Delegates from all 25 Republican precincts will gather on the campus of Sandhills Community College for their county convention Saturday, March 13.

The convention will begin at 2 p.m. in Owens Auditorium. Party Chairman Bob Levy says the convention will be an occasion to hear candidates and elected officials and to vote on party business for the upcoming elections.

"This is an exciting year for Republicans in Moore County and North Carolina," Levy said.

Levy said the convention will be open to all who wish to watch the convention but only delegates will be allowed to vote.

More information is available by calling Joe Garrison, party secretary, at (910) 690-4511.

DEMOCRATS - The Moore County Democratic Party has scheduled two more annual precinct meetings, according to Jim Heim, party chairman.

Eureka Precinct Democrats will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Whispering Pines Fire Department, 16 Hardee Lane.

South Southern Pines Democrats will hold their precinct meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 9, at the Coalition building, 1500 Indiana Ave.

VETERANS - It's too early for a budget decision, but the Moore County Board of Commissioners has agreed to consider a request from the Veterans' Memorial Committee for a $16,000 appropriation in the 2010-2011 budget.

Board Chairman Tim Lea conveyed the request during the Monday meeting. Raymond Doby, committee chairman, had advised Lea that the committee needs the money to complete the memorial, which is on property provided by the county in the Carriage Oaks Complex in Carthage.

The committee now has $8,000 available but needs the additional $16,000 to complete the project, according to Doby.

During the public comment period at the beginning of the meeting, David Francis, a disabled veteran, asked the commissioners to support the committee request.

HEALTH - The Moore County Board of Health will hold a called meeting at 6:30 p.m. Thursday to discuss budget matters. The meeting will be held at the Health Center in the Moore County Office Park on Pinehurst Avenue in Carthage.

HACKNEY - State House Speaker Joe Hackney will return Tuesday to the school he attended in his youth.

He is scheduled to read to a class of eighth-graders at Silk Hope School in Chatham County as part of the Read Across America Program.

Hackney graduated from Silk Hope School when it was a K-12 school and has remained an active alumnus. He and his brother continue to run the- family cattle farm in the community.

The Orange County Democrat serves a district that includes all of Chatham County and parts of Orange and Moore counties.

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