Investigators probing Kerr school sends thanks Nature of shooting victim’s death Kerr staff thanks community Inside undetermined, helpers, Today Page A10 Page A13 THE SAMPSON www.clintonnc.com F INDEPENDENTF 50 cents Vol. LXXXVII; Issue 237 Wednesday, November 30, 2011 Clinton, North Carolina 14 pages Second grader dies after being hit by a car Butler Avenue deals with another tragedy Doug Clark passenger vehicle. “From preliminary investigation, the child was play- Assistant Editor He died from his injuries just after noon Tuesday. ing in leaves on the edge of the yard when he stepped Robins, 6, was airlifted to WakeMed Hospital into the street,” he said. Another tragedy has fallen upon Butler Avenue Monday afternoon around 3:40 p.m. after being hit by The estimated speed at the time of impact was School. Just days after the tragic news of the acciden- a small passenger vehicle, according to Clinton Police 20 mph, noted Brim. The female driver immedi- tal shooting death of 8-year-old Ethan Bartley, grief chief Mike Brim. The child, who had just gotten off ately stopped her vehicle to render aid to Robins. It counselors were on hand at the school once again the school bus, was playing in leaves near his home, is believed he suffered from a severed spinal cord, in Tuesday morning to help students cope with news that located in the 500 block of Park Avenue, when he was second-grader Kolin Robins had been struck by a small hit. See CAR | A2 County moves Tough times forward with ahead for Crisis Center redistricting plan With more need and fewer Chris Berendt toral process. donations, center officials expect Staff Writer The 3-1 vote to draft a resolution Chris Berendt/Sampson Independent adopting Plan C came at the end of The Sampson County Board of Kent Sutton speaks to the Sampson County December to be ‘tough’ the fourth public hearing in the last Board of Commissioners about his Citizen Commissioners voted to move for- two months. ward with one of six redistricting Alternative Plan, which proposed what he Billy Todd Chairman Jefferson Strickland and called a ‘better, more efficient’ way of draw- Staff Writer plans on the table, a plan they said commissioners Billy Lockamy and adheres to the three criteria the ing lines so as not to split townships and The Christmas season has always meant an Jarvis McLamb voted to advise staff voting precincts. board set forth at the beginning of to prepare a resolution, to be for- increase in requests for the Sampson Crisis the process. Several who spoke dur- mally approved at the board’s next meant less voting precincts would be Center, however, this year, with the severe ing what ultimately was the final meeting. Commissioner Albert Kirby split as a result. Commissioner John slashes made at the Department of Social public hearing Monday called into dissented, noting that he preferred Blanton was not present. Security, the number of people seeking assis- question one particular criteria, and the Citizen Alternative Proposal whether it discouraged a fair elec- over Plan C because it ultimately See REDISTRICTING | A2 See CRISIS | A2 Newton Grove residents enjoy SCS educators awarded Circle of Lights over $56,000 in grants Doug Clark Assistant Editor Despite the current financial crisis with the economy, educators in the Sampson County School System have found ways to fund programs through North Carolina’s Touchstone Energy cooperative’s Bright Ideas and Friends of Education grants. Susan Warren, Sampson County Schools’ public relations/student ser- vices coordinator, introduced teachers Doug Clark/Sampson Independent from each school district who were Board of Education chairman G.H. Wilson said awarded the grants by coming up with Monday night that the board and school sys- innovative teaching methods. tem appreciated the work educators after being informed that over $56,000 in grants were See SCS | A3 awarded this year. Plain View hippies take top The 13th annual Circle of honors in costume contest Lights celebration was held Monday night inside the circle Sherry Matthews Costume Party in Newton Grove. Newton Grove Editor sponsors/winners 100 Committee members, Sue n Infant/toddler — Vernon and Gail Darden read They were dressed, as always, for Halloween at Brayden Hewitt ($145 the names of the honorees while gift certificate, Pretty Brent Hood provided Christmas Plain View Elementary School, where they all Good Stuff) music and Mayor Gerald Darden n worked, so Lynn Best, Pre-Teen — Alexis presided over the tree lighting. Sessoms ($145 gift cer- Brett Cody, pastor of Newton Retha House and Annette Johnson thought why not tificat, Ellis Lewis Auto) Grove Baptist Church, did the n have someone snap their Adult — Amanda invocation. Above, residents par- Kimbro($145 gift certifi- ticipate at the tree lighting cer- picture so they could enter it in The Sampson cate, Baggett’s Jewelry) emony. Right, Gail Darden and n Independent’s Virtual Group — Cindy Sue Vernon read the names of Burchette ($145 gift Courtesy photo the honorees. Costume Party contest. The Plain View hippies, from It paid off. The three certificate, Ribeyes of Photos by David Johnson Clinton) left, Lynn Best, Annette garnered enough votes in Johnson and Retha House the online contest to take the best of the costume garnered the most votes to be the nod as overall win- party entries and earns named overall winner in The ner, a position that allows See CONTEST | A3 Sampson Independent’s Virtual them to claim the title as Costume Party contest. Index Web Poll n Page A3, 10, 13, 14 Q. Do you think the Let Butler’s help Local, debt supercommittee n Opinion, Page A4 make your Christmas n Page A3 was a complete fail- Deaths, ure? sparkle and shine n Lifestyles, Page A6-7 n Sports, Page A5 New Mark Roberts n TV, Page A8 Check out the Christmas Ornaments n Comics, Page A9 results every day on Plus many other decorations n Classifieds, Page A11-12 Page A4. Today’s Independent 204 E. Main St., Clinton • 592-2111 printed for to choose from! www.butlersgifts.com Perry Mcarthur A2 THE SAMPSON INDEPENDENT Wednesday, November 30, 2011 Car SI From page A1 digest addition to internal injuries, after being hit. He had been on life sup- Grief counselors have been doing everything possible to help chil- port since the accident. dren deal with the back-to-back tragedies, the superintendent said. Clinton City Schools superintendent Dr. Michael Basham said that “They have been doing a great job,” the superintendent acknowl- both tragedies have been a shock to the school system. edged. “It is hard on everyone there and throughout the system “It is just awful,” he said, emotion rising in his voice. “I mean, because we look at our kids like family, and to have this happen what can you say … both of these events are absolutely tragic. Our has just been really hard. Everyone is sincere and concerned … it is hearts and prayers go out to both families; it is just unbelievable. My really a test of faith. But people have really risen to the occasion and heart also goes out to the driver of that vehicle, I know she is just provided help for everyone involved.” Tomorrow’s Weather all to pieces.” To reach Doug Clark call 910-592-8137 ext. 123 or email to [email protected]. Redistricting From page A1 County attorney Annette ing, Kent Sutton said maps taining the minority major- Chancy-Starling said the can be better designed so ity districts was vital, but deadline for adopting as to not split up commu- protecting incumbents was maps is not Dec. 4 as pre- nities, townships and pre- not. viously believed, but rather cincts, while still accom- “The (consent decree) Dec. 10, which marks the plishing the same goals should be maintained, date 150 days prior to the that the board originally but not to the exclusion May 8 primary. promoted. of encouraging competi- Before formally approv- “After taking a closer tion in all the districts,” Thursday’s weather is expected ing a plan, Chancy-Starling look at your proposed Map said Sutton. “I don’t think to be cooler and clear with highs said she needed to know C, it’s apparent that you’ve I was too pleased with around 55; lows will dip near 30. which plan the board gone from bad to worse,” your emphasis on pro- Today’s weather picture was wished to adopt in order Sutton said. tecting incumbents. That drawn by Guadalupe Feliciano- to prepare a resolution Plan A splits 20 of the shouldn’t be a focus of the Mendez, a second grader at that outlines the specific 23 voting precincts, Plan present board. I’m sure it Hargrove. boundaries of each district B map splits 18 of 23, took hard work in cam- under that plan. That task while Plan C again splits paigning and I thank you would prove “too cumber- 20 of 23. for your service, but at the Chris Berendt/Sampson Independent Local briefs some” to complete for “The Plan C map, like same time this should be Board of Commissioners chairman Jefferson Strickland speaks each of the proposals, she Plans A and B, not only a way of encouraging any- during a recent meeting. The board, in a 3-1 vote, approved moving American Legion Post noted. The board voted splits the towns of Clinton, one to compete. I encour- forward this week with the drafting of a resolution to adopt a plan No. 319 Meeting — 6 to proceed with drafting a Roseboro, Garland, but age all commissioners to that will draw new lines for commissioners districts for at least p.m.