Amendment passes in U.S. Senate to strengthen crop insurance fraud prevention

   An amendment to the U.S. Farm Bill that strengthens crop insurance fraud prevention passed Thursday 94-0 in the U.S Senate. The amendment will add $5 million annually to the Risk Management Agency's budget to ensure it has the necessary resources to combat fraud.
  
   In March, federal investigators uncovered a scheme in eastern North Carolina to defraud the government out of $100 million from crop insurance programs. Thus far, 41 people have either pleaded guilty or reached plea agreements after profiting from false insurance claims for losses of tobacco, soybeans, wheat and corn. 

Bladen County 4-H'ers Win at District Level

Bladen County 4-H Presentation Participants competed at the Southeast District Activity Day on Saturday, April 27, 2013 at Mt. Olive College. All of our county participants placed at District and 3 of them will go on to compete at 4-H State Presentation Competition in Raleigh, NC on June 22, 2013: Leighanne Kelly in outdoor cookery ages 14-18; Jacob Sprouse in Electric ages 14-18; and Gabriel Sprouse in open class ages 11-13. We are so proud of our WINNERS!!!

Pictured: Front Row L to R is Autumn Brisson, Jacie Kinlaw, and Sarah Sprouse; Back Row L to R is Leighanne Kelly, Gabriel Sprouse, Stacie Kinlaw - 4-H agent, Jacob Sprouse, and Alexandra Evans

For more information about how youth ages 5-18 can EXPLORE 4-H, please contact Stacie Kinlaw, Bladen County 4-H agent at (910) 862-4591.

More travelers expected in N.C. during Memorial Day weekend

   Hitting the road this Memorial Day weekend? You won't be alone.
  
   An estimated 897,300 North Carolina motorists are expected to hit the road this weekend, according to AAA Carolinas, as the summer travel season kicks off. That's an increase of 1.5 percent from a year ago.

   "Lower gas prices and a slowly improving economy means more people will travel this holiday weekend to spend time with family and friends," David E. Parsons, president and CEO of AAA Carolinas, said. "This weekend's favorable weather forecast will also encourage many last-minute travelers to get away for Memorial Day."

Bladenboro Voters Could Vote on Beer and Wine in November
 
Bladenboro voters will be voting on Town Commissioners in November. 
 
Two other issues could also be on the ballot.
 
One was introduced in late April that would change the form of government for the town and the most recent is on the issue of the sale of beer and wine.
 
Petitions have been submitted to the Board of Elections to change the type government from a Manager Council form to Mayor-Council form. 

Movie Being Shot at White Lake - Click HERE For Photos
 
The Ski Burger at White Lake was busier than usual Thursday and not just serving lunch.
 
A New Line Cinema comedy "Tammy" starring Melissa McCarthy and Susan Sarandon, directed by Ben Falcone, was the center of attention.
 
Over 100 movie stars and support staff were busy shooting scenes. Numerous local hopefuls were waiting, anxious to make their acting debut.

Summer Feeding Returns to Bladen County:Food is In when School is Out
Valerie Newton
 
The Bladen County Schools Child Nutrition Department will once again offer free summer meals— breakfast and lunch—to Bladen County students through the Summer Feeding Program. The program will kick off at East Arcadia School on June 17 and Dublin Primary, Bladenboro Middle, and Elizabethtown Primary on June 23 and last until July 31. 

Breakfast will be served five days a week from 8:00 am until 8:30am. Lunch will be served five days a week from 11:30 am until 12:30 pm.  

Bladen County 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.

(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.)
 
Bradley Kinlaw, Director
Bladen Emergency Services
Marsha Burney
  
When he was five years old, Bradley Kinlaw of Elizabethtown dreamed of being a firefighter one day. As a boy, he spent a lot of time (especially during the summers) at his grandparents’ home in Lisbon where his grandfather, Harry Alford, was a charter member of the Lisbon Fire Department.

New Genealogy Resource at Bladen County Library
 
Sandy McKeithan and Lynn Benson from the Wilmington Ladies Tea Walk Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution presented a valuable new resource for genealogy research to the local history collection in the Wanda Campbell Room of the Bladen County Public Library.  The resource is African American and American Indian Patriots of the Revolutionary War.  The work is divided into geographic areas and lists minority patriots, by name, from those states or regions.

Ms. McKeithan (L) presented the book for the Wanda Campbell Room collection to Linda Rivenbark (C) of the Elizabethtown Chapter of the DAR and Rhea Hebert (R), Bladen County Library Director.

Elizabethtown Police Department Arrest Report: May 6 through May 12

   The following arrests were filed by the Elizabethtown Police Department from Monday, May 6 through Sunday, May 12. The people listed have not been convicted of the charges and are presumed innocent. Failure to appear charges are not listed.

Monday, May 6
   Jason Kyle Taylor, 24: Probation violation (misdemeanor)
  
Tuesday, May 7
   None 

Bladen County students earn academic honors at UNC Pembroke

   The following students from Bladen County have made the Chancellor's List and Honors List for the spring semester at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke.
  
Chancellors Honors

   Students are eligible for the Chancellor’s List if they achieve a minimum semester quality point average of 3.7 while passing at least 12 semester hours of course work; none of the 12 hours may be Pass/Fail.
  
   Bladenboro: Erica Hope Branch, Anthony G. Davis, and Sabrina Denise Utley

Bladen Lakes Third Graders Simulate Animal Habitats
  
The NC third grade science curriculum includes the vocabulary word "habitat," but no standards could prepare students for the excitement they experienced in Mrs. Tonya Landreth's classroom this term.  Student Sydney Gardner enjoyed getting to watch the caterpillars grow in a jar.  Student Skylar Suggs explains that a habitat is "where animals live, where they grow up, and where their home is."  The students released butterflies, and even got to see them come out of their chrysalis, or cocoon.

Bladen Lakes Primary Raises Money for Oklahoma Tornado Victim

Bladen Lakes Primary School students are joining in the district's efforts to help the victims of the Moore, Oklahoma tornado tragedy.  Through the local Red Cross the school will participate in "Crosses for Hope." For each $1 donation received, a paper "Red Cross" with the donator's name will be displayed at the school. 

Bladen Lakes students are taking the relief effort seriously.  Fourth grade student Jordan Pridgen was especially affected by the fact that children almost his age were involved:  "A lot of elementary school children lost their lives.

Hollis Selected for Summer Research Program

Chapel Hill, NC- Brittany Hollis has been accepted to the Summer Undergraduate Research Experience at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Brittany will be conducting research alongside Dr. Jean Cook in the department of Biochemistry and Biophysics at the UNC Genetics Medicine Center. Her research focuses on the role of specific proteins in regulating cell cycle checkpoints. Brittany is a rising junior at UNC majoring in biology with a minor in chemistry.  Brittany also received the Hayden B. Renwick academic achievement award for the second year in a row.  Brittany is a 2011 East Bladen Graduate and the daughter of Stephanie Hollis of Elizabethtown and the late Christopher Hollis.

 WBHS Girls contribute to Relay for Life

Otis Evans accepts a $1500.00 check from the WBHS Vollleyball team for Relay for Life. The team raised the money from the donation through their "PINK NIGHT" efforts during volleyball season. The donation was given in memory of Mrs. Bit Evans.

Thoughts while shaving

I do not believe Conservatives only are the savior of the US... I do not believe Liberals only are the savior of the nation....
 
I do not believe either party or group has all the answers....
 
I do believe both parties have some "loose cannons."
 
I do believe both parties are vastly different from what they were a few years ago...

Extremes for Bladen County, NC, on May 23

Highest Temperature	92 degrees	1957
Lowest Temperature	46 degrees	2002
Greatest One-Day Precipitation	1.96 inches	2003
Yesterday's High Temperature was 83 degrees

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Upcoming events
 

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. 

 June 1......Bethel Baptist Church youth group will hold their annual yard sale, bake sale & car wash on Saturday June 1st from 7am until... It will be held at the home of Randy & Sandra Garner at 8617 Hwy 87 west Tarheel, NC 28392 Please make plans to come by and support our young people as they raise funds to attend The Jesus Rally in Pigeon Forge, TN in July. Refreshments will be served. For more info. contact, Randy Garner 876-0227 or Terry Smith 258-6291 Thanks in advance for your support and may God bless you.         

Comments are welcome on Guestbook but must be signed. 

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

Identify yourself!!

robert g hester

Need to Know for Thursday, May 23
Applause for Thursday, May 23
Councilwoman Applewhite enters Fayetteville mayor's race
Furloughs announced for teachers, other employees at Fort Bragg schools
Army declares missing Fort Bragg soldier Kelli Bordeaux dead
Crime report for Thursday, May 23
Robeson County pharmacist accused of illegally selling drugs
Three face drug charges in Moore County
City Manager Ted Voorhees asks council to back additional $1.3 million in initiatives without tax increase