Schools Partner with American Red Cross
Valerie Newton
 
Elizabethtown, NC - When Julie Sasser's fourth grade students at Dublin Primary finished reading the book Night of the Twisters by Ivy Ruckman it seemed too coincidental that the next days news headlines featured the Oklahoma tornado.

Above:  Haley Cheshire, principal of Dublin Primary with  Highlands Chapter Board Chair Susan Mills 

(Note: With so much coverage recently through national tragedies, "Bladen Online" decided to spotlight some of our local "first responders." This article is a part of a series and introduces our readers to the work and dedication of one local emergency personnel. Let's not wait until a tragedy occurs to recognize what our first responders do for us every day right here in Bladen County.)
 
Bobby Kinlaw, Chief
Elizabethtown Police Department
Marsha Burney
 
The first ticket that Elizabethtown Police Chief Bobby Kinlaw wrote, his hands were shaking so badly that he couldn’t read the name and address on the driver’s license he was holding. He had to steady the license by sliding it in the horn pad on the steering wheel; then, and only then, it wasn’t jumping all over the place from his nervousness.

Three Charged in Killing of Bladen County Native
 
Raleigh Police say Melissa Dawn Huggins-Jones, Elizabethtown native,  died of "blunt force trauma," and two men and a woman are charged with murder.
 
Police say Ronald Lee Anthony, 23 of the Wake Forest area of Wake County, Sara Rene Redden 18 of Wake Forest and Travion Dvonte Smith, 20 of Raleigh are in the Wake County Jail without bond, all facing murder charges.
 
There appears to have been no prior connection between Huggins and those charged with her death.

Bladen County Sheriff's Department Arrest Report: May 13 through May 19

   The following arrests were filed by the Bladen County Sheriff's Department from Monday, May 13 through Sunday, May 19. The people listed have not been convicted of the charges and are presumed innocent. Failure to appear charges are not listed.

Monday, May 13
   Larry Edison Buffkin, 49: Larceny (misdemeanor)
   Jason Christopher Collins, 30: Communicating threats (misdemeanor)

Bladen County Finances as of April 30, 2013
 
Bladen County Commissioners receive a monthly update on the finances of the county.  Lisa Coleman, Director of Finance provides the information.  It is simply a snapshot of a given time and a comparison of a year-ago numbers.

Cash and Investments
General Fund
April 2012	April 2013
$19,548,605	$21,585,810

Marvin Burney  recently spent 35 days in ICU recently, and  shares his thoughts with "Bladen Online" readers.

If you read the story Marsha wrote about us last week, you may be thinking what a lot of people have been telling me the past seven weeks -- "Marvin, you were left here for a reason!"  I keep hearing that in phone call, emails, text messages, on Facebook, and about everywhere in public I go.

Thoughts while shaving

West Bladen softball team must be disappointed following their loss in the eastern championship game....but, my goodness....what a great season for a good group of young ladies...The Lady Knights ended the season with a 24-3 record after a 5-3 loss to South Lenoir.  Your good memories will last a lifetime.
 
If you are like me...sometimes I need an ear....don't need for you to solve my problem..just need someone to listen....

Three Arrested in Huggins-Jones Killing
 
Three people have been arrested in the death of Melissa Huggins-Jones, the 30 year old Bladen County native. 
 
Raleigh police reported Ronald Lee Anthony, 23, Travian Devonte Smith, 20 and Sarah Rene Redden 18 have been taken into custody Tuesday night in Wake Forest.
 
All three are in jail and charged with murder.
 
The investigation is ongoing, according to Raleigh police.

Extremes for Bladen County, NC, on May 22

Highest Temperature	94 degrees	2000
Lowest Temperature	42 degrees	2002
Greatest One-Day Precipitation	1.46 inches	1963
Yesterday's High Temperature was 81 degrees

Bladen County Schools Year-end Testing Schedule

Bladen County Schools Year-end Revised Testing Schedule
May 21-24 - Extend 2 EOC Biology/Algebra I/English
May 21-24 - Science (grades 5 and 8)
May 28-31 - Common Exams MSLs
May 29-31 - EOG Reading and Math
May 28-29 - High Schools Common Exams
May 30-31 - High Schools Common Exams Scoring
June 3-7 - EOC (online) and VoCats
June 3-4 - Middle School Common Exams Administration (grs. 5-8)
June 5 & 6 - Middle School Social Studies & Science Common Exams Scoring
June 7 & 10 - ESL Pre-K testing
June 10 - Last Day of School for Students
June 11-13 - Teacher Workdays

Per NC Department of Public Instruction guidelines, End-of-Course (EOC) and End-of-Grade (EOG) test scores will not be available to schools or parents until the Fall 2013. 

No Tax Increase in Proposed County Budget
 
The proposed Bladen County budget for FY 2013-14 holds the current tax rate.
 
Greg Martin, Bladen County Manager, in his overview to County Commissioners is proposing a 1.2% increase over the current budget totalling $38,583,302.  Martin points out that the proposed budget includes increases in projections for significant sources of revenue such as property tax and sales taxes, as well as federal and state funding for the Department of Social Services.  However, according to Martin, there are revenue reductions for Home Health fees, grant projects and loan proceeds.  "We believe that revenue projections are reasonable, based on year-to-date collections and audited collections in FY12," according to the Manager.

Early-planted corn is showing problems, Cool, wet weather slowing root growth
 
RALEIGH — Corn planted early in the year often yields better than late-planted corn, but it can also be hindered by unfavorable weather. This year, cool and wet conditions early in the season have stressed plants and slowed root growth. As a result, the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services reports that many fields now show evidence of nutrient deficiency, especially of phosphorus and sulfur.
Corn plants that are purple because of phosphorus deficiency are showing up even in fields where recent soil-test reports show phosphorus levels to be adequate.

Bladen Correctional Center on lists to be closed
 
Bladen Correctional Center is on a list of facilities to be closed.  Gov. Pat McCrory' budget proposal and the NC Senate's proposed budget, list the local center, along with others to be closed.
 
Under the heading of Justice and Pubic Safety, the Bladen Center is listed along with others in Duplin, Wayne, Buncombe and Orange counties.  Other related facilities include the Lenoir Youth Development Center, the Richmond Detention Center and the Buncombe Detention Center.

Elizabethtown Police Department Arrest Report: April 29 through May 5

   The following arrests were filed by the Elizabethtown Police Department from Monday, April 29 through Sunday, May 5. The people listed have not been convicted of the charges and are presumed innocent. Failure to appear charges are not listed.

Monday, April 29
   Jazmine Monique McLaughlin, 22: Injury to personal property (misdemeanor)
   Shanita Annette Shipman, 25: Simple assault (misdemeanor)

Mundy Graduates with Hononrs

Beth Mundy of Elizabethtown graduated Magna Cum Laude from Davidson College with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemistry (with Honors in Chemistry) and Pre-Medical. She was elected to Phi Beta Kappa National Honor Society and Alpha Epsilon Delta the Health Professional Honor Society.
 
Beth has also been selected a 2013-2014 Fulbright Scholar and will do research in Chemistry at Tampere University of Technology in Tampere Finland. After her Fulbright she will continue her graduate studies at the University of Washington in Seattle Washington.

Bladen County Headlines...35 Years Ago
 
The town of Elizabethtown was considering leasing cars for their police department.
 
A new addition was put in place at the West Point Pepperell plant in Elizabethtown.
 
A petition was circulating for a vote on beer and wines sales in the city of Clarkton.
 
The East Coast Delta Kite and Glider Championship was scheduled to be held at White Lake.

Thoughts while shaving

Pray for our friends we may not know in Oklahoma.  Can't imagine the pain those in the area of the tornadoes are going through...37 fatalities....so sad....We know a little about deadly tornadoes...Can you imagine a tornado a mile wide?  We know about miles long.
 
Jack Holly, longtime successful football coach at several locations...including Tabor City, Wallace Rose Hill and Harrells...maybe others .died Monday after an extended illness...At 74 he was a legend...Played high school football at New Hanover with Roman Gabrial....Among the survivors is son, Battle..a football coach...

Tim Tatum, White Oak Fire Department
Marsha Burney
 
"Make do with what you have," so says Tim Tatum, the chief of White Oak’s Fire Department. And, if anyone knows how to "make do," it’s the members of this fire department in the northwest part of Bladen County.
 
As White Oak FD celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, Tatum proudly revealed that he’s been a member for the last 29 years. "I didn’t get in on it the first year," he said, "but I was here for the second, and I’ve been here ever since."

Commissioners Meet in Regular Session
 
Bladen County Commissioners met in regular session Monday evening and handled a wide range of issues..
 
Davis Alsup (R), local boy scout, led attendees in the Pledge of Allegiance.
 
In the Consent Agenda, Commissioners scheduled a Public Hearing for the FY 2013-14 Proposed Budget.  The Hearing will be held Monday, June 3, 2013 at 6:30 p.m.

BCS Flickr Graduation Group
 
Bladen County Schools is now on Flickr! Share your graduation memories with us - Join our Flickr group here and share the experience of your 2013 graduation.  You must join the group before you can upload photos or videos. You can invite friends and family members to view your graduation photos.

Bladen Give Five - Read Five
 
Give Five - Read Five: Donate Books to Local Elementary Schools - Have you ever heard of the term summer loss? This is not a seasonal diet or exercise program, but a troubling trend in which students lose valuable literacy skills when they stop reading during their break from school. Low-income children are especially susceptible to this problem because they often go home to an environment where there are very few books or other reading resources. As a result, by the end of fifth grade, these students are approximately 2 ½ years behind their more affluent peers in terms of reading ability, primarily because of summer loss. For this reason, the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction has launched the "Give Five – Read Five" campaign.

BLUEBERRY COOKING CONTEST TO BE HELD
 
A “Blueberry Cooking Contest” is being held during the Ammon Blueberry Festival on Saturday, June 1, 2013.  Recipes are being accepted in 3 categories:  Breakfast, Salad and Dessert.   There are two age groups.  Youth  (ages 8-15) and Adult (ages 16-Up).  Age is determined by the age on the date of the contest.   All recipes must contain at least one-half (1/2) cup of blueberries.  Registration will be between 9:30 – 10:00 am. at  the Ammon Community Building.  Dishes will be judged on June 1st, at 10:15 a.m..  Winners in each category will receive the following prizes:   First:  $50.00;   Second: $30.00   and Third:  $20.00.

Three people shot after argument at Garland nightclub

   Three people were shot early Sunday morning following an argument at a party at the Boom Boom Room in Garland, according to the Bladen County Sheriff's Office.
  
   The shootings were reported by Bladen County Hospital personnel after two of the victims arrived for treatment, says Capt. Rodney Hester of the Sheriff's Office. One of the victims had been shot in the leg and the other had been shot in the leg and arm, Hester said. Both were treated and released.
  
   The third victim went to Sampson County Regional Medical Center where he was treated and released, Hester said.

Harrells Christian Academy FFA Banquet
 
    “I believe in the future of agriculture” -  Seven simple words that not only outline every paragraph in the FFA Creed but also what each and every Harrells Christian Academy FFA member thinks about the outlook of this industry.  At HCA this year, the FFA officers made sure they did all they could to give students the opportunity to increase their leadership and competitive skills through the events participated in by the chapter. Members have traveled to the State Leadership Conference, the National Convention, and have competed in everything from Land Judging to Hunter Safety.  To culminate the successes of this outstanding organization, the HCA chapter held its sixth annual banquet on May 9, in the school’s Newkirk Auditorium.

Note: With so much coverage recently through national tragedies, "Bladen Online" decided to spotlight some of our local "first responders."  This article is a part of a series and introduces our readers to the work and dedication of one local emergency personnel.  Let's not wait until a tragedy occurs to recognize what our first responders do for us every day right here in Bladen County.
 
Jerry Hill, Tar Heel Rescue
Marsha Burney
 
Twenty-three years ago, Jerry Hill happened upon a wreck while he was driving down the road.  Hill stopped to help, but he immediately realized that he really couldn't do anything for the injured people at all.
 
“I had no training in giving emergency assistance,” he said.  “I wanted to help, but I couldn’t do anything because I didn’t know what to do.”

EMS Week May 19-25th
 
This is EMS Week....THANKS FOR ALL YOU DO....YEAR ROUND....

'Click It or Ticket' campaign asking for #SafetySelfie photos

   The Governor's Highway Safety Program has launched its Memorial Day "Click It or Ticket" campaign and asking people to share pictures on social media of themselves buckled up, using the hashtag #SafetySelfie.
  
   With your vehicle in a parked position, activate your cell phone camera and take a picture showing your seat belt buckled securely. Then, share the photo with your friends, family and co-workers via Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest with the hashtag, "#SafetySelfie." The GHSP also encourages you to add comments urging others to follow your example and fasten their seat belts before putting the vehicle in drive. 

Clarkton Man Killed in Auto Accident
 
60 year old John Campbell of Clarkton died Friday in a 3 vehicle accident near Cerro Gordo.
 
Campbell was traveling east on US 76 and had stopped to make a left turn when he was struck from behind by a vehicle being driven by John Osbourne, Jr of Cerro Gordo.  His vehicle was pushed into the west bound lane and his auto was hit in the passenger side by a van driven by Jody Paul Colp of Lumberton.
 
Campbell died almost instantly. Osbourne was charged with failure to reduce speed and misdemeanor death by vehicle.

Have You Been Phishing Lately?
Lisa Lee Bryan
  
Since the invention of the Internet, users have been warned not to open emails from people they do not know.   Most users heed this warning so the email scam artists and virus spreaders developed a new strategy.   These destructive agents now pretend they are someone you know or should know.   Have you gotten an email lately from someone who has millions they really want to leave or give to you?  Have your received an unexpected email from your bank or credit card company needing you to click a link to keep your account from being blocked?   Have you received emails from your friends wanting you to click on a link to see pictures or get information?  

Smith Pursues Action to re-open Internet Cafe
 
Jeffrey Smith believes his Internet cafes are legal, his employees are waiting to return to work and he is headed to court to prove his point.
 
Smith was the operator of Internet cafes in Dublin and Bladenboro when he was closed by the Bladen County Sheriff's department.  He has filed for relief in civil court.  
 
He had a court date this week, but it was delayed by the court system.

Ron Warren: EB's Teacher of the Year

Marsha Burney

   Ron Warren’s classroom at East Bladen doesn’t look like a classroom at all.
It’s an art studio, with paint brushes, pencils, paints in bottles, old tin cans (for dipping brushes in water, no doubt), crayons, markers, computers (for researching), books, aprons (for keeping clothes clean), and a myriad of items (both "common" and "uncommon") -- all used for creating art.

he room is an art museum of sorts, too.

Watson Sworn in as Superior Court Judge - Click HERE For Photos
 
Ebern "Trip" Watson, III was sworn in Friday afternoon as a Special Superior Court Judge.  Watson was recently appointed to the position by Gov. Pat McCrory.  He has served as an Assistant District Attorney in Bladen County for the past 2 years.
 
Several speakers helped introduce the newest Superior Court Judge in the state.
 
District Court Judge Chad E. Hogston spoke about his "very best friend."  He told Watson he was very happy for him.

Tax reform launched; Senate budget coming soon
 
Last week, Senate Republicans announced plans to reform North Carolina’s tax code by broadening the sales tax base and lowering corporate and individual income taxes.  Simi­lar efforts have brought eco­nomic boosts to states like Tex­as and Florida, and North Caro­lina has the potential to do the same.

Bladenboro Community Watch wants to become 'eyes and ears' to help police fight crime

   Like all towns, Bladenboro has its share of crime: drugs, breaking and entering, and some gang activity.
  
   A group of townspeople are determined to do something about it.
  
   The Bladenboro Community Watch group held its monthly meeting Thursday at the Community Building. About two dozen people were in attendance. The group has been meeting for a few months in an effort to get the program started in each of Bladenboro's four police districts.

March Unemployed Figures Released
 
RALEIGH — The state’s seasonally adjusted April unemployment rate decreased to 8.9 percent from March’s revised rate of 9.2 percent. The national rate fell to 7.5 percent from March’s 7.6 percent.
 
North Carolina’s April 2013 unemployment rate was 0.5 of a percentage point lower than a year ago.  The number of people employed decreased 4,188 over the month to 4,303,113, and increased 35,026 over the year. The number of people unemployed fell 15,259 over the month to 419,287, and declined 21,843 over the year. 

FSA Administrator Urges Bladen County Producers to Enroll in DCP/ACRE
Waiting until “last minute” means long lines at USDA office
 
Elizabethtown — USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) Administrator Juan M. Garcia encouraged Bladen County farmers and producers to enroll for the 2013 Direct and Counter-Cyclical Payment Program (DCP) or the Average Crop Revenue Election Program (ACRE) before the deadline.
 
“We understand that Bladen County producers have gotten busy, but they can’t forget to visit their county office and sign up for DCP or ACRE,” said Garcia. 

Shepherd Completes Boy Scout Project - Click HERE For Photos
 
14 year old Andrew Shepherd was ready to begin work on his service project for Life Rank in Troop 600.  It was decided a worthy effort would be to restore/replace basketball goals at Dublin school.
 
Shepherd needed to raise money.  He called BladenOnline and ask for an ad.  He provided the information and requested financial support.  Before long, he had the money, and it was time to get the job done.

Upcoming events
 

May 20-23....Liberty Hospice will hold a volunteer training May 20-23.  Interested adults or teens between the ages of 14-17 are invited to attend. Make a difference in your life and theirs.  Contact Jovona Bellamy at 641-4095 for details.  Registration is required.

May 27.... The Bladen County Transfer Station will be closed Monday, May 27th in observance of Memorial Day. All other collection centers will open. The Transfer Station will resume normal operations Tuesday, May 28th.

May 30 - Rev. Clifton E. Freeman, Jr. will be ministering at For The Cause of Christ Ministry at 7:30 p.m. for Pastor Ronnie McKoy's 10th Anniversary.       

Comments are welcome on Guestbook but must be signed. 

Concerned Citizen or John Q. Taxpayer is not a name.

Identify yourself!!

robert g hester

Fayetteville files nuisance abatement lawsuit against owners of Fort Bragg Road property; building houses after-hours club
DOT public hearing focuses on funding for I-95 repairs
Robeson County couple win $150,000 in lottery
Fayetteville man gets 10 years for killing man who refused to buy him a drink
19,000 paratroopers take part in 82nd Airborne Division All American Week Division Run
Man shot by Fayetteville police officer paralyzed; his lawyer says man didn't point gun
70 people affected by salmonella outbreak reported at Holiday Inn Bordeaux in Fayetteville last week
Closing arguments in Mario McNeill trial set for Tuesday
Teen struck by car driven by Fort Bragg soldier Saturday remains hospitalized