Daily Courier, December 05, 2009

Teachers’ ‘Bright Ideas’ are rewarded — Page 3 Sports Better hoops?

Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy will play its first ever basketball season in the NCHSAA

Page 7

Saturday, December 5, 2009, Forest City, N.C.

NATION

221 bypass project in 2014 ... or later?

By SCOTT BAUGHMAN Daily Courier Staff Writer

RUTHERFORDTON — The U.S. 221 Bypass was on the fast track to completion. But while the southern section will be let for contractor bid this month, the northern portion may have to way until after 2014 for funding.

Senate takes key votes on health care

Page 12

SPORTS

50¢

“NCDOT recently started a transformation and one of the things that came out of that was modifying how we program projects,” said Jay McInnis, a DOT project planner. “Right now the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) is a sevenyear program. The 2009 — 2015 TIP is the official schedule for projects. But as part of the transformation, we’re moving to where we’ll have a five year work program and a 10-year program and resource plan. There is also a 20-year transportation plan which gets more general as you go out. The draft of that five-year work program has come out. The Rutherfordton bypass is in the

current TIP which is the official schedule for construction to start in 2014. It is looking like the schedule is going to change.”

The southern section, which goes from the South Carolina state line to the U.S. 74 Bypass, is scheduled to be bid this month.

“NCDOT is remaking its plan to reflect the changes in revenue sources,” said Regional Planner Josh King. “The U.S. 221 Bypass project was not included on the five year funding list. The southern section was the higher priority of the Regional Planning Office in previous years.”

The southern section of the bypass is split into two sub-sections — the first from Please see 221, Page 6

State officials say a key section of the Hwy. 221 project is scheduled for 2014 but the schedule may be changed and the project delayed.

Bundle up!

Mercury is dropping Wall seeks win, not revenge vs.

Tar Heels Page 7

GAS PRICES

Low: High: Avg.:

$2.53 $2.61 $2.57

DEATHS

By SCOTT BAUGHMAN Daily Courier Staff Writer

FOREST CITY — Winter weather hasn’t moved into the area just yet, but a slight chance for the white stuff exists for tonight.

National Weather Service forecasters have said there is a 90 percent chance of precipitation in the area for tonight, but said it will mostly be rain with a tiny chance of snow.

“It appears that what we have is, late Saturday evening as the area of precipitation is pulling away there is a chance for it to turn over to a mixture of rain and snow just outside the mountains and foothills,” said forecaster Blair Holloway at the NWS office in Greer, S.C. “But that shouldn’t last very long and we don’t have any snow accumulation expected in the area. But it wouldn’t be out of the question to see some of that rain turn to snow in the evening hours.

That rain won’t be particularly heavy, but as far as total liquid precipitation we’re looking at a quarter of an inch.”

Garrett Byers/Daily Courier file photo

An obvious sign of winter can be found when the fountains in both Rutherfordton and Forest City freeze.

A wet fall won’t necessarily translate into a harsher than normal winter, but Holloway said temperatures in the area might be colder than usual.

“As far as a three-month outlook for December, January and February the main thing we’re looking at is it will probably be below normal on temperatures really across the South East, Florida

Jimmy Lee Bailey Betty Shultz Clifford Tate Mary K, Jolly Page 5

High

Low

41 28 Today and tonight, rain mixed with snow.

Complete forecast, Page 10

INSIDE Classifieds . . . 15-17 Sports . . . . . . . . 7-9 County scene . . . . 6 Opinion . . . . . . . . 4 Vol. 41, No. 290

Contact Baughman via e-mail at sbaughman@ thedigitalcourier.com.

Parades will fill streets on weekend

Elsewhere

WEATHER

and much of Texas,” Holloway added.

“But as far as precipitation goes the prediction is a small area of below normal precipitation affecting Western North Carolina. It is likely to be cooler than normal and maybe a little bit drier than normal.”

From staff reports

FOREST CITY — Three municipal parades are on tap this weekend.

Spindale and Rutherfordton will hold their parades today, and Ellenboro will have its parade Sunday.

Spindale’s parade kicks off at 3:30 p.m.

The grand marshal of the parade will be Worth Johnson, a longtime educator in Rutherford County.

At the end of the Spindale parade route, participants will go to Rutherfordton and Contributed photo take part in that town’s parade at 5 p.m.

GATE (Growing America Through Entrepreneurship) counselor Rick Austin (right) works Retired Mayor Sally Lesher will be with Patty Whitaker, a psychologist planning to open a private practice called Balance, on grand marshal of the Rutherfordton Thursday, Dec. 3. parade.

In the event of inclement weather Saturday, a decision on whether to go ahead with the Spindale and Rutherfordton parades will be made near

By ALLISON FLYNN to receive the pilot program funded by parade time. the U.S. Department of Labor. Aimed at Daily Courier Staff Writer Because the parades are so closely helping dislocated workers approach self- linked, if the Spindale parade is cancelled, SPINDALE – A man who wants to employment as an alternative career path the Rutherfordton parade also would be begin his own solar installation business cancelled. Cold weather alone would not is on his way, as is a woman who is creat- to finding a job, GATE provides training and coaching. The program will be cancel the parades. ing a mobile dog grooming business, all The Ellenboro Christmas parade is because they are taking part in the GATE offered through 2011.

Other GATE sites in North Carolina are Sunday at 3 p.m.

Program at Isothermal Community Lenoir, Randolph, Richmond, Robeson, World War II veterans will be featured College. as grand marshals for the event. The Now at 38 participants, GATE (Growing Rockingham, Surry and Western Piedmont Community Colleges. parade falls one day before the anniversaAmerica Through Entrepreneurship) To be eligible for GATE, applicants must ry of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor began earlier this year. Isothermal is that thrust the United States into World one of eight locations in North Carolina Please see Gate, Page 6 War II.

New programs opens ‘gate’ to success

Now on the Web: www.thedigitalcourier.com

2

— The

Daily Courier, Forest City, NC, Saturday, December 5, 2009

Church News

County churches offer special services for holiday Gospel sing

The Missionary Society of New Salem CME located at 784 Pleasant Hill Loop Road, Rutherfordton, NC will host a Gospel Singing on Sunday December 6, 2009 at 4pm. For more information please contact Sis. Tasha Barnette @(828) 288-4620

Music/concerts

The Anchormen will be in concert Sunday, Dec. 6, at Piney Knob Baptist Church, Rutherfordton. Music begins at 6 p.m.

Singing: Sunday, Dec. 6, 2 p.m., Village Chapel Church, 141 Huntley St., Forest City; featuring the Glory Bound Singers from Mayo.

Singing: Sunday, Dec. 6, 7 p.m., Riverside Baptist Church, Hogan Road, Harris; featuring The Hamptons.

Singing: Sunday, Dec. 6, 6 p.m., at Haynes Memorial Baptist Church in Henrietta; featuring Chris Smith (the one-man quartet) formerly of The Inspirations.

SheDances benefit concert: Friday, Dec. 11, at 7 p.m., at Father’s Vineyard, 724 Oakland Road, Spindale; featuring Thalon and LP (Like Paul), with special guest David Coffin; admission $10; sponsored by Krucifyd Ministries; for more information call (828) 243-3445 or visit www.shedances.org.

Concert: The Christian group Celestial Praise will perform Saturday, Dec. 12, during the 11 a.m. worship service at the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Tryon.

Choir anniversary: New Bethel All Male Choir; Sunday, Dec. 13, 4 p.m., New Bethel AME Zion Church, 263 Forest City; the program includes the following all male choirs from St. John, Green Creek, New Bethel Independent and Oak Grove; Clarence Quarles, master of ceremonies; Rev. Leroy Staley, pastor.

Piano/organ concert: “Making Spirits Bright” will presented by Debbie Wray and Jesse Roberts on Sunday, Dec. 13, at Oak Grove United Methodist Church. The concerts begins at 4 p.m.

Christmas 35th Annual Christmas Program: “Jesus Christ is Born”; Sunday, Dec. 6, 2 p.m., The Church of The Exceptional, Hwy. 221-A, Henrietta, across from Holland’s Furniture Store; come early for best seating.

Christmas Cantata: Sunday, Dec. 6, 6 p.m., Oak Ridge Baptist Church, Cove Road, Rutherfordton; the cantata will be presented by the Southern Baptist Church choir.

Live Nativity: Dec. 4-6, 6 to 8 p.m.,

Churches mix voices for Advent FOREST CITY — Members from the adult choirs of First Presbyterian Church and First Baptist Church (of Forest City) as well as Fairfield Mountains Chapel will present an Advent Carol Service. Due to the success of the concert in recent years, for the third year, two performances are scheduled; Saturday, Dec. 5, 7 p.m., at First Baptist Church, Forest City, and Sunday, Dec. 6, 7 p.m., at Fairfield Mountains Chapel. The group will be accompanied by brass ensemble and organ.

Also, featured on the (Saturday) program are the Sanctuary and Youth Handbell choirs of First Baptist Church, and (Sunday) the Chapel Ringers of Fairfield Mountains Chapel. Pamela Easler and Tony Spencer music directors at Fairfield and First Baptist will co-direct the program.

This year marks the 14th annual celebration of this service, which is patterned after traditions from two great choral organizations; The London Choral Society and St. Olaf Choir Prospect Baptist Church, Mooresboro, near Duke Power Steam

Plant; drive through, church vans and buses welcome; hot chocolate

We Reap What We Sow Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption; but he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

R.S.V. Galatians 6:7-8 If we sow beans in the spring, we can’t expect to reap tomatoes at harvest time. Likewise, if we sow animosity and discord, we shouldn’t expect to reap peace and harmony. In addition, there are natural consequences to our thoughts, words and actions; it seems they are part of the fundamental nature of things.

Just as the law of cause and effect doesn’t take a holiday in the physical world, neither does it take a holiday in the social and spiritual realm. As a society, we cannot expect to treat the most disadvantaged among us with disdain and not reap the consequences. As sociologists sometimes say, every society gets exactly the criminal element it deserves.

Likewise, individually we cannot expect to mistreat people and not be adversely affected. And even if the misdeeds are only in our imaginations, there is still a corresponding effect for every cause.

If we spend most of our time harboring ill will and secret animosities against our neighbor, it will have its natural effect, if only to create a cloud of rancor forever hovering over us. So, what we should sow are seeds of love and will, making sure that our thoughts, our words, and our actions are planting the kinds of seeds that will ensure a bountiful harvest of love and goodness.

Pleasant Grove United Methodist

Advent Lutheran Church

����������������������������������� Invites You to Join Us for Sunday School at 9:45am Worship�������������������� Service at 11:00am

Harrelson Funeral Home Serving the Residents of Rutherford County for Over 80 Years!

168 Frontage Road Forest City, NC

Pastor: Ron Fink Pastor: Rev. Pamela Mitcham St. 104102 EastReveley Main Street Spindale, NC Spindale, NC 28160 28160 828.287.2056 828.287.2056

Mon.-Fri. 8-5:30 • Sat. 8-1

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Hunnicutt

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Spindale Drug Co.

New & Used Cars & Trucks

4076 US Highway 221A Cliffside, NC

“Your Family Pharmacists” 24-Hour Emergency Service

Ford-Mercury, Inc.

565 Oak Street, Forest City

245-1626

657-6322

Residential & Commercial

286-3527

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(828) 657-6383

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Tri-City Concrete, LLC.

P.O. Box 241 Forest City, NC 28043 828-245-2011 Fax: 828-245-2012 BILL MORRIS

STEVE BARNES

College.

In London, an annual carol service such as this generally hails the beginning of Advent. In London (as well as Forest City) familiar carols from the Oxford collection are sung with brass and organ accompaniment.

An American choral treasure is the St. Olaf Choir College Christmas Festival. Broadcast on public radio and television from Minnesota, it is the longest running such program in our nation.

One of the truly memorable moments in choral music is the close of that program when the choir surrounds the audience and sings F. Melius Christiansen’s Beautiful Savior. Both concerts this weekend will conclude with that St. Olaf tradition.

While the gathering is billed as a concert, it is an outgrowth of Christian conviction which draws the three churches together and opens their doors to all who would come.

Preschool care is available on Saturday night and admission is free. and cookies; no admission.

McCluney, pastor of the church.

Messiah: The Rutherford County Chorus will present selected choruses from Messiah on Monday, Dec. 7, at 8 p.m., in the Foundation auditorium at Isothermal Community College.

Singers who are familiar with Messiah are invited to join the choir for this event. Rehearsal with the orchestra will be from 5 to 7 p.m., the day of the performance.

Contact Tony Spencer at tspencer@bellsouth.net for more information.

Guest speaker: Elder Kirby Wilkerson will preach Sunday, Dec. 6, at Doggett Grove AME Zion Church. The service begins at 4 p.m.

Christmas Concert: Mercy’s Well of Greensboro and Southern Sounds from Rutherford County will present an evening of Christmas music on Saturday, December 12.

The concert begins at 7 p.m. in the sanctuary of Corinth Baptist Church.

Corinth Baptist Church is located on Pinehurst Road between Old US 74 and Tiney Road in Ellenboro.

Musical: “Love of God at Christmas”; Saturday, Dec. 12, 6 p.m., Alexander Mills United Methodist Church; presented by the adult choir under the direction of Teresa Mauney.

Christmas Concert: David Roach will present a Christmas Concert on Saturday, Dec. 19, at Chase High School auditorium. The program begins at 7 p.m.

Admission will be $10 at the door with all proceeds going to the Chase Trojan Marching Band Uniform Fund.

Special services Guest speaker: Dec. 3-5, 7 nightly; Temple of Jesus, Lake Lure; Pastor Ricky Murphy of Pentecostal Church of God, Waynesville, will speak; Rev. Lloyd Montgomery, pastor.

Special service: Sunday, Dec. 6, 4 p.m., New Life Christian Fellowship, 601 E. Main St., Spindale; guest speaker, Minister Hugh McCoy; John L.

Shoe and Hat Rally: Sunday, Dec. 6, 3 p.m.; Mt. Pleasant CME Church, 6110 Hudlow Road, Union Mills.

Fundraisers Benefit Breakfast: Saturday, Dec. 5, begins at 7 a.m., at Golden Valley Missionary Methodist; proceeds for a mission trip to Haiti.

3rd Annual Christmas Home Tour: Saturday, Dec. 5, 2 to 8 p.m.; van departs at 2 p.m., and 5 p.m., from Long Branch Road Baptist Church; tour directions also available for anyone who wants to provide their own transportation; tickets $5 per person; proceeds for a new fellowship hall; call 248-9555 or 287-1408 for more information.

Buffet breakfast: Saturday, Dec. 5, 7 to 10:30 a.m., Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church, Mt. Pleasant Church Road, Forest City; $5 per person, all you can eat.

Country ham supper: Saturday, Dec. 5, 4 to 8 p.m., Duncan’s Creek Presbyterian Church, 1658 Duncan’s Creek Road, Ellenboro.

Christmas sale: Saturday, Dec. 5, begins at 8 a.m., Crestview Baptist Church, Forest City; sausage biscuits and baked goods; gently used Christmas decorations and related items; all proceeds for the building fund.

Flounder fish fry: Saturday, Dec. 5, 4 to 7:30 p.m.; Tanner’s Grove United Methodist Church, 236 Tanners Grove Church Road, Forest City; adults $8; 12 and under, $5; proceeds for land fund.

See Services, Page 3

The Daily Courier, Forest City, NC, Saturday, December 5, 2009 — 3

local

Ellenboro Elementary teacher Libby Fowler (right) has received a Bright Ideas grant for $700 for her project, “Tiger’s Mile.” Ellenboro Elementary Principal Bill Bass is also shown.

Ellenboro Elementary teacher Tammie Ash (right) was awarded a Bright Ideas grant for $524.95 for her project, “Backyard Habitats.” Principal Bill Bass is also shown. Not pictured are Ash’s team members, Alicia Clinton and Brandon Hill.

Contributed photos

R-S Middle teacher Robyn Elliott (second from right) has received a Rutherford EMC Bright Ideas grant for $1,164 for her project, “Addressing an Inconvenient Truth at R-S Middle School.” Also pictured (left to right) is R-S Middle Assistant Principal Andrew Tisdale, Principal John McSwain, Elliott and Assistant Principal Jo Oliver.

Not pictured are Elliott’s team members, Karl Bradley, Misti McDaniel and Sherry Jolly.

Forest City-Dunbar Elementary teacher Jennifer Condrey (right) was awarded a Bright Ideas grant for $700 for her “Superstar Sensory Garden” project. Forest CityDunbar Elementary Principal Sally Blanton is also shown.

Local teachers win ‘Bright Ideas’ REMC grants From staff reports

FOREST CITY — Rutherford Electric Membership Corporation has awarded 17 grants, totaling $15,101, to area teachers for special projects that will enhance learning in their classrooms.

Four of those grants were awarded to Rutherford County teachers Robyn Elliott, R-S Middle; Jennifer Condrey, Forest CityDunbar Elementary; and Libby Fowler and Tammie Ash, Ellenboro Elementary.

Elliott and team members Karl Bradley, Misti McDaniel and Sherry Jolly received $1,164 for their project, “Addressing an

Inconvenient Truth at R-S Middle School.”

Condrey was awarded $700 for her “Superstar Sensory Garden” project. Fowler received $700 for her project, “Tiger’s Mile.”

Ash was awarded $524.95 for their “Backyard Habitats” project.

The Bright Ideas grant program, sponsored by North Carolina’s electric cooperatives, strives to improve education in North Carolina classrooms by awarding grants to teachers for innovative, classroombased projects in grades K-12 that would not otherwise be funded.

The annual Bright

Services Continued from Page 2

Poor man’s supper: Saturday, Dec. 5, 4 to 6 p.m., New Hope United Methodist, Lee Cudd Road, Rutherfordton; proceeds for Heather Blackwell’s mission trip to Japan.

Chicken pie lunch: Sunday,Dec. 6, 12 p.m. Caroleen Baptist Church; proceeds for mission trip to Guatemala.

Christmas House Walk: Monday, Dec. 7, 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., sponsored by the women of Fairfield Mountains Chapel; tickets are $10 per person, and $15 if you plan to attend lunch (12:30 p.m.) afterwards at Lake View Restaurant; contact Anne Gundel at 625-9400 for more information. Includes the homes of Angelo & Pat Grillo, 224 Cardinal Road; Edward & Kathy Higbee, 172 Summer Morning Court; Woody & Linda Turner, 211 Hawks Nest Trail; Chris & Carol Wolfe, 185 Treetops Lane.

Other “The Way Home”: A support group for anyone recovering from an addiction; meetings are held each Monday at noon, in the basement of Harvest House Church, Big Springs Ave., Forest City; call Sheila at 828-4471880 for more information.

Mom’s Hope is a ministry that offers hope and support for mothers who face daily struggles and fears when their children are addicted to drugs or alcohol. The group meets

Ideas awards fund creative teaching ideas to meet the needs of area students.

“With these new grants, Rutherford EMC has now contributed over $248,000 to area schools over the past 15 years,” said Dirk Burleson, Rutherford EMC’s vice president of member and corporate services.

Since it began in 1994, the Bright Ideas program has awarded more than $7 million in grant money to the state’s teachers to sponsor more than 6,400 projects reaching over one million students.

“The Bright Ideas program gives teachers a chance to be creative

at 6:30 p.m. the second Thursday of each month at Missionary Wesleyan Church, 811 Doggett Rd., Forest City.

For more information contact Chris Park at 289-6467, or Karen Elliott at 286-2308.

“Celebrate Recovery” is a weekly Christ-centered program that meets every Friday from 6:30 to 9 p.m., at Cornerstone Fellowship Church, 1186 Hudlow Rd., Forest City. The group is open to anyone who wishes to find healing no matter what you’re going through. For more information call 245-3639.

Soup Kitchens Samaritan Breakfast: Thursdays from 6 to 8 a.m., at St. Francis Episcopal Church, 395 N. Main St., Rutherfordton. Carry-out breakfast bags.

St. Paul AME Zion Church, Forest City, each Monday at 6 p.m.

St. Gabriel’s Episcopal Church, Wednesdays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., 330 N. Ridgecrest Ave., Rutherfordton.

“Helping Hands Outreach”: Members of Caroleen Congregational Holiness Church hold a monthly soup kitchen each Saturday from 5 to 7 p.m. The church is located on Walker Store Rd. First Baptist Church in Spindale, 11:30 to 12:30 p.m. each Tuesday.

New Beginnings Soup Kitchen, Thursdays from 4:30 to 6 p.m. at Green River Baptist Association, 668 N. Washington St., Rutherfordton.

Best local sports — in The Courier

and develop projects specifically to meet the needs of their students,” Burleson said.

“The grants underwrite educational initiatives the schools could not otherwise afford.”

The funds go to public school teachers serving grades K-12, with

awards of up to $1,200 being offered for projects in any discipline.

Bright Ideas grant applications are screened by volunteer judges, including educators, community leaders and representatives of the co-ops in a competitive evaluation process. Judges across

the state reviewed more than 1,900 applications this year.

Projects funded by Rutherford EMC this year are expected to benefit over 5,200 students in their first year of operation and hundreds of others in the years ahead.

SAVING WITH THE COUPON QUEEN Jill Cataldo saves hundreds on groceries by making the cost of the common coupon count. You can, too.

Reader mail: Husband questions stockpiling

JILL CATALDO

It’s time again to answer some questions from readers like you who are learning to be Super-Couponers: Q: “I have been following your method for about a month now and I’m having a lot of fun! But I am having trouble getting my husband to understand why I just bought 6 bottles of lotion at one time. I paid 49 cents each after coupons and I thought that was a good deal.”

A: It sounds like you’re hitting a little stockpile resistance at home. Don’t worry. It’s temporary. Sometimes it’s difficult to wrap our brains around buying more than we need for immediate use. As shoppers, we are conditioned to buy based on needs versus buying strictly based on price.

But to understand why stockpiling groceries works so well, it’s important to note why prices fluctuate so widely. Grocery stores operate on a pricing cycle that typically lasts 12 weeks. During that time, the price of every item in the store will rise and fall according to various sale. But the price of any given item will only be at its absolute lowest price just once during the 12-week period. So, if you’re not buying your items when their price is at that lowest point you’re paying more, needlessly. If we can buy a sufficient amount of a nonperishable item to last 12 weeks, we don’t have to go to the store and get stuck paying full price for something when we “need” it. And that’s the difference between needs-based shopping and pricebased shopping. If we purchase our items when the price hits that low and store them at home, we can “shop at home” for that item when we actually do need it.

Your lotion is a great example of a good item to stockpile. It’s easy to store and doesn’t hit an expiration date for a very long time. You paid less than 50 cents a bottle and you’ve got enough lotion on hand to last your household the better part of a year. Had you purchased only one, when that bottle ran out you’d have to go to the store and pay close to $4 to replace it. With your stockpile, you’ll simply reach for the next bottle when you need it and you’ll feel great knowing it cost you one-eighth the price of a regular-priced bottle. That makes terrific financial sense! Would your husband rather you spend eight times as much as you did? I bet not!

Q: “Can you help with coupon stacking? My grocery store always offered its store coupons in the flier. But now they started offering electronic coupons and I’m not sure how to stack my paper coupons with these.”

A: Coupon stacking is a great way to save big! When we stack coupons, we combine a store coupon and a manufacturer coupon on the same item. And, when stores offer their coupons electronically, stacking works almost the same way.

First, you’ll log in to your store’s Web site and activate your electronic coupons. Once activated, these coupons will automatically be deducted from your total when the clerk scans your store shopper’s loyalty card during checkout. Stacking manufacturer coupons with electronic store coupons is even easier than stacking two paper coupons together, since there’s less to clip! Once you have viewed the list of online coupons loaded to your card, comb through the current week’s circulars and your stash of previous week’s circulars for coupons on those same items and take them with you to use during checkout. You’ll receive the store’s discount instantly via the electronic coupons on your card and when the cashier scans your manufacturer coupons you will receive those discounts on top of the others. You’ll see both sets of savings on your receipt... and a smaller end total, too! (c) CTW Features

Jill Cataldo, a coupon-workshop instructor, writer and mother of three, never passes up a good deal.

Learn more about couponing at her Web site, www.super-couponing.com. E-mail your couponing coups and questions to jill@ctwfeatures.com.

4

— The

Daily Courier, Forest City, NC, Saturday, December 5, 2009

■ A daily forum for opinion, commentary and editorials on the news that affects us all.

James R. Brown/ publisher Steven E. Parham/ executive editor

601 Oak Street, P.O. Box 1149, Forest City, N.C. 28043 Phone: 245-6431 Fax: 248-2790

E-mail: dailycourier@thedigitalcourier.com

Our Views Education is key for positive future

O

ne of the factors wrapped up in the national debate about jobs and job creation that gets far less attention than it should is getting workers prepared for the types of jobs that are out there or that will be created.

Many in the workforce lack or need refresher courses in some of the basic skills such as math, communication skills (writing and speaking), computer fundamentals and software operations.

In Rutherford County, there are resources available to help workers address their needs in these areas if they are willing to put forth the effort.

What is lacking here is an attitude throughout the community that stresses the importance of getting every worker the skills needed to be successful.

While community leaders have championed education and job training for a long time, far too many of the people who could benefit from more training still refuse to accept the value of going back to class.

If the county is to reverse its economic decline, this attitude has to change.

When we instill a positive attitude for education throughout our community, we can help more people.

That education is available at Isothermal Community College, where efforts to adapt the curriculum to the type of training needed has been ongoing for many years.

The more people we help, the more we help ourselves.

Letter Policy The Daily Courier would like to publish letters from readers on any subject of timely interest.

All letters must be signed. Writers should try to limit their submissions to 300 words. All letters must include a day and evening telephone number.

The editors reserve the right to edit letters for libelous content, factual accuracy and length.

All submissions should be sent to The Editor, P.O. Box 1149, Forest City, NC, 28043.

Letters may also be submitted via e-mail at dailycourier@thedigitalcourier.com or via our website at thedigitalcourier.com

Our readers’ views Writer: Pharmacy should stay open To the editor: I am writing concerning the closing of Rutherford East Pharmacy.

The hospital claims it is because they don’t make enough money which I think is bull.

That place is always packed.

The building is paid for.

So what if it doesn’t make a million dollars a year.

It is a much needed service on this end of the county.

Especially for those of us who are disabled or the elderly who have a lot of prescriptions each month.

Driving to town every couple of days is very inconvenient and can cost a good bit of money.

Money, which those of us on fixed incomes can not afford.

Also, you can’t beat the personal service that you get from those who work there.

They know who you are and what your needs are.

You’re not just a number to them.

There is a petition at Earls SavMor on Hwy. 120 for those of you who care enough to stop by and sign it.

I am also asking that you write the hospital board and/or the newspaper.

Help us keep this place open.

We need it!

Dauniella Kanipe Ellenboro

Offers more thoughts on law and courts To the editor: I noticed in one of Ray Crawford’s responses that there are Old Testament laws that “we” don’t follow any more.

It was in “The Federalist 84”, to soothe American fears of the U.S. Constitution, that Hamilton stated “in strictness, the people surrender nothing.

And as they retain everything,” they should have no fear of a Constitution.

That statement, in fact, is summed up in the 9th and 10th Amendments of the Constitution, which deals with rights and powers.

The rights enumerated, said the amendment, shall not be construed to deny or disparage other rights retained by the people.

And what do the people retain?

“Everything.”

As to powers of the Constitution, if it’s not delegated to that document, nor prohibited to the states, then the states or the people retain powers under that document.

And, in case Mr. Crawford and others are interested, neither life, liberty nor property can be taken from any person without “due process of law.”

Due process means the right to go before a judge and face accusers. That’s Isaiah 50:8 in case you need a Bible origin.

We also have the right to a presumption of innocence. That’s found in Isaiah 54:17, as well as arising from Deuteronomy 17:6

and 19:15, according to Talmudic scholars.

Trial by jury? How about 1 Corinthians chapter 6?

A New Testament right to be convicted by no less than two witnesses? How about Matthew 18:15-18?

It has been said that judges in a courtroom are “next to God.” Since they, as well as prosecutors and law enforcement officers are asked to swear on the Bible when they take their job, we can conclude that is so.

Justice Joseph Story points out that “due process” comes from Magna Carta and means “lawful judgement of your peers.”

So obviously the common man has the right to judge according to law.

Personally, I like Jesus’ definition of due process of law in Matthew 5:18: “...one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass away until all be fulfilled.”

Imagine a courtroom where every law pertaining to your case must be impartially examined until “all is fulfilled.”

Since we retain everything and surrender nothing, and since all fifty states recognize the sovereignty of God, there is no reason why we can’t do it.

Oh, and if you’re wondering what God would say about traffic court, check out Isaiah 29:20-21, and Jeremiah 5:26 and 31. Oh yes, there’s Habakkuk 1:15, which the judge might want to consider, seeing he swore to uphold all the laws and all.

Ralph Haulk Forest City

Stop! North Carolina does not need more debt RALEIGH – I know that Gov. Beverly Perdue and incoming Senate Majority Leader Martin Nesbitt are intelligent individuals. I don’t know why they continue to advocate foolish ideas.

The problem is, again, budgetary. Recent headlines point to another rough fiscal year for North Carolina government. From July to October, state revenues fell 1.5 percent short of the already dreary forecast lawmakers had assumed when crafting their 2009-10 budget. By itself, that doesn’t constitute another crisis, given a budget cushion the governor put in place back in July.

But when you add to that the fact that North Carolina’s unemployment rate is likely to remain sky-high and our Medicaid program is spending money faster than expected, it’s not hard to conclude that when the legislature reconvenes in 2010, it is likely to face another round of difficult decisions.

In 2009, Perdue and the

John Hood Syndicated columnist

Democratic legislative majority decided to finance most of the state’s operating deficit through borrowing and tax increases. Because 2010 is an election year, there probably won’t be another big tax hike. But more borrowing?

That’s the ticket, some say.

The immediate problem is Medicaid. North Carolina went into the Great Recession with a relatively expensive Medicaid program, built up over the years by irresponsible politicians and incompetent administrators. Thanks to the economy, both enrollment and costs then soared. By November, Medicaid had spent $160 million more than projected, reflecting a 9 percent increase in expenditure.

State officials hope to flat-

ten out the cost spike by the first of the year. But that will still leave a hole. Gov. Perdue says she’d like to fill it by asking Washington for another Medicaid bailout.

“We have consistently asked them to continue to help hold the states harmless for Medicaid and to help us as we get through this time, when our budget is stressed and the budgets of all the states around in the country are stressed,” Perdue told the Associated Press.

Of course, “all the states” constitute, uh, the United States. And since the federal budget is already massively out of balance, another bailout would mean another round of federal debt, much of it purchased with new money created out of thin air by the Federal Reserve.

In other words, the governor thinks it would be a good idea to finance Medicaid overspending in North Carolina and other states by further debasing the dollar.

This isn’t just Perdue’s preference, or the prevailing phi-

losophy of banana republics.

Sen. Martin Nesbitt, the new majority leader, gave a recent speech in Asheville in which he credited the 2009 federal bailout as the only way to protect jobs and personal income in North Carolina.

The alternative to the bailout, he said, would have been an economic meltdown.

Let me see if I have this straight. America has entered a Great Recession because households and businesses, in response to perverse subsidy and tax incentives, took on excessive debt to invest in real estate and other speculative ventures lacking any connection to underlying economic reality. So, in response to this costly borrowing binge, our public officials truly think the right policy is to borrow still more to finance the daily operations of bloated bureaucracies and expansive entitlements?

This isn’t a rational theory of political economy. It’s a trip to Cloud Cuckoo Land.

Recessions have complex

causes but a simple definition. A recession occurs when there is a widespread mismatch between what consumers are willing to buy and what producers are offering for sale. The goods in question could be electronics, homes, cars, capital goods, or labor. The only real way to exit a recession is to eliminate this mismatch — to go through the painful but necessary process of liquidating bad investments and adjusting one’s finances and efforts accordingly.

The same logic applies to government. North Carolina is producing more government than taxpayers are willing or able to finance.

The solution is to eliminate low-priority programs and focus scarce tax dollars on core functions.

The solution is not to put North Carolina taxpayers – all of whom are also federal taxpayers – further into debt.

Hood is president of the John Locke Foundation and publisher of CarolinaJournal.com.

The Daily Courier, Forest City, NC, Saturday, December 5, 2009

—

5

OBITUARIES/POLICE NOTES

Police Notes

Obituaries

Sheriff’s Reports

Betty Shultz

n The Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office responded to 99 E-911 calls Thursday. n Mario Willard reported scaffolding stolen from a construction site. n Donald Edward Russell Jr. reported the theft of a firearm.

Betty King Shultz, 59, of Chesnee, S.C., died Thursday, Dec. 3, 2009, at Spartanburg Regional Medical Center.

A native of Chesterfield County, S.C., she was a daughter of the late Rayford Rutherfordton King and Louise Williams King; was a member of the n The Rutherfordton Police Department responded to 54 Rainbow Baptist Church E-911 calls Thursday. n A counterfeit $10 bill was reported being received at One of Chesnee; and worked as a supervisor at the Stop, 111 S. Washington St. Charles Lea Center and for District #2 Schools in the Spindale Transportation Department. n The Spindale Police Department responded to 23 E-911 Survivors include her calls Thursday. husband, William Shultz; one daughter, Dorothy Dial of Chesnee; one step-son, Lake Lure n The Lake Lure Police Department responded to one E-911 William Joseph Shultz of Spindale, and three grandcall Thursday. children.

Memorial services will Forest City be conducted at noon n The Forest City Police Department responded to 66 E-911 on Monday at Harrelson calls Thursday.

Funeral Chapel with the Rev. n An employee McDonald’s, on Oak Street, reported an Steve Foster officiating. incident of receiving a counterfeit bill.

The family will receive n An employee of Wal-mart, on Plaza Drive, reported an friends one hour prior to serincident of shoplifting and second-degree trespassing. vice time. n Beverly Byers reported an incident of damage to property.

Arrests

n James Steven Green, 34, of 605 Pennsylvania Ave.; charged with felony probation violation; placed under a $20,000 secured bond. (Probation) n Ronald Adam Scoggins, 29, of 141 Thermal Drive; surrender on assault on a female and communicating threats; placed under a $15,000 secured bond. (Bondsman) n Efren Ceballos Ramirez, 37, of Hogpen Branch Road; charged with gun on educational property; placed under a $10,000 secured bond. (RCSD) n Jason Lee Causby, 27, of 1185 Green Creek Drive; charged with two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia, simple possession of schedule IV controlled substance, possession of schedule II controlled substance, possession with intent to sell and deliver counterfeit controlled substance, obtain property by false pretense, common law obstructing justice, possession with intent to manufacture, sell and deliver methamphetamine and misdemeanor possession of schedule VI controlled substance; placed under a $78,100 secured bond.

(RCSD) n Amber Mary Obryan, 16, of 116 Roseboro Grove Road; charged with resisting a public officer; freed on a custody release. (RCSD) n Brian Kevin Cole, 32, of 170 Patches Lane; charged with failure to comply on child support; placed under a $304 cash bond or 30 days in jail. (RCSD) n Brenda Ward Bartlett, 48, of 2530 Painters Gap Road; charged with second-degree trespassing and injury to real property; released on a $1,000 unsecured bond. (RCSD) n Nathan Perry Molano, 18, of 138 Woodfield Drive; charged with simple possession of schedule IV controlled substance; placed under a $1,000 secured bond. (SPD) n Jose Miguel Mata, 16, of 5604 S. U.S. 221; charged with simple possession of schedule IV controlled substance; placed under a $1,000 secured bond. (SPD)

Citations

n John David Edgerton, 20, of 711 Old U.S. 221 North, Rutherfordton; cited for possession of beer by less than 21.

(RPD) n Ernest Henry Cappelmann III, 64, of 174 Butler St., Rutherfordton; cited for consuming a malt beverage on premises having only an off-premises permit for the kind of alcohol being consumed. (RPD) n Kevin Joseph Brooks, 31, of 100 Thorn St., Tazewell, Va.; cited for possession of an open container of alcoholic beverage in the passenger area of a motor vehicle. (RPD)

Dianne Davis, county executive director of Rutherford County Farm Service Agency, reminds livestock producers that Dec. 10 is the final date to make application for the Livestock Forage.

Program for grazing losses incurred in 2008.

Eligible participants are those that “bought in” to the program by paying a $100 fee in 2008, any livestock producer who had eligible livestock in 2008 and had not been involved in farming for more than 10 years, and any livestock producer who qualifies as a limited resource farmer (total household income below $22,050.00 per year for 2007 and 2008).

Eligible livestock are adult beef or dairy cattle and any non-adult beef or dairy 500 pounds or over, goats, sheep, swine, poultry, alpacas, emus and llamas that was owned sometime within the 60 days prior to April 1, 2008, and still on the farm on April 1.

Any of the above livestock that were sold because of the drought from January 1 through March 31, 2008 and in 2006 and 2007 will be counted for this program.

A cropland certification to determine eligible pasture will be required and can be given when the application is filed.

Rutherford County FSA can be reached by phone at 2874220, or at 121 Laurel Drive, Rutherfordton.

An online guest registry is available at www.harrelsonfuneralhome.com

Clifford Tate Clifford Tate, 67, of 209 N. Cleghorn St., Rutherfordton, died Thursday, Dec. 3, 2009, at Rutherford Hospital.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by McKinneyLandreth Funeral Home.

A guest register is available at www.mckinneylandrethfuneralhome.com

Mary K. Jolly Mary K. Jolly, 88, of Corinth, Ms., died Monday, Nov. 30, 2009, at Hospice

House in Forest City.

She was a daughter of the late Robert and Willie Barnett; was a retired garment factory worker and was of the Pentecostal faith; was the widow of Clarence Jolly.

Survivors include three sons, Kenneth Jolly of Rutherfordton, Robert Jolly of Cedartown, Ga., and Donald Jolly of Streator, Ill; one daughter, Mary Jo Dees of Rutherfordton, 15 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren and seven great-greatgrandchildren.

Funeral services were held Thursday at Memorial Funeral Home Chapel. Burial was in Forrest Memorial Park.

Jimmy Lee Bailey Jimmy Lee Bailey of Fairfax, Va. died Sunday, Nov. 29, 2009, in Virginia.

Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced later by McMahan’s Funeral Home & Cremation Services.

Graham group releases Palin video on God’s will

By MIKE BAKER

Associated Press Writer

RALEIGH, N.C. — Sarah Palin says the United States should rededicate itself to seeking God’s will, arguing that a humble spirit could help leaders get more answers on issues such as health care, energy and national security.

In a video released Friday by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, the 2008 Republican candidate for vice president said it’s important for leaders to acknowledge they don’t have all the answers.

“No one person has all the right answers,” Palin said. “It takes a united nation, and it does take godly counsel, and it takes prayer and answers to prayer — and a collective humble heart of a nation seeking God’s hand of protection and his blessings of prosperity. I think if we can get back to that, our country

will be a safer, more prosperous and healthier nation.”

The former Alaska governor referred to an Abraham Lincoln proclamation that declared a day of national humiliation, fasting, and prayer. She said the United States has been “touched by God” because the nation’s early leaders dedicated the country to God. “If we could get back to that — that humbleness, with that kind of contrite spirit — I think that we would be able to be provided more of the answers to so many of the great challenges that we’re facing,” Palin said.

“And these are huge challenges, whether we’re talking about health care, whether we’re talking about energy independence, whether we’re talking about national security measures.”

Parts of Palin’s interview with the Billy Graham group have been released since she traveled a couple weeks ago

District Attorney says force justified in frat shooting

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The police officer who fatally shot a University of North Carolina fraternity president used justifiable deadly force after the student hid his hands behind his back until EMS/Rescue suddenly showing a hand n The Rutherford County EMS responded to 29 E-911 calls holding a black object, a Thursday. prosecutor said Friday. n The Volunteer Life Saving and Rescue, Hickory Nut Despite repeated comGorge EMS and Rutherford County Rescue responded to 13 mands for Courtland Smith, E-911 calls Thursday.

21, to show his hands, the student refused and advanced on Archdale police Fire Calls officer Jeremy Flinchum n SDO firefighters responded to a structure fire, assisted by until he was about 10 feet Forestry Service, Cliffside and Sandy Mush firefighters. away, then “suddenly drew n Ellenboro firefighters responded to a motor vehicle accihis right hand from behind dent. his back while holding somen Forest City firefighters responded to a motor vehicle acci- thing black in color,” a report dent.

by Randolph County District n Rutherfordton firefighters responded to a vehicle fire.

Attorney Garland Yates said.

State Bureau of Investigation agents called in to probe the shooting found a black cell phone where Smith

Livestock forage deadline approaches, is Dec. 10

The family requests memorial donations be sent to God’s Little Haven, c/o Charles Lea Center, 205 Lee Dr, Chesnee, SC 29323.

Harrelson Funeral Home is serving the family.

THE DAILY COURIER Published Tuesday through Sunday mornings by Paxton Media Group LLC dba The Daily Courier USPS 204-920 Periodical Postage paid in Forest City, NC. Company Address: 601 Oak St., P.O. Box 1149, Forest City, NC 28043.

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fell, the prosecutor’s report said.

Smith, a UNC-Chapel Hill junior and fraternity president from Houston, Texas, had called a 911 dispatcher a little before 5 a.m. on Aug. 23 to say he was speeding along Interstate 85, had been drinking, wanted to commit suicide, and had a 9mm pistol in his back pocket.

Authorities found a halfempty bottle of Jack Daniel’s whiskey in Smith’s vehicle.

Mary K. Jolly Mary K. Jolly, 88, of Corinth, MS, died Monday, November 30, 2009 at Hospice House in Forest City.

Ms. Jolly was born June 18, 1921. She was a retired garment factory woker and was of the Pentecostal faith.

She was preceded indeath by her husband, Clarence Jolly; one son, Hayden Jolly; one daughter, Peggy Alloway; and her parents, Robert and Willie Barnett.

Survivors include three sons, Kenneth Jolly and his wife, Carolyn of Rutherfordton, Robert Jolly and his wife, Beverly of Cedartown, GA and Donald Jolly and his wife, Diane of Streator, Ill; one daughter, Mary Jo Dees of Rutherfordton, 15 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren and seven great-great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were held Thursday, December 3, 2009 at Memorial Funeral Home Chapel.

Burial was in Forrest Memorial Park.

Paid obit.

to meet the aging religious leader at his western North Carolina home, where they dined and prayed. Franklin Graham, who now leads the Charlotte-based association his father founded, said he has been impressed by Palin’s commitment to faith, family and country.

In the videos, Palin talked about some of the “shots” she takes in the media and in politics.

“God strengthens me through the challenges,” Palin said, adding that she believes in a line from the Bible she paraphrased as: “What the enemy seeks to destroy you with, no, God is going to turn it around for good.”

“God has so blessed me in really manifesting that promise over and over and over in my life,” she said.

Billy Graham, 91, has been a counsel to presidents and politicians for decades, though he now remains largely secluded due to deteriorating health. Palin was visiting North Carolina last month as part of a book tour for her new memoir, “Going Rogue.”

Betty King Shultz Betty King Shultz, age 59, of Chesnee, SC, died Thursday, December 3, 2009 at Spartanburg Regional Medical Center.

Betty was born on March 14, 1950 in Chesterfield County, SC to the late Rayford King and Louise Williams King. She was a member of the Rainbow Baptist Church of Chesnee and worked as a supervisor at the Charles Lea Center and for District #2 Schools in the Transportation Department.

She enjoyed scrapbooking and the adventure of travelling to new places and making new acquaintances.

Survivors include her husband of seven years, William Shultz; one daughter, Dorothy Dial and her husband, Shane, of Chesnee; one step-son, William Joseph Shultz of Spindale, NC and three grandchildren, Amanda Chapman, David Dial and Katelyn Dial.

Memorial services will be conducted at noon on Monday, December 7, 2009 at Harrelson Funeral Chapel with Reverend Steve Foster officiating. The family will receive friends one hour prior to service time.

The family requests memorial donations be sent to God’s Little Haven, c/o Charles Lea Center, 205 Lee Dr, Chesnee, SC 29323.

Harrelson Funeral Home is serving the family.

An online guest registry is available at: www.harrelsonfuneralhome.com Paid obit

6

— The

Daily Courier, Forest City, NC, Saturday, December 5, 2009

Calendar/Local Gate Continued from Page 1

Health/education Life Line Screenings: Wednesday, Dec. 9, at Forest City Clubhouse, 141 Westview St., Forest City; appointments will begin at 10 a.m.; packages start at $139; all five screenings take 60-90 minutes to complete; pre-registration required; call 1-877-237-1287 or visit www. lifelinescreening.com.

Community Health Clinic of Rutherford County provides access to primary medical care, wellness education, medications and preventative programs. The clinic, open Monday through Thursday, is located at 127 E. Trade St., B 100, Forest City. Patients seen by appointment only. The clinic does not accept patients with private insurance, Medicaid or Medicare.

Call 245-0400. The Medication Assistance Program provides access to medications at reduced rates or free of charge to those who qualify, call 288-8872.

Red Cross Blood drives scheduled: Dec. 8 — Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy, Avondale, 11:30 a.m to 4:30 p.m., contact Jennifer Hoyle at 657-9998; Dec. 11 — Forest City Fire Department, 1 to 6 p.m., contact Keith McCurry at 245-2111; Dec. 16 — Harris Elementary, 1:30 to 6 p.m., contact Don Ingle at 2482354 Dec. 21 — Oak Grove Methodist Church, Ellenboro, 4 to 8:30 p.m., contact Dawn Kanipe at 289-1279; Dec. 28 — Red Cross Chapter House, 2 to 6:30 p.m., call 287-5916 for an appointment.

Classes: Adult, Child, Infant CPR: Saturday, Dec. 5, begins at 8:30 a.m.

Adult CPR: Monday, Dec. 14, begins at 6 p.m.

Child, Infant CPR: Tuesday, Dec. 15, begins at 6 p.m.

First Aid: Thursday, Dec. 17, begins at 6 p.m., Preventing Disease Transmission.

be unemployed and have lost their job due to a business closing or layoff and be eligible for the Workforce Investment Act; be 18 years of age or older and eligible to work in the U.S.; and complete an orientation session and scholarship application.

“Three out of four who apply are getting scholarships,” said Rick Austin, GATE counselor at Isothermal.

“In the program, participants get four paid courses plus business counseling,” he said.

Those courses include business and entrepreneurship courses, N.C. REAL Entrepreneurship course with online modules and other online courses, vocational courses related to the business you are starting and free ongoing counseling.

Unlike other programs, you can take

221 Continued from Page 1ge ##

the state line to Floyd’s Creek, the second from Floyd’s Creek to the U.S. 74 Bypass. Both parts of the southern section are funded in the current DOT plan, but the northern section will have to wait.

“The part that goes north from

part in GATE and keep your unemployment benefits.

“If you are in GATE and tell the Employment Security Commission you are self-employed, you can continue to receive your benefits while you are building your business,” Austin said.

If enrolled in GATE full time, you receive a waiver from the Employment Security Commission allowing you to suspend your job search activities and visits to the ESC office while working on your business.

As GATE counselor, Austin helps individuals in developing a business plan, financial counseling or credit repair and other issues specific to the business.

“I try to steer them in the right direction and keep them from making mistakes,” he said.

Austin has a background in business, helping to launch more than 400 new products in his career.

Living in Orlando, Fla., the past 18

years, he spent seven of those on the board of the Disney Entrepreneur Center. He and his wife decided to make the move to Rutherford County, where his in-laws have lived for several years.

“I understand and know business and have always been one who wants to give back to communities,” he said.

“I grew up in a rural area and love this area.”

Austin said there are a lot of really good, hardworking people in the county who want to work and the county has “tremendous potential.”

“All the research shows that all of the growth in an economic recovery has come almost entirely from small business and entrepreneurship,” he said.

For more information on GATE, call Austin at 286-3636 ext. 390 or visit www.ncprojectgate.org.

U.S. 74 Bypass to Roper Loop Road is probably going to be put off until after 2014 for construction, but I don’t know yet what will happen with the right-of-way acquisition,” McInnis added. “The official schedule is the TIP seven-year plan because the board has not approved that five-year plan which is currently just a draft.

That puts us in a quandary as to what we tell the public the schedule is,

because the schedule for all the projects is being reviewed right now. So, if the final version of that five-year plan stays like the draft is, the bypass will be later. It may be delayed, but it may not. But I would say it is likely to be delayed, because it is not in the fiveyear plan draft.”

Contact Flynn via e-mail at aflynn@thedigitalcourier.com.

Contact Baughman via e-mail at sbaughman@thedigitalcourier.com.

Winning Night in Hickory Nut Gorge

Meetings/other Alcoholics Anonymous: The TriCity Alano Club meets every day at 1201 Oakland Road, Forest City, (first door on the left). For more information and meeting times call 288-2700.

Meeting, Rutherford County Soccer Association: annual general membership meeting, 6 p.m.

Monday at ICC in the Business Services Building, Red Room.

Jean Gordon/Daily Courier

Holidays Ellenboro Christmas Parade: Sunday, Dec. 6, 3 p.m., all participants invited to enter; contact Sandra Weeks at 453-8932, or town hall, 453-8611; World War II veterans will be the grand marshals.

Annual Holiday Tour: Sponsored

by Family Resources; Dec. 12 and 13, from 1 to 5 p.m., this year’s tour features the home of Blue and Julie Pittman; tickets are $8 in advance or $10 at the door; the reception center will be at the new Rutherfordton Elementary; for more information or advance tickets call 247-1440, ext. 105.

Christmas Concert: David Roach will present a Christmas Concert on Saturday, Dec. 19, at Chase High School auditorium. The program begins at 7 p.m. Admission will be $10 at the door with all proceeds going to the Chase Trojan Marching Band Uniform Fund.

Christmas Boutique: Through Dec. 24, at the Visual Arts Center, 173 N. Main St., Rutherfordton; hours 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday; handmade art and fine craft items on display and available for purchase; paintings in all mediums, ceramics, wood crafts, sculpture, fused and stained glass and much more.

Jean Gordon/Daily Courier

Ken Potter carries this handcrafted rooster through Alyssia’s Restaurant Thursday night in Lake Lure for the annual Hickory Nut Gorge Chamber of Commerce auction. The rooster was made by the late Henry Bullock Gale, who worked in the shipyards in New York City. The rooster was donated by Gale’s nephew, Steve Gale, and was bought for more than $150 during the live auction. Potter is a chamber volunteer.

JoAnne Okpych (left) and David Bond check out a few silent auction items up for bid Thursday night at the annual Hickory Nut Gorge Chamber of Commerce auction. The raffle prize, a Caribbean cruise for two, was won by Amy Wald of Chimney Rock, who told the group she had never won anything in her life. All proceeds from the annual event go for the chamber sponsored activities in the gorge area.

Blogger who threatened judges on trial

By TOM HAYS Associated Press Writer

NEW YORK — A New Jersey blogger crossed the line protecting free speech by writing that three federal judges in Chicago “must die” for a decision supporting gun control, a prosecutor said Friday, as the defense countered in closing arguments that giving a passionate opinion is not a crime.

“There is no right to threaten violence against people,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney William Ridgway.

The judges, he added, “received that threat just by virtue of doing their jobs.”

Hal Turner, 47, of North Bergen,

N.J., was charged earlier this year with threatening to assault or kill a federal judge. Defense attorney Nishay Sanan sought to portray him as a “shock jock” and fierce gun control opponent whose tirades were protected by the First Amendment.

“Giving your opinion is not a crime,” he said in his closing argument. “To do it passionately is not a crime.”

The lawyer also cited evidence that his client once was a paid FBI informant in investigations of neo-Nazis and white supremacist groups.

“What does he get from his country? Betrayal,” he said.

The arguments came after only one

About us...

Fundraisers Yard sale: Dec. 10 and 11, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., National Guard Armory, 890 Withrow Road; furniture, clothes, knick knacks, and much more; sponsored by DAV Chapter 25; all proceeds for local veterans aid program.

Miscellaneous Guardian ad Litem program: Federal and N.C. laws mandate legal representation for children in abuse and neglect court proceedings. Community volunteers are a powerful voice in advocating for children and helping them to find their voice in the court system.

To find out how you can become a Guardian ad Litem, call 287-3929.

Volunteers needed: Youth Empowerment is in the process of creating a teen center for youth 10-17. Volunteers are needed to paint at the Power Center and help with making small repairs during the week of caring. Located at the old Special Occasions building behind Bojangles. For more information call 288-1021.

day of testimony in federal court in Brooklyn, where the trial was moved based on a change-of-venue request.

Prosecutors called three federal agents to describe Turner’s fiery Web site entries; his attorneys opted not to call any witnesses.

After briefly deliberating Friday, jurors sent the judge a note saying they were deadlocked. He responded by urging them to keep trying to reach a unanimous verdict. They were to resume deliberating Monday.

Turner’s troubles began in June after the three judges upheld a district court ruling dismissing lawsuits challenging handgun bans in Chicago and Oak Park.

Circulation

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Remember, call 245-6431 for circulation customer service.

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The Daily Courier, Forest City, NC, Saturday, December 5, 2009 — 7

Inside Scoreboard . . . . . . . . . . . Page 8 NCAA Football . . . . . . . Page 8 NFL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 9

2009-10 Hoops Preview Williams questionable with ankle injury CHARLOTTE (AP) — Carolina running back DeAngelo Williams is questionable for the Panthers’ game against Tampa Bay with a sprained ankle.

Williams missed his third straight practice Friday. He leads Carolina with 1,022 yards rushing.

His absence on Sunday would make it hard for the Panthers to establish their running game and take pressure off Matt Moore, who is making his fourth career start and first in two years. Starter Jake Delhomme has a broken finger.

Receiver Dwayne Jarrett (ankle) and cornerback Captain Munnerlyn (concussion) are doubtful. Receiver Muhsin Muhammad (knee) and fullback Brad Hoover (ankle) are probable. Reserve defensive tackle Tank Tyler (knee) won’t play.

NC State RB wins Piccolo Award GREENSBORO (AP) — North Carolina State running back Toney Baker has won the Brian Piccolo Award.

The Atlantic Coast Conference said Friday that Baker was the recipient of the award given to the “most courageous” football player in the league.

A serious knee injury in the 2007 opener wound up requiring two surgeries and kept Baker off the field until this year. He returned to lead the Wolfpack with 773 yards rushing, and has 2,045 career yards rushing.

TJCA’s basketball programs will play in the NCHSAA for the first time in the school’s history.

Garrett Byers/ Daily Courier

TJCA hoops take a step forward

By KEVIN CARVER Daily Courier Sports Reporter

AVONDALE — Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy’s boys and girls basketball teams will play out of the Western Highlands 2A/1A Conference during the 2009-10 NCHSAA Basketball season.

This is the charter school’s first-ever season in the NCHSAA, and both programs will face challenges in a tough,

athletic conference.

Gryphons facing a bigger challenge, new conference AVONDALE — The young men from Avondale are venturing into some strong basketball after joining the NCHSAA’s 1A/2A Western Highlands Conference for this season. Although it is a big leap, Thomas Jefferson will

strive to do it’s best in playing within a league that features schools like Mountain Heritage, Madison and Hendersonville with the addition of Division I prospect, John Cannon (6-foot-10) at Heritage.

Despite that knowledge, Thomas Jefferson’s boys varsity coach Chris Gash knows team chemistry is critical for them in order to be successful this

USA will open with England at Cup

Local Sports WRESTLING 4 p.m. Falcon Frenzy: R-S Central at West Henderson

On TV 7:30 a.m. (ESPN2) English Premier League Soccer Teams TBA. 12 p.m. (WSOC) (WLOS) (ESPN2) College Football Teams To Be Announced.

12 p.m. (ESPN) College Football Teams TBA. 12:30 p.m. (WBTV) (WSPA) College Basketball North Carolina at Kentucky.

1 p.m. (FSS) College Basketball Southern Mississippi at Mississippi.

3 p.m. (WYFF) Golf Chevron World Challenge, Third Round.

3:30 p.m. (WSOC) (WLOS) College Football Arizona at USC. 3:30 p.m. (ESPN) College Football NCAA Division II Second Semifinal — Teams TBA. 3:30 p.m. (ESPN2) College Basketball St. John’s at Duke.

4 p.m. (WBTV) (WSPA) College Football SEC Championship — Alabama vs. Florida.

5:30 p.m. (ESPN2) College Basketball Wake Forest at Gonzaga.

6 p.m. (FSS) College Basketball USC at Georgia Tech.

7 p.m. (TS) NHL Hockey Atlanta Thrashers at Florida Panthers.

8 p.m. (WSOC) (WLOS) College Football Big 12 Championship — Nebraska vs. Texas.

8 p.m. (ESPN) College Football ACC Championship — Teams TBA. 8 p.m. (ESPN2) College Football Teams To Be Announced.

9:30 p.m. (HBO) Boxing Sergio Martinez vs. Paul Williams, Middleweights.

11:30 p.m. (ESPN2) College Football — TBA.

Please see Hoops, Page 9

Associated Press

Kentucky’s John Wall readies a reverse dunk during a basketball game against North Carolina-Asheville in Louisville, Ky., Monday, Nov. 30, 2009.

Wall wants win, not payback LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — John Wall remembers the conversation vividly, as tends to happen when the coach of the college team you grew up dreaming to play for is on the other end of the line.

Wall said North Carolina coach Roy Williams told him the Tar Heels were still interested in the high school star, and that he’d call again once the NCAA tournament was over.

“He (said) he would call me when it’s over and he never called,” Wall said. “He never offered me. That’s the decision he made.”

One that was difficult for Wall, a native of nearby Raleigh, who idol-

ized former North Carolina stars Jerry Stackhouse and Vince Carter, to stomach.

Don’t get him wrong. The freshman point guard is glad he signed with Kentucky, where he’s proved even better than advertised for the fifth-ranked Wildcats (7-0).

Wall is averaging 18.5 points and 7.8 assists heading into Saturday’s showdown with the 10th-ranked Tar Heels (7-1). He is seamlessly fit into coach John Calipari’s “dribble drive” offense while winning over teammates with his Please see Wall, Page 9

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — The United States will face England at the World Cup for the first time since a famous upset 60 years ago, then play Slovenia and Algeria in the first round of next year’s tournament.

The U.S. opens against England in Rustenburg on June 12, the teams’ first World Cup matchup since the Americans’ 1-0 victory at the 1950 tournament in Brazil.

The United States then meets Slovenia at Johannesburg’s Ellis Park on June 18 and completes the first round on June 23 against Algeria in Pretoria.

The U.S. has never played either nation.

“This is the best draw we’ve ever had in any World Cup,” said former U.S. forward Eric Wynalda, now an analyst for the Fox Soccer Channel. “No disrespect to England, but this is an ideal group for us.”

Several U.S. players are well known to England because they play in the Premier League, including goalkeeper Tim Howard (Everton), midfielder Clint Dempsey (Fulham), defenders Jonathan Spector (West Ham) and Jay DeMerit (Watford) and forward Jozy Altidore (Hull). U.S. captain Carlos Bocanegra played for Fulham.

“It will be like a Premier League game,” Fulham manager Roy Hodgson said. “The USA is like a team you meet every week.

It’s better than meeting North Korea and a style of play you’re not used to.”

The game could feature a matchup of Los Angeles Galaxy Please see Cup, Page 8

8

— The

Daily Courier, Forest City, NC, Saturday, December 5, 2009

sports

Scoreboard Boston Toronto Philadelphia New York New Jersey

FOOTBALL National Football League AMERICAN CONFERENCE East

W L T Pct PF New England 7 4 0 .636 307 N.Y. Jets 6 6 0 .500 249 Miami 5 6 0 .455 256 Buffalo 4 8 0 .333 199 South

W L T Pct PF x-Indianapolis 11 0 0 1.000 304 Jacksonville 6 5 0 .545 202 Tennessee 5 6 0 .455 229 Houston 5 6 0 .455 259 North

W L T Pct PF Cincinnati 8 3 0 .727 231 Baltimore 6 5 0 .545 257 Pittsburgh 6 5 0 .545 248 Cleveland 1 10 0 .091 122 West

W L T Pct PF San Diego 8 3 0 .727 312 Denver 7 4 0 .636 196 Kansas City 3 8 0 .273 183 Oakland 3 8 0 .273 115 NATIONAL CONFERENCE East W L T Pct PF 8 3 0 .727 255 7 4 0 .636 293 6 5 0 .545 272 3 8 0 .273 170 South

W L T Pct PF New Orleans 11 0 0 1.000 407 Atlanta 6 5 0 .545 272 Carolina 4 7 0 .364 199 Tampa Bay 1 10 0 .091 181 North

W L T Pct PF Minnesota 10 1 0 .909 342 Green Bay 7 4 0 .636 296 Chicago 4 7 0 .364 216 Detroit 2 9 0 .182 193 West

W L T Pct PF Arizona 7 4 0 .636 267 San Francisco 5 6 0 .455 228 Seattle 4 7 0 .364 223 St. Louis 1 10 0 .091 130

Dallas Philadelphia N.Y. Giants Washington

Appalachian State Armanti Edwards.

Mountaineers, Spiders resume rivalry in FCS RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Appalachian State and Richmond have met each of the past two seasons in the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs — each time the winner won the national championship.

Both hope the trend continues after Saturday night when they clash for the third consecutive postseason. It is the first time the game will be on the Spiders’ home field.

Appalachian State (10-2) had won three consecutive national titles before losing 33-13 at home to the Spiders last season, a game in which Mountaineers quarterback Armanti Edwards threw a career-worst five second-half interceptions leading to four Spiders scoring drives.

Edwards won the Walter Payton Award as the top player in the FCS, but said this week that he and his teammates have been pointing toward a rematch all year.

“They put us out of the playoffs and embarrassed us on our home field,” he said. “We’ve had a bad taste in our mouth for so long. We finally get a chance to redeem ourselves.”

The Spiders (11-1) came within a 35-yard field goal of going unbeaten and spending the entire season ranked No. 1. They know they will be facing the standard bearer of FCS football, especially since Edwards is likely to be healthier than he was in the game a year ago.

Then, coach Jerry Moore said, the Mountaineers staff didn’t realize how banged up their dual-threat star was, but a hip pointer and knee injury clearly made him a different player. In 2007 against Richmond, he rushed for 313 yards, the highest total for a quarterback in Division I history, and finished with a combined 495 yards of offense in Appalachian State 55-35 victory.

Last year, he ran for 3 yards, his lowest total ever until last week, when he was again slowed by knee issues. Appalachian State called no runs for him in a 20-13 victory against South Carolina State. This week, Edwards doesn’t expect to be limited at all.

“We get to run any play in our offense,” he said.

That makes the Mountaineers a different team, Spiders linebacker Patrick Weldon said.

“He does great with the run game. He makes a lot of good plays, a lot of speed and he avoids people in the pocket,” Weldon said of the 6-foot, 185-pounder, “but what I think a lot of people underestimate is his ability to throw the ball. ...

He’s a great passing quarterback. He finds open receivers, he moves around the pocket. He makes things happen.”

Edwards has run for 574 yards and 16 touchdowns and thrown for 2,722 yards and 11 TDs. Richmond’s Eric Ward is not as flashy — he’s run for 309 yards and four touchdowns and thrown for 2,194 yards and 15 TDs — but has the same number of career wins: 41.

Ward guides an offense that has scored an average of 30 points per game, and benefits from having a defense that has allowed just 66.6 rushing yards and 15 points per outing.

The Spiders also don’t seem satisfied by last year’s title, Moore said.

“The bucket’s empty when they walk off that field,” the coach in his 28th season said. “They leave it all out there on the field. Those are teams that are hard to deal with.”

Barring an upset in the quarterfinal between top-seeded Montana and Stephen F. Austin at Montana, the game will be the last the Spiders play in University of Richmond Stadium. They are moving to a smaller, on-campus stadium next season, and tailback Justin Forte hopes fans close this era right — by making a run at filling all 21,319 seats for the final game.

The Mountaineers are expected the help by bringing several thousand fans of their own.

PA 202 208 275 261 PA 184 255 289 243 PA 174 188 204 279 PA 219 189 282 258 PA 182 228 261 205 PA 221 245 256 314 PA 203 215 261 335 PA 217 213 250 297

x-clinched division Thursday’s Games N.Y. Jets 19, Buffalo 13 Sunday’s Games St. Louis at Chicago, 1 p.m.

Oakland at Pittsburgh, 1 p.m.

Denver at Kansas City, 1 p.m.

Philadelphia at Atlanta, 1 p.m.

Detroit at Cincinnati, 1 p.m.

New England at Miami, 1 p.m.

New Orleans at Washington, 1 p.m.

Tennessee at Indianapolis, 1 p.m.

Tampa Bay at Carolina, 1 p.m.

Houston at Jacksonville, 1 p.m.

San Diego at Cleveland, 4:05 p.m.

Dallas at N.Y. Giants, 4:15 p.m.

San Francisco at Seattle, 4:15 p.m.

Minnesota at Arizona, 8:20 p.m.

Monday’s Game Baltimore at Green Bay, 8:30 p.m.

Thursday, Dec. 10 Pittsburgh at Cleveland, 8:20 p.m.

Sunday, Dec. 13 Seattle at Houston, 1 p.m.

Green Bay at Chicago, 1 p.m.

Detroit at Baltimore, 1 p.m.

New Orleans at Atlanta, 1 p.m.

Buffalo at Kansas City, 1 p.m.

Denver at Indianapolis, 1 p.m.

Carolina at New England, 1 p.m.

N.Y. Jets at Tampa Bay, 1 p.m.

Miami at Jacksonville, 1 p.m.

Cincinnati at Minnesota, 1 p.m.

St. Louis at Tennessee, 4:05 p.m.

Washington at Oakland, 4:05 p.m.

San Diego at Dallas, 4:15 p.m.

Philadelphia at N.Y. Giants, 8:20 p.m.

Monday, Dec. 14 Arizona at San Francisco, 8:30 p.m.

National Basketball Association

— 8 1/2 10 11 14 1/2 GB — 1 1/2 4 1/2 7 7 GB — 3 1/2 5 6 7 GB — 3 3 1/2 6 1/2 7 GB — 2 1/2 3 3 1/2 11 1/2 GB — 1 5 7 8 1/2

Thursday’s Games Boston 90, San Antonio 83 Houston 111, Golden State 109 Denver 114, Miami 96 Friday’s Games Toronto 109, Washington 107, OT New York 114, Atlanta 107 Dallas at Memphis, late Chicago at Cleveland, late Boston at Oklahoma City, late Charlotte at New Jersey, late Milwaukee at Detroit, late Minnesota at New Orleans, late Indiana at Utah, late Miami at L.A. Lakers, late Saturday’s Games Philadelphia at Charlotte, 7 p.m.

Toronto at Chicago, 8 p.m.

Utah at Minnesota, 8 p.m.

Denver at San Antonio, 8:30 p.m.

Sacramento at Phoenix, 9 p.m.

Atlanta at Dallas, 9 p.m.

Houston at Portland, 10 p.m.

Indiana at L.A. Clippers, 10:30 p.m.

Orlando at Golden State, 10:30 p.m.

Sunday’s Games New Jersey at New York, 12 p.m.

Cleveland at Milwaukee, 3 p.m.

Washington at Detroit, 6 p.m.

Miami at Sacramento, 9 p.m.

Phoenix at L.A. Lakers, 9:30 p.m.

Friday’s College Basketball Major Scores EAST Binghamton 64, Bucknell 60 Navy 73, Penn 67 Niagara 88, Manhattan 64 Pittsburgh 47, New Hampshire 32 St. Peter’s 56, Iona 54 SOUTH Florida 85, Jacksonville 67 UNC Asheville 58, Gardner-Webb 56 MIDWEST Michigan St. 72, Wofford 60 Texas-Arlington 75, North Dakota 65 Xavier 77, Kent St. 61 SOUTHWEST Cent. Arkansas 69, Cal St.-Fullerton 49

BASKETBALL EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic Division W L Pct

15 4 .789 7 13 .350 5 14 .263 4 15 .211 0 18 .000 Southeast Division

W L Pct Orlando 15 4 .789 Atlanta 13 5 .722 Miami 10 8 .556 Charlotte 7 10 .412 Washington 7 10 .412 Central Division

W L Pct Cleveland 13 5 .722 Milwaukee 9 8 .529 Chicago 7 9 .438 Indiana 6 10 .375 Detroit 6 12 .333 WESTERN CONFERENCE Southwest Division

W L Pct Dallas 14 5 .737 Houston 11 8 .579 San Antonio 9 7 .563 New Orleans 7 11 .389 Memphis 7 12 .368 Northwest Division

W L Pct Denver 14 5 .737 Portland 12 8 .600 Utah 10 7 .588 Oklahoma City 10 8 .556 Minnesota 2 16 .111 Pacific Division

W L Pct L.A. Lakers 14 3 .824 Phoenix 14 5 .737 Sacramento 9 8 .529 L.A. Clippers 8 11 .421 Golden State 6 12 .333

GB

Friday’s Women’s Basketball Major Scores EAST Bryant 55, St. Francis, NY 41 Hartford 72, Saint Joseph’s 66, OT Marist 69, Tulsa 52 St. John’s 75, Columbia 63 SOUTH Alabama St. 72, Alabama 67 Bowling Green 66, Vanderbilt 60 Fla. International 81, Memphis 72 George Mason 76, High Point 57 New Orleans 70, Longwood 52 South Florida 61, Washington 50

MIDWEST Creighton 69, Saint Louis 58 Dayton 86, Wis.-Milwaukee 52 DePaul 67, Ill.-Chicago 56 Kentucky 68, Cincinnati 57 SOUTHWEST Sam Houston St. 76, Jackson St. 60 FAR WEST Air Force 68, Chicago St. 48 BYU 72, San Francisco 60 Gonzaga 87, Montana St. 72 San Diego St. 66, UC Riverside 59 TOURNAMENT Commerce Bank Wildcat Classic First Round Kansas St. 87, Grambling St. 62 Missouri St. 80, UTEP 72

HOCKEY National Hockey League EASTERN CONFERENCE Atlantic Division

GP W L OT Pts GF Pittsburgh 29 20 9 0 40 96 New Jersey 25 17 7 1 35 71 N.Y. Islanders 28 11 10 7 29 76 Philadelphia 25 13 11 1 27 77 N.Y. Rangers 27 13 13 1 27 80 Northeast Division

GP W L OT Pts GF Buffalo 25 16 7 2 34 72 Boston 27 14 8 5 33 68 Ottawa 26 13 9 4 30 77 Montreal 28 12 14 2 26 68 Toronto 27 8 12 7 23 76 Southeast Division

GP W L OT Pts GF Washington 28 17 5 6 40 100 Atlanta 25 14 8 3 31 85 Tampa Bay 26 10 8 8 28 68 Florida 28 11 13 4 26 79 Carolina 27 5 17 5 15 62 WESTERN CONFERENCE Central Division GP W L OT Pts GF 26 17 6 3 37 82 27 15 10 2 32 66 28 13 10 5 31 87 27 13 10 4 30 77 26 11 10 5 27 65 Northwest Division

GP W L OT Pts GF Calgary 27 17 7 3 37 84 Colorado 30 15 9 6 36 91 Vancouver 28 16 12 0 32 88 Edmonton 28 11 13 4 26 84 Minnesota 26 11 12 3 25 68 Pacific Division

GP W L OT Pts GF San Jose 30 19 6 5 43 103 Los Angeles 29 17 10 2 36 89 Phoenix 28 16 11 1 33 70 Dallas 28 13 8 7 33 83 Anaheim 27 10 13 4 24 75

Chicago Nashville Columbus Detroit St. Louis

GA 78 56 85 68 84 GA 57 65 81 85 95 GA 80 72 79 98 100 GA 59 74 102 77 69 GA 68 93 70 91 79 GA 80 87 66 82 87

Thursday’s Games Edmonton 4, Detroit 1 Toronto 6, Columbus 3 N.Y. Islanders 4, Atlanta 1 Washington 6, Florida 2 Buffalo 6, Montreal 2 Vancouver 3, Philadelphia 0 Pittsburgh 4, Colorado 1 Dallas 3, Anaheim 1 Phoenix 2, Calgary 1 St. Louis 3, San Jose 2, SO Los Angeles 6, Ottawa 3 Friday’s Games New Jersey 3, Tampa Bay 2 Boston at Montreal, late Anaheim at Minnesota, late Nashville at Chicago, late Saturday’s Games Vancouver at Carolina, 1:30 p.m.

Edmonton at Dallas, 2 p.m.

St. Louis at Los Angeles, 4 p.m.

N.Y. Rangers at Buffalo, 7 p.m.

Washington at Philadelphia, 7 p.m.

Toronto at Boston, 7 p.m.

Atlanta at Florida, 7 p.m.

Detroit at New Jersey, 7 p.m.

Colorado at Columbus, 7 p.m.

N.Y. Islanders at Tampa Bay, 7:30 p.m.

Chicago at Pittsburgh, 7:30 p.m.

Minnesota at Nashville, 8 p.m.

Ottawa at Phoenix, 10 p.m.

Calgary at San Jose, 10 p.m.

Sunday’s Games Detroit at N.Y. Rangers, 7 p.m.

Ottawa at Anaheim, 8 p.m.

No. 18 Cougars, Pirates meet for C-USA title GREENVILLE (AP) — Scotty Robinson can’t do anything around East Carolina’s campus without hearing people weigh in on Saturday’s matchup with No. 18 Houston in the Conference USA championship game.

“It’s been buzzing all week,” the senior defensive end said.

“I’ve got people calling me from everywhere to get tickets. There’s been pep rallies all over campus. Every class I go to, people are saying, ’You’ve got to get this one.”’

The Pirates (8-4, 7-1 C-USA) are the defending champions and hosting the game for the first time after winning the East Division with the best overall league record. East Carolina can become the first repeat winner

Cup Continued from Page 7

teammates Landon Donovan playing for the U.S. against England midfielder David Beckham. Donovan shrugged his shoulders when the U.S. was picked to play England. “It never ends,” he said — apparent reference to his connection to the English star.

“This is going to be awesome,” Donovan said. “I can’t wait. This is going to be great.”

The U.S. has beaten England twice and lost seven times in nine meetings. The other victory was 2-0 in a 1993 exhibition at Foxborough, Mass. In the most

since the league went to a divisional format in 2005.

But the Cougars (10-2, 6-2) are the favorite, boasting an offense that East Carolina coach Skip Holtz jokes puts up “video gametype numbers” behind quarterback Case Keenum.

It’s also a team that pounded the Pirates in last season’s meeting at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium, rolling up 621 total yards in a 41-24 victory.

It’s a memory that lingers with the Pirates, if for no other reason than it gave them an up-close look at the Keenum-led attack that has scored 128 points in the past two games and left the Pirates gasping for air last season. And because East Carolina’s secondary has allowed six touch-

down passes of 43 yards or more — including scores of 80 and 96 yards — Holtz said his team’s oft-criticized offense will have to shoulder a significant burden to help the defense.

That means efficient passing from sixth-year quarterback Patrick Pinkney, who will look to get to the ball to big-play threat Dwayne Harris, and a strong dose of Dominique Lindsay carrying the football.

“You can’t just go three-andout, but you can’t just sit on the ball and run quarterback sneaks and try to inch it out and eat up the clock,” Holtz said. “It can’t be your only goal. You have to try to score points, but the offense is going to have to try to protect the defense some in this game.”

recent matchups, England won 2-1 at Chicago’s Solider Field in 2005 and 2-0 at Wembley last year.

The only official match between the teams was at the 1950 World Cup.

which also is where the final will be played July 11. El Tri then plays France, which qualified with the help of Thierry Henry’s hand ball against Ireland, and Uruguay in Group A.

“I think it will be not an easy game,” England coach Fabio Capello said. “It’s good. USA plays good and the Premier League is the best championship in the world. If you are playing in England, you are a really good player. Like basketball, if you are a European playing in the NBA, you are a good player.”

Mexico was drawn Friday to meet South Africa in the tournament opener on June 11 in Johannesburg at Soccer City,

In the other groups it was: Group B: Argentina, Greece, Nigeria, South Korea; Group C: Algeria, England, Slovenia, United States; Group D: Australia, Germany, Ghana, Serbia; Group E: Cameroon, Denmark, Japan, Netherlands; Group F: Italy, New Zealand, Paraguay, Slovakia; Group G: Brazil, Ivory Coast, North Korea, Portugal; Group H: Chile, Honduras, Spain, Switzerland.

The Daily Courier, Forest City, NC, Saturday, December 5, 2009 — 9

sports Hoops Continued from Page 7

season.

“We are still developing an identity, and we are improving daily as a team,” Gash said. “We need floor generals so that we can find easier shots and use good communication to make the right decisions on the court.”

On the roster and at the point for the Gryphons will be Michael Dedmon. Dedmon is likely going to be the primary ball handler, who can also score. He already leads the team in scoring after three games so far this season.

Another guard on the team is Ryan Spurlin. Spurlin can also run the point and probably will at times to give Dedmon a breather.

In finding “floor generals” Gash points to two post players, Richard Petty and John Dunnigan. Gash is hoping that those two will also be able to stretch defenses and put themselves in position to score. Petty (6-foot-4), could also present a match up problem for the opposition as well.

Daniel Moss and Zadoc Moss will cover the wing spots for the Gryphons. The siblings play aggressive and are expected to use good defense to allow Thomas Jefferson more possessions.

Coming off the bench is Hayden Blice. Blice will play a forward role and Gash believes that he can get a solid contribution out of the young man.

Gash also spoke about having a collective effort by all on the team and to take what is learned in practice to use in contests. Gash also cited that there are many unknowns about the season ahead, but that they are taking steps into becoming a better club.

“Basketball is like a roller coaster, you never know what can happen on any given night,” Gash said. “I am excited to see what happens in conference and how it all plays out this season.”

In talks about expectations that the Gryphons have, Gash had a different outlook on the subject and a positive message.

“That’s what you play basketball for, is to compete,” Gash said. “Its important that we have a winning attitude and for that to carry over into life as well.”

Youthful Lady Gryphons may just surprise

AVONDALE — Thomas Jefferson’s Girls Varsity basketball is 3-0 so far, but they will battle in the NCHSAA’s 1A/2A Western Highlands Conference for this season.

Although, it is a gritty and usually tough basketball conference with schools like Mitchell, Avery and Mountain Heritage in the mix, the Lady Gryphons could play spoilers as the season rolls on and become a top tier team in the league.

However, youth and high school

Wall

hoops experience is at a minimum with one senior, a sophomore and three freshman as projected starters this season.

Back for her senior year and a solid all-around basketball player is Murphy D’oyen. D’oyen, a 5-foot-10 forward, can play almost every spot on the floor, but it’s her shooting that brings delight to the Gryphons program.

D’oyen is an impressive sharp shooter, but she also can play well in denying the basketball with her off the ball defense. There are even college programs looking at D’oyen to possibly play at the next level. D’oyen will also provide the leadership that is needed throughout the season.

“There are a lot of upsides to having Murphy back,” Thomas Jefferson varsity girls basketball coach Steve Waldroup said. “She was the leading scorer on the team a year ago, but I think if she can learn to be a little bit more patience at times, I think that will make her an even better player.”

When Thomas Jefferson needs to turn up the jets, they can always count on Anna Dedmon. Dedmon, a freshman will be a guard in the scheme of things for the Lady Gryphons. Dedmon’s speed, which could be the fastest from endline-toendline in the conference, should be a huge asset on both sides of the ball, especially on defense.

Of all the ladies, Waldroup has been impressed with freshman Leah Lineberry. Waldroup stated that as Lineberry grows in her confidence that she could become an offensive force on the wing with the way she handles and can shoot the ball.

In the post will be Victoria Bennett (5-foot-10). Once Bennett understands everything that Thomas Jefferson needs from her at that position, then she has the ability to contribute with the overall potential the ninth-grader has shown so far.

Rounding out the projected starting line-up is Ryanne Corder. Corder will play point guard in directing traffic up top for the Lady Gryphons.

Corder is an outstanding athlete according to Waldroup, but the best news is Corder is only a sophomore.

The Lady Gryphons are perfectly fine being labeled an underdog, and that could lead to some surprises for teams who take them lightly.

“We run a lot in practice and it’s brutal, but that is what we have to do to stay within range of everyone.

I think the key will be endurance and speed for us,” Waldroup said.

“I believe we can use that to our advantage since we don’t have a lot of height.”

While the Western Highland Conference will be tough, Waldroup believes that if the ladies can resist mental block and grow up fast, then a playoff berth or more is possible.

“I know that this is a small school and that we are in a new conference with some good teams, but with the right work ethic, we could be pretty good,” Waldroup said. “There is talent and potential, but I believe we can go as far as the three freshman go.”

Williams won’t get into the specifics of Continued from Page 7 Wall’s recruitment, simply noting he pursued Wall throughout Wall’s selfless play. high school career “I think John in before opting to go in the end is a pleaser,” another direction.

Calipari said.

“A couple of things Williams never doubt- happened immediately ed Wall’s ability, callafter (we talked) that ing him the best high helped me make the school point guard decision not to go any prospect since Jason further,” Williams said.

Kidd. While not getting Wall has tried hard into specifics on why not to take Williams’ he didn’t offer Wall a decision personally, but scholarship, Williams he hasn’t succeeded. stressed it had nothing “I kind of took it both to do with Wall’s talent. ways,” Wall said. “I feel “I thought he would’ve like they didn’t think been a great player for I was good enough to us, but things just didn’t play there or took it in fit,” Williams said. a way that they’re just Maybe, but that moving on forward and doesn’t mean Wall is they’re happy with what completely over it. they’ve got and the Calipari said during players they have.” the recruiting process Yet even now Wall some people close to isn’t sure why things Wall had even hintdidn’t work out with the ed he should opt for Duke instead of North Carolina even if the Tar Heels offered him a scholarship.

The questions surrounding Wall’s relationship with former AAU coach Brian Clifton may have also been an obstacle for some coaches. Wall was suspended for two games at the start of the season by the NCAA for accepting improper Pat Nanney benefits from Clifton — who was briefly a licensed agent — during his junior year of high school.

Tar Heels.

“I still don’t have a clue,” he said.

Instead of Wall running the point for the defending national champions, it’s sophomore Larry Drew II, who played against Wall during their AAU days.

Drew has grown into the role of replacing superstar Ty Lawson and played arguably his best game of the season in a win over No. 9 Michigan State on Tuesday, finishing with 18 points and six assists.

Despite his disappointment in not playing for the Tar Heels, Wall doesn’t view his first time on the national stage as a chance to show Williams what he’s missing. There’s too much on the line for that.

Come in for a Good Deal and a Good Deal More

Associated Press

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) rallies his teammates before their NFL football game against the New England Patriots, Monday, Nov. 30, 2009, in New Orleans.

Undefeated Saints lift spirits in New Orleans NEW ORLEANS (AP) — They ain’t the Ain’ts anymore. And ain’t that grand for New Orleans.

Football’s once-hapless New Orleans Saints are on a roll at 11-0, lifting spirits in this hurricane-battered city four miserable, downin-the-dumps years after Katrina. In fact, folks in the Big Easy are feeling so good about their team’s chances that they are actually canceling or rearranging Mardi Gras events to keep Super Bowl Sunday clear.

“The whole city is floating right now.

We’re all on a cloud.

Cloud nine,” said 68-year-old Lynn Compter, standing next to his mustard-yellow 1939 Chevrolet, which was decked out in fleurs de lis with the Saints’ record in magnetic numbers on its doors.

Football is a passion that goes beyond words in Louisiana, where Y.A. Tittle, Billy Cannon, Eddie Robinson and the Manning family are legends. But Saints fever goes deeper than that.

With their comefrom-behind wins and gritty play, the Saints have become symbols of hard work, toughness and camaraderie in a city that has seen all too much despair and backbiting.

“This team doesn’t give up, even when they’re behind. This team has been in every game,” said Lamar Callaway, a 69-year-old retired bridge inspector who lives in Lakeview, a New Orleans neighborhood badly flooded by Katrina. Plus, he said, the Saints offer a “break from the doldrums of rebuilding.”

The Saints were long one of the worst teams in the NFL, playing so badly that they became known as the “Ain’ts.”

Since they started in 1967, they have never reached the Super Bowl, and they did not even have a winning season until 1987, the

year Pope John Paul II celebrated Mass at the Superdome in September.

Since Katrina, the Saints have been a bright light amid the dreariness. The Superdome, where tens of thousands of people were trapped in the days after the storm, was repaired quickly and became a symbol of rebirth in 2006. Then, the Black and Gold did the unprecedented: They went to the conference championship in 2007.

This season, the team has taken it to a whole new level.

Everywhere, people are high-fiving and chanting, “Who dat say dey gonna beat dem Saints?!” Huge midnight crowds welcome the undefeated team at the airport after road games.

“I’ve collected every sports page with their win on it this year. I’m keeping them all. I’ve got my Saints flag in the window. I’m loving it,” said Annette Corneiago.

Even Mardi Gras is making way. One parade was canceled because it was set to roll on Feb. 7, the day the Super Bowl will be played in Miami.

Another parade will be moved to the following Tuesday if the Saints make it to the big game.

When Katrina struck in August 2005, about 80 percent of the city flooded. The population is still only 350,000, compared with the prestorm level of 454,000, and some neighborhoods are still in ruins.

“We expect corruption, we expect mediocrity, we expect potholes,” said Sidney Arroyo, a local political consultant. “The Saints are showing us that just because it hasn’t happened before doesn’t mean it can’t happen now. Anything’s possible. It’s bliss.”

The No. 1 bliss maker is No. 9 Drew Brees, the quarterback with the

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rocket arm.

He is himself a symbol of renewal. Brees got a second chance after suffering a serious injury while playing for the San Diego Chargers.

After arriving in New Orleans in 2006, he and his wife restored an old hurricane-damaged house in the Uptown neighborhood, and his “Rebuilding Dreams” campaign raised more than $2 million for playgrounds, athletic fields and schools.

“Everything happens for a reason, you know?

Seriously. It’s a calling,” Brees said.

For long-suffering Saints fans, he looks a lot like a savior.

“If Jesus was on one side of the street and Drew Brees on the other, walking down Magazine Street today, I think more people would mob Drew Brees,” Angela Pate, a saleswoman at Storyville, a T-shirt shop, said with a laugh.

10

— The

Daily Courier, Forest City, NC, Saturday, December 5, 2009

WEATHER/NATION Weather The Daily Courier Weather Today

Tonight

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Rain/Snow

Rain/Snow

Mostly Sunny

Partly Cloudy

Few Showers

Few Showers

Precip Chance: 80%

Precip Chance: 30%

Precip Chance: 5%

Precip Chance: 10%

Precip Chance: 30%

Precip Chance: 50%

41º

28º

49º 31º

51º 34º

51º 35º

55º 36º

Almanac

Local UV Index

Around Our State Today

Statistics provided by Broad River Water Authority through 7 a.m. yesterday.

0 - 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11+

Temperatures

0-2: Low, 3-5: Moderate, 6-7: High, 8-10: Very High, 11+: Extreme Exposure

High . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60 Low . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29 Normal High . . . . . . . . . . . .56 Normal Low . . . . . . . . . . . . .30

Precipitation 24 hrs through 7 a.m. yest. .0.00" Month to date . . . . . . . . .2.89" Year to date . . . . . . . . .53.47"

Barometric Pressure

Sun and Moon Sunrise today . . . . .7:21 Sunset tonight . . . . .5:15 Moonrise today . . . .9:06 Moonset today . . . .10:32

a.m. p.m. p.m. a.m.

Moon Phases

High yesterday . . . . . . .30.12"

Relative Humidity High yesterday . . . . . . . . .87%

Last 12/8

First 12/24

New 12/16

Full 12/31

City

Sunday

Hi/Lo Wx Hi/Lo Wx

Asheville . . . . . . .36/24 Cape Hatteras . . .55/45 Charlotte . . . . . . .44/29 Fayetteville . . . . .47/28 Greensboro . . . . .41/26 Greenville . . . . . .47/32 Hickory . . . . . . . . . .40/27 Jacksonville . . . .50/32 Kitty Hawk . . . . . .53/43 New Bern . . . . . .50/34 Raleigh . . . . . . . .44/27 Southern Pines . .45/28 Wilmington . . . . .53/34 Winston-Salem . .41/25

rs ra ra ra rs ra rs ra ra ra ra ra ra rs

46/30 54/50 50/32 51/34 47/29 50/34 48/30 52/36 51/45 52/37 49/31 50/33 54/37 47/29

s s s s s s s s s s s s s s

Weather (Wx): cl/cloudy; pc/partly cloudy; ra/rain; rs/rain & snow; s/sunny; sh/showers; sn/snow; t/thunderstorms; w/windy

North Carolina Forecast

Greensboro 41/26

Asheville 36/24

Forest City 41/28 Charlotte 44/29

Today

City

sn rs s mc s s t ra rs s s s s rs

Today’s National Map

Sunday

54/36 43/31 40/31 38/28 40/29 63/53 79/71 44/31 43/29 51/36 56/50 37/31 70/58 44/28

Kinston 48/32 Wilmington 53/34

Hi/Lo Wx Hi/Lo Wx

Atlanta . . . . . . . . .42/26 Baltimore . . . . . . .40/32 Chicago . . . . . . . .37/27 Detroit . . . . . . . . .35/24 Indianapolis . . . .36/21 Los Angeles . . . .67/47 Miami . . . . . . . . . .82/65 New York . . . . . . .43/32 Philadelphia . . . .43/30 Sacramento . . . . .56/34 San Francisco . . .58/47 Seattle . . . . . . . . .41/26 Tampa . . . . . . . . .65/46 Washington, DC .39/29

Greenville 47/32

Raleigh 44/27

Fayetteville 47/28

Shown is today’s weather.

Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.

Across Our Nation

Elizabeth City 49/36

Durham 43/26

Winston-Salem 41/25

s s s pc s mc s s s s pc pc s s

10s

40s

30s

10s

L

20s

L

50s

H

40s

60s

40s

H This map shows high temperatures, type of precipitation expected and location of frontal systems at noon.

Cold Front

30s

30s

Stationary Front

Warm Front

50s 60s

50s

L

Low Pressure

70s

H

High Pressure

Nation Today Brokaw unhurt in crash, one killed

NEW YORK (AP) — Former NBC News anchor Tom Brokaw and his wife said they escaped injury in a three-car accident on a New York City highway that killed one woman and injured a mail truck driver Friday afternoon.

The accident happened about 1 p.m. as Brokaw was driving in the left lane of the northbound Bruckner Expressway in the Bronx.

The Brokaws said they noticed a spool of cable bouncing in the far right lane, which caused the driver of the green SUV to lose control as she tried to avoid it.

The Brokaws said the SUV slid into the middle lane, forcing a mail truck into the couple’s lane.

The truck collided with Brokaw’s vehicle.

Police say the SUV overturned after hitting debris in the road. The unidentified woman was thrown from the car and killed.

Episcopalian bishop hopefuls include gays

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (AP) — Clergy and laypeople voting to replace two retiring assistant bishops in the Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles were choosing Friday from a pool that included two openly gay candidates.

The selection of one or both of the gay candidates at the diocese’s annual convention would mark the first election of a bishop in a samesex relationship since Bishop V. Gene Robinson was chosen in New Hampshire in 2003. Robinson lives with his longtime male partner.

Robinson’s win six years ago led dozens of conservative parishes and four dioceses to vote to leave the 2.1-million member U.S. denomination and pushed the 77 million-member Anglican fellow-

ship to the brink of schism.

There are six candidates in this week’s election, including the Rev. John L. Kirkley of San Francisco and the Rev. Canon Mary D. Glasspool of Baltimore, who are openly gay.

The Rev. Diane M. Jardine Bruce, rector from St. Clement’s By-theSea Church in San Clemente, won the first position after three rounds of balloting. National church leaders must consent before a bishopelect can be consecrated.

Balloting for the second position was set to begin and could run into Saturday, said Robert Williams, diocese spokesman.

Police seeking slayer MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A Wisconsin man police say is linked to the deaths of his two young daughters and their mothers remained at large Friday. He was charged in two of the slayings.

Tyrone Adair, 38, of Middleton, was charged with first-degree intentional homicide in the deaths of his 33-year-old girlfriend, Tracy Judd, and their 23-month-old daughter.

Judd’s older daughter told detectives Adair called her Thursday to say her mother and the child would not be home because they had been in a bad accident.

Their bodies were found that night in the trunk of Adair’s vehicle in a Middleton parking lot, less than three hours after another of Adair’s daughters and that girl’s mother were found shot to death in a vehicle in the garage of their Madison home, authorities said.

Madison Police spokesman Joel DeSpain cautioned Friday that Adair is armed and dangerous.

Police were called to a duplex on Madison’s southwest side around 6 p.m. Thursday and discovered the mother and daughter shot inside a vehicle in the garage.

Associated Press

Crews dump rotenone in the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal in Lockport, Ill. The toxic chemical was dumped on a nearly 6-mile stretch of the canal as part of state and federal efforts to keep the voracious and invasive Asian carp from reaching the Great Lakes.

Officials ponder ways to stop Asian carp invasion

By MICHAEL TARM Associated Press Writer

CHICAGO (AP) — A decision could come within days on whether to temporarily close a vital Chicago area shipping waterway in an increasingly desperate bid to stop the invasive Asian carp from reaching the Great Lakes, an Obama administration adviser said Friday.

Cameron Davis, the Great Lakes adviser to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, told The Associated Press that discussions were under way about shutting the O’Brien Lock while crews poison part of the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal to kill the giant carp.

“It’s going to happen soon,” he said about a decision. “We’re talking, best guess, within the next two or three days.”

Before making a final decision, officials want to finish searching for Asian carp and conduct other tests along the canal to pinpoint where they might be located, Davis said. If officials do choose to close the lock, it would shut down immediately.

Authorities are trying to make sure the voracious carp don’t reach Lake Michigan where they could starve out smaller, less aggressive competitors and cause the collapse of the $7 billion-a-year Great Lakes sport and commercial fishing industry.

But closing the lock could also disrupt the movement of millions of tons of iron ore, coal, grain, salts and other goods.

The American Waterways Operators, a trade group representing the tug and barge industry, said Friday that a safety zone set up by the U.S. Coast Guard to search for Asian carp near the O’Brien Lock

already made it impassable for commercial vessels.

“De facto it is closed ... They’re playing with words on this,” said Lynn Muench, a senior vice president for the group. “Our vessels cannot go through to Lake Michigan. We cannot transit.” She expected traffic to be restricted for up to eight days.

The closure of the locks, especially for any longer period of time, could result in sharply higher shipping costs because commodities would have to be sent overland by truck or train.

A sense of urgency among environmentalists rose on Thursday after officials said they found a single Asian carp during a fish-kill operation this week in another part of the canal. It was the closest that an actual fish has been found to Lake Michigan.

Last month, officials said they found DNA evidence that the carp may have breached an electrical barrier on the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal that is meant to hold back the fish from the lakes. Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm and five environmental groups have threatened to sue if the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to force it to temporarily shut three locks near Chicago over fears the carp will creep into the Great Lakes.

The carp — which can grow to 4 feet long and 100 pounds and are known for leaping out of the water when boats are near — were imported by Southern fish farms in the 1970s but escaped into the Mississippi in large numbers during flooding in the 1990s and have been making their way northward ever since.

Swine flu spread slows

By MIKE STOBBE AP Medical Writer

ATLANTA — Swine flu infections continue to wane, just as vaccine is becoming plentiful enough that some communities are allowing everyone to get it, not just those in priority groups.

Swine flu was widespread in only 25 states last week — mostly in the Northeast and Southwest, officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday.

In late October, 48 states were reporting widespread cases of swine flu. But since then, there’s been a decline across the country, and it appears that a fall wave of swine flu infections has peaked.

Meanwhile, a shortage of swine flu vaccine is easing, with 73 million doses now available, roughly twice as much as there was a month ago. And another 10 million doses are expected in the next week, said Dr. Thomas Frieden, the CDC’s director.

Initially, limited supplies caused the CDC to advise state and local health officials to reserve doses for those at highest risk for severe complications from swine flu or those who take care of them. That group includes pregnant women, children and young adults, health-care workers and people with asthma and certain other health problems.

Demand for the vaccine is still

high in many places, but enough has become available that some communities are now giving it to people outside the priority groups, Frieden said.

“The number of communities that do that will increase in the coming weeks,” he predicted, at a press conference in Atlanta.

At least three states — Alaska, Arkansas and Oklahoma — have begun offering swine flu vaccine to all comers. And some communities have opened vaccinations up, including Broward County, Fla., and Sacramento County, Calif., said Paula Steib, spokeswoman for the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials.

Since it was first identified in April, swine flu has sickened an estimated 22 million Americans and killed 4,000. It has proved to be similar to seasonal flu but a bigger threat to children and young adults.

The swine flu pandemic has so far hit in two waves in the United States: First in the spring, then a larger wave that started in the late summer.

Flu is hard to predict, and health officials say they are worried of the possibility of a third wave this winter.

The CDC said a new round of public service announcements about getting vaccinated are to begin next week.

On the Net: CDC report: http://www.cdc. gov/h1n1flu/update.htm

Dede Melton

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The Daily Courier, Forest City, NC, Saturday, December 5, 2009 — 11

PAGE HEAD

THE MARKET IN REVIEW

STOCK EXCHANGE HIGHLIGHTS

u

NYSE

7,182.71 +25.66

GAINERS ($2 OR MORE)

Name Last Synovus 2.15 BigLots 28.08 MSDJEu0916.45 BlueLinx 3.10 OfficeMax 12.69 MacGry 9.78 Spherion 6.32 Midas 7.91 Prime pfB 5.15 MGIC 5.24

Chg +.37 +4.54 +2.45 +.44 +1.73 +1.30 +.82 +1.00 +.65 +.61

%Chg +20.8 +19.3 +17.5 +16.5 +15.8 +15.3 +14.9 +14.5 +14.4 +13.2

LOSERS ($2 OR MORE)

Name Last Chg %Chg BiP Plat 39.48 -5.80 -12.8 Steris 29.14 -4.17 -12.5 Sparton 4.30 -.45 -9.5 Goldcp wt 8.00 -.80 -9.1 DirREBear 13.91 -1.37 -9.0 BarrickG 42.68 -4.16 -8.9 ProSUltGold50.50-4.52 -8.2 DBGoldDL 29.90 -2.65 -8.1 Clay US1 42.55 -3.65 -7.9 MS SP201110.20 -.80 -7.3

u

AMEX

1,792.48 +5.10

GAINERS ($2 OR MORE)

Name Last Engex 3.00 CaracoP 4.58 UltEscapes 4.15 RELM 2.25 Geokinetics12.42 TrioTch 3.38 TelInstEl 5.00 Continucre 3.40 LaBarg 11.78 SinoHub n 3.80

Chg %Chg +.28 +10.3 +.41 +9.8 +.36 +9.5 +.19 +9.2 +1.01 +8.9 +.24 +7.6 +.35 +7.5 +.23 +7.3 +.68 +6.1 +.22 +6.1

LOSERS ($2 OR MORE)

Name Last TremisE un 7.01 GoldStr g 3.71 NewConcEn4.35 SoCTBcp 2.70 BioTime n 4.11 BioTime wt 2.20 IEC Elec n 3.55 Flanign 5.75 ManSang 2.50 AlexcoR g 3.42

Chg -1.01 -.48 -.54 -.27 -.39 -.20 -.27 -.42 -.18 -.24

%Chg -12.6 -11.5 -11.0 -9.0 -8.7 -8.3 -7.1 -6.8 -6.7 -6.6

u

DAILY DOW JONES

ASK ABOUT AN INSURANCE HAVE YOU REVIEWED YOUR 10,520

NASDAQ

Dow Jones industrials ANAlySIS. NEEdS LIFE INSURANCE LATELY? Close: 10,388.90 10,360

2,194.35 +21.21

Change: 22.75 (0.2%)

GAINERS ($2 OR MORE)

Advanced Declined Unchanged Total issues New Highs New Lows Volume

Last Chg 16.28 +.52 4.06 +.01 111.01 +.63 14.63 +.27 15.94 ...

41.84 +.38 19.49 -1.01 60.42 +1.46 16.20 +.20 8.94 ...

DIARY

2,180 876 110 3,166 287 8 6,043,221,271

Name Vol (00) Last Chg GoldStr g 132732 3.71 -.48 Rentech 63296 1.55 +.15 NovaGld g 60275 6.10 -.25 Taseko 50499 3.98 -.05 NthgtM g 43760 3.27 -.15 GrtBasG g 39309 1.69 -.05 NwGold g 31982 3.80 -.15 GranTrra g 31811 5.99 +.30 CFCda g 27281 14.62 -.49 CelSci 27044 1.21 -.04

DIARY

Advanced Declined Unchanged Total issues New Highs New Lows Volume

261 259 65 585 22 6 141,758,472

DIARY

6,469.95 2,134.21 288.66 4,181.75 1,130.47 1,265.52 666.79 397.97 6,772.29 342.59

STOCK MARKET INDEXES Name

8,000

Dow Industrials 10,388.90 Dow Transportation 4,101.76 Dow Utilities 389.77 NYSE Composite 7,182.71 Amex Market Value 1,792.48 Nasdaq Composite 2,194.35 S&P 500 1,105.98 S&P MidCap 702.14 Wilshire 5000 11,355.90 Russell 2000 602.79

Net Chg

+22.75 +87.22 -2.17 +25.66 +5.10 +21.21 +6.06 +9.60 +82.61 +14.01

YTD %Chg %Chg

+.22 +2.17 -.55 +.36 +.29 +.98 +.55 +1.39 +.73 +2.38

+18.37 +15.96 +5.13 +24.76 +28.26 +39.14 +22.44 +30.44 +24.97 +20.69

12-mo %Chg

+20.31 +19.47 +7.84 +32.98 +40.24 +45.39 +26.24 +40.96 +29.97 +30.73

MUTUAL FUNDS

J

J

A

S

O

N

D

Total Assets Obj ($Mlns) NAV

Name

PIMCO TotRetIs American Funds GrthAmA m American Funds CapIncBuA m Vanguard TotStIdx TOCKS OF OCAL NTEREST Fidelity Contra American Funds CpWldGrIA m YTD YTD Vanguard 500Inv Name Div Yld PE Last Chg%Chg Name Div Yld PE Last Chg %Chg American Funds IncAmerA m AT&T Inc 1.64 5.9 14 27.60 +.08 -3.2 LeggPlat 1.04 5.2 74 20.03 +.29 +31.9 American Funds InvCoAmA m Vanguard InstIdx Amazon ... ... 81 137.58 -3.59+168.3 Lowes .36 1.6 19 22.88 +.40 +6.3 Dodge & Cox Stock ArvMerit ... ... ... 8.36 +.21+193.3 Microsoft .52 1.7 19 29.98 +.15 +54.2 American Funds EurPacGrA m American Funds WAMutInvA m BB&T Cp .60 2.3 19 26.61 +1.04 -3.1 PPG 2.16 3.6 27 60.38 +.79 +42.3 Dodge & Cox IntlStk BkofAm .04 .2 ... 16.28 +.52 +15.6 ParkerHan 1.00 1.8 27 55.31 +1.08 +30.0 Fidelity DivrIntl d BerkHa A ... ... 3099689.00+689.00+3.2 American Funds NewPerspA m Cisco ... ... 25 24.16 +.33 +48.2 ProgrssEn 2.48 6.1 14 40.51 -.14 +1.7 PIMCO TotRetAdm b ... ... 62 27.91 +.29 +111.1 American Funds FnInvA m Delhaize 2.01 2.5 ... 79.30 +.48 +25.9 RedHat Dell Inc ... ... 18 13.46 ... +31.4 RoyalBk g 2.00 ... ... 53.00 -1.66 +78.7 FrankTemp-Franklin Income A m DukeEngy .96 5.6 14 17.14 -.13 +14.2 SaraLee .44 3.6 20 12.22 +.02 +24.8 American Funds BalA m Vanguard Welltn ExxonMbl 1.68 2.3 17 74.25 -.74 -7.0 SonicAut ... ... ... 9.48 +.42+138.2 Vanguard 500Adml FamilyDlr .54 1.9 14 28.28 -.14 +8.5 SonocoP 1.08 3.7 21 28.87 +.46 +24.7 American Funds BondA m Fidelity GrowCo FifthThird .04 .4 ... 10.44 +.12 +26.4 SpectraEn 1.00 5.1 15 19.62 +.20 +24.7 Vanguard TotStIAdm FCtzBA 1.20 .7 15 160.00 +6.90 +4.7 SpeedM .36 2.2 ... 16.07 +.28 -.2 Vanguard TotIntl GenElec .40 2.5 15 16.20 +.20 ... .36 1.4 ... 24.88 +.71 +26.7 Vanguard InstPlus GoldmanS 1.40 .8 20 167.24 +2.94 +98.2 Timken Fidelity LowPriStk d 1.80 3.1 34 57.87 +.30 +4.9 T Rowe Price EqtyInc Google ... ... 38 585.01 -.73 +90.2 UPS B KrispKrm ... ... ... 3.38 +.02+101.2 WalMart 1.09 2.0 16 54.24 -.20 -3.2 Hartford CapAprA m Pioneer PioneerA m Goldman Sachs ShDuGovA m Stock Footnotes: g = Dividends and earnings in Canadian dollars. h = Does not meet continued-listing standards. lf = Late filing with SEC. n = New in past 52 weeks. pf = Preferred. rs = Stock has undergone a reverse stock split of at least 50 Alliance Bernstein GrowIncA m percent within the past year. rt = Right to buy security at a specified price. s = Stock has split by at least 20 percent within the DWS-Scudder REstA m Hartford GrowthL m last year. un = Units. vj = In bankruptcy or receivership. wd = When distributed. wi = When issued. wt = Warrants.

S

%Chg -29.1 -23.1 -19.1 -17.3 -15.6 -15.3 -13.2 -12.4 -12.2 -10.7

2,001 701 146 2,848 139 29 2,271,684,254

L

I

Mutual Fund Footnotes: b = Fee covering market costs is paid from fund assets. d = Deferred sales charge, or redemption fee. f = front load (sales charges). m = Multiple fees are charged. NA = not available. p = previous day’s net asset value. s = fund split shares during the week. x = fund paid a distribution during the week.Gainers and Losers must be worth at least $2 to be listed in tables at left. Most Actives must be worth at least $1. Volume in hundreds of shares. Source: The Associated Press.

Sales figures are unofficial.

CI 114,653 LG 61,982 IH 56,647 LB 56,221 LG 55,503 WS 53,772 LB 47,844 MA 47,485 LB 46,374 LB 43,018 LV 39,492 FB 38,984 LV 37,017 FV 35,777 FG 31,850 WS 31,027 CI 30,253 LB 28,754 CA 28,628 MA 28,593 MA 28,113 LB 27,983 CI 27,597 LG 27,285 LB 26,873 FB 25,417 LB 24,423 MB 23,633 LV 14,422 LB 9,646 LB 4,251 GS 1,416 LV 1,228 SR 415 LG 185

10.96 27.17 48.56 27.21 57.11 34.49 102.33 15.57 25.89 101.70 95.17 39.38 24.71 32.44 28.20 25.93 10.96 32.54 2.03 16.27 29.11 102.36 11.87 66.89 27.22 14.91 101.70 31.10 20.91 30.17 35.32 10.52 2.94 13.87 14.80

Total Return/Rank Pct Min Init 4-wk 12-mo 5-year Load Invt

+0.8 +18.2/C +5.3 +43.0/C +3.7 +29.3/D +5.9 +37.2/B +4.4 +36.0/D +5.0 +47.5/C +5.9 +34.1/C +4.6 +32.1/C +5.8 +34.9/C +5.9 +34.3/C +5.1 +40.4/A +4.8 +58.4/A +6.6 +25.7/D +4.1 +68.6/A +3.2 +50.9/D +5.7 +53.2/B +0.8 +17.9/C +6.0 +43.8/A +3.7 +45.5/A +4.4 +27.2/D +4.4 +31.3/C +5.9 +34.3/C +1.0 +18.5/C +6.3 +49.9/B +6.0 +37.4/B +4.8 +58.9/A +5.9 +34.3/C +3.9 +53.3/B +5.9 +32.7/C +6.1 +53.8/A +5.1 +31.2/D +0.2 +5.6/B +4.6 +39.0/B +12.2 +55.7/B +5.4 +45.5/B

+7.0/A +3.0/A +4.3/C +1.0/B +4.6/A +6.7/A +0.5/C +3.2/B +1.8/B +0.6/C -0.3/D +8.5/A +0.5/C +6.3/A +4.2/D +6.1/A +6.7/A +4.2/A +3.8/B +2.2/C +5.2/A +0.6/C +2.6/E +4.1/A +1.1/B +6.1/B +0.7/C +3.3/A +1.1/B +3.8/A +1.2/B +4.7/A -1.5/E +0.6/B -0.1/D

NL 5,000,000 5.75 250 5.75 250 NL 3,000 NL 2,500 5.75 250 NL 3,000 5.75 250 5.75 250 NL 5,000,000 NL 2,500 5.75 250 5.75 250 NL 2,500 NL 2,500 5.75 250 NL 5,000,000 5.75 250 4.25 1,000 5.75 250 NL 10,000 NL 100,000 3.75 250 NL 2,500 NL 100,000 NL 3,000 NL200,000,000 NL 2,500 NL 2,500 5.50 1,000 5.75 1,000 1.50 1,000 4.25 2,500 5.75 1,000 4.75 0

CA -Conservative Allocation, CI -Intermediate-Term Bond, ES -Europe Stock, FB -Foreign Large Blend, FG -Foreign LargeGrowth, FV -Foreign Large Value, IH -World Allocation, LB -Large Blend, LG -Large Growth, LV -Large Value, MA -Moderate Allocation, MB -Mid-Cap Blend, MV Mid-Cap Value, SH -Specialty-heath, WS -World Stock, Total Return: Chng in NAV with dividends reinvested. Rank: How fund performed vs. others with same objective: A is in top 20%, E in bottom 20%. Min Init Invt: Minimum $ needed to invest in fund. Source: Morningstar.

News on jobs leads market to finish higher

A steel worker at MRP in South Plainfield, N.J. fabricates steel destined for the World Trade Center, Friday. company president David Floyd said the company had 75 employees at the facility a year ago and now has 130.

He hopes to hire more welders and fitters in the near future.

By TIM PARADIS AP Business Writer

NEW YORK — Investors grew more confident about the economy but also worried that a brighter employment picture will mean rising interest rates.

Stocks closed higher Friday but only after giving up much of their earlier gains. Indexes touched new highs for year in the morning following news that job cuts fell sharply in November, but that report also brought expectations that the Federal Reserve could hike rates or remove other supports from the economy. Treasurys and gold fell as demand for safe-haven investments eased.

The Labor Department said the economy shed 11,000 jobs last month, the smallest monthly loss since December 2007, when the recession began.

That’s much better than the 130,000 losses Wall Street economists expected and an improvement from 111,000 jobs cuts in October.

The unemployment rate fell to 10 percent from a 26-year high of 10.2 percent in October.

Economists had expected the rate to remain unchanged.

Stocks have been rising for nine months on hopes of a recovery, but investors have been worried that lingering unemployment would hold the economy back. The gains in stocks also come as the Fed’s policy of low interest rates and extraordinary supports for the financial system have flooded financial markets with cash.

“This number was just phenomenal,” said Phil Orlando, chief equity market strategist at Federated Investors in New York. “That sound you heard was bears fainting all across America and hitting their head on the pavement.”

The Dow ended with a gain of 22.75, or 0.2 percent, to 10,388.90 after reaching a 2009 high of 10,516.70 in early trading. The Dow lagged broader indexes after DuPont, the chemicals company, warned it would delay release of several products.

The Standard & Poor’s 500 index rose 6.06, or 0.6 percent, to 1,105.98, after setting a 2009 high of 1,119.13.

The Nasdaq composite index rose 21.21, or 1 percent, to 2,194.35, reaching a high for the year of 2,214.39.

For the week, the Dow rose 0.8 percent, the S&P 500 index added 1.3 percent and the Nasdaq advanced 2.6 percent.

The jobs report weighed on bond prices, pushing yields higher. The benchmark 10-year Treasury note fell about a point, pushing its yield up to 3.48 percent from 3.38 percent late Thursday.

A rise in the dollar held back an advance on the stock market. The ICE Futures U.S. dollar index, which measures the greenback against a basket of foreign currencies, rose 1.4 percent.

Gold fell $78.80 to $1,169.50 an ounce on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Meanwhile, crude oil fell 99 cents to settle at a seven-week low of $75.47 a barrel.

Two stocks rose for every one that fell on the New York Stock Exchange, where volume came to 1.6 billion shares compared with 1.1 billion Thursday.

The Russell 2000 index of smaller companies rose 14.01, or 2.4 percent, to 602.79.

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SunMicro 309418 8.44 +.21 Apple Inc 289415 193.32 -3.16

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52-Week High Low

Associated Press

Job losses slow dramatically

By JEANNINE AVERSA and CHRISTOPHER S. RUGABER AP Economics Writers

WASHINGTON — Two years of steep job cuts all but ended last month, unexpectedly pulling down the unemployment rate and raising hopes for a lasting economic recovery.

Federal figures released Friday showed that the rate fell from 10.2 percent in October to 10 percent as employers shed the fewest number of jobs since the recession began two years ago. The government also said far fewer jobs were lost in September and October than first reported.

And the so-called underemployment rate, counting parttime workers who want full-time jobs and laid-off workers who have given up their job hunt, also fell, from 17.5 percent in October to 17.2 percent.

The better-than-expected figures provided a rare dose of good news for the economy, but the respite may be temporary.

Job creation is still so weak that more than 15 million out-ofwork Americans face fierce competition for few openings.

“We will need very substantial job growth to get unemployment lower, especially when the labor force ... starts growing again,” said Lawrence Mishel, president of the Economic Policy Institute, a liberal think tank.

Even counting last month’s decline, the unemployment rate has more than doubled from 4.9 percent when the recession began.

The report showed how hard it remains to find work. The number of people jobless for at least six months rose last month to 5.9 million. And the average length of unemployment has risen to more than 28 weeks, the longest on record dating to 1948.

Carolyn Malone of Milwaukee had not looked for work in decades — until she was laid off from her customer-service job in May. Malone, 62, laughed when

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asked Friday how many jobs she had applied for. She can’t remember. But she does recall how many landed her an interview: One. It didn’t lead to a job.

“I just want to get my toe in the door,” she said, scrolling through her e-mail at a hiring center.

Still, economists and investors drew hope from Friday’s Labor Department report.

Employers sliced just 11,000 jobs in November, compared with a loss of 111,000 jobs in October.

It was the best reading since December 2007 — the last time the economy added jobs and the start of the worst recession since the 1930s.

The unemployment rate had not fallen since July, when it declined from 9.5 percent to 9.4 percent.

Factories, retailers, construction companies — hardest hit by the recession — all slowed the pace of layoffs in November. So did transportation companies and those in leisure and hospitality.

12

— The

Daily Courier, Forest City, NC, Saturday, December 5, 2009

WASHINGTON

High-speed train program puts jobs on track

By JOAN LOWY Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON — Administration officials on Friday portrayed President Barack Obama’s $8 billion high-speed train program as a jobs generator, announcing promises from European and Asian companies seeking rail contracts to employ U.S. workers.

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said at a rail manufacturing conference that more than 30 foreign and domestic companies have promised to establish or expand operations in the United States if they are chosen to build high-speed lines.

The commitments will ensure the rail program will create jobs in the U.S. and

boost domestic manufacturing, LaHood said.

Mark Yachmetz, a Federal Railroad Administration official, told the conference: “We are trying to accomplish a rebirth of rail manufacturing.”

The rail conference was held one day after Obama hosted a White House summit on job creation.

Paying only glancing attention to the transportation benefits of high-speed trains, LaHood said that if the rail program isn’t preceived as “creating American jobs, it’s not going to succeed.”

He said he wants areas of high unemployment to get “top consideration” for rail manufacturing, and he mentioned Illinois, Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania.

Illinois is Obama’s home state, and the other three have been swing states in presidential contests.

The program is “one of the highest priorities” for Obama and Vice President Joe Biden, LaHood said.

The railroad administration has received applications from 24 states seeking $50 billion for high-speed rail projects, more than six times the money designated under the economic recovery program.

The agency has also received applications from 34 states totaling $7 billion for projects involving trains traveling at less than 110 mph, the rate defined as high-speed in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

The agency plans to announce early next year which projects will receive funds.

Most of the world’s largest and most experienced rail engineering, construction and manufacturing firms are based outside the United States. Europe and Japan have extensive high-speed rail systems and well-developed industries to support them, giving them a leg up on potential U.S. competitors.

The only truly high-speed rail service in the U.S. is Amtrak’s Acela Express, which operates between Washington and Boston.

The trains can reach speeds of 150 mph, but average less than 100 mph. Some trains in Europe and Asia reach

speeds over 200 mph and average 150 mph or more.

Foreign firms have been avidly pitching their expertise to states that have applied for funds. Trade missions have crisscrossed the country, and LaHood has met with a raft of ambassadors and transportation ministers.

Among the companies and their domestic subsidiaries the Transportation Department said have committed to create or expand operations in the U.S. if they win rail contracts are Bombardier Inc. of Canada, Alstom SA of France, Talgo SA of Spain, Siemens AG of Germany, Hyundai Rotem Co. of South Korea and and Kawasaki Rail Car Inc. of Japan.

Senate preserves Kennedy goal of long-term care insurance

to deficits and debts as far as the eye can see.”

But Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., said the Congressional Budget Office projects the program WASHINGTON — Keeping faith with the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, the Senate voted Friday to be fiscally sound for 75 years, without taxpayer bailouts. As a further safeguard, the Senate voted to preserve within its health overhaul bill a longto ensure that funds collected under the plan term care insurance program to help seniors and would only be used to pay out benefits — and not the disabled avoid nursing homes. to cover other government obligations.

But the vote exposed the difficulties Democratic “It is a solid program that can make a huge difleaders face in persuading their own moderates ference for millions of Americans, allowing them to remain united behind sweeping legislation to lead independent lives with dignity,” Dodd said. they hope to deliver to President Barack Obama.

Supporters said the program would begin to Eleven Democrats voted with Republicans, who fill a yawning hole in the social safety net. The warned that the new program would turn into a cost of nursing homes drain on the federal budaverages $70,000 a get.

“The CLASS Act is the same old year, and a home care Republicans fell short attendant runs about in a bid to strike the long- Washington, same old smoke and $29 an hour. Medicare term care plan on a 51-47 mirrors, same old games,” said only covers temporary vote. They needed 60 votes Thune. “We are locking in future gen- nursing home stays. to prevail. houseTwo leading Democrats erations to deficits and debts as far as Middle-class holds have to exhaust who shaped the health the eye can see.” their savings before a care bill, Finance senior can qualify for Committee Chairman — Sen. John Thune, R-S.D. nursing home coverage Max Baucus of Montana through Medicaid. and Budget Committee Separately, in a 41-57 Chairman Kent Conrad of vote, the Senate turned North Dakota, voted with the GOP — underscorback a Republican effort to restore $120 billion ing the gravity of the fiscal concerns. in cuts to Medicare Advantage, the private insurKnown as the CLASS Act, short for Community ance plan that provides seniors with better benLiving Assistance Services and Supports Act, the efits than the traditional program. Democrats say idea was originally championed by Kennedy, the the government is wasting money overpaying the Massachusetts liberal who pursued the goal of plans. health care for all through decades in public service until his death from brain cancer in August.

The list of Democrats who crossed the aisle Workers would pay a modest monthly premium to vote against the CLASS Act was a roll call of during their careers into the voluntary program. moderates whom Majority Leader Harry Reid, If they become disabled, they would get a cash D-Nev., desperately needs to beat back Republican benefit of at least $50 a day. That can help pay for filibusters and get a final bill off the Senate a home care attendant, for supplies and equipfloor. Among them was Sen. Joe Lieberman, the ment, to make home improvements such as new Connecticut independent. bathroom railings, or defray nursing home costs. A A dozen or so political moderates hold the fate of version of the plan was passed by the House. The the bill in their hands. What makes things unpreObama administration supports it. dictable is that they disagree on two key issues.

Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., who led the effort to On abortion coverage and a government health cut the CLASS Act, said it would add another insurance plan, the moderates were lining up in unaffordable commitment to a government different places. already swamped with debt — and taxpayers Reid needs 60 votes to win the last round. He would eventually get the bill. has 60 senators in the Democratic caucus, and “The CLASS Act is the same old Washington, some have already said they can’t support the bill same old smoke and mirrors, same old games,” as it stands now. Lieberman is threatening to filisaid Thune. “We are locking in future generations buster if a government insurance plan stays in.

By RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR Associated Press Writer

Associated Press

Sen. Arlen Specter, D-Pa., right, accompanied

by Sen. Joseph Lieberman, I-Conn., speaks during a health care news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Friday.

Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., won’t vote to advance legislation unless the Senate agrees to strict limits on abortion coverage that liberals won’t accept.

As senators prepared to debate into the weekend, it was hard to see how Reid would put together a winning combination. Two Republicans, Maine Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins may yet be persuaded to vote for the Democratic bill. But they also oppose creating a government plan to compete with private insurers.

Lieberman, Collins and Pennsylvania Democrat Arlen Specter came together Friday to outline an amendment that would give patients better information about the quality of their doctors and insurance plans, and crack down on hospitals where poor sanitation leads to high rates of avoidable infections.

The Senate’s Number 2 Democrat, Richard Durbin of Illinois, was unfazed. “We feel like we’re moving to the point where soon we can talk about an endgame, where we have an agreement that can bring together 60 votes,” Durbin told reporters. “But we’re not there yet.”

Popular panda going to China WASHINGTON (AP) — A young giant panda who became a major attraction after his birth at Washington’s National Zoo will leave for China early next year for breeding.

Zoo officials announced Friday that Tai Shan (pronounced “ty shawn”) will be leaving the Smithsonian Institution park as soon as January or February. Panda mother Mei Xiang (maySHONG) and father Tian Tian (tee-YEN tee-YEN) are on a 10-year, $10 million loan to the zoo until December 2010.

Under the Smithsonian’s panda loan agreement, any cub born at the zoo must be returned to China for breeding. Tai Shan was born in 2005 and was granted a two-year extension in 2007. Panda cubs are also slated to leave the zoos in Atlanta and San Diego.

There are thousands of shelter pets in our area who need loving homes. Even if you can’t adopt a shelter pet, now there is something you can do. By sponsoring a pet in our upcoming Adopt a Pet Section, you can give a shelter pet a chance to find a new home.

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The Daily Courier, Forest City, NC, Saturday, December 5, 2009 — 13

world

Clinton: Allied troops crucial in Afghan fight

Lt. Col. Ahmed Subhi Al-Fahal, front left, chief of anti- terrorism and riot forces parade in Tikrit, Iraq. Al-Fahal was killed Thursday by a suicide bomber carrying an explosive belt in central Tikrit.

He is shown here, front left, in a photo taken this summer.

By ROBERT BURNS AP National Security Writer

Associated Press

BRUSSELS — Some two dozen countries will send an estimated 7,000 more troops to Afghanistan next year, an infusion of forces that U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said Friday is crucial to turning the tide in the long war.

NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen of Denmark told reporters at NATO headquarters that at least 25 nations would provide the additional forces in Afghanistan in 2010, “with more to come.”

The troop estimate was 2,000 higher than the 5,000-strong pledges that Fogh Rasmussen cited Tuesday, after President Barack Obama announced his decision to bolster the United States’ war to the rank of lieutenant colonel effort. Obama said he will send another 30,000 earlier this year, the U.S. brigade U.S. troops to Afghanistan by next fall. commander who was then in “The strongest message in the room today was charge of the American forces solidarity,” Fogh Rasmussen said. in the area threw a promotion Clinton told allied foreign ministers Friday that party at his headquarters for al- it was essential that contributions to the war effort Fahal. be provided as quickly as possible. She thanked “He was controversial, flamItaly for its announcement that it will send another boyant, brave, and effective,” 1,000 troops, and Britain for its pledge of another U.S. Col. Walt Piatt wrote in an 500, but she said nonmilitary assistance is equally e-mail message Friday from the important.

U.S. after hearing of his former “The need for additional forces is urgent, but colleague’s killing. “He singletheir presence will not be indefinite,” she told the handedly disrupted numerous North Atlantic Council, NATO’s highest political enemy plots during the last elec- council. tion — He was the go-to-guy in Later, she told a news conference that U.S. and the province.”

NATO forces need additional forces as well as Piatt said al-Fahal worked well extra capabilities. with the Americans, “but he was “We have gone a very long way toward meeting the kind of person who was will- those needs today,” she said. ing to lead Iraq to a peaceful U.S. Navy Adm. James Stavridis, the top NATO future — for Iraqis. Many feared and U.S. commander in Europe, said in an him but all respected his courAssociated Press interview during a break in the age.” talks he believes several thousand more non-U.S. Violence in Iraq has dipped troops may be contributed next year, in addition to dramatically over the last two the 7,000 cited by Fogh Rasmussen. years after the surge of U.S. “What we are all underlining to potential troop forces and after Sunni Arab contributors is that we are truly asking for emphatribes turned against al-Qaida sis in the training area,” Stavridis said. “And what in Iraq, particularly in western I’m hearing is that we’ll get very good responses.” areas once part of the insurgent According to a copy of Clinton’s prepared heartland. remarks to the closed-door meeting, she told the U.S. data shows the monthly gathered ministers that “the pace, size, and scope number of attacks in Iraq of the drawdown will be predicated on the situadropped from more than 4,000 tion on the ground.” in August 2007 to about 560 in “If things are going well, a larger number of forcSeptember 2009. hidden inside es could be removed from more areas,” she said. a mosque killed imam Narjis “If not, the size and speed of the drawdown will be Shiwash during prayers. adjusted accordingly.”

Bomber kills anti-terror chief

By LARA JAKES Associated Press Writer

BAGHDAD — He compared al-Qaida in Iraq to wolves, urging that the terrorist group be crushed since he believed its members would never reject violence. But the wolves got to the Iraqi counterterrorism officer first.

Ahmed Subhi al-Fahal’s death in a suicide bombing in Tikrit could embolden al-Qaida loyalists to try to make a return to the area around Saddam Hussein’s hometown where he held sway. On Friday, within hours of his killing, dozens of Web sites affiliated with al-Qaida in Iraq were already celebrating the death of their longtime nemesis.

The attack also stood as a reminder that Iraqi security officials who work closely with American forces remain a prime target for insurgents even as overall violence in Iraq fades.

Thursday’s bombing, outside a goldsmith’s store, also killed two of al-Fahal’s bodyguards and two bystanders in Tikrit — which holds symbolic significance for the Sunni-led insurgents because of its connection with Saddam.

Al-Fahal, in his early 30s, was a lieutenant colonel in the

Salahuddin provincial police force. But he was mostly known, by al-Qaida and the American military alike, as one of central Iraq’s top counterterror officials, bent on purging insurgents from his turf.

“It is better to kill al-Qaida’s members because it is no use to reform them,” al-Fahal said in a recent interview with Al-Arabiya TV. He was paraphrasing a religious saying that there is no use in trying to reform wolves — instead, they must be killed.

And kill them he did.

In his interview, al-Fahal claimed he killed more than 250 al-Qaida terrorists: 200 Iraqis and 50 Arab foreign fighters.

He was also thrown the most difficult missions. It was alFahal who was called in to track down 16 prisoners — including several al-Qaida-linked inmates awaiting execution — who escaped in a stunning September jailbreak in Tikrit that deeply embarrassed Iraqi officials.

Most of the prisoners were recaptured, but al-Fahal said two escaped and at least one suspected al-Qaida member was killed.

Al-Fahal had a particularly good relationship with U.S. forces, who let him and his officers work out of Saddam’s old palaces in Tikrit. When he was advanced

Baby’s 1st Christmas

2009

Associated Press

Suspect members of a gang that allegedly trafficks with people are shown to the press in Mexico City, Thursday. Mexico City’s Attorney General Miguel Angel Mancera said police arrested 23 people for human trafficking during a raid Thursday at a clothing clasps and shopping bags factory in the eastern Iztapalapa borough.

Miles Matthew Adkinson Parents: Rebecca & Mat Adkinson Birthdate: February 13, 2009

Mexico slave labor gang raided RBy MARK STEVENSON

By Associated Press Writer

MEXICO CITY — Kidnap victims freed from a rehab center in Mexico City said they were snatched from the streets and held in slave-like conditions — beaten, robbed and forced to work 16 hours a day making shopping bags and clothes pins.

Some of the 107 victims said Friday they were forbidden from talking for as long as a week at a time by guards they called the “godfathers” of the Chosen of God center, and were never compensated for months of labor.

“They didn’t pay us a single peso,” said Efrain Torres, 36, a cargo loader at a produce market who claimed he was hustled into a van at midnight months ago by the center’s employees. Torres told MVS Radio the work schedule was 16 hours per day, and “anyone who wouldn’t work ... they punished us by making us stand upright in the bathroom for three days.”

The Mexico City Attorney General’s Office said 23 suspects have been detained for allegedly acting as guards and overseers at the threestory building with barred doors and windows, located in a poor neighborhood on the city’s eastern edge.

A sign covering much of the exterior wall describes it as an “Institute for Rehabilitation of Alcoholism and Drug Addiction.”

The gang that ran the “Chosen of God” rehabilitation center apparently targeted the homeless and other apparently vulnerable people on the streets.

Human rights activists claim city government officials knew about the kidnappings since at least June, and may have tolerated the practice as a way of cleaning vagrants off the streets.

“It is not just this center. This was part of a series of actions known as ’social cleansing,’ with the clear aim of making the city look more clean, pretty, tourist-friendly,” said Clara Becerra, a social worker for the rights group El Caracol, which filed a complaint with the city human rights commission after street people complained of being forced into vans in June.

Becerra said a half-dozen victims who were taken to the center that time — and later released — complained of similar mistreatment. The victims told her group that a city police car accompanied the vans in which they were kidnapped, “acting as sort of an observer.”

Mexico City Attorney General Miguel Mancera said he is investigating that report. He said other victims spoke of sexual abuse, including prostitution, and the 23 suspects are being held on suspicion of human trafficking.

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14

— The

Daily Courier, Forest City, NC, Saturday, December 5, 2009

SHOE by Chris Cassat and Gary Brookins

THE GRIZZWELLS by Bill Schoor

BROOM-HILDA by Russell Myers

DILBERT by Scott Adams

GIL THORP by Jerry Jenkins, Ray Burns and Frank McLaughlin

THE BORN LOSER by Art and Chip Sansom

ARLO AND JANIS by Jimmy Johnson

FRANK AND ERNEST by Bob Thaves

EVENING

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Crimson Tide Harold & Kumar Escape } ››› Gran Torino (‘08) Life Busty Corky R } ›› Broken Arrow (‘96) 9:50 } Desperado :40 } Die Hard (‘88) Eagle Eye } ›› Taken (‘09) Boxing: Martinez :45 } ›› Taken In NFL Dexter } ››› Transsiberian (‘08) Shaq. O’Neal Su :15 } ›› Bedtime Stories } › Obsessed (‘09) Å 10:50 Crash Righteous Kill

Party can’t cure mom’s blues

Dear Abby: I will be 50 next year.

My daughter is determined to throw me a party, but I’m not interested in acknowledging my age. In fact, thinking about it throws me into a panic.

I realize this is my problem, but how can I make her understand that this is something I truly do not want and I won’t attend? She thinks I’m joking. -- 49 and Holding

Dear Holding: Your daughter is well-meaning but insensitive.

Because you can’t make her comprehend that birthdays have different connotations for different people, and that you prefer to “forget” about this one, plan an enjoyable getaway for yourself the week that yours rolls around and leave town. And every time you feel yourself going into a panic, practice this mantra: 50 is the new 30. Once you make up your mind to accept it, then you -- like so many others -- will believe it and calm down. Aging is normal. It’s stress that’s the killer.

Dear Abby: I recently inherited some money. The amount is enough to allow me to leave a job I find stifling and set up my own business without having to worry about money for the first year.

I am excited about it, but I’m getting nothing but doom and disap-

Dear Abby Abigail van Buren

proval from my family. My husband says he supports me, but has confided that he’s afraid I’m going to plunge us into poverty. My parents and siblings tell me I’m being irresponsible and wasting money I could be investing for retirement. They remind me of how many small businesses fail and tell me I’m “crazy” to leave a secure job.

I want to take advantage of this opportunity, but my family’s attitude is starting to make me doubt myself.

Am I naive and irresponsible? -Ambitious Dear Ambitious: No, you’re a woman with a dream. And that’s OK. Until a century ago, nobody thought man could fly, and now we’ve struck water on the moon.

However, just to cover your bases and see if your dream is practical, write a business plan and take it to a bank to see if they would be willing to lend you money to start your business. If the answer is yes, I see no reason why you shouldn’t invest in yourself (at zero interest).

Reader ponders grandchild’s birth Dear Dr. Gott: What do you know about the big E factor? I can’t find anything on the Internet or from my OB/ Gyn. In 1978, I gave birth to my son. He was five weeks premature. His birth turned out to be traumatic. It was discovered that he had the big E factor and could not fight the antibodies on his own. He was sent to a neonatal unit at a hospital in another city, where he had to have a blood exchange (not transfusion) and was hospitalized for 15 days.

My son and his wife are expecting their first baby, and at this time, their OB/Gyn does not seem to be worried about it. I have also inquired at my primary-care physician’s office for any information on big E, but they said that they don’t know anything about it, either.

Can you provide any information about this blood situation? Should we be worried about the upcoming birth?

Dear Reader: Should your son and wife be concerned? In my opinion, no.

PUZZLE

Ask Dr. Gott Dr. Peter M. Gott The medical situation you experienced with your son should not affect the birth of his child.

In the simplest terms, you and your son were allergic to each other. What you experienced is known as maternal alloimmunization, a condition in which a fetus produces antigens that pass into the mother’s bloodstream, which are then attacked by her immune system as foreign substances.

It is similar to when bacteria or viruses enter the body.

The good news is that your son is healthy. Your grandchild should not be at higher risk because of what happened during his father’s birth.

IN THE STARS

Your Birthday, Dec. 5

There will be several exciting developments occurring in the coming year, but you’re likely to settle on two separate enterprises. They will both be worth it.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) -- If you face a problem, seek out an associate who has offered good advice in the past.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) -- If you feel stymied or unable to cope, be flexible enough to make the necessary changes.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) -- Although you might not like your mate’s assessment of your position, at least listen to his or her side of the argument.

PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) -- Don’t hesitate to relegate priorities to the rear ranks in order to take care of an immediate concern.

ARIES (March 21-April 19) -- It won’t hurt one bit to be more supportive of someone you love when this person is having a hard time.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) -- When finalizing a matter you’ve been dreading for far too long; it won’t be so terrible after all.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) -- In order to advance a personal interest, you may have to look out for another person’s concerns.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) -- Definite progress can be made with a material concern of yours.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) -- If an associates is analyzing the same data as you, it is all the more reason to keep your assessments realistic.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) -- Your perceptions regarding commercial matters are exceptionally astute.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) -- Endeavors assigned to be under your control have a good chance of success.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) -- To your delight, you’ll quickly discover that seemingly overwhelming impediments were only paper dragons.

The Daily Courier, Forest City, NC, Saturday, December 5, 2009 — 15 The Daily Courier, Forest City, NC, SATURDAY, December 5, 2009 — 15

world

U.S. student is convicted in Italy, gets 26 years ALESSANDRA RIZZO and MARTA FALCONI Associated Press Writers

PERUGIA, Italy — American college student Amanda Knox was found guilty of murdering her British roommate and sentenced to 26 years in prison early Saturday after a yearlong trial that gripped Italy and drew intense media attention.

Her Italian ex-boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito was also convicted and sentenced to 25 years. They were also found guilty of sexual assault in the 2007 murder of Meredith Kercher, a 21-yearold student from England.

Knox burst into tears and murmured, “No, no,” after the judge read the verdict shortly after midnight following some 13 hours of deliberations. She then

hugged one of her lawyers.

Minutes later, the 22-yearold Knox, who is from Seattle, and the 25-year-old Sollecito were put in police vans with sirens blaring and driven back to jail.

Prosecutors had sought life imprisonment, Italy’s stiffest sentence. Courts can give less severe punishment than what prosecutors demand.

The American’s father, Curt Knox, asked if he would fight on for his daughter, replied, with tears in his eyes: “Hell, yes.”

“This is just wrong,” her stepmother, Cassandra Knox, said, turning around immediately after hearing the verdict. Her family had insisted she was innocent and a victim of character assassination.

One of Knox’s attorneys, Luciano Ghirga, was asked

if she was distraught. “Yes, I challenge anyone not to be,” he replied.

Kercher family lawyer Francesco Maresca called the verdict and sentence “satisfactory,” but he acknowledged: “There is deep suffering on all sides.”

A group of local youths who gathered outside the courthouse shouted insults and “assassin!” at the Knox family as they walked in to hear the verdict.

Throughout the trial, prosecutors depicted Knox as a promiscuous and manipulative she-devil whose personality clashed with her roommate’s. They say Knox had grown to hate Kercher.

The most intimate details of Knox’s life were examined, from her lax hygiene — allegedly a point of contention with Kercher — to

her sex life, even including a sex toy.

Kercher’s body was found in a pool of blood with her throat slit on Nov. 2, 2007, in the bedroom of the house she shared with Knox while the two were studying in the medieval town of Perugia in Italy’s central Umbria region.

Prosecutors said the Leeds University student was murdered the previous night.

In Seattle, relatives and friends clasped hands as they watched the verdict on TV. “Oh God, no,” Other friends buried their faces in their hands and shook their heads.

“They didn’t listen to the facts of the case,” said Elisabeth Huff, Knox’ grandmother. “All they did was listen to the media’s lies.”

Madison Paxton, Knox’s friend from the University of

Washington, said: “They’re convicting a made-up person ... “They they’re convicting ‘foxy Knoxy.’ That’s not Amanda.”

Prosecutors argued that on the night of the murder, Knox and Sollecito met at the apartment where Kercher and Knox lived.

They say a fourth person was there, Rudy Hermann Guede, an Ivory Coast citizen who has been convicted in the murder and sentenced to 30 years in prison. Guede, who is appealing his conviction, says he was in the house the night of the murder but did not kill Kercher.

The prosecution says Knox and Kercher started arguing, and that Knox joined the two men in brutally attacking and sexually assaulting the Briton under “the fumes of drugs and possibly alcohol.”

CLASSIFIEDS Contact Erika Meyer to place your ad!

Call: 828-245-6431 Fax: 828-248-2790 Email: emeyer@thedigitalcourier.com In person: 601 Oak St., Forest City 1 WEEK SPECIAL

DEADLINES: New Ads, Cancellations & Changes Tuesday Edition.............Monday, 12pm Wednesday Edition......Tuesday, 2pm Thursday Edition......Wednesday, 2pm Friday Edition...............Thursday, 2pm Saturday Edition................Friday, 2pm Sunday Edition......................Friday, 2pm

Run ad 6 consecutive days and only pay for 5 days*

Please check your ad on the first day that it runs. Call us before the deadline for the next edition with corrections.

We will rerun the ad or credit your account for no more than one day.

*4 line minimum on all ads

2 WEEK SPECIAL

Run ad 12 consecutive days and only pay for 9 days*

3 DAY WEEKEND SPECIAL YARD SALE SPECIAL

Apartments

Homes

Mobile Homes

2 & 3BR Close to downtown Rfdtn. D/w, stove, refrig., w/d hook up. No pets! 287-0733

2BR Apt in Forest City near Ingles. $425/mo.

Some utilities paid.

Dep req. 287-4541

For Rent

For Rent

Richmond Hill Senior Apts. in Rfdtn 1BR Units w/handicap accessible units avail.

Sec 8 assistance avail.

287-2578 Hours: Mon., Tues., & Thurs.

7-3. TDD Relay 1-800-735-2962 Equal Housing Opportunity.

Income Based Rent.

Nice 2 Bedroom Townhouse Apt & 1 Bedroom Apt across from Super 8 Motel in Spindale $385/mo. & $515/mo.

Call 828-447-1989

Classic & charming

Apt. with storage garage. Clean 2 Bedroom Brick at 433 E. Main St., Forest City $475/mo.

Call 828-447-3233 2BR/1.5BA $400/mo & 3BR/1.5BA $475/mo.

Carolina Properties 828-625-9800 Special $100 dep.!

1, 2 & 3BR Nice, large Townhomes Priv. decks, w/d hook up.

Water incld.!

Starting at $375/mo.

1-888-684-5072

Homes For Sale 1BR/1BA Owner financing with down payment! Central heat & air, 2 out buildings. $32,000 Call 657-4430

GREAT STARTER in Cleveland County!

3BR/1BA Brick ranch w/great features - brick fireplace in family room, large eat-in kitchen, hardwoods, in-ground pool, large fenced backyard, swing set and 2 storage sheds remain. $94,900 #45277 Coldwell Banker Mountain View Real Estate Contact Marsha Brown 704-284-0137

Homes For Rent Country living 4BR in Rfdtn (off 108, 6 mi. from hospital) $475/ mo. + dep. 287-5241

PLACE YOUR AD TODAY! ROSEDALE PHASE I APARTMENTS 121 Holly Lane Forest City, NC 28043 Family Households

1 BEDROOM APARTMENTS Units for Persons with Disabilities Available Section 8 Accepted

Please Call (1) 828-245-3417 TDD/TYY # (1) 800-735-2962 “This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer”

Large 3BR/1BA w/lg. yard in Rfdtn. $550/mo. 2BR/1BA w/laundry in Rfdtn. $400/mo. 625-5554

Mobile Homes For Rent 2BR/1BA in Sandy Mush & Dobbinsville areas. No pets. Ref’s. req. Call 429-6691 2BR Stove, refrig., partly furnished, quiet & clean in Forest City. $290/mo. 657-6282 2BR/1BA in Ellenboro Refrig., stove, washer & dryer. $350/mo. + deposit. 828-305-4476 2BR/2BA in nice area Stove, refrig. No Pets! $380/mo. + deposit Call 287-7043

2BR & 3BR Stove, refrig., cable, lawn service & trash incld. $260-$350/mo. + dep.

No cats! Long term only! Call 453-0078

or 429-8822

Run a 20 word yard sale ad Thurs., Fri., & Sat. for ONLY $20.

Additional words are only 75¢ each. Deadline: Wed. at 2 p.m.

Apartments

2BR/2.5BA home on 64/74 1 mile from Lake Lure Beach, Chimney Rock and Ingles. Lake Lure view. $600/mo.

Also, 2BR/2BA on 2 ac. in Rumbling Bald Resort, washer /dryer, cen. h/a. $750/mo. Call Eddy Zappel 828-289-9151 or Marco 954-275 0735

FOR OUR WEEKLY SPECIAL POSTED EVERY SUNDAY IN THE CLASSIFIEDS!

MUST SEE! Like new

3BR/2BA in Rfdtn. $650/mo. + securities.

748-0658 or 286-1982 2 Bedroom Nice, clean, quiet place to live! $200/mo. + dep.

Call 828-657-5974 Nice 2BR/2 full BA on priv. lot on Hudlow Rd. A/c, d/w, utility bldgs., porches. 704-481-8200 2 & 3BR in quiet park Convenient location in FC. Background check req. 287-0053 Single wide Shiloh: 2BR/2BA No Pets! $425/mo. + $300 dep.

245-5703 or 286-8665 2BR/2BA on large lot in Rfdtn area. Refrig. & stove. $375/mo. + $300 dep. 286-4333 Nice 3BR/2BA MH in nice park in Ellenboro.

Appl., a/c. $450/mo.

Deposit & ref’s req.

Senior disc. 248-1909

Sell or rent your property in the Classifieds!

Start your ad today!

245-6431

Instruction

Professional Truck Driver Training Carriers Hiring Today!

• PTDI Certified Course • One Student Per Truck • Potential Tuition Reimbursement • Approved WIA & TAA provider • Possible Earnings $34,000 First Year SAGE Technical Services

&

(828)286-3636 ext. 221 www.isothermal.edu/truck

Work Wanted Man 20 needs job Strong, intelligent, dependable, honest.

Call 828-447-0041

Help Wanted Immediate openings in Rutherford Co. for Substance Abuse Counselors & Mental Health Therapists. LCSW, LPC, CCS, LCAS or CSAC preferred.

Fax resumes to: 828-245-2548

TELLER SPECIALIST Premier Federal Credit Union is seeking an individual with financial and or retail sales experience to join our team as Teller Services Specialist.

Candidate must have strong verbal and communication skills, one who is comfortable and confident in cross-selling products and services. Be proactive in communicating the benefits of the services we offer our members. Qualified candidates should be self-motivated, energetic, work with a sense of urgency and be passionate about helping our members.

All candidates will be required to complete an on-line application at www.premeirfcu.org under Career Opportunities.

Help Wanted

For Sale

Motorcycles

Chiropractic Assistant High energy, self motivated, team player needed for growing Chiropractic office. Must be wellness minded, organized with great attention to detail.

Experience with med office/ front desk/ ins. a must. Fax resume to 828-245-0422 or mail to 152 West Main, Forest City, NC 28043 or email ccp2@ bellsouth.net. Please incl. prof. references!

Hover Round Chair Used twice, needs battery! $500 obo Call 248-1023 before 9pm

94 Honda Goldwing 45,000 mi. Good cond.

Garage kept, has cover $6,700 Call 286-3083

Merry tiller bought new in spring paid $850. Bargain at $425.

Call 704-689-0045

Pets

DRIVERS NEEDED PTI is seeking local drivers for 7-passenger mini-vans in Bostic.

Drug screen, driving record and criminal background check req. 1-800-471-2440 Reference #27 MasterCorp Inc. is now hiring housekeepers in the Lake Lure area for weekend help only.

We offer excellent wages, training, and weekly pay.

Call 828-551-5463 to make an appointment.

NO Walk ins!!

WHITE OAK MANOR, TRYON currently has openings for: Medication Technician Must have C.N.A. I & Medication Tech. Certification working in assisted living. We are looking for compassionate, dependable applicants who are dedicated in working w/the elderly.

Apply at 70 Oak St., Tryon, NC 28782 or fax resume to: 828-859-2073 EOE Mountain Creek Baptist Church in Gilkey, NC is searching for a part time Youth Pastor.

Send resume to: 710 Mountain Creek Rd., Rutherfordton, NC 28139 by 01/15/2010.

Find your next job in the Classifieds!!

Want To Buy Want to buy queen bedroom suite, dark wood. Good cond.!

Call 286-3617 I PAY CASH FOR DIABETIC TEST STRIPS Up to $10 per 100 ct. Call Frank 828-577-4197

WILL BUY YOUR JUNK Cars & Trucks

Pick up at your convenience!

Call 223-0277

Autos 2000 Buick LeSabre 72,500 mi. Very good condition! $4,900 Call 828-288-7048 1998 Cadillac Deville white w/red leather int., new tiger paws tires, 98,000 mi., no dents or scratches. $3,200 Call 828-245-0640 03 Honda Accord EX Exc. cond.! Heated ps, dual air, leather $6,500 287-7758 after 4pm Buying JUNK CARS at reasonable rates!

Will pay the best that can be paid based on current junk price.

Call 828-447-4944

Vans 2001 Oldsmobile Transport Van with electric wheel chair lift Exc. cond.! $6,500 1994 Ford F-150 short wheel base, 4wd $2,000 Call 248-2589

CHOCOLATE LAB PUPPIES FOR SALE Ready December 18th!

Call 429-6412 Free: Adorable Kittens Male & female May be able to provide spay, neutering and shots. 828-202-5760 Mountain Fiest Pups Ready to go! 1st shots, parents on site. $50 Call 245-6110 after 5p

Lost Female Black Lab Mix Pink collar w/red leash attached. Lost near Rfdtn

Hospital 828-748-1351 or 828-674-6205

Found 2 female dogs, Bostic area, 1 gray poodle mix, 1 black/tan terrier mix, blue bandana collars. 245-9303 Female Black dog Long hair, short nose & legs. Found 11/27 on Tanners Grove Rd. Call 704-860-4582 F Beagle mix Approx.

1 yr. old. Found 11/25 on Grays Creek Church Rd. in Rutherfordton.

248-3985 or 305-3508

LOST OR FOUND A PET? Place an ad at no cost to you. Ad runs for one week!

Call 245-6431 Mon.-Fri. 8am-5pm

16 — The Daily Courier, Forest City, NC, SATURDAY, December 5, 2009 NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Having qualified as Executor of the estate of EDNA Y. TWITTY of Rutherford County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons having claims against the estate of the said EDNA Y. TWITTY to present them to the undersigned on or before the 5th day of March 2010 or the same will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said estate will please make immediate payment.

This is the 5th day of December, 2009.

Having qualified as Administrator of the estate of RONNIE BAYSINGER SCOTT of Rutherford County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons having claims against the estate of the said RONNIE BAYSINGER SCOTT to present them to the undersigned on or before the 5th day of March 2010 or the same will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said estate will please make immediate payment.

This is the 5th day of December, 2009.

Lois Kay Yelton Mathis, Executor 521 Goldenrod Lane Lexington, NC 27295

Shawn Renay Jones Scott, Administrator 292 Old Castle Lane Forest City, NC 28043

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Having qualified as Executor of the estate of MELFORD (MILFORD) EULUS MORGAN of Rutherford County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons having claims against the estate of the said MELFORD (MILFORD) EULUS MORGAN to present them to the undersigned on or before the 5th day of March 2010 or the same will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said estate will please make immediate payment.

This is the 5th day of December, 2009.

Having qualified as Executor of the estate of MARTHA COLLINS TESTERMAN of Rutherford County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons having claims against the estate of the said MARTHA COLLINS TESTERMAN to present them to the undersigned on or before the 5th day of March 2010 or the same will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said estate will please make immediate payment.

This is the 5th day of December, 2009.

Dorothy E. Shoemaker, Executor 450 Tangleridge Drive Inman, SC 29349

Selena Cash, Executor PO Box 13 Cliffside, NC 28024

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Having qualified as Co-Executor of the estate of THOMAS M. ROBBINS of Rutherford County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons having claims against the estate of the said THOMAS M. ROBBINS to present them to the undersigned on or before the 28th day of February 2010 or the same will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said estate will please make immediate payment.

This is the 28th day of November, 2009.

Having qualified as Administrator of the estate of SANDRA RUTH BLACKWELL FRAZIER of Rutherford County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons having claims against the estate of the said SANDRA RUTH BLACKWELL FRAZIER to present them to the undersigned on or before the 5th day of March 2010 or the same will be pleaded in bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said estate will please make immediate payment.

This is the 5th day of December, 2009.

Tony M. Robbins, Co-Executor PO Box 550391 Gastonia, NC 28055

Charles Shawn Frazier, Administrator 210 Carpenter Road Rutherfordton, NC 28139

Sonja Robbins Ruppe, Co-Executor 118 McMurray Rd. Forest City, NC 28043

SUBSCRIBE!!

Yard Sales

Yard Sales

BIG Forest City 157 Hazelwood Dr. (off Butler Rd.) Saturday 7A-until Christmas, clothes, printer. Too much to mention!

BIG SALE Rfdtn: 189 Shepards Creek Circle (Behind Broyhill) Sat 8-1 Name brand sample sale!

Mens and Ladies clothing, sweaters, jackets etc.. and two Motorcycles

Christmas Open House Spindale 417 Thunder Rd. (Woodman of the World Building) Sat. 10A-3P Pampered Chef & Stampin’ Up Handmade crafts!

CHRISTMAS SALE FC: Crestview Church Fellowship Building Sat. 12/5/09 8A-until Christmas items - new & used, baked goods, sausage biscuits!

Check out the latest yard sales every Thursday, Friday & Saturday

Yard Sales

Yard Sales

DON’T MISS THIS! FC: 389 Dogwood Ln. Fri. 2P & Sat. 7A-until Vera Bradley purses $10, Ashton Drake collectors dolls plus others, 6 man tentused twice, stuffed animals, decor pillows, linens, household, furniture & much more! All items like new! 247-4117

INDOOR 6 FAMILY Mt. Vernon Clubhouse (off Hudlow) Sat. 8A-3P Many new gifts - cheap, ornaments, household, afghans, jewelry, Avon, tree, books and toys!

MOVING SALE Spindale: 412 Maryland St. Fri. & Sat. 7A-until Furniture, antiques, household items and much more!

INDOOR YARD/ CHRISTMAS SALE Boiling Springs 407 N. Main St. in shop bldg. (near Hamrick O’Shields, across from mexican restaurant) Sat. 7A-til Christmas arrangements/wreaths $35 & under, some custom built furniture, boys clothes 3T-4T .50 ea., household items, plum colored formal dress size 7/8 $20, lg. mirrors and more!

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING Notice is hereby given that the Rutherford County Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing on December 21, 2009 at 8:00 AM in the County Commissioners’ Meeting Room at the Rutherford County Office Building, 289 North Main Street, Rutherfordton, NC. The hearing will address the granting of industrial development grants to a new company pursuant to North Carolina General Statute 158-7.1 in the total amount of $100,000 or more spread over 5 years, depending upon the amounts of capital investments and jobs created in the initial two years of the operation of the facility in Rutherford County. Such grants are for the purpose of building improvements and equipment purchases. The company commits to invest at least $3,000,000 and to create at least 40 jobs prior to the end of the calendar year 2011. Future investments and jobs created are to be determined. This grant is being made in accordance with the Rutherford County Industrial Development Investment Grant Program for the purpose of attracting new industry to the county, with the goal to create new jobs and increase the current tax base. The Rutherford County Industrial Development Investment Grant Program is available for inspection in the Office of the County Manager.

All persons interested in this public hearing are encouraged to attend and express their views.

Hazel Haynes, Clerk to the Board Rutherford County Board of Commissioners

Indoor Estate Sale Ellenboro: 201 Short Rd. Sat. 7A-until 70 yrs of items!

YARD SALE Puzzle Creek Auto Sales 675 West Main, FC Sat. 7A-til Christmas crafts, family clothing, furniture, household, toys, miscellaneous

YARD SALES ARE A GREAT PLACE TO FIND A DEAL!

NORTH CAROLINA, RUTHERFORD COUNTY

NORTH CAROLINA, RUTHERFORD COUNTY NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 09 SP 474

NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 09 SP 487

Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by STEVE M CALYORE AND LISA M CALYORE, MARRIED TO EACH OTHER AND ERIC A LEVINE AND CATHERINE D LEVINE, MARRIED TO EACH OTHER to PRLAP, INC., Trustee(s), which was dated April 4, 2006 and recorded on April 4, 2006 in Book 893 at Page 302, Rutherford County Registry, North Carolina.

Under and by virtue of a Power of Sale contained in that certain Deed of Trust executed by JACKIE B. MCENTYRE AND Rose Marie aka Rose Marie McEntyre, WIFE AND HUSBAND to WILLIAM R ECHOLS, Trustee(s), which was dated January 23, 2003 and recorded on February 3, 2003 in Book 0711 at Page 0340, Rutherford County Registry, North Carolina.

Default having been made in the payment of the note thereby secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Brock & Scott, PLLC, having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds of Rutherford County, North Carolina, and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door of the county courthouse where the property is located, or the usual and customary location at the county courthouse for conducting the sale on December 16, 2009 at 10:00AM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property situated in Rutherford County, North Carolina, to wit: BEING all of Lot 147 as shown on survey by R.L. Greene, PLS entitled "Greyrock Subdivision Phase 1B as recorded in Plat Book 25 at Page 207, said plat being one of a series of plats recorded in Plat Book 25, Page 205 through 208 of the Rutherford County, NC Registry, reference to said recorded plats being made for a more particular description of said Lot 147.

TOGETHER WITH AND SUBJECT TO all easements, restrictions and rights of ways of record and a non-exclusive appurtenant easement for ingress, egress and regress is conveyed over and upon all private subdivision roads for GreyRock at Lake Lure as shown on the above-described plats and the plats for Phase 1A as shown on plats recorded in Plat Book 25, at Pages 188 through 192 and to the Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions for GreyRock as recorded in Book 858, at Page 122 of the Rutherford County, NC Registry and also being recorded in Book 3827, page 764 of the Buncombe County, NC Registry.

BEING a portion of that property conveyed to LR Buffalo Creek, LLC by deeds recorded in Deed Book 855, at Page 816 of the Rutherford County, NC Registry and as recorded in Deed Book 3793, at Page 665 of the Buncombe County, NC Registry.

Save and except any releases, deeds of release or prior conveyances of record.

Said property is commonly known as: Lot 147 on Winter Star Road at Greyrock Resort, Lake Lure, NC 28746 Third party purchasers must pay the excise tax, and the court costs of Forty-Five Cents (45¢) per One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) pursuant to NCGS 7A-308(a)(1). A cash deposit (no personal checks) of five percent (5%) of the purchase price, or Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, will be required at the time of the sale. Following the expiration of the statutory upset bid period, all the remaining amounts are immediately due and owing.

Said property to be offered pursuant to this Notice of Sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS WHERE IS.” There are no representations of warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at, or relating to the property being offered for sale. This sale is made subject to all prior liens, unpaid taxes, any unpaid land transfer taxes, special assessments, easements, rights of way, deeds of release, and any other encumbrances or exceptions of record. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the undersigned, the current owner(s) of the property is/are Steven M. Calyore and Wife, Lisa M. Calyore.

An Order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to G.S. 45-21.29 in favor of the purchaser and against the party or parties in possession by the clerk of superior court of the county in which the property is sold. Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may, after receiving the notice of sale, terminate the rental agreement upon 10 days’ written notice to the landlord. The notice shall also state that upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

If the trustee is unable to convey title to this property for any reason, the sole remedy of the purchaser is the return of the deposit. Reasons of such inability to convey include, but are not limited to, the filing of a bankruptcy petition prior to the confirmation of the sale and reinstatement of the loan without the knowledge of the trustee. If the validity of the sale is challenged by any party, the trustee, in their sole discretion, if they believe the challenge to have merit, may request the court to declare the sale to be void and return the deposit. The purchaser will have no further remedy.

THIS IS A COMMUNICATION FROM A DEBT COLLECTOR. THE PURPOSE OF THIS COMMUNICATION IS TO COLLECT A DEBT AND ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE, EXCEPT IN THE INSTANCE OF BANKRUPTCY PROTECTION. IF YOU ARE UNDER THE PROTECTION OF THE BANKRUPTCY COURT OR HAVE BEEN DISCHARGED AS A RESULT OF A BANKRUPTCY PROCEEDING, THIS NOTICE IS GIVEN TO YOU PURSUANT TO STATUTORY REQUIREMENT AND FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES AND IS NOT INTENDED AS AN ATTEMPT TO COLLECT A DEBT OR AS AN ACT TO COLLECT, ASSESS, OR RECOVER ALL OR ANY PORTION OF THE DEBT FROM YOU PERSONALLY. Substitute Trustee Brock & Scott, PLLC Jeremy B. Wilkins, NCSB No. 32346 5431 Oleander Drive Suite 200 Wilmington, NC 28403 PHONE: (910) 392-4988 FAX: (910) 392-8587 File No.: 09-20937-FC01

Default having been made in the payment of the note thereby secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Brock & Scott, PLLC, having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds of Rutherford County, North Carolina, and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door of the county courthouse where the property is located, or the usual and customary location at the county courthouse for conducting the sale on December 16, 2009 at 10:00AM, and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following described property situated in Rutherford County, North Carolina, to wit: Situate, lying and being in Morgan Township, County of Rutherford, State of North Carolina, and BEGINNING at the north side of Mountain Creek and the west side of Live Branch, at a point where said branch enters Mountain Creek, the said point being a corner of the original 113 acre tract; thence running North 75 deg West 538 feet to an iron pin; thence South 34 deg West 330 feet to an iron pin; thence South 61 deg West 260 feet to an iron pin; said point being the northwest corner of a lot conveyed to Edmond W. Brown and wife, Martha Brown; and running thence with the Edmond Brown line South 70 deg East 800 feet to an iron pin, said point being in the old line and in the center of Mountain Creek; and running thence with the center of Mountain Creek and the old line as it meanders 560 feet to the pint and place of Beginning and containing 11 acres more or less.

Save and except any releases, deeds of release or prior conveyances of record.

Said property is commonly known as: 539 Sara Lee Road, Rutherfordton, NC 28139 Third party purchasers must pay the excise tax, and the court costs of Forty-Five Cents (45¢) per One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) pursuant to NCGS 7A-308(a)(1). A cash deposit (no personal checks) of five percent (5%) of the purchase price, or Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, will be required at the time of the sale. Following the expiration of the statutory upset bid period, all the remaining amounts are immediately due and owing.

Said property to be offered pursuant to this Notice of Sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance “AS IS WHERE IS.” There are no representations of warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at, or relating to the property being offered for sale. This sale is made subject to all prior liens, unpaid taxes, any unpaid land transfer taxes, special assessments, easements, rights of way, deeds of release, and any other encumbrances or exceptions of record. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the undersigned, the current owner(s) of the property is/are J.B. McEntyre and wife, Rose Marie McEntyre.

An Order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to G.S. 45-21.29 in favor of the purchaser and against the party or parties in possession by the clerk of superior court of the county in which the property is sold. Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may, after receiving the notice of sale, terminate the rental agreement upon 10 days’ written notice to the landlord. The notice shall also state that upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination.

If the trustee is unable to convey title to this property for any reason, the sole remedy of the purchaser is the return of the deposit. Reasons of such inability to convey include, but are not limited to, the filing of a bankruptcy petition prior to the confirmation of the sale and reinstatement of the loan without the knowledge of the trustee. If the validity of the sale is challenged by any party, the trustee, in their sole discretion, if they believe the challenge to have merit, may request the court to declare the sale to be void and return the deposit. The purchaser will have no further remedy.

THIS IS A COMMUNICATION FROM A DEBT COLLECTOR. THE PURPOSE OF THIS COMMUNICATION IS TO COLLECT A DEBT AND ANY INFORMATION OBTAINED WILL BE USED FOR THAT PURPOSE, EXCEPT IN THE INSTANCE OF BANKRUPTCY PROTECTION. IF YOU ARE UNDER THE PROTECTION OF THE BANKRUPTCY COURT OR HAVE BEEN DISCHARGED AS A RESULT OF A BANKRUPTCY PROCEEDING, THIS NOTICE IS GIVEN TO YOU PURSUANT TO STATUTORY REQUIREMENT AND FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES AND IS NOT INTENDED AS AN ATTEMPT TO COLLECT A DEBT OR AS AN ACT TO COLLECT, ASSESS, OR RECOVER ALL OR ANY PORTION OF THE DEBT FROM YOU PERSONALLY. Substitute Trustee Brock & Scott, PLLC Jeremy B. Wilkins, NCSB No. 32346 5431 Oleander Drive Suite 200 Wilmington, NC 28403 PHONE: (910) 392-4988 FAX: (910) 392-8587 File No.: 09-20813-FC01

A TO Z, IT’S IN THE

CLASSIFIEDS!

The Daily Courier, Forest City, NC, SATURDAY, December 5, 2009 — 17

WEB DIRECTORY Visit the advertisers below by entering their Web address

AUTO DEALERSHIPS

HEALTH CARE

NEWSPAPER

REAL ESTATE

HUNNICUTT FORD

BUSINESS&SERVICE DIRECTORY (828) 245-1626 www.hunnicuttfordmercury.com

(828) 245-0095 www.hospiceofrutherford.org

(828) 245-6431 www.thedigitalcourier.com

(828) 286-1311 www.keeverrealestate.com

To List Your Website In This Directory, Contact The Daily Courier Classified Department at (828) 245-6431 Erika Meyer, Ext. 205

AIR CONDITIONING & HEATING

GRADING & HAULING

HOME IMPROVEMENT

Specializing In Metal Roofing.....Offered In Many Colors Guaranteed Lowest Prices on Vinyl DH Windows

“We’re Not Comfortable Until You Are” “Serving Rutherford & Cleveland County For 30 Years”

DAVID’S GRADING We do it all

NC License 6757 • SC License 4299

No job too small

FAST RELIABLE SERVICE ON ALL BRANDS Free Estimates • Best Warranties All Work Guaranteed Service • Installation • Duct Cleaning • IAQ Gas / Oil / Heat Pumps / Geothermal / Boilers Residential & Commercial

828-657-6006

24 Hour Emergency Service

245-1141

Track Hoe Work, Tractor Work , Dozer Work, Bobcat Work, Trenching, Grading and Land Clearing, Hauling Gravel, Sand, Dirt, Etc.

www.shelbyheating.com

FREE ESTIMATE

HOME IMPROVEMENTS

HOME REPAIR

WINDOWS & SIDING STORM DOORS

Family Owned & Operated Local Business

Free Estimates & Fully Insured Licensed Contractor

Licensed Contractor with 35 Years Experience

245-6367 PAINTING

Interior & Exterior 22 years experience

Great references Free Estimates John 3:16

ROOFING

Todd McGinnis Roofing Rubberized/Roofing Metal, Fix Leaks FREE ESTIMATES

828-286-2306 828-223-0633

FREE LOW E AND ARGON!

INSTALLED - $199*

Wood & Vinyl Decks • Vinyl Siding • Kitchen & Bath Remodeling Reface Your Cabinets, Don't Replace Them!

Clean up at the end of each day GUARANTEED

H & M Industries, Inc.

828-248-1681

704-434-9900

Website - hmindustries.com

Visa Mastercard Discover

LAWN CARE

PAINTING

* roofing * concrete * decks & steps * painting * carpentry * skirting * plumbing * sheet rock * room additions * metal roofing

No Job Too Small Discount for Senior Citizens

828-657-6518 828-223-0310

ROOFING

GARY LEE QUEEN’S ROOFING

Golden Valley Community Over 35 Years Experience ✓ All work guaranteed ✓ Specializing in all types of roofing, new & old ✓ References furnished ✓ Vinyl Siding ✓ 10% DISCOUNT FOR SENIOR CITIZENS CHURCHES & COMMUNITY BUILDINGS ALSO METAL ROOFS

5 YEAR WARRANTY ON LABOR FREE ESTIMATES

Call today! 245-8215

* Gutter Cleaning

Quality Lawn Care

Interior & Exterior INSURED FREE ESTIMATES Reasonable Rates

223-8191

Owner Jerry Lancaster 286-0822

TREE TREE CARE CARE

VETERINARIAN

Carolina Tree Care & Stump Grinding

10% discount Topping Removal on all& work Stump Grinding Valid 9/17-11/1/09

• Low RatesInsured Fully • Free Good Clean Work Estimates • Satisfaction Guaranteed 20 Years Experience • Fully Insured Senior Citizens & • Free Estimates

Veterans Discounts

Chad Reid Sisk Mark (828) 289-7092 828-289-1871 Senior Citizen Discounts

Thunder Road Animal Bi-Lo Hospital Super 8 Motel

Sell through the Classifieds!

The Daily Courier 828-245-6431 to place your ad.

74 Bypass

Spindale Denny’s 286-0033 *Dog/Cat spay/neuter program *Low-cost monthly shot clinic *Flea & tick control *Heart worm prevention *SALE* Save Up To $4600 Today

MAKE SOME DOUGH

Call

*up to 101 UI

* Leaf Removal

Bill Gardner Construction, Inc ENTRANCE DOORS

Vinyl Replacement Windows Double Pane, Double Hung 3/4" Glass, Energy-Star Rated

18

— The

Daily Courier, Forest City, NC, Saturday, December 5, 2009

Now is the time to save!

SANDY’S

th Nov. - Dec. 12-th Christmas Sale (Great deals) Dec.301st-13th

th Annual Dec. Dec.15th-30th 14th - 31st- 98th Annual Inventory Reduction Sale (Must Go!)

COUNTRY CHRISTMAS • CRAFTS • VARIETY 2536 W. Dixon Blvd./Shelby, NC 28152

onner omputer 287-0003 www.theccc.us 230 N. Main St., onsultants, Inc. Rutherfordton, NC

OPENALL ALLYEAR YEAR(Closed (Never on on Sundays) Sundays) OPEN Hours: 10-6 Hours: 10-6 (NOV-CHRISTMAS 10-9) (NOV-CHRISTMAS 9-9) OPEN: THANKSGIVING DAY 704-471-0015 Keep the Christmas Spirit Year Round!

In-Stock merchandise must go, before the end of the year!

We’ll take offers, even lose money just to get it out the door! $ Netbooksatat$450 2990000 •• Laptops Laptops at Netbooks at$499 $5990000

(Hwy. 74-West, Between Pantry & Ingles)

THERA-SSAGE

431 S. Main St., Ste. 2 Rutherfordton, NC 288-3727 • www.thera-ssage.com

Gift Certificates are now available on our website at www.thera-ssage. com, or call us with your list and we'll have them ready for you to pick up. That way you'll have more time to hang out under the mistletoe.

Buy 5, get one FREE!

One Gift Certificate....

Five Ways to Spend It 1. Gift Department 2. Fountain 3. Home Medical Equipment 4. Pharmacy 5. Compounding

December 5th

139 East Main St. Forest City 245-4591

Have a Carhartt® Christmas!

Best Wishes for a Happy Holiday Season from LOVELACE FINANCIAL

Largest “Everything’s $1.00” In the Carolinas Largest Party, Floral & Scrapbooking Selection

132 Commercial Drive, Forest City

Al S. Lovelace and Phyllis Lovelace-Briscoe offer securities through AXA Advisors,LLC (NY,NY 212-3144600), member FINRA, SIPC, Annuity and insurance products offered through AXA Network, LLC and its subsidiaries. Lovelace Financial Group is not owned or operated by AXA Network. Lynn M. Searcy offers support services only.

GE-44148(co)(5/08)

431 S. Main Street, Rutherfordton, NC 28139 (828) 288-1378

Corner of Alt 74 & Oak Street

2009 First Edition Forest City Christmas Ornament featuring the Town Clock

Widest selection of Pocket Knives in North Carolina.

Prices to meet anybodies needs.

Wide Selection of Middleton Dolls and Knives at Forest City Location

FOREST CITY – 720 S. Church St. – 828-245-7274 CAROLEEN – Hwy 221-A – 828-657-5353

Forest City This beautiful glass ornament will be a keepsake for years to come as you collect a different scene of Forest City every year. $12.00.

Available at downtown stores, including The Daily Grind, Forest City Pets, It’s all in the Bag, Positively Paper, Off the Beaded Path, & More Sponsored by the Forest City Merchants Association and Main Street Program.

Call 828/247-4433 for more information

December HoliDay event best offer of tHe year!

Sale Starts Dec. 1st through Jan. 4th Extra $1,000 (over and above all other rebates and incentives) (select Buick and GMC models)

Hwy. 74A Bypass, Forest City, NC (828) 286-2381

www.mccurry-deck.com r Layaway Fo s! ay The Holid

Hardin’s Carpet & Flooring Covering Wishes Everyone a Very Merry Christmas Carpets • Wood Floors Laminates • Ceramic Tile Vinyl Floors Open Mon. - Fri., 8am - 5pm • Sat. 8:30am - 12:30pm

Free Estimates • Quality Installation 1016 E. Main St., Spindale, NC (828) 286-3527 • (828) 287-9625

• Fashion Handbags • Diaper Bags • Luggage • Sunglasses • Fragrances

Buy 1 Pashmina Scarf & Get The 2nd HALF Off! Buy 2 Handbags, Get The 3rd HALF Off*!

• Jewelry *equal or lesser value • Pashmina Scarves • SwitchFlops & Ballet Flats • Alexa’s Angels Jewelry • Unique Gift Ideas

• & Much More!

New Holiday Hours!

Mon-Thurs 9am-6pm • Fri & Sat 9am-9pm • Sun 1pm-6pm 102 E Main St., Forest City NC • 828.248.2100 439 N Church St., Hendersonville, NC • 828.696.9868

The Gallery

Featuring Handmade in america craFts

support LocaL & regionaL american artists Pottery • Glass • Jewelry • Ornaments Expert Custom Framing 181 N. Main St. • Rutherfordton

828-287-5647 Open Mon- Sat thru Christmas