Divided Commissioners Stall on Aging Cuts
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r4UBMMJPOTUPTRVBSFPĒ XJUI7JLFQPXFSIPVTFGPS &BTUFSO"DSPXO Today Sports 4FFQBHF# ThePublished News since 1890 every Monday and Tursday forReporter the County of Columbus and her people. Tursday, November 24, 2011 Divided commissioners stall on Aging cuts Volume 121, Number 42 By NICOLE CARTRETTE postponed action on those cuts that pathized with the nurse aides fac- Whiteville, North Carolina Staff Writer officials say would have curbed this ing 8 percent pay cuts and fulltime year’s losses to $112,000. employees facing furloughs that are 75 Cents County Commissioners Charles Instead, the board will meet in equal to a 9 percent cut, he did not McDowell, Edwin Russ and Chair- a continuation of the meeting on want the board to delay on taking man Buddy Byrd were out-voted Monday, Nov. 28 at 6:30 p.m. to meet action. Monday night on a measure that to hear the aides and perhaps take McDowell said the problem “is Inside Today would have put furloughs, pay cuts action. festering day after day.” He asked and other measures in place to Prevatte said the proposed cuts Jernigan and others if the proposal 4-A reduce the Department of Aging’s were not really a solution. was the best budget they could put r5XPNPSFBSSFTUT growing shortfall. “What you are proposing is a together. McDowell’s motion to approve the Band-Aid on a gunshot,” Prevatte Jernigan said without “22 percent JO*ONBO-BLF3PBE cuts was met with opposition from said. “We went in the hole $500,000, pay cuts” it was. DSJNFT nurse aides who say they have not now add $200-plus thousand – that’s Tuesday, McDowell said the board been heard. over $750,000 in two years. This is did ask County Manager Bill Clark r#PZGSJFOE HJSMGSJFOE Department of Aging chief Ed Worley DBVHIUJOESVHDPO- In a 4-3 vote, Commissioners a temporary fix. We need to find a and Aging Director Ed Worley to stands with a speaker during Mon- Amon McKenzie, James Prevatte, permanent fix.” TQJSBDZJO3BFGPSE day night’s commissioners’ meeting. Lynwood Norris and Ricky Bullard Though McDowell said he sym- See Aging, page 5-A DIDYOB? Did you observe ... Hayes calls Commissioners Joey Ward and shelter won’t support family, going to citation Duke Tuesday to voter ID bill book his cancer inconsistent By NICOLE CARTRETTE surgery, receiving By JEFFERSON WEAVER Staff Writer a phone call afer Staff Writer While some commissioners did not want to getting into Durham The animal shelter viola- take action on a request that the county call that he did NOT tions cited by a state agency on legislators to introduce a local bill to push were approved by an inspection for voter identification requirements in the have cancer, and several months ago, according state, the full board agreed Monday to vote enjoying a joyful to Columbus County Animal “no” on the measure rather than take it under Control Director Rossie Hayes. advisement. breakfast later? “We were approved twice Gaston County forwarded the resolution ... Downtown Ta- last year, and none of this was to the board, County Manager Bill Clark said. a problem,” Hayes said. While Commissioner Ricky Bullard said bor City all aglow The N.C. Dept. of Agri- the board should take the matter under advise- Monday night with culture Veterinary Division, ment with no action, Commissioner Amon which inspects animal shel- McKenzie wanted a vote “not” to sign on to lighted Christmas ters, cited the Columbus facil- the resolution. decorations? ... Te ity for 18 violations in October. The vote came after little public comment Rev. Josh Bower Inspector Pat Sholar of the on the matter. state vet’s office noted that the Gene McNeil was opposed to the voter ID enjoying his time violations came from inspec- See ID bill, page 3-A in the spotlight tions on Sept. 7 and Sept. 13, and ranged from problems at Sunday night’s with record keeping to a failure Staff photo by Fuller Royal Tanksgiving ser- to provide medical care to ani- mals in the shelter. The shelter Looking for a good book Whiteville senior vice? ... Long lines at was also cited for repairing, Hallsboro Middle School eighth grader Haywood McKoy, 13, relaxes the north and south but not repainting, a stainless in the school media center as he searches for a good book. HMS is center’s exercise steel puppy pen. featured in today’s continuing series on schools in the county. See courthouse entranc- State law allows sick or in- page 2-A. program moves es Tuesday around jured animals to be euthanized before the mandatory 72 hour 9 a.m. with trafc holding period under some to Madison Street ofenders trying to circumstances. Sholar wrote Women’s health services By NICOLE CARTRETTE that the shelter did not provide Staff Writer get in for their day adequate documentation to jus- tify killing the animals, and did receives fnancial boost County commissioners in a 6-1 vote agreed in court? Good thing By FULLER ROYAL mitteed to a larger project that will not always give accurate times to allow the Department of Aging to lease it wasn’t raining. … Staff Writer enhance women’s diagnostic services and dates of when animals a building to house the Whiteville Senior in the community. Turkeys, hams and were brought to the shelter. Center’s exercise equipment and leave the More than 250 county residents Master of ceremonies Bill Thomp- Several of the times lacked program open to seniors in the county while chickens leaving gro- were on hand Saturday night for son welcomed the guests as they a designation of P.M. or A.M., a new facility is being constructed behind the the Columbus Regional Healthcare dined on a meal prepared by the cery store shelves for the report said, thus making it senior center. System Foundation’s Seventh An- Southern Kitchen, impossible to determine if an The exercise equipment is now housed in Tanksgiving? ... nual Gala. Gala Chaiman Brenda Jolly ac- animal was held for the proper a doublewide located at the site of the new Themed the Pink and Black Gala, knowledged the sponsors of the gala amount of time before being building. the event benefitted women’s health and Dr. John Hodgson introduced the euthanized . Aging Director Ed Worley said the Aging services in Columbus County and honorees for the evening. Most of the violations were Advisory Council had money that they agreed County Deaths honored event co-chairmen Dr. Samu- Wheatley arrived in Whiteville for “failure to provide vet- to use for the $500 per month rent. el Wheatley and Dr. Peter Kindschuh. in 1978, becoming the first board- erinary care,” which is not Under the terms of the lease with J.L. Nakina The event raised more than $57,000 certified obstetrician-gynocologist in included in the shelter’s bud- Powell & Co., the exercise facility will move Linda Jacobs which will be added to the $200,000 See Gala, page 16-A to 617 South Madison Street near the Cinema. Evergreen See Shelter, page 3-A the foundation has already com- Bobbie Jean Icard Floyd See Center, page 3-A Cerro Gordo Carol Ann Giobbi Fair Bluf Schools have zero tolerance stance on bullying Mary E. Hammond Conner By JEFFERSON WEAVER are trying to determine if bullying Acme Delco Middle School, told The assault, sexual assault, cyber bullying Staff Writer played a role in her death. News Reporter last week that she dealt or extortion of money or property, it is “While the causes are most likely with most bullying cases on campus, a criminal offense, and moves into the Index School officials have not determined complex,” Wing wrote in an email, and that after the third offense, the court system. If it involves name-call- what role bullying played in the death “there is a concern that bullying may case was turned over to the central ing, social exclusion, lies and rumors, &EJUPSJBMT" of Jasmine McClain, but if a case of have been a factor in the child’s deci- office. Davis was being interviewed or other non-violent acts, the problem 0CJUVBSJFT" bullying had been reported, a rapid sion (to commit suicide). due to a number of complaints about is handled through school disciplinary 4QPSUT# chain of events would have occurred. “As in all cases of observed or bullying at ADMS. She has since been procedures. “We have to know about it, but there reported bullying, Columbus County transferred. “If someone is beaten or hit, sexu- $SJNF" is no tolerance for bullying,” said Schools is working in collaboration Master Sgt. Dwayne Barnes, who is ally assaulted, or otherwise a crime is -JWJOH$ Columbus County Schools Superinten- with local and state law enforcement. in charge of school resource officers committed, and we determine through dent Alan Faulk. We are not yet aware of any confirmed for the sheriff ’s office, said his officers a thorough investigation that this is Heather Wing, pupil and personnel evidence of bullying, but are continu- will intercede when they see bullying the case,” Barnes said, “the incident support director for the system, said in ing to investigate in cooperation with taking place, “but we have to know it’s is sent to the Department of Juvenile an email that officials are still trying authorities.” happening.” Justice and Delinquency Prevention to find a motive in the Nov. 14 death. Wing did not say how many cases “We can’t do anything about in- for further investigation and possible Miss McClain reportedly told fam- are reported in the county schools each cidents that we don’t know about,” prosecution.” If the child is over 16, the ily members she was being harassed year, but did note that all cases are Barnes said.