Complaints Allege Voter Intimidation Commissioner Seeks Lucama Polling Place Switch
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Cooper-Suggs cosponsors marijuana bill PAGE 4B The Wilson Times Online Daily • Printed Tuesdays and Fridays | MORE THAN A NEWSPAPER — A COMMUNITY INSTITUTION SINCE 1896 | wilsontimes.com | Tuesday, March 30, 2021 | $1 Health center awarded $5.8 million By Olivia Neeley ily Health Centers. “We are grateful for “Now more than ever, North Caro- include Greene County Health Care in [email protected] | 252-265-7879 the funding received from the federal linians and vulnerable populations Snow Hill, which will see $13.4 million, government to support this vital work across the nation need access to high- Goshen Medical Center in Fremont, Carolina Family Health Centers in Wil- and for their acknowledgment of our re- quality and affordable health care ser- Goldsboro and Mount Olive, which was son was recently awarded $5.8 million to sponse efforts.” vices” Butterfield said in a statement. approved for nearly $10.2 million, the support COVID-19 vaccina- Owens said the money must be used “During this unprecedented public Rural Health Group in Roanoke Rapids, tions and services for vulner- for COVID-19-related services, preventa- health crisis, community health cen- approved for almost $7 million, and the able populations. tive and primary health care services for ters have answered the call to provide Opportunities Industrialization Center of The clinic is one of nine patients at higher risk for COVID-19 and patient-centered, culturally competent Rocky Mount, which has been granted community health centers expanded operational capacity now and care to the communities they serve. $2.2 million. in North Carolina’s 1st Con- post-pandemic. This critical American Rescue Plan Federally funded health centers are gressional District to receive “While we are currently evaluating Act funding will help our community community based and provide primary Butterfield a share of $45 million in specific plans for utilizing this funding, health centers continue to receive the health care to underserved communities American Rescue Plan Act we can assure that it will be used in a federal support they need not just for and vulnerable populations. funds, U.S. Rep. G.K. Butterfield’s office manner that best supports our mission, the COVID-19 pandemic, but to en- Federal officials say health centers announced last week. our patients and our community,” Owens sure their ability to serve our commu- serve 1 in 5 people living in rural com- “We have been on the front line of said. nities in the future.” munities and 1 in 11 people nationwide. COVID-19 pandemic since March of Funds can also be used to modify and Agencies will begin receiving funds More than 91% of health center patients last year with testing and vaccinations improve infrastructure and add mobile from the Health Resources and Services are individuals or families living at or be- for our community, and particularly our units. Officials say the investment will Administration in April. low 200% of the federal poverty thresh- vulnerable and high-risk populations,” help increase access to vaccinations Other federally funded health centers old. Nearly 63% are racial or ethnic said Laura Owens, CEO of Carolina Fam- among hard-hit populations. receiving American Rescue Plan money minorities. Complaints allege voter intimidation Commissioner seeks Lucama polling place switch By Brie Handgraaf [email protected] | 252-265-7821 LUCAMA — Town Commis- sioner Patricia Uzzell is accus- ing colleagues of “irregular, illegal and unethical” action that justifies relocating the Cross- roads precinct’s polling place. “The citizens of Lucama be- lieve that the current polling place lends itself to unfairness and causes extreme voter intim- idation,” Uzzell wrote in a letter recently submitted to the Wilson County Board of Elections. Elections Director Rená Mor- ris said 1,789 people are regis- tered to vote in the Crossroads district, and 547 cast their No- vember general election ballots at the Crossroads Volunteer Fire Department. The county pays a nominal fee to polling places that are not county-owned, in- cluding $25 to the Crossroads department. Lucama Mayor Jeff Johnson serves as the assistant fire chief, Elections judge Angie Royal hands Van Raper his voting paperwork in Lucama as voter Donna McMurray waits at the Crossroads Volunteer Fire while his father, David Johnson, Department on Nov. 7, 2017. Drew C. Wilson | Times file photo is a town commissioner and the fire chief. on election days, and all the fire- presence was irregular, illegal while, David Johnson said while on, but if they feel they want to “The Johnsons, father and men have full access to all parts and unethical.” he had not previously heard of move it somewhere else, that’s son, influence, and in most of the fire station, including the Uzzell said she’s spoken with Uzzell’s allegations, he was not fine,” he said. cases, control all activities at voting apparatus. Their contin- about 20 people who felt so surprised. Uzzell was part of a 2019 U.S. the fire station,” Uzzell wrote. ued presence was noted by sev- intimidated that they refused “This is a public place, and “The fire station does not close eral persons who felt that such to vote at the fire station. Mean- you know what has been going See VOTERS, Page 2A Leaders inspire Wilson’s Latino youth By Drew C. Wilson nized the meeting. Herrera-Picasso said Sat- [email protected] “We’re here today to set up a urday’s focus was on ninth | 252-265-7818 meet-and-greet for the Latino through 12th graders in Wilson community, the youth of Wilson, County’s high schools. The founder and leader of so that they can see themselves “We have provided resources a Latino advocacy group told reflected in other older youth for them for what scholarships young people Saturday that Latinos from Wilson that have are out there, what deadlines she’s confident people can make already navigated the education are important to keep in mind, the impossible happen when system,” Herrera-Picasso said. what tuition prices are, a bunch they put their minds to it. “Many of them have already of resources for them to have Irene Godinez of the Raleigh- been to college and are out of in mind as they navigate high based Poder N.C. Action told college and are in their profes- school and then think about about 50 attendees at a meet- sional lives, and we wanted to their future,” Herrera-Picasso and-greet for Latino youth in have the younger kids become said. Wilson that more that can be inspired and open up their Herrera-Picasso is in the pro- achieved by supporting and nur- realm of possibilities of what cess of establishing a nonprofit turing each other. their options are for the future; called Casa Azul de Wilson, Flor Herrera-Picasso and her so we are here today to inspire Jose Gonzalez and other panelists listen to speakers at a meet and greet sister Elizabeth Herrera orga- some young kids of Wilson.” See INSPIRE, Page 2A event for Wilson Latino youth on Saturday. Drew C. Wilson | Times Weathercast With Albert Thomas Jr. Preview of TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY the week posted Tuesdays. Preview of the weekend Sunny Showers likely Mostly sunny posted Saturdays. wilsontimes.com HI 74 LO 56 HI 77 LO 46 HI 54 LO 30 2A THE WILSON TIMES | wilsontimes.com Tuesday, March 30, 2021 Voters: ‘An inconvenience for the town’ Read, Reuse, & Recycle continued from page 1A Martinez said she saw Board members voted Use The Wilson Times as a tablecloth voters turned away from to table the relocation Equal Employment Op- the polls and relayed request until their April portunity Commission her concerns to Wilson 27 meeting to allow time case that led to a federal County Board of Elections for Morris and the board lawsuit that’s awaiting officials. Meanwhile, Uz- to review the request and adjudication. The case zell said she spoke with visit the Lucama Commu- includes allegations that Morris about the issue in nity Building, which was David Johnson used racial December 2019. proposed as a substitute slurs toward Uzzell and “I’ve never had anyone location. several Black town em- complain about it,” Mor- Uzzell said she felt the ployees. The discovery of ris told Board of Elections 503 S. Main St. facility is town records and electric members when Uzzell’s a neutral location that ev- bills buried underground letter was presented eryone knows well. was added to the lawsuit during Wednesday’s “If that is what they in July. meeting.“When I speak want, it don’t make no David Johnson said with precinct officials, I difference to me,” David on Election Day, he was tell them if they see any- Johnson said. “We’ve had campaigning outside the thing out of the ordinary it at the fire department fire station and only went or wrong, the first thing for years now, and I think inside to make calls from they should do is call this it is going to be an incon- his office. office, because we don’t venience for the town at Yvonne Williams and want to put up with any the community building Gladys Martinez were mess. We work for our because Meals on Wheels both poll watchers during voters, not for anyone will have to go somewhere investinvest inin past elections. else.” else.” yourself.yourself. Sisters Flor Herrera, left, and Elizabeth Herrera, right, organized Saturday’s meet and greet for the Wilson Latino youth community. Drew C. Wilson | Registration begins (252) 291-1195 Times APRIL 5! wilsoncc.edu Inspire: ‘This is where we get together’ continued from page 1A which means Wilson’s Blue House.