A second consecutive week with a murder case in Bladen County, no reported cases of the coronavirus and primaries help set the field of candidates for November’s general election.
It was a busy time, indeed, during the final week of standard time. You did spring forward and lose an hour of sleep, didn’t you? Daylight Saving Time took effect at 2 a.m. Sunday, March 8.
Ricky Franklin Mintz (pictured, left) of Elizabethtown was shot and killed March 2. Bladen County Sheriff’s deputies were called to Blue Moon Drive in Elizabethtown about 7:21 p.m. after reports of a shooting. Mintz was taken to Bladen County Hospital where he died of his injuries. The Sheriff’s Office is investigating the case. “We do have viable leads and are working diligently toward making an arrest in this case.” Chief Deputy Mac Warner said.
On Feb. 23, three people were murdered and one injured during a home invasion in Clarkton.
There had been no reports of COVID-19 — better known as coronavirus — in Bladen County as of Friday afternoon, Health Director Dr. Terri Duncan said Friday afternoon. She said the current risk to the public remains low. Duncan said that Bladen County Health Department officials have been working closely with local and state partners in preparation for any reports of coronavirus in Bladen County.
Voters went to the polls on Tuesday, March 3 to select party candidates at the national, state and local level for November’s general election. About 34% of Bladen County’s 21,981 eligible voters cast a ballot, which inclued about 4,400 on Election Day. There were about 3,100 votes cast during the early voting period Feb. 13-29.
There were only four races in Bladen County that needed primaries and all involved the Board of Commissioners.
Democrats G. Michael Cogdell, Mark Gillespie and Greg Taylor advanced for three at-large seats and will be on the ballot in November along with Republican incumbents Ray Britt and David Gooden. In District 2, Republican Rodney Hester defeated incumbent Daniel Dowless and will run unopposed in November. In District 3, Democrat James G. “Jimmie” Smith will face Republican Danny L. Ellis II in November for the seat currently held by Ashley Trivette, who chose not to seek re-election.
In other news,
For the second time this year the water tower on N.C. 242 near Bladen Memorial Gardens Cemetary has been shot and the Bladen County Sheriff’s Office is looking for the people responsible. The most recent shooting took place Thursday, March 5 at about 9 p.m., according to Chief Deputy Mac Warner. The first shooting took place Jan. 21.
The Elizabethtown Town Council is seeking to impose a 6% room occupancy tax. The funds would be used for marketing purposes. The North Carolina General Assembly must approve the request.
School bus safety was in the news last week. There have been reports of students getting off buses and fighting. Bladen County Schools Superintendent Dr. Robert Taylor said the issues have been investigated and disciplinary actions are handed out accordingly. The Sheriff’s office has also been made aware of the matters.
Bladen County native Robert Kinlaw received first place awards (pictured, above) last week at the N.C. Press Association awards ceremony. The filmmaker won for his short documentary “We Drive It”, and for a profile about the state’s principal of the year.
In sports, Bladen County’s Kayla Thompson (pictured, left) fired a final round of 65 to take fourth place in the National Women’s Golf Association tournament completed Thursday at Crane Lake’s Golf Course in Port Orange, Florida.
Enjoy the week ahead.
About Author
