bus okayed for eastern Bladen

Residents of eastern Bladen County will soon have "their own BARTS bus" stationed in the community.

The Bladen County Commissioners, at their Monday meeting, approved a request submitted by residents of the community asking that a bus be assigned to the Carver's Creek, East Arcadia, Council area.

Speaking on behalf of the community, Janice Saxon, chair of the Carvers Creek Citizens Committee, said the bus is needed in the community to fill a variety of needs of the elderly and disabled residents who do not have ready access to transportation.

She pointed out that a BARTS bus must now be sent from Elizabethtown to provide transportation for residents of the community. She said that a driver is available in the community who already has a commercial driver's license.

She read a letter to the commissioners submitted by residents of the community making the request. The letter reads in part: "The members of the Carver's Creek community are requesting the use of one of the Bladen Area Rural Transportation Services (BARTS) vans to be located in the Carver's Creek community.

"The van will be used to provide transportation for the Baltimore Senior Citizens Nutrition Program and other eligible participants. This will provide accessible transportation for those in need of services at Baltimore Center as well as other needed services.

"The Bladen East Medical Center is now open five days a week and the transportation could also help some of the clients to keep their appointments."

Saxon also stated that having the bus in the community would enable citizens who could not otherwise go the opportunity to go to Elizabethtown and other nearby locations.

"Such provisions will enable the eligible citizens of Carver's Creek community to pick up medications, groceries and other necessities," she said.

Saxon said that having the vehicle located in the community would alleviate the need to bring the bus from Elizabethtown on a regular basis and offer a valuable service to the residents in the eastern Bladen communities.

Without discussion, the commissioners unanimously approved the request. After the vote, Chairman W. D. Neill directed County Manager Greg Martin to take action to get the plan implemented. Martin acknowledged that he would address it.

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