Voters in Bladen County’s seven municipalities went to the polls Tuesday, Nov. 3. When the votes had been counted, there was a tie in Clarkton, two write-in candidates will take seats in Tar Heel after the canvass, and newcomers won seats in Bladenboro, Elizabethtown and White Lake.
In Clarkton, incumbent Lawrence McDougald and Jimmy Hudson Sr. tied with 25 votes each, and it appears a coin flip will decide the seat. The Bladen County Board of Elections checked provisional ballots and absentee ballots, but the totals didn’t change. Heads or tails? Which would you call?
In Bladenboro, newcomer Gene Norton led the race for one of three seats on the Bladenboro board, according to unofficial results. Incumbents Patsi Callihan and Sarah Jane Benson were re-elected, although Benson’s margin was only two votes over incumbent Everett Butler. Also, former Bladen County Health and Human Services director Cris Harrelson won a seat to fill an unexpired board.
In Elizabethtown, Howell Clark will replace incumbent Darrell Page on he board. Incumbents Ricky Leinwand and Dicky Glenn were re-elected.
In White Lake, voters chose Tim Clifton over incumbent Don Smith for one of three board seats. Incumbents Tom Riel and Tracey Scott Trivette were re-elected.
In other news,
** An anonymous tip to law enforcement led to the arrest of three people in October on charges related to growing marijuana inside a residence in Kelly, Bladen County Sheriff James McVicker said Tuesday, Nov 3.
** Two Pizza Hut employees were robbed at gunpoint Thursday, Nov. 5 in the parking lot of the Elizabethtown restaurant, says interim Police Chief Kip Hester.
** A tip from a neighbor alerted police to a break-in of an Elizabethtown home Friday, Nov. 6 and resulted in the arrest of two men, interim Police Chief Kip Hester said.
** Three strikes your out doesn’t count when it comes to politics and taxes. The quarter-cent sales tax that has been voted down three times since 2010, according to County Manager Greg Martin, is back on the agenda for the commissioners.
** Renee Davis was hired as Bladen County Tax Administrator. She had been serving as deputy director of the Tax Administration office. She replaces Chris Ellis, who was fired Aug. 17 for improper conduct.
** The 9th Annual Beast Fest drew the biggest crowd to date, according to festival organizer Berry Lewis. Lewis estimated 8,000 to 10,000 people coming to Bladenboro for the festivities.
** Trailblazers are folks to be honored and remembered. A trailblazer of our own, Det. Sue Lutz, retired from the Bladen County Sheriff’s Department effective November 1. She was honored by the Bladen County Board of Commissioners.
** West Bladen High’s Alanna Ludlum was named the Four County Conference girls’ tennis Player of the Year after going undefeated in singles and doubles during the season. It’s the first time a West Bladen player has been selected for the award.
** The last week of the high school football regular season meant it was time for the annual Battle for the Bell. As it had for the past 13 seasons, East Bladen won against West Bladen. This year, the Eagles got touchdowns from Xavia McDowell and Sincere Smith to win 14-3. Both schools made the state playoffs. East Bladen will host Graham and West Bladen will play at Kinston in the first round.
** Erin Smith was named editor of Bladen Online. She has 12 years of journalism experience.
That’s the week that was in Bladen County.
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