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Premise to Report

    It is the intent of this publication to pronounce our opinion on issues important to our readers, and, whenever possible, to entertain their curiosity and pique their passions through the honest discussion of subjects significant in their lives. These subjects will not be relegated to just those that are government or economic driven, but also, those that are community driven, and those that speak to our creative spirits.
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PCS is Now Officially on the Sell Block

On August 17, 2010, BHP Billiton of Australia tendered an unsolicited offer to purchase Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan for 38.5 billion dollars (US currency), or 130.00 per share. At the point of this corporate announcement, they also flatly rejected the bid. Today they are reported to review the hostile takeover bid to advise shareholders of what action they should take.

BHP Billiton operates as a diversified natural resources company in Australia, the Americas, and southern Africa. The company explores for and produces crude petroleum oil and liquefied natural gas; mines bauxite, refines bauxite into alumina, and smelts alumina into aluminum metal; mines various base metals, including copper, silver, lead, zinc, and uranium; explor... Read More
August 23rd, 2010

Civitas gives Beaufort County government an ‘A’ for efficiency

Say what you will about Beaufort County government, but the numbers are in, and Beaufort County has secured its distinction as one of the most efficient counties in the entire state, according to the Civitas Institute Report Card on County Government Growth.

This distinction is especially notable, in that only 12 of North Carolina’s 100 counties managed to earn an ‘A’ in government growth for the first decade of the 21st Century, by lowering the number of county employees at a time when their populations increased. In the case of Beaufort County, even though its population increased 5.4 percent from 2000 to 2009, Beaufort County trimmed its workforce by 22.4 percent during the same time period. Most of the other North Carolina count... Read More
August 23rd, 2010

TEA is Brewing in the Original Washington

Super TEA Party Rally on October 2, 2010 on the waterfront in Washington's Harbor District.

On Thursday night, Aug. 5, a group of about 20-25 people got together with Mr. Buzz Cayton of the Beaufort County Patriots in Washington, North Carolina to discuss the planning of a super TEA Party rally along with waterfront in Little Washington on Sept. 25th. The Beaufort Patriots is the TEA Party movement recently formed in that county, by members of the Conservative Men's group. Buzz is President of that group. He is a brilliant man and a wonderful advocate for the change we need from the corruption and poor leadership we've seen in our state.

The plan is for the rally to be huge (3-5 thousand people) so that the event will attract exciting, ... Read More
August 11th, 2010

Woolard celebrates his party's nomination as Republican candidate for U.S. Congress

In yesterday’s primary election, Beaufort County resident Ashley Woolard defeated three competitors to win the North Carolina Republican Party’s nomination to run for the U.S. House of Representatives District 1 seat, currently held by Democrat G.K. Butterfield.

Woolard received 45 percent of the 8,302 votes cast for the Republican contenders across the 23 northeastern counties comprising District 1; whereas Butterfield received 73 percent of the 63,243 votes cast for the Democratic contenders.

Check back tomorrow for more on the Woolard-Butterfield race.

Beaufort County commissioner Stan Deatherage, candidate for U.S. Congress Ashley Woolard and Woolard's campaign manager Bill Tarpenning, from left, watch the local news channel at... Read More
May 6th, 2010

‘Liberaltarians’: The new political activists; In bed with Ron Paul and Barack Obama

A growing number of the American youth is bridging the gap between American liberalism and Libertarianism as if it were the most natural thing in the world. And by ‘youth’, I’m sadly enough referring to a certain class of people under the age of 40; specifically the ones who still frequent bars and get the bulk of their news from The Daily Show on Comedy Central.

It’s as if they don’t realize, or care, that the economic components to American liberalism and Libertarianism are as far apart on the ideological spectrum as Communist Russia and the Netherlands. Once upon a time, they said they were Democrats because they wanted the federal government to take care of the poor and to regulate the free market. Now, th... Read More
August 23rd, 2010

County Commissioner and Hosptial Commissioners provides an update on the Hospital

We are about 30 days away from receiving replies to the Request for Proposals (RFP) that were sent to 14 hospital management companies. We can expect the Proposals to address the issues set out in the RFP's. The RFP asks for specifics about how the submitter intends to insure the delivery of quality health care. You can review a copy of the RFP by clicking here. The RFP is solid, but it does not address some of the important issue the Hospital board will have to address. One of those issues is short term cash flow.

The hospital has been losing about two million dollars per year until recently. In recent months the cash flow has improved, but not enough at this point to solve the cash flow problem. To get all of the payables (what we owe) u... Read More
August 23rd, 2010

Fiddler on the Roof


"L'chaim! To the best musical of all time!"

Most people either simply adore musicals, or think they are ridiculously contrived. Even aware of the risk, I can say without fear of mockery that the 1971 film adaptation of the classic musical Fiddler on the Roof is not only one of the best musicals of all time; it is also one of the best movies ever made.

I understand that a five-star rating is a bold move, so I’m starting with a full disclosure: I am one of those ‘silly’ people who love musicals! The only musical I won’t watch is Grease, but I blame this on the insufferable popularization of this musical among those who know nothing else about the genre. (Ironically, the original Broadway production of Fiddler on ... Read More
August 23rd, 2010

Lone Leaf Gallery celebrates one-year anniversary, hangs exhibit

Now an official downtown-Washington success, Lone Leaf Gallery & Custom Framing, celebrated its one-year anniversary yesterday evening with hors d’oeuvres, drinks and a new art exhibit, ‘Interruptions’ by Ben Isburg. From 5 to 8 p.m., dozens of loyal patrons and supporters stopped by the gallery to congratulate the Loughlins and see the show.

After a shaky, but well intentioned, version of 'Happy Birthday', Neil and Meredith Loughlin, owners of Lone Leaf Gallery & Custom Framing, extinguished the candle on their one-year anniversary cake--a delicious homemade mocha cake donated by Meredith's mom, Lynn Deatherage.

Since it opened a year ago, Lone Leaf Gallery has carved out its niche in the Eastern North Carolina ar... Read More
August 3rd, 2010

The Overuse of Sexual Imagery in Advertising

Sexual imagery used in campaign ads may sell products, but is its use ethical? Deeming what is and is not appropriate has a large gray area and is subject to interpretation. The long history of sexual imagery in advertising has only resulted in a few guidelines for limitations. There have also been some suggestions for further protecting the targeted and affected youth from these advertisements due to the found seriousness and future repercussions. Even though sexual imagery is open for interpretation; the effects on the youth alone prove that ethics should be questioned. The prevalence of these ads are growing at enormous rates, and will thusly further affect young adults and society. The use of sexual imagery targeting young adults to sel... Read More
June 16th, 2010

Don’t let backyard veggies spoil, make Garden Couscous

This summer I was surprised by the number of people who had taken to gardening. I suppose that one positive effect of the recession is that it’s teaching us to consume less and produce more. My parents have grown vegetables before, but this year they planted produce in nearly every natural area in their yard. It seemed like every other day that they were sending me home with squash, zucchini, okra and peppers. And just when I thought I might actually need to visit the grocery store for tomatoes and cucumbers, two young children from my neighborhood were on my porch selling them to me for a quarter. In fact, even though I live on a city block, I’d bet that every three out of four of my neighbors have a garden. As their vines star... Read More
August 23rd, 2010

A Second Supply of Lawyer Jokes Supplied by our Favorite Lawyer

This is the second edition of lawyer jokes from our favorite lawyer, Diane Rufino. They sure make me laugh.

Lawyer joke #1
Where can you find a good lawyer?

In the cemetery.

Lawyer joke #2
What do you do if you run over a lawyer?

Back over him to make sure. Then, make another notch on the steering wheel.

Lawyer joke #3
What do lawyers and sperm have in common?

One in 50,000,000 has a chance of becoming a human being.

Lawyer joke #4
What's the difference between a porcupine and two lawyers in a BMW?

A porcupine has the pricks on the outside.

Lawyer joke #5
Why does the American Bar Association prohibit sex between attorneys and their clients?

To prevent the client for being billed twice for what is essentially ... Read More
August 11th, 2010

"Every Picture Tells a Story ... Don't It:" On the Road, Busch Gardens

I have always loved theme parks. It is an incurable urge that draws me to these monstrous ribbons of steel that allow roaring, rolling collective groups of stangers strapped into a transitory thrill box to be shot up and down and all around, until the itch to be thrilled is surely satisfied. They're called roller coasters, and you either love them or hate them; never just tolerate them. Busch Gardens placates that itch for me, as well as it does for most of the members of my family. Does it do it for you?

This following segment of "Every Picture Tells a Story ... Don't It:" On the Road is dedicated to all you folks who just need to get away for that cheap thrill that usually never kills, and you won't catch anything that you wouldn't w... Read More
August 11th, 2010

July 2010: A 'Before and After' of the Beaufort Co. housing market

For the July 2010 Market Report I decided to shift focus from the national real estate market to the local market. I zoomed-in on Beaufort County, divided the county by area, and took unique snapshots of market activity compiled for each area during the 22 months leading up to the Sept. 2008 market collapse, and the 22 months following it.

The data confirmed national trends. Nationally and locally, since the collapse, market volume has increased, the number of days a home sits on the market has increased, sales prices have decreased, the volume of homes that make it to closing has decreased and the number of conventional loans being approved has decreased. The one slightly surprising exception to these trends was an increase in the averag... Read More
July 20th, 2010

We may just be on the verge of excellence in our school system

Over the last few years we know of no one who has been any more critical than have we about Beaufort County Schools. Most of those complaints were directed at the former superintendent. Fortunately in our opinion, he resigned. After a short stint by Bill Rivenbark as Interim Superintendent the Board hired Dr. Don Phipps in December, 2009.

Friday (7-23-10) Dr. Phipps gave something of a "year-end report" and reviewed his plans for the coming year and even dared to dream a bit. We were impressed.

Dr. Phipps indicated he is working with an architect to finalize the plans for a Facilities Study. This is something long needed in Beaufort County as we have previously documented. We have shown how poor planning cost the taxpayers of B... Read More
July 27th, 2010

Woolard Statement: Butterfield Return Rangel Money

I'm angry and the voters in the First Congressional District are angry and rightfully so. We see the arrogance and corruption in Washington, and we don’t like it. We are especially upset that Rep. G. K. Butterfield, has violated the spirit of the Congressional Ethics Committee while he is a serving member of that body.

Charlie Rangel, who has served in Congress for 40 years, was charged with numerous ethics violations. It has taken the Ethics Committee two years of investigation to even admit that there might be sufficient evidence to bring charges against Rep. Rangel.

Rep. G. K. Butterfield , a member of the Ethics Committee, has received $4,000 in campaign donations from Rep. Rangel. By any standard, receiving a donation from so... Read More
July 30th, 2010

What Type of Parent Are You?

I found that in general, as children get older there is less parent-child physical contact. When children are between infancy and preschool the parent will hold the child’s hand, carry them, or at least keep a hand on the child and will guide/ lead them. I came across a few specific examples of child-parent interaction between different age groups as well as different parenting styles. The cases involved a pre-school child and an adolescent who both had authoritative parents; and elementary children one with a permissive parent and another with an authoritarian parent. The interactions between child and parent in each case were quite different and the child’s behavior reflected greatly on the style of parenting they were subjec... Read More
June 16th, 2010