Sidewalk Sale and Fireworks

July 4th is special in Elizabethtown and White Lake.  The Annual Sidewalk Sale is underway with area merchants offering huge savings on quality merchandise.

The 4th will be celebrated at White Lake with a huge fireworks show Saturday beginning about 9:15 or shortly thereafter.

A fireworks show is slated post race at the Dublin Speedway Saturday.

BladenOnline is a Huge Hit in Bladen

June 30 has come and gone and numbers speak for themselves.  We have passed the mid-point of 2009 and BladenOnline has had a good first half.

Just the facts:

                Ave Daily Hits        Total Hits (Jan-June)

June  2008     10,246              1,760,326

June  2009     49,663              8,920,694

Thanks to all.

For all your advertising needs, BladenOnline is the place to be. Call Bobbie Todd at 876-4884 for rates and availabilities.

BCC fall semester early registration set for July 20-23

Early registration for the 2009 Fall Semester will be held on July 20 – 23.  On Monday and Tuesday, July 20 – 21, early registration will be from 9 a.m. until 6:30 p.m., and on Wednesday and Thursday, July 22 – 23, it will be from 9 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.

Only students who attended BCC during the spring or summer semester or who completed their BCC application by July 1 are eligible to register early.

Regular registration is scheduled for Thursday, August 13, 9 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.  Individuals interested in attending during the fall semester are urged to complete their application process as soon as possible.  For information or to speak to a BCC counselor, call 910.879.5500.

Bladen County Has First Case of H1N1 Influenza 

Bladen County Health Department reports that Bladen County has experienced its first case of H1N1 Influenza virus. The client is currently receiving medical treatment from their local physician and is on voluntary isolation at their home, recuperating from this illness.

We as citizens have an important role in protecting ourselves and our families.

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) and prevention recommends that the public stay informed as to the signs and symptoms of H1N1 flu and ways that they can help prevent the spread of this illness. Health officials are providing information updates and guidance to both the public and physicians as they becomes available.  

North Carolina's Southeast Commission Has New Director

Paul Butler, longtime director of North Carolina Southeast Commission recently retired.  Butler is the only director having been hired in the mid 90's after the North Carolina Legislature approved 7 Partnerships across the state.

The Board has promoted Steve Yost to director.  He was the agencies Marketing Manager.  Joe Melvin of Elizabethtown has been promoted to Marketing Manager. 

Yost is a former Economic Development Director for Columbus County.  

Bladen Had Three Education Lottery Winners In June

June was rather a slow month for lottery ticket players in Bladen County.

There were three $1,000 winners, two from Bladenboro and one from Elizabethtown. Cynthia Strickland of Bladenboro bought a ticket from Kangaroo Express #3156 in Bladenboro for her winning $1,000. Deloris Johnson, also from Bladenboro, won a $1,000 with a ticket purchased from Kerr Drug #224 in Pembroke.

Wilford Davis of Elizabethtown bought his winning ticket from Rod’s Convenience in Wadesboro.

Smithfield Employees Union Vote Underway

Workers at the world's largest pork slaughterhouse at Tar Heel are casting their ballot

on a contract offer from Smithfield Foods subsidiary today.

The proposed agreement comes after several bitter fight by the union to get into the

processing plant that opened in 1992. 

NEW OFFICERS - BLADENBORO ROTARY CLUB

During ceremonies at the weekly meeting of the Bladenboro Rotary Club, Hiram Hester was sworn-in as 2009-2010 President.  Lane Walter was sworn-in as President-Elect for 2010-2011.  Other officers are Brent Anderson Secretary, Eddie Walters Treasurer, and Fred Bowen Sergeant-at-Arms.  (The Rotary year runs from July 1 thru June 30.)  Outgoing President Johnny Anderson instituted several innovative actions that has given the club new vigor for local and International projects.  The club is conducting a membership drive to add to its 18 active members.  Membership is open to civic-minded men and women.  The club meets Monday nights from 6:30 PM through 7:30 PM at the Bladenboro Community Building.  For more information contact Hiram Hester at 978-6871.

Pictured left to right – Outgoing President Johnny Anderson, Secretary Brent Anderson, President Hiram Hester, President-Elect Lane Walter, Treasurer Eddie Walters, and Sergeant-at-Arms Fred Bowen.

Don’t feed the bears

Among the least welcome visitors at White Lake and elsewhere this summer are black bears.

Black bear yearlings tend to migrate during the summer months, finding their own territories. Grills, garbage cans, and pet food are irresistible to the big critters. With the continued loss of habitat, bear-human conflicts are becoming more common. Recent encounters with bears in the Triangle area, Hampstead and Lumberton have prompted Wildlife officers to remind people to leave the bruins alone.

Greg Killingsworth is new Bladen County School Superintendent 

Greg Killingsworth is the new Superintendent. He has been the Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources with the Robeson County School system for the past 2 years and prior to that he served as principal of Lumberton High School for 8 years. 

Killingsworth will replace Dr. Kenneth Dinkins who is leaving after failing to be re-appointed by the Board of Education on a 5-4 vote. 

Killingsworth was hired on a unanimous vote by the board earlier this year.

Upcoming Events 

July 2.....Boost the Boro Board of Directors will meet Thursday, July 2 at 6 PM at the Historical Building in Bladenboro. Boost the Boro General Meeting will follow at 7 PM.  Everyone invited.

July 6 -20....Bladen County Public Library invites kids to their Summer Reading program, which runs July 6-29.  Programs will be held weekly at 3:00 PM on Mondays at Bridger's Memorial Library in Bladenboro, on Tuesdays at Clarkton Public Library, and on Wednesdays at Bladen County Library in Elizabethtown. For more information, call 862-6990. 

Charges made in Bladenboro Man's Death

A 46 year old Bladenboro man has been charged in the death of 70 year old Horace Ray Long, also of Bladenboro.  A. Jimenez of 7766 242 South is charged with misdemeanor death by vehicle. 

Wednesday, June 24 Long was operating a tractor with a front end loader near his home on NC 242.  Both were traveling east when Jimenez, driving a 1988 GMC pickup, failed to reduce his speed and struck the tractor..

Long was pronounced dead at Bladen County Hospital.

According to the investigating officer, Jimenez was operating with a valid drivers license and and was fully insured.

A court date has not been set for Jimenez.

Operation Drywater nets three locally

A statewide crackdown on impaired boaters resulted in three local arrests at White Lake.

Law enforcement officers said the three boaters were arrested on suspicion of Operating While Impaired, also known as OWI or boating while impaired.

Wildlife enforcement officers checked boats at White Lake and elsewhere over the weekend, performing routine safety checks and watching out for suspected drunken boaters.

Operating while impaired carries the same criminal penalties as driving while impaired, and can result in fines and jail time. While .08 is the legal blood alcohol limit in North Carolina for operating a boat or a vehicle, wind and water can cause what’s called “boater’s fatigue,” which multiplies the effects of alcohol.

Wildlife officers will be out in force during the busy Independence day holiday as well. July 4 is one of the busiest boating days of the year, and officers expect this weekend to be doubly so, since the holiday falls on a Saturday.

Statewide, 43 arrests for boating while impaired were reported by Wildlife officers, with the majority of the arrests taking place on Lake Norman.

Hammonds offers Helpful Tips for Municipal Candidates

Larry Hammond, Director of Bladen County Elections has issued a few tips that potential candidates for the upcoming filing season for Municipal elections need to know prior to visiting the local Board of Elections.

1.  Friday is a state and county holiday.  The first opportunity to file will be at 8:30 a.m., Monday, July 6.  Several folks have indicated that they will be here on Friday, July 3, according to statute, but the office will be closed that day. 

Bill Affecting White Lake Boaters Clears The Senate, Goes To Governor Purdue For Her Signature

A bill recently passed by the House of Representative, and now approved by the Senate, will go to Governor Bev Purdue for her signature. This bill will affect young boaters on White Lake. It requires young motorboat drivers to meet minimum boating safety education requirements before being allowed to drive a boat on North Carolina waters.

According to the bill, people under the age of 26 must complete an approved boating safety course, or pass a test to operate a boat with a motor of at least ten horsepower. Exceptions in the bill include those who operate in state waters for less than 90 days, commercial fishermen, and someone who is renting a boat. If caught without the safety certification the penalty would be court cost only if a ticket is given.

The Senate passed the bill by 39-8 in favor of House changes.

Commissioners Changes Meeting Date

The Bladen County Board of Commissioners has re-scheduled its July 6, 2009 meeting to Monday July 13, @ 6:30 PM.

Thoughts While Shaving

We have reached the midpoint of 2009.  Unbelievable.  Just a few weeks ago the

technology world was concerned about making computer changes from 1999 to 2000.

July 4th,  a special holiday....we think of the birth of our nation...vacation, fireworks and sales.

Elizabethtown Merchants are prepared for a huge sidewalk sale this weekend and the fireworks can be seen at White Lake Saturday evening.

We welcome Greg Killingsworth to Bladen County as Superintendent of Schools. 

Everyone thinks of changing humanity, and nobody thinks of changing himself.  (Tolstoy}

Farming Big in Bladen

Farming accounts for a significant economic engine in the Southeast Partnership Region,

and it exemplifies North Carolina's diverse agricultural productions.  That was the findings

of the North Carolina Rural Center earlier this year.  The Southeast Partnership Region

consist of Bladen, Columbus, Brunswick, Robeson, Pender, Sampson, Cumberland,

Hoke, Richmond, and New Hanover.  Three Southeast counties (Sampson, Bladen and

Robeson) were among the state's top 10 list for cash receipts in 2007. Bladen County is

the largest producers of blueberries in the state, and Sampson County produces the most

farm-raised catfish.  The region also accounts for almost 40 percent of the state's hog

production. 

Municipal Elections Upcoming

Filing for Municipal elections begins Monday, July 6 at 8:30 AM and will continue through July 17.

Partisan primaries are scheduled for September 8 across the state. Non-partisan primaries are set for October 6 and non-partisan elections are scheduled for November 3, 2009.

Bladen County municipal elections are non partisan. 

April Bladen Sales Tax Collections Down 9%

The North Carolina Department of Revenue’s report for April sales tax collections shows that Bladen sales were down 9% from the month of March. In April, North Carolina collected $404,644.00 on gross sales of $9,196,542. March sales tax collections were $433,494 on gross sales of $9,651,751.

In April of 2008 Bladen had sales tax collections of $427,924 on gross sales of $10,046,579, which showed a yearly decrease of sales from April of ’08 to April of ’09 of 9.5%.

Unemployment Rates Increase For 82 North Carolina Counties In May. Bladen Has 12.3 Percent

RALEIGH — Eighty-two of North Carolina’s 100 counties experienced an unemployment rate increase in May, according to statistics released today by the state’s Employment Security Commission. Rates decreased in 16 counties and remained the same in two.

“All of the state’s 100 counties continue to be challenged by this recession. But, in its role to help maintain economic stability in communities across North Carolina, the ESC has paid nearly $3 billion dollars in benefits over the course of a year (chart attached),” said ESC Chairman Moses Carey Jr. “We continue to work with customers in our 89 offices statewide — and over the Internet and telephone — to make sure those seeking work can find a position and those needing unemployment benefits receive those monies.”

North Carolina had 46 counties which were at or below the state’s unadjusted unemployment rate of 11.1 percent. Rates increased in all 14 of the state’s Metropolitan Statistical Areas.

Total county employment (not-seasonally adjusted) decreased in May by 20,335 workers, from 4,079,980 to 4,059,645.Not-seasonally adjusted unemployment increased, by 26,750 workers. The unemployment total in May was 505,445 workers, compared with 478,695 in April.

Unemployment in Bladen County for May was 12.3 per cent. Out of a labor force of 15,863 there was 13,917 employed and 1,946 unemployed. The unemployment figure for April of this year in Bladen County was 11.9 per cent.

Contestants Wanted for July 4th Pageant

Contestants are being sought for the 6th Annual Bladen County 4th of July Pageant.  The pageant will be July 11 at 4:30 in Elizabethtown.  The pageant is open to females of all ages from birth thru adult ladies.  Younger divisions compete in Sunday dress and older divisions compete in evening gown.  Optional competitions include Photogenic, Patriotic Wear, Talent, and Blue Jeans For Babies competition.  Division titles as well as overall titles and optional awards will be given.  Proceeds from the pageant go to the March of Dimes.  The new queens will be participating in the upcoming March For Babies.  For more information, call or email Michelle Fisher at 669-3204 or 991-6299 or fisher1@intrstar.net.  Deadline to enter has been extended to Monday, June 22.