Lumberton Informer

I know some readers saw the title of this post and their hearts leaped with joy, but I'm not throwing in the towel; this post is about Harry Wilkes. Over the weekend, I was told that Harry was informed that he could not receive his sick pay, despite the fact that he is sick. So, I went by his house to see what was going on. Yesterday, I went with him to city hall to see if we could get this matter corrected. He was told that he needed a letter from the doctor. While there, Stephanie told him that all she needed was a note from a doctor saying that he was being treated. She said, "Don't you know Dr. Carla Holder. . if you could get her to write you something on a prescription pad, we can get you your money. . but we need something in writing." We left city hall and went to the medical clinic and got him an appointment that day, and took the letter back to the office. For now, he will receive his sick pay, but now they are telling him that he needs to bring a note...

Last week, I promised a follow-up story about the conversation Rebecca Hale was having with several concerned citizens and the flagrant remarks she made about Deputy Clerk, Betty Speights. In the midst of getting the post together, another interesting detail emerged and I was torn as to weather or not I should include that matter in my post. So, I had a discussion with several of my friends on facebook and the majority of them said that I shouldn't mention what happened. Surprisingly, they were quite compassionate when they spoke of the matter. Some said that she shouldn't be judged for another person's actions, and someone said that we can't help who we love. I thought this was quite ironic. We have people being compassionate towards Rebecca Hale, but just a week ago, Rebecca was not able to show any compassion towards the employees of the City of Lumberton. For instance, she was dead set on voting to terminate Betty Speights and she claimed her reason was because Bett...

The 8th Annual Lumberfest is scheduled to take place in Lumberton, MS on Saturday, October 16th. The event will take place on Main Street and is scheduled from 9:00 am to 7:00 pm. Friends of the Lumberton Library will be selling receipe books at this event and other vendors will also be on hand for the festival. There will be professional wrestling. Recording artist Jeffrey "Lucky" Hodnett is scheduled to appear. Lumberton's own, Annabelle Holder is slated to perform, The Carl Lynn Trip (Gospel), Bobby Hathorn Banjo & Guitar player voted Southeastern United States Banjo Champion, Hospel Singer Tori Gay, Country Singer Melissa Jones "Reba, Patsy, Loretta impersonator, "Tribute to Elvis" Greg Burgess, Singer Brother Ray McGee (Gospel), The Tommy Everette & Friends (Gospel), Gerald Burge, Mariah Leblanc (Gospel). There will be a parade to kick off the festival on Friday, October the 15th at 5:30.

October is breast cancer awareness month. I wanted to take a break from Lumberton Politics, and tell you about a woman that I befriened about two years ago. Her name is Ms. Willie Rose. We lived across the street from one another, and we would talk almost every morning. I remember when she told me that she was diagnosed with cancer. I remember it so vividly b/c she received her diagnosis a few weeks after a member of my family was had received the same news. I remember standing at the end of the drive way as she was telling me what the doctors had told her. I thought I was taking the news well, but Ms. Willie Rose stopped in mid-sentence and said to me. "No sir, you can clear them tears out of your eyes and don't give me that sad look because this cancer thang ain't gonna get me." I didn't realize that I was saddened by her news, but she put an end to that real quick and that was one of the things that I love about Ms. Willie Rose; she is going to be straigh...

We must find a solution that will help this city move forward. We have had enough of my way or no way mentality. Stop pushing your personal agendas, and find a way to work together for the City of Lumberton. I had two encouters over the past few days and it has made me question the reason why I blog. I wanted to shine the light of accountability on those serving as our elected officals, but the post seem to take on a life of their own. I just sat at city hall going through the minutes of the City of Lumberton, and it is funny how people forget that we are to support the growth of the city, not individual growth. I will be the first to admit that the post about Stephanie Mullings were out of line and they were not the purpose of the blog. I also feel that the negative comments about elected officials,police officers, and myself were also out of line, but we have a select group of people in our city that feel that it is fine to derogate an individual as long as they are not affili...

We are all focusing on the pay cuts and the budget, but how many of you took the time to look beyond the print on the paper to see that those numbers are connected to individuals and their families. The aldermen want us to think that the cuts were so hard and that it was a necessary evil, but no one is willing to explain why everyone's salary was cut, but our city clerk's salary remains the same. At the suggestion of Alderman Johnson, I will submit that question in writing and see if I finally get an answer. I have been accused of having a personal vendetta against Stephanie Mullins and that is not true. I, like many others, am curious as to how she was able to prepare a budget that left her without any reduction in pay? How do we expect the deputy court clerk to provide for her family when the aldermen are proposing to cut her salary to $7.25/hr @ 20/week? There are also cuts/increases throughout the police department. One alderman stated that we were hoping to provide t...

The long-awaited, long-delayed conclusion to the seemingly never ending board meeting was finally took place today. The first agenda item was a vote to enter into executive session. When the aldermen emerged from the back room, it was revealed that Gibson, Crider, Hale and Johnson voted to terminate Deputy Clerk, Betty Speights and Public Works Employee, Harry Wilkes. The vote was vetoed by Mayor Miriam Holder. This was the signal of the remainder of the votes that took place this afternoon. Gibson, Crider, Hale and Johnson voted in favor of all the cuts that were placed on the agenda; Alderman Quincy Rogers did not vote for the cuts and he explained to the audience his reason for not voting for the cuts. Alderman Rogers said that the cuts were not across the board, and that the City of Lumberton will not be able to meet the $1.2 million dollar budget they submitted by making cuts to the salaries of the city employees. Mayor Holder also stated that there is an Attorney General...