Editor’s Note: See Roseboro ads on C2-4

ROSEBORO — Alice Butler’s goal for Sampson County’s small western town is positive progress. It’s a goal she plans to continue working on as she takes over next month as the town’s first female mayor.

Butler, who grew up 15 minutes outside Charlotte on a dairy farm, has been serving the town of Roseboro as a commissioner for almost four years. During her time serving the town, she has been instrumental, along with many others, in implementing the town’s NC STEP grant.

“In 2012, there was an opening on the town board,” Butler said. “At that time, our youngest son had just started college and I felt it would be a good time for me to get more involved in the community. I applied for the position of commissioner and was sworn in January 2012. After my first meeting, I knew I had a lot to learn. However, I was, and still am, excited about the challenge to learn and grow.”

When the filing period came around, Butler said she had several people, from all walks of life, approach her and encourage her to run for mayor.

“Initially, I had not planned to run, but circumstances changed and after talking it over with Greg and several others, I signed up on the last day for filing,” Butler said.

Under the leadership of former mayor Roland Hall, current mayor David Alexander and the town commissioners, Butler said she felt the town has made great progress in the past decade.

“My goal is to continue the positive progress and build upon it in order to make Roseboro an even better place for our families and businesses,” Butler shared. “There is a great opportunity for growth with N.C. 24 becoming four lanes and with the overpass and interchange at N.C. 24 and N.C. 242.”

Butler takes great pride in the town of Roseboro.

“Roseboro is ideally located about 25 minutes from Fayetteville, 40 minutes from Ft. Bragg and 60 minutes from Raleigh and Wilmington,” Butler said. “As one Army veteran citizen just said on our Facebook page, ‘We are an Army family and are happy to call Roseboro our retirement home.’ I hope more people will call Roseboro home.”

Becoming a sidewalk community is another goal Butler has for Roseboro. This, she said, will allow people to walk to the stores, post office, parks and schools.

“As the town has worked to improve the parks, sidewalks, fire hydrants, streets and other amenities, citizens have taken more pride in their businesses, homes and yards,” Butler admitted. “Because of our location, we have a lot of traffic through Roseboro and it is important that we make a good impression so that people will want to stop to play, shop and live.”

Growing up on a dairy farm, Butler said she learned her hard-work ethics from her parents. Throughout high school, she said she always had an outside job.

After high school, Butler attended and graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a degree in business administration. It was at Carolina she met her husband, Greg, who was from Roseboro. In 1989, the two returned to live in Roseboro.

“Since then, we have called Roseboro home and have enjoyed raising our two sons, Clem and Harrison, in a small town environment full of great people,” Butler said.

It’s the citizens, Butler said, that makes Roseboro so special.

“We have many smart, caring, good, hardworking people in this town,” Butler added. “We have people who have lived here their entire life and love our town and we have people who have chosen to live here because of its small town charm, sense of security, yet with all the big city amenities within our borders or a short drive away.”

Butler plans to continue working to improve the town of Roseboro, but admits it will only be possible with the help of the citizens, commissioners and town employees.

“When I visit our neighboring towns and they complement Roseboro on the things we are doing and how nice our town looks, I think about all the work that our town leaders, employees, and citizens have done to make Roseboro take root and bloom,” Butler said.

Reach Kristy D. Carter at 910-592-8137, ext. 2588. Follow us on Twitter at @SampsonInd. Like us on Facebook.

By Kristy D. Carter

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Butler
https://www.clintonnc.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_Alice2.jpgButler

Alice Butler, the first female mayor in Roseboro, will take the oath of office at the December meeting.
https://www.clintonnc.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_AB1.jpgAlice Butler, the first female mayor in Roseboro, will take the oath of office at the December meeting.