Students 1
Local Gov
BY SUSAN USHER
A Select group ot 75 Brunswick
County ninth-graders took a close-up
look at how local government and the
cvuiiuiuy uperaie last triciay in a
day-long seminar at the Brunswick
County Government Center.
"Commissioners have large ears
and hear from a lot of people and try
to carry out the will of the people by
setting policy, " County Manager
John T. Smith told one group of
students gathered to learn more
about county government.
The 75 teen-agers?25 selected by
the social studies faculty at each
county high school?were divided into
two groups most of the day. one
wracn examined local government
agencies, and the other which heard
from various industries on their influence
in the ioeal economy.
In the seminar on economics, for
example Susanne Sartelle, executive
director of the South Brunswick
Islands Chamber of Commerce,
created an imaginary town in which
business and government worked
together to address community
needs. She also fielded questions on
topics ranging from tourism's impact
on the county to litter control.
Afterwards, students enthusiastically
joined in a simulation
coordinated by Dr. Luther Lawson,
associate professor of economics and
associate director of the Center for
Economic Education at UNCWilmington.
It's purpose: "Simply to
let you know you have rights," he
told the students.
The teen-agerS drew cards with
scenarios of consumer concerns and
then had to figure out where to go for
help in resolving the problem. Some
found quick remedies, others had
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STUDENT SHERRIE MOORE seeki
simulation game on resolving coi
answers?redress or no redress?wer
when helping agencies couldn't figun
ended up in "limbo."
RICKY LEWIS of West Brunswicl
Clint Delcorado of North Brunswicl
tion West social studies teacher P
help. He was representing both fe
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none, and in some instances, even the I
"professionals" in the agencies
didn't know where to send a young
consumer for help, banishing him to I
"limbo," at least temporarily.
"If you have a problem, where are
you to go first?" asked Lawson as the
teen-agers tried various strategies.
"It's up to you."
Joining Smith for a discussion of
how the county can "grow better, not
just bigger," was Stuart Bass, a
county planner, who described some
of the regulations and programs tliat
help governments guide quality
growth. Grace Beasley, chairman of
the Brunswick County Board of Commissioners,
was unable to participate
because of family illness.
CmUU t.U 41 4 1 A- " ? ?
uiiuui iuiu uic siuuenis mat growin
brings with it problems, or
challenges, for local government
that require funding to address.
These include public education on the
issues, protection of the environment
and providing a good environment,
which includes dealing with both
solid waste and human waste, and
developing the infrastructure such as
roads and utilities required to keep
pace with growth. "To grow better
we must have these things," he
stressed. But, as with septic tank
regulations, he added, it sometimes
require "restrictions that get people
ill."
"They don't like to be restricted;
they want to do what they want to
do," he continued.
Coidwell Bankers-Willetts- South
Wind Realty representative Dorothy
J si 1 1
rvciij ucaci ioeu rem esiaie as a local
industry "that probably touches all
of you in one way or another."
Students in the local government
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i advice from Dr. Luther Lawson in a
lsumer problems in which definite
e rewarded with candy bars. However,
; out where else to seud them, students
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section also heard from Social Services
Director Jamie Orrock and
Health Director Michael Rhodes Barrett
on the services those agencies
provide and the problems they encounter.
Orrock, astride a railing so as to be
closer to the students, said social services
doesn't have the money to offer
the programs it needs and noted
trends in human needs spending for
the elderly increasing with time.
To provide daycare for children of
mothers who are in a work or training
situation, for example, the agency
receives $189,200, but could easily
spend $250,000 to $300,000, he said,
"and still have people on a waiting
list."
As for Aid to Families with Dependent
Children, another agency program,
he debunked a popular myth.
"Women do not have babies to get
more welfare," he said, spelling out
how little difference in income
another child makes in the
household's income.
"Getting on social services is not
an answer to anyone's problem," he
said. "Most of the people who are on
it don't want to be?they're unhappy,
the taxpayers are unhappy and the
office has a high turnover of
employees?they don't like it either."
Times have changed and the agency
serves no "typical" family, he
noted. "Ten years ago of for working
people to get welfare. Now just as
many do as don't. There's no way you
can make it on $3.35 an hour if you
have a family."
Barrett-Rhodes told the youngsters
that the Brunswick County Health
Department "is the only agency that
tracks you from birth to death,"
since it tracks vital statistics. "The
health department touches
everybody at one time or another,"
ho pnntinnorl hronrvh nitol rtoficti/u
or its personal and environmental
health programs.
Of those the federally-funded
Women, Infant and Children's (WIC)
Nutrition Program is one of the most
successful in the nation in lowering
infant mortality rates. "It's the most
beneficial program available now."
Earlier in the day, both groups of
students toured the Brunswick County
Jail, speaking with Chief Deputy
John Marlow of the Brunswick County
Sheriff's Department. They also
observed a mock driving while under
the influence trial that featured
Cathy Singletary as defendant,
Yvette Murray as plaintiff, Billy
Gurganus as bailiff. Sharon McPherson
and Diana Morgan as clerks,
Glenda Warren as court reporter,
Judge William C. Gore and attorneys
William Fairley and Roy Trest.
The economics group also heard
from George Booth of CP&I.'s environmental
lab on the role of the
plant in the local economy and about
his particular work area.
Linden Mathews-Boone, community
schools and social studies coordinator
with the Brunswick County
Public Schools, said participants
were quite pleased with Friday's program.
W (r
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STAFF PHOTOS Bf SUSAN USME A
te consumer organization channels.
1, other students seek help from
te and local governments, business
ons.
To my
friends &
supporters
I wick tn
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express my
sincere
thanks!
V 'iJdAIUyv^.
THE BRl
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KEEPING TABS on how girls and boys fare in competition
for redresses/no redresses are Kim Yeoman of
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Thank you s
your votes ai
in the May 3
Primary.
DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE
CLERK OF COURT
1988 THE BRUNSWICK BEACON
J
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reservations available
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r . . n i . r-ir? r
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JNSWICK BEACON, Thursday, May 12, 198&-Page 13-A
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v i dflBMlWnwii 7, i* i Brunswick
High Schooi. Tne giris edged the guys by
two.
o much for
rid support
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