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Mt. Gilead Town Manager Robert ‘Bob’ Jones’ bio
Special to the Speckled Paw Times Robert “Bob" Jones began his career in local government after serving 20 years in the U.S. Marine Corps. Among the medals he earned in his military service are the Air Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, Navy Commendation Medal and the...
Montgomery Co. Hall of Honor seeking nominations for inaugural class
Editor's note: The following is a press release from Mongomery County Schools. Designed to be a source of learning, inspiration and hope for everyone in the community, the Montgomery County Hall of Honor is seeking nominations for its inaugural class of inductees. ...
Gigantor, from caterpillar to moth
(Editor's note: Below is a modified script of Amelia Poplin’s 4-H presentation which won first prize in her 8-10-year-old age group in Anson County and second place in the statewide competition. ) Hi, my name is Amelia Poplin and today I will be talking about...
Field Notes: The last day of summer
The author, John Marek, is a writer and executive director of the Anson Economic Development Partnership. For the first 18 years of my life, give or take, summers were clear-cut and closely tied to the school year's beginning and end. And for virtually all of those...
Field Notes: Communication is key in small-town government
The author, John Marek, is a writer and executive director of the Anson Economic Development Partnership. Anyone who has spent time working for, with or around small-town government will recognize many of the characters in the 2019 documentary “Tread.” The film tells...
Field Notes: Law finally catches up to gooseberry kingpin
The author, John Marek, is a writer and executive director of the Anson Economic Development Partnership. I arrived home one day last week to find an IMPORTANT, OFFICIAL BUSINESS letter from the North Carolina Department of Agriculture in my mailbox. I knew it was...
Field Notes: You belong in Poughkeepsie
The author, John Marek, is executive director of the Anson Economic Development Partnership. I was at my favorite BBQ place the other day, waiting for my pickup order, when the soulful strains of a lonely saxophone wafted from the radio behind the counter, followed by...
Once-abandoned cemetery gains support
The author, Steve Bailey, is outreach coordinator at the Anson County Historical Society. The mission of the Friends of Old Westview Cemetery Inc., led by founder and president Rose Sturdivant Young, is to continue to provide maintenance for this once-abandoned...
Field Notes: A year of observations, insights and silliness
The author, John Marek, is executive director of the Anson Economic Development Partnership. Today marks the first anniversary of my weekly Field Notes column in the Speckled Paw newsletter. Five hundred words, give or take, every week for the past year. When one of...
Field Notes: Soccer team name, logo are snoozers
The author, John Marek, is executive director of the Anson Economic Development Partnership. On consecutive days last week, Charlotte and Seattle announced their newest professional sports franchises in MLS and the NHL, respectively. The Charlotte Major League Soccer...
Field Notes: Elevators as entertainment
The author, John Marek, is executive director of the Anson Economic Development Partnership. On a sticky July afternoon in the summer between my sophomore and junior years in college, I was reading a book under the leafy maple in my parents’ backyard when my mother...
Field Notes: No shirt. No shoes. No mask.
The author, John Marek, is executive director of the Anson Economic Development Partnership. In an iconic scene from the 1982 movie “Fast Times At Ridgemont High,” perpetually stoned surfer Jeff Spicoli and his equally addled buddies walk into a fast-food restaurant,...