Mineral Rights

I have recently learned that our mineral rights are owned by an individual named Butler who lives in Southern Pines. He purchased all RB owner's MRs from  Weyerhaeuser, the company that originally owned the property. His contract requires him to sell the MRs to the current property owner if they are required to own it as a condition of obtaining a mortgage. The coal deposits at RB are part of a strategic national reserve and are very large. They were mined during the civil war by the confederates but had a high sulfur content which allowed rebel steam ships to be identified "over the horizon." Because of this high sulfur content, commercial mining has been abandoned since then. New technologies however, are available to clean the emissions.

Steve Lanning has recently done some additional gravel repairs to the main road. Still no buyers for the properties for sale: Rosenburg, Stringham, Lanning.

Deer hunting season always attracts some unwelcome visitors. Mike Packer of the Poor Boys Hunting Club is carefully monitoring the situation at RB. The Settlege's cable has been cut by a bolt cutter and the Brinks lock at the back gate was destroyed. This was done between Nov 23rd and Nov 27th. If anyone observed details that will help identify the vandals/trespassers, please contact me.