03/28/2024
Week In Review
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The governor announced that schools will be closed for at least two weeks. Church services, meetings and civic events were called off. “Social distancing” became cool while shaking hands was discouraged.

It was in reaction to the coronavirus – or COVID-19, if you prefer — as the pandemic that has its origin in Wuhan, China, came closer to Bladen County.

As of Saturday, March 14, no cases of the virus had been reported in Bladen County. However there were cases reported in nearby Harnett and Brunswick counties.

Bladen Community College extended its spring break a week with hopes of resuming classes March 23.

Gov. Roy Cooper issued an executive order that required all public schools to remain closed through March 27 and mandated all gatherings of more than 100 people be canceled. The ban does not include airports, bus and train stations, medical facilities, libraries, shopping malls, offices, businesses, restaurants, grocery stories nor retail stores.

Several churches canceled services, including the United Methodist Church.

District Court and Superior Court in Bladen County will be curtailed for the week of March 16-20.

The Town of Elizabethtown announced it will close buildings to the public beginning Monday, March 16.

Several events, including the Bladen We Care Gala, were postponed.

Earlier, the N.C. High School Athletic Association had suspended all spring sports through April 6 and put the state basketball championships on hold. The Lumberton boys team was scheduled to play for the 4-A title on March 14.

In sports,

West Bladen High graduate Sayaun Dent (pictured, left) led Sandhills Community College to the National Junior College Athletic Association Division III championship. He was named the most valuable player of the tournament that was played in Rochester, Minnesota.

East Bladen High graduate Lacey Suggs (pictured, right) was named the Colonial Athletic Association’s Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

Bladen County swept Player of the Year honors for the Three Rivers Conference basketball seasons. West Bladen’s Tyre Boykin (pictured, above) was the boys’ MVP and East Bladen’s Patience Ward (pictured, below) was the girls’ MVP.

In other news,

The Bladen County Board of Elections conducted its canvass of primary election, denied a request for a recount in one race and turned over requsted board member emails to the Bladen County Democratic Party chairman.

The Bladen County Board of Education discussed security and safety at schools and approved $63,000 for security consultation.

More than $5 million has been approved to repair Elizabethtown Cemetery, which was damaged during Hurricane Florence.

The iconic mural of astronaut Curtis Brown Jr., a Bladen County native, displayed on the west side of Broad Street in Elizabethtown, is receiving a long-awaited makeover.

Stay healthy, stay safe and enjoy the week ahead.

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