Columbus County Community Chat

By FULLER ROYAL
Staff Writer

During its Nov. 13 meeting, the Whiteville City Schools Board of Education heard a legislative update from Superintendent Dr. Randall Shaver.

Topics included the school calendar, school tax districts and merger studies.

Shaver reported on the statutes of North Carolina General Assembly House Bill 359, which would restore some flexibility to the dates for school startup.

The current law, enacted two years ago, requires all schools in North Carolina to begin classes no sooner than Aug. 25.

Prior to that, the city schools had been starting around the middle of August.

HB 359 would allow districts to apply for exceptions to the start date for district-wide purposes, such as working in partnership with a local community college.

The Whiteville City Schools works in conjunction with Southeastern Community College on many junior and senior courses.

Shaver said that an earlier start date would better accommodate Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate exams.

“It addresses the unique problems that schools with block schedules have,” Shaver said. “I believe that every school system should have the flexibility to determine its own calendar. This is an attempt to gain that flexibility back.”

Shaver said the bill was in a good position to be voted on when the General Assembly convenes for its short session in 2008.

Shaver said that another bill, HB 1740, is bound to raise some eyebrows.

Known as the School Board Fiscal Accountability Act, it would remove the obligation of local school financing from county commissioners and place it with elected school boards.

Instead of the state’s county commissions setting tax rates for schools, the school boards would.

Shaver said that North Carolina is one of the few states that doesn’t allow school boards that option.

Shaver said the law would allow schools boards to levy and collect taxes and take away the fiscal school accountability from the commissioners.

Shaver said that both local school systems have been “flat funded” by the commission for three years, which is actually a decrease in funding when inflation and rising fuel prices are factored in.

Shaver said that the North Carolina School Boards Association is lobbying for passage of the measure in 2008 and was asking for a resolution and help in lobbying legislators.

Shaver said the school board could operate more efficiently if allowed to collect its own money.

“I hope it will pass,” said board member Greg Merritt. “One of our county commissioners made statements about us abusing our funds. It shows how little they know about the funding of the school system. I think it would benefit this county if it does pass.”

Shaver said the current bill is the closest any has come to being seriously looked at.

Shaver said that in most cases where school boards had been given tax authority, the taxes have come down. He cited South Carolina as an example.

“Hopefully, (the commissioners) would not continue to tax at the same rate,” Merritt said.

“This would be an opportunity to work with the county commissioners,” said Chairman Carlton Prince.

Shaver said the school board needed to meet with the commissioners.

‘We don’t want them to feel threatened,” he said, “They are doing the best they can with what they have. This would be removing from them a huge responsibility. This board should have that responsibility.”

“This might be a good time to have a dialogue session with our legislators and commissioners,” Prince said.

Shaver mentioned that since Sen. Tony Rand’s Senate Bill 120 – to fund only one school district per county – had failed to pass in the state senate, Rand had managed to attach at the last minute a study on the feasibility of school merger to a bill that will study the 10 funding formulas used by the state for its schools.

The study would determine if reducing the number of school districts would save significant money.

Shaver said that the existing city school districts need to join forces and lobby against the possibility of merger.

“We need to stay on top of this,” he said. “Everywhere we look, the big systems are breaking up into smaller units.”

He cited the findings of the (Bill) Gates Foundation that smaller is better.

He said that Rand is moving in the opposite direction.

The second largest school system in the state – Mecklenburg – has divided itself into seven smaller school districts, each with a supervisor and a guidance committee answerable to the superintendent and big school board.

“This was at the urging of Judge (Howard) Manning who understands that smaller is better. If large isn’t working, then small might. Now, Sen. Rand wants us to be larger without any say-so from us.”

Shaver, who taught cost analysis debate at the high school level, said the overall public school budget in North Carolina is $6.5 billion.

He said the potential savings of $10 million would pale in comparison to the loss of knowing the best ways to teach a smaller school population.

Shaver recommended that the Whiteville City Schools join the small city school consortium being put together by the 15 affected units.

Each school system would contribute $4,000.

“I think the $4,000 would be money well spent,” Shaver said

By NICOLE CARTRETTE
Staff Writer

It pays to move to Columbus County.
At least that is part of the message the Board of Commissioners sent Monday night when they agreed to reimburse the social services director $1,250 of her $3,000 moving expenses.
Columbus County Social Services Board Chairwoman Ruth Storms asked the board of commissioners Monday to approve moving expenses for the new director.
Linda Fry, a director in Marion, S. C. at the time, took the position months ago but no moving expenses were negotiated in her contract; in fact, Fry has no written employment contract.
“As you know, we elected to have a lady from South Carolina to come as director of DSS,” Storms told the board. ”I think it is important that we pay her for moving here.”
Storms also suggested that the county change employment policies to include moving expenses for department heads in the future.
“I see no dollar amount here,” Commissioner Amon McKenzie said of the printed request.
“Mrs. Fry is an absolute pleasure to work with,” Commissioner Ronald Gore said. He serves on the DSS board and replaced McKenzie earlier this year.
“I think it would be a wonderful gesture,” Gore said. He suggested the board pay about half of the moving expense or $1,250. He asked the board to use a portion of funds taken from the 10 percent salary cut commissioners took in June. The cut totaled about $10,500.
“That would be a minimal amount from each commissioner,” Gore explained.
“That’s $150 a piece, gentlemen,” Chairman Sammie Jacobs said.
“I have already allocated that mine will go to fund balance — I can’t change that,” Commissioner James Prevatte said.
“I’m not supportive of changing the policy,” he added.
Storms pointed out that she was not recommending the policy change for “any employee, only management.”
Some department heads do not live in the county. The board waived a former requirement that the county manager live in the county upon hiring the previous manager, Jim Varner.
Commissioner Ricky Bullard asked if multiple quotes had been received on the moving expense.
Gore said Fry got different quotes.
McKenzie pointed out that one or two commissioners had requested the 10 percent pay cut go into the general fund.
Gore then suggested anything already allocated come from what was left out of his salary.
“Just pay it,” Commissioner Bill Memory said, trying to end the debate about where the money should come from. He added that for “these folks looking on the outside in” and for possible manager candidates, it would be attractive.
“I recommend to the boards when they hire managers these things be considered when you hire them.
“When it costs $2,500 to $3,000 it may be best to include it in a contract.”
“First of all, we don’t have a contract,” Gore explained.
“Let’s take care of the lady. What do you say?” Jacobs said.
The board voted unanimously to reimburse Fry $1,250 moving expenses.

A proposed resolution that calls for stricter enforcement of immigration laws in Columbus County is better left where it was at the last county commissioners’ meeting – on the table.

The issue, which is being pushed by Commissioner James Prevatte, is low on the list of priorities of the federal government, so why should it be a priority for Columbus County?

Earlier in the year, Congress failed to pass a sensible immigration bill that would have given amnesty to illegal immigrants in the country now, but tightened restrictions in the future. So while Columbus County’s proposal may seemingly address what some consider to be a problem, we have much bigger issues on which to spend our time and energy than getting tangled up with a threatened lawsuit from the American Civil Liberties Union. The ACLU has said it’s itching to file suit against a county that adopts a resolution such as the one being considered here.

And the ACLU raises some valid points, such as the lack of due process for those suspected of being illegal aliens, and penalties for people who employ them.

But for practical purposes, does the county need to be involved in yet another costly lawsuit it would probably lose? For example, the Hazelton, Pa., town board adopted a similar resolution and spent $2.1 million defending a lawsuit it eventually lost.

We’re better off letting the federal government wage this fight to the extent that Congress allows it because we have bigger fish to fry in Columbus County.

By NICOLE CARTRETTE
Staff Writer

The Columbus County Fire and Rescue Association is recommending that an emergency room physician at Columbus Regional Healthcare be appointed the county medical director.

It is unclear if Dr. David Phillips will take the position if an offer is made or what the offer may be. Phillips could not be reached at Columbus Regional Friday afternoon. An employee in the emergency room said he would not be available until next week.

The Columbus County Board of Commissioners has not had any open discussion on the medical director position with the exception of asking that the position be advertised.

In a letter dated Nov. 13, 2007, the president of the Fire and Rescue Association, on behalf of the group, asked the board to consider Dr. David Phillips for the contract edposition.

“Dr. Phillips functions as an emergency room physician at Columbus Regional Healthcare System. He resides in Wilmington, N.C. In talking with Dr. Phillips, he has agreed to carry a pager and cell phone to be easily accessible to county departments.

“In the county’s search for EMS Medical Director, we hope that you would take this recommendation into consideration for this very crucial position.”

According to N.C. Medical Board data, Phillips, 39, has privileges at Columbus Regional and is certified in emergency medicine.

His North Carolina license was issued in October 2003 and he was previously licensed in S.C. and Michigan. He is a 1996 graduate of Wayne State School of Medicine.

The recommendation comes just days before the current medical director’s notice expires on Nov. 27. Dr. Fred Obrecht resigned months after eight of nine volunteer rescue squad chiefs asked the Columbus County Board of Commissioners to terminate Obrecht’s contract. Some complained of a lack of communication and favoritism.

Obrecht, who had been the medical director for eight years and is a physician at Columbus Regional, said he was being targeted for high standards and questioning squads about missed calls.

The N.C. Office of Emergency Services has said if the county is unable to fill the position prior to Obrecht’s last day, the office will work with the county until a new physician takes the position.

Under N.C. statutes the county is required to provide emergency medical (ambulance service) countywide.

The county fulfills that obligation through contract agreements with volunteer squads in exchange for certain tax revenues.

The squads also have the opportunity to bill private insurance, Medicaid and others for the service.

The county paid Obrecht $12,000 a year but has not discussed what a new contract would entail. A separate contract with the hospital for certain nurse liaison and infection control services totaling $25,000 was ended prior to Obrecht’s resignation.

Fire and Rescue Association President Tony Miller is expected to be present at the commissioners meeting tonight. Continue reading »

Acme-Delco-Riegelwood Fire-Rescue Chiefs Steve Camlin and Donna Hammond remove draping from a monument outside the fire station during a ceremony Saturday honoring victims of the 2006 Riegelwood tornado.

Staff photo by Mark Gilchrist

By JEFFERSON WEAVER
Staff Writer

Steve Camlin refused to let Saturday be entirely a day of mourning.

The chief of Acme-Delco-Riegelwood Fire-Rescue told the crowd at Saturday’s monument dedication that the killer tornado of a year ago should be remembered not just for the lives lost, but for the way a community came together.

“It’s a day we need to remember,” Camlin said, “but even when we saw lives taken, we saw lives saved.”

Rescue chief Donna Hammond said the community is still healing.

“It’s been a long year,” she said. “We need to remember the lives lost, and celebrate them, too.”

The F3 tornado struck a mobile home park in the pre-dawn hours, killing eight people, injuring dozens and destroying or damaging most of the homes along Pretty Branch and Holly Tree lanes.

O’Keon Tennell Wilson, Tyesha McKoy Wilson, Suley Ruiz Martinez, Danny Ruiz Jacobs, Miguel Angel Jurado, Timothy Carl Mai, Mary Ann Gasper Mai, and Timothy Michael Browne died in the storm.

Browne was a member of ADR Fire-Rescue. He and his daughter Cheyenne lived with Browne’s parents, the Mais.

Camlin related how Browne’s body was found five feet from his daughter, who was seriously injured.

“Mike was a firefighter, and he died a hero,” Camlin said, “trying to help Cheyenne.”

Cheyenne was at Saturday’s service with her grandmother, Glinda Browne. She was carried in to the service by Chris Cumber, in a procession of more than 100 firefighters, rescue workers, law enforcement and other first responders. Cumber cared for Cheyenne during the first part of her recovery.

Four-year-old Cheyenne has another year of therapy to complete, according to Glinda Browne. She said Cheyenne attends day care, and wants to follow fire trucks.

The little girl recently completed eight weeks of swimming lessons, and goes to dance class every Tuesday.

“She loves it,” Glinda Browne. “She’s come a long way.”

Camlin and Hammond helped Cheyenne present certificates to Will White and Brandy Jacobs. When firefighters needed an emergency neck brace for Cheyenne, White yanked off his own shirt and rolled it up. He continued to help care for Cheyenne despite being bare-chested in the near-freezing temperatures and driving rain, Camlin said.

Camlin and Hammond described how Mike Browne was “a fire chief’s dream.

“He didn’t question. He didn’t talk back, and he was all muscle,” Camlin said.

The chiefs were first concerned whether the quiet and soft spoken Browne would fit in with the ADR crew, Hammond said. Camlin said the chiefs decided to “just find out.

“Mike would surprise you,” Camlin said. “We learned that. He became a member of the ADR family.

“Mike wasn’t what you might think,” Camlin said. “He drove a minivan with a child safety seat in the back, but he drove it like it was a Camaro or a Mustang.”

Camlin noted that Browne couldn’t concentrate on his fire and rescue training unless he knew Cheyenne was taken care of first.

“The last thing he did was try to help Cheyenne,” Camlin said, “and the day after he died, his certificate came in. He died a firefighter.”

The 88-inch tall memorial, which is shaped like the Washington monument, was made by Cole Monument Works in Whiteville and paid for through donations.

The obelisk lists the names of the dead on one side, along with the names of every Columbus County fire department, rescue squad, emergency communications office, and law enforcement agency that responded to the tornado.

Several firefighters were overheard calling the monument the “Plan Seven” marker, using the worst-case scenario plan ADR has had in place for years, but never activated before the tornado.

James E. Horrell-Hammond, a volunteer with ADR Fire-Rescue, said the monument is more a reminder of the future rather than a symbol of the past tragedy.

“We want this to be a memento of a future in which the members of Ransom Township and the surrounding communities will continue to grow,” he said Thursday, “and become stronger despite the opposition of uncontrollable events that life presents.”

Glinda Browne wiped away tears and exchanged hugs with well-wishers as fire and rescue personnel spent time with Cheyenne. For many of them, it was the first time they’d seen Cheyenne since she was last at the fire station with her father a few days before the storm.

“Mike was all about that little girl,” she said. “She loves this department and these people, and they love her.”
Ronald Allen, Mike Browne’s boss, attended Saturday’s event with Glinda Browne and Cheyenne.

“Mike was the ideal employee,” he said. “He was never late without telling me. He worked hard. He was serious about his job.”

“I tried to tell him sometimes to take a day off because he was sick,” Glinda said. “He wouldn’t do it. He was serious about his work, and all he wanted to do was take care of his daughter and help people.”

Saturday’s service was one of four in the community over the weekend. A private service was held Friday at Christ the King Catholic Church, and another was held there on Sunday, followed by a multi-faith time of prayer at the disaster site. A service was also held at 4 p.m. at the community building.

Congressman Mike McIntyre was the featured speaker at Saturday’s event. He quoted Psalm 138, emphasizing the verse that reads “and mercy endures forever.”

“As soon as the storm struck, this entire community came together,” McIntyre said. “People didn’t wonder what to do – they jumped in to help their neighbors. The N.C. Baptist Men Disaster workers, the churches, the other groups…everyone came here to help.”

Earnestine Keaton of the Sandyfield Citizens Corps and the Community Emergency Response Team – a first response group that deployed for the first time during the tornado – handed out disaster preparedness materials from a table near the fire station driveway.

“We hope it doesn’t happen again,” she said, “but we need to be ready.”

Camlin said the disaster gave many people a different view of the fire and rescue training which takes months to complete.

“I know there was a time before the storm some of the husbands and wives and girlfriends and boyfriends thought we were just getting away from the house,” he said. “…training takes up a lot of time away from your family.

“Since that day when we had 200 people on the ground helping their neighbors,” Camlin said, “there hasn’t been a lot of nagging.”

“Everybody did a miraculous job that day,” Camlin said. “I’m proud of every single one of them and the way they reacted.” Continue reading »

By JEFFERSON WEAVER
Staff Writer

Mobile homes brought into or moved within the Whiteville City limits will no longer face an age restriction.

The Whiteville City Council Tuesday night passed a heavily modified ordinance that bore little resemblance to the original proposed by City Manager Josh Ray and planner Lainie Johnston. The original ordinance came under fire from owners of mobile home parks who feared it was too restrictive.

Under the new rules, mobile homes must be able to pass inspection by the city building inspector before they can be occupied.

The original proposal, approved last month by council, called for a ban on mobile homes more than 10 years old without special permission. The proposed ordinance, which was created after city staff compared several similar ordinances in the area, was designed to reduce code enforcement problems in the future, Ray said.

Trailers would also have to meet federal wind zone two guidelines due to the county’s proximity to the coast.

Wind zone one requirements are the most restrictive, while level three requirements are approved only for inland areas not susceptible to hurricanes. Homes built after 1994 must be certified by the manufacturer to meet the federal guidelines.

City staff met with mobile home park owners – who could have been most affected by the ordinance change – who complained the ordinance would unfairly punish mobile home owners whose trailers were older, but in good condition. (See full story.)

By FULLER ROYAL
Staff Writer

“When I look at the condition of safety of the Whiteville City Schools, I have great concern,” said Whiteville City Schools Superintendent Dr. Randall Shaver as he began his introductory remarks to the more than 100 parents and school employees during Tuesday night’s PTA school safety forum. “There is a preponderance of weapons and we must take action.”

The forum came about after Shaver met with the system’s four PTA presidents. Confusion and concern over any new rules, especially those pertaining to book bags and pocketbooks, became the driving force. Shaver and the presidents thought a public forum would answer concerns and calm fears.

Central Middle School PTA President -elect Becky High moderated the meeting.

Shaver told the group that school safety was an administrative issue, not a school board issue. Each school’s school improvement team (SIT) and principal came up with the proposals presented.

“The schools need to be flexible to do what is necessary without constraints from the board,” Shaver said, adding that he will look at the recommendations from each school.

“Ultimately, that decision will be certified by my office,” he said.

He said the new rules won’t be the most convenient but the students will be safer.

Shaver said the primary safety issues are weapons on campus, visitors on campus, violence, fighting, drug use, crisis response and crisis communications. (See full story.)

Two school employees test positive for drugs after system adds random drug testing to mandatory tests.