03/29/2024
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Week In ReviewThe proposed school consolidation plan that calls for the closing of three Bladen County schools at the end of the academic year remained a hot topic.

There were stories about the AdHoc committe’s plan and the use of lottery funds.

On Sept. 1, Bladen County Schools’ Superintendent Dr. Robert Taylor proposed to the School Consolidation AdHoc Committee a plan to consolidate and combine some schools in Bladen County and when to move forward with the proposal, according to the minutes of the AdHoc Committee meeting.

Meanwhile, it was learned that since the inception of the North Carolina Education Lottery, Bladen County has received $3 million in available funds to address capital outlay concerns such as building repairs and the like.

Stay tuned. It’s a topic that figures to remain in the news for some time.

In other news,

** The fourth annual Battle of Elizabethtown reenactment was held Saturday, Sept. 26 and Sunday, Sept. 27 at Tory Hole Park. In the early 1780s troops loyal to the British king were fighting to keep under England’s control what is modern day Bladen County. A small band of Elizabethtown patriots were determined to declare their independence from British rule. It resulted in the Battle of Elizabethtown in August 1781. And, once again, the Patriots drove the Tories out of the park.

** Attendance was well above average at the Sept. 21 meeting of the Bladen County Board of Commissioners. Two of the major issues the public wanted to hear about and wanting to speak about were the proposal of school closings and the needs of Bladen County EMS.

** Bladen County Health Director Cris Harrelson announced his resignation Sept. 21. He has served as director for two years. His last day will be Oct. 9.

** The former Bladen Correctional Center on U.S. 701 between White Lake and Elizabethtown is now being used as a training facility for law enforcement and emergency services. Bladen County acquired the property from the state for $1 over the summer.

** A fight between two inmates in the Bladen County Jail last weekend sent one to the hospital with a broken jaw, Sheriff’s Major Larry Guyton said. The fight broke out Saturday, Sept. 19 after William Mott Hedgepeth, 33, was arrested on a charge of assault on a female and placed in a group cell, Guyton said. The unidentified inmate’s jaw was broken in two places. Hedgepeth was charged with assaut inflicting serious injury, according to Guyton.

** The new owners of Healthworks Fitness and Wellness are Tracey and Ashley Trivette, and they announced this week improvements that have been made at the fitness center in Elizabethtown.

** Emerson Escobar scored with 16:43 remaining and West Bladen held off a late charge by Pender to beat the Patriots 1-0 on Sept. 17 in a Four County 1A/2A Conference soccer match. The win snapped the Knights’ 27-game conference losing streak.

** The East Bladen and West Bladen football teams had their scheduled Sept. 25 games postponed because of rain. The games were rescheduled for Monday, Sept. 28. It’s East Bladen at Midway and West Bladen at Union.

That’s the week that was in Bladen County.

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