Lumberton Informer

The year known as 2013 is coming to a rapid end. So, where on the year in review shall I begin? This year has not been without its ups and downs, but there's still a reason to smile, while others choose to frown. This year there was an election to elect a new set of leaders. The fact that some chose not to participate, made me a believer. A believer that despite the fact that so many fought long and hard for the right to vote; others see the election process as just a joke. So many did not care who would serve as Mayor, as long as Mayor Miriam R. Holder was no longer sitting in that chair. They showed up to the polls, without any true direction. Other than their zeal to elect Ben Winston win the election. Winston was elected by abundance of votes in two wards and won the race of mayor. But I think after his four years, those that didn't vote, will eventually begin to care. Jay McGraw was re-elected and so was Kent Crider. Bobby Gibson was defeated and retreated like a spider...

Last night there was a special called meeting of the Mayor and Board of Alderpersons. It seems that Mr. Winston is determined to give our city worker’s a lump of coal for the Holiday season. The first item on the agenda was to discuss and vote to hire outside garbage collection. Apparently, he is looking to transfer garbage collections over to Lamar County. He said it would be a cost effective move that would save the citizens money. He also said an outside contractor will be in a position to pay the workers more than the City of Lumberton. Seriously? If anyone noticed the individuals collecting garbage for the county know they usually have one worker and the others assisting with the collection of garbage are usually inmates. First of all, I seriously doubt any outside contractor will keep those currently in those positions on the payroll. If they keep anyone on the payroll, it will probably be for a short period of time; just long enough for them to learn the area and then they wi...

So what’s going on in the Lumberton Police Department and why am I getting drawn into a non-issue. Recently, I have been getting information and tips suggesting I should investigate certain police officers. I am not certain where this desire to “expose” certain officers is coming from, but I just wanted to let you know, that I am not the o, the n or the e. In other words, I am not the ONE. You people need to make up your minds. Either my blog is imaginary and full of incorrect information or you actually want me to look into the matter. Which is it? This blog is not Burger King and you definitely cannot have it your way. Either you want to truth of what’s happening in Lumberton or you want a sugar coated version of what you want Lumberton to be like. Personally, I don’t have any problems with this police department or any of its officers. However, that was the case before I exposed Hobson for the lying, low down, lint licking, son of a biscuit eating bulldog he is. But that’s neith...

I went to the board meeting last night and while sitting there, I was thinking to myself, I can’t believe I’m still attending these circus shows. There was person after person giving these lengthy reports and I thought Mayor Winston created the weekly workshops to eliminate the need to have these lengthy discussions on the actual night of the meeting. So, it seems that Alderman Rogers suggestion to return to the format of having a workshop on the Monday before the board meeting is actually a better idea. At least that would eliminate the need to have a senseless meeting every week; especially since all those Winston said needed the weekly meetings are apparently not attending. Ben Franklin once said, “We are all born ignorant, but one must work hard to remain stupid.” With that being said, I can assure you that there are some on our board and within the offices of city hall that are working overtime in the latter. At last night’s board meeting, I sat and listened as rumors circula...

The Friends of the Lumberton Public Library are hosting a breakfast with Mr. and Mrs. Clauses on Saturday, December 7, 2013 at 9:00 a.m. This is not a fund raiser; its an event planned to give the parents of Lumberton the opportunity to create a memorable experience for their children within the City of Lumberton. Tickets for the event are $5 per person. This is an opportunity to build a memory for children for something they can remember about their hometown. Ifyou know of anyone that would like to attend this event, please send them to the library to purchase their tickets. In order to host the event, they need to sell at least 15 tickets by December 3, 2013. Also, the Friends of the Library is selling raffle tickets for a Christmas stocking worth $500. The tickets are $5 each or $10 for three tickets. This event will help sponsor events that will be provided throughout the year. So, come by the library or contact a Friend of the Library to purchase a ticket. It's for a very ...

Well, the Mayor and Board of Aldermen had their weekly “work-it-out” meetings. I know many of you have forgotten about this meeting because I also forgot. So, this post is based on the accounting of others since I was not actually at the meeting. It seems that the spouse of a city employee has a problem with the Public Works Director having a truck provided by the City of Lumberton. For some reason, this has become a problem. This is something that has always been provided for the Public Works Director but now, I guess due to the rising fuel cost (or something else; who knows) it is now a problem that the Public Works Director and the Chief of Police have access to a truck. It wasn’t a problem with the other public works directors or the other chief of police. The board didn’t have a problem even when a former chief had paid for fuel in a city that was not on his route. From what I was told, the conversation became very heated and there was the use of some foul language. I don’t ha...

I had no idea that the board was having a special called meeting last night. I went to city hall with the hopes to attend the meeting of the Lumberton Planning and Zoning Committee, but I realized that a board meeting of the Mayor and Board of Aldermen. When I arrived, they were in the midst of discussing payment of $500 to Dan Shelton, Chief of the Lumberton Fireproof Panthers for the work he performed on the fire truck. There matter was being discussed but when I entered the building, Mayor Winston tried to hurry the process and take a vote on the matter. I am not certain why he was in such a rush and no longer wanted to discuss the matter. What I do know is, at the last regularly scheduled board meeting, everyone was gushing and handing out kudos to Dean for the great job he preformed and how he saved the city money. Well, he sat there and took in all the atta boys but at no point during the meeting did he say the City of Lumberton was going to have to pay for the parts and the ...

I received a notifiacation that the UMC of Lumberton will be hosting a Community Thanksgiving Serice, Sunday, November 24, 2013 at 6:00 p.m. Please spread the word. Happy Thanksgiving!

Yesterday, South Mississippi Development Home Corporation held the ribbon cutting and open house for Azalea Gardens; and independent senior living facility. I attened the ceremonies and posted some photos on the Lumberton Informer facebook page of the tour. There was a nice crowd of individuals present, including but not limited to a representative from Thad Cochran's office, Steve Palazzo's office, Mayor Winston, J.P. Lawrence, MRHA 8,former Mayor Miriam R. Holder and Alderman,Ward 3, Quincy Rogers. Unfortunately, other elected officals from Lumberton were not present to see the unveiling of the $8.9 million dollar facility. However, it was good to see that Mayor Miriam R. Holder and Alderman Quincy Rogers were present to see the development come to fruition. They were very supportive of the facility and they fought long and hard to ensure the project was located in the City of Lumberton. While at the open house, I met some very lively women that were moving into Azalea Gard...

I would like to apologize for the delayed recap of the November 5, 2013 meeting but just as Paul stated in 1 Thessalonians 2:18, “Satan hindered me.” Well, I’m not sure that is entirely correct, but it does apply to part of the reason for not blogging. Before attending the board meeting, I was wrestling with a decision about whether or not I should continue to blog. I had an encounter that left me feeling some type of way. Just for the record, this is going to be a long blog post and it by no means is going to be politically correct. (Content removed.....it may be uploaded onto my other blog...the content was not germaine to this post and was not directly related to Lumberton Politics.) There were several people on the agenda that were supposed to speak but they were not in attendance. There was a proposal submitted by Charles Marshall of Ms. Regional Housing Authority. I will blog about that later. The department heads gave their reports. Please keep Ryan Easley, Director, P...

Monica Sibley was a very special and deeply loved 39 year old daughter, grand daughter, sister, mother, grand mother, aunt, cousin, and friend that was taken from her family and friends far too soon. Her family has a lot to deal with right now along with financial worries that are assoicated with Monica's untimely death. The family needs assistance in preparing for the funeral services for Monica Sibley. Any assistance you could provide would be greatly appreciated. An account has been set up at Bancorp South for anyone interested in making a donation to help with these final expenses. Please note, any contribution, big or small, would be greatly appreciated. All monies collected will be used to assist the family as they prepare to bury their loved one. Also, please remember to keep the Sibley Family in your prayers as they travel down the difficult road that lies ahead of them. Thanking you in advance for your contribution.

JACKSON, Miss. – Belhaven University and the Department of Athletics are mourning the loss of Assistant Football Coach Willie Heidelburg. Coach Heidelburg, who was in his 15th season at Belhaven as an assistant coach, was found deceased at home Monday morning of an apparent heart attack. The funeral service will be held Monday October 21 at 11:00 AM at Christ United Methodist Church. The church is located at 6000 Old Canton Road, Jackson, MS. "I had the privilege of being coached by Coach Heidelburg as well as having him as a close colleague over the past five years," Belhaven Head Coach Joe Thrasher said. "He is a man who lived out his faith. His passion for football was only second to his love for Christ. He is a man who leaves an incredible legacy behind and who will continue to have an impact on lives long after his time on earth." Heidelburg began his career with the Blazers in 1999, coaching the running backs and wide receivers and served as Running Back...

Well, I finally got the opportunity to read the article that was in this week's Lamar Times (front page). In the header, Winston is quoted as saying "This is one of the most serious times this city has ever faced." The city has been in dire straits for a long time and people were running for office without a minute clue as to what was going on with the city; fiscally. There was a lot of about missing money and certain people not paying water bills but there has yet to be any charges filed regarding this alleged misappropriation of municipal funds. It seem that Lumberton is in a continual downward spiral. It has always been known that the police department take up a large portion of the budget for every city; not just the City of Lumberton. Winston said that "the city budget is about $1.1 million dollars" and from that budget, $520,000 is used to keep the Lumberton Police Department operational. Winston said that "the city's financial situation may be...

I heard earlier that the press was interviewing Mayor Winston. So, I was online looking at Hattieburg American. I decided to check the Lamar Times and low and behold, I saw the following headline: "Lumberton mayor eyeing big cuts to police budget." Seriously? I have had a litny of issues with the Hobson ran police department, but despite those issues, I know that the City of Lumberton is in dire need of EVERYONE of the officers that are on duty. Leaving the City of Lumberton without adequate police services is, pardon the terminology, like removing the cages at the zoo. I already posted that the police department need more cars so they could adequately serve and protect the citizens of Lumberton. I don't want to imagine the chaos that will ensure without coverage on certain shifts. I don't think people that make budget cuts take into consideration that the budgets they're cutting directly affects the lives of others. I find it in very poor taste that you are loo...

This year, there's a variety of shirt colors offered for the 3rd Annual Dianne Bennett Memorial Breast Cancer Walk. Please don't forget to help support this event on Saturday, October 19, 2013 at 9:00 a.m. at the Wood-Hinton Park. This year, the day of the event is actually on the birthday of Dianne Bennett. So, it will be a dual celebration with plenty of food, fun and entertainment. Heeling Hearts and Celebrating Hope.

The Third Annual Dianne Bennett's Memorial Breast Cancer Foundation will be hosting its "Heeling Hearts" celebration Saturday, October 19,2013 at the Wood-Hinton Park. The Breast Cancer Walk will begin at 9:00 am and the other activities will begin at 10:00 am. There will be food, fun and fellowship. The event is free and family friendly. Bring everyone out to help celebrate a worthy cause.

e Months before Lumberton’s municipal election, I was on the trail to discovering what led to the closure of Dirt Cheap. After making several calls, I was informed that the reason Dirt Cheap closed its Lumberton location was because the owners of the building raised the leasing fee. Now, how many of you are just as shocked as I am? All this time, I thought they owned the building. I had no idea that they were leasing the building. I discovered this information a long time ago but I didn’t want to be accused of trying to sway the voter with this information. Also, I never imagined that Lumberton would elect Winston to serve a mayor. I have always been committed to exposing the “truths “ of Lumberton, regardless of what was said about me or my methodology. I am not one that viewed the events of Lumberton unfold from the forest nor am I an individual that has been blinded by the Miriam Holder hate trees. There are those that hated our previous may so much that it did not matter what I p...

In case you haven’t heard, there was yet another case of gun violence in the City of Lumberton. This seems to be a recurring issue in Lumberton and apparently, they’re not going to stop until someone is either seriously hurt or killed. Thankfully, neither has happened. I guess we can thank God for cheap guns and bad aim. For one, I am not certain why “so called thugs” are using guns as their weapons of choice. Aren’t you “bad”? Then why are you pulling guns on people? But I don’t think Einstein could decipher the mindset of these individuals. Immediately after the latest display of gun violence, there were those who quickly took to social media and blamed the violence on the lack of activities as well as the closure of the game room and the “Hut.” Really??? There are those that say the game room and the Hut were closed because they were spots frequented by (okay, I’m not about to be politically correct) Black people. While others say the spots were closed because the gathering usua...

I generally don’t blog on the weekend but while working on one subject; another subject matter was brought to my attention. I was researching some information about having individuals put out of board meetings. At the last board meeting, a resident had some questions and after Kent Crider whispered in his ear, Mayor Ben Winston threatened to have the person removed, forcibly, by the Chief of Police. I have searched high and low and could not find a legal justification for having a person put out of a public board meeting for expressing their freedom of speech. I was so concerned about this matter that I actually contacted the ACLU and gave them an overview of what happened. After speaking with a representative, I was told that a person cannot be put out of a board meeting for talking. I was informed that a person can be removed from a meeting for threats and acts of violence; not freedom of speech. It would behoove Mayor Winston to ask that residents attending the board meeting follo...

Today is a continuation of the items that were not included in the review of the board meeting. Before delving into today's post, I would like to say that I am glad that others are taking the initiative and reporting about incidents at the school. I don't know what happened and I didn't report it because I was out of town. However, I am certain that there are a lot of concerned parents that are appreciative of the notification. I don't have any children at the school but I am glad that everyone is well and whatever crisis may have occurred has been averted. Now, on to today's post. There were some other agenda items that were discussed. One of the WTF or OMG moments was the fact that the following appointees were asked to submit a contract to the Mayor and Board of Alderpersons: Lindsay Carter, City Attorney, Edwin Pittman, Judge, Douglass Miller, Prosecuting Attorney and Thomas Schwartz, Defense Attorney. I don't know why this request was submitted. Is there...

Well, the board and the sides they are choosing have started to emerge. There were so many amendments to this agenda that they needed a sewing kit. The first agenda item was to allow Chad Hocut of C-Spire to speak to the board regarding telephone, cell phone, long distance and internet services. The board voted to replace the landline phones with an internet based phone system. Please note: if the internet goes down; the phone systems goes down. The board amended the agenda to accept the copier upgrade from OCE (Canon). Afterwards, there was the drawn out process of getting the reports from department heads. Chief Cowart briefed the board on the $766,617.70 in uncollected fines. Chief Cowart also presented the board with information regarding the need to purchase more police cars. There are board members that want the city to pay for their cell phone services but they seemingly swept the need for cars under the rug. I will blog more about that later this week. The LPD cars are l...