Moore County appears to be among the initial recipients of federal stimulus funds.

A listing of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 grant and loan awards on a state Web site shows that Moore County has been awarded up to $3 million to replace the sewer lift stations at Lake Pinehurst. The maximum award is $3 million, half of which is a loan, the other half eligible to be "forgiven."

However, the listing on the Web site of the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources does not clarify the amounts or their status. The county also has a listing for a Vass project, and there is a listing for an Aberdeen project.

A news release from the county manager's office says that the official letter of award will be sent next week.

The county has also applied for more than $600,000 in Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) funds to hire additional deputies for the Sheriff's Department. Although the COPS program was developed during the Clinton administration, it has been restored through the stimulus package.

PINELAKE -- U.S. Rep. Howard Coble spoke Tuesday afternoon on House floor about the tragedy at Pinelake Health and Rehabilitation Center in Carthage

Coble praised the staff and residents of the nursing home for responding "very effectively and professionally" on March 29 when a lone gunman killed eight people. He also told his House colleagues that the law enforcement community and the residents of Carthage and Moore County were "equally professional and effective" on that dreadful day.

Carthage Police Cpl. Justin Garner, who was the only officer on duty that morning, ended the rampage when he entered the facility without backup and shot the alleged assailant in gunfight in a back hallway. Garner, who has been hailed as a hero for preventing the loss of even more lives, was also shot in the leg and foot.

The suspect, Richard Kenneth Stewart was indicted on eight-counts of first-degree murder and other charges. He is being held without bond on a safekeeping order at Central Prison in Raleigh.

"This cruel and unforgivable act imposed upon Pinelake that day did not succeed in defeating the spirit of the Pinelake facility, Carthage and Moore County," Coble said. "Mr. Speaker, we extend our condolences to the survivors of the eight whose lives were so brutally taken on that ill-fated day."

OOPS -- Pilot Light is red-faced after a major blunder in the Sunday edition, which said that Republican Congressman Howard Coble was among the speakers at the White and Blue fundraising gala for the Democrats that Saturday night.

The occasion was of course sponsored by the Moore County Republican Party. Pilot Light apologizes to the congressman and to Moore County Republicans for the goof and is happy to set the record straight.

THURMAN -- Joan Thurman was elected vice chairwoman of 6th District Republicans at the district convention in Asheboro earlier this month.

Moore County has one of the strongest Republican parties in the six counties that comprise the 6th District.

Thurman, who is also a member of the Pinehurst Village Council, chaired the Red, White and Blue Gala IV fundraiser for the Moore County Republican Party again this year.

ENVIRONMENT -- Beverly Stewart, director of sales for the Moore County Convention and Visitors Bureau, is a new voting member of the Environmental Impact Research Conservation and Development Board.

Stewart also serves as board secretary-treasurer. The other new members are Harvey Mack, of Montgomery County, and Terry Sharpe, of Richmond County.

Environmental Impact is a private nonprofit agency that provides leadership and strategic planning for environmental projects in Anson, Lee, Moore, Montgomery and Richmond counties. Its offices are in Aberdeen.

Among its current projects are greenway enhancements for the village of Pinehurst and the town of Pinebluff.

WIRELESS -- A new contract with a wireless telecommunications consultant is expected to save Moore County between $5,000 and $7,000.

County Planning Director Joey Raczkowski made that report a recent meeting of the Planning Board.

The consultant is an independent specialist who provides technical information to the Planning Board when an application is filed for a wireless telecommunications tower. This provision is part of the county's Wireless Telecommunications Facility Master Plan and ordinance. The ordinance became a necessity several years ago with the growth in use of cell phones and related telecommunications technology.

Raczkowski also reported that a customer service action team has been implemented within the planning department. He said the goal is to make regulations as easy to understand as possible by supplying information leaflets to people making inquiries.

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