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SEPTEMBEREPTEMBER
EPTEMBEREPTEMBER
EPTEMBER 2015 2015
2015 2015
2015
A newsletter for the Scotland County communityA newsletter for the Scotland County community
A newsletter for the Scotland County communityA newsletter for the Scotland County community
A newsletter for the Scotland County community
Scotland County, NCScotland County, NC
Scotland County, NCScotland County, NC
Scotland County, NC
In smaller municipalities and rural areas, the capability
to respond to hazardous materials incidents is almost non-
existent. That's why Scotland County depends on a Regional
Response Team (RRT) for assistance. Scotland County's
RRT is based in Fayetteville.
"It's a better use of money. Having a hazardous mate-
rials team is expensive and it's a very expensive process to
provide on your own,"
explained Battalion Chief
Calvin Bishop of the
Fayetteville Fire Depart-
ment and head of the
Fayetteville Regional Re-
sponse Team.
Bishop was the
guest speaker at the Sep-
tember 3 meeting of the
newly reactivated Local
Emergency Planning
Committee (LEPC) meet-
ing. Bishop is at the
helm of RRT 3 that in-
cludes Scotland County as well as Bladen, Cumberland,
Harnett, Hoke, Lee, Moore, Richmond, Robeson, Sampson
and Wayne counties. The program for a regional response
concept to hazardous materials incidents was established
by the State. RRTs are available 24/7.
"We cover a pretty large area split up in a way as to
who can get there in a reasonable time frame," Bishop
explained. "We try to look at our response time, some-
where within an hour to hour and a half depending on
where you are."
Although RRT 3 and all seven RRTs throughout the
State work closely with the locals who need emergency
assistance, everything has to go through State Emergency
Management first. "You have to contact your local
emergency management to go through the State to get all
the correct information. The name and phone number of
the person requesting State assistance is essential," Bishop
said.
Who is on the scene, contact numbers, names, VIPER
radio channel, name of a facility or shipper involved in the
incident are all critical to the type of response. However,
Bishop said, "If it's a simple phone consultation where you've
got a 55-gallon drum of something spilled you may call us
on the phone directly for information."
Bishop said Scotland County has a number of issues it
might have to deal with because of rail traffic through the
Regional Response Team
showcases its capabilities
Members of the Local Emergency Planning Committee tour
the specially equipped Regional Response vehicle that is
based in Fayetteville.
see RRT3 page 4
Staying in school and continuing education is the best investment.
Four community leaders shared that sentiment during the State of Education
event hosted by the Chamber of Commerce.
Scotland County Schools Superintendent Ron Hargrave, RCC President
Dale McInnis, St. Andrews University President Paul Baldasare and UNC-
Pembroke Chancellor Robin Cummings provided updates on activities at
the schools they represent.
"We had a smooth transition with the closing of Pate Gardner and
Washington Park and bringing the two schools together," said Hargrave.
The graduation rate at 81.8 percent this
year is at an all-time high. "This is a
celebration at the high school, but that takes
place way before the children get to the high
school. Elementary schools contribute to
the graduation rate and the dropout rate
going down," said Hargrave. "This is a
celebration across the district and a
celebration we in the community can be
proud of."
Teacher turnover rate over the past two
years continued to decline. Hargrave said if
the schools, through a level of support, can
keep new teachers for two years, there is a
greater chance the teachers will stay for a
longer period of time. "We're focused on supporting our new teachers
and making them feel at home in Scotland County so they will continue to
teach here."
Education seen as best investment
County Manager Kevin Patterson and Commissioners Guy McCook
and Carol McCall were among 15 community members who spent two
days in Washington, D.C., advocating on behalf of the County.
The event is hosted annually by the North Carolina Congressional
membership and coordinated by the Chamber of Commerce.
"It was a very busy two days," Patterson said. The group met personally
with Representative Richard Hudson and met with staff from the offices of
Senator Tom Tillis and Senator Richard Burr.
Issues discussed included the proposed Definition of the Waters of the
United States that would expand the range of waters that fall under federal
jurisdiction.
"The federal government currently has domain over navigable
waterways," Patterson said. "They are looking at changing it from navigable
waterways to flowing waterways."
"If you have water that moves from one end to another and you take
a very strict interpretation, if you have water that flows through a ditch
into a river or stream, that means the ditch could be considered a federal
waterway," Patterson explained.
"There could be significant expansion of the definition of federal waters,
which could significantly add to federal regulations especially in agricultural
areas."
see Education page 3
Definition of waters questioned
see D.C., page 2
