C.C. Edsel of Pinehurst has been appointed to the Moore County Board of Social Services to succeed former County Commissioner David J. Cummings.

The Board of Commissioners approved the appointment on a motion by Commissioner Cindy Morgan during a Monday night meeting. Now retired, Edsel is a former investigator-intake official of Child Protective Services in Texas.

The commissioners also appointed Beth Massey of Southern Pines as a new member of the Nursing Home and Adult Care Home Community Advisory Board. Tallie Arnold and Shirley Baldwin were reappointed to the board.

The commissioners reappointed Billy Ransom and Robert Groom to the Juvenile Crime Prevention Council. They will serve two-year terms.

CLOSED -- At the end of the regular agenda Monday night, the commissioners went into closed (to the public) session to discuss a personnel matter. When they returned to open session, no action was taken.

COVERAGE -- Moore County will continue participation in the N.C. Association of County 0Commissioners Joint Risk Management Agency for Workers' Compensation and Liability and property insurance coverage.

Premiums for the 2008-09 year are $548,602 for liability and property insurance and $214,076 for Workers' Comp.

The Board of Commissioners approved the renewal at the May 19 meeting.

County Manager Cary McSwain said department heads are being asked to double-check their workplaces to determine safety parameters, as a measure to hold down Workers' Comp claims as much as possible.

LIAISON -- County Attorney Misty Leland Randall and Clerk to the Board Megan Owrey will serve as Moore County's liaison to the N.C. Association of County Commissioners.

As liaison, they will be expected to keep the commissioners up to date on actions and activities of the association, which serves as a lobbying agency for counties across the state.

NCGOP -- Congressman Robin Hayes of the 8th District will be keynote speaker for the 2008 convention of the North Carolina Republican party.

He will address the state GOP at the Saturday night banquet in Greensboro.

"We are happy to have one of our own from the North Carolina Republican delegation with us for this special event," said Linda Daves, state chairperson. "Congressman Hayes has been an extremely effective member of Congress while fighting for the interests of the people of the 8th District since he first arrived in Washington. It will be an honor to have him with us for the 2008 NCGOP Convention."

LIBERTARIANS -- The Libertarian Party has restored its status as a political party in North Carolina. Libertarians recently turned in petitions bearing the signatures of 72,935 people interested in the party, more than enough to meet the state's legal 70,000 requirement.

Because of membership losses, the State Board of Elections dropped Libertarian Party recognition a few years ago. At one time Moore County had about 50 registered Libertarians.

This means that North Carolina voters will have more choices when they go to the polls in November. They will find the names of former Georgia Congressman Bob Barr among the candidates for president and Mike Munger among the gubernatorial candidates. Munger is a political science professor at Duke University.

Contact Florence Gilkeson at 947-4962 or by e-mail at florence@thepilot.com.