Operation Medicine Drop will give Moore County residents an opportunity for safe disposal of unused and out of date medications next week.

Local law enforcement agencies, in partnership with Safe Kids Mid-Carolinas Region, are hosting the medicine drop at several points across the county. Residents are asked to clean out their medicine cabinets and deliver unused and expired medications to one of the drop-off sites for safe disposal, according to a notice from the sponsors.

The Moore County Sheriff’s Department and the Southern Pines, Carthage and Aberdeen police departments are among the sponsors.

The schedule is: March 15-19, from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m., Aberdeen Police Station; March 17, from 2 until 4 p.m., Aberdeen Recreation Station; March 18, from noon until 7 p.m., Train Station Visitor Center on Broad Street, Southern Pines; March 20, from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m., Food Lion in Carthage;

March 20, from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m., IGA Grocery Store in Robbins; March 20, from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. at Cooper’s Pharmacy in Vass; March 20, from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. at Lowes Grocery Store in Olmsted Village; and March 20, from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. at Prescription Shoppe in Seven Lakes.

TEA PARTY — Dee Park, representing the Moore TEA Citizens, is among the speakers added to the agenda for the Republican County Convention Sunday.

Also speaking will be state Sen. Harris Blake and state Rep. Jamie Boles. They will join 6th District Congressman Howard Coble on the speaking roster.

The convention will begin at 2 p.m. in Owens Auditorium on the campus of Sandhills Community College. All GOP candidates and local elected officials have been invited to speak during the convention, according to party secretary Joe Garrison.

Delegates are reminded to come early to complete the credentials requirements prior to the 2 p.m. convening hour, when the Credentials Committee will close its operations.

PROSPERITY — The North Carolina chapter of Americans for Prosperity has issued a word of praise for both Congressman Howard Coble and one of his opponents, Dr. James Taylor, of Southern Pines, for signing the group’s No Climate Tax pledge.

They are among more than 400 lawmakers and candidates at the federal, state and local levels pledging to “oppose legislation relating to climate change that includes a net increase in government revenue.”

“The one thing elected officials should be able to agree on is that global warming shouldn’t be used as an excuse to hike taxes on citizens and businesses,” said state director Dallas Woodhouse. “We encourage all of North Carolina’s elected officials and candidates for elected office to sign the pledge.”

Americans for Prosperity is a nationwide organization that describes itself as “committed to advancing every individual’s right to economic freedom and opportunity.” The pledge is available online at www.NoClimateTax.com.

ROBBINS — Ellis W. Hardison has been appointed to the Robbins Planning Board as the member representing the extraterritorial jurisdiction.

He fills a vacancy with a term expiring in June 2011. The Moore County Board of Commissioners made the appointment at the March 1 meeting.

JUDGE — U.S. Senator Kay Hagan announced Thursday that President Obama has nominated Catherine Eagles, of Greensboro, to be a U.S. District Court Judge for the Middle District of North Carolina.

Eagles is the senior resident superior court judge in Guilford County.

Hagan recommended Eagles to the White House in July.

“Judge Eagles has served with distinction in the superior court in Guilford County since 1993, both as a resident judge and senior resident judge,” Hagan said in a news release. “She has a proven record of judicial fairness and my full support. I will be working with my colleagues to ensure a swift confirmation for Judge Eagles.”

Hagan convened a four-person statewide panel last year to screen candidates for federal appointments. Former N.C. Supreme Court Justice Burley Mitchell heads the panel.

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