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PARADE MAGAZINE SPORTS, 1B INSIDE NEWS, 5A WEATHER INSIDE xxxxx TODAY'S DAILY Bill would Rockingham looks to $ HIGH: xx JOURNAL LOW: xx help track hire part-time firefighters 100% recycled newsprint Over 52 C oupon Sa vings in the Weekender July 18-19, 2009 Weekender $1.00 Water Fighting policy wins crime support has a Philip D. Brown Richmond County Daily Journal Good water management is pricetag a potential draw for indus- try, Rockingham Mayor Gene Tom MacCallum McLaurin pointed out this Richmond County Daily Journal week. Combating crime in Richmond County City council voted to hold will consume some 14 percent of the bud- a public hearing concerning get for fiscal year 2009 to 2010. a water conservation plan Out of a budget of $44.9 million, $6.3 mil- designed for drought condi- lion has been designated for the Richmond tions. It will allow Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office, drug control, to avoid compliance with more the jail and jail canteen. That amount is stringent guidelines from the $79,015 more than the entire local option state. sales tax revenue estimated for the year “The state is requiring all for the county. water supply agents to adopt The sheriff’s budget is topped by the a formal ordinance like the OLIVIA WEBB/DAILY JOURNAL department of social services at $8.9 mil- one you have in front of you,” Stephanie Ford (right) of Camp Lejeune checks her daughter CeCe out of the Military Kids lion and public schools at $7.7 million. City Manager Monty Crump camp at Camp Millstone in Ellerbe Friday morning. CeCe got a surprise visit from her However, those two departments are large- told the council. “Basically, if ly funded by state funds and grants. you don’t adopt one, you have father Henry (center), who is home visiting but has to go back to the war after two weeks. Camp counselor Will Speight (left) bids them farewell. The sheriff’s office will cost $4.4 mil- to follow state guidelines ... lion; drug control, $100,000; jail canteen, which further restrict what $65,000; and the jail, $1.7 million. you can do.” Some of that expense has increased in In the proposed plan, the new budget in anticipation of added there would be five stages Millstone reaches out costs in providing security for the new of drought, each triggering Richmond County Judicial Center to open different measures to con- next year. serve the resource. The stag- Other big budget items include: es would range from a call ■ Debt service, $3.2 million. for voluntary restrictions to to military children ■ Richmond County Airport, $1.9 million water rationing. (90 percent comes from federal funds) Each stage would depend Olivia Webb swimming, crafts...it’s a chance are in the armed forces and have ■ Richmond Community College, on the level of either Roberdel Richmond County Daily Journal for the kids to take what their been or will soon be deployed. $1,419,000 Lake or the City Pond. parents do out of their heads for Retired Marine A. B. Thompson It will cost an estimated $946,852 to Under the ordinance, the One young camper wasn’t ready for Operation Military Kids to a moment,” said Terry. “It’s a of Rockingham brought the pro- maintain county buildings. city’s utility department and challenge, but it’s a great experi- gram back to life by writing a city police would enforce come to a close at Camp Millstone Friday morning. ence in the same sense that they check for the entire amount need- Revenue the conservation measures. are actually experiencing a little ed to run OMK this summer: $30, On the revenue side of the budget, real Violators could face up to a “I want to go out there and start fishing!” said 9-year-old Donovan of what their parents experience 000. property taxes are estimated to be $20.3 $200 fine and 30 days in jail. in terms of structure and disci- “I didn’t really think about million. Bills will be mailed the end of Crump explained there is Baker. According to him, the week was pline.” it more than 20 minutes,” said July. a low probability that water Millstone had been forced to Thompson of his donation. “A lot Vehicle taxes, which vary during the offenders would ever take up “awesome,” and Camp Director Will Terry agreed. forgo its usual plans for both ses- year as to when billed, amount to $1.8 “With all of the activities like sions of the week-long camp, which MILITARY million. WATER archery, riflery, ropes, canoeing, is for children with parents who CONTINUED ON PAGE 5A Local option sales tax: $6. 2million. CONTINUED ON PAGE 5A Miscellaneous: $11.2 million, which would include state and federal funds. Listed in the revenue will be $1.1 million that the county tax office hopes to collect Senate to take up mill on public records from prior year taxes and penalties. Sales, services, permits and fees are Olivia Webb to turn before they can ultimately gain access to disclosure disputes that would allow the parties to expected to raise $1.2 million worth of Richmond County Daily Journal the records sought.” mediate prior to engaging in costly, time-consum- revenue. Other sources of income are: A House bill designed to take the financial sting According to a legislative summary: “Current ing and burdensome litigation,” said Goodwin. law allows a party who prevails (not ‘substantially’ “Another key goal of the bill is to clarify liability for ■ Interest on investments, $37,224 out of public records lawsuits made its way to the ■ Other taxes and licenses, $355,532 Senate last week. prevails) to recover attorneys’ fees unless the attorneys fees, providing that, to recover attorney’s agency acted with substantial justification in deny- fees, the plaintiff must substantially prevail.” ■ Appropriated designated fund bal- Under HB 1134, a party who “substantially” pre- ance, $291,793. vails in an action to compel the disclosure of public ing access or the court finds circumstances that And that means that the government is pro- would make the award unjust. This language is tected as well. Because the usual revenue streams will records to recover attorney’s fees. fall short of paying all the anticipated bills “The public records, with only limited statutory deleted under the bill and replaced with the new “The bill provides a safe harbor for governments specific language. by shielding them from paying attorneys fees if for the county this fiscal year, the county exceptions, are the property of the people of North is taking $2.2 million from its savings Carolina,” said State Representative Melanie Wade According to Goodwin, supporters of the bill con- they acted in reasonable reliance of an order or tend that sometimes requests are denied because published opinion of the court or a written advi- account to balance the budget. Goodwin. “When a citizen makes a public record • • • • • request and is denied access, it frustrates our the government entity in question intended to sory from the Attorney General,” said Goodwin. Democratic processes. In these circumstances, a delay and discourage the citizen. citizen must pay money to hire an attorney, file a “One of the primary goals of this bill is to provide an expeditious avenue for public records RECORDS CRIME lawsuit, and wait for the judicial wheels of justice CONTINUED ON PAGE 3A CONTINUED ON PAGE 3A Jesse McQueen to challenge Smart Get WINGS Your Philip D. Brown Richmond County Daily Journal Filing period won’t be extended on theFLY! The Friday deadline to file for Richmond County municipal office has Philip D. Brown challenger Bruce Stanback. Drop by our store and try new Hunt Brothers® come and passed. Now it is up to the Richmond County Daily Journal McLaurin has held the Office of Wings in two scrumptious styles: voters of the five cities and town- Mayor since 1997. Richmond County Director of Southern Style or Hot ‘n Spicy! ships to determine who will be elected Elections Connie Kelly said with all Stanback has served five terms as November 3. the Chairman of the Richmond County And for grab & go convenience, seats accounted for in November’s don’t forget our Pizza + Wings combos! Hamlet City Councilman Jesse municipal elections, the filing period School Board in the past decade, as McQueen declared Friday he will chal- would not be extended. well as serving as the Chairman of the lenge incumbent Mayor Jeff Smart for Thus, the field is set, and voters in Rockingham Housing Authority’s Board the city’s highest office. Rockingham and Hamlet will have a of Directors. He is currently the subject He has served on Hamlet’s City choice in their mayorial races, with of an investigation for his role at the Council since 2005, and said change will the incumbents pitted against one chal- RHA. be at the forefront of his campaign. lenger apiece. The mayorial race in the City of “The major thing we need to focus Council races in Rockingham, Hamlet Hamlet will pit incumbent Mayor Jeff on is running Hamlet in a cost-effective Smart against current Hamlet City and Ellerbe will see at least one regis- Open on Sundays! manner,” McQueen said. “We need to tered candidate on the outside looking Councilman Jesse McQueen. place priority on where and how our in after the tally is counted as well. In Rockingham, incumbent Mayor FILING PLANTATIONPLANTATION PANTRYPANTRY OFFICE Gene McLaurin will face off against CONTINUED ON PAGE 3A Eat In or Take Out • 895-2239 • 898 Roberdel Rd., Rockingham CONTINUED ON PAGE 3A Inside today Obituaries 5A Deaths The Daily Journal is published with Vol.

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