Commissioners approve new youth center in Bladenboro
By Rhonda Griffin
 
The old Armory building in Bladenboro will soon come to life with a youth/after school program for students from kindergarten through eighth grade after the Bladenboro Town Council voted unanimously to lease the facility to Dreams R Us, Inc.
 
The organization plans to offer services such as tutoring, nutrition and athletics to students after school two days each week and on Saturday mornings. Representatives hope to extend those hours after the program gets up and running. An agreement will be in the works with local schools to provide drop off of the students who wish to attend the center's program, and the agency also has transportation to provide if needed.
 
The board voted to approve the lease of the building for a term of one year for $400 each month.
 
In other news, the board discussed possible participation in a Community Development Block Grant that can award up to $500,000 to be used for community improvements. A public hearing was held on the topic, but no one signed up to speak during the meeting. A second public hearing will be held during the February board meeting.
 
Town Manager Delane Jackson updated the board on the coming of a new medical facility in the building where the old Andy's restaurant was located. A collaborative effort between the Town of Bladenboro and Bladen's Bloomin', along with funding from Golden Leaf Foundation, the practice will soon be complete, Jackson said.
 
Board members also discussed a former topic of electronic participation by the board members during meetings. The matter will be discussed further in the next meeting after Jackson develops an alternate option to the current wording of the ordinance.