Comments | Eastern NC Now

I have never seen a public hearing conducted like the travesty at Aurora for Snowden school. As General Counsel of the NC Department of Health and Human Services in the Jim Martin administration, I monitored the public hearings conducted by boards and commissions housed within our department such as the NC Social Services Commission, the NC Mental Health Commission, and the NC Child Day Care Commission. I have never seen a bureaucrat run a hearing instead of the presiding officer of the policy making body. Where was School Board chairman T.W. Allen? Hiding in the crowd, like most of the rest of the school board. I have never seen a public hearing open with a bureaucrat giving a one hour spiel trying to explain away his proposal. I have never seen a bureaucrat then preside over the hearing and try to channel speakers away from substantive comments and only into questions. When several speakers tried to offer comments, the superintendent cut them off and asked "what is your question?" Only when Buzz Cayton refused to be bullied that way, did the meeting open up for actual comments.

I commend Charles Hickman for being the only school board member with the brass to actually speak up and point out that Cheeseman was not properly following the statutes. I also commend county commissioners Stan Deatherage, Tandy Dunn, and Hood Richardson for speaking out strongly for community schools and against Cheeseman's consolidation mania and pledging to work through the county commission to put a stop to it.

All over the United States, school consolidation is an issue that separates the education establishment liberals from the conservatives. Any school board member who votes for Cheeseman's poisoned chalice on consolidating Snowden with Chocowinity and giving little children two 30 mile bus rides each day will need to put a big "L" beside their name in the next primary.

Commented: Thursday, April 17th, 2025 @ 12:31 pm By: Steven P. Rader

North Carolina must pass a bill to crack down on these lawless sanctuary counties. I like the idea of making those counties and their sheriffs liable in civil court for any harm done to citizens by illegal alien criminals they release into the community/. They need to be made to pay for that and then maybe they will call ICE instead of inflicting these criminals on citizens.

Commented: Thursday, April 17th, 2025 @ 10:05 am By: borderhawk

I once listened to the Business Scions about so-called Free Trade; all without examining the finer details, and then I realized, these self-interested business types were just in it exclusively for themselves, and say anything to "talk their book."

It is time in the Republic to be a patriot; think like a patriot; act as a patriot; learn to listen those that have that very real calling of a patriot.

Commented: Thursday, April 17th, 2025 @ 7:57 am By: Stan Deatherage

The UK's National Health Service also understands biology when in comes to gender. They shut down so-called "gender affirming care" for minors instructing medical providers that most gender confused children grow out of their confusion and conform to their biological gender, and that medical providers should not recommend surgery, drugs, or even new names or pronouns.

Commented: Wednesday, April 16th, 2025 @ 4:36 pm By: Rino Hunter

Letitia James had a lot of gall to make up fake charges on Trump when she was the one actually engaged in mortgage fraud in two different states. She appears to have told at least three lies to get better rates, 1) that she was married to her own father, 2) that an investment property in Virginia was her "primary residence" when she was registered to vote and elected to public office in New York where she actually lived, and 3) that a 5 unit apartment buliding was a 4 unit apartment building. She did not stop with one lie but covered the waterfront.

Commented: Wednesday, April 16th, 2025 @ 1:19 pm By: Concerned Taxpayer

This whole fiasco is just Cheeseman trying to build his resume for his next job around school consolidation. We saw it with "Cheeseman's Folly", the new monster elementary school in Washington, consolidating two schools. Now we are seeing it south of the river. He apparently has "Free-Spending Frankie" Waters willing to go along with him. This is another assault on the wellbeing of the children of Beaufort County just for Cheeseman's resume building.

The sad thing is that some of our school board members are too stupid or weak to do anything about it. Cheeseman has too many sock puppets on that board.

Commented: Tuesday, April 15th, 2025 @ 11:12 am By: John Steed

Velma and I still share the memories of coming back from Knott's Island on the flooded roads with Hood. In order to find safer roads, we had to detour into Virginia, then turn back south for home. At Elizabeth City we stopped overnight, because the roads were washed out between there and Beaufort County. What an adventure. That's just one of many.

Many people know how tenacious Hood is in politics. Fewer know how generous he is with his time and resources.

Happy Birthday Hood.

Charles and Velma Hickman

Commented: Monday, April 14th, 2025 @ 8:17 pm By: Charles Hickman

Happy Birthday Hood. It’s always interesting to me that people think because you vote to lower taxes, you are automatically a good steward. Going all the way to Washington DC on the taxpayers dime is such an accomplishment. Kudos. It’s also quite interesting that the employees are held to a strict per dime that doesn’t even cover meals while ALL commissioners eat high on the hog. Them $40 breakfasts and $50 dinners on the taxpayers dime isn’t being a good steward. It’s giving “do as I say, not as I do”. It’s amazing what a public information request reveals.

Commented: Monday, April 14th, 2025 @ 3:31 pm By: Heres the truth

As Beaufort County's other long "term" serving Conservative county commissioner, I am most happy count Hodd Richardson as not only my friend, but an inspiration as he is Beaufort County's hardest working county commissioner, and that includes myself, as I never allow hubris to get the better of me.

My hope for Hood, and us all here in Beaufort County, is that the venerable Commissioner shall enjoy a long and healthy life, and that we, Conservatives, keep Hood Richardson serving our best interests on the Beaufort County Board of Commissioners.

Commented: Monday, April 14th, 2025 @ 2:06 pm By: Stan Deatherage

We traditionally think of, or define, a politician as someone who will say anything or do anything to get elected or gain power. On the other hand, a statesman is someone who represents the people and does everything within their power for the common good. To be called a statesman is a sign of high respect for that person’s integrity. James Freeman Clarke said, “A politician thinks of the next election. A statesman, of the next generation.” The citizens of Beaufort County are fortunate to have a true statesman, Hood Richardson, representing them. Happy birthday Hood! Thank you for everything you do, and continue to do, to make Beaufort County the truly remarkable place we are fortunate to call home!

Commented: Monday, April 14th, 2025 @ 12:24 pm By: David Hudson

One more thing for Ray Leary: Thank-you for coming up with the 9 month principle motif, which would reduce the cost to keep Snowden open to 30,000.00 a year.

Hood brought it up at the last commissioners' meeting and I instantly thought it was a genius plan. I do have to wonder why the BCS administration, which includes their school board did not come up with it first.

Thanks again Ray Leary for your fine civic awareness.

Commented: Sunday, April 13th, 2025 @ 1:15 pm By: Stan Deatherage

The weak Beaufort County School Board cannot understand that Cheeseman is hired help. Students are opting for private schools and homeschooling due to the failure of our public schools. Just like successful companies, it all goes back to management. Ego and passive-aggressive bullying is not management.

Commented: Sunday, April 13th, 2025 @ 11:22 am By: Buzz Cayton