ECC sales tax will strengthen public safety

Opinion

October 25, 2012

ECC sales tax will strengthen public safety

FOR THE DAILY SOUTHERNER Lee Darnell, MBA, NREMT-P The Daily Southerner Thu Oct 25, 2012, 01:15 PM EDT

TARBORO — The Roman philosopher Marcus Tullius Cicero is quoted as saying, “The safety of the people shall be the highest law.”

On Nov. 6, Edgecombe County residents will cast their vote on the quarter-cent sales tax referendum. That vote could help Edgecombe Community College better train the heroes of Law Enforcement, Firefighting, 911 Communications, Emergency Management, and Emergency Medical Services who make up our county’s public safety system.

Our society is always growing, changing, and presenting new challenges for our county and our citizens. When the challenges we face involve crime, fire, hazardous materials, medical emergencies, disaster response, and other issues of public safety, it is important we be proactive in training responders to meet the worst case scenarios.

It doesn’t end there. It is equally as important to continuously refresh their knowledge and skills with new techniques as they emerge.

Both campuses of Edgecombe Community College as well as local fire departments are currently used to provide training for our emergency responders. This is necessary but still leaves so many needs unmet.

Emergency classes are complex and often require expanded space and specialty equipment. Our classes now move from room to room as space allows; occasionally there are no classrooms available.

Dedicated space also is needed to place specialty equipment and simulation labs that cannot be moved in and out of traditional storage spaces. The proposed 24,000-square-foot Workforce Training Center on the Tarboro campus will feature training rooms specialized to meet the EMT, paramedic, firefighter, technical rescue, and law enforcement training needs that cannot be met due to our current space limitations.

We all suffer as a result of the sluggish economy and look forward to the return of better times. At the college we see the strain on the faces of some of our students and we hear the stories of how education is helping them overcome their obstacles. I can’t begin to describe the joy I find in helping someone who is unemployed or underemployed to complete a program and enter a new profession with newfound pride and stability.

Many unemployed, underemployed, and displaced workers seek out new career opportunities that are personally rewarding but also have that feeling of stability not previously enjoyed in the private sector. Some of these students search for emergency services jobs that are always in demand.

Imagine giving back to your community as you earn a living!

The revenue from the quarter-cent sales tax would provide the funds needed to move forward with the planning, design, and construction of the new Workforce Training Center without an increase in property taxes.

Our goal at the college is to provide programs and job training to promote economic recovery for all Edgecombe County citizens. In the Public Safety Programs area we also work to keep our county’s citizens safe and healthy. These missions will never change. Now your college needs your support so we can continue to train our local heroes. Please say “YES” to Edgecombe Community College.

Lee Darnell, MBA, NREMT-P

Coordinator,

Public Safety Programs

Edgecombe Community College

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Opinion

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The next day, a Saturday, Stephanie and I joined one another in marriage under a beautiful little gazebo by Comanche Trail Lake, fed by the historic spring from which the community draws its name.

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As I grew up, my first cousins — a group of us that have simply been referred to as “The Cousins” would often joke that when we died, we knew it would be as the result of a heart attack. That’s the history of the Walker family and my Dad and his seven brothers and sisters, as heir parents had, died of heart-related issues.
But along the way, something else happened, Cousins Joyce, Dudley, Don, Kenneth, Howard and Jimmy all died after a courageous battle with cancer.
Dudley and Don and Jimmy and Howard were brothers. But we were much more than cousins. We were a true Southern family in that no matter how far away we might move, we always wound up back at Granny Walker’s.

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May 1, 2013
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Princeville, the oldest African American community in North America, through the years has had many hurdles and set backs since it was established.Yet with its resilience, it has some how, through some miracles has always bounced back to stay the course of normalcy as best as it could envision. Yet, we must be ever so reminded that our earthly job of being responsible and accountable for and to ourselves shall never cease, until our journey is finished.
This beckoning call for volunteers is being directed to all the local residents who are concerned and aware of the deplorable existing condition of the cemetery on N.C. Highway 111.
This appeal is specifically for churches, community organizations, and all concerned able body men, women and young folks to respond. The purpose of the tentative meeting is to organize a special committee of volunteers within the community, to assumed the responsibilities and duties of maintaining the cemetery. This is where our deceased loved ones are laid to rest and one day for sure some or most of us, if it’s God's will, shall lay rest in this cemetery. It's about pride and cultural respect and decency that we the living owe our beloved ones who's gone over.
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Calling all concerned men and women and children residing in historic Princeville.
Those interested please call (252) 823-3740

Milton Bullock
Native of Princeville

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LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Dear Editor,
Thursday, May 2, is the National Day of Prayer all over the United States. I would like to challenge every minister of the gospel to bring a group from his or her church and meet us on the Town Square across from Edgecombe County Courthouse at 11:45 p.m. Thursday for prayer and unity.
After looking through the phonebook and newspaper church page, there appears to be more than 300 churches in Edgecombe County of multiple faiths. Yet each year we barely have 25 people respond to the advertising for National Day of Prayer.
Prayer has no respective person and does not practice segregation, yet the church segregates itself every Sunday morning. As a blood bought believer in Jesus Christ, I ask all who believes that Jesus was born of virgin, died on the cross and rose on the third day to meet me with an expressive tongue of prayer for our local, state and national leaders. Are you up for the challenge.

Viola Harris

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We Salute...
Each Friday, The Daily Southerner will recognize individuals, groups and businesses in Edgecombe County who have gone “above and beyond” in their effort to make this a better place to work, play and raise a family.

April 12, 2013
We Salute...
• ELLIS “BUDDY” HOOKS, on being named to receive the BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA DISTINGUISHED CITIZEN AWARD.
Hooks will be officially recognized on May 14.
• ALL PARTICIPANTS in the 76th EASTERN CAROLINA 4-H LIVESTOCK SHOW, held this week at the East Carolina Agriculture and Educational Center.
• Members of the TARBORO HIGH BOOSTERS CLUB, employees of the TOWN OF TARBORO, members of the GOLDEN K KIWANIS CLUB and all others involved in the successul staging of the 20th TARBORO EASTER CLASSIC BASEBALL TOURNAMENT, Despite chilly, wet weather on Thursday, today’s weather is forecast to improve to the point of being a perfect day at the ballpark.
• Edgecombe County businesses recognized for their efforts to promote a safe work place, including Keihin Carolina System Technology, Inc., Air System Components, ABB, Inc., Piedmont Natural Gas, Tarboro Resource Center and QVC, Rocky Mount , Edgecombe-Martin County Electric Membership Corp., Hillshire Brands-Sara Lee Bakery and N.C. Department of Commerce, Division of Workforce Solutions, Tarboro Branch Office.
• LT. FLEMING THOMPSON, a 2005graduate of Tarboro High School, on being named the United States Air Force’s 23rd Bomb Squadron NAVIGATOR OF THE YEAR.

• • •

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