Getting ready for 125th Honoring Strickland Harmony Presbyterian preparing Salemburg reception will pay tribute for anniversary celebration, to mayor’s 30 years of service, Page B1 Page A11 THE SAMPSON www.clintonnc.com 50 cents F Vol.I LXXXVIII;ND Issue 20 EPE January 27, 2012ND Clinton, NorthE CarolinaNT F 18 pages Friday, Suspect sought in Garland rampage Damages reported by businesses, town officials, resident Doug Clark the front window and reported a computer monitor Capt. Eric Pope Thursday morning. “We ca not go Assistant Editor and tower being stolen from the business. into any of the specifics of the investigation, but we Twenty-five minutes later, town officials reported are asking anyone who may have seen something or Investigators with the Sampson County Sheriff’s that numerous street signs in the town had been either was in the area at the times of the crimes to call us.” Office are searching for the suspects responsible pulled up or damaged. Pope said he could not confirm whether the inci- for doing plenty of damage in the town off Garland Just under an hour later, around 10:35 a.m., resident dents were linked. “It is too early in the investigation Wednesday mornin,g and they are reaching out to Ann Wright, who lives on N. Ingold St., reported dam- to release the specifics,” he added. citizens for help. age to her mailbox and wood post. No suspect information was released Thursday Garland town officials, three businesses and a home- At 11 a.m., the Curiosity Shop, located at 102 S. either. owner reported break-ins and damages to property Ingold Ave., received damage to its property. Ten If you have any information on any of these inci- to investigators after a businesses was broken into minutes later, Pacman’s Barber Shop, located at 108 S. dents, you are asked to call the Sampson County around 9:20 a.m. Ingold Ave., also received damage to property. Sheriff’s Office at 910-592-4141. According to reports, Eagle Express Tax Service, No injuries were reported in any of the incidents. To reach Doug Clark call 910-592-8137 ext. 123 or email to sisports@heartlandpublica- located at 11 E. Front St., had a brick thrown threw “All of the incidents are under investigation,” said tions.com. City school board Freshening up … Trail paves members won’t way for future attend Boston conference park revamp Three from Sampson school board slated to attend Doug Clark Assistant Editor Not one of the Clinton City Board of Education members will be traveling to the National School Boards Association (NSBA) conference scheduled to run April 20 - April 23 in Boston, Massachusetts, but it appears some county school board members will. According to Jackie Murray, administrative assis- tant for Clinton City Schools, the only board member Chris Berendt | Sampson Independent to express interest in attending the the 72nd National A walking trail is being constructed at Newkirk Park in Clinton, one School Boards Association Annual Conference had in a series of steps local residents hope will benefit neighborhood been Carol Worley. But Murray said earlier this week residents and bring interest, and people, back to the area. that Worley had sent an email stating that she had changed her mind about attending the conference. Chris Berendt Work began in ear- There reason given for the change was a family com- Staff Writer nest last week and is mitment had come up. Worley could not be reached Doug Clark | Sampson Independent expected to be completed for comment. Mike Phillips, CFO of KZ Construction in Clinton, puts A walking trail is now sometime in February or The estimated cost of the trip for a city school a fresh coat of paint on a door at the Clinton Police in the construction stages March, if weather coop- board member, which included air fare, hotel, reg- Department Wednesday afternoon. The company is work- at Newkirk Park, antici- erates, Newkirk Park istration and meals, would have cost been between ing on refreshing two front offices and will also add a clean pated as another stepping Improvement Committee $2,300 - $2,700, money already set aside in the budget air system to the station this week. stone toward breathing for members who wanted to attend such educational new life into the area. See PARK | A2 meeting.s On Thursday, officials at Sampson County Schools confirmed that three board members were still on track to attend the conference.Board of Education chairman G.H. Wilson, and members Telfair Simpson Push on to save the Plain View area gym and Mary Brown are expected to take the trip. “Unless something changes within the next few Coalition holding meetings, say community involvement is key to success days, they will be going,” said one central office offi- cial Thursday afternoon. Doug Clark sium is still being used by com- get funding to raze the old Plain The trip is expected to cost the county schools Assistant Editor munity members, but we came View School building and maybe up with the idea to start holding build a walking trail or additional Members of the Plain View these meetings to try and keep it baseball, softball or football fields, Coalition are rallying the commu- going there.” or even a community center. nity to gather ideas to help them Although the gym is still being “That is why we have started keep property at the old Plain used, costs to maintain it are tak- having these meetings,” she said. View Elementary School site, as ing a toll on Coalition members, “We want to get feedback on what well as the gymnasium that sits to which is why meetings are tak- the community wants to do and the right of it. ing place to get the community where they want to take this in Although the school hasn’t been involved in saving the gym and the future. The key is for the com- used since 1999, up until two and land. munity to get involved and take a half years ago, the gymnasium The idea, Jackson explained, active roles in helping us come up next to the school was being used was to have the Coalition, which with a solution.” by the Sampson County Parks currently consists of about nine One of the major issues cur- and Recreation Department as its members, file for non-profit status rently is the monthly costs to keep Northern District base, accord- and apply for grants to keep the the gym going. Power and water ing to Coalition president Ken gymnasium running for the com- bills are still rolling in; as well as Doug Clark | Sampson Independent Jackson. munity. the costs of upkeep and mainte- Clinton City Board of Education member Carol Worley, center, “It was a busy place,” he said. Coalition member Kimberly nance of the building. That is just will not be going to Boston in April for the National School Boards “Until those budget cuts hit (the Schmidlin said that if successful, the beginning, the the Coalition Association’s annual conference as first thought. county) … since then, the gymna- the group was hoping to possibly See GYM | A2 See CONFERENCE | A2 Index Today’s Independent n Page A6-7, 11 n Page A3 n Page A8 printed for Local, Deaths, TV, Delbert Carr n National, Page A2, 3, 6, 7, 10 n Faith & Family, Page B1-3 n Comics, Page A9 n Opinion, Page A4 n Sports, Page A5 n Classifieds, Page B4-6 SPECIAL! ½ Off Enrollment Fee Get ½ off your enrollment fee and January free when you join between now and January 31st. YOUR WELLNESS RESOLUTION BEGINS WITH US 596.5400 www.tchw.org A2 THE SAMPSON INDEPENDENT Friday, January 27, 2012 SIdigest Obama-Brewer friction on display on tarmac tiff GLENDALE, Ariz. have a history. And part of wasn’t disrespectful. (AP) — Arizona Gov. Jan that history is what appar- “I respect the office of Brewer says she meant no ently got things going, the president,” she said. disrespect when she point- according to accounts “I was there to welcome ed a finger at President provided by Brewer and him.” Barack Obama during an the White House. She said she was intense discussion on an Brewer said that dur- grateful for the visit and Tomorrow’s Weather airport tarmac. But the ing their talk, she invited intended to talk to him Republican governor says Obama to visit Arizona about the state’s accom- the Democratic president to hear about her admin- plishments. But she said showed disrespect for her istration’s achievements she was “taken aback by by abruptly ending their and to visit the U.S.- his comments” when he conversation. Mexico border, which has said he wasn’t happy with The brief encounter — been a point of friction how her book described out of earshot of observ- between the two because their White House meet- ers but captured on of illegal immigration ing. An MCT file photo camera — was a highly issue. Immediately after the Arizona Governor Jan Brewer says the president disrepected her visible demonstration of Obama then said meeting Brewer had said when he abruptly walked away during a conversation. the verbal and legal skir- Brewer’s recently pub- it was cordial, but her Asked whether she “most of his policies,” she mishing that has regularly lished book mischaracter- book said Obama lec- regarded that as disre- said. “That doesn’t mean occurred between Brewer ized a 2011 White House tured Brewer in the Oval spectful, she replied: we can’t be cordial to one and Obama’s administra- meeting between them.