The Daily Dispatch - Friday, January 1, 2010 by The Daily Dispatch

CMYK

Happy New year

Security asleep on the terrorist watch

Dispatch names All-area soccer team

Relish magazine — Inside Today

Opinion, Page 6A

Sports, Page 1B

Celebrating America’s Love of Food FRIDAY, January 1, 2010

Volume XCVI, No. 1

(252) 436-2700

www.hendersondispatch.com

50 cents

Hospital ends limits on visiting

Charter school needs permit to locate

Swine flu concern forced restrictions

The Zoning Board of Adjustment will be hearing a request Tuesday for a special use permit by the future Henderson Collegiate Charter School to locate at a temporary site at the southwest corner of County Home Road and Health Center Road. The nearly two-acre site, which is zoned office-institutional, is on property belonging to Vance

By DISPATCH STAFF

Temporary visitation restrictions at Maria Parham Medical Center because of the H1N1 flu have been lifted, the hospital announced Thursday. Effective Monday, the facility returns to its regular visitation policy. Restrictions had been in place since last October. However, in its announcement, the hospital said that the seasonal flu and the H1N1 flu are still major health concerns. “Even with the lifting of the restrictions, we still ask anyone who may be sick or have flu-like symptoms not to visit patients in the hospital,” says David Ruggles, Director of Marketing and Community Relations at Maria Parham. “We need every-

Henderson Collegiate to request OK for temporary site off County Home Road By WILLIAM F. WEST Daily Dispatch Writer

County. The property is southeast of the central business district, is adjacent to the Green-Bullock Assisted Living Center building and is adjacent to the Addiction Recovery Center for Men. The County Commission’s Property Committee on Dec. 17 recommended the full commission on Monday approve leasing the property. Terms call for the future school to pay the county $1 a year for three years. A charter school is publicly

funded, but operates under a private, nonprofit board rather than under the authority of the local board of education. Charter schools are allowed to operate under a locally tailored set of rules rather than the more rigid structure traditional public schools must follow. The other charter school in the county, Vance Charter, is at Henderson Mall off Dabney Drive. In other business Tuesday, the Zoning Board of Adjustment

will be considering requests for special use permits by: • Danny Finch and Phillip Hill to allow a sports bar/lounge at 419 Raleigh Road. The location, which previously was Alliance Supercenter, is in a highway commercial “A” zoning district. The location is across from the CocaCola bottling building. • Lynwood Brooks Sr. to allow an automobile repair facility at Please see CHARTER, page 8A

Downpours close two Granville bridges

Please see HOSPITAL, page 8A

Index Our Hometown . . . . . 2A Business & Farm. . . . 5A Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . 6A Light Side . . . . . . . . . 7A Sports. . . . . . . . . . 1-4B Comics . . . . . . . . . . . 5B Classifieds. . . . . . . 6-8B

Weather Today Mostly cloudy

High: 47 Low: 23

Daily Dispatch/WILLIAM F. WEST

Saturday

Water-logged spans are in northern section of county

Mostly sunny

High: 35 Low: 18

Details, 3A

Deaths Butner Brittany R. Oakley, 19 Creedmoor Lester D. Wooten, 52 Henderson Ola M. Brame, 83 Rena B. Mayo, 68 Shirley W. Ragland, 70 Barbara A. Terry, 45 Manson John Russell, 70 Oxford James P. Gill Spring Hope Bobbie E. Rogers, 66 Warrenton Roger Arrington, 81 Carl Bullock, 67

Obituaries, 4A

The downpours of rain have caused the closures of two Harry Davis Road bridges over the John H. Kerr Reservoir in northern Granville County. The worst impact is on the bridge near Pittard Road, the Grassy Creek Recreation Area and the North Carolina-Virginia line, right. A motorist Thursday afternoon managed to drive his truck across the flooded, but shorter bridge near Tilley Road.

Smoking, animal shelter, ethics rules for N.C. New laws take effect as New Year begins By GARY D. ROBERTSON Associated Press Writer

RALEIGH — A smoldering cigarette butt in a trash can sparked a fraternity fire that killed five students at the University of

North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1996, and smoking materials may have caused a 2007 Brunswick County beach house fire that killed seven South Carolina college students. Fire safety officials believe legislation taking effect today requiring tobacco companies to sell “fire-safe” cigarettes in North Carolina will lead to fewer smoking-related fire fatalities, serious

burns and property damage. North Carolina’s law, passed in 2007, is one of more than 30 laws taking effect with the new year. People shouldn’t have to suffer because someone was careless with a cigarette, said Ernest Grant with the North Carolina Jaycee Burn Center at UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill, which receives as many as 150 patients annually with injuries related to

unattended cigarettes. “The whole purpose of this legislation is not to tell people you can’t smoke but if you are smoking there’s a safer way to do it,” Grant said. The most high-profile change will begin Saturday when a ban on smoking in the state’s restaurants and bars will take effect. Smokers could face $50 fines Please see LAWS, page 3A

Our Hometown

The Daily Dispatch

Mark It Down Saturday Dee’s Music Barn — Dee’s Music Barn, 3101 Walters Road, Creedmoor, will be featuring the Woodard Band at 7 p.m. For more information, call (919) 528-5878.

Monday Planning board — The City of Henderson’s Planning Board will meet at 3:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers of City Hall, 134 Rose Ave. Oxford Commission — The Oxford City Commission’s agenda meeting will be at 5:30 p.m. in the City Commission meeting room of City Hall, 300 Williamsboro St. Granville Commission — The Granville County Commission will meet at 7 p.m. in the County Commission meeting room, 145 Williamsboro St.

Tuesday Elections board — The Vance County Board of Elections will meet at 11 a.m. in the Board of Elections office in the Henry A. Dennis Building, 300 S. Garnett St., Henderson. Zoning board — The City of Henderson’s Zoning Board of Adjustment will meet at 3:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers of City Hall, 134 Rose Ave.

Wednesday Joint replacement class — Rehabilitation Services at Maria Parham Medical Center will offer a class from 3:304:30 p.m. in the classroom at the hospital for those who are planning to have joint replacement surgery. The class will be taught by licensed physical and occupational therapists and will cover exercise recommendations, rehabilitation therapy needs, equipment needs, pain management strategies and what to expect after you have your surgery. The free class is offered to anyone who has elected to have shoulder, knee or hip replacement surgery, regardless of the hospital where the surgery will be performed. Call Ben Soyden at (252) 436-1235 for more information. Lake Gaston Association — The Lake Gaston Association will hold its monthly meeting at 9:30 a.m. in the Family Life Center at the Lake Gaston Baptist Church on Route 903, one mile north of Eaton Ferry Bridge, near Littleton. Guest speaker will be Brady Martin, newly elected president of the Lake Gaston Chamber of Commerce. The meeting is open to members and non-members. For further information call (252) 586-6577, or, toll free 1-888-586-6577. Economic Development Commission — The Oxford Downtown Economic Development Commission will meet at 8 a.m. in the mayor’s conference room of City Hall, 300 Williamsboro St. Clean-up Henderson — The Clean Up Henderson Committee will meet at 8 a.m. in the conference room of the municipal operations center, 900 S. Beckford Drive.

Friday, January 1, 2010

Granville Health System Foundation Art Gala raises over $62,000 to support expansion plan The Granville Health System Foundation held its inaugural Art Gala recently at the Granville County Shrine Club in Oxford. The event raised more than $62,000 to support the upcoming Granville Health System expansion plan. The expansion plan, an ambitious 32,000-square-ft. construction project, is the largest in the health system’s history. It includes a new emergency department that will grow from 3,135 to 18,000 square ft.; an expanded Surgical Services Department; a larger Laboratory Department; a new, larger lobby and admissions area; and additional patient and visitor parking. Construction is scheduled to begin early next year. “The support shown by the members of our community is greatly appreciated,” said Gary Bowman, president of the foundation board, who spearheaded this year’s fundraising drive. “The foundation received support from many local businesses and their sponsorship of this event really made the difference.” Sponsors of the 2009 Art Gala included ARAMARK Healthcare; BB&T; Bart Cleary, DDS; Cole Roger Photography; Freeman White; Holden, Moss, Knott, Clark, Copley and Hoyle PA; Hopper, Hicks & Wrenn PLLC; Morrison Management; Oxford Public Ledger; Professional Pharmacy;

Among those attending the Granville Health System Foundation Art Gala were (left to right) James and Martha Wrenn and Robert and Victoria Brown. Rentenbach Constructors Inc.; Royster, Cross & Hensley LLP; Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Company; SunTrust; and WLUS Lakes Media Network. Approximately 200 people attended the black-tie event with participants enjoying music by Chris Bagley and a cocktail hour sponsored by Professional Pharmacy. Attendees also enjoyed hors d’oeuvres while browsing the items available for auction. Bids were placed on over a dozen silent auction items, many of which decorated

the tables throughout the gala dinner. During the live auction afterwards, foundation board member and auctioneer William Adcock entertained gala guests, stirring up lively bidding for more than 25 outstanding items. Live auction items ranged from a walnut wine cabinet and a corner cupboard handcrafted by Robert Morgan, to original portraits by Dot Daughtry and Leslie Johnson, as well as a oneof-a-kind crystalline vase made by the late Sid Oakley, founder of Cedar Creek Pottery and Gallery. Each item

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Thursday

The Daily Dispatch staff asks that items intended for inclusion in the calendar be submitted in writing at least five days in advance of the event. Please include a contact person’s name and phone number in case there are questions. Items for this listing can be e-mailed to communitynews@hendersondispatch.com.

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Monday is the first day of 2010 that VGCC is open. Late registration for the spring semester will be held Tuesday. For more information, call VGCC at (252) 4922061.

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(R) FRI & SAT: 12:45, 3:00, 5:15, 7:30 & 9:45PM SUN: 12:45, 3:00, 5:15 & 7:30PM MON-THUR: 5:15 & 7:30PM

The members of the Nu Chi Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. helped spread Christmas joy to the Henderson Middle School Exceptional Children’s Department. The members presented clothes and toiletry items, along with a monetary contribution. Pictured (left to right) are Angela Pugh, Dorthy Perry, Shalonda Young and Vivian Bullock.

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FRI & SAT: 12:45, 3:25, 6:45 & 9:25PM SUN: 12:45, 3:25 & 6:45PM MON-THUR: 6:45PM

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Concert — The Catawba College Concert Choir will present a concert for the community at the First United Methodist Church at 7 p.m. The choir, under the direction of Paul E. Oakley, will be beginning a choir tour in Henderson with a variety of musical styles. The concert is free. Chess Club — The Henderson/Vance Chess Club, affiliated with the U. S. Chess Federation, meets at the First United Methodist Church from 6-9:30 p.m. All are welcome, adults and youths, novice or experienced. For more information, call Rudy Abate at 438-4459 (days) or 738-0375 (evenings). Childbirth classes — Prepared childbirth education classes are held at Granville Medical Center, 1010 College St., in Oxford, every Thursday night from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the first floor conference room. Women who are scheduled to deliver their babies at any hospital are welcome to attend. To register for the classes, call the Childbirth Education Department at (919) 690-3208. There is a $50 fee for classroom materials. Genealogical society — The Granville County Genealogical Society #1746 Inc. will meet at 6:30 p.m. at the Granville County Commissioner’s Meeting Room on Williamsboro Street in Oxford. Guest speaker will be Allen Dew, owner of the Cemetery Census web site and a member and webmaster for the society. Dew started working on cemetery surveys in 1995 and has documented more than 30 counties including Granville, Chatham, Caswell, Alamance, Wake and Surry counties. He will discuss some of the best methods for photographing cemeteries and grave markers. Non-members are welcome. Public Works Committee — The Oxford City Commission’s Public Works Committee will meet at 1 p.m. in the engineering conference room of City Hall, 300 Williamsboro St. The committee will discuss the findings of a 30-year master plan for sewer and water services.

showcased the talent and craftsmanship of artists associated with the Granville County community. “We are grateful to everyone in the community for their support,” said L. Lee Isley, chief executive officer for Granville Health System. “Those who attended the art gala were treated to a wonderful evening of dinner and entertainment. In return, their financial contributions will benefit the hospital by helping to increase its capacity to meet the community’s growing demand for health care services.”

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From Page One

The Daily Dispatch

FIVE-DAY FORECAST FOR HENDERSON TODAY

TONIGHT

SATURDAY

Mostly Cloudy

Partly Cloudy

Mostly Sunny

47º

23º

35º 18º

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

Sunny

Mostly Sunny

36º 17º

36º 18º

37º 19º

Almanac

Sun and Moon

Temperature

Sunrise today . . . . . .7:25 Sunset tonight . . . . .5:10 Moonrise today . . . .6:26 Moonset today . . . . .8:10 Sunrise tomorrow . .7:25 Sunset tomorrow . . .5:11 Moonrise tomorrow .7:42 Moonset tomorrow . .8:53

Raleigh -Durham through 6 p.m. yest. High . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46 Low . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32 Normal High . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50 Normal Low . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30 Record High . . . . . . . . .69 in 1990 Record Low . . . . . . . . .11 in 1983

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

Moon Phases

Precipitation Yesterday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .0.01" Month to date . . . . . . . . . . . .5.99" Normal month to date . . . . .3.04" Year to date . . . . . . . . . . . . .40.33" Normal year to date . . . . . .43.05"

Last 1/7

Full 1/30

First 1/23

New 1/15

Lake Levels Lake Gaston Kerr

24-Hr. Lake Capacity Yest. Change Jordan 240 218.8 -0.8 Neuse Falls 264 254.0 -0.3

24-Hr. Capacity Yest. Change 203 199.8 +0.6 320 308.5 -0.6

Regional Weather Henderson 47/23

Winston-Salem Durham 46/24 45/22 Asheville 37/21

Rocky Mt. 50/26

Greensboro 45/22 Raleigh 47/24 Charlotte 48/25

Fayetteville 51/26

Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.

Cape Hatteras 53/33

Wilmington 55/31

Regional Cities Today

Sat.

Today

Sat.

City

Hi/Lo Wx Hi/Lo Wx City

Hi/Lo Wx Hi/Lo Wx

Asheville Boone Burlington Chapel Hill Chattanooga Danville Durham Elizabeth City Elizabethton Fayetteville Goldsboro Greensboro Greenville Havelock Hendersonville

37/21 34/18 45/23 46/24 41/26 43/22 46/24 51/27 39/20 51/26 52/27 45/22 54/30 54/29 38/22

45/22 54/28 54/30 54/27 56/31 53/31 51/34 54/30 47/24 49/27 49/24 50/26 48/24 55/31 45/22

rs ra mc mc sn cl mc sh rs mc sh pc sh sh mc

28/20 23/14 35/18 35/19 42/25 33/20 35/18 40/23 33/18 38/21 38/22 34/18 37/23 40/25 31/19

pc sn s s s s s s mc s s s s s s

High Point Jacksonville Kinston Lumberton Myrtle Beach Morehead City Nags Head New Bern Raleigh Richmond Roanoke Rapids Rocky Mount Sanford Wilmington Winston-Salem

pc sh sh ra ra sh sh sh mc mc sh sh mc ra pc

34/18 40/24 38/23 41/22 44/26 42/27 38/29 39/25 36/19 38/22 35/20 37/21 37/20 44/25 34/18

s 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

Today’s National Map 110s 100s 90s 80s 70s 60s 50s 40s 30s 20s 10s 0s

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

Cold Front

Stationary Front

Warm Front

Low Pressure

High Pressure

Yesterday’s National Extremes High: 78° in West Kendall, Fla. Low: -12° in Houlton, Maine

XII I

II III

VIII VII VI

IV V

X IX

XII

III

VIII

VII

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and restaurants could be penalized $200 a day for ignoring the law. Other new-year laws will streamline local government animal shelter rules when people try to find lost pets, crack down on motorists inappropriately using handicapped parking permits, and require county commissions and local school boards to adopt ethics codes. The “fire-safe” cigarettes are made with different paper that slows ignition, making them more likely to go out if left unattended. The standards require cigarettes to burn out at least 75 percent of the time when not in active use. The cigarettes can be lit again. North Carolina is one of 12 states making the change Friday to require all cigarettes to meet standards first implemented

by New York in 2004. Every state but Wyoming now has a similar law that is in effect or will take effect by 2011, said Lorraine Carli, a spokeswoman for the National Fire Protection Association. Carli said North Carolina’s passage helped build momentum for the legislation to go essentially nationwide because of the state’s financial and historical connections to tobacco: “If it can happen in a state with a big tobacco industry, it could happen everywhere.” Carli said the association of builders, architects and other fire safety officials projects the laws could help cut smokingrelated fire fatalities by up to half — deaths that typically number 700 to 900 annually. North Carolina law gives vendors time to sell

their inventories of cigarettes that don’t meet the standard. Another law specifies that owners looking for a wayward pet usually are entitled to view every animal held in a shelter operated by or for local governments. The shelter also must be open at least three days a week for four hours a day. Animals also must be made available for adoption before being sold or euthanized following a required 72-hour waiting period. “We needed to standardize the process so people did get a reasonable opportunity to claim their pets before they were euthanized,” said Sen. Floyd McKissick, D-Durham, the bill’s primary sponsor. Law enforcement also have more tools to stop motorists from using handicapped parking per-

mits that don’t belong to them or have expired. The expiration date on the placards now will be visible from at least 20 feet. Recipients also will get a registration card that police can check against the placards to prevent fraud. The new local government ethics law also requires elected and appointed officials to receive two hours of ethics education within 12 months of taking office.

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Elevation in feet above sea level. Data as of 7 a.m. yesterday.

Friday, January 1, 2010

LAWS, from page one

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The Daily Dispatch

Local News

Friday, January 1, 2010

Deaths Roger Arrington WARRENTON — Roger Arrington, 81, of 474 Beaven Hunt Road, Warrenton, died Thursday, Dec. 31, 2009, at his residence. Funeral services are incomplete at this time but will be announced later by Boyd’s Funeral Service in Warrenton.

Ola M. Brame HENDERSON — Ola Mae Brame, 83, of 296 Spring Valley Road, died Thursday, Dec. 31, 2009, in Britthaven of Henderson. The family will receive friends at the residence of Mildred Jones, 1284 Warrenton Road. Funeral arrangements will be announced later by Davis-Royster Funeral Service.

Carl Bullock WARRENTON — Carl Bullock, 67, of 719 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Warrenton, died Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2009, at the University of North Carolina Hospital in Chapel Hill. Funeral services are incomplete at this time, but will be announced later by Boyd’s Funeral Service of Warrenton.

James P. Gill OXFORD — James Pasco Gill, a resident of Enon Road, died Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2009, in Granville Medical Center. He was a native of Person County and was the son of the late Earlie George and Mattie Lunsford Gill. He was a member of Geneva Presbyterian Church, a farmer, and owner of Gill’s Grocery. He was a former employee of the ASCS and was a member of Woodmen of the World. He was a veteran of World War II, serving in the Army. Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Sunday at Geneva Presbyterian

Church by the Rev. Jason Leonard. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Surviving are a daughter, Donna G. Dickenson of Raleigh; a son, Timothy E. Gill of Oxford; a brother, Harold Gill of Roxboro; eight sisters, Clessie Adcock of Rougemont, Sue Betty Parrott and Lessie Preddy, both of Oxford, Christine Hurdle of Bushy Fork, Mary Mitchell, Dorothy Clark and Elsie Davis, all of Roxboro, and Gertrude Lee of Burlington; four grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a sister, Mildred Hubbard. The family will receive friends Saturday from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the GentryNewell and Vaughan Funeral Home and immediately following the funeral services. Flowers are accepted or memorials may be made to the Geneva Presbyterian Church Cemetery Fund. Arrangements are by Gentry-Newell and Vaughan Funeral Home in Oxford.

Rena B. Mayo HENDERSON — Rena Bell Mayo, 68, of 1410 Second St., died Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2009, at Maria Parham Medical Center. She was born in Franklin County and was the daughter of the late Dadie Mayo and Samuel Dunston. Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday at Concord Missionary Baptist Church by the Rev. S.E. Blalock. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Survivors include a sister, Carrie Mayo of the home; stepsisters, Rosa Dunston, Dorothy Alexander, Ernestine Thorpe, Lorrean Perry and Annie Dunston, all of Henderson; three brothers, William Mayor and Sidney Mayo, both of the home, and Alexander Mayo of Manson; a stepbrother, James Dunston of Kittrell. The body will be on view today at the funeral home

Show off your little bundle of joy on our special

from 1 to 6 p.m. and at the church one hour before the service. The family is receiving friends at the residence. Arrangements are by Davis-Royster Funeral Service.

Brittany R. Oakley BUTNER — Brittany Ruth Oakley, 19, of 200 Ridge Road, died while giving birth to her son, Andrew Ward Daulton, on Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2009, at Durham Regional Hospital. A native of Hopewell, Va., she was the daughter of Sam and Bessie Oakley. She was a member of Creedmoor United Methodist Church and was a student at Alamance Community College and employed by Jeff Dalton AC Systems. Memorial services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday at Creedmoor United Methodist Church, officiated by the Revs. John Price and Jonathan Jeffries. Surviving, other than her parents and son, are her birth-mother, Stacy Hurley of Butner; fiancee, Seth Daulton of Orange County; birth father, Sterling Narron; and two stepsisters, Vanessa and Tori of Virginia. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Andrew Daulton Scholarship Fund, c/o Bessie Oakley, 200 Ridge Road, Butner, N.C. 27509. The visitation will follow the memorial service in the fellowship hall of the church. Oakley was an organ donor and enhanced the lives of 60 people. Arrangements are by Eakes Funeral Home of Creedmoor.

Shirley W. Ragland HENDERSON — Shirley White Ragland, 70, of 633 Breckenridge St., died Thursday, Dec. 24, 2009, at Maria Parham Medical

Center. She was born in Franklin County and was the daughter of the late James Alfred and Mary Lou Harris White. She attended the Franklin County public schools. She worked many years at the former J.P. Taylor Tobacco Company. Chapel services will be conducted Saturday at noon at Davis-Royster Funeral Service by the Rev. Maurice White. Burial will follow in Blacknall Cemetery. Surviving are four sisters, her twin Annie Shirley Chavis, Dortha Crews and Mary Helen Fuller, all of Henderson, and Bertha Stewart of New Jersey; two brothers, James Lee White of Kittrell and John Fuller of New York. The family will receive friends at the residence. The body will be on view today from 1 to 6 p.m. Funeral arrangements are by Davis-Royster Funeral Service.

Bobbie E. Rogers SPRING HOPE — Bobbie E. Rogers, 66, was born May 4, 1943, in Nash County, N.C., and died Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2009, at Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, D.C. He was into herbs for medicinal purposes and loved being around and riding horses. He is survived by his mother, Clara M. Rogers of Spring Hope; a sister, Rebecca R. Stamps of Spring Hope; three daughters, Lolita Morgan of Washington, D.C., Natasha Rogers of Fort Washington, Md., and Barbara C. Stuckey of District Heights, Md.; five grandchildren; and a greatgrandchild. A Homegoing Celebration will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at Rocky Point Missionary Baptist Church

in Spring Hope. The Rev. William M. Parker will be officiating, assisted by the Rev. John Neal. Interment will be at Spring Hope Memorial Gardens in Spring Hope. Dinner will be served immediately following internment. Floralbearers and pallbearers will be family and friends. Funeral arrangements are by Toney’s Funeral Home.

John Russell MANSON — John Russell, 70, of Manson, died Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2009, at Guardian Care Nursing Facility in Henderson. Funeral services are incomplete at this time, but will be announced later by Boyd’s Funeral Service in Warrenton.

Barbara A. Terry HENDERSON — Barbara Alston Terry, 45, of 676 Beck Ave., died Monday, Dec. 28, 2009, in Duke Medical Center. The family will receive friends at the residence. Funeral arrangements will be announced by Davis-Royster Funeral Service.

Lester D. Wooten CREEDMOOR — Lester D. “Earl” Wooten, 52, of 2720 Walters Road, died Thursday, Dec. 31, 2009, at

his home. A native of Columbus, Ohio, he was the son of the late George and Mary Lou Slick Wooten. He was of the Baptist faith and was medically retired. Memorial services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Eakes Funeral Chapel in Creedmoor by the Rev. Toni Stevens. Surviving are his wife, Elley K. Wooten of the home; two daughters, Kelley Jo Martin and Amy Tilley, both of Creedmoor; three sons, Larry Roger Wooten, Austin Daniel Wooten and Joshua Adkins, all of Creedmoor; stepmother, Donna Gail Wooten of Ohio; two sisters, Mary Lou-Ellen Swartzwelder of South Point, Ohio, and Thelda Margaret Hamilton of Kentucky; two stepsisters, Rebecca Lynn Olson of Pennsylvania and Michele Marie Sammons of Kentucky; two brothers, James Edward Wooten and George Jefferson Wooten, both of Ohio; sa tepbrother, Robert E. Lege of Kentucky; and four grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a brother, Larry Wooten. Omission of flowers is requested and memorials may be sent to the University of North Carolina Lineberger Cancer Center, Campus Box 7295, Chapel Hill, N.C. 27599-7295. Arrangements are by Eakes Funeral Home of Creedmoor.

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A DAY ON WALL STREET 10,000 8,000 S

Pct. change from previous: -1.14%

High 10,555.01

2,400

Nasdaq composite

2,200 2,000 1,800 1,600

-22.13 S

Pct. change from previous: -0.97%

High 2,293.59

Standard & Poor’s 500

Bullish on photos

VGBN elects officers for 2010 OXFORD — Eddie Dickerson has been elected president of the Vance-Granville Business Network for 2010, the organization announced. VGBN also elected Virginia Clay as presidentelect, Donald Currin as treasurer and re-elected Mark Prokop as secretary. Dickerson, who is manager of the School of Graphic Arts at the Masonic Home for Children in Oxford, has 38 years of experience in the printing industry. An alumnus of the Masonic Home, Dickereson attended N.C. State University and managed print operations at Fails Management Institute and Liggett & Myers Tobacco Company. He was also owner of Watermark Graphics in Apex for 10 years. He is a member of the Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce. VGBN’s founder and immediate past president, Virginia Clay, has been a Financial Advisor with

Morgan Stanley Smith Barney in Raleigh since 2006. Clay has a master’s in Health Policy and Management from The Harvard University School of Public Health in Boston and a doctorate in Pharmacy from Campbell University in Buies Creek. She is active in the Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce, as well as the Oxford Historic Preservation Commission. In his role as Executive Director of Granville County Habitat for Humanity, Prokop works in partnership with people in need to build and renovate decent, affordable housing. Currin is a licensed plumber and owner of Solutions Plumbing Services in Oxford. The VGBN was formed in 2007. It is an area organization of executives and professionals working together to network and advance area businesses. VGBN fosters high ethical standards, implements networking events, and provides mutual support and fellowship for members who serve their communities. Business owners and professionals are invited to attend a meeting. Guests may visit three times, after

which they must submit an application for membership. In order to become a member of VGBN, candidates must promote, sell or be involved with a line business not currently represented by the existing members, not compete with another member’s major line of business in such a way as to make an existing member’s membership less productive, contribute to the growth, community and productiveness of the VGBN, and be employed in their stated line of business in a committed fashion. VGBN meets on the second and fourth Thursdays of each month from 7:30-8:30 a.m. The Jan. 14 meeting will be held at the Comfort Inn, 1000 Linden Avenue (Hwy. 96), Oxford. The Comfort Inn is just off Interstate 85 exit 204. The Hampton Inn, 385 Ruin Creek Road, Henderson (just off I-85 exit 212) will host the Jan. 28. For additional information, prospective visitors or members call or e-mail Dickerson at (919) 6033910 or e-mail edickerson@ mhc-oxford.org or call or email Virginia Clay at (800) 648-5571 or e-mail virginia. clay@smithbarney.com.

Sale of island resort to N.C. firm OK’d BEAUFORT, S.C. (AP) — A bankruptcy judge has approved the sale of most of the assets of the Daufuskie Island Resort & Breathe Spa to a North Carolina company. The Island Packet of Hilton Head reported the judge in Beaufort ruled Wednesday that the assets can go to Montauk Resorts for nearly $50 million. Daufuskie owners Gayle and Bill Dixon declared

bankruptcy nearly a year ago. The resort includes an inn, two golf courses, tennis courts, several restaurants, an equestrian center and the rights to develop more than 500 commercial and residential parcels. The 5,000-acre island is accessible only by boat. Bankruptcy Judge John Waites said he was afraid that if he did not approve Montauk’s offer, the resort might be broken up and sold

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High 1,127.64

1,200 1,100 1,000 900 800 700 600

Low 1,114.81

SOURCE: SunGard

Tourists brave the snow Thursday in New York’s Financial District to have their photos taken with the bull on the final trading day of 2009.

Dickerson to lead group; January meetings planned

-11.32 Pct. change from previous: -1%

1,400

Low 2,269.11

Dec. 31, 2009

1,115.10

7,000

Low 10,423.13

Dec. 31, 2009

AP Photo/Henny Ray Abrams

piecemeal. Waites says that would bring little benefit to creditors or the community.

Listed below are representative interdealer quotations at approximately 4 p.m. Thursday from the National Association of Securities Dealers. Prices do not include retail mark-up, mark-down or commission.

9,000

-120.46

2,269.15

Stocks

11,000

Dec. 31, 2009

Dow Jones industrials 10,428.05

Friday, January 1, 2010

MARKET ROUNDUP 123109: Market urrencies etals charts show Dow, S&P 500, and Nasdaq; stand-alone; 2c x 4 1/2 inches; 96 mm x 114 mm; staff NEW YORK (AP) — Key currency ex Aluminum - $1.0141 per lb., London Metal Editors: All figures as of: 5:25:08 PM EST Exch. change rates Thursday: close; Coppermay -$3.3083 Cathode full plate, LME. NOTE: Figures reflect market fluctuations after not match other AP content Copper $3.3275 N.Y. Merc spot Thu Dollar vs: ExchgRate PvsDay Yen 93.07 92.46 Lead - $2396.00 metric ton, London Metal Euro $1.4321 $1.4334 Exch. Pound $1.6169 $1.6069 Zinc - $1.1552 per lb., London Metal Exch. Swiss franc 1.0356 1.0370 Gold - $1100.00 Handy & Harman (only Canadian dollar 1.0473 1.0554 daily quote). Mexican peso 13.0825 13.0730 Gold - $1095.20 troy oz., NY Merc spot Thu. Metal Price PvsDay Silver - $16.920 Handy & Harman (only NY Merc Gold $1095.20 $1091.50 daily quote). Silver - $16.822 troy oz., N.Y. Merc spot NY HSBC Bank US $1095.00 $1093.00 NY Merc Silver $16.822 $16.779 Thu. Platinum -$1475.00 troy oz., N.Y. (contract). Nonferrous Platinum -$1460.00 troy oz., N.Y. Merc spot NEW YORK (AP) — Spot nonferrous metal Thu. n.q.-not quoted, n.a.-not available r-revised prices Thursday:

& M

ACS ATT Ball Corp. BankAmerica BB&T Coca-Cola CVS Duke Energy Exxon Ford General Elec. Home Depot IBM Johnson & Johnson Kennametal Krispy Kreme Louisiana Pacific Lowes Lucent Tech. Pepsico Phillip Morris Procter & Gamble Progress Energy RF Micro Dev Royal Bk Can RJR Tobacco Revlon Sprint Sun Trust Universal Verizon Comm. Vulcan Wal-Mart Wells Fargo Wendy’s Establis Delhaize

59.69 28.03 51.70 15.06 25.37 57.00 32.21 17.21 68.19 10.00 15.13 28.93 130.90 64.41 25.92 2.95 6.98 23.39 3.32 60.80 19.63 60.63 41.01 4.77 53.55 52.97 17.01 3.66 20.29 45.61 33.13 52.67 53.45 26.99 4.69 76.72

Customers back ammonia-treated beef after report By CHRISTOPHER LEONARD and MAE ANDERSON AP Business Writers

Restaurant chains and beef processors defended their products’ safety Thursday after a report that an ammonia treatment thought to kill harmful germs in meat isn’t as effective as the industry and regulators believed. The New York Times reported Thursday, citing government and industry records, that E. coli and salmonella were found dozens of times in testing for the federal school lunch program on ammoniatreated beef from Beef Products Inc. The meat was not served. Fast-food chains McDonald’s Corp. and Burger King Holdings Inc. and agricultural conglomerate Cargill Inc. all use the meat in their hamburgers. All said they’ll keep using the meat and that their products are safe. The chains and Cargill said they test the beef products they use.

A spokesman for Beef Products, based in Dakota Dunes, S.D., did not return a message Thursday seeking comment. The company uses a proprietary process that treats beef trimmings with ammonia to kill bacteria. No illnesses have been linked to Beef Products’ meat. USDA officials had endorsed Beef Products’ treatment and said it destroyed E. coli “to an undetectable

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level.” The agency trusted the method so much that in 2007, when the department began routine testing of meat used in hamburger sold to the public, it exempted Beef Products, the Times reported. The Beef Products meat has been widely used by restaurants and in products sold in grocery stores. The federal school lunch program used an estimated 5.5 million pounds last year, the Times said.

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This Sunday in...

CMYK 6A

Opinion

The Daily Dispatch

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Editorial Board: James Edwards, Publisher • jedwards@hendersondispatch.com Luke Horton, Editor • lhorton@hendersondispatch.com Don Dulin, News Editor • ddulin@hendersondispatch.com 304 S. Chestnut St./P.O. Box 908 Henderson, N.C. 27536 PHONE: 436-2700/FAX: 430-0125

Daily Meditation And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. Deuteronomy 6:7

Our Opinion

New year brings hope A new year. A new beginning. Not much really happens between 11:59 p.m. New Year’s Eve and Midnight New Year’s Day to significantly impact our lives. The clock simply rolls from one minute to the next. But there’s something about tossing out the old calendar and putting up a new one — with a fresh set of new days, new months, another new year — that just makes it all a little more dramatic. Considering the bumpy nature of 2009 — or for that matter, the entire first decade of this new millenium — it’s nice to be starting anew. Have we learned something from 2009 that will make the new year better? An AP-Gfk poll released New Year’s Eve says 82 percent of Americans are optimistic about what the new year will bring for their families. That’s despite nearly two-thirds of those polled thinking their family finances will worsen or stay about the same in 2010. And less than half of the respondents actually expect the nation’s economy to improve in this new year. Perhaps it’s our attitudes — rather than our pocketbooks — that have changed for the better. Marcia Andrews of Blairsville , Pa., was one the respondents who was questioned by the Associated Press, and she had the right idea, we think. A high school nurse whose job was eliminated by budget cuts, she spent a quarter of a million dollars converting an old house into a bed-and-breakfast. Tourism dropped off and she was forced to put the house up for sale. A loss of two jobs and a loss on the stock market to go along with it. Despite the setbacks, though, she’s expecting this year to be better than last — not only for herself but for the country at large. Her answer: “I have to be optimistic,” she said. “I always feel that I can pull out of things. ... I don’t know how it’s going to happen, but I think it will.” Perhaps it’s like that old Christmas song from the 1940s, “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.” We’ve “muddled through somehow ... Next year, all our troubles will be out of sight.” Optimism? Or just plain stupidity? Optimism, experts say, is good for us. It helps us become and stay motivated. It helps maintain momentum despite our setbacks. It helps us focus on helping our situation rather than becoming wrapped in worlds of worry. The old half-full glass vs. half-empty glass argument. We’re starting 2010 by counting most of our troubles as last year’s troubles. It’s a chance to make a new start. We’ll opting for the half-full glass, we’ve got a new calendar and we know that 2010 is going to be a better year.

Quotable “I’d rather be safe than be embarrassed. We’re very modest people but we’d be willing to go through that for security.” Airline passenger George Hyde, of Birmingham, Ala., after he and his wife went through a full body scanner at the Salt Lake City airport. “Rush appreciates your prayers and well wishes and will keep you updated via rushlimbaugh.com and on his radio program.” A spokesperson for Conservative talk show host Rush Limbaugh after he was admitted to a Hawaii hospital after suffering chest pains while on vacation.

Friday, January 1, 2010

A heaping helping of fate Ms. Rosa Mae Mead of Creeky Way thought she’d like to meet the fortune-teller who, long before this New Year’s Eve, declared: Whatever you do on New Year’s Day is what you’ll be doing for the rest of the year. She deemed such superstition, suggesting any human control over the forthcoming year, mere subterfuge costumed as truism. Yet, subsequent to her marriage exodus — following a 42-year matrimony to a lessthan-faithful Mr. Clyde Jacob Mead — that the following was affirmed: Ms. Rosa Mae, indeed, had no control over such events in her life despite her New Year’s efforts. “My New Year’s Resolution is reverting to spinsterhood,” Ms. Rosa Mae Mead grumbled, fumbling through her purse for the car keys that, unbeknownst to her, were Gina hiding beneath a pile Eaves of invoices Daily Dispatch on her paintColumnist chipped work desk. Grabbing her gray wool coat and tugging on a pair of matching knit mittens, Ms. Rosa Mae sauntered toward her car, waving farewell to the Old Year and to a co-worker, Mr. Carswell Sr., whose redchecked scarf danced in the same wintry wind that caused him to hunch over to battle its chill. The New Year’s evening arranged, Ms. Rosa Mae would accompany her never-married second cousin, Ms. Mary Belle Biggs, a retired teller for Creeky Way Bank, for an evening at the Country Cook Buffet. The cousins would devour the remaining hours of the Old Year, lifting their spirits to Auld Lang Syne while celebrating their single status. Ms. Rosa Mae forced a grin at the turn of the ignition, and drove toward home to prepare for her New Year’s evening at the Country Cook Buffet. Yet, serenity sank and fear flourished as Ms. Rosa Mae answered the ring of her antiquated rotary phone upon entering her small apartment on Ridgewood Street. “Look, he’s quite ugly. And,

seriously, I question how often the man bathes. But then again, maybe he’s just the type that sweats a lot — and he just doesn’t realize it,” sputtered second cousin Mary Belle Biggs. “But overall, he’s not so bad.” Cousin Mary Belle continued chattering defenses of Mr. Beannie, a retired butcher and bondsman — her odd and surprising selection as a date for the evening — severing the New Year’s spinster pact. Perhaps it was the persistent meow of her calico cat, Lyla, which startled Ms. Rosa Mae from her daze, for she broke her brief silence with a fiery complaint. Yet second cousin Mary Belle pleaded that she hadn’t had the company of a man in quite some time. And even if he was the likes of Mr. Beannie, her date was still a man. “The company of a man!” Ms. Rosa Mae hollered. The profane protestations that followed must be left to the reader’s imagination. Moments later, after being assured by Mary Belle that Mr. Beannie’s presence would not jeopardize her own man-free New Year’s resolution, Ms. Rosa Mae acquiesced. Had Ms. Rosa Mae honored her intuition, she’d have remained home with Lyla that night, contentedly feeding the calico cat treats while treating herself to some leftover Christmas cookies. Yet Ms. Mary Belle’s coaxing conquered her jitters, and soon Ms. Rosa Mae joined the jam of Creeky Way cronies, exchanging greetings while mumbling and heaving as she climbed the stairs to the Country Cook Buffet. Ms. Rose Mae froze. She had spied her second cousin Mary Belle, dressed in her Sunday finest and wearing Aunt Kitty’s brooch. There sat her second cousin, among other locals. And there sat the bald and big Mr. Beannie, an empty seat

beside him. “Why Rosa Mae!” squealed Ms. Mary Belle from across the dining hall of the Country Cook Buffet. Turning to Mr. Beannie, she whispered, “Such a shame, I say. After that divorce, it’s like she doesn’t even care about her appearance anymore.” Mr. Beannie nodded. “Why, I’m half-tempted to set her up a perm myself!” she continued. “It covers the bald spots, you know.” Running his coarse hand over his own smooth head, Mr. Beannie nodded once more. Ms. Rosa Mae Mead approached the couple, and the empty seat between them. “You sit there!” second cousin Mary Belle shouted, pointing towards the executioner’s chair. Mary Belle’s description of Mr. Beannie proved accurate, Ms. Rosa Mae observed, as she glowered at second cousin Mary Belle and assumed her seat. “Uglier than a mud fence,” Ms. Rosa Mae mumbled. Ms. Rosa Mae noticed a few stares from her neighbors. Shortly thereafter, Mr. Beannie recognized some old acquaintances, leaving the ladies alone — as had been originally planned. “What are you doing?” Ms. Rosa Mead seethed in Mary Belle’s direction. “What? He’s quite the gentleman!” second cousin Mary Belle argued, stealing a glance at the well-dressed, silver-haired Mr. Harvey Bass seated across the dining room. “Well, then why am I the one sitting beside him?” Ms. Rosa Mae protested. “Because, I’m expecting someone else,” second cousin Mary Bell whispered while glancing at Mr. Bass, “and I want it to look like you’re with Mr. Beannie!” As the clock nudged closer to midnight, Ms. Rosa Mae Mead accepted that despite

her efforts, she would spend this New Year’s Eve running blocker for her second cousin Mary Belle. She feared this foretold the year to come. The countdown began, couples and friends now standing by TV sets shouting down the final seconds of the Old Year, as Ms. Rosa Mead slumped, dejected, in her chair. TEN! — Ms. Rosa Mae glanced at Mr. Beannie, who cast a wickedly flirtatious wink her direction. NINE! — Ms. Rosa Mae glared at her second cousin Mary Belle, observing her disappointment as Mary Belle had come to realize Mr. Harvey Bass had another date this evening. EIGHT! — Ms. Rosa Mae squeezed her hands — palms coated in a thin film of perspiration. SEVEN! — Ms. Rosa Mae began to pray. She prayed for the approaching year. She prayed that she would not spend it running blocker for her second cousin Mary Belle with the likes of Mr. Beannie. She prayed that she would not spend the upcoming year entangled in a love affair with Mr. Beannie. She even prayed for Mr. Beannie. This prayer lasted all the way to TWO! ONE! — Perhaps it was the spirit of the moment, or perhaps the good Lord intervened, casting a love spell on the peculiar pair, Mr. Beannie and second cousin Mary Belle. For as the clock struck midnight, those two brushed aside Rosa Mae and shared a New Year’s kiss — as did most everyone in the restaurant that night. Ms. Rosa Mae Mead, on the other hand, cringed at her cousin’s kiss, as her own lips remained unoccupied — that is, until she found her way to the buffet line. As the following year unfolded, Ms. Rosa Mae Mead kept her New Year’s Resolution — she remained single. And despite Mr. Beannie’s shortcomings, Ms. Mary Belle found him to be quite the suitor. But most important, Ms. Rosa Mead was reminded on New Year’s Eve that we humans are never quite in control of our fate — even at the Country Cook Buffet. Gina Eaves is an Epsom native, a Peace College graduate and an advertising representative at The Daily Dispatch. E-mail her at geaves@hendersondispatch..com

Security asleep on the terrorist watch It was just as frightening, and in its own way even more infuriating, than the almost successful attempt to blow up Northwest Flight 253 as it approached Detroit on Christmas Day. I’m talking about the wholly unacceptable comment/ excuse offered by this country’s secretary of supposed Homeland Security, Janet Napolitano: “I think the important thing to recognize here is that once this incident occurred, everything happened as it should have.” Wh-a-a-t? No, ma’am, with all due respect, which is little or none after so flagrant a violation of national security, or rather series of flagrant violations, the important thing to recognize here is that “this incident,” as you so discreetly put it, should never have been allowed to occur in the first place. At one point, the secretary was claiming “the system worked,” a phrase sure to follow her wherever she goes. Dots went unconnected all over the world. And for that, Ms. Napolitano bears responsibility — or certainly should as secretary of Homeland Security. A more honorable official would have offered not excuses but her resignation. Even the lady’s reference to a murderous attack as “this incident” is a sad reminder that she doesn’t even have the vocabulary to describe this threat, let

alone deal with it effectively. Like her boss in the White House, Ms. Napolitano can’t bring herself to say simple phrases like Terrorist Attack, the War on Terror, and certainly not Enemy Combatant. The simple truth must never be spoken. It would be undiplomatic. But without the right words, this administration isn’t likely to adopt the right policies to combat terror. Language is thought, and shapes actions. It would be a big step up if the commander-in-chief set the example by saying outright that we’re at war, not in a lawsuit. Oh, if only Barack Obama had room on his enemies’ list for somebody besides Fox News. Instead, our president and commander-in-chief employs every conceivable slip-slide euphemism for the enemy — “violent extremists,” for example — to avoid calling Islamic terrorists Islamic terrorists. Is he fighting a war or just being politically correct? Barack Obama is supposed to be an articulate leader, yet he was reduced to saying everything but the right thing when he spoke to the nation about this terrorist attack on the United States — by one count, the most recent of 28 since September 11, 2001. We are threatened by an enemy out to hijack not just airliners but one of the world’s great religions, yet the president’s words grow hazy

whenever he refers to those out to kill as many of us as they can. As if he didn’t dare speak some home Paul truths. The Greenberg system Tribune Media worked? Services Everything happened as it should have? Let us count the ways in which nothing happened as it should have, though at this point the list of ways in which the system failed is still incomplete: The highly suspect Umar Farouk Abdulmutallah should never have been on that plane, let alone with enough explosives to blow a hole in its side, kill as many people, and do as much damage to the United States of America as the Shoe Bomber had hoped to do back in 2001. This suspect was in a database of “known or suspected terrorists,” yet he seems to have had no difficulty keeping his American visa, buying his ticket with cash, boarding a flight in Nigeria to change planes in Amsterdam, and begin his final approach. A warning from the suspect’s own father, a prominent Nigerian banker, about his son’s “radicalization and as-

sociations” wasn’t enough to prevent the attack. Though the father had alerted not just Nigerian authorities in Lagos but the U.S. Embassy there. The American embassy seems to have done its part (who says the State Department is always at fault?) by passing on the warning to every official agency it could think of: all American diplomatic missions worldwide, State Department headquarters in Washington, the National Counter-Terrorism Center.... The advance notice might as well have been in all the papers. And yet Janet Napolitano and sleepy company, including the counter-terrorism center, failed counter terrorism. If a father’s warning about his son’s radical propensities wasn’t sufficient to get our security people to act, what would have been? Would the suspect have had to board the plane with a big sign on his back proclaiming I Am a Terrorist? For now, the standard operating procedure for airline security in this country remains: Ignore the obvious. Any system that treats the little old lady from Peoria the same as a Nigerian Muslim who bought his one-way ticket with cash — after his father tried to warn the authorities about the threat he represented — has left common sense far behind. But it’s the rule: One must never, never profile the enemy. We might come to know who they are.

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Ten years ago: The arrival of 2000 saw no terrorist attacks, Y2K

Today’s Birthdays: Author J.D. Salinger is 91. Former Sen. Ernest Hollings, D-S.C., is 88. Actor Ty Hardin is 80. Documentary maker Frederick Wiseman is 80. Actor Frank Langella is 72. Rock singer-musician Country Joe McDonald is 68. Writer-comedian Don Novello is 67. Actor Rick Hurst is 64. Outgoing New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine is 63. Country singer Steve Ripley (The Tractors) is 60. Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., is 56. Rapper Grandmaster Flash is 52. Actress Ren Woods is 52. Actress Dedee Pfeiffer is 46. Actress Embeth Davidtz is 44. Country singer Brian Flynn (Flynnville Train) is 44. Actor Morris Chestnut is 41. Actor Verne Troyer is 41.

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