WWAY Smacks Down Leland Leadership On Police Issues

Below is part of the editorial that is currently up at WWAY’s site.  In addition, the StarNews has said that Leland Police Cheif Tim Jayne’s “days are numbered” on their editorial page.  It’s only getting worse as the town continues to believe this will all just go away if they ignore it.

Several allegations of misconduct have been levied against Chief Jayne and his department. We’ve been told he assaulted another officer by hitting him in the gut during a bachelor party last year. Officers allege he’s made them work on his house and other homes in his neighborhood while on the clock. He’s also allowed an officer who shot his service revolver into the air on New Year’s Day to keep his job. An officer who’s pulled his gun on fellow officers is also still employed. Plus, Officer Michael Landon, the officer that Lewis says shot her those 12 times, has never been disciplined. When we asked Hollis if he could deny ANY of those allegations, he looked away, looked back, grinned and said, “That’s a good question.” You’re right Mr. Hollis, and it’s a question a lot of people in Leland expect you to step up and answer, soon.

So I think it’s fair to say, that with an outgoing mayor who confessed he’s literally out of the loop on many of the personnel issues in his town, an incoming mayor who appears to be just as much out of the loop and is already covering her tracks, an outgoing town manager who refuses to do anything about those personnel issues on his watch, an incoming town manager who’s only been on the job a couple of weeks and has absolutely no experience in town administration, that Chief Tim Jayne is running Leland. That must be what the four stars on his shirt collar stand for, he’s the General of Leland.

A reminder, to date, NOBODY with the town of Leland has yet to deny ANY of the allegations that have thus far been made.  There are additional issues that have not been publicized as of yet that could be even more damaging and officers are talking to members of the media.  Leland has a promising future, but is quickly becoming a statewide embarrassment.

Special note:  WECT continues to ignore this serious story as they do most controversial stories.  Why?

Soles Case Continued, BUT DA Taking A Tougher Stand

RC Soles days of being able to avoid a courtroom as a defendant are drawing to a close as the DA is moving ever closer to an actual trial accusing the ex-senator of an assault charge.  Even though Soles may have paid off the accuser, who retracted his story in spite of his visible bruises, but the charges aren’t going away.

If the state puts Jernigan on the stand, it will be a stark change in the way incidents between Soles and his former law clients turned financial dependents have played out in the past. For years, several men associated with Soles, who spend money extravagantly despite having no apparent job or income, have faced charges that often get dismissed or dropped.

“I think this sends a message to everyone. Regardless of who you are or who you are associated with, you will be held accountable,” Assistant District Attorney Fred Gore said after the trial of Allen Strickland. “Justice is going to be fair and impartial now in this district.”

Soles has long avoided being the subject of courtroom drama even as a cadre of young men he allegedly “helped” became involved in drugs, trespassing and all manner of mischief. The pattern of his relationships is eerily similar to that of embattled former Penn St. asst. coach Sandusky, but has stayed below the radar of the mainstream media and national spotlight.

January looks to be a fascinating chapter in the life of RC Soles.  Kudos to Kevin Mauer and Shelby Sebens at the StarNews for their persistent work on this matter.

Locke Foundation Draws Protesters At UNCW

By all accounts the Locke Foundation’s seminar on the “Truth about Wind Energy” went exceedingly well.  Around 100 folks turned out to hear a more balance approach to wind energy.  Sadly, protesters attempted to disrupt the meetings by making some rather bizarre accusations, most notably that the folks at Locke were funded by big oil.  In fact, here’s the e-mail a campus group sent out (typose included) prior to the event.

See: http://www.uncweco.com/Site/Home.html  Anti-Wind Forum: 

What: The dirty energy funded John Locke Foundation is hosting an anti offshore wind forum on campus, titled the “The Truth About Wind Power on the Coasts of North Carolina”.  The John Locke Foundation is a well funded climate denial group and is trying to spread its anti clean energy message across the state, starting here at UNCW.  Join ECO and the community in showing our support for clean by handing out offshore wind fact sheets at the forum. We will be meeting in Wrightsville Beach Room at 6:30pm to head there and will return at 7:15pm to have our regular ECO meeting.  

This is just kind of sad that a college group can’t even get their basic facts straight.  I’m sure the Locke Foundation would love to have some “big-oil” money.  Also sad that college students support expensive, heavily subsidized wind-energy that still requires “dirty energy” to be in place when the wind ain’t a blowin’.

Also worth noting, not a single person that attended the meeting contested ANY of the facts presented.  Some additional facts on energy efficiency as well here.

Leland Settling Up Again

The situation in Leland devolves on a weekly basis.  Officer turnover, SBI investigation, calls for changes in the top brass from the StarNews, multiple allegations of inappropriate behavior. . . The list goes on and on.  At this point there has not been a SINGLE denial from anyone in Leland that ANY of the allegations are untrue (WWAY).  And last night the city council settled a second suit but not before the oncoming Mayor Brenda Boseman accused the StarNews reporter of lying about the nature of the council’s private deliberations.

Though Wednesday’s special called meeting focused solely on the agreement with Foss, Bozeman denied that she told the StarNews ahead of time on Tuesday that the meeting would be about personnel issues with the police department as was reported.

Picking fights with the media isn’t going to make the situation in Leland any more acceptable.  Business owners, residents and others are growing tires of what looks like a bad situation getting worse every day.  Here’s another alarming thought.

While some have spoken publicly, others won’t, saying that speaking out could hurt their plan to file a lawsuit or a complaint. Some have expressed fear for their safety.

When American citizens are AFRAID of the guys carrying guns in blue, there’s a serious problem!!!!  There still hasn’t been a good reason put forth as to why the incoming mayor (Brenda Boseman) or outgoing mayor (Walter Futch) has been reluctant to be open with the public.  The situation is still escalating.

Monkey Junction Annexation Vote Tally Friday!

Tomorrow around lunch, it should be that the citizens fighting “forced annexation” in the Monkey Junction area will have won.  The City of Wilmington’s $700k attempt to force the citizens into their limits SHOULD have come up short.  I only say that as I pass along this note (unverified) from a local grass roots activist:

Just wanted to let you know that on this Friday around noon, the Board of Elections is scheduled to certify the anti-annexation petitions, verifying their authenticity and granting Monkey Junction residents and businesses freedom from the City’s land/money grab.

HOWEVER,  the City intends to contest any petitions that aren’t typical, like most (if not all) of the LLC’s and other businesses with multiple parties as owners. This group could actually take our percentage below the needed 60% IF the Board allows them to be disqualified.  I can’t tell you the enormous lengths that were undertaken to assure that appropriate documentation was provided to the Board of Elections to PROVE ownership of properties.  We had retirees in Georgetowne working round the clock to track down owners and help them get the documents together to turn in.  The actual petitions were written with such legal terms as to make them almost impossible for the average person to comprehend, but this was to make sure that every i was dotted and every t crossed, as Kemp Burpeau would say.  He even warned us that the City was planning to do title searches on “questionable” petitions.

This really is an outrage.  We’re hoping people will show up in droves on Friday to protest this travesty.  Can you help get the word out?