Latest Articles

The eleventh hour has passed, and we have reached critical mass regarding the continuance of Liberty. The time for sitting idly by and watching the show has come and gone, we must now all become players in the game.
The Marion L. Shepard Cancer Center, a division of Beaufort Regional Health System, provides medical services in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer and blood disorders.
Representatives from Martin-Marietta meet with the public in Beaufort County Monday night (1-31-12) to review plans for the Vanceboro quarry being proposed for southern Beaufort County.
Publisher's note: Washington City Manager, Josh Kay, has submitted this press release below, which states that Washington Police Chief Mick Reed has resigned. No reason was given for his departure.
As a result, the driver was arrested and transported to the Magistrate’s Office. Lawrence Mel Tetterton, age 25, of Highway 33 East in Aurora, NC was charged with Possession With Intent to Sell and Deliver Marijuana and Possession of a Schedule II Controlled Substance.
This article follows the one I previously wrote, entitled "Who is Really Disenfranchised?" In that article I talked about the incessant claims of "disenfranchisement" of minority voters when no such disenfranchisement exists nor any intent to do so.
The law on the Fourth Amendment's protection from unreasonable search and seizures is evolving. The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals (which covers North Carolina) ruled last week on what may become a landmark case.
Speciale has a background of service to his country as well as to his State and community.
But as much as we are biased in their favor, I'm not convinced that it is sound public policy for the government to provide pre-school education for all children.
A lot of folks were really glad when we finally got the Iowa caucus behind us. How much more of the "If you don't come and shake my hand personally, I won't vote for you" can we stand.
Today I saw a bumper sticker that read: I Love my country. I just don't trust my government.

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Government

Publisher's note: Washington City Manager, Josh Kay, has submitted this press release below, which states that Washington Police Chief Mick Reed has resigned. No reason was given for his departure. ... (read more)

Op-Ed & Politics

It is High Noon in America. The eleventh hour has passed, and we have reached critical mass regarding the continuance of Liberty. The time for sitting idly by and watching the show has come and gone, we must now all become players in the game.

The issue is not healthcare. It is not taxes. It is not about Republicans or Democrats. What is at stake here is much larger, the attacks multiplying as a cancer to our freedom. Liberty, Justice and the American Way are at stake. Sounds like something out of a Superman comic book, but there is nothing funny about the consequences of inaction on the part of Patriots.

To the left, Patriot is a dirty word; something or someone to be made fun of. I am a Patriot, and I wear the label with pride. I am a Conservative, and I wear that label with pride. I am a Christian, and I wear that label with pride. I am a Republican, and I wear that label with pri... (read more)
This article follows the one I previously wrote, entitled "Who is Really Disenfranchised?" In that article I talked about the incessant claims of "disenfranchisement" of minority voters when no such disenfranchisement exists nor any intent to do so. I argued that those Americans who are really "disenfranchised" today in this country are the taxpayers. These are the Americans who really have a "fairness" and "equality" argument. These are the ones whose interests are not being fairly or equally protected by a government that is required to do so. These are the Americans that government wishes to exploit and the ones that fellow Americans want to take advantage of.

In this article, I will offer a remedy to safeguard their legitimate constitutional rights.

Claims of "disenfranchisement" of minority voters lack merit and are based on a hypothetical negative impact that common sen... (read more)

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Community

Press Release

On January 27th, 2012Lawrence Mel Tetterton at approximately 5:00 p.m., Deputy Jason Cleary of the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office was patrolling the Edward community. Cleary observed suspicious activity in the parking lot of a convenience store on Highway 33 and stopped to watch the area. Deputy Cleary followed a vehicle that left the parking lot to observe the vehicle’s operation. After observing the vehicle travel left of center and exceeding the posted speed limit, Deputy Cleary initiated a traffic stop on Highway 33 near Stilley Town Road.

Deputy Cleary made contact with the driver and detected an odor of an alcoholic beverage. While speaking to the driver, an open container of beer was observed in the vehicle. During a search, Cleary discovered a bag in the glove compartment containing 20 individually packaged baggies of marijuana and 4 Hydrocodone pills. As a res... (read more)

Business

Everybody needs a Ferris Bueller day off - even Wikipedia. Unlike Ferris, who could make the most of any moment, the management of Wikipedia just has something to say, and it is a most narrow message. Like Ferris's best friend, the lonesome Cameron, Google is reluctantly going along for the ride.

Jimmy Wales, Wikipedia's founder and CEO, took the ever popular Wikipedia down for a 24 hour period to protest the proposed anti-piracy bill, currently under consideration, in the United States Congress. Google is taking a more reserved position of protest by using the redacting black mark of censorship over their logo, in that same 24 hour time frame, as their measure of protest. Regardless, this narrow message is making its narrow point.

That narrow point is that we must be vigilant over the possibility of censorship, which is the hallmark of fascism. Currently, we see this in what few C... (read more)

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The Region

Publisher's Note: This article originally appeared in the Beaufort Observer.

Second in our series on Tuesday night's public information session

This is the second in our series on the Martin-Marietta Vanceboro quarry. Click here to read the first article. In that piece we posted video in which the company spokespeople and consultants explained the project, the permitting process and the ground water issues. By ground water they mean water that is pumped out of the Castle Hayne aquifer. The immediate concern in that issue is what impact the quarry will have on private wells in the vicinity.
Marin Marietta Quarry located on this terrain map
In this article they focus on the surface water issues. The permit calls for them to eventually, at maximum build-out to pump as much as 11 million gallons into the Blounts Creek drainage basin.

The first video begins that presentation:

The... (read more)

The Arts

Could You Draw Us in a Bit Closer?

Even though this film has its comedic moments, Cancer is a serious subject, so you best bring your "big boy pants" to watch this one. Regardless, as your friendly, neighborhood reviewer, you should take my professional opinion on this well paced 100 minute movie: You should see this film.

The life of 27 year old Adam, played so well by Joseph Gordon-Levitt, is a most unpretentious, quirky world that Director Jonathan Levine shows us by virtue of Screenwriter Will Reiser's creation. In this somewhat remarkably normal life, Adam has a cute girlfriend, Rachael, played by Dallas Bryce Howard, a crude best friend (they even work together at an NPR-like radio station), Kyle, played by Seth Rogen (you reckon he's got that role down yet?), an athletic bent (jogs, doesn't drink or smoke), and when he least expects it - advanced Cancer. Understandably, ... (read more)

Irreverent Stereotype or True in Composite ...

Or does it really matter? Those were different times in a desperate South, and consequently, this is a story that aches to be told. My first-hand perspective of times in the South, in those transformative days of the early 1960's, is that there was enough truth in Director / Screenwriter Tate Taylor's treatment of the Kathryn Stockett titular Novel to tell this story just as she told it, and it was a compelling account of egregious bad behavior.

I grew up as a child with a number of Black women maids, also known as the "Colored Help," but there was a difference in our household with that of the composite of the respective parties within "The Help" - "the help" and their respective boss ladies. Conversely, my mother worked a full time job, was kind, caring - a Christian woman. Her maids - one was white - were treated with respect, ... (read more)

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Living

For Immediate Release

(Washington, NC) - The Marion L. Shepard Cancer Center offers a variety of special programs and activities to help cancer patients, survivors as well as their primary caregivers deal with the emotional and physical challenges associated with having cancer. The Cancer Center's vision is to provide integrative therapies that complement traditional care at no cost to the participant. The programs are not limited to patients of the Marion L. Shepard Cancer Center, any survivor or caregiver is welcome!

Look Good...Feel Better - brought to you by the American Cancer Society
Monday, February 13th at 2:00 pm
A hands-on group session for adult female cancer survivors currently in treatment who are coping with the side effects of chemotherapy and/or radiation treatment. Pre-registration is required. Held at the Cancer Center.

Shepard's Lunch & Learn
Thursday, February 16... (read more)
For Immediate Release

GREENVILLE, NC - Eight hospitals in eastern Carolina marked the "birthday" of Vidant Health by unveiling new signs today.

In late 2011, University Health Systems of Eastern Carolina announced plans to launch a new brand for the health system.

"The new brand identity pulls together all the important services and facilities that make up our organization that is uniquely ours. It is legally protectable and reflects who we are," said Dave McRae, chief executive officer of Vidant Health.

During the last decade, the system has grown from one hospital to a network of interconnected physician practices, more than 11,000 employees, 10 hospitals, home health and hospice programs and wellness facilities.

"As our health system continued to grow, we found that many of our patients didn't realize all that we offered," said McRae. "By uniting all of our hospitals, pro... (read more)

Announcements

Mrs. Muriel Cofield Birt, a resident of 303 W. 16th St., Washington, died Sunday, Jan. 29, 2012, at her residence.

A funeral will be conducted at 1 p.m. Saturday at Ware Creek Missionary Baptist Church. Burial will follow in Ware Creek Cemetery.

Visitation will be held from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. tonight at Leon Randolph Memorial Chapel. Arrangements are by Leon Randolph Funeral Home, 208 W. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Washington.... (read more)

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