Save Our Sandhills (SOS) has adopted a resolution asking the Moore County Board of Commissioners to adopt the Purchase of Development Rights program.

The program "provides incentives for private landowners to voluntarily save and protect farmland and natural areas by selling development rights to a qualified nonprofit land trust or to a government entity," the resolution says.

Under the program, a landowner can continue to own and use the property for farming or outdoor recreation until such time as ownership is transferred to the nonprofit. The resolution says that the program has advantages over a Transfer of Development Rights program because the latter requires identification of sending and receiving zones, thus "increasing the likelihood of having unhappy landowners."

The resolution says that Purchase of Development Rights programs do not require state legislation and can be set up by county government at little cost.

SOS President Joe McDonald has sent the resolution to the county commissioners, but so far the matter has not been added to a meeting agenda. Copies were sent to state Sen. Harris Blake, state Rep. Jamie Boles, and the Moore County Planning Board.

SOS is a local nonprofit devoted to conservation issues.

DEM WOMEN - Cal Cunningham, a candidate for U.S. Senate, will be guest speaker at the Saturday, March 13, annual luncheon meeting of the Democratic Women of Moore County.

Officers for the new year will be installed during the meeting, which begins at 10:30 a.m. at Seven Lakes Country Club.

The brunch buffet will cost $12.50, and advance payment is required. Members and guests planning to attend should make reservations with Nancy Sandoval at (910) 246-9881.

DEMOCRATS - Carthage Democrats will hold their precinct meeting at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Moore County Agriculture Center, 707 Pinehurst Ave. in Carthage.

Delegates to the Democratic county convention will be elected during the meeting.

TURF - North Carolina GOP leaders invaded the home turf of state House Speaker Joe Hackney Thursday for a press conference kicking off his Republican opponent's campaign.

Cathy Wright, of Chapel Hill, is opposing Hackney, an Orange County Democrat.

The press conference was held in Pittsboro in Chatham County. Hackney's District 54 includes all of Chatham County and portions of Orange and Moore counties.

"The fact that all of these Republicans are gathered in Pittsboro is no accident," state GOP Chairman Tom Fetzer said. "We're here, in Joe Hackney's district, to announce that every seat is in play this year. We call it our M&M strategy. From Murphy to Manteo, Republicans will pursue every seat and let the voters know that they don't have to settle for higher taxes and corrupt government anymore."

HAGAN - U.S. Senator Kay Hagan on Thursday questioned military leadership in a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing about the recent suspension of the Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts program.

She asked Air Force Secretary Michael B. Donley and Gen. Norton Schwartz, Air Force chief of staff, about the military's plan to reinstate the tuition assistance program for military spouses.

"One of the most important issues to me is ensuring family support programs across the services are appropriately resourced," Hagan said at the hearing. "It has come to my attention that many people have registered to take advantage of that program and now there has been a hold on it. People receiving tuition assistance had not been notified of the hold. There are many upset spouses in North Carolina who are calling my office. What's the plan going forward?"

Donley said that the Department of Defense would follow up on the issue.

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