Southern Pines Fire and Rescue is receiving $252, 552 in grant money from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) program.

“These SAFER grants ensure that no matter what time a fire hits, there will be firefighters ready to answer the call and protect our communities,” U.S. Sen. Kay R. Hagan said in a press release announcing the grants. “The funding will give departments the resources they need to rehire firefighters laid off as a result of this tough economy.”

SAFER grants enhance the ability of fire departments to acquire and maintain 24-hour staffing and help ensure communities have adequate protection from fire and fire-related hazards. The objective of the program is to award grants directly to volunteer, combination and career fire departments to increase the number of frontline firefighters, and to rehire firefighters who have lost their jobs because of the economy.

The other North Carolina fire departments receiving grants were Nashville ($168,868) and Havelock ($332,624).

CENSUS — With the April 1 Census Day looming, Moore County has a census questionnaire participation rate of 55 percent, exceeding both the state and national rates.

The Census Bureau Web site reported the North Carolina rate at 48 percent and the national rate at 46 percent, as of Tuesday morning.

Neighboring counties had these return rates as of Tuesday: Chatham and Randolph, 53 percent; Lee, 50 percent; Richmond, 47 percent; Cumberland and Hoke, 46 percent; Harnett, 44 percent; Montgomery, 37 percent.

April 1 is the date on which the census officially counts the number of people in each household in the nation. Census forms were mailed in the third week in March with instructions to complete the questionnaire and return it as soon as possible. The Census Bureau assumption is that most heads of households will know who will be residing there on that date.

The 2010 census form contains 10 questions, making it the shortest in many years. Information collected through the census is used only for statistical purposes and is confidential by federal law.

A population census is taken at 10-year intervals in accordance with the U.S. Constitution. Participation is required by law. Residents who do not return their forms will be visited by census takers, who begin knocking on doors in early May.

FORUM —Today is the deadline to make reservations for the April 5 luncheon meeting of the Moore Republican Women.

The program will feature a forum for GOP candidates for U.S. Senate, 6th Congressional District and state Senate District 22.

The meeting will begin at 11:30 a.m. at the Pinehurst Member’s Club. Reservations should be called to Pauli Curl at (910) 215-9796.

BLAKE — State Senate Leader Marc Basnight has appointed state Sen. Harris Blake, of Pinehurst, to the Advisory Committee on Cancer Coordination and Control. It is a joint Senate-House committee with oversight.

Blake serves District 22, which encompasses Moore and Harnett counties.

COBLE — Congressman Howard Coble began a busy Tuesday schedule with a speech to local business leaders in Greensboro, then traveled to Whitsett for the grand opening of the Precor Manufacturing plant. After lunch at Hursey’s BBQ, he went to Walter M. Williams High School in Burlington to address the honors civics and economics classes, then toured the Firequip Inc. plant.

He returned to Greensboro later in the afternoon for appointments with constituents.

Coble is in Denton this morning for a visit to Town Hall, a tour of the Thermo Products plant, a visit to Denton Orator, and a tour of the Ultra Mek plant. After a barbecue lunch in Lexington, he will travel to Thomasville to visit City Hall and the fire station.

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