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Serving Princeton, Rosewood, Brogden, E. Johnston Co., W. Wayne Co., North Carolina |
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ObituariesJoseph L. Raymaker, James D. Mitchell, Pearllean W. Woodard, Walda C. Johnson Headlines Munday finds good match at Hephzibah Baptist Church New maintenance worker, policeman for Princeton Etheridge finds money for Princeton FD Rosewood Middle School Honor Roll Girls basketball: Lady Bulldogs up, down before finals Boys basketball: Daughtry takes Bulldogs to victory over North Duplin, North Johnston • Rosewood boys take down Spring Creek before tournament Photos Movies Fool's Gold
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New maintenance worker, policeman for PrincetonBy Barry Merrill 13 February 2008 — Princeton has hired a new maintenance worker. After recently restructuring the position, Adam Stuckey was hired by the town on February 5. He lives on Rains Crossroads Road. He was introduced to the town board at the regular monthly board meeting Monday night and celebrated. The town had budgeted $5000 to replace a fence at the town maintenance department, but Mr. Stuckey estimates that the repair will only cost the town $500. He has been surveying the town’s equipment and has noted a number of items that are no longer needed by the town. Some have previously been designated as surplus and Commissioner Billy Sutton said he will try to sell some of it. Mr. Stuckey noted that inspection stickers have expired on several town vehicles. He is also taking the town’s utility truck in for repairs. The board re-affirmed their approval of him buying and securing hand tools for regular maintenance work. Mr. Sutton, who serves as street commissioner, said he would be negotiating with Harvey and Hilda Holt about the placement of some drainage tile at their home, as the street is caving into the drainage ditch. Normally the placement of tile is the homeowner’s responsibility, but Mr. Sutton indicated the town should share in this expense since it is affecting a town street. He said they would not be addressing a similar problem on Elm St. until after changes were made in drainage under the nearby railroad tracks. A recently instituted report on police officers leaving town to aid Pine Level and the sheriff’s dept. drew several comments. The report detailed ten times during the past month when officers responded to calls for assistance. Most instances were for approximately 20 minutes. Police Chief Eddie Lewis reported that whenever an officer makes an arrest and takes an offender to Smithfield, he will normally be gone an hour. He related a recent night when officers were waiting for over two hours to book DWI suspects. Despite the potential delays, Chief Lewis said he will not take DWI offenders home. “Alcohol and asphalt do not mix.” Commissioner Brandon Holland noted that there was a listed response for an improperly parked car. While he said that he did not feel the town board should micro manage the police department and scrutinize every detail, he suggested that an improperly parked car would not suggest an offense that would demand a Princeton officer leaving Princeton to aid Pine Level. Chief Lewis said he did not know the details surrounding the incident. Police Commissioner Walter Martin suggested in the coming budget that some consideration be given to having additional officers during “peak” times to reduce “uncovered” times in the town. Chief Lewis said he would try to address that. He reported that Michael Hale Jr. has been hired as the town’s new police officer to fill a recent vacancy on the department. The chief also reported that he was making application for grants to help the town meet potential critical incidents as mandated by law. Those incidents could include a gunman on the school campus. The $19,000 in grants would require a $4300 local match. Town Clerk Kay Earp reported that the town was recently billed for the fall elections. There had been expectation that there would be a state referendum on the ballot and the costs would be covered by the state, but that referendum was pulled from the ballot. The county Board of Elections agreed to split the cost with the town. The town’s portion was $2671. Mr. Holland objected that the chief election judge is paid $500 for basically one day’s work, but Mayor Don Rains responded that the town does not want to get into the business of running their own elections. The mayor suggested that while that expense was unexpected, the town has saved enough on the maintenance shop fence to cover that expense in the budget. Chief Lewis said that the state vet has warned the town about potential liability even though the town is not using their pen for animals, as that would be in violation of state regulations, until the pen is dismantled. The board agreed by consensus to have the pen taken down. Eight juveniles were caught engaging in vandalism at the town park on Feb. 1. Chief Lewis thanked town worker Bobby Lewis for taking his personal time to help catch the vandals. He said the families of the juveniles would be made liable for the damage. Town Administrator Marla Ashworth returned to work on Monday, but did not attend the town board meeting. She has been on maternity leave, but staff praised her for her availability and responsiveness during her time off. Mr. Holland presented an example of a street sign that Mike Rose of Quickshirts prepared. He said Mr. Rose has offered to make signs for half the cost of the town’s normal sign vendor, and he noted that many street signs in town need replacing. The mayor asked that a list be prepared.
He also prepared a directional sign for the downtown business district which Mr. Holland showed the board. He suggested that it could be put up on US 70, but several commissioners doubted DOT would allow it. Mr. Holland and Mr. Sutton will investigate. Monique Scott asked for re-zoning of her family’s lot at 645 Edwards Road to allow them to move into a double-wide mobile home there. She said they bought the lot 1 1/2 years ago, and they are anxious to move. The mayor responded that her husband’s previous application, which called for changing uses within the current zoning of the property to allow the placement of the home had been rejected by both the planning board and town board, but at the time, several months ago, had recommended they seek a zoning change. The board had no power to act on the request until is was reviewed by the planning board, which could meet in two weeks. He referred the request to that body, and suggested it would meet a favorable reception. Keri Christenson of Harbor, Inc., presented a video that showed the continuing need for her agency’s services to domestic violence victims in the county. Mr. Martin said the agency does quite a good job of education each year on the problems, as well as offering the important services. The board said they would try to give favorable consideration to including Harbor again in their coming annual budget.
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Wayne Wilson News Leader
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