robert@qualityford.com (Preferred) or apply in Person.

Opioid Task Force Bullock

Opioid Task Force McCrae

Opioid Task Force meeting

Opioid Task Force Cheryl Harris

Opioid Task Force meeting Amy Munn

Opioid Task Force Meeting Charles Peterson

By Erin Smith

The Bladen County Opioid Task Force met on Tuesday afternoon and learned about Project ECHO. The group also heard updates on programs and outreach efforts.

Project ECHO is based at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Denise McCrae, a Practice Support Coach with Project ECHO, said the goal of the program is to extend the community health care outcomes for patients needing medication assisted treatment.

“We (Project ECHO) received grant funding to go out and speak with, and hopefully, enroll primary care physicians as well as obstetricians, who treat patients with opioid abuse disorder,” said McCrae.

McCrae said Project ECHO provides the support that is going to be needed for those physicians, nurse practitioners and physicians’ assistants who are interested in being able to provide medication assisted treatment. She said providers who sign up will receive education and mentoring to assist them with their efforts in treating substance abuse disorder.

“Overdose rates have grown exponentially and very few resources are available,” said McCrae.

Detective Richard Allen, with the Bladen County Sheriff’s Office, gave the group an update regarding school programs, a planned pill take back event, and the 7th Congressional District Opioid meeting. Allen said the Sheriff’s Office is partnering with the school system and will be offering the GREAT program to lower grades.

“We are starting to see sixth graders crushing Smarties (a candy) and trying to snort them,” said Allen. “I think it would be good thing to back it (GREAT program) down to the fifth grade.”

He also said there is work being done to plan a pill take back event later in the spring or early summer. More details will be forthcoming as locations and times for the event are made available.

Allen also said there are Community Outreach meetings being planned. The first meeting is set for March at Galeed Baptist Church. Information provided at those meetings will include medication lock boxes and their uses, how to properly secure your medications, and more. To schedule a Community Outreach meeting, contact Allen at the Sheriff’s Office by calling 910-862-6960.

Allen said he attended a meeting last month with Congressman David Rouzer and learned that there is an opioid meeting being planned for the 7th Congressional District. He suggested that once the date is confirmed the Bladen County Task Force coincide their meeting to be present to join the 7th Congressional District meeting via satellite.

Bladen County Manager Greg Martin spoke briefly about a grant opportunity that may become available through UNC Chapel Hill and Amy Munn updated the group regarding Teen Challenge.

There is a fundraiser planned for Teen Challenge for Saturday, February 24, from 4 until 7 p.m. at Windsor United Methodist. The event is a spaghetti dinner and silent auction. The cost is a donation of $6.

Bladen County Commissioner Arthur Bullock gave the board a brief update of the Southeastern Conference he recently attended.  The group then broke out into work groups before adjourning.

Helena Chemical Company is now accepting resumes for experienced truck drivers. This position will make deliveries, load and unload product and perform general duties. Requires a CDL with Hazmat, and Class A. Excellent working environment offered. Pre-employment drug screen and background check required. High School diploma or equivalent with a minimum of one year driving experience. Call with inquiries 910-642-8319. Please drop resume off at Helena Chemical Company, 747 W Virgil Street, Whiteville NC.

By: Dora Brogdon

This week a 1-year-old mix breed male by the name of Charlie is the Pet of the Week. He’s super friendly and has a lot of energy! He seems to be okay around other dogs and children but he is very sweet to everyone. This handsome dog needs a loving family to drop by and adopt him!

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 Cir, Elizabethtown, NC 28337. For more information or questions call (910) 862-6918.