1-26-2012

Del Routh with the BC Sheriff’s Department announced that

JESSICA DANIELLE FREEMAN is wanted

AGE: 30            RACE: B

The Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office is searching for a local female from the Bolivia, NC area who is wanted for Obtaining Property by False Pretense, Forgery of Instrument, Identity Theft, Financial Card Fraud, Common Law Forgery, Felony Larceny, and Worthless Check.

If anyone has knowledge on the whereabouts of this individual please contact Sgt. John Bolduc  at the Brunswick County Sheriffs Office 910-253-2785.

A Personal Note from Senator Rabon

Happy New Year to you and yours! I am looking forward to serving you in 2012 and I thank you for the opportunity to represent you. I wanted to provide you with a quick update regarding my activities during the interim.

Also, I am most excited to announce the birth of my first grandchild, Willow Athanas Rabon.  Born January 9^th to my son, Will and his lovely wife, Noel.

Legislative Update

Since the end of the long session in July I have been serving on numerous interim committees, including the Energy Policy Committee, Marine Fisheries Committee, Environmental Review Commission, and I am chairing the Joint Transportation Oversight Committee. The purpose of interim committees is to delve more deeply into issues with less time constraints.

The Senate chambers were brimming with spirit on January 4^th as the Senate recognized our Junior Pee Wee medium intermediate cheer squad from Roger  Bacon Academy (pictured right) for winning the Pop Warner national cheerleading championship on

December 5^th in Orlando, Florida.

Guest speaker Landon Powell (l) with Hot Stove organizer Nelson Best.

Keynote speaker Landon Powell, a Cary, North Carolina native and current Oakland A’s catcher was one of the speakers at the 2009 banquet where Otis Nixon was the main speaker. Methodist University head coach Tom Austin and former Wilmington College standout Bill Harris also were speakers at this year’s banquet.
All three speakers had similar stories to tell the crowd of around 300. They heard the speakers talk about their deep beliefs in God and his role in their success. Austin who has coached the Monarchs to 985 wins in his 32 year career was the first speaker to take the podium.
He spoke about the importance of God and family is in his life. He spoke about the importance of being a good teammate and how important it is to be a leader and play without being selfish and the rewards of putting the team first. Austin just made it to the banquet in time, because he had spent the weekend instructing and speaking at Doyle Whitfield‘s annual banquet. “ I enjoy coming back to Leland because the people here are so passionate about baseball. If I‘d had to make a choice between the Whitfield event and this one I would have canceled the other and come here to Leland,” Austin said. “ I will definitely be back,” he added..
Bill Harris a former Wilmington College star, who led the Seahawks to the NJCAA World Series Championship in 1963 was next to speak. Harris played professionally with Cleveland and Kansas City before retiring and returning to Wilmington where he said he continues to give back to the community. Harris was the first coach for the Brunswick County Post 445.
Harris spoke about his belief in God and how important family is. “Never take tomorrow for granted, because it isn’t guaranteed,” he said. He told a touching story while fighting back tears about a friend of his who was recently killed in a car crash when a policeman ran a red light and crashed into and killing him.
When keynote speaker Landon Powell took his turn behind the microphone everyone paid close attention to his story. He spoke of the trials and tribulations he has dealt with through his professional career.
Early on his in his career he went through two knee surgeries and a bout with an auto immune disease that has left his liver permanently  damaged that will eventually lead to a liver transplant. Powell said he turned his life over to God in the after the 2010 season, and since then his career has flourished and even became just the 17th catcher in the history to catch a perfect game.
Powell said there were only about 17,000 people to ever play professional baseball, which he compared to about one fourth of the people at a college football game. When you put it into perspective that way it shows how few people make it to the big leagues.
Powell who spends much of his off season at speaking engagements such as the LHSL banquet also began a his own charity called Donors of the Diamond. “ We raised over $40,000 last off season for organ and tissue awareness,” Powell stated. “ Since I rededicated my life to God I have realized just how precious life is, I am so blesses to have such supportive people in my life,” he added.
Powell, who was scheduled to speak at the 2008 banquet but had to cancel due to his liver problem said he promised his dad he would never forget where he come from and that’s why he is always willing to give back to communities, like speaking at the banquet in Leland.
There were several dignitaries in attendance, such as UNC-W head coach Mark Scalf, BCC head coach Robbie Allen, and Scott Johnson the head coach at Southeastern Community College. Johnson guided his team to the College World Series last season for the first time in the school’s 45 year history. Brunswick County Register of Deeds Brenda Clemmons and Leland Town Council women Jane Crowder was also on hand.
Before the speakers spoke their were some Leland Hot Stove business that was taken care of. Gordon Powell the organizations Chairman awarded Rose Cook a lifetime honorary membership for her dedication and hard work to the program over the nine year’s existence. Newly elected Mayor of Leland Brenda Boseman gave Harris and Austin keys to the city.
North Brunswick baseball coach awarded Matt Lowry the Leland Hot Stove League/ North Brunswick 2011 Player of the Year award. Daniel Rabon Brunswick County Post 68 Junior Legion coach awarded Steven Linkous with the LHSL/ Post 68 2011 Player of the Year award. Lowry has committed to play ball at UNC-CH next season, and Linkous has signed to play at UNC-W.
The organization awards a scholarship each year to a North Brunswick student athlete and this year’s winner was Tylan Kelly who is playing ball at SCC. Nelson Best, the first principal at North Brunswick in 1972, who the scholarship is named after awarded the

Tylan Kelly

scholarship to Kelly. The first Nelson Best Scholarship winner to graduate from college, Dustin Medlin was on hand and was introduced, Medlin, the 2006 winner graduated last summer from ECU and is now teaching and coaching at Acme Delco Middle School.
As in most successful organizations, the LHSL members are already looking for speakers for next year’s banquet and in the planning process. It is a year around effort from the committee that has given out over $12,000 in scholarships over the last four years. Next year’s Nelson Best Scholarship will be worth $2,500.00.
As always the organization is accepting new members. If anyone would like to join a great organization that works to promote baseball and give back to the kids of the community get up with one of the members. You can also follow the Leland Hot Stove League on Facebook.

Brown scored eight points and hauled in 11 rebounds to help the Lady Scorpions snap a seven game losing streak with a 34-30 win over South Columbus.

Katrina Brown scored eight points and hauled in 11 rebounds to help the Lady Scorpions snap a seven game losing streak with a 34-30 win over South Columbus, With her team down 29-19 with just over four minutes remaining, Brown scored eight points to help the Lady Scorpions come from behind and win their third Waccamaw Conference game.
Brown scored two quick baskets with about three minutes remaining to cut the South Columbus lead to 29-25 and then scored the go ahead basket with 44 seconds left in the game. She also put the game out of reach with her fourth basket of the quarter with a basket with 18 seconds remaining.
The 5’9” junior is averaging 5.5 points per game and rebounds per game for Coach Karlyn Stephens Lady Gators squad.

Wilson scored a season high 29 points in the win over the Bulldogs. Going for the three!-photo by Crystal Cecil-

For the second time this season East Columbus senior guard T.J. Wilson has been named the State Farm/Local New Review player of the week. Wilson led the Gators to their first Three Rivers Conference victory with a 71-51 upset win at St. Pauls.
Wilson scored a season high 29 points in the win over the Bulldogs. He is averaging right at 20 points per game on the season, while The three sport athlete is shooting 82 percent from the charity strike to lead coach Curtis Moss’ Gators.

by Gary Rabon  sports@theLNR.com

Attendees listening to the Navassa Office options-

Belville’s current lease for its town hall office space is in its last six months of a five-year lease. During a special meeting held January 9, Commissioner Joe Breault presented three possible options for new town hall office space.
Located on the second floor in the Villages at Waterford, Belville’s current town hall provides 2,200 square feet of usable space. The lease on that space is $6,000 per month.
Under the agreement with developer Urban Smart Growth, the company was to erect a new town hall in the area to be revitalized. As of January 2012, however, no progress has been made on the revitalization effort, so the town is left with no alternative but to seek other remedies.
One option is to stay in the current facility, but at a reduced rate of approximately $3,400 per month, including maintenance fees. The second option would be to erect a modular office unit in the area to be revitalized. And the final option would be to purchase the current office area, plus additional square footage, which would bring total usable area to approximately 7,400 square feet. Included would be approximately 2,000 square feet that could be utilized as a community center and multipurpose room.
Along with purchase of additional office space, the town would receive approximately one acre of land located on Poole road on which Belville could erect a three bay garage. This building could be used for housing town vehicles and off-site record storage. Although a firm price has not yet been negotiated, town leaders feel the office area and land could be purchased at a price not to exceed $610,000. This works out to approximately $3,400 per month, including monthly maintenance fees.
A condition set forth in the agreement states that Belville would pave the portion of Poole road leading to its facility, with the cost having been figured into the $610,000 purchase price.

Town Council of Belville--2012

The Town of Belville will conduct a meeting on January 23 in the council chambers to solicit additional residents’ input on these options. The public is encouraged to attend.

by MJike Leggett  mike@theLNR.com  comments send them to mail@theLNR.com

by Mike Leggett  mike@theLNHR.com

comment? email us at mail@theLNR.com

An insurance rating of five is not an impossibility, according to Chief John Grimes. He made the comment to representatives of Belville, Leland and Brunswick Regional H2GO Sanitary District during LVF/R’s annual local government luncheon January 10.

Chief John Grimes presenting his annual report to local governments.

A reduction to a five could result in a 10-15% insurance rate reduction. Grimes told luncheon attendees that LVF/R will schedule a Department of Insurance inspection by the end of 2012, with the possibility of the insurance rating becoming effective in 2013. The department received a rating of a six in 2012 and hopes that improvements from that inspection will result in a rating of five.
Grimes noted that things the department is working on to improve the rating include:
Fire hydrant maintenance. While fire hydrants are controlled by H2GO, The Town of Leland and Brunswick County, maintenance is something that must be addressed by the fire department and these local entities on a regular basis. This includes not only clearing around the hydrant, but actually performing maintenance on the valves and testing the devices. Grimes said the LVF/R must possess records indicating this maintenance was performed. Ordinances must be drafted regarding fire hydrants, and local utilities must enforce them.
Water pressure. Adequate pressure was an issue in the 2006 inspection, but now that H2GO has built a new elevated storage tank with booster pumps, and Brunswick County acquired a new tank on Quality Drive in Navassa, water pressure should not be an issue.
Communication. “It is about as good as it can get,” according to Grimes, but the telecommunications center will help process calls for faster service and improved response times.

Training. During the last inspection training, the department did not have props or a training center. Now the department has received approval to train at the Cape Fear Community College’s fire training center. LVF/R will continue cooperating with its neighbors in training together, which is a plus, Grimes said, particularly when it comes to multiple departments dealing with fire or emergency incidences.
Response Time. As more career firefighters are on staff, does response time improve? Grimes said it does not guarantee a faster response on some types of calls. According to Grimes, “they are not getting the right equipment and numbers of bodies on the scene.  Staffing is improving, but we are not even remotely close to where we need to be,” he added.
Distribution. The fire department has added substations at Westport and Landvale Road, but the next “trouble area” is the Compass Point and the Highway 74/76 corridor. Additionally, a connector street between Brunswick Forest and Highway 133 is high on the priority list to improve distribution of resources in this area.
Grimes also reported comparisons in 2010 to 2011 fire and EMS call volumes. Call volumes in both categories were up. Fire calls in 2010 totaled 945, compared to 1,007 calls in 2011. EMS calls totaled 1,979 in 2010 and 2,143 in 2011. Total response time for both fire and EMS calls were up slightly from 2010 to 2011.

by John Crowder john@theLNR.com

comments? mail@theLNR.com

The exercise gave the participants insight into the workings of the towns, demonstrated the difficult task elected officials have in maintaining a solvent and balanced budget.

game called Bugetopolis.  Somewhat like the game of Monopoly, Bugetopolis gives players a fictitious town in which they must maintain a workable budget while falling victim to typical economic situations. Five groups of players were given a budget and various scenarios each town could face.
The objective was to see how town officials would handle the need to reduce the budget while maintaining needed services.  The exercise gave the participants insight into the workings of the towns, demonstrated the difficult task elected officials have in maintaining a solvent and balanced budget.  Each person came away with a new insight into the workings of the financial responsibility of
municipalities and other local governments.
The following day, the council met at Brunswick Forest to continue its setting of goals for the coming year.  Chris May from the Cape Fear Council of Governments led the group as participants worked to set goals and discussed expectations the Council has in the near future.  May advised the council to “not try to be all things to all people,” but to set realistic goals.  He also reiterated the need to not be swayed by “groups,” and to remember that “it is okay to disagree on things, but when the vote in done, then move on.”
David Hollis, Leland Town Manager, then addressed the participants on behalf of the different departments.  The Department heads were on hand to answer council members’’ questions.