One-stop absentee voting for the Nov. 3 municipal elections ends Saturday at the Moore County Agriculture Center across the street from the elections office on Pinehurst Avenue in Carthage.

An elections official reports that one-stop voting has been slow, with no more than 238 voters showing up through closing time on Monday. That total covers voters from all 11 municipalities.

The one-stop polling place hours for the rest of the week are: Wednesday and Thursday, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.; Friday, 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.; and Saturday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

Polling places will be open from 6:30 a.m. until 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 3.

NEW POSITION -- A new position is being added to the county's Information Technology staff.

The Board of Commissioners gave unanimous approval when IT director Darlene Yudell made the request at the Oct. 19 meeting. The position will provide network management service assistance because of the increased workload and support needs associated with the enterprise resource planning system recently contracted to initiate a new software system in several key departments.

"We've worked long and hard to reach this point," said Commissioner Tim Lea, who made the motion to approve the additional position.

Funds for the position are included in the 2009-10 budget.

McGRUFF -- Congressman Howard Coble's latest antic is an interview with McGruff, the crime-fighting dog.

In a news release, Coble's public relations director, Ed McDonald, says the 6th District congressman and the crime prevention mascot "recently met to discuss ways to highlight the efforts of law enforcement during October." This month has been designated as Crime Prevention Month, and "the law enforcement pooch" was spending a few hours at the nation's capital."

"Crime prevention is everyone's business, and I am proud of the ongoing work of citizens and law enforcement personnel in the 6th District and across North Carolina," Coble said. "It is important that we take every opportunity to thank local law enforcement and engaged citizens who work together to prevent crime and the fear associated with it. Crime Prevention Month offers us this opportunity. And I found McGruff to be an easy dog to hunt with."

Coble is the previous chairman of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security.

Contact Florence Gilkeson at (910) 693-2479 or by e-mail at florence@thepilot.com.