Comments | Eastern NC Now

No problem Van Zant.

One of my first understandings about being an honest, and thus successful politician was "not being a weasel."

Commented: Saturday, June 7th, 2025 @ 1:48 pm By: Stan Deatherage

Everything’s pretty much the same round here….

Neighbor’s still shooting all of next years deer

Commented: Friday, June 6th, 2025 @ 10:05 pm By: MW

Terry Williams: I don't care about your private discussions.

My point was, and is that nothing matters in governing unless the People's Business is discussed "in the room where it matters;" the public's open meeting room.

That is where I draw all contrasts; that is where the public is put on notice, and that is where the politicians, moreover, are put on notice as well.

Commented: Friday, June 6th, 2025 @ 3:21 pm By: Stan Deatherage

Reading over this fine Diane Rufino post, I am reminded how much I miss her sound mind by the written word, and her wise advice spoken to me on so many occasions.

God bless you Diane; you are with Jesus now, and I am sure you are quickly becoming one of his favorites.

Commented: Friday, June 6th, 2025 @ 2:34 pm By: Stan Deatherage

Terry Williams: For me, as an elected official for many decades, the essential governing is always conducted in the public's open session, in that big public room, paid for by the public, and recorded for posterity.

What is advocated for the public is best done there, where there can be open debate, where words matter, and that very special historical record can be made and preserved.

In that big open room, where no doors are locked and all of the public is welcome, is where good government takes place.

That is where my best words are spoken as all of this is the People's Business. Terry, I think it would be wise if you could join me there, in that public space.

Commented: Friday, June 6th, 2025 @ 1:46 pm By: Stan Deatherage

Yeah, Answer the question Terry Williams.

Commissioner Deatherage answers all questions, and is accountable to his people.

Answer the damn question.

Commented: Friday, June 6th, 2025 @ 11:43 am By: William Bonney

Terry Williams, I work three very important jobs, so making it to every school board meeting to close the Snowden School, and every Public Hearing to speak to the utter fecklessness of that impractical position of the Beaufort County School Board was an impossibility for me ... However ...

When I did attend a Public Hearing, or a Beaufort County Commissioners meeting, acting as my constituents' representative, I spoke ardently, passionately against closing Snowden School, and even proposed solutions to keep Snowden School open and viable ... In fact, I am still working, even now, to keep Snowden School open as an educational space, a continued solution for educating our children here in Beaufort County, in Aurora, NC, here now still as an elected Beaufort County Commissioner for this entire county of Beaufort.

Furthermore, my long history as a governing representative of Beaufort County is such that when I latch my purposeful sights on an issue to make things right here in my county, as its astute representative, I purposefully govern as one lone voice, one lone vote, and I never stop until that purpose is brought into fruition, or, unfortunately, I lose because there are just NOT ENOUGH other smart politicians /governing leaders here in Beaufort County, and even then, should I temporarily lose as my constituents' representative, I continue to work to make an uncontrollable wrong as much right, as is possible, through the democratic process ... Elections ... Yes, elections, because the changing of the proverbial incompetent guard, the removal of irresponsible politicians does make for profound consequences here in this Representative Republic, here in Beaufort County as well.

Now, Terry Williams, Beaufort County School Board Member, as you "represent the Chocowinity School district as well as the entire county:" Did you ever speak "ardently, passionately against closing of Snowden School," and where and when did you do it? When and where did you make your representative stand in an open public meeting ... Your passionate declaration, one publicly made before it was all just too late?

I have more questions still about the closing of Snowden, but why don't you start by answering this one very simple question.

Commented: Friday, June 6th, 2025 @ 8:39 am By: Stan Deatherage

Thom Tillis has gotta GO !!!! He is a worthless SOB. Good to see Viguerie getting involved to help kick Tillis OUT.

Commented: Friday, June 6th, 2025 @ 6:13 am By: Rino Hunter

For more enlightenment about the School Board, I looked up the vote on the motion on the TENTATIVE vote to close Snowden which was necessary in order to start the state process of closing Snowden School. Without this step there could not be final vote to close the school.

Donald Shreve (R) Made the motion to start the school closing process.
Daniel Hudson (R) Seconded the motion to start the school closing process.

Voted YES to start the process of closing Snowden School
T.W. Allen (R)
Eltha Booth (D)
Gary Carlton (R)
Daniel Hudson (R)
Donald Shreve (R)
Terry Williams (R)
Caroly Walker (R)

Voted NO to start the process of closing Snowden School
Stacey Davis (R)
Charles Hickman (R)

This should make things a lot clearer about the workings of the School Board. Still, it makes me wonder why some did what they did in the way they did it. Why would some provide a little cover for others. Then again, maybe they are just stupid.

Commented: Thursday, June 5th, 2025 @ 8:11 pm By: Van Zant

TWO THINGS HERE: 1. From all I read here in Eastern NC NOW, closing Snowden to continue to consolidate schools so children can spend too much of their days riding in busses makes no sense whatsoever; 2. Why is it that so many Republicans DO NOT know how to act like and vote like Republicans here in Beaufort County.

Republicans should always listen to wisdom, and right now County Commissioners Richardson, Deatherage and Dunn make complete sense; listen and vote with them, which the others don't. I have no idea why the other commissioners with an (R) by their name got elected as Republicans; they are Democrats not Republicans.

On the school board, the only one that talks with any sense is Charles Hickman, and at least Stacey Davis is wise enough to vote with this man of good sense and the courage to speak his good mind.

Commented: Thursday, June 5th, 2025 @ 7:14 am By: Richard Marvin Butkus

Thanks are in order to Charles Hickman and Stacey Davis for standing up for and voting in favor of keeping Snowden open. They represented the Beaufort County people's voiced concerns and wishes. It's a shame the school board and county commissioners don't have more elected officials who do this.

What is surprising is that Terry Williams voted against closing Snowden. That should be worthy of applause as well. Maybe he had a change of heart and chose to listen to the people considering he traditionally votes lockstep with the superintendent's agenda. However, this is doubtful and was probably more a case of serving his own interests. He never once spoke out against or advocated for saving Snowden at any board meeting or public meeting concerning the issue. If he were so in favor of keeping the school open, why didn't he make more of an effort to advocate that principle during the lead up to this vote. Maybe he knew the vote to close was already decided before the meeting but wanted to appear to take a stand with a reelection year coming up. Maybe it's unpopular with Chocowinity voters to have Aurora students coming to Chocowinity schools. Either way, kudos to him for voting to save the school.

Commented: Wednesday, June 4th, 2025 @ 4:25 pm By: John Heermann

The only difference between a conspiracy theory and the truth is time. Look at how many so call conspiracy theories have turned out to be true.

Commented: Wednesday, June 4th, 2025 @ 3:59 pm By: Countrygirl1411