CMYK Oxford boy, 17, charged in thefts from vehicles Local & State, Page 8A
Eat Smart, Move More Weight Loss Challenge Local News, Page 9A
When good athletes behave badly Opinion, Page 10A Norlina’s Tyler Jackson puts up a shot in first half against Trinity. Sports, Page 1B
Kiffin leaves Tennessee coaching job for USC
Set a
Sports, Page 1B
Healthy Table
Good Taste, Page 1C
WEDNESDAY, January 13, 2010
Volume XCV, No. 11
(252) 436-2700
School break-in costly Damage caused more than value of items taken By DISPATCH STAFF
A break-in discovered Monday at Henderson Middle School, 219 Charles St., caused more damage than the value of items taken. According to a Henderson Police Department report, the break-in at the cafeteria was discovered at 6:28 a.m. Taken in the break-in were $200 in cash and miscellaneous food items. The report detailed the damage: • $400, window pane. • $200, window frames. • $1,000, two metal door frames. • $1,000, metal freezer door. • $200, two alarm panels. Police reported that they seized a chain, scissors, leather gloves and a food item. However, the report did not say whether the culprits brought the items with them or that they belonged to the school. A phone call to the police for more information was not returned by press time. Send comments to news@ hendersondispatch.com.
Index Our Hometown . . . . . 2A Business & Farm. . . . 5A Opinion . . . . . . . . . . 10A Light Side . . . . . . . . 11A Sports. . . . . . . . . . 1-4B Comics . . . . . . . . . . . 2C Classifieds. . . . . . . 3-5C
Weather Today Sunny day
High: 47 Low: 23
Thursday Ditto day
High: 53 Low: 27
Deaths Garner Annie L. Tew, 73 Henderson James A. Vincent, 90 Oxford Leonard A. Norman, 77
Obituaries, 4A
50 cents
Go north, east with school construction Speaker says board should not invest in half the county and neglect the other half By AL WHELESS Daily Dispatch Writer
Vance County Schools should concentrate “any future new construction in the northern/eastern part of the city and county,” one speaker at Monday night’s Board of Education meeting said. The speaker, Andrea Harris, a member of the Henderson-Vance Economic Development Commission, expressed hope that “we are not moving in the direction of
investing in one half of the county and neglecting the people in the other half.” She said previous spending for new elementary school construction has included: • $4.3 million for Zeb Vance. • $4.4 million for Aycock. • $4.3 million for Dabney. • $12.9 million for Clarke, which is scheduled to open on Garrett Road in August. According to Harris, the low-income elementary student
population is: • 99 percent at Carver. • 98 percent at New Hope. • 96 percent at L.B. Yancey. • 93 percent at Clark Street. Harris asked the board members to “give some attention” to capital improvements for the old Eaton-Johnson Elementary School building. In other business at the Monday night meeting, Jennifer Hall, president of the Vance County Association of Educators, asked
everyone to read with a child for half an hour on March 2 in honor of Dr. Seuss’ birthday anniversary. Members of the school board were invited to participate in Read Across America events on that day at the H. Leslie Perry Memorial Library. They were also asked to visit schools that week. Also on Monday night, two Please see SCHOOL, page 4A
City adds committees for new year By WILLIAM F. WEST Daily Dispatch Writer
joining with the county to expand the number of Community Watch organizations in the area. Danny Wright, chairman of the Vance County Board of Commissioners, said that the best way to defeat crime is to prevent crime. “No one knows more about a community than the people who live there,” he said. Chief Keith Sidwell said 911 is
The Henderson City Council on Monday approved committee leaders and members for this two-year term. The council also organized additional committees from individual panels into what is called the Committee of the Whole. In addition to the budgeting and financing functions, the 2007-09 council informally evolved the Committee of the Whole concept to include other committee functions such as public utilities, public works, the keeping of municipal records, as well as legislative and community development matters. The council will now meet as the Committee of the Whole for subjects related to those areas at the time of council work sessions or at the time of any council special meetings. Mayor Pete O’Geary will continue chairing the Committee of the Whole. Four previous council committees will remain in place as individual panels: City/Vance County Intergovernmental Relations; Public Safety; Human Resources; and Land Planning & Development.
Please see WATCH, page 4A
Please see COMMITTEES, page 3A
Daily Dispatch/ASHLEY STEVEN AYSCUE
Sheriff Peter White, Crime Stoppers chairman Rev. Frank Sossamon and Police Chief Keith Sidwell look on as Vance County commission chairman Danny Wright and Henderson Mayor Pete O’Geary sign resolutions making 2010 The Year of Community Watch during a press conference Tuesday afternoon.
‘Year of Community Watch’ begins By DAVID IRVINE Daily Dispatch Writer
On Tuesday, community leaders designated 2010 The Year of Community Watch in Henderson and Vance County. Meeting in the Vance County Commissioners’ meeting room, representatives of the city, the county, law enforcement, Crime Stoppers and other citizens’ organizations laid out the purpose and plans for the
special designation. In introductory comments, Henderson-Vance Crime Stoppers President Frank Sossamon emphasized the importance of citizen involvement with law enforcement officers to prevent crime. He added that Community Watch organizations not only help prevent crime but also enrich their communities. Henderson Mayor Pete O’Geary expressed his pleasure in
Car break-ins at community college target GPS devices By DISPATCH STAFF
Details, 3A
www.hendersondispatch.com
Thieves Monday night navigated their way into two vehicles parked at Vance-Granville Community College and stole GPS units. According to Vance County Sheriff’s Office reports: • Mark Carlton Griffin, 48, of 1629 Tally Ho Road, Oxford, reported that a Garmin navigation unit was stolen from his 2002 Pontiac. The unit was valued at $300. Damage to a driver-side window was estimated at $300. The crime occurred about 8:40. • Benjamin Thomas Pula, 22, of 234 Patriots Pointe Drive,
Hillsborough, also reported that a Garmin GPS unit was stolen from his 1998 Honda about 8:30 p.m. A Kenwood AM/FM/CD player valued at $400 was also taken. Damage to a driver-side window was estimated at $250. VGCC President Randy Parker said Tuesday that the college believes the break-ins were isolated events targeting GPS units since other items in the vehicles were not taken. Even so, he said staff and students would be cautioned about leaving items in plain sight in their vehicles. Send comments to news@hendersondispatch.com.
Crossroads royalty
Daily Dispatch/EARL KING
Crossroads Christian School finally crowned its homecoming king and queen Monday night following a boys’ basketball game with Norlina Christian School. Reigning are Elizabeth McAuslan and Jacob Campbell. The ceremony had been planned for Jan. 8 but was cancelled because of inclement weather.