Column: Allegations of blackmail surround All-America competition

On Tuesday, I wrote about Kinston's bid for All-America City status. When we left off, Paulette Burroughs of The Free Press had been hired to seduce an old flame who just happened to be on the All-America committee.

In a world exclusive interview, Burroughs told The Free Press that things are going well in Tampa.

"The hotel we're staying in is really nice," she said. "I worked the lobby for a few years during the Carter administration."

Burroughs still has fans in the greater Tampa area.

"I remember Paulette from the Shriner's Convention back in '76," said hotel manager Richard Little. "The older guys on the fire department still talk about having to use the Jaws of Life to get her and Billy Carter out of that heating vent."

Burroughs said that while the accommodations are top notch, the other Kinstonians in her group are all party-poopers.

"I'm used to staying up three or four days at a clip, but these folks want to go to bed right after Wheel of Fortune goes off," Burroughs said. "Everybody knows it's nearly impossible to get a good groove going before midnight."

During Kinston's final Wednesday practice for its 10-minute presentation Friday, Paulette brought the house down with her burlesque rendition of "Bridge Over Troubled Water."

"I used one of Patrick Holmes old spandex outfits," Burroughs explained.

A spokesman for the All-America City committee would not comment on allegations that Burroughs was attempting to blackmail members of their committee.

"All we know at this point is that Paulette was seen leaving the room of one of our judges at 1 a.m., a second judge at 2 a.m. and a third judge at 4 a.m.," the source said.

"If she remembered to remove the lens cover from the camera she was carrying, we could be in big trouble."

Jon Dawson can be reached at (252) 559-1083 or at jdawson@freedomenc.com. Check out Jon's blog at http://jdawson.encblogs.com.