Lumberton Informer

Early Saturday morning there was a knock at my door. Everyone that knows me know I don't like unannounced visitors. I hesitantly opened the door with a frown on my face so the unannounced visitor would know they disturbed my Saturday morning routine and that I didn't want to be bothered. Well, when I looked up, there was Ben Winston standing at my door. I held on to my frown as he greeted me but my frown softened after he said he needed to talk to me and ask for my forgiveness. I was actually shocked because I have spoken some hurtful but truthful things about Ben Winston the politician and pastor. At one point, I even questioned the motives of Ben Winston the person. I was already feeling rushed because I actually volunteered to work that day. I informed Ben that I couldn't talk with him at the moment but I could talk to him later in the day. He then said he would like it if my mother would join us in the conversation. I told him I would be able to talk t...

Death is a constant reminder of the fragility of life. We must LIVE, LOVE and FORGIVE! I'm sharing a part of my friendship with Donte so my broken heart can begin to heal. People like to wait until a person die before they express how they feel. Please know, I have expressed my love and appreciation for Donte while she was able to appreciate the impact she had on my life and I will continue to show my love by being there for her family. I know there are some that read the title and wondered why I referred to Donte as a DIVA. If you noticed, I turned D.I.V.A. into an acronym. When I think of Donte I have never thought of her as a DIVA in the natural sense because she was not a temperamental or haughty woman. When I think of Donte , I think of her as a true D.I.V.A. because she was DEVOUT, INSPIRIATIONAL, VIRTUOUS, and ANNOINTED . Now, don't get me wrong, she was also a fashionista. As a matter of fact, we became friends over a pair of stilettos. I've known Donte al...

On Sunday, May 31, 2015, the KeKe B Foundation will host their 7th Annual Walk Against Domestic Violence and Candlelight Vigil in honor of Kewaii Neivas Rogers Buckner and other victims of domestic violence in our community. The mission of the KeKe B Foundation is to promote and preserve non-violent, non-abusive family systems through intervention, prevention and education. To empower victims and their families to break the cycle of violence. To make the public aware of the resources available and to bring domestic violence out of the shadows and unite communities against it. The 7th Annual Walk Against Domestic Violence and Candlelight Vigil will be held at the Ben Barrett Community Center. Participants in the walk will start lining up at Lumberton City Hall at 4:30 pm. The foundation and other volunteers are taking orders for t-shirts. The pricing is as follows: Youth XS-Adult XL are $15, XXL-5XL are $18. Donations are also accepted to help make this event a success. All proceed...

Sadly, yesterday I seriously considered hanging up my blogging hat. I'm not naive, I've been attacked from the pulpit many times before. To have someone refer to you as a devil, to say they see no Jesus in you is enough to shake anyone. But thanks be to God, I know who I am as well as who's I am. One thing I've learned, when someone shows you who they are, believe them, the first time. I don't know what angered this reader but I've learned that people are generally truthful when they speak in anger. From the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. Generally, when a person gets an opportunity to calm down and reflect on what they've said, they usually apologize but I even if I forgive them, I always remember what the said in anger because that's how they really felt. I'm still trying to wrap my mind around the fact that I'm the problem, that I'm talented but printing trash. I don't know how to take backhanded compliments because they...

Last night, Paul Ockmond responded to a post I made several days ago. Actually, it was a picture of the registration of a business established by Winston and Ockmond; Wheel and Deals, the former location of Dirt Cheap. Ockmond came to the defense of his busiess partner, Ben Winston by saying "what Ben does with Wheel and Deal is none of my business." On the contrary Paul, if Winston is using his business while trying to defraud the city, it is my business. As you know, Winston is grasping for straws; trying to change regulations to suit his needs. For example, he's trying to file a HubZone application, knowing they are designated for small businesses, not municipalities. Adlerwoman at Large, Cora Rogers pointed out this fact at the last board meeting, but Winston said "we have a city attorney and he would tell me if the application is wrong." Well, anyone that regularly attends the board meetings know Lindsey Carter rarely instruct the mayor and board on vi...

The members of Gateway Baptist Church recently suffered the loss of their earthly shepherd but the life of Pastor Buddy Peters has impacted the lives of everyone he encountered. If memory serves me correctly, Peters came to Lumberton as the pastor of Zion Hill Baptist Church. Later, he was moved to serve in a different capacity. Shortly after leaving Zion Hill, Pastor Peters started a weekly bible study. Orginally, the gatherings were held at the home of James and Carolyn Sandifer. As the number attending grew, it was necessary to find a larger space to accommodate the growing crowd. Later, with the assistance of the late Carolyn Sandifer, property manager, the weekly gatherings were held at 956 Myrick Avenue ( "The Center" in Turnkey). Peters often used the amended phrase from John 1:46, " can any good thing come out of Lumberton?" At the start of his new ministry, I'm sure there was plenty of opposition and possibly resentment towards Peters as he looked to...

We celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. each January with a day in his honor. We remember his gifts, laud his accomplishments and pay homage to his legacy. But at no time since Martin Luther King Day was established in 1983 has his legacy been in greater jeopardy. This year we need more than a celebration of the past. We need to fight for our future. As I reflect on the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. I think of all the risks he took. In order to fight for the civil rights, he risked life and limb for justice for all. Dr. King formed the Southern Christian Leadership Conference with 60 ministers during a time when taking a stand could lead to the loss of finances, as well as the bombing of the church where they served as pastor. Dr. King was a shepherd but today, there's very few pastors but an abundance of hirelings. The Bible lays out the definitions of both an overseer (under shepherd) and a hireling. John 10:11-13 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd ...

First and foremost, the elected officials of Lumberton need to stop lying to themselves and others; they read this blog more than they read the work packets they get each month. Today, at 6:00 pm, the board will hold a special called meeting. When I contacted city hall, they were rather evasive about the subject matter of the meeting but whenI called the Lumberton Library, I was told the meeting was to discuss payment to Bancorp South for a dump truck. I guess the board has decided to act like they can't see the big neon pink gorilla in the room; the fact that they never properly terminated the police officers and the fact that they're still on the city's payroll. Since I am well versed in procedures regarding board meetings, I have another how did I miss that moment to share. One would think that this board would tire of getting upstaged by a person that, according to some, knows nothing about this city. Well, with what little I do know (sarcasm intended)...I have more u...

There's benefits of attending meetings as a concerned citizen. Most of our elected officials never attended a meeting before getting elected. As a result, they don't have a full understanding of the laws governing their position. Yesterday, the board forced Chief Cowart to select four officers to keep on as Lumberton Police Officers. Their names were written on a budget form and the remaining officers were told they were terminated. Well, as a person that regularly attends board meetings, I know that more is required to terminate a city employee. In order to complete the termination process or reduction in employee hours, the agenda of the board meeting must be amended, the names of the officers being terminated must be added and the motion is carried upon a majority favorable vote.The board followed this process Tuesday when they terminated several part time officers but didn't follow this process on Thursday when they verbally terminated the officers that were not lis...

There was a special called meeting held tonight. There was one agenda item...."Order to discuss and vote to have an Executive Session to discuss personnel matters for the Cit of Lumberton." The mayor and board members went into the back room and held a 45 minute discussion about something. We don't know what was discussed because Mayor Winston never exited the executive session to inform the citizens about what they decided to discuss; which is an ethics violation. I guess it's time to submit formal complaints because these violations are not getting addressed or directed. When the board members exited the session, the city clerk was instructed to read what was discussed. After 45 minutes of discussion, the board decided they're going to make budget cuts in every department and they will be meeting again on Monday, June 30, 2014 @ 6 to make a decision on the proposed cuts prior to the regular meeting that will be held the following day. Last I heard, the City of...

as Pastor of Sweet Beulah Missionary Baptist Church.I don't know if this move was spiritually or politically motivated. According to my sources, Winston used his resignation announcement speech to discuss the "dump" (his words not mine). He said, allegedly speaking of course, that the people that were funding the dump had plans to also purchase the Custom Precast property to bring some jobs to the area but since there are citizens opposing the dump; they've changed their minds. I guess there's always room to throw in a little extortion; even from the pulpit. Before now,there wasn't anything mentioned about any other developments. It's interesting that once the plan was exposed;other tactics are now being employed to garner support. For quite some time, there has been rumors that Winston wanted to have the Baptist members convert to a Seventh Day Adventist church but those rumors have yet to be verified. There are some that may be wondering why this ...

I guess we can stop trying to convince everyone that no one is reading the blog. I was prepared to post a review of last night's meeting but I'm waiting for Charlie Bock to send me some paperwork regarding the amended solid waste plan the Lamar County Board of Supervisors submitted to the MDEQ to accommodate the recycling site on Yawn School Road. It seems that the County has been working on this move for quite some time. The looming question I have is "if this is a County project, why do they need the City of Lumberton to sign off on the project"? Wouldn't an agreement of that nature require an Interlocal Agreement or Resolution? Unless, of course, the County want Lumberton to be liable for any environmental hazards that may occur after this facility is opened. Keep in mind, the area is not accessible via the interstate. So the possibly abestos filled material will be transported through our city and there's no type of traffic flow planon file. But I said ...

So now they're saying “Jonathan got it wrong." Here we go again with the shoot the messenger mentality. At this juncture, it really doesn't matter if the proposed dump site is going to be located in the South Lamar Industrial Park or on Yawn School Road. What matters is the citizens of Lumberton were not properly notified of what was going on. This is the information age and they're still posting notifications on the back wall of the library and in a corner in the post office like it was 1954. Today people have tablets, smart phones and computers; they're no longer required to go to the library to get books. As a matter of fact, one can get postage online as well; so a trip to the post office is also a thing of the past. So for those that are trying to downplay what I'm saying because the address on the permit does not match the location mentioned on the site are comparing apples to oranges. The fact remains, the County has plans for a dump site in this area...

On Sunday, June 7, 2009, Bishop Robert Louis Burns and Lady Joyce R. Burns will be celebrating 34 years of ministry. There will be a celebration program held at Rehoboth Word of Life Fellowship, 1000 West Main Avenue, Lumberton, MS at 3:00 p.m. The guest speaker for the occassion will be Rev. Dennis Holder, Pastor of Zion Hill Baptist Church. You are invited to attend this blessed occassion. For information about ordering books written by Dr. Robert Louis Burns, DVD's, copies of his minsitry lessons, or to schedule a speaking engagement, please call 601-796-2909.