CMYK Obama plans to help middle class
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Norlina girls win, boys lose
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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
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Weather Today Sunny
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Wednesday Sunny
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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