By Kerria Weaver kerriaweaver@borderbelt.org Bladen County Manager Greg Martin, who has been working in local government for almost 30 years, is retiring. He first worked in local government starting in early 1996. The Border Belt Independent spoke with Martin about his time in the position and his decision to retire. Q. What was your upbringing […]
Kerria Weaver
Kerria Weaver is a reporter for the Border Belt Independent. She is a graduate of N.C. State University and is currently enrolled in a graduate program at Duke University.
Posted inEducation
Border Belt People Q&A with Greg Bacot: ‘So many opportunities in the world’
By Kerria Weaver kerriaweaver@borderbelt.org Greg Bacot, a 1985 graduate of UNC Pembroke, established the Lacy and Alice Bacot Higher Education Scholarship at the university to honor his parents in 2018. On Oct. 20, Bacot, 62, announced a $1.2 million planned gift that would enhance the scholarship. The Border Belt Independent spoke with Bacot about his […]
Posted inHealth
Border Belt People Q&A: Murchison’s cleats honor twin brother’s bout with cancer
By Kerria Weaver kerriaweaver@borderbelt.org Larrell Murchison, 26, was born and raised in Elizabethtown playing football from a very young age alongside his twin brother, Farrell. Today, Larrell plays defensive end for the NFL’s Los Angeles Rams. On Dec. 3, Murchison wore customized cleats for the Rams’ matchup against the Cleveland Browns to raise awareness and […]
Posted inEnvironment
Border Belt People: A Q&A with Paul Valenti, historian and Lumber River diver
By Kerria Weaver kerriaweaver@borderbelt.org Paul Valenti, 69, works as the chief water plant operator in Lumberton, but he is also well known for being a historian and scuba diver. Born and raised in Lumberton, Valenti has explored the Lumber River, finding many historical artifacts from megalodon shark teeth to an 1,100-year-old canoe. The Border Belt […]
Posted inCulture
Border Belt People: Q&A with Nancy Fields, director of the Museum of the Southeast American Indian
By Kerria Weaver kerriaweaver@borderbelt.org Nancy Strickland Fields serves as director and curator of the Museum of the Southeast American Indian located on UNC Pembroke’s campus, working for the museum since 2017. As director and curator, Fields, 50, makes sure the public is made aware of the history, art, and culture of Native Americans in their […]
Posted inUncategorized
Border Belt People: A Q&A with former Tomb of the Unknown Soldier guard Edward Tatum
By Kerria Weaver kerriaweaver@borderbelt.org Edward Tatum of Elizabethtown served in one of the nation’s most prestigious military units, the Old Guard, as a sentinel at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington, Va. The Old Guard assists with funerals at Arlington National Cemetery and guards the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. It is the […]
Posted inEnvironment
Apple snails were found near the Lumber River. That’s a bad thing
Apple snails are are invasive species native to South America. Scientists recently discovered them near the Lumber River in Robeson County.
Posted inNews
Scotland County’s NC Rural Heritage Center takes visitors back in time to the late 1800s
The John Blue House, part of the NC Rural Heritage Center in Scotland County, is undergoing $275,000 in renovations.
Posted inEducation
UNC Pembroke has plans for two major projects that depend on new state budget
As state lawmakers continue to work toward a budget deal, the University of North Carolina at Pembroke hopes for money for two major projects.
Posted inBusiness & Economy
Bladen County engineer worked his way up the ranks at NCDOT. Other teens can, too
NCDOT is launching new training programs for people without college degrees in an effort to fill hundreds of vacant jobs.