ELIZABETHTOWN — The first item of business on Monday for county commissions was a request from William Butler, president of the Bladenboro Historical Society, and John Hasbrouch, also representing the Bladenboro Historical Society, who asked for finical assistance to improve the front of the old Bladenboro High School.

Butler requested for $500 for the project and it was unanimously approved.

In other news: 

— Adrin Lowry, of the Lumber River Council of Government, requested a public hearing regarding the 2008 Community Development Block Grant for scattered site housing projects. There was no objection from the notice.

— Carol Strickland and Marianne Valentiner, of the Healthy Bladen Office, a division of the Bladen County Health Department, presented the 2009 Community Health Assessment, surveying 508 people in Bladen County from 18 to 85 years old chosen at random.  

A Community Health Assessment is conducted every 48 months. The last time Bladen County performed an assessment was in 2005. This assessment provides information on population, demographics, leading causes of death, teen pregnancies and much more. All the information is in reference to the state numbers and how they have increased or decreased since the year 2000.

A total of 508 people were asked questions concerning what issues had the biggest effect on health in Bladen County. The results of that survey were : 56.3 percent of these people believe low income/poverty contribute to the health of our citizens, and 54.3 percent answered unemployment. 

The Health Assessment also revealed heart disease as the No. 1 cause of death, followed by cancer as No. 2 in Bladen county. Of those surveyed, 52 percent agree that cancer is one of the most important health problems in Bladen County.

The Healthy Bladen Office, formerly Bladen Health Watch, will place eight copies of their report throughout the county at Elizabethtown, Bladenboro and Clarkton Libraries, Bladen Community College, Bladen County Health Department and at the Healthy Bladen Office. 

— Director of Emergency Medical Services Jeanene Green requested the board to authorize EMS Management and Consultants to call individuals about their unpaid transports to the hospital in addition to the three monthly invoices the patients receive. The phone contacts will not be made until after the three month payment request have been made. The board approved her request.