The Daily Dispatch- Tuesday, January 26, 2010 by The Daily Dispatch

CMYK Obama plans to help middle class

Polls show fears on health care overhaul

Norlina girls win, boys lose

Nation, Page 6A

Nation & World, Page 7A

Sports, Page 1B TUESDAY, January 26, 2010

Volume XCVI, No. 21

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Man arrested in Oxford murder Nephew accused of killing uncle By WILLIAM F. WEST Daily Dispatch Writer

OXFORD — A 26-year-old man wanted for the slaying of his uncle was being held without bond Monday evening in the Granville County

Council holds off on truck stops

Jail after being arrested earlier in the day in Winston-Salem, Oxford Police Chief John Wolford said. Michael S. Wright is scheduled to appear in court Feb. 8 on a charge of first-degree murder of Kirk Douglas Wright Sr., 54, Wolford said.

Investigators received a tip Monday morning regarding the possible whereabouts of Michael S. Wright and, with the help of a Winston-Salem Police Department tactical team, apprehended him at a residence, Wolford said. Wolford said that a warrant for the arrest of Michael S. Wright was obtained Friday. Oxford Police Department detectives and the State

Bureau of Investigation (SBI) went to a number of cities in the RaleighDurham and Triad areas looking for Michael S. Wright after having talked to witnesses, Wolford added. Wolford over the weekend said Michael S. Wright is a felon who had recently gotten out of prison, who has an extensive criminal history

Michael Wright

Please see MURDER, page 3A

Couple honored with award

By WILLIAM F. WEST Daily Dispatch Writer

The Henderson City Council voted Monday evening to send a proposed text amendment to the zoning ordinance allowing truck stops in industrial districts back to the Planning Board for additional study. The council did so after hearing citizen concerns and opposition. Additionally, the council put a moratorium on any truck stops until the matter is more thoroughly examined. The council’s decision came after a statement by Tom Stevenson, who owns the Chex Truck World off Interstate 85 at Flemingtown Road in northeastern Vance County. Stevenson, while making clear he is not opposed to another truck stop, said, “I would just to hate to see us sort of blindly go into this. I think we need to do more homework if I understand what I read here.” Stevenson cited the extensive federal safety regulations on his business while Please see TRUCKS, page 3A

Index

Daily Dispatch/ASHLEY STEVEN AYSCUE

Doan and Bette Laursen hug family members assembled on the stage as they are recognized as winners of the John Penn Award during the Granville County Chamber of Commerce’s annual meeting and banquet Monday night at Vance-Granville Community College.

Crisco to speak at Senate forum From STAFF REPORTS

Our Hometown . . . . . 2A Business & Farm. . . . 5A Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . 8A Light Side . . . . . . . . . 9A Sports. . . . . . . . . . 1-4B Comics . . . . . . . . . . . 5B Classifieds. . . . . . . 6-8B

Weather Today Sunny

High: 48 Low: 26

Wednesday Sunny

High: 47 Low: 29

Details, 3A

Deaths Henderson Charlie W. Walker Jr., 69 Morehead City Adkin A. Stainback, 90 Warrenton Edward Seward, 38

Obituaries, 4A

State Commerce Secretary Keith Crisco tops a list of three officials scheduled to speak Thursday at the annual state Senate District 7 public forum at Vance-Granville Community College’s main campus. The gathering is set for 10 a.m.-2 p.m. and is titled, “Job Creation and Economic Growth: Moving Past the Recession.” The gathering will

be in the civic center of VanceGranville, which is off the Interstate 85/Poplar Creek Road interchange. On the Crisco program with Crisco are N.C. Community College System President Scott Ralls and N.C. Rural Economic Development Center President Billy Hall.

The Rural Center helps develop economic strategies to improve the quality of life in the state. District 7, which is comprised of Vance, Granville, Warren and Franklin counties, is represented by Doug Berger, D-Franklin. Joining Berger in hosting the gathering will be state Reps. Lucy Allen, also D-Franklin, and Michael Wray, D-Northampton. There is no cost to attend and lunch will be provided.

Arrests made in shooting, store theft By AL WHELESS Daily Dispatch Writer

On Saturday afternoon, Henderson Police arrested a 19-year-old suspect in a Dec. 5 shooting incident at 720 Highland Ave. Tamil Robinson of 801 Water St. was accused of firing a bullet that entered the home of Dwanye Hicks and grazed his right arm. Charges against Robinson include: • Assault with a deadly weapon, inflicting serious injury. • Discharging a weapon into an occupied dwelling. • Going armed to the terror of the people. • Possession of a handgun by a minor.

Bond for Robinson was set at $85,000. He was placed in the Vance County Jail. A preliminary hearing was scheduled for Feb. 15 in District Court.

Three charged in larceny About $1,000 worth of merchandise was stolen from Wal-Mart Sunday night, and Henderson Police arrested three suspects in a nearby traffic stop on North Cooper Drive. Charged with felony possession of stolen goods were: • Jerome Manson, 19, of 179 Canthran Welbron Lane He was listed by police as being released from the State Department of Corrections on Sept. 28 after serving an eight-month prison sentence for conviction of felony larceny

from a person. • Antoine Clack, 19, of 683 Vance St. • Mark Crudup, 17, of 715 Highland Ave. He was listed by police as being on 24-month probation after his conviction on June 16 of possession of a Schedule VI Controlled Substance. Bonds for Manson, Clack and Crudup were each set Monday morning at $10,000. They were placed in the Vance County Jail. A preliminary hearing was scheduled for Feb. 22 in District Court. Investigators said items taken from Wal-Mart included two computer lap tops, a Guitar Hero game and Wii Controllers. Contact the writer at awheless@ hendersondispatch.com.

First time John Penn Award given to a couple By AL WHELESS Daily Dispatch Writer

The Granville County Chamber of Commerce’s prestigious John Penn Award was given Monday night to the husband-and-wife team of Doan and Bette Laursen. “Thank you so very much,” Bette told the crowd gathered in the civic center at Vance-Granville Community. The occasion was the annual meeting and banquet that celebrated the Chamber’s 68th anniversary. “I am just overwhelmed right now, and to have family here with us makes it more than I can bear,” Bette said. “Thank you.” Doan called himself “almost speechless, but not quite. It is such an honor to be given this award, and to be here with the whole family.” He also said: “If I could borrow a phrase I saw on a sign, I was not born in Granville County, but ran here as fast as I could. “I have never been happier in my whole life than I am right now.” Last year’s winner of the Penn Award was Former State Rep. Stan Fox. “I, as well as their biological children, call these people ‘Mom’ and ‘Dad’,” Harry Mills said before presenting the Chamber’s elite symbol of achievement and selflessness to the Laursens. “The real strength of these people is as a team,” Mills told the large audience seated at numerous tables. “Together, they invite Leadership Granville and its facilitators for a farm tour and for dinner with their famous Please see AWARD, page 3A

The Daily Dispatch

Mark It Down Today Spay/neuter clinic — Citizens for Animal Protection is sponsoring a cat an dog spay/neuter clinic in Warrenton. Animals residing in a home in Warren County or at a Littleton address are eligible. Cost is $40 for cats and $60 to $85 for dogs (limit two pets per family). For more information or for an appointment, call SNAP-NC at (919) 783-7627. NAACP meeting — The monthly meeting of the NAACP will be held at 7 p.m. at the Gateway Center, 314 S. Garnett St., Henderson. Representatives from the Census Bureau and the Franklin, Granville, Vance and Warren weatherization organizations will speak about their programs.

Wednesday Stroke support group — The Maria Parham Medical Center Stroke Support Group will meet from 3 to 4:30 p.m. in the Center for Rehab Conference Room of the Brodie Waddill Building at Maria Parham Medical Center. The group follows the National Stroke Association Discovery Circles program, a nationally recognized stroke support group format. Stroke survivors, families, friends and caregivers are invited to attend. Please contact Liz Karan at 436-1604 with any questions. Weed Control Council — The Lake Gaston Weed Control Council will meet at 7 p.m. at the Roanoke-Wildwood Volunteer Fire Department on Lizard Creek Road at the corner of Quail Ridge.

Thursday Forum on census — The Nu Chi Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Inc. will sponsor a forum entitled “Be Counted: The Importance of American Participation in the 2010 Census” at the Granville County Commissioners’ meeting room, 141 Williamsboro St., Oxford at 6:30 p.m. The panel will include N.C. Rep. James Crawford, member of the Granville County Complete Count Committee and a representative from the Census Bureau. Flag presentation — The Soul City Volunteer Fire Department, 103 Crescent Dr., will be presented with U.S. and North Carolina flags by N.C. Sen. Doug Berger and N.C. Rep. Michael W. Wray at 4 p.m. Citizens, civic leaders and public officials in Franklin, Granville, Vance and Warren counties are invited to attend. Chess Club — The Henderson/Vance Chess Club, affiliated with the U. S. Chess Federation, meets at the First United Methodist Church from 6 to 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). Pancake supper — A pancake supper will be held in Crossroads Christian School’s Cafetorium from 3-7 p.m. Tickets are $6 in advance, $7 at the door. Each plate includes sausage and drink. Eat in or take out. Call (252) 431-1333 for tickets. The school is located at 583 Old County Home Road. Lions Club —The Henderson Lions Club will meet at 6:30 p.m. at the Henderson Country Club. The guest speaker will be Dr. John Owens, First Vice District Governor-Elect. The Lions Club’s mission is to help the hearing and visually impaired. If you have questions or would like to become a member, please contact Randy Oxendine at oxendine@nc.rr.com. Community watch — The Henderson/Vance Community Watch Association will hold an organizational meeting at 7 p.m. in the auditorium at Maria Parham Medical Center. Everyone is invited to attend that is involved in a community watch or is interested in becoming involved in a community watch. For more information, please contact Lt. Irvin Robinson at (252) 438-4141 or Rev. Frank Sossamon at (252) 438-3322.

Friday Blood drive — The American Red Cross will sponsor a blood drive at Creedmoor United Methodist Church from 1:30 to 6 p.m. Registration deadline — Granville Health System will sponsor a health seminar on “Breast Cancer and Stereotactic Biopsy” on Feb. 2 from 6-7 p.m. in the South Campus Meeting Room 133 at Vance-Granville Community College’s South Campus, 1547 South Campus Drive, Creedmoor. Dr. Michael Wegener will be the guest speaker. A free dinner will be served at 6 p.m. To reserve a seat, please call (919) 6903447 or email sgmealandmore@granvillemedical.com by today and leave your name, daytime phone number, and the number of people in your party (please include their names). Weight loss group — TOWN (Take Off Weight Now), a non-profit weight loss group, will meet at Aycock Recreation Center at 11:30 a.m. Everyone is invited to attend.

Saturday Blood drive — The American Red Cross will sponsor a blood drive at St. James Catholic Church in Henderson from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Archaeology Day — The Piedmont North Carolina Chapter of the Authentic Artifacts Collectors Association (www. theaaca.com) will sponsor its annual Archaeology Day from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Warren County Memorial Library in Warrenton. The event is free and open to the public. There will be regional displays of ancient Indian artifacts, and discussions and identification of relics found in the region. For more information, contact Cliff Jackson at (252) 257-2654.

Our Hometown

Nationally known civil rights advocate visits Pinkston Street Elementary Ernest Johnson, Ph.D., a nationally known civil rights advocate and motivational speaker to young people, came to Pinkston Street Elementary School on Jan. 15 to bring a very special message to students. Johnson led two approximately 90-minute sessions with fifth-grade students at the school focusing on the use of hip hop music to emphasize to the youths that they should be responsible, good citizens in school and in their personal lives. Johnson used the style of music that most young people like today to get across the message that they can succeed in life and make the right choices. He showed videos to the students featuring musical artists and their hip hop, rap, soul, rhythm and blues, jazz and rock ‘n roll music. All of the videos had positive messages and showed the influence of African Americans who have played major roles in the nation’s history. He also brought African instruments, including handmade drums, a finger piano, and shakers made from nuts and gourds to play with his message. “I always try to tap into the musical interests of the students when I talk with them,” Johnson said before the start of the second session. “Young people really love music, and so I incorporate it into my sessions to keep their interest and to get them involved.” Johnson even gave the students a brief history of hip hop music as it has evolved from the 1600s and how other types of music have influenced the genre. His visit to the school was part of the school’s observance and celebration of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday, and

Ernest Johnson plays an instrument to make a point in his presentation to Pinkston Street Elementary School students. served as a way to stress the importance of King’s life and accomplishments. As in all of his visits in schools across the United States, Johnson stressed to the Pinkston Street students that they should live by his “PEACE Keepers’ Pledge.” PEACE is an acronym for People Excelling in Academic and Character Education and asks students to promise to follow certain rules. During the sessions, Johnson led students and teachers in reciting the pledge and gave each student a copy to keep as his/her own. To follow the teachings of King, the “PEACE Keepers’ Pledge” states: “I promise to promote peace by using my talents in the war against violence and the problems caused by low expectation and the lack of a good education. I recognize that in order to keep my promise I must be a great student, who settles for nothing less than doing my best. I promise to have the highest expectations for myself, my family and my friends.” Johnson had teachers join in the pledge and promise students “to help

Correction The Vance County Sunday School Convention Choir will practice at St. James Baptist Church on Old Oxford Road at 7 p.m. on Thursday. A representative from each church is requested

to participate. The date for the practice was incorrectly printed in Saturday’s Faith section. For more information, call Patricia Ellis at (252) 915-7462 or Mark Ellis at (252) 915-7068.

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other adults by obeying their rules; and resisting the pressure to use alcohol, cigarettes or drugs and to report children who do. In each of the sessions, Johnson also had students divided into four groups. During part of their time, he asked the groups to discuss famous African-American leaders and their contributions and for each student to learn one fact about one of the leaders. The students in their groups learned about such famous African Americans as George Washington Carver, Harriet Tubman, Rosa Parks, Malcolm X, Maya Angelou, Thurgood Marshall, Matthew Henson, Jackie Robinson, Oprah Winfrey, Medgar Evers and Charles Drew.

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you make these promises real in your life so that you can make your dreams come true.” Johnson stressed to the students that he promotes the pledge and its promises in memory of King and every child whose life was cut short because of violence, drugs, racism or the lack of a good education. In committing to the pledge, Johnson has students promise to follow rules including making sure they understand homework assignments before leaving the school; doing homework and study at least two hours every day with the television and music turned off to concentrate on making As and Bs in courses; reading a new book every week and reading part of it out aloud to someone; getting a city library card so that they can get books on the weekend; using an attitude of love rather than anger to solve conflicts; forgiving people who anger them and never using anger to “get even” with anyone; doing some type of physical exercise each day to keep their minds and bodies strong; respecting the authority of their parents, teachers and

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Online Calendar An online calendar of community events is available on our Web site at hendersondispatch.com. We invite you to post your upcoming events on the Web site calendar. To post an event, just click on the word “Calendar” in the gray bar at the top of the home page and follow the instructions for posting an event. If you would also like your event considered for publication in the daily “Mark It Down” calendar that appears on this page, please also submit the information via e-mail to communitynews@hendersondispatch.com.

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From Page One

The Daily Dispatch

FIVE-DAY FORECAST FOR HENDERSON TODAY

TONIGHT

WEDNESDAY

Mostly Sunny

Clear

Sunny

48Âş

26Âş

47Âş 29Âş

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

Mostly Sunny

Scat'd Rain

Isolated Rain

56Âş 36Âş

40Âş 34Âş

39Âş 19Âş

Almanac

Sun and Moon

Temperature

Sunrise today . . . . . Sunset tonight . . . . Moonrise today . . . Moonset today . . . . Sunrise tomorrow . Sunset tomorrow . . Moonrise tomorrow Moonset tomorrow .

Raleigh -Durham through 6 p.m. yest. High . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66 Low . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56 Normal High . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50 Normal Low . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30 Record High . . . . . . . . .78 in 1950 Record Low . . . . . . . . . .8 in 1963

.7:19 .5:34 .1:35 .3:56 .7:18 .5:35 .2:41 .4:58

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

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Precipitation Yesterday . . . . . . . . . Month to date . . . . . . Normal month to date Year to date . . . . . . . . Normal year to date .

... ... .. ... ...

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.0.86" .3.18" .3.24" .3.18" .3.24"

Full 1/30

New 2/13

Last 2/5

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Lake Levels Elevation in feet above sea level. Data as of 7 a.m. yesterday. Lake Gaston Kerr

24-Hr. Lake Capacity Yest. Change Jordan 240 219.4 +0.4 Neuse Falls 264 253.8 +0.4

24-Hr. Capacity Yest. Change 203 199.1 -0.3 320 302.3 +0.4

Regional Weather Henderson 48/26

Winston-Salem Durham 49/27 46/25 Asheville 40/24

Rocky Mt. 50/27

Greensboro 47/26 Raleigh 50/27 Charlotte 50/26

Fayetteville 52/29

Shown is todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s weather. Temperatures are todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s highs and tonightâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lows.

Cape Hatteras 50/35

Wilmington 56/33

Regional Cities Today

Today

Wed.

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

40/24 32/19 47/26 48/27 46/27 49/26 49/27 51/32 35/21 52/29 51/29 47/26 53/30 54/30 42/25

47/26 54/27 53/28 54/29 54/32 52/35 50/34 54/29 50/27 48/29 49/27 50/27 50/28 56/33 46/25

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

47/25 37/26 47/29 48/29 54/34 44/28 48/29 47/31 43/27 50/31 50/31 47/29 50/32 50/36 48/26

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

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

47/29 51/36 50/32 52/31 52/35 50/38 49/38 50/35 48/30 47/29 47/29 48/30 49/30 52/35 46/28

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

H H

Stationary Front

Warm Front

Stevenson said he has round-the-clock security looking for leaks. â&#x20AC;&#x153;And last month we found one,â&#x20AC;? he said. He said that he could not get the trucker to move the leaky rig off the dirt and onto the pavement and that the driver made more of a mess using a special pump to transfer fuel into another truckerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rig. The next day, Stevenson said, a backhoe had to be brought in â&#x20AC;&#x153;and it was six barrels of polluted soil.â&#x20AC;? Stevenson said that the federal government has essentially prohibited cities from having truck stops now because of the air and noise pollution and that, in some northern cities, a rig can only be allowed to idle 20 minutes before having to

Low Pressure

be shut down. Stevensonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s remarks were preceded by comments by former Councilwoman Lynn Harper and local governmental watchdog Lewis Edwards. The two not only cited environmental concerns, but urged waiting because of the proposed comprehensive plan. A draft of the plan is in the hands of the Planning Board for review and recommendation to the council. The council additionally received a letter of opposition from former Councilwoman Elissa Yount, who called for the proposed text amendment to be put â&#x20AC;&#x153;into the deep freezeâ&#x20AC;? until the draft of the comprehensive plan is studied carefully and questioned by the public. The Planning Board at a

Dec. 7 meeting and without dissent recommended the text amendment. Councilman Michael Rainey, who doubles as the Planning Board chairman, said Monday evening that, in defense of the Planning Board, â&#x20AC;&#x153;We didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have all this information presented to us. If we had, we wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have voted unanimously like this says in the minutes here.â&#x20AC;? Coffey made the motion, which was seconded by Councilwoman Mary Evans, to delay action. The motion to table additionally applies to a proposed text amendment allowing freight terminals. Councilman Garry Daeke was 10 minutes late for the meeting, but agreed more study is needed.

to the man that too few of you have come to appreciate.â&#x20AC;? Doan has given time and leadership across Granville County, and was president of the Chamber in its formative years, according to Mills. He informed the crowd of some of Doanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s contributions and accomplishments: â&#x20AC;˘ Former board-member and president of the Oxford Kiwanis Club. â&#x20AC;˘ On the steering committee for Leadership Granville. â&#x20AC;˘ â&#x20AC;&#x153;A stalwartâ&#x20AC;? in Oxford United Methodist Church, leading many committees and spending many hours serving. â&#x20AC;˘ Doan and his good friend, Dr. John Hardy, developed the Churchâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;Helping Hands Ministry.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;˘ As missionaries for their faith and the Red

Cross, they have answered many calls for service where the needs of people are critical. Two Outstanding Community Volunteer awards were also presented Monday night. Louise Dorton, retired chief librarian of Granville County, gave the first to Pat Kiesow, the wife of former Oxford Commissioner Paul Kiesow. He is a past winner of the John Penn Award. Harry Coleman, editor and publisher of The Butner-Creedmoor News, handed the second Oustanding Community Volunteer Award over to Tommy Keith. The guest speaker at the banquet was Clebe McClary, who was a Marine Corps lieutenant with the 1st Recon Platoon in Vietnam from 1967 to 1968.

Oxford since the Nov. 29 shooting of 77-year-old Frank J. Branch. No one has been charged in connection

with the death of Branch. The death of Branch was the first homicide in Oxford in more than four years.

AWARD, from page one Goose River Chile every year,â&#x20AC;? Mills said. He called the Laursensâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; home â&#x20AC;&#x153;a safe haven for anyone in need, or for just a comfortable evening of quiet and good company.â&#x20AC;? Recipients are chosen on the basis of contributions to their community. Until 1996, the honor was known as the Citizenship Award for about 15 years. F.O. Finch, the recognitions chairman for the Chamber, said Monday night was the first time a couple had won the John Penn Award. Mills described Bette as â&#x20AC;&#x153;the best of what farm life ought to be.â&#x20AC;? He said she is the chief executive officer of Goose River Farm, where she raises Black Angus Cattle. The president of the North Carolina Angus Association has named Bette

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Mama Angusâ&#x20AC;? because of her state-wide influence and leadership in the industry, Mills explained. He said Bette has given leadership for decades in Oxford United Methodist Church, and has taught chemistry and physics in Granville County â&#x20AC;&#x153;over and above the call of duty, mentoring and loving many of your children.â&#x20AC;? Besides her careers of teacher, church-worker, housewife, mother and cattle farmer, Mills said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Bette has expanded her horizons even further. She is now and editor and publisher of books.â&#x20AC;? When it came to describing the co-winner, Mills said â&#x20AC;&#x153;Most of the folks in this room know Doan Laursen as a card-carrying, certifiable nut. At risk to my own reputation, I will testify that there is depth

MURDER, from page one and who should be considered armed and potentially violent. N.C. Department of Correction records show Michael S. Wright having been convicted on drug charges and for driving while impaired. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are confident this was not a random act of violence in an otherwise relatively peaceful neighborhood,â&#x20AC;? Wolford said. The body of Kirk Douglas Wright Sr., of 611 Granville

St., was found Wednesday in a makeshift grave in a wooded area behind an abandoned house at the end of Fourth Street after he was reported missing. Preliminary reports from the N.C. Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Chapel Hill indicated asphyxiation to be the primary cause of death, Wolford said. Wolford has not given a motive for the homicide, which is the second in

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Cold Front

the same time facing an inability to keep drivers from coming on the premises. Stevenson was supported by Councilwoman Sara Coffey, herself a former trucker. Coffey cited problems with prostitution at truck stops and added, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m sure Henderson will be no different.â&#x20AC;? And Coffey said she knows drugs go through truck stops. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We do not need anything else in the city of Henderson bringing drugs in here,â&#x20AC;? she added. Stevenson focused on the impact on the environment, saying that truckers overfill their fuel tanks and that fuel tanks leak. These are particular concerns because the Chex truck stop is four miles from John H. Kerr Reservoir, Stevenson said.

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TRUCKS, from page one

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Todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s National Map

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High Pressure

SPA PAY/ NEUTER

Yesterdayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s National Extremes High: 85Â° in Fort Myers, Fla. Low: -14Â° in Durango, Colo.

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Est. Aug. 12, 1914 304 S. Chestnut St. P.O. Box 908 Henderson, N.C. 27536

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Local News

The Daily Dispatch

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Deaths was preceded in death by one daughter, Julia Ann Walker; and one son, Charlie William “Chuck” Walker, III. The family will receive friends Tuesday night from 7 until 8:30 at the J.M. White Funeral Home. At other times they will be at the home at 4875 Glebe Road. Serving as active pallbearers will be Thomas Hester, J.T. Smith, Chris Curl, Rodney Stainback, Ronnie Stainback, Lee Twisdale, Robert Jackson, Jerry Poythress and Lloyd Washburn. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Tabernacle United Methodist Church, c/o Sylvia Anderson, P.O. Box 100, Townsville, N.C., 27584. Arrangements are by J.M. White Funeral Home. Paid Obituary

County, company disagree on appraisal of property By AL WHELESS Daily Dispatch Writer

Possibly later this year, attorneys and officials for Vance County and Pacific Coast Feather will appear before the North Carolina Property Tax Commission for a ruling on the plant’s monetary value in 2009. Vance underwent a property revaluation in 2008. The company’s appeal to the State commission followed the refusal by the Vance Board of Equalization and Review to change the county’s appraisal of Pacific Coast Feather’s property on Ross Mill Road. The manufacturing and distribution plant was once owned by Royal Home Fashions. According to Danny Wright, chairman of the Board of Commissioners

and its Governmental Committee, Pacific Coast Feather did not have its own appraisal when the E&R Board made a decision. It does now. Whatever number the State board comes up with — the county says $10,061,400 and the company proposes $6,174,500 — will be the basis for determining Pacific Coast Feather’s property tax bill for last year. On Friday, the Governmental Committee — consisting of three Vance commissioners — agreed to recommend that its full board direct County Attorney Jonathan S. Care to enter into negotiations with Pacific Coast Feather to attempt to reach a settlement that would avoid going to the State commission.

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If the value is chosen by the State board, the amount will be multiplied by Vance’s property tax rate of 78.2 cents per $100 valuation to determine the company’s tax bills from the county and the city for 2009. During the second half of last year, the machinery at Pacific Coast Feather’s current complex — which contains 500,000 square feet of space — began making and distributing natural and synthetic-fill pillows, comforters, feather beds and fiber beds. Since moving to its quarters on Ross Mill Road, Pacific Coast Feather has added at least 250 more employees. About 275 people had already been working at its former 370,000-square-foot site on Raleigh Road.

MOREHEAD CITY — Adkin A. “Sam” Stainback, 90, of Morehead City, died Jan. 25, 2010, at Carteret General Hospital. He was born and reared in Vance County. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II and received a Purple Heart and Bronze Star while in the European Theater. He began his career at Motor Sales in Henderson. For 15 years, he drove a bus for D.C. Transit and Trailways in Washington, D.C. His first retirement was from a General Motors dealership in Tarboro. He later retired from Montgomery Ward in Rocky Mount and after moving to Morehead City, he began his last career with Kittrell Auto Parts.

RALEIGH (AP) — A new analysis of North Carolina voter registrations shows it has been a decade of change for the state’s electorate. Numbers released Monday by elections watchdog Democracy North Carolina shows that the number of independent voters in the state has jumped by 83 percent since 2000. By comparison, the number of registered Democrats has grown by only 11 percent while the number of Republicans has grown by 16 percent.

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Skip Satterwhite

Account Executive

Phone: 252-438-8165 Account Executive Fax: 252-438-6640

He was a member of First Baptist Church in Morehead City and served on the Transportation Committee for many years. Services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Munden Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Charles Royal officiating. Interment will follow at Gethsemane Memorial Park. He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Hilda Stainback of Morehead City; daughter, Deborah S. Butler of Morehead City; two sons, Donald F. Stainback of Oxford and Michael K. Stainback of Raleigh; a brother, Brady T. Stainback of Louisburg; and six grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Adkin A. Stainback Sr. and Elsie Watkins Stainback; and a sister, Ethleen S. Brown. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at Munden Funeral Home. Flowers are welcome, or memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church Transportation Fund, 810 Bridges St., Morehead City, N.C., 28557. Arrangements are by Munden Funeral Home, Morehead City.

Numbers show changing North Carolina electorate There are now more than 6 million registered voters in North Carolina, an increase of nearly 1.2 million from 10 years ago. Onslow County showed the largest increase, up 63 percent. The numbers also show a 57 percent increase among non-white voters, compared with a 15 percent increase among whites. In Vance County, the

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report shows that 91 percent of the county’s voting age population is registered to vote — a 31 percent increase in registered voters over the past decade. Seventy-three percent of registered voters are Democrats, while 14 percent are Republican. Thirteen percent are independent, which is a 123 percent increase since 2000.

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WARRENTON — Edward Seward, 38, of 369 Snow Hill Road, Warrenton, died Thursday, Jan. 21, 2010, at Maria Parham Medical Center in Henderson. Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Boyd’s Funeral Service Chapel in Warrenton. The Rev. Dr. James T. Roberson will officiate and burial will follow in Burchette Chapel United Church of Christ Cemetery in Warrenton. He is survived by his children, JaQuan Cheek, Gabrielle Seward, Infiniti Seward, Sharode Seward, Saveyon Alston, Beyonce’ Seward, Kah’mya Boyd, Zah’nya Boyd and Ethan Seward, all of Warren County; his mother, Margaret Seward Milam of the home; his father, Richard Jordan Jr. of Norristown, Pa.; two sisters, Lakeisha Milam of the home and Latonya Milam of Vaughan; three brothers, Willard Seward of Philadelphia, Pa., Timothy Jiggetts of Raleigh and Shawn Dortch of Richmond, Va.; two step-sisters, Shirley Parker and Gaynell Alicea of Norristown, Pa.; and

six step-brothers, Bobby Hampton, Khalil Jordan, Derrick Jordan, Robert Jordan, Christian Jordan, Sharif Jordan of Norristown, Pa. The body will be on view today from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Boyd’s Funeral Service Chapel in Warrenton. Professional services are by Boyd’s Funeral Service in Warrenton.

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HENDERSON — Charlie William “Billy” Walker Jr., age 69, a resident of 4875 Glebe Road, died Sunday, January 24, 2010, at Durham Regional Hospital. Born on February 11, 1940, in Vance County, he was the son of the late Charlie William Walker Sr. and Frankie Riggan Walker. Charlie was a graduate of Townsville High School. He was a Veteran of the United States Army, and was a retired farmer. He was also retired from Mack Trucks Inc. in Arlington, Texas, and at the time of his death, he was employed with Stainback Farms in Middleburg. Charlie was a lifelong member of Tabernacle United Methodist Church. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m.

Wednesday at Tabernacle United Methodist Church by the Rev. Mark Clark and the Rev. Henry Lovelace. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. He is survived by his wife, Beverly Jaynes Walker of the home; two foster children, Allie Damian-Ramirez and Braxston Damian-Ramirez of the home; one sister, Betty W. Hester and husband, Ralph T. Hester of Henderson; two brothers, Clifton J. Walker and John E. Walker of Henderson; his aunt, Flora Riggan Shotwell and husband, Paul Shotwell of Stovall; his nieces, Susan H. Smith and husband, J.T. Smith and their children, Walker and Catherine Smith of Charlotte, Elizabeth (Beth) Walker, and Amanda Walker of Henderson; and his nephew, Thomas Hester of Cape Coral, Fla. He

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PUBLIC NOTICE

KERR-TAR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARD INVESTMENT ACT COMPREHENSIVE YOUTH SERVICES REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS • www.westerinsurance.com

ne: 252-438-8165 • Fax: 252-438-6640 WORKFORCE Cell: 919-522-3825

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The Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments Workforce Development Board announces the release of ‘Request for Proposals’ to provide employment and training services in the areas of Caswell, Franklin, Granville, Person, Vance, and Warren Counties. All services shall be provided under the Workforce Investment Act-JobLink Career System for Program Year 2010- July 1, 2010-June 30, 2011. A Bidders Conference will be held on Monday, February 1, 2010, 2:30 p.m. at the City of Oxford Public Works Building, 227 W. McClanahan Street, Oxford N.C., for potential bidders to present questions and receive additional information. Interested parties should contact Vincent Gilreath at (252)436-2040 or vgilreath@kerrtarcog.org or write Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments WDB, P.O. Box 709, Henderson, N.C. 27536 to request a RFP, or to be added to the mailing list. Completed proposals in response to the RFP must be submitted by 12:00 noon on Monday, February 22, 2010.

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Business & State

The Daily Dispatch

Obama joins White House effort to boost Bernanke WASHINGTON (AP) — Bolstered by a White House lobbying effort that included the president, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke’s chances at a second four-year term improved Monday, calming a stock market that had grown anxious over the uncertainty of his support. President Barack Obama championed Bernanke in Bernanke an interview on Monday as his aides worked the phones to ensure the Fed chairman is confirmed by the Senate. “He has my strongest support. I think he’s done a good job,” Obama told ABC News. “What we need is somebody at the Federal Reserve who can make sure that the progress that we’ve made in stabilizing

over the economy, joblessness and bank bailouts. The Federal Reserve, with its power to set interest rates that influence economic activity, employment and inflation, wields extraordinary influence over the lives of millions of Americans. It also plays a crucial role as the country’s lender of last resort when banks can’t get their money elsewhere. Bernanke still can count on several “no” votes when the Senate takes up his confirmation. But after a surge of opposition late last week, and with many senators still undecided, the tide appeared to be turning in his favor. Amid the news, the Dow Jones industrial average rose 24 points after losing 552 points over the previous trading days.

the economy continues. I think Bernanke is the best person for that job,” the president said. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev.,

expects a confirmation vote by the end of the week, his spokesman said. David Axelrod, a top White House adviser, said Bernanke has the votes to keep his job. Bernanke’s brightening prospects provided the White House with a rare bit of good news amid political upheaval caused by simmering public anger

Charged contractors had checkered military pasts RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A pair of former Blackwater contractors charged with murdering two people in Afghanistan had checkered pasts with the military before getting hired to work overseas, according to service records disclosed in recent U.S. court hearings. The troubled backgrounds of the two men — including instances of violence, drug use and disregard for authority — are a first sign that Xe, the company formerly known as Blackwater, was staffing its war-zone work force with contractors who might not be suited for the job. The military typically keeps its detailed service records confidential. That makes it difficult to verify the conventional perception that Xe has long filled its rosters with decorated special forces personnel. In the cases of Chris Drotleff and Justin Cannon, prosecutors brought up their records while arguing at hearings this month that both men should be jailed pending their trials. Drotleff’s three-year service in the Marines ended with an other-than-honorable discharge in 2001 and a military record that included offenses for seven unauthorized absences, two failures to obey an order, assault, disrespect toward a noncommissioned officer and falsely altering a military ID card. Before his service with Blackwater in Afghanistan, the 29-year-old also faced a number of state convic-

tions for reckless driving, disturbing the peace, assault and battery, resisting arrest and DWI. Cannon, 27, was discharged from the Army after going AWOL and testing positive for cocaine. He later petitioned successfully to have his military records officially changed to an honorable discharge. Both men were indicted by a federal grand jury in Virginia this month on two counts of second-degree murder, attempted murder and weapons charges in a 2008 shooting along a Kabul road. They had been in Afghanistan working for Xe subsidiary Paravant under a Department of Defense contract to provide weapons training to the Afghan National Army.

(AP Photo/Bill Tiernan, The Virginian-Pilot)

In a Thursday, Jan. 7, 2010 file photo, Chris Drotleff, left, of Virginia Beach and a former Blackwater contractor, leaves the Federal Courthouse in Norfolk, Va., after he was arraigned on charges including seconddegree murder in the shootings of two Afghans in 2008.

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A DAY ON WALL STREET

Dow Jones industrials

Stocks

10,000 9,000 8,000

+23.88 10,196.86

Area

11,000

January 25, 2010

Pct. change from previous: +0.23%

High 10,256.87

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

7,000

Low 10,171.77

January 25, 2010

2,400

Nasdaq composite

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

+5.51 2,210.80

High 2,223.22

Pct. change from previous: +0.25%

Low 2,201.17

January 25, 2010

Standard & Poor’s 500 +5.02 1,096.78

High 1,102.97

Pct. change from previous: +0.46%

1,400

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

Low 1,092.40

SOURCE: SunGard

MARKET ROUNDUP 012510: Market

charts show Dow, S&P 500, and Currencies & Metals Nasdaq; stand-alone; 2c x 4 1/2 NEW YORK (AP) — Key currency exEditors: All figures change rates Monday:

inches; 96 mm x 114 mm; staff

Metal Exch. as of: London 5:25:08 PM EST

Copper -$3.2834 Cathode full plate, LME.

NOTE: Figures reflect market fluctuations afterCopper close; $3.3840 may notN.Y. match AP content Mercother spot Mon.

Dollar vs: Yen Euro Pound Swiss franc Canadian dollar Mexican peso

ExchgRate 90.29 $1.4158 $1.6239 1.0398 1.0575 12.8800

Metal Price (troy oz.) NY Merc Gold $1095.20 NY HSBC Bank US $1096.00 NY Merc Silver $17.131

PvsDay 89.85 $1.4138 $1.6121 1.0418 1.0587 12.9320

Lead - $2226.00 metric ton, London Metal Exch. Zinc - $1.0539 per lb., London Metal Exch. Gold - $1095.25 Handy & Harman (only daily quote). Gold - $1095.20 troy oz., NY Merc spot Mon. Silver - $17.115 Handy & Harman (only daily quote). Silver - $17.131 troy oz., N.Y. Merc spot Mon. Platinum -$1547.00 troy oz., N.Y. (contract). Platinum -$1540.30 troy oz., N.Y. Merc spot Mon. n.q.-not quoted, n.a.-not available r-revised

Pvs Day $1089.20 $1090.00 $16.918

Nonferrous NEW YORK (AP) — Spot nonferrous metal prices Mon. Aluminum - $.9929 per lb.,

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

62.42 25.58 50.86 14.98 27.57 54.35 33.04 16.66 65.85 11.03 16.37 27.62 126.12 63.22 26.46 2.65 7.25 22.12 3.36 60.23 19.91 60.63 38.77 4.21 49.73 53.53 14.84 3.44 24.00 46.53 30.68 46.77 52.88 27.66 4.59 76.76

State Briefs Developer leaves NC toll road board RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A Wilmington businessman politically connected to former Gov. Mike Easley resigned Monday from the state toll road authority, days after a former Easley aide was indicted on charges of unlawfully profiting from a development involving the businessman. Lanny Wilson sent his letter resigning from the North Carolina Turnpike Authority board of directors to Senate leader Marc Basnight, D-Dare, who had picked him for the panel. Wilson, who was the authority’s vice chairman, didn’t give a

reason for his departure in the three-sentence letter. Last Thursday, Wilson resigned from the state Board of Transportation because he wanted to “avoid further unnecessary distractions” that would impede Gov. Beverly Perdue’s transportation reforms, according to his resignation letter.

The Board of Transportation letter was released hours before a federal grand jury indicted former Easley aide Ruffin Poole on 51 federal corruption charges, including extortion, bribery and money laundering. Poole was Easley’s former special counsel and aide during the governor’s two terms.

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Nation

The Daily Dispatch

Obama plans to help middle class WASHINGTON (AP) — Declaring America’s middle class is “under assault,” President Barack Obama unveiled plans Monday to help hurting families pay their bills, save for retirement and care for their kids and aging parents. His comments previewed Wednesday’s State of the Union Address. Obama’s proposals won’t create jobs, but he said they could “re-establish some of the security that’s slipped away.” His remarks aimed to lift the nation’s dour mood and show he is in touch with the daily struggles of millions of people as resentment runs high about lost jobs and the economy. The initiatives amount to a package of tax credits, spending expansions

and new mandates on employers to encourage retirement savings by workers. Most of them will be included in Obama’s budget for the fiscal year starting Oct. 1, and they will require approval from Congress. Obama will release that budget Feb. 1. The president’s latest rollout of ideas served as a preview of his prime-time State of the Union address. The economic elements of that speech will also cover Obama’s plans to boost job creation and reduce swelling budget deficits — areas of concern to the public. Obama’s address will outline his second-year agenda across a spectrum of issues, including tighter rules on Wall Street behavior and a push for financial discipline in Washington.

He also is expected to touch on the issue of gays in the military. In an interview Obama Monday, Obama defended his agenda and said he would not support only smaller issues that avoid controversy. “I will not slow down in terms going after the big problems,” he told ABC News. Among the president’s economic ideas: — Nearly doubling the tax credit that families making under $85,000 can receive for child care costs, with some help for families earning up to $115,000, too. — Capping the size of

periodic federal college loan repayments at 10 percent of borrowers’ discretionary income to make payments more affordable. — Increasing by $1.6 billion the money pumped into a federal fund to help working parents pay for child care, covering an estimated 235,000 additional children. — Requiring employers who don’t offer 401(k) retirement plans to offer direct-deposit IRAs for their employees, with exemptions for the smallest firms. — Spending more than $100 million to help people care for their elderly parents and get support for themselves as well. The White House maintained that its imperative still is to create jobs.

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

SC politician’s welfare comments called ‘immoral’ COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — When things looked their darkest for Gov. Mark Sanford — when he was in danger of being impeached for running off to Argentina to see his mistress — his best insurance policy may well have been South Carolina’s lieutenant governor, Andre Bauer. Lawmakers knew if they removed Sanford, they would end up with Bauer, a fiercely ambitious Republican with a reputation for reckless and immature behavior. Now Bauer has folks shaking their heads again, after he likened government assistance to the poor to feeding stray animals. At a town hall meeting

Thursday, Bauer, who is running for governor in his own right now that Sanford is term-limited, said: “My grandmother was not a highly educated woman, but she told me as a small child to quit feeding stray animals. You know why? Because they breed! You’re facilitating the problem if you give an animal or a person ample food supply. They will reproduce, especially ones that don’t think too much further than that.” Democrats and others railed at him. “I am disgusted by these comments. They show an unbelievable lack of compassion toward the unemployed workers in our state who are hurting during these hard times,” said state Sen. Vincent Sheheen, a Democrat who is also running for governor. “His comments were immoral and out of line.”

OFFICIAL BALLOT FOR THE 2009 “BEST OF VANCE COUNTY” 65. Best Golf Course Business _______________________ 66. Best Church Supplier Business _______________________ 67. Best Medical Wear Business _______________________ 68. Best Photographer/Studio Business _______________________

People 1. Best Contractor Name _________________________ 2. Best Electrician Name _________________________ 3. Best Pharmacist Name _________________________ 4. Best Doctor Name _________________________ 5. Best Nurse (RN, LPN) Name _________________________ Location________________________ 6. Best Medical Assistant (CNA, office assistant) Name _________________________ 7. Best Dentist Name _________________________ 8. Best Optometrist Name _________________________ 9. Best Insurance Agent Name _________________________ Business _______________________ 10. Best Waiter/Waitress Name _________________________ Restaurant ______________________ 11. Best Car Salesperson Name _________________________ 12. Best Hair Stylist Name _________________________ Salon __________________________ 13. Best Sales Team Business _______________________ 14. Best Auto Mechanic Name _________________________ Business _______________________ 15. Best Attorney Name _________________________ 16. Best Elected Official Name _________________________ 17. Best Real Estate Team Business _______________________ 18. Best Real Estate Agent Name _________________________ 19. Best Dental Hygienist Name _________________________ Office _________________________ 20. Best CPA Name _________________________ Firm __________________________ 21. Best Chiropractor Name _________________________ 22. Best Barber Name _________________________ 23. Best Veterinarian Name _________________________

Food & Drink

Your ballot automatically enters you in the 2009 “BEST OF VANCE COUNTY” SWEEPSTAKES!

2009

Goods & Services 24. Best Restaurant Business _______________________ 25. Best Caterer Business _______________________ 26. Best Roofing Co. Business _______________________ 27. Best Sign Company Business _______________________ 28. Best Nursing Home Business _______________________ 29. Best Bank Bank __________________________ 30. Best Tires Business _______________________ 31. Best Clothes Business _______________________ 32. Best Body Shop Business _______________________ 33. Best Jewelry Store Business _______________________ 34. Best Pet Services Business _______________________ 35. Best Used Cars Business _______________________ 36. Best Dry Cleaner Business _______________________ 37. Best Hair Salon Business _______________________ 38. Best Furniture Store Business _______________________ 39. Best Pest Control Business _______________________ 40. Best Gas/Service Station Business _______________________ 41. Best New Cars Business _______________________ 42. Best Cosmetics Business _______________________ 43. Best Muffler Shop Business _______________________

44. Best Florist Business _______________________ 45. Best Home Improvement Company Business _______________________ 46. Best Nursery/Garden Center Business _______________________ 47. Best Car Wash/Detail Business _______________________ 48. Best Shippers Business _______________________ 49. Best Gift Shop Business _______________________ 50. Best Funeral Services Business _______________________ 51. Best Nail Salon Business _______________________ 52. Best Barber Shop Business _______________________ 53. Best Carpet Dealer Business _______________________ 54. Best Drug Store Business _______________________ 55. Best Manufactured Homes Business _______________________ 56. Best Plumbing Company Business _______________________ 57. Best Appliance Store Business _______________________ 58. Best Electronics Store Business _______________________ 59. Best Mattress Dealer Business _______________________ 60. Best Heating & Cooling Co. Business _______________________ 61. Best Preschool or Day Care Center Business _______________________ 62. Best Print Shop Business _______________________ 63. Best Internet Provider Business _______________________ 64. Best Wireless Store Business _______________________

69. Best Mexican Food Business _______________________ 70. Best Italian Food Business _______________________ 71. Best Chinese Food Business _______________________ 72. Best Cup of Coffee Restaurant or Store ________________ 73. Best Pancake and Waffles Restaurant ______________________ 74. Best Stew Restaurant or Deli _________________ 75. Best Hot Dogs Restaurant or Grill _________________ 76. Best Hamburgers Restaurant or Grill _________________ 77. Best Barbeque Restaurant ______________________ 78. Best Fried Chicken Restaurant ______________________ 79. Best Chicken Sandwich Restaurant ______________________ 80. Best Hushpuppies Restaurant ______________________ 81. Best Fast Food Restaurant or Grill _________________ 82. Best Salad Bar/Soup Restaurant or Grill _________________ 83. Best Buffet Restaurant or Deli _________________ 84. Best Pizza Restaurant or Delivery Service ________ 85. Best Steaks Restaurant ______________________ 86. Best Seafood Restaurant ______________________ 87. Best Iced Tea Restaurant or Grill _________________ 88. Best Ice Cream Location________________________ 89. Best Milkshakes Location________________________ 90. Best Desserts Restaurant, Deli or Bakery ___________ 91. Best “Southern Style” Meal Restaurant ______________________ 92. Best Home-Cooked Breakfast Business _______________________ 93. Best Chicken Tenders Business _______________________ 94. Best Fish Sandwich Business _______________________

RULES FOR ENTRY 1. At least 50% of the questions must be answered on your ballot. 2. When voting on names, please put the first and last names and put “jr.”, “III”, etc. when applicable. 3. When voting the name of a chain (for example: Hardee’s Pizza Hut, Burger King, McDonalds, etc.) be sure to specify which location.

4. No mechanical reproductions of “answered ballots: will be accepted. 5. All answers must be applicable to Vance County for eligibility. 6. Send your completed entries to “The Best of Vance County” Retail Dept. P.O. Box 908, Henderson, N. C. 27536

7. Ballots must be received by January 28, 2010. 8. One entry per person. 9. Must be 18 years or older to participate. 10. A complete list of rules is available at The Daily Dispatch.

Name (Please Print) ________________________________________ Address____________________________ Telephone (Home) ______________________ (Day) _____________ Signature____________________________

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Nation & World

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

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Polls show growing fears on health care overhaul WASHINGTON (AP) — Fears about President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul increased significantly in December, according to a new poll released as the legislation’s future hangs in doubt. The monthly poll out Monday from the nonpartisan Robert Wood Johnson Foundation measured consumers’ views of how a remake would affect their own finances and access to care, among other things. It was conducted between Nov. 28 and Dec. 20, in the run-up to the Senate’s Christmas Eve passage of sweeping health care legislation that brought Congress closer than ever before to enacting a comprehensive revamp of the nation’s medical system. That effort was cast into turmoil last week when a GOP victory in Massachusetts’ special Senate election robbed

Democrats of their filibuster-proof supermajority. The survey shows a majority are following the health care debate in Congress — and their trepidation is evidently growing as they do. Nonetheless, people still think that Obama should address the issue as part of dealing with the nation’s economic slump, although the percentage of people who say that it’s very important for Obama to do so has slipped from 56 percent in the survey conducted in September, to 49.5 percent in this month’s report. Among the poll’s other findings: —33 percent of respondents said they believed their access to care would be worse if a health care overhaul occurred, a jump from 25 percent in the poll released last month. Thirteen percent said they

thought they would have better access to care in a remade system, about the same as last month. —30.5 percent said their personal finances would be worse under a health care overhaul, compared to 24.5 percent last month. Eleven and a half percent said their personal finances would improve, compared to 14 percent last month. —35 percent said the country’s access to health care would be worse under a health care overhaul, compared to 30 percent last month. Around 38 percent said it would be better, around the same as last month. —42 percent said the country’s finances would suffer under a health care overhaul, compared with 34.6 percent last month. Thirty percent said matters would improve financially, compared to 32 percent last month.

Witnesses: Plane tumbled out of sky off Lebanon BEIRUT (AP) — The first sign of trouble was a flash of light on the horizon Monday — and then witnesses said the Boeing 737 tumbled like “fire falling down from the sky” into the stormy Mediterranean Sea. All 90 aboard were feared dead in the pre-dawn crash. Lebanon’s leaders ruled out terrorism while investigators collected witness accounts in hopes they could provide clues. Aviation experts cautioned it was too early to know what brought down the Ethiopian Airlines jet — particularly without the black boxes. Many people were giv-

ing DNA samples to help identify the remains of their loved ones; one man identified his 3-year-old nephew by the boy’s overalls. “Please find my son,” pleaded Zeinab Seklawi, whose 24-year-old son Yasser was on Flight 409, which was headed to the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa. At the Government Hospital in Beirut, Red Cross workers brought in bodies covered with wool blankets as relatives gathered nearby. No survivors had been found by nightfall, and the health minister told reporters 21 bodies were

recovered. Marla Pietton, wife of the French ambassador to Lebanon, was among those on board, according to the French Embassy. The Boeing 737-800 took off at about 2:30 a.m. local time in driving rain, lightening and thunder, and went down two miles (3.5 kilometers) off the coast, said Ghazi Aridi, the public works and transportation minister. Hours after the crash, pieces of the plane and other debris were washing ashore, including a baby sandal, passenger seats, a fire extinguisher, suitcases and bottles of medicine.

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Opinion

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Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Giving more power to the rich

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

Daily Meditation According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. 1 Corinthians 3:10-13

Our Opinion

Send us your news tips News tips — you’ve got them and we want them. Here at The Daily Dispatch, we’re always looking for stories that you, the reader, care about. The best way to find those stories is by turning to you. As you know, our reporters can’t be everywhere and know everything. But, collectively, you can. After we published the story about the bank bag missing from the tax office, several readers called to ask why it took so long for us to cover the incident. Our answer: We didn’t know about it. Most of the callers said they had known about the missing bag for weeks and were waiting for us to do the story. We would have loved for one of the callers to tip us off to the incident as soon as they knew about it. We’re guessing there are tons of stories out there that you’re waiting for us to write. If so, let us know what they are. Know of a standout teacher who donates her free time to tutor children? Give us a call. Think your elected officials aren’t getting the job done? Send us a text. Worried about crime in your neighborhood? Shoot us an e-mail. The good, the bad, the ugly — we want it all. And don’t worry, we don’t want your name, just your information. You can call or text (252) 425-3496 to report a news tip. You can also send an email to newstips@hendersondispatch.com. The home page of our Web site, www.hendersondispatch.com, also has the contact information for our news tip line.

Quotable “Nobody knows how many bodies are buried in the rubble — 200,000? 300,000? Who knows the overall death toll?” Communications Minister Marie-Laurence Jocelyn Lassegue in a statement as truckers filling Haiti’s mass graves with bodies reported ever higher death toll numbers. “God willing, our raids on you will continue as long as your support for the Israelis continues. The message delivered to you through the plane of the heroic warrior Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab was a confirmation of the previous messages sent by the heroes of the Sept. 11.” Osama bin Laden in a recording released to the Al-Jazeera news channel endorsing the failed attempt to blow up a U.S. airliner on Christmas Day and threatening new attacks against the United States. “Any accusation that the Chinese government participated in cyber attacks, either in an explicit or indirect way, is groundless and aims to discredit China. We are firmly opposed to that.” Unidentified Chinese ministry spokesman in a statement as China denied involvement in Internet attacks and defended its online censorship after the United States urged Beijing to investigate complaints of cyber intrusions in a dispute that has added tension to bilateral relations.

Two posters. That’s all you got. This was in junior high, the student council elections. Each candidate got two posters to hang in the hallways. Buttons were forbidden. Flyers were a no-no. Two posters. Same size. After that, it was up to you to convince voters. It remains, three decades later, the smartest election system I’ve ever seen. My junior high could teach the Supreme Court a thing or two, after this past week’s disastrous decision to remove campaign contribution limits on corporations and unions. Look. Let’s state this clearly before your eyes glaze over at “campaign finance.” Money talks. Money runs the world. Money dominates politics. And the Supreme Court, in a bitterly divided, 5-4 decision, aligned purely on conservative/ liberal lines, just gave those with money infinitely MORE power. Or, in junior high school terms, they get a million posters, you still get two. A group of concerned citizens? It would be laughable if it wasn’t so sad. Cloaking itself in the First Amendment, the court rushed through this decision, based it flimsily on a case involving a film, and knocked down a half-century’s worth of wise, hard-fought limits on how much influence a corporation can have in choosing our

leaders. One justice defending the ruling by claiming the First Amendment clearly prohibited punishing “citizens, or associations of citizens, for simply engaging in political speech.” Let me ask you something: Mitch Does Albom anyone consider Exxon Tribune Media Mobil an Services “association of citizens”? Goldman Sachs? The UAW? You want to see an association of citizens, go to a PTA meeting or a soup kitchen volunteer line. Don’t look on the New York Stock Exchange. Yet by acting as if these poor corporations were being denied their fundamental rights, the door is now open to spend whatever they want on ads and commercials, right up to the moment you pull the lever. Oh, don’t worry, you can, too. Of course, if by “you” we mean the shoe salesmen, truck driver or deli worker, you may be outspent by oh, say, a million bucks. The old laws, though imperfect, at least kept some walls in place. Teddy Roosevelt, in 1907, had enough foresight to sign legislation barring corpo-

rate contributions to federal campaigns — lest a handful of businesses all but purchase a president. Over the years, other laws and court rulings upheld an arm’s length distance. Now that’s gone. Businesses basically can tell a candidate “either you support what we want, or we’ll keep throwing money at your opponent.” And before you say, “Money isn’t everything,” ask yourself how many candidates you bother to hear in person or read about in depth. TV and radio increasingly form people’s opinions, and with the spigots now open, corporations can bury a candidate in the hate-spewing negative ads that typify today’s elections. You won’t just be running against Joe Opponent, you might be running against Merrill Lynch. Power to the people? This is not to say all corporations are evil. Of course they aren’t. But let’s be honest. History shows us the group that pollutes usually has more money than the group that wants to stop pollution. The group that benefits from high health care costs usually will be richer than the group that wants to keep costs down. The group interested in war profits will have more than the group interested in peace — and so on and so on. You see the ramifications of this. And it’s not as if these

corporate CEO’s don’t get a say in politics. They get to vote and contribute the same as any other American. But if corporations were the same as citizens, why do they have their own tax rate? If people were the same as corporations, why aren’t people split into pieces and traded on an exchange? Corporations exist to make money, and whatever stands in their way is bad — even if it’s good for the average American. And with fewer and fewer corporations gobbling each other up, can anyone truly argue that they deserve more influence in American life? Yet now — in 2010 — is the time to hand more power to corporations and the often disgraceful lobbyists they employ? Now? When 103 years ago, lawmakers had the foresight to put clamps on big business? Now we do this? There is a dangerous, misguided movement out there that says if we just let business rule the nation, all will be well — markets will take care of themselves, health care, jobs, just let business handle it. You know who says that the loudest? Business. And now, it can say it even louder. It can shout down any candidate who opposes it. What happened to “of the people, by the people, for the people?” I think I last saw it on a poster in a junior high school hallway.

NC Dems must again overcome corruption trap GARY D. ROBERTSON Associated Press Writer

For the past decade, North Carolina Democrats in charge of state government have been successful persuading the public they’re unlike fellow party colleagues who’ve ended up behind bars. Democrats have remained in power in the Legislature and at the Executive Mansion despite the news of illegal activities that sent then-House Speaker Jim Black, Agriculture Commissioner Meg Scott Phipps and Rep. Thomas Wright to prison. They’ve done so while passing tougher ethics and campaign finance laws, and even expelling Wright from the Legislature. At the same time, they’ve had political advantages to get their message out, such as outraising Republicans on campaign dollars, pushing education initiatives and presiding during a span largely marked by growth and prosperity in the state. Last week’s indictment of corruption charges against Ruffin Poole, a close aide to former Gov. Mike Easley, however, comes when Democrats lack the advantages of recent years. The state is struggling with 11 percent unemployment during a deep recession that caused Democratic lawmakers to approve higher taxes. Their campaign fundraising advantage is threatened by departures and retirements of prolific state Senate fundraisers.

Add last week’s GOP victory in the U.S. Senate race in liberal Massachusetts and angst over the health care overhaul in Washington and it may prove more difficult for Democrats leading into the 2010 elections to counter any perceptions that they’re associated with another federal investigation that could unearth more indictments. “This could be a scenario where you have the megastorm, where you have just a terrible economy, you have unrest and anger with the electorate and then you have (corruption) on top of it,” said Brad Crone, a longtime Democratic consultant in Raleigh. “It’s been a constant drumbeat ... there will be a price to pay for it.” Poole is accused of 51 counts, including bribery, racketeering, money laundering and extortion during his years as Easley’s personal assistant and special counsel. The indictment describes Poole, 37, as the “go-to guy” to get things done in Easley’s office, with people calling him “the little governor” because of Easley’s reliance on him to assist political supporters. Poole took trips on the checkbook of a Wilmington investor and Easley political supporter while helping expedite projects in which the financier and others had invested, according to the indictment. He also made returns of at least 25 percent by investing his money in some of those same coastal developments, prosecutors allege.

Republicans jumped on the charges, with state GOP chairman Tom Fetzer calling it part of the “culture of corruption that has risen out of a century of one-party dominance in state government.” Democrats have sat in the Executive Mansion since 1993 and held almost continuously the power in the Legislature since the late 1890s. Party leaders say they’re disgusted by the charges, if true, but argue they’ve been leading on ethics issues for years. “We have changed the culture in the Legislature,” said House Speaker Joe Hackney, D-Orange, adding they’ll consider other restrictions when lawmakers reconvene in May, if necessary. “I’m a citizen of North Carolina. I want it to be cleaned up.” The Legislature passed sweeping new rules essentially banning gifts to lawmakers and top executive branch leaders in 2006 and expelled Wright for unethical behavior. Gov. Beverly Perdue also has demanded tougher gift bans in the wake of investigations of free meals from vendors to some state employees and local ABC boards. Perdue feels the indictment “is a sorry distraction for the people of North Carolina, and we are all tired of it,” said Chrissy Pearson, her spokeswoman. Some Republicans have gotten in trouble with the law, too, although the largest headlines

have been left for the Democrats because of their majority status in government. In previous election years, the corruption associated with Black and Wright didn’t bleed over into other legislative districts by hurting the prospects of other Democratic incumbents just by association. It shouldn’t happen this year, either, Hackney said. “I don’t see how Ruffin Poole’s indictment affects somebody running for a House seat in eastern North Carolina if there’s no direct connection,” said Gary Pearce, a Democratic strategists who used to work with former four-term Gov. Jim Hunt. Hackney and other Democrats are hopeful the economy will turn around by the November elections so they’ll have some more positive things to talk about with voters. Easley wasn’t accused of wrongdoing in the indictment and his attorney said he wasn’t aware of Poole’s alleged conduct. Activities surrounding Easley while he was governor have been the subject of federal and state investigations in the year since he left office in January 2009. Neither probe is complete. A lot will depend on whether Easley is charged with crimes. Democratic legislative candidates statewide would have to respond against more than just the “little governor,” but the public face of the state party for eight years.

Dear Abby will fill is written by Abigail

Ten years ago: The grandmothers of Elian Gonzalez hugged and kissed the six-year-old boy during a tense, 90-minute meeting in Miami Beach that had been arranged by the U.S. government. Five years ago: A U.S. Marine helicopter crashed in western Iraq, killing 30 Marines and a Navy

BROADCAST SPORTS NEWS KIDS VARIETY MOVIES

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Today’s Birthdays: Actress Anne Jeffreys is 87. Actress Joan Leslie is 85. Cartoonist Jules Feiffer is 81. Sportscaster-actor Bob Uecker is 75. Actor Scott Glenn is 71. Singer Jean Knight is 67. Activist Angela Davis is 66. Rock musician Corky Laing (Mountain) is 62. Actor David Strathairn (streh-THEHRN’) is 61. Alt-country singersongwriter Lucinda Williams is 57. Rock singer-musician Eddie Van Halen is 55. Actress-comedian-talk show host Ellen DeGeneres is 52. Hockey Hall-of-Famer Wayne Gretzky is 49. Musician Andrew Ridgeley is 47. Rhythmand-blues singer Jazzie B. (Soul II Soul) is 47. Actor Paul Johansson is 46. Gospel singer Kirk Franklin is 40. Actress Jennifer Crystal is 37. Orlando Magic player Vince Carter is 33. Actress Sarah Rue is 32. Country musician Michael Martin (Marshall Dyllon) is 27. Thought for Today: “As long as men are free to ask what they must, free to say what they think, free to think what they will, freedom can never be lost, and science can never regress.” — J. Robert Oppenheimer, American physicist (1904-1967).

VARIETY MOVIES

One year ago: The impeachment trial of Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich (blah-GOY’-uh-vich) opened in Springfield, with Blagojevich refusing to take part, saying the rules were biased against him. Nadya Suleman gave birth at Kaiser Permanente Bellflower Medical Center in California to the world’s longest-surviving set of octuplets.

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