The Daily Dispatch - Tuesday, August 11, 2009 by The Daily Dispatch

CMYK Mexican drug lords selling stolen oil to U.S. Tax hikes, more spending on legislative minds Tony Stewart wins delayed NASCAR race Business & Farm, Page 5A

Public Records, Page 8A

Sports, Page 1B TUESDAY, August 11, 2009

Volume XCV, No. 186

(252) 436-2700

www.hendersondispatch.com

State tells Vance Schools to cut nearly $1.146 million; out of exactly how much, nobody yet knows

Davis only council member to vote against demand for home-ownership By WILLIAM F. WEST Daily Dispatch Writer

By AL WHELESS Daily Dispatch Writer

Daily Dispatch/EARL KING

Parishioners of Union Chapel United Methodist Church take part on Sunday in the first service held in a new building, the construction of which was made necessary by an Aug. 10, 2007 fire that almost totally consumed the original church sanctuary, which dated to 1829.

Faith rewarded

Union Chapel congregation holds first service in new church; original 1829 building burned to the ground nearly two years ago to the day By AL WHELESS Daily Dispatch Writer

Betty and Jerry Stanton are witnesses to the past and the future of Union Chapel United Methodist Church. They were among nearly 150 people who sat down Sunday morning on gleaming, wooden pews and extra chairs that had to be set out for the first service inside the brightly lit new sanctuary which replaces the larger one destroyed by fire two years ago. The first sermon — delivered by the church’s new pastor, Rev. Dennis Gossett — was about renewal and the potential held by the reconstruction. “When I look at this new sanctuary, I see a seed that has been planted,” he said. “It is my goal for this church that we receive 100 new souls this year, Gossett vowed. “Welcome home!” he

Daily Dispatch/EARL KING

The Rev. Dennis Gossett preaches his first sermon Sunday inside the new Union Chapel United Methodist Church. “Welcome home!” he told the congregation, who had waited two years for construction after their original church was destroyed by fire. said to the colorful audience clad in an array of attire from suits and dresses to shorts or blue jeans. In one of several prayers, the pastor told God: “Lord, it’s just a wonderful thing. You said that if we had the faith of a mustard seed, we could move a mountain. Father, God, You have moved our mountain!”

The front page of the bulletin for the occasion displayed a color photo of a tiny green seedling sitting in planting soil held in a gardener’s cupped and grimy hands. The first hymn to be sung together by the congregation and the choir wearing blueand-white robes was “How Great Thou Art.”

Another special service — set for Aug. 23 at 11 a.m. — will focus on rededication. There will be an open house from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Several former pastors expected to show up that day include Rob Hammond, who guided the congregation through many of the rebuilding days. Invited to preside over the ceremony is Gray Southern, Durham District superintendent for the United Methodist Church. On Sunday morning, someone asked the Stantons for their opinions of the $600,000 building that had risen from the ashes since the ground-breaking last November, as a result of many contributions. “It’s just as pretty as it can be,” Betty said. The beaming, 74-year-old Kittrell resident kept looking around the sanctuary as if her eyes were 35-millimeter cameras. Please see CHAPEL, page 3A

Daily Dispatch/EARL KING

The new Union Chapel United Methodist Church on its first Sunday in service, Aug. 9, 2009.

Please see BEACON, page 3A

House drops jet purchase plan WASHINGTON (AP) — House Democratic leaders said Monday that they will not force the Pentagon to buy four new passenger jets used to ferry senior government officials. Democrats have been criticized for adding $330 million to the Air Force’s 2010 budget to buy the jets even though the Pentagon didn’t request the money. Two of the planes would be the C-37 — the military equivalent to the fancy

50 cents

Fuzzy math

Beacon Light compliance draws one step closer

The Henderson City Council on Monday evening approved documents drawn up to get the shabby former Beacon Light apartment complex into compliance with municipal housing codes. The council’s actions were unanimous, except for a document affirming a home-ownership provision, which received a lone dissenting vote from Mayor Pro Tem Lonnie Davis. City Manager Ray Griffin is now authorized to work with the property owner, Sharif Abdelhalim, to establish a “reasonable timetable” to bring the 318 Boddie St. location into code compliance as well as a conversion to home ownership. Griffin said Abdelhalim will have to present a letter of credit to the city in an amount of 1 1/2 times the amount of the city’s estimate to demolish and clear the property. Moving forward with a demolition would be stopped to give Abdelhalim a chance to comply, but if Abdelhalim does not comply, then City Code Compliance Director Corey Williams will be authorized to take the letter of credit and demolish the property. The terms provide a 45day window to work out a time schedule agreement. City Attorney John Zollicoffer said there would be an additional 30 days for Abdelhalim to produce the letter of credit. Additionally, the terms will seek to establish a partnership with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) regarding both the code enforcement and the home ownership provision. And if Abdelhalim does not come into compliance, Mayor Pete O’Geary and Griffin are authorized to seek a portion of Abdelhalim’s $1.29 million deposit with HUD to help pay for demolition and cleanup. Griffin said that he and Williams have talked with HUD and have concluded that, if the city is going to be able to utilize the specifics, then the city will need to go “straight to the top,” a reference to Henderson’s federal representatives. The terms also call for the city to seek any fire insurance proceeds Abdelhalim

Gulfstream 550 — and cost taxpayers $130 million at a time when lawmakers have made villains of bailed-out auto executives who rely on corporate jets to travel. “If the Department of Defense does not want these aircraft, they will be eliminated from the bill,” said Rep. John Murtha, a Pennsylvania Democrat chairman of the panel that approved the additional spending.

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

Weather Today Scattered High: 98 Low: 69

Wednesday Similar

High: 90 Low: 71

Details, 3A

Deaths Henderson Michael D. Bass, 34 David E. Watson Oxford Lawrence T. Waller, 54

Minerva H. Williams, 93 Vaughan Georgia A. Pegram, 52 Warrenton Suzanne V. Roy, 53

Obituaries, 4A

X, minus $1,145,863, equals … what, exactly? It’s the incomplete equation the State Department of Public Instruction handed sometime Monday to Superintendent Norman Shearin of Vance County Schools. Shearin, in turn, told the Board of Education Monday night that $1,145,863 is the amount Shearin the school system is supposed to cut from its initial allotment from the State for FY 20092010. The trouble is that X, Shearin explained, represents the initial allotment of funds for Vance County Schools, a figure that DPI has yet to disclose. In the meantime, Shearin said, he and his staff have so far identified about $800,000 worth of reductions that could be applied toward the known figure, that is, the amount needing to be cut from whatever the allotment is that the state hands down. The overall reduction in discretionary funds for all of the public school systems in the State is $225 million. Also Monday night, Shearin said the state plans to reduce funding for North Carolina’s public school systems by a total of $10 million for clerical personnel, custodians and substitutes Especially as far as substitute teachers are concerned, the reduction has the potential to significantly “hurt” the local school system, but the degree has yet to be determined, the superintendent added. The Department of Public Instruction informed Shearin that the total cut in State funds for bus transportation for all of the public school systems in North Carolina is $15 million. For miscellaneous projects, the State funds reduction will total $4.6 million for all of the public school systems. A total of 200 literary coaches throughout the public school systems in the State will be eliminated, according to DPI. Shearin said efforts will be made to find other positions in Vance County Schools for any literary coaches that are affected. At its meeting Monday night, the School Board went along with the Finance Committee’s recommendations to accept Maola Milk’s low bid of $455,290.50 to supply milk and Merita Baking Company’s low bid of $67,725 to supply bread. Please see SCHOOLS, page 4A

The Daily Dispatch

Our Hometown

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Wilton Slopes hiking trails/ paddle access opens Thursday

Mark It Down Today

Brain injury support — The Kerr Lake Traumatic Brain Injury Support Group will meet at 6 p.m. in the conference room of the Brodie Waddill Building, located at Maria Parham Medical Center. The guest speaker will be Rachel Blackwell from the Vance County Senior Center, who will provide valuable information on the Medicare Part D Plan. For more information, call (919) 693-7623 or 438-5511. Appearance commission — The Henderson Community Appearance Commission will meet at 3 p.m. in the boardroom (Henderson City Council chambers) on Rose Avenue in Henderson. Mental health meeting — The Five County Mental Health Authority’s Consumer and Family Advisory Committee (CFAC) will meet at 6 p.m. at the Vance-Granville Community College, Warren campus, Building 4, Room W432, 210 W. Ridgeway St., Warrenton. Consumers can sign-up to discuss issues with the CFAC from 6:15-6:30 p.m. The committee meets monthly to assist in developing and revising the mental health plan that drives mental health, developmental disability and substance abuse services for the five-county area. For more information, call 430-1330, ext. 3035 and ext. 3050. Severe weather class — Vance County Emergency Operations will sponsor a severe weather class from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at The Glass House at Satterwhite Point, 269 Glass House Road, Henderson. The class is free and open to the public. For more information, call 438-8264. Back-to-school workshop — A back-to-school workshop for parents will be held at 6 p.m. at the N.C. Cooperative Extension Office. Guest speakers will be Pearl Simes, Warren County educator, and Rachel Harris Monteverdi, family and consumer services agent. Light refreshments will be served. Activities for children will be provided. To register, contact Lori Parrott at 257-1134. ECA meeting — The Williamsboro ECA County Council meeting will be held at 4 p.m. at the Vance County Senior Center, Henderson. The meeting topic is “Creating Connections with Schools,” and Deryl von Williams with the Vance County Learning Center will be the speaker. All members are urged to be present for the business and planning session. The public is invited. For more information, call Lucille Alston at 492-8401. Oxford City Commission — The Oxford City Commission will meet at 7 p.m. in the commission meeting room of City Hall, 300 Williamsboro St. Community watch — The Pines/Ranes Community Watch will hold a meeting at 6 p.m. at the Elks Lodge on Rockspring Street. Guest speaker will be Assistant District Attorney Nathan Baskerville. The community is invited to attend.

Guidelines 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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Former Zeb Vance Ruritan ‘Teenagers of the Year’ return for an encore bow The Zeb Vance Ruritan Club recently honored past Ruritan “Teenager of the Year” recipients from 1977 to 2008. Pictured are (front row) Brian Camp, Alyssa Sears, Anita Moss Spangler, Johnette Frazier Garrett and Andrew Woodlief; (back row) Joe Matthews and John Wilson III.

‘Godspell’ opens Thursday in Oxford pop-rock-gospel musical that sprang out of the youth culture of the 60s. Part rock, part revival singing, the musical brings parables from the gospel of Matthew to life through pantomime, vaudeville and soft-shoe dancing. “This is an extremely talented cast,” said Chris Bagley, minister of music at Oxford United Methodist Church. “The audience will not be disappointed.” Jesus will be played by Kyle Perren, who played opposite Evan Rachel Wood in “Romeo and Juliet” for Theatre in the Park this spring. Perren has been active in the Raleigh theater scene for several years. Shawn Rhodes will play Judas. Rhodes has been in several local regional productions and recently played Benedick

“Godspell” will leave you spellbound. That’s the guarantee that director Joanne Fruth promises the community as she prepares her cast for opening night of Oxford United Methodist Church’s inaugural venture in theater ministry. “Godspell” will be presented at the Granville Athletic Park open amphitheater on Thursday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m. “ ‘Godspell’ has something for everyone,” said Fruth. “It is both funny and reverent, and is a very effective event to share the gospel anew with both the churched and the unchurched in our community.” The very word “godspell” is an old English word for “gospel.” The production was the first

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in Granville Little Theatre’s production of “Much Ado About Nothing.” Peyton Hancock Grissom will lend her soulful voice to “Turn Back, O Man.” Kathleen Redmond, an eighth grade teacher at Mary Potter Middle School, will add her soprano voice to “Bless the Lord.” UNC-Wilmington students Keta Smith and Justin Walker will sing “Day by Day” and “All Good Gifts,” respectively. Steve Treacy, an Oxford resident who played King Herod in Granville Little Theatre’s “Jesus Christ Superstar” will sing “We Beseech Thee.” Cindy Fink, chairman of the Stewardship Committee at Oxford United Methodist, will sing “Learn Your Lessons Well.” Danielle Perry and

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Lee Anne LeQuick will be featured in the haunting ballad “By My Side.” Tosha Allred rounds out the ensemble and is highlighted in “Learn Your Lessons Well” reprise. Alecia Lakernick of Ballet Arts in Henderson has assisted with choreography. Donations will be accepted to support local missions of the church. The audience is welcome to bring lawn chairs and blankets. Rain date is Aug. 17. Granville Athletic Park is located on Belltown Road near I-85, exit 202.

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The grand opening of the Wilton Slopes hiking trails and paddle access is set for 7 p.m. Thursday at the site just off N.C. 96 at the edge of the Tar River. Granville County officials advise motorists that, due to limited parking space, they need to arrange for carpools. Wilton Slopes has been the subject of Dispatch news coverage since at least as far back as autumn 2005, with plans calling for the site to be part of a paddle trail from Granville County to Edgecombe County.

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Attention HealthCo Patients Your medical records are available.

To transfer your records to a new doctor, you will need to complete and sign a records release form. To transfer to a Rural Health Group (RHG) location:

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Go to either of these two locations to fill out a form:

• Get a medical records release form from your doctor’s office

RHG at Henderson 100 Parkview Drive West Henderson NC 27536 or RHG at Norlina 110 Division Street Norlina, NC 27563

• Complete and sign the form • Fax the form to 252-438-2084

Once an authorization to release medical records is completed and signed by the patient, Rural Health Group will forward a copy of the medical records to the doctor’s office indicated on the form. Requests cannot be taken by phone. Allow 1-2 weeks for requests to be processed.

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From Page One

The Daily Dispatch

NATIONAL WEATHER

Shown are noon positions of weather systems and precipitation. Temperature bands are highs for the day.

Seattle 71/55 Billings 94/59

Minneapolis 88/66

Denver 89/58

San Francisco 74/58

New York 85/73

Detroit 84/62

Chicago 82/60

Washington 92/74

Kansas City 88/64

Los Angeles 84/64

Atlanta 92/73 El Paso 98/74 Houston 99/76

Fairbanks 58/42 Anchorage 66/51

-10s

-0s

Miami 90/78

Honolulu 89/77 Juneau 61/50

Hilo 84/71

10s

20s

30s

40s

Showers Rain T-storms Snow Flurries

50s

60s

70s

Ice

80s

90s

100s

110s

Stationary front

Cold front

Warm front

FIVE-DAY FORECAST FOR HENDERSON TODAY

TONIGHT

WEDNESDAY

90°

69°

98°

71°

An afternoon thunderstorm

Mostly cloudy with a t-storm

Partly sunny with a t-storm

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

82° 69° Cloudy with thunderstorms

87°

68°

T-Storms possible in the p.m.

An afternoon thunderstorm

ALMANAC

SUN AND MOON

Temperature

Sunrise today ........................... 6:28 a.m. Sunset today ............................ 8:09 p.m. Moonrise today ...................... 10:42 p.m. Moonset today ....................... 11:50 a.m. Sunrise tomorrow ..................... 6:29 a.m. Sunset tomorrow ...................... 8:08 p.m. Moonrise tomorrow ................ 11:16 p.m. Moonset tomorrow ................. 12:55 p.m.

Raleigh-Durham through 6 p.m. yest. High .................................................... 99° Low ..................................................... 72° Normal high ........................................ 88° Normal low ......................................... 68° Record high .......................... 104° in 2007 Record low .............................. 55° in 1944

Moon Phases

Precipitation

WinstonSalem

Asheville

Greensboro

98/69

Aug 27

96/71

Durham

Raleigh

98/70

98/71

Cape Hatteras

Fayetteville

96/71

Sep 4

Rocky Mt.

96/72

Charlotte

Full

Henderson

92/71

86/67

First

Aug 20

Aug 13

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

New

86/79

96/73

LAKE LEVELS

Wilmington

94/75

Elevation in feet above sea level. Data as of 7 a.m. yesterday. 24-Hr. Lake Capacity Yest. Change Gaston 203 199.64 -0.06 Kerr 320 297.39 +0.09

24-Hr. Capacity Yest. Change 240 214.30 -0.06 264 249.86 -0.04

Lake Jordan Neuse Falls

REGIONAL CITIES Today

Wed.

Today

Wed.

City

Hi Lo W Hi Lo W

City

Hi Lo W Hi Lo W

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

86 88 96 98 92 96 98 94 89 96 96 96 96 90 86

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

96 92 96 98 93 87 92 94 98 96 97 96 96 94 92

67 65 69 70 71 69 70 74 65 73 75 72 72 74 63

t t t t t t t s t t s t t s t

83 78 88 89 88 84 90 90 83 93 92 84 90 89 82

63 61 68 69 67 67 71 74 63 72 74 68 68 75 64

t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t

70 74 74 75 78 79 79 75 71 72 74 71 73 75 71

t s s s s s s s t t t t t s t

87 92 91 93 90 88 88 92 88 87 89 91 91 92 84

69 74 74 73 76 77 78 73 70 69 70 73 73 74 67

Weather (W): s-sunny, pc-partly cloudy, sh-showers, t-thunderstorms, r-rain, sf-snow flurries, sn-snow, i-ice

t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t

CHAPEL, from page one

BEACON, from page one

She and her husband both heard music streaming out of a new piano given to the church. It is supposed to soon be joined up-front by a new organ that will get there the same way. On Aug. 10 of 2007, Betty had stood in Union Chapel’s cemetery across Raleigh Road to watch in horror as a fast-moving blaze triggered by lightning devoured four Sunday School classrooms and the sanctuary built in 1829 that she and Jerry had gotten married in nearly 54 years ago. “It’s a long time with the same man, isn’t it?” she asked, grinning. “Time to get another one.” The mirth faded from her eyes as her thoughts returned to what had happened to the community landmark and most of its furnishings. Some of them were original, stained-glass windows worth hundreds of thousands of dollars that had been made in France and had hung in the sanctuary. About a dozen of the same-type windows that had decorated the old classrooms were saved from the fire. They were installed around the successive spaces after what had been wooden frames were replaced with ones made of aluminum. Other survivors include a charred Bible snatched from the pulpit moments before it disintegrated and a brass cross that might owe its twisted shape to a bolt of electricity. The destruction occurred on a Friday afternoon in

may have received to pay for demolition and cleanup. Attorney Karlene Turrentine maintained that her client, Abdelhalim, is prepared to go forward with the home ownership provision and that he is willing fix all that needs to be fixed. Abdelhalim’s real estate agent, Vance County Commissioner Terry Garrison, said that, while the goal of home ownership was appropriate when Abdelhalim bought the property in a 2007 foreclosure sale, the situation is different since the burst of the nationwide housing bubble. Garrison said that efforts were made to market the property for more than a year and a half at $1.2 million and that there were interested persons from California to Florida to Vermont. But, once they learned of the home ownership provision, they dropped out. The HUD-sponsored low-income complex, which dates to 1973, was closed in 2006 at the request of the previous council after the property had become notorious for crime and unsanitary conditions. The previous council wanted Beacon Light

100-degree weather that combined with the intense heat of burning 178-year-old wood to overcome four fire fighters who miraculously only required treatment at the scene. “My neighbor called and said the church was on fire,” Betty recalled Sunday. “When I got there, it (the building) was only smoking at the top (of the roof) in the east corner. I didn’t think it would burn all the way down.” Somewhere between the beginning and the end, she saw the steeple with its cross on top fall back into the fire. “It was terrible,” Betty confided, nearly whispering. “It was horrible.” During an interview while the flames were spreading, Betty had expressed hope that the firefighters who came from at least 10 volunteer departments would be able to save the long, adjacent education building. “Then we can have church until we can build another one, which I’m sure we will,” she added at the time. Her wish and her prediction both came true. As for Jerry’s comments about his new surroundings, he only said, “It’s okay.” “You’re a man of few words, aren’t you?” the visitor asked the lifelong member. His wife had joined Union Chapel the day of their wedding. “Yep.” Contact the writer at awheless@hendersondispach.com.

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redeveloped with singlefamily homes. The council majority in June postponed going ahead with a demolition so the city could hear from a potential buyer, Twin City, which is a Greensboro real estate management firms. Councilman Garry Daeke backed Williams and cast the lone vote against holding off the demolition action. Twin City representatives wanted to have rental units on the property. During a Wednesday meeting of the council’s Land Planning and Development Committee in which six of the eight council members were present, Twin City’s proposal was denied. Terms were then spelled out ordering demolition of the units down to a green field, but making clear the city would be willing to work with Abdelhalim. Garrison on Monday said that, while Abdelhalim is willing to pursue having home ownership on the property, “Personally, it’s going to be a huge, huge risk on his part or anybody’s part, to do that.” Contact the writer at bwest@ hendersondispatch.com.

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24 hours through 6 p.m. yest. ......... 0.00” Month to date .................................. 0.71” Normal month to date ..................... 1.22” Year to date ................................... 22.04” Normal year to date ...................... 27.04”

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Attention Parents of Young Children Don’t let your child be left behind. Give your child the support he or she needs to do well in school! If you need assistance in giving your child a SMART START, please see the services and telephone numbers. Help your child enter school TODAY - healthy and ready to succeed!

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Local News

The Daily Dispatch

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Deaths Michael D. Bass HENDERSON — Michael Dale Bass, 34, of 364 Geranium Lane, Henderson, died Friday, Aug. 7, 2009, in Raleigh. Born in Durham County, he was the son of Carolyn Rhew Brown of Oxford and the late James Linwood Bass. He was an employee of Acousti Engineering Inc. and a member of Living Stones Church of God. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Living Stones Church of God, conducted by the Rev. Milton Abbott. Burial will follow in Oak Grove Memorial Gardens in Durham. In addition to his mother, he is survived by his stepfather, Walter R. Brown; his wife, Bonnie Lanae B. Bass; three daughters, Amber Bass, Sabrina Bass and Katrina Bass, all of the home; two sisters, Deborah B. Davis of Timberlake and Vicki Michelle B. Shaw of Rougemont; and four brothers, James Kenneth “Butch” Bass of Stovall, Bryant Martin “Marty” Bass and Jeffrey Lynn “Jeff” Bass, both of Franklinton, and Dennis Troy Bass of Durham. The family will receive friends today, from 7-8:30 p.m., at Flowers Funeral Home. All other times, they will be at the home, 364 Geranium Lane, Henderson. Serving as active pallbearers will be Tony Dement, Tom Castle, Freddie Lloyd, Robbie Overton, Billy Ray and Bobby Ray. Arrangements are by Flowers Funeral Home of Henderson.

Suzanne V. Roy WARRENTON — Suzanne Van Roy, 53, died Sunday, Aug. 9, 2009, at Maria Parham Medical Center. Her father, John J. Van Roy, preceded her in death. She was a member of St. John’s Catholic Church in Roanoke Rapids. Father Michael Butler will conduct funeral mass at 1 p.m. Wednesday at St. James Catholic Church in Henderson. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

Georgia A. Pegram VAUGHAN — Georgia Arelene Pegram, 52, died Saturday, Aug. 8, 2009, at Halifax Regional Medical Center. Mrs. Pegram was a Franklin County native born to the late Thurman K. Carroll Sr. and Essie Mae Frazier Carroll Seamster. Arlene was manager of MSAT Electronics in Littleton since 1992. She was also the former owner and operator of Pegram’s Flower Shop in Littleton for many years. She loved flowers and her family very much. The Rev. Jimmy King will conduct funeral ser-

vices at 2 p.m. today at Littleton Baptist Church with burial to follow in Sunset Hill Cemetery. She is survived by her husband, William Wyatt Pegram; her children, William Patrick Pegram and Suzanne Leigh Pegram and fiancé, James Fitts; three brothers, Robert M. Harris and wife, Suniy of Raleigh, Thurman K. Carroll Jr. and wife, Katherine, of Oxford, and T.L. Carroll and wife, Beth, of Spotsylvania, Va.; four sisters, Mildred Durett and husband, Jeffrey, of Ladysmith, Va., Ruth Ann Brooks and husband, Ronnie, of Carma Church, Va., Peggy Edwards and husband,

She is survived by her mother, Bernice Van Roy of Macon; her sister, Margaret Van Roy Preston of Raleigh; brothers, Russell Van Roy of Macon, Joseph Van Roy of Rougemont and James Van Roy of New York, N.Y. Flowers are accepted or memorial donations may be made to St. John’s Catholic Church in Roanoke Rapids. Arrangements are by Blaylock Funeral Home of Warrenton.

Memorial Park. He is survived by a wife, Diane Roberts Waller; a daughter, Tanisha Ross of Durham; four sons, Laquan Waller and Victor Waller, both of Newark, N.J., and Keyon Waller and Jason Waller, both of Oxford; and a sister, Vergina Edwards of Durham. The viewing will be today from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. at Wright Funeral Home. Arrangements are by Wright Funeral Home.

Lawrence T. Waller

David E. Watson

OXFORD — The Rev. Lawrence T. Waller, 54, of 2676 Bryans Hill Road, died Friday, Aug. 7, 2009, at Durham Regional Hospital. He was the son of the late Carlye Waller and Margaret Cooley Waller. He was a professional truck driver and a former employee of Blue Links. Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. today at Wright Funeral Home Chapel by the Rev. Kirk McCoy. Burial will be in Meadowview

HENDERSON — David Earl Watson, 44, of 896 Bearpond Road, Henderson, died Saturday, Aug. 8, 2009, in Franklin County. Born in Rose Hill, he was the son of the late Franklin Watson Jr. and Mattie Bell Jordan Watson. He was a carpenter and a member of New Hope Baptist Church. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at New Hope Baptist Church, conducted by the Rev. Henry Abbott. Burial

son, Clarence Watson Jr., Bobby Watson Jr., Phillip Watson, Kevin Watson and Tim Purvis. Flowers will be accepted, or memorials may be made to New Hope Baptist Church, P.O. Box 111, Kittrell, N.C. 27544. Arrangements are by Flowers Funeral Home.

Ricky, of Ladysmith, Va., and Tina Spain and husband, Roger, of Wise; a grandson, William Thomas Fitts; and her stepmother, Ann Carroll of Ladysmith, Va. Pallbearers will be Robby Carroll, Mike Carroll, Dewitt Mullins, Bobby Neal, Chris Lewis and Jerry Johnson. Memorial donations may be made to Littleton Baptist Church or to a charity of one’s choice. The family met at Blaylock Funeral Home in Littleton on Monday from 7-9 p.m. Arrangements are by Blaylock Funeral Home of Littleton.

SCHOOLS, from page one

Their bids cover the 2009-2010 school year. The higher bids were $463,400 from PET Dairy and $71,200 from Flowers Baking Company. In other business Monday night, Arnetra Terry, Reading First coordinator, told the Board of Education Minerva H. Williams that Aycock Elementary has been recognized as a Reading First Exemplary OXFORD — Minerva School for 2008-2009. Harris Hester Williams, This is the third time 93, of 306 Granville St., Aycock has received the died Friday, Aug. 7, 2009, award, according to Terry. at her home. She was the She said it was one of five daughter of the late Matt winners that were recently Harris and Hallie Overby chosen from a total of 13 Harris. schools across the State. Terry gave the credit to Funeral services will Principal Laura Rigsbee, be conducted at 1 p.m. today at Kingdom Hall by Assistant Principal Kristen Brother Kenneth Bauman. Boyd and Velma Robertson, the school’s reading Burial will be in Meadcoach. owview Memorial Park. The award is sponsored She is survived by four by the Office of Reading daughters, Hallie Hester First at the State Departof the home, Yvonne ment of Public Instruction Freeman of Fayetteville, Shirley Ann White of Contact the writer at awheBurlington and Annette less@hendersondispatch.com. Reid of Wake Forest; three sons, Ralph Hester of the home, and James Hester Jr. and Jasper Hester, both of Oxford; a sister, Geneva Green Royster of Montgomery, Ala.; six grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren. ONLY Arrangements are by Wright Funeral Home.

Paid Obituary

will follow in the church cemetery. Surviving are two sons, David Earl Watson Jr. and Daniel Scott Watson, both of Henderson; a sister, Connie W. Elmore, of Henderson; three brothers, Clarence Ray Watson and Dennis Scott Watson, both of Henderson, and Bobby Joe Watson, of Warrenton; and a granddaughter. The family will receive friends immediately following the service at the cemetery. Serving as active pallbearers will be Brian Wat-

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state of north carolina utilities commission raleigh docket no. e-100, sub 118 before the north carolina utilities commission in the matter of investigation of integrated resource Planning in north carolina - 2008

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notice of Public hearing

Notice is hereby giveN that the North carolina Utilities commission (commission) has scheduled a public hearing in conjunction with the commission’s review and evaluation of integrated resource Planning (irP) in North carolina. the purpose of the review and evaluation is to ensure that each regulated electric utility operating in North carolina is developing reliable projections of the long range demands for electricity in its anticipated demands in a cost-effect manner. irP is intended to identify those electric resource options which can be obtained at least cost to ratepayers in North carolina consistent with adequate, reliable electric service. irP considers conservation, efficiency, load management and other demand-side programs alternative in the selection of resource options. in addition, new rules require that electric power suppliers include their plans for meeting customer electric needs via renewable energy resources and energy efficiency programs. During the public hearing to be held in this docket, the commission will receive testimony from nonexpert public witnesses with respect to the most current irPs (including renewable energy and efficiency plans) filed on or before November 3, 2008, by carolina Power & Light company d/b/a Progress energy carolinas, inc.: Duke energy carolinas, LLc: virginia electric and Power company d/b/a Dominion North carolina Power: North carolina electric Membership corporation: Piedmont eMc: blue ridge eMc: commission will receive testimony from nonexpert public witnesses with respect to the renewable energy and energy efficiency Portfolio standard compliance Plans filed by greenco solutions, inc. and halifax eMc. a night hearing for the convenience of public witnesses and solely for the purpose of taking nonexpert public witness testimony is hereby scheduled as follows: raleigh: 7 p.m., on Monday, august 31, 2009, commission hearing room 2115, Dobbs building, 430 North salisbury street, raleigh, North carolina. anyone wishing to review the irPs and renewable energy and energy efficiency Portfolio standard compliance Plans filed by the utilities may do so either at the commission’s website, www.ncuc.net by selecting the Docket information tab and entering Docket No. e-100, sub 118, or at the office of the chief clerk of the commission, Dobbs building, 430 North salisbury street, raleigh, North carolina. Upon request, the chief clerk will place copies of the irPs, compliance plans and any other documents filed in this proceeding in centrallylocated public libraries where they may be copied without prohibition. such a request may be made by writing to the chief clerk, North carolina Utilities commission, 4325 Mail service center, raleigh, North carolina 276994325, by giving the name and address of the library to which the information is to be mailed. Persons desiring to present testimony for the record should appear at the public hearing. Persons desiring to send written statements to inform the commission of their positions in the matter shall address their statements to: chief clerk North carolina Utilities commission 4325 Mail service center raleigh, Nc 27699-4325 the Public staff-North carolina Utilities commission, through its executive Director, is required by statute to represent the using and consuming public in proceedings before the commission. Written statements to the Public staff should be addressed to: robert P. gruber, executive Director Public staff - North carolina Utilities commission 4326 Mail service center raleigh, Nc 27699-4326 the attorney general is also authorized by stature to represent the using and consuming public in proceeding before the commission. statements to the attorney general should be addressed to: the honorable roy cooper attorney general of North carolina c/o Utilities section 9001 Mail service center raleigh, Nc 27699-9001 issUeD by orDer of the coMMissioN. this the 28th day of July, 2009. North caroLiNa UtiLities coMMissioN gail L Mount, Deputy clerk

Back to school means it’s time for the

N.I.E. program The Daily Dispatch, through the support of sponsors, puts newspapers in classrooms so that students can learn about the community in which they live. The Daily Dispatch, unlike textbooks, is a current history of Vance, Granville, and Warren counties that is used as a source of information and reference for reports and displays. Our local teachers enjoy using The Daily Dispatch as a teaching tool every year. Ask your children’s teacher if they use the Daily Dispatch in their classroom. If you’re a teacher, fax a written request to (252) 430-0125 to sign up for the 2009/2010 school year. Please include: Name of school Teacher’s name Subject taught Number of students Do you want a teacher’s copy as well? (Please Circle) Yes No If you would like to become a new sponsor of a classroom or have questions about our Newspapers in Education (N.I.E.) program, please call Karen Holt at (252) 213-7831 or A.J. Woodell at (252) 436-2801.

Business & Farm

The Daily Dispatch

Mexican cartels smuggle oil to U.S. By MARTHA MENDOZA Associated Press Writer

MEXICO CITY â&#x20AC;&#x201D; U.S. refineries bought millions of dollars worth of oil stolen from Mexican government pipelines and smuggled across the border, the U.S. Justice Department told The Associated Press â&#x20AC;&#x201D; illegal operations now led by Mexican drug cartels expanding their reach. Criminals â&#x20AC;&#x201D; mostly drug gangs â&#x20AC;&#x201D; tap remote pipelines, sometimes building pipelines of their own, to siphon off hundreds of millions of dollars worth of oil each year, the Mexican oil monopoly said. At least one U.S. oil executive has pleaded guilty to conspiracy in such a deal. On Tuesday, the U.S. Homeland Security department is scheduled to return $2.4 million to Mexicoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tax

administration, the first batch of money seized during a binational investigation into smuggled oil that authorities expect to lead to more arrests and seizures. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The United States is working with the Mexican government on the theft of oil,â&#x20AC;? said Nancy Herrera, spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorneyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s office in Houston. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an ongoing investigation, with one indictment so far.â&#x20AC;? In that case, Donald Schroeder, president of Houston-based Trammo Petroleum, is scheduled to be sentenced in December after pleading guilty in May. In a $2 million scheme, Herrera said, Schroeder purchased stolen Mexican oil that had been brought across the border in trucks and barges and sold it to various U.S. refineries,

which she did not identify. Trammoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tiny firm profited about $150,000 in the scheme, she said. Schroederâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s attorneys said in an e-mail that neither they nor their client would respond to APâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s requests for comment. Bill Holbrook, spokesman for the National Petrochemical & Refiners Association, said a single indictment against a small company should not be used to smear the reputation of the entire U.S. oil industry, â&#x20AC;&#x153;and is not indicative of how domestic refiners operate.â&#x20AC;? But in Mexico, federal police commissioner Rodrigo Esparza said the Zetas, a fierce drug gang aligned with the Gulf cartel, used false import documents to smuggle at least $46 million worth of oil in tankers to unnamed U.S. refineries.

GM pulls out of mercury partnership By KEN THOMAS Associated Press Writer

lights and antilock brakes in vehicles built in the 1980s and 1990s. More than half of them are in GM vehicles built before 2000. Mercury released into the air can accumulate in plants, fish and humans. Children and fetuses are vulnerable to the effects of the toxic metal, which can damage the development of the nervous system. The auto industry partnership, called the End of

Life Vehicle Solutions, or ELVS, was created in 2005 to prevent mercury emissions from being released into the environment when vehicles are crushed and shredded. It works closely with the National Vehicle Mercury Switch Recovery Program, which the Environmental Protection Agency helped form with automakers, the steel industry and environmentalists in 2006.

WASHINGTON â&#x20AC;&#x201D; General Motors has quit working with a partnership that collects toxic parts from scrapped automobiles, jeopardizing an effort to prevent mercury pollution just as hundreds of thousands of clunkers are headed to recyclers. Participants in the environmental program told The Associated Press the timing of GMâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s departure could hurt their work. The governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;cash-for-clunkersâ&#x20AC;? 1020 S. Garnett St. â&#x20AC;˘ Henderson, NC 27536 program will lead to trade-in 1020 S. Garnett St. â&#x20AC;˘ Henderson, NC 27536 and recycling of an estimated 750,000 vehicles, some Skip Satterwhite of which contain mercury Account Executive switches. Phone: 252-438-8165 Account Executive GM says itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a new comFax: 252-438-6640 Phone: 252-438-8165 â&#x20AC;˘ Fax: 252-438-6640 pany, formed with substanskipsatterwhite@ncol.net Cell: 919-522-3825 tial government aid in the www.westerinsurance.com skipsatterwhite@ncol.net â&#x20AC;˘ www.westerinsurance.com wake of bankruptcy protection, and is not a member of the partnership because 1020 S.itGarnett St. â&#x20AC;˘ Henderson, NC 27536 doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t make vehicles with mercury switches and is not responsible for the older Account Executive vehicles. The old company, Buy Selections which is still under bankPhone: 252-438-8165 â&#x20AC;˘ Fax: 252-438-6640 Are Factory ruptcy court supervision, Cell: 919-522-3825 ENDLESS Direct says it is reviewing agreeskipsatterwhite@ncol.net â&#x20AC;˘ www.westerinsurance.com ments involving the former www.wammockutilitybuildings.com company and declined to comment. 401 Kenmore Ave., Louisburg â&#x20AC;˘ 919-496-2061 Monday-Thursday 8:30am-5pm â&#x20AC;˘ Friday 8:30am-4pm â&#x20AC;˘ Saturday 9am-2pm Roughly 36 million 1211 N. Wesleyan Blvd., Rocky Mount â&#x20AC;˘ 252-446-8002 mercury switches were Monday-Friday 10am-5pm used in trunk convenience

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A DAY ON WALL STREET

Dow Jones industrials

9,000

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.

8,000 7,000

-32.12 A

Pct. change from previous: -0.34%

High 9,371.96

6,000

Low 9,290.34

August 10, 2009

2,000

Nasdaq composite

1,800 1,600 1,400 1,200

-8.01 1,992.24

High 1,999.55

Pct. change from previous: -0.4%

Standard & Poorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 500 -3.38 1,007.10

Pct. change from previous: -0.33%

1,000

Low 1,979.39

August 10, 2009

High 1,010.12

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

Low 1,000.99

SOURCE: SunGard

Stocks

10,000

August 10, 2009

9,337.95

Tuesday, August 10, 2009

MARKET ROUNDUP 081009: Market charts show Dow, S&P 500, and Nasdaq; stand-alone; 2cetals x 4 1/2 inches; urrencies 96 mm x 114 mm; staff

& M

Editors: Allcurrency figures EST Aluminum PM -$0.8650 per lb., N.Y. Merc spot NEW YORK (AP) â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Key ex- as of: 5:25:03 Mon. change Monday: NOTE:rates Figures reflect market fluctuations after close; may not match other AP content Copper -$2.8215 Cathode full plate, U.S. destinations. Dollar vs: ExchgRate PvsDay Copper $2.7665 N.Y. Merc spot Mon. Yen 97.07 97.63 Lead - $1864.00 metric ton, London Metal Euro $1.4132 $1.4172 Exch. Pound $1.6464 $1.6668 Zinc - $0.8504 per lb., delivered. Swiss franc 1.0859 1.0830 Gold - $945.00 Handy & Harman (only daily Canadian dollar 1.0899 1.0827 quote). Mexican peso 12.9295 12.9565 Gold - $945.00 troy oz., NY Merc spot Mon. Metal Price PvsDay Silver - $14.470 Handy & Harman (only NY Merc Gold $945.00 $957.70 daily quote). Silver - $14.348 troy oz., N.-. Merc spot Mon. NY HSBC Bank US $944.00 $956.00 NY Merc Silver $14.348 $14.661Â Mercury - $640.00 per 76 lb flask, N.Y. Platinum -$1268.00 troy oz., N.Y. (contract). Nonferrous Platinum -$1250.90 troy oz., N.Y. Merc spot NEW YORK (AP) â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Spot nonferrous metal Mon. n.q.-not quoted, n.a.-not available r-revised prices Monday:

ACS ATT Ball Corp. BankAmerica BB&T Coca-Cola CVS Duke Energy Exxon Ford General Elec. Motors Liquidation 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 Wendyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Establis Delhaize

45.17 25.58 47.80 16.68 25.91 49.44 34.75 15.52 69.18 7.72 14.57 0.96 27.10 118.70 60.72 22.23 3.04 6.43 23.33 3.19 57.41 17.56 52.17 39.13 4.97 46.60 44.08 6.27 3.71 21.69 36.70 30.92 49.26 49.72 28.64 5.06 66.89

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Opinion

The Daily Dispatch

XII I

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VIII VII VI

IV V

X IX

XII

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Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Editorial Board: James Edwards, Publisher Glenn Craven, Editor

jedwards@hendersondispatch.com gcraven@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 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments; As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life for evermore. Psalm 133

Our Opinion

Health care debate: Shouts and promises, minus facts The volume is rising in the American health care debate, but volume is no indication of fact or honesty. And neither side has a monopoly on lies or distortions. Republicans shout down “Obama Care” by making wild accusations, such as claims that a “death panel” will be seated to determine which seniors get life-saving care and accusations that seniors will be forced to undergo counseling on “end of life” options, including ludicrous suggestions that the sessions might amount to state-advocated euthanasia. Meanwhile, Democrats demonize both Republicans — not all of whom are off their rockers, nor necessarily wrong for opposing government health care — and the insurance industry, as well. A recent ad by the Democratic National Committee claims that President Obama’s health care plan “will end unfair insurance practices like denying coverage for a pre-existing condition, outrageous out-of-pocket expenses, and dropping coverage when you get too sick.” For starters, why is it “unfair” for an insurance company to deny coverage of pre-existing conditions? If health insurance providers will be forced to insure us against illnesses we already have, should auto insurance companies also be required to fix the car you already wrecked before you bought a policy? As for dropping coverage when an insured party “gets too sick,” we’ve always had issues with insurance companies that love to collect our premiums, but hate to pay out benefits. Which is just about every insurance company we’ve ever encountered. Of course, even some advocates for the Obama health care plan admit that the government — saddled with the burden of insuring everyone — won’t always be able to match the level of service many Americans have come to expect from their health care plans, and in some cases will likely have to deny treatments as being too expensive. So what’s the difference, really? And if you think Americans’ out-ofpocket health care expenses are outrageous now, wait until we as taxpayers are footing the bill for everybody’s coverage, not just paying for our own families. Of course, exactly how much this is all going to cost and how we’re going to pay for it can’t yet be explained by the Democrats, who seem to want us to pass something first and then worry later about such trivial matters as affordability. There’s plenty of reason to oppose the nationalized health care plan as Obama and congressional Democrats have advanced it. Republicans don’t need to lie or distort the truth to stir opposition, and they should focus on the facts. As for the Democrats, a few more of those pesky facts would be appreciated.

Quotable “So, what you have is a lot of helicopters. You’ve got the sightseeing tours. You have police helicopters. You have the weekend warriors who fly up and down the river. All these airplanes are flying 1,000 feet or lower, and a lot of the pilots are up there to see the sights, so they may not be seeing and avoiding things as they should be.” — Justin Green, aviation attorney and former military pilot, responding to calls for more regulation of the air corridor over the Hudson River after New York city’s worst air disaster in eight years.

It isn’t polite, it’s just democracy I have no illusions about those protesters at recent town hall meetings on health care. Some are fueled by angry conservative groups. Some are hopped up on radio hosts’ rants and ravings. Some are Barack Obama haters. Some use one piece of wrong information to smear an entire event. And some — maybe even most — just think the whole idea of government health care stinks. But all of them — all of them — have the right to be there, and the right to their point of view. Liberal-minded thinkers who regularly speak up for the poor and underprivileged cannot suddenly yank the rug when it comes to free speech Mitch for others. Albom No matter what I

think of national health Tribune Media care — no matter what Services you think, either — it is an issue that affects everyone, and everyone should have the same right to talk, argue or shout about it. The fact that some are doing so in an impolite, abrasive way is unfortunate. But then, there is precedent. Let’s be honest. Those of us who grew up in the 1960s took great pride in storming events and yelling slogans. We didn’t care who we interrupted. We were, in our minds, right and proud and arguing for our beliefs. And we look back on that era now with a certain pride. We were engaged. We were involved. We gave a damn. Well, some of us are the same people now offended by critics shouting “Socialism!” or “Kill the bill!” at these town hall meetings. We chide the protesters for lacking all the facts or only looking out for their small group’s interests. But ask yourself, did we always have all

the information when we did the shouting? Not really. Did we always read all the fine print? Probably not. We had our basic core beliefs (Stop the war! Save the environment! More rights for women!) and we fought for them whenever we perceived an enemy. Well, like it or not, people perceive an enemy when they hear about a government health care plan. Especially one so complex, confusing and undercooked that no one can really say what it will or won’t allow, or who will or won’t pay for it. And so they yell. And if they are yelling incorrect facts, it is the burden of those hosting these events (usually Democratic lawmakers) to correct them. And if they are yelling they hate it, they don’t want it — well, what’s wrong with that? Now, I know some of these protesters are nudged there by dubiously named groups like Americans for Prosperity, which sounds harmless enough, until you check and see the group’s leader once organized for Enron and worked with disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff. And I know some people just want to see Obama fail, and destroying his health care baby would be a good first step. But that’s what America is. That’s what town halls are for. The only problem I have is when people won’t let others speak

or only come to disrupt. That’s not right. That’s not democracy. But the rest is. If you feel other people are ill informed, take the time to try to correct them. If you feel others are shouting to bring down a cause, shout to bring it up. But I would rather live in a place where people questioned what their government proposed rather than swallowing it blindly — especially a government whose members guard our tax money while taking bribes, shout morality and then get caught with their pants down, or lecture businessmen about private planes and then order a bunch for themselves. What did Democrats expect with a bill like this? Roses and hosannas? Many who supported Obama’s campaign promises of health care for everyone wouldn’t have done so if they read how he now plans to pay for it and administer it. It may not be pretty, but shouting and confrontations are part of this country and have been from the start. More manners would be better. But silence would be worse.

Rationed health care already here “Rationing” is one of the scariest words in the current health care debate. It conjures up apocalyptic nightmare images from “Soylent Green,” the sci-fi thriller about a future in which the old and weak are quietly lured into early extinction for the sake of future generations. What the scaremongers don’t like to talk about is how much our private insurers ration now — mostly for the sake of their own profits. They’re clever enough to avoid using the R-word. They use other words, like “Read the fine print on your policy.” My friend Sarah Wildman learned the hard way. She’s the new mom with what she calls a “$20,000 baby.” That’s how much she and her husband had to pay out of their own pockets after her insurer decided her baby was a “preexisting condition.” Self-employed, Sarah and her husband fall into the individual insurance market, which the American Medical Association estimates to be as high as 27 million people. Falling between the fully covered and the uncovered, their numbers have grown faster as thousands of Americans lose their job-based insurance every day. Some of them are women who discover the hard way, as Sarah did, that if you bought maternity coverage after the pregnancy began, the fetus is viewed as an uncovered “preexisting condition.”

The Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978 requires employers with more than 15 workers to include maternity benefits in their insurance packages. But only 14 states require maternity coverage in policies sold on the individual Clarence market, according to Page the Kaiser Tribune Media Family Services Foundation. And a report last fall by the National Women’s Law Center found only 12 percent of 3,500 individual insurance policies included comprehensive maternity coverage. Another 20 percent offered it with a rider that cost as much as $1,100 a month. Others required a two-year waiting period. Fortunately Sarah’s story had a happy ending. She’s a freelance writer for magazines like The New Republic, The New York Times, The American Prospect and the online publication Slate. When she told the company’s press rep she was going to write about their “crappy” maternity policy, “I got kicked up the food chain.” In the end, she reports, she was able to get 90 percent of her hospital costs paid by the company, which also promised

to adjust claims paid to some similarly situated women. After she wrote about her horror story in Double XX, a woman-oriented Slate spinoff, she heard from numerous fellow sufferers, some with hospital bills bigger than hers. Last Thursday she testified before the House Joint Economic Committee, which released a report that found women more economically vulnerable than men to high medical costs and related bankruptcy. She also has received the inevitable scolding in today’s heated blogosphere from opponents of national health insurance reform. It’s her own fault, some said; she should have read the fine print. Right. As if everybody reads the fine print on their insurance policies — and understands it. And she hears the fears of those who suspect national reform will lead to government rationing of health care. I’m old enough to remember how similar fears were vented when Medicare was born in the 1960s. It is now so popular that President Obama and others have heard satisfied, if a little confused, constituents say, “Keep your government hands off my Medicare,” even though Medicare is a federal program. Left unsaid by those who raise fears of rationing by any “government-run” or government-related health care is how much rationing the insurance industry does now. For decades, experts writing in the New England Journal

of Medicine and elsewhere have concluded that we do “ration” health care. We just do it through gross disparities in race, sex, age, regions, income and education. And, although Sarah’s insurer may deny it, we also ration it to those who are lucky enough to have access to the big soapbox that she happened to have. If anything, social conservatives should be on her side. By penalizing mothers in this way, the private insurance industry throws more barriers in the way of parents and prospective parents than the government does. Under pressure, the private insurance industry has come to the table. A spokesman for the insurance industry recently responded to congressional criticism by listing concessions that the industry has offered as alternatives to a publicly funded option. The industry has proposed “guaranteed coverage for preexisting conditions, discontinuing rating based on a person’s health status or gender, and a personal coverage requirement to get everyone into the system,” said Robert Zirkelbach, spokesman for America’s Health Insurance Plans. Sounds great. But why wait? Insurers don’t need the government’s permission to reform themselves. Just do it. E-mail Clarence Page at cpage@ tribune.com, or write to him c/o Tribune Media Services, 2225 Kenmore Ave., Suite 114, Buffalo, NY 14207.

DEAR ABBY: I have recently met a woman I really connect with, but I have a problem with settling down. I have always had difficulty restricting myself to one person when I’m seriously dating. I want to change so my lifestyle won’t come back and bite me in the butt — but I’m not sure what to do. What I’m asking is, what do you suggest for someone like me to get comfortable with the idea of settling down so that I won’t be destinedclient for failure? — UNSURE IN RICHMOND, VA. DEAR UNSURE: Slow down. You may have been dating the wrong women. When

Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne will fillPhillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Write Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.

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DEAR ABBY: My father, who is in bad health, recently announced that he would like to be cremated and buried at the foot of my mother’s grave. My birth mother died 28 years ago when I was 2, after they had been married only three years. Dad married my stepmother when I was 8. I feel he should be buried with the wife he’s been with for 22 years. She is the one who has seen him through the worst times in his life, his heart attack and stroke. My stepmother seems to have no negative feelings about it. Am I wrong for thinking that a husband and wife should lie side-by-side when their time comes — with a single headstone with their names and dates of birth/ death/marriage? Or is there some tradition I don’t know about that he should be buried with his first wife? — ENQUIRING IN CLARKSTON, WASH. DEAR ENQUIRING: Your stepmother is realistic and unsentimental. She knows your father was married before, and they may have discussed this between the two of them. Perhaps she feels that because your father prefers to be interred with your mother, that’s where he belongs. Your stepmother had him during the most important years — while he was living and breathing. And who knows? She may marry again, so think positively.

8/11/09

VARIETY

two people are truly compatible, there is less temptation to look for other company. Take things slowly and get to know the lady you’re currently dating. If she qualifies in all the areas you think are important and you still find yourself looking around for something in addition, then you may have a problem and should talk to a therapist because no one woman can ever completely satisfy a man who craves variety.

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DEAR ABBY: My 18-yearold sister, “Cheryl,” left home abruptly a week ago. She suddenly stopped taking all her medications, shut off her cell phone and left town with her underage boyfriend. She is a delightful person who also happens to be diabetic, asthmatic and bipolar. Mom received one phone call (from a landline) mentioning that she “might” be heading toward the East Coast. I consider my sister dangerous to herself and others because she has a history of reckless violence when she’s off her meds. My question is, how can you find someone who doesn’t Dear want to be found Abby when they Universal Press NEED to be Syndicate found? — HEARTBROKEN SISTER IN INDIANA DEAR SISTER: If you think YOU are worried, what about the parents of the underage boy? Your next step should be to contact them and also your mother, so that all of you can notify the police and report them missing. And when you do, be sure to inform them that your sister has several conditions that require medications, that she’s off all of them and could be a danger to herself and the young man. Then cross your fingers.

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Today’s Birthdays: James Bryan Herrick, U.S. cardiologist (1861-1954); Bertram Mills, English circus entrepreneur (1873-1938); Enid Blyton, British author (1897-1968); Alex Haley, U.S. author (1921-1992); Ian Charleston, British actor (1949-1990); Angus Wilson, British author (1913--1991); Hulk Hogan, U.S. wrestler/ actor (1953--); Ali Shaheed Muhammad, U.S. hip-hop artist (1970--).

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