They Said It

“At UNCP, these increases were not just helpful, they were vital. UNCP routinely loses staff to other institutions offering higher pay, and recruiting new employees to a rural setting is difficult without competitive compensation. Modest salary increases are one of the few tools we have to stabilize and retain the talented professionals who support our students and academic programs.”

UNCP spokesperson Jennifer McCarrel talking about staff and pay increases and the possibility of staff cuts amid dwindling student enrollment numbers.

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“Over the years, it’s sort of morphed and grown, but its basic premise is: we invite all comers. Anybody can show up and participate in the parade.”

Gregg Pait, of Jack Pait Strawberry Farm, talking about the “World’s Shortest Parade” which took place last weekend at the farm.

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“I want to see people get excited. We lost a lot of teams and a lot of people.”

Cheryl Revels, this year’s Relay For Life lead in Robeson County, talking about the Relay for Life cancer fundraising event which is back for its second year after the COVID shutdown.

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“Hopefully, this will bring in more variety. I know there’s Ithica Farm in Hoke County, which is a goat dairy farm, so I’m hoping we get them and other people to come and have a more diverse offering for our residents to be able to purchase.”

NC Cooperative Extension agent Mack Johnson talking about the return of the Robeson County Farmers’ Market to downtown Lumberton on Saturday mornings in the parking lot across from Adelios restaurant.

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“Our students deserve safe, healthy, and modern schools so they can focus on learning in the classroom. My proposed budget calls for a $4 billion public school bond that would help make much needed upgrades to our schools.”

NC Gov. Josh Stein, (@NC_Governor on X)