The resignation of a popular and respected high school football coach, legal proceedings involving a sweepstakes business, and reports of door-to-door salespeople in two parts of the county not really selling what they say.
Those were among the highlights in Bladen County for the week of Jan. 10-17. Here’s a recap.
** West Bladen High School’s Russell Dove was approved Jan. 11 by the Columbus County Board of Education to become the new head football coach at South Columbus High in Tabor City. Dove was at West Bladen for three years. He took over a program that had a 19-game losing streak and led the Knights to a pair of playoff appearances.
** The owners of two sweepstakes businesses in Dublin filed a civil lawsuit Jan. 8 seeking compensation for damages caused during a raid conducted last May by the Bladen County Sheriff’s Office. Holly and Jeffrey Smith are seeking in excess of $10,000 from three defendants — Bladen County Sheriff James McVicker, District Attorney Jon David and Deputy Travis Deaver. The Aladdin and Lil Aladdin were shuttered May 29 when Sheriff’s Office deputies removed sweepstakes machines, computer equipment and other items, and six people were arrested on sweepstakes-related charges.
** In another legal matter, the district attorney’s office and the Smiths have spent the past three years at odds whether the electronic machines are legal. The couple still face several charges related to the business, but Jon David’s office, which serves Bladen, Brunswick and Columbus counties, will no longer be involved in the prosecution.
** Two men alleged to have knocked on doors of residences on Old Abbottsburg Road on Jan. 12 and claimed to work with West Bladen Assisted Living and were selling insurance. A representative of facility said the men were not affiliated with the business.
** Bladen County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Larry Guyton said Jan. 14 that a report of two white males attempting to sell insurance in the Owen Hill area of the county had benn reported. A deputy investigated, but didn’t find anyone.
** The Bladenboro Town Commissioners met Jan. 11 and discussed the salary scale for the town’s police department. Bladenboro Town Administrator John O’Daniel told the board said he had researched the salaries of towns of similar size to Bladenboro.
** In another police department matter, the Bladenboro board hired William Hundley as an officer.
** In business news, Elizabethtown will soon be getting a bed and breakfast. Chris Adams is planning to open the Elizabethtown Inn on Cromartie Street in the John A. McDowell House in mid-April. The house was built about 1834.
** Alex Munroe, owner of Cape Fear Vineyard and Winery, was the guest of the Elizabethtown Rotary Club on Jan. 13 and told of his plans for the winery, which is set to host its first event April 29.
** In sports, Ja’Tyra Moore-Peterson fired in a career-high 19 points as unbeaten East Bladen rolled to a 62-29 Four County Conference girls basketball victory at Union on Jan. 15. The Eagles are 16-0 and ranked No. 1 in Class 2-A in one statewide poll.
That’s the week that was in Bladen County.
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