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Laurinburg Exchange
Laurinburg City Council OKs $40M spending plan
LAURINBURG — The Laurinburg City Council unanimously approved a $40 million budget that consists of another uptick in water and sewer rates. The vote was made after a Tuesday public hearing on the matter, where no one spoke for or against the budget. The 2024-25 fiscal year spending plan...
St. Andrews to hold homeownership assistance event
LAURINBURG — Area residents who are interested in buying a home but don’t qualify for a traditional mortgage may want to head to St. Andrew’s University the weekend of June 28-30 as they sponsor an Achieve the Dream event with the Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America (NACA).
Scotland JROTC cadets take on challenge
FT. JACKSON, S.C. — The Scotland High School JROTC recently attended the JROTC Cadet Leadership Challenge, held in Fort Jackson, South Carolina. The JCLC is a seven-day JROTC summer camp where cadets from different programs meet and fully engage in activities such as rappelling, canoeing, obstacle courses, zip lines, orienteering, drill and ceremonies, and various other team-building events.
Scotland County Democratic Women to meet Saturday
LAURINBURG — The Scotland County Democratic Women will meet at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 22 at the Scotland County Democratic Headquarters, located at 317 N. Main St., Laurinburg. The meeting’s guest speakers will be Carolyn Banks, vice chair of the Scotland County Schools district; and Jessica Holmes, auditor for...
Mears to lead RichmondCC’s Small Business Center
HAMLET — Alanna “Flynne” Meares of Warrenton, has been named the new director of the Small Business Center and Entrepreneurial Services at Richmond Community College. “I applied for the position because it seemed like the perfect fit for my experience, education and interests,” Meares said. “As a serial entrepreneur, I have had multiple businesses including a coffee shop, Flynne’s Coffee Bar in downtown Southern Pines, which I sold at the end of 2011.”
Rob Schofield | Juneteenth holiday: An important moment to contemplate our nation’s past and present
That’s one of the questions (or, at least, one hopes it is) that most white Americans ask themselves periodically when contemplating the evil of human slavery – the institution that undergirds so much of their modern privilege and wealth. How could any human being ever think themselves entitled to own another human because of their skin color?
May Food Service Inspections
LAURINBURG — The Scotland County Health Department performed 10 inspections of area restaurant locations during the month of May. Following are the results of those inspections, including the date of inspection, site and final grade. Specific violations are not listed but can be found on the Scotland County Health Department website.
North Carolina 4-H hosted by St. Andrews
LAURINBURG — North Carolina 4-H hosted a horse clinic at St. Andrews Equestrian Center from Friday, May 14 through Sunday, May 16. Students and their horses from around the state of North Carolina attended and had an opportunity to work and train with the equestrian coaches from St. Andrews University. St. Andrews was able to provide stalls at the Equestrian Center for them during the duration of the program.
JOHN HOOD | Freedom has multiple definitions
What does it mean to be free? Many seemingly intractable disputes about specific issues — ranging from welfare spending and school choice to abortion and alcohol policy — originate from the fact that people don’t answer this question in the same way. It’s hard to have a useful political conversation without a common political language.
JOHN HOOD | Ticket-splitters could prove decisive
Donald Trump will likely win North Carolina’s 16 electoral votes this year. Our state is a political battleground, no question about it, but in presidential races the Democratic Party always runs a bit uphill here. In gubernatorial races, the topography looks different. The Democratic nominee this year, Attorney General...
PASTOR’S CORNER: Save the family
Today, we celebrate family; the most important union in the world. We celebrate the one flesh union of a husband, wife and children — the unit that God created to bless the entire universe. None of us would exist were it not for the one-flesh union of husband and...
Scotland event brings awareness to scams targeting elderly
LAURINBURG — June 15 is World Elder Abuse Day and this week an event was held at the Scotland Place Civic Center aimed at bringing awareness. Speakers and presenters at the Scotland County World Elder Abuse Day event included Twyla Allen, Aging Program administrator for the Lumber River Council of Governments’ Area Agency on Aging; April Snead, the Scotland County manager; Kayla Lowry, Aging Specialist, Robeson County Seniorsʼ Health Insurance Information Program (SHIPP) coordinator; Captain Darryl Ford, Scotland County Sheriff’s Office; and Falana Jackson, Adult Services supervisor at the Scotland County Department of Social Servies.
PHOTO| FOREMUSIC presents checks to Live Like Madison, Arts Council
FOREMUSIC’s Chris Fore, center, presents checks to Laura Fedak of Live Like Madison and Pam Hansen of the Arts Council of Scotland County, each received half the proceeds, $1,780 each, from the two-night FOREMUSIC student concert held at the Storytelling Arts Center.
Lumbee Tribe opens 2nd phase of Hoke County subdivision
RAEFORD — Two new homeowners received their keys to the Lumbee Tribe’s newest neighborhood. Lumbee Tribal Chairman John Lowery, the new construction team and Hoke County Tribal Council Representative Chocajuana Oxendine cut the ribbon Thursday afternoon to officially open the second phase of Cheraw Acres Subdivision in Hoke County.
RCC enrolls 8 volunteer firefighters in academy
HAMLET — Eight volunteer firefighters have just started Richmond Community College’s six-month Fire Academy that is being offered in partnership with the Rockingham Fire Department. All students enrolled are volunteer firefighters who do not have their certification from the N.C. Office of State Fire Marshal. Across the nation,...
Smolar: Hello Laurinburg
Before I officially introduce myself as the new sports editor of The Laurinburg Exchange, I want to give you all a few things you should know about me before I’m out in town talking to players and coaches while providing local coverage to all of your favorite Scotland County sports.
Scotland Lions provide vision testing
Members of the Scotland County Lions Club provided vision testing for students at Scotland Christian Academy. Thirty-eight students were screened during this free event. Anyone interested in learning more about the club is welcome to attend the next meeting on June 24 at Old Laurel Hill Presbyterian Church. Meetings are held at 6 p.m. and include supper.
Library makes ‘Big Bang Boom’
The Laurel Hill Community Center’s gym was packed on Wednesday to listen to Big Bang Boom. The program was part of the Scotland County Memorial Library’s Summer Reading Program. The next program will be on June 26 at 10:30 a.m. at the Wagram Recreation Center featuring the Wagram Apiary Beekeepers.
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