As I ponder over and prepare for this week’s devotional thought, I’m reminded of the children’s television show, “Sesame Street”. In each episode, the character Elmo would introduce a “Word of the Day” and then that word would be referenced and explained all throughout the show with the help of the other puppets and celebrity guest stars. As I prayed for discernment for my weekly Journal article, the Lord brought one particular word to mind… The “Word from the Word” for this week is, “STEWARDSHIP”. Before you check out on me, let me explain what Biblical Stewardship is all about – and it’s NOT all about MONEY!

After one week of early voting about 4% of Bladen County’s registered voters had cast a ballot for the March 3 general election, according to figures provided by the Bladen County Board of Elections.

The four Bladen County high school basketball teams received bids to the N.C. High School Athletic Association playoffs.

ROSE HILL — An improbable run to a seemingly impossible goal has put the East Bladen boys’ basketball team atop the Carolina Conference.

FAIRMONT — Senior Tylik McCall lit up the scoreboard with 31 points and a 14-2 fourth quarter spurt carried West Bladen to the Southeastern 3A/4A/5A boys’ tournament championship with a 64-55 victory over Fairmont on Friday night.

ROSE HILL — The East Bladen girls’ basketball team knew it had to contain Lakewood’s Areona McKoy in order to win the Carolina Conference tournament championship.

A Bladen County Sheriff’s Office deputy and a suspect who had multiple arrest warrants on file were shot Friday morning in the area of the 600 block of Pine Acres Road in White Oak, the Sheriff’s Office reported.

A comeback for the ages Thursday night lifted the West Bladen boys’ basketball team into Friday’s championship game of the Southeastern Conference tournament.