03/28/2024
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Thoughts While ShavingHope you had a good night’s rest….for some; sleep was interrupted by a series of storms…between 2:30 and about 3:15 a.m. At the Hester household the storm was intense…thundering, lightning and heavy rainfall. Nearby at the Curtis Brown Airport, rainfall totaled about 2.4 inches, as of 5 a.m., according to the National Weather Service…It was quite a show…

Had the pleasure of attending a portion of the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners meeting over the past weekend…One issue discussed at the conference was Mental Health, a problem in Bladen County, North Carolina, the USA and my guess, around the world. One speaker, who spoke earlier in the conference, was a former well-known attorney who, as a younger man was involved in several high profile court cases. He fell victim to mental health and according to some attendees provided a valuable insight to the mental health issue in North Carolina.

We all know situations in this county…some are diagnosed but fail to take their medications, others take the medicine and become addicted, and others are never treated, kinda kept out of ‘sight’ eyes of neighbors and friends. Law enforcement is familiar with mental health issues. When a mentally ill person becomes unmanageable, 911 may be called, deputies pick them up….Most hospitals have no space for them, the jail does not seem like a proper place….I recall hearing deputies telling stories about ‘babysitting’ for hours waiting for directions from someone, anyone who has an answer. Ask a sheriff, it’s a problem.

Mental Health services areas are huge today and are dictated by the state…Bladen is currently in an area with 15 or more counties…Years ago, Bladen was in a service area of 4 counties…A limited number of hospital beds are available in some areas. It is a real problem…and as an elected official, you hear from families and friends of the mentally sick reaching out to anyone who may be able to help…Some desperate…

Not condemning…but an issue being dealt with, as best they can, at the state and local level. Mental health is no different than any other horrible disease…but there are usually more efforts directed to the other sicknesses.

Check our events section for many upcoming activities in the area. One of the latest additions is a Community Night of Worship. Scroll down to September 13 for details and call Jeff Gause at 910-916-2684 for more information.

Saturday, August 29th marks the one year anniversary of the death of Lennon Lacy, the West Bladen football player, found hanging on a swing in a mobile home park in Bladenboro. It was ruled a suicide, the NAACP was asked to get involved in the investigation by his family. The FBI was asked to investigate last December….8 months later, still no info….

If you can’t sleep, don’t count sheep. Talk to the shepherd.

If you set the example, you won’t need to set many rules.

If you want something done, ask someone who is busy!

robert g hester
rgh4612@gmail.com
910-876-2322

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