Lumberton Informer

The other day I reported about the closed door discussions that were allegedly being held to replace the Lumberton Police Department and it's officers with patrol by the Lamar County Sheriff's Department. The amount of $300,000 per year may not be accurate but Ben Winston is working overtime trying to get rid of Lumberton's Police Department. At first I said he was operating without board approval. Well, that may or may not be true. Everything that has been done by this mayor, despite it's legal and/or ethical ramifications, has been supported by the board of alderpersons. As you know, he only need three aldermen to sign off on his injudicious motions and they are passed. So, all the blame for this effort to dismantle the Lumberton Police Department is not the working of one individual but the fact that there are some unethical as well as uninformed/unlearned/unscruplous individuals that are seeming uninterested in the dismantling of the City of Lumberton. (Side note:...

Tonight was my first time watching American Idol in years. If you tuned in, you saw Lumberton being represented by a very talented young man, Michael S., son of Mr. Mason and Dr. Linda Smith. He performed beautifully and received the Golden Ticket to Hollywood. I don't know about you but I will be tuning in to cheer him on to victory.

The writing was on the wall from day one. Perhaps you wasn't willing to accept the message because of your feelings for the messenger. But I have news that your self-proclaimed, supernatural Mayor, Ben Winston, has been meeting with Lamar County officials to put the final nail in his plot to kill the City of Lumberton. From what I've been told, he's trying to ink a deal that would eliminate the Lumberton Police Department and turn those duties over to the Lamar County Sheriff's Department for an estimated $300,000/year or $25,000/month. Essentially outsourcing police protection. Well, we can't say we didn't see this coming. First he sold the Lumberton Public Library to Lamar County for a whole dollar. Next, he disbanded the Lumberton Volunteer Fire Department Support group and we're relying on other departments to respond to emergency call because of the lack of trained and/or certified personnel on the current fire department. Also, for the last few months...

Here we go again. Last night, I attended the Special Called Meeting of the Mayor and Board of Aldermen. The first agenda item was to have Mr. David Cooper of Red River Waste Solutions, LP to address the board on garbage collection. Well, Mr. David Cooper did not show up for the meeting. Apparently, the account with the City of Lumberton was not substantial enough for the head of the department to attend, so he sent Mr. Alvin Cooper (no relation) to make the presentation to the board. One thing Mr. Alvin Cooper stated was they were there to "take care of the customers) but he's not over the department, so everything he said could be thrown out when it arrives for approval by the actual decision makers (the ones that did not show up for the meeting.) He said the general cost would be around $7.50/household for roughly 740 customers. That equals $5,550/per month and that does not include the landfill fees or the fee they will charge for "extra" garbage. Again, we are...

If you live in Lumberton and haven't been watching American Idol then you don't know what you're missing. This season promises to be very exciting; especially since we have a native of Lumberton that will be featured on the show. I was informed that Michael Smith, son of Mr. Mason and Dr. Linda Smith auditioned for the show and received a "Golden Ticket" to Hollywood. I don't know about you, but that's some exciting news. From what I was told, he auditioned under the name Michael Simeon in Salt Lake City, Utah. I would like to take this opportunity to wish him well and may he have great success on the show. I hope you all tune in to cheer him on and help him get to the next round. Wouldn't it be great to have him go all the way to the finals. I'll be watching; hopefully you will to.

Mississippi still shares this celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday on the third Monday of January and Robert E. Lee's birthday January 19. In Alabama, Martin Luther King Jr. and General Robert E. Lee share the paid state holiday on the third Monday of January. Robert E. Lee still honored along with Dr. King? What?  Yes. Only in the South. I wonder why? (Not really!) Before we all head off today to honor Dr. King, let us not forget that there are those who fought tooth and nail to stop the holiday, and there are still states that tarnish his day with honoring confederate traitors. Most important to remember is that Dr. King and many others died at the hands of some of the same racists who are still with us today. We have not won the battle that Dr. King is symbolic of. He fought for workers, for unions, was against the war in Vietnam, and established a Poor People's Campaign. Income inequality in this country has gotten worse not better. We still face raci...

I guess it's going to be one of those days. First, I found a plain manailla envelope tucked behind the pillow of my patio chair. The contents were much like the one I received regarding Dennis Hobson, former Chief of Police. This time, another police officer was the target. I thought nothing of the letter other than the fact I did not like that someone was that close to my door. I think I'm going to need to install a security camera. It's amazing that people travel through this area all times of day and night, but no one ever sees anything. I brushed off the anonymous letter and then I logged onto facebook and discover that someone delivered a letter or letters signed the "Lumberton Informant." I don't know if this was an attempt to try to get others to blame me for the work of some coward or what was going on. But one thing is for certain, I never had nor will I ever have the need to address anyone annonymously. In the words of J. Cole, "childish shi...

I apologize for the late delay but it took me three days to get this typed and posted. Blame it on the carpal tunnel. The first agenda item was to allow Mr. Robert Lassiter of the Hattiesburg Water Department to address the board regarding a proposal to test the water for the City of Lumberton. Mr. Lassister spoke very highly of Public Works employee Jones. It seems the board is trying to go in the direction of getting her certified as so she can serve as Public Works Director. From what I understood, Lassister will mentor her, for a stipend, so she can get the required certification. In case you missed it, the latest Public Works Director quite; like most of his predecessors. Lassister was basically telling the board he would mentor Jones for gas money but they insisted on complicating the process and asking if he could submit his fees in writing and present them to the board within the next 30 days. For once, it seemed like the board was trying to do the right thing, but then if yo...