The Daily Dispatch - Thursday, September 10, 2009 by The Daily Dispatch

CMYK Departing Shope backs Strickland

Perdue signs consumer protection law

From Webb to Gardner-Webb

From Page One, Page 3A

Business & Farm, Page 5A

Sports, Page 1B THURSDAY, September 10, 2009

Volume XCV, No. 212

(252) 436-2700

www.hendersondispatch.com

50 cents

City zoning board goes slow on motel use permit Safety violations shut the business down day after fatal shooting By WILLIAM F. WEST Daily Dispatch Writer

The Zoning Board of Adjustment decided to hold off granting a special use permit allowing the reopening of the former America’s Best Value Inn at 200 Parham Road because the board

members want to hear from the owner and/or whoever is going to manage the business. The board, meeting on Tuesday afternoon, agreed to continue the matter until the Oct. 6 meeting after spending more than an hour on the subject of the motel, which the Fire Department shut down on June 15 for safety violations and the day after a fatal shooting on the property. The board members were particularly concerned after hearing in detail from Fire Chief Danny Wilkerson, Police Chief Keith

Sidwell, City Code Compliance Director Corey Williams and City Planning Director Erris Dunston about safety violations and unsanitary conditions at the motel. And the board members were particularly concerned of there being no evidence of a first floor room having been decontaminated after police in December conducted a raid resulting in the shutdown of a methamphetamine laboratory and the arrest of an Arkansas man. The latter at one point Tuesday prompted board member

Marchita Vann to tell the motel owner’s representative, Hitesh Amin, that her question would be, “Are you all really — are whoever — are they really going to be sincere about repairing this hotel/motel?” Amin told the board that all of the issues would be fixed and that the owner, Mahendra Patel, is spending $100,000 on fire alarms. Amin identified himself as from Richmond, Va., and a best friend of Patel, who lives in Nanuet, N.Y. Amin said he worked at the motel in 2001, 2002 and 2003

From STAFF REPORTS

Old BB&T on Chestnut eyed for new home By AL WHELESS Daily Dispatch Writer

The Henderson-Vance Economic Development Commission plans to ask the County Commissioners to fund the relocation of Vance-Granville Community College’s Small Business Center from the main campus to downtown. Randy Parker, presiDaily Dispatch/ASHLEY STEVEN AYSCUE dent of VGCC, was at the EDC meeting in the Perry Library Wednesday when Chairman Sam Watkins said he will send the comA bug feeds on a yellow cosmos flower growing on the side of Club Pond Road off Vicksboro missioners a letter seeking Road Wednesday afternoon. rent money payment for space for the center in the Please see SHOOTING, page 4A old BB&T bank building on Chestnut Street. The EDC hopes to also move its office in the Barnette Building on Graham Avenue to the Our Hometown . . . . . 2A former BB&T site. WatBusiness & Farm. . . . 5A kins pointed out that there Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . 6A would be no additional cost Light Side . . . . . . . . . 7A In August, the compurpose facility to be built By AL WHELESS to the county for that since missioners approved an at E.M. Rollins ElemenDaily Dispatch Writer Sports. . . . . . . . . . 1-4B it already pays the rent at application for $1,536,396 tary. Comics . . . . . . . . . . . 5B worth of the no-interest The other multi-purpose the current location. Vance Commissioners Classifieds. . . . . . . 6-8B After the college’s board bonds. Sale of the bonds is rooms were approved in voted Monday night to apof trustees meets Sept. subject to final approval by August for New Hope prove a “reapplication” for 21, Parker told the group Elementary at $455,813; Qualified School Construc- the County. Wednesday, he will have County Manager Jerry Carver Elementary at tion Bond funds totaling Today a better idea of what the Ayscue told the board $455,813; and L.B. Yancey $2,365,370. space needs for the center that additional funding of Elementary at $624,770. Members of the board $828,974 has been made Also Monday night, the would be. made the decision as Some... The possibility of havavailable to Vance County board held the first of two directed by the North High: 78 ing room for the center to Schools by the State public hearings necessary Carolina Department of Low: 55 Department of Public before approving a Revital- “incubate” and grow small Public Instruction. Instruction. ization Grant application businesses in the BB&T The bonds can’t be Friday The additional money building was mentioned issued without further Please see VANCE, page 4A will allow a fourth multiconsent by the County. by both Parker and some

Blooming buffet

Vance to reapply for bonds to fund school construction

Index

Weather

...sun

High: 79 Low: 63

Details, 3A

Deaths

EDC members during the meeting. Terry Garrison, who belongs to the economic development organization, told the other members that his fellow Vance Commissioners would probably favor paying 75 percent of the rent under the traditional agreement with Granville County, which pays the other 25 percent in local funding for the college. “We would need to know the uses, the programs, those who would be served and the space needs,” Garrison told Watkins. “I think, perhaps, the more specific your request, the more accommodating we can be,” the commissioner added. Earlier in the meeting, Watkins said the EDC should ask the county to fund “the whole 100 percent,” if it can. He told the other members that it might be possible to get a five-year lease for space for the center instead of the usual 10-year agreement. Henderson Investment Development Corporation has a 60-day option — which expires Oct. 16 — to buy the 7,500-square-foot structure from BB&T for $300,000. According to Watkins, the building has been appraised for up to $1.3 million. He said HIDC needs to know by Oct. 9 whether the Small Business Center would be its main tenant. During an Aug. 19 Please see EDC, page 4A

Police: Bank robber’s getaway car ran out of fuel By WILLIAM F. WEST Daily Dispatch Writer

CREEDMOOR — Police need help finding a man who robbed the RBC Bank at 608 N. Main St. earlier this week. The suspect is described as black and standing five feet, eight inches tall and was seen carrying a small, dark handgun. Obituaries, 4A Police said that the crime occurred at 10:25 a.m. Monday, with the robber demanding bank employees fill up garbage bags he provided to them. Police said the robber

Henderson Dorothy E. Mitchell, 83 Newport News, Va. Thomas H. Paynter, 82 Oxford Thelma Thornton, 82 Vinston E. Thorpe, 64 Warrenton Robert Cheek, 70

Please see MOTEL, page 3A

EDC to ask county to fund business center, office move

Arrest in Hargrove shooting The number of suspects wanted by the Vance County Sheriff’s Office in connection with a July 31 fatal shooting is down to two. According to an arrest report, Sumorrius Lamont Waverly, 23, of 1095 Morgan Road was arrested Sept. 4 when he turned himself in at the Sheriff’s office. He is charged with felony conspiracy, felony attempted robbery with a dangerous weapon and felony assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, inflicting serious injury. His bond was set at $145,000. In custody on the same charges are Tavon Tabarus Durham, 17, and Jason Ryan Warring, 21. Still at large are Christopher Watkins and Tywan Durham.

and is working for free to help Patel. And Amin, who said he would not be the manager, said the plan is to lease the motel to an unnamed operator in Miami. A problem is Amin has no power of attorney, with City Attorney John Zollicoffer saying, “I think the board wants to talk to somebody who has some responsibility about the ongoing operation.” Amin said 80 percent of the job has been done regarding the fire alarms and said electrical

fled in a maroon Chevrolet Impala reported stolen from Durham. The car was found abandoned off Hawley School Road, with police saying the car had apparently run out of fuel. Hawley Middle School, Creedmoor Elementary School and the South Granville High School campus were placed on lockdown until 1:30 p.m. because the robbery occurred near those locations. Anyone with any information is urged to telephone Granville County Crime Stoppers at (919)

693-3100. Crime Stoppers will pay up to $1,000 for information leading to an arrest and a conviction. This is the third RBC location in the Tri-County area to have been victimized by a stickup the last several months. The RBC at 155 Hillsboro St. in Oxford was robbed on April 24 and the RBC at 1207 Dabney Drive in Henderson was robbed on Dec. 5. Durham Herald-Sun reporter Keith Upchurch contributed to this story. Contact the writer at bwest@ hendersondispatch.com.

RBC photo

This photo of the person who held up the RBC bank in Creedmoor on Monday is from a bank camera.

The Daily Dispatch

Mark It Down Today Kerr-Tar RPO — The Kerr-Tar Rural Transportation Planning Organization (RPO) is having a Rural Transportation Advisory Committee (RTAC) meeting at 1:30 p.m. at the Oxford Public Works Facility in Oxford. The public is encouraged to attend. More information, including an agenda and directions to the meeting, can be viewed on the Internet at www.kerrtarcog. org/rpo. 4-H meeting — Warren County 4-H will hold an interest meeting for potential volunteers at the Warren County Extension Office from 6-8 p.m. To register for the meeting or to obtain more information, contact Erin Bain, 4-H youth development extension agent at 257-3640 or erin_bain@ncsu.edu. Parks and Rec meeting — The Henderson-Vance Parks & Recreation Commission will meet at noon at Aycock Recreation Center, 307 Carey Chapel Road. Childbirth classes — Prepared childbirth education classes are held at Granville Medical Center, 1010 College St., in Oxford, every Thursday night from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the first floor conference room. The classes are designed for pregnant women between 24-32 weeks of pregnancy. However, since class sizes are limited and advance registration is required, the instructors recommend that women who are expecting a baby sign up as early as possible. Every effort will be made to fit them into a class series that is close to their due date. Women who are scheduled to deliver their babies at any hospital are welcome to attend. To register for the classes, call the Childbirth Education Department at (919) 690-3208. Retired School Personnel — The Vance County Unit of the North Carolina Retired School Personnel will meet at 11 a.m. at the Western Sizzlin’ on Ruin Creek Road in Henderson. Each member is asked to bring a prospective member. Any one who needs transportation to the meeting should contact Louise Kelley at 438-8071 or W.T. Ramey III at 492-3096. 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). Lions Club — The Henderson Lions Club will meet at 6:30 p.m. at the Henderson Country Club. The guest speaker will be Karen Catalana, a member of the club. She will be speaking on what it’s like to be a Lion’s Club member. Those who are interested in membership in the club should call Randy Oxendine, president, at 438-8034 or send an e-mail to oxendine@nc.rr.com.

Friday Tractor show — The ninth annual Justice Community Antique Tractor, Car and Engine Show will be held today and tomorrow in the Justice community of Franklin County on N.C. 581, nine miles north of Spring Hope. Events include a parade of cars and tractors, music and entertainment, events for children, craft demonstrations, a bake sale and more. An auction of antique farm items will be held at 11 a.m. tomorrow. For more information, call (919) 853-3161. Granville Chamber — Granville County Economic Development Director Jay Tilley will make a presentation at 8 a.m. to the Granville Chamber of Commerce’s Government Forum Committee at the Economic Development Commission office, 310 Williamsboro St., Oxford. Fundraiser — Mums in a variety of colors will be on sale at the John 3:16 Center, 407 East End Ave., Littleton (next to Hagwood’s Car Wash) from 2-6 p.m. and tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mums can also be ordered in advance. For more information and to place an order, call (252) 586-1800. 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.

Guidelines The “Mark It Down” calendar announces events happening in the community that are sponsored by civic organizations, nonprofit groups, government organizations and similar groups. 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. Due to the overwhelming number of churches served by the Dispatch, church events cannot be listed in the “Mark It Down” calendar.

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New guardian ad litem volunteers sworn in Judge Randolph Baskerville swore in a group of new guardian ad litem volunteer advocates at the Aug. 27 session of Juvenile Court in Franklin County. Dawn McKinney, Cynthia Hayes, Tammy Seavert, Tina Dawson, Kathleen Shefchunas, Trevon Lucas, Tammy Seavert and Queen B. Queen of Franklin, Wake, Vance and Warren counties, were sworn in during the ceremony. Guardian ad litem volunteers, along with an attorney advocate, are jointly appointed by a judge to protect the legal rights of children, protect children from further victimization that results from multiple and tem-

Judge Randolph Baskerville (far left) swore in eight new guardian ad litem volunteers from four counties at the Juvenile Court in Franklin County on Aug. 27. porary foster placements, and help the children attain permanence as quickly as possible. The Guardian ad Litem Program has been a part of the N.C. Judicial System since 1983 with the goal of providing children

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The Vance County Health Department will administer seasonal flu shots to persons 60 and older at the Vance County Senior Center on Sept. 30. Pneumonia shots will only be offered to those 65 and older who have never had one before. All other clients will have to see their personal physician for any

follow-up pneumonia shots. Appointments will only be scheduled from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Interested persons should call the senior center at 430-0257 between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday to register in advance for the shots. Those who receive Medicare Part B (red, white & blue card) or Medicaid should

If you are good with numbers and enjoy helping people, your skills are needed during the 2010 tax season to provide free personal income tax assistance to elderly and low-income individuals. The Tax-Aide

VGCC

Program at the Vance County Senior Center needs local volunteers who will attend daytime training sessions, taught by IRS-trained instructors, and learn how to E-FILE federal and state tax returns.

computer classes

Vance-Granville Community College will offer several of its popular computerrelated classes for area residents starting this month on the college’s main campus in Vance County. The “Beginner’s Guide to Computers & Internet” is the perfect class for those with limited computer knowledge. Microsoft Windows XP will be used to introduce novice students to the common components and many uses of personal computers through the Windows environment. Students will also learn effective ways to make the most of the Internet in their daily lives through the use of common search tools. Additionally, students will set up their own e-mail accounts. Classes are scheduled for Tuesday nights from 6-10 p.m., Sept. 15 through Oct. 20. Laura Peace is the instructor. Peace will also teach a course on the Microsoft Word

and Excel 2007 software. Students will familiarize themselves with the popular word processing and spreadsheet programs, which were extensively revamped in their most recent versions. Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel are two of the most widely used software programs in the workforce today. Knowledge of these programs is frequently listed as a requirement in job postings for applicants. Classes will be held on Wednesday mornings from 9 a.m. until

remember to bring their card and the shots will be filed through Medicare or Medicaid. In addition, Wellpath and Blue Cross Blue Shield will be accepted. However, those with any other supplemental insurance such as Humana or Premier will need to get flu and pneumonia shots at a doctor’s office.

Shots not covered by Wellpath, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Medicare or Medicaid will be $32 for the flu shot and $50 for the pneumonia shot. Those participating are asked to please wear short sleeves to the appointment. The senior center is located at 126 S. Garnett St., Henderson. For more information, call 430-0257.

Tax-Aide volunteers are people who like to help others. They are also motivated to learn the tax system and apply their knowledge and tax skills to assist other people. The program stresses free assistance for all low-to-

(main

campus)

1 p.m., Sept. 30 through Nov. 4. A beginner’s typing class will be offered on Monday and Wednesday nights from 6 until 9 p.m., Sept. 14 through Oct. 7. Basic keyboarding skills are considered essential in today’s workforce. Students will learn methods to improve their skills, speed and accuracy to become more proficient typists. For more information and to register, call 738-3417 or 738-3324.

moderate income individuals in the area, with special emphasis on the elderly. To learn more about the free training and how you can help others with their taxes, please call the senior center at 430-0257.

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Advantage Ministries

Advantage Ministries will be sponsoring Kid Advantage After school Program which will begin Monday, 8/31/09. The hours are from 3pm-6pm.The cost is $25.00 a week per child which includes transportation and a snack. If interested please come to 103 Wortham Court, Henderson and fill out an application. There are only 20 slots available so act fast. 252-433-6100

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over $14.68 million, representing 17,705 children in 38,681 abuse and neglect court proceedings. To learn more about the guardian ad litem volunteer program, visit www. ncgal.org or call (919) 497-3010.

Tax-aide volunteers needed at senior center

VANCE FURNITURE COMPANY, INC. www.vancefurniture.com • (252) 438-3911

with an independent voice and to advocate for abused and neglected children who are involved in court proceedings. Statewide in 2007, 4,237 volunteer advocates gave the state 813,504 hours of service, a value of

Flu shots for seniors to be given on Sept. 30

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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 75/54

Billings 80/50

Minneapolis 84/63

San Francisco 82/57 Denver 86/53

New York 69/60

Washington 70/60

Kansas City 84/62

Los Angeles 86/66 Atlanta 84/66 El Paso 88/66 Houston 91/72

Fairbanks 66/45

-10s

-0s

Miami 88/78

Honolulu 89/76

Anchorage 61/48

Hilo 84/69

Juneau 57/51

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

FRIDAY

79°

55°

78° Partial sunshine

SATURDAY

Clouds and sun

SUNDAY

86°

85°

64°

65°

Partly sunny

MONDAY

83° 62°

Partly sunny

Times of clouds and sun

ALMANAC

SUN AND MOON

Temperature

Sunrise today ........................... 6:52 a.m. Sunset today ............................ 7:28 p.m. Moonrise today ...................... 10:44 p.m. Moonset today ......................... 1:00 p.m. Sunrise tomorrow ..................... 6:53 a.m. Sunset tomorrow ...................... 7:27 p.m. Moonrise tomorrow ................ 11:40 p.m. Moonset tomorrow ................... 2:05 p.m.

Raleigh-Durham through 6 p.m. yest. High .................................................... 82° Low ..................................................... 62° Normal high ........................................ 83° Normal low ......................................... 63° Record high ............................ 96° in 1978 Record low .............................. 47° in 1951

Moon Phases

Precipitation 24 hours through 6 p.m. yest. ......... 0.00” Month to date .................................. 0.57” Normal month to date ..................... 1.26” Year to date ................................... 23.55” Normal year to date ...................... 30.86”

Last

New

First

Full

Sep 11

Sep 18

Sep 26

Oct 4

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

WinstonSalem

Asheville

Henderson

Greensboro

73/59

72/55

78/55

Rocky Mt.

80/57

74/59

Durham

Raleigh

78/56

Charlotte

80/61

Cape Hatteras

Fayetteville

80/60

78/67

82/61

LAKE LEVELS

Wilmington

78/62

Elevation in feet above sea level. Data as of 7 a.m. yesterday. 24-Hr. Lake Capacity Yest. Change Gaston 203 199.86 +0.16 Kerr 320 295.56 -0.42

24-Hr. Capacity Yest. Change 240 212.94 -0.04 264 248.69 +0.01

Lake Jordan Neuse Falls

REGIONAL CITIES Today

Fri.

Today

Fri.

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

72 70 76 79 85 76 78 75 78 82 82 74 76 79 74

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

76 82 82 82 81 79 76 82 80 74 77 80 78 78 73

55 55 57 57 62 57 56 59 56 61 57 59 61 61 55

t t pc pc t pc pc pc t pc pc pc t pc t

75 72 78 80 86 79 80 79 81 84 81 79 80 83 79

56 53 61 62 63 60 63 63 56 64 61 63 64 65 57

t t pc pc pc pc pc pc t pc pc pc t pc t

58 60 59 62 67 66 66 61 61 56 57 57 58 62 59

pc pc pc pc pc pc pc pc pc pc pc pc pc pc pc

80 84 84 85 82 80 78 83 81 78 76 82 81 83 78

63 65 63 63 67 67 70 64 64 63 61 63 63 66 62

pc pc pc pc pc pc pc pc pc pc pc pc pc pc pc

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

Home delivery ONLY

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the commission: • Bullock is retired. • Hinman is director of Area Congregations in Ministry, which is a non-profit organization assisting the needy. • Sergent is health promotion coordinator at the Granville-Vance Health District Department. • Wicker, who is an attorney in Durham, served on Oxford’s Historic Preservation Commission. Shope, a retired federal fire marshal, challenged Woodlief for Oxford’s top position in 2003 before winning

election to a position on the commission two years later. The Dispatch asked Shope whether he recruited candidates to run for mayor and the commission this year and Shope said the five he endorsed are ones he encouraged to run. Shope said there were five persons who had indicated they wanted to run for offices in Oxford, but he said he does not feel he could release their names without their permission. Contact the writer at bwest@ hendersondispatch.com.

Freshly Breaded & Prepared to Order! 444 Dabney Dr. Henderson 492-4040

“We Welcome Call In Orders” Sun-Thurs 11-9, Fri-Sat 11-10

Technical Review Committee’s comments, concerns about motel The Technical Review Committee, which is comprised of key city leaders in the permitting and zoning process, provided a list of comments and concerns about the former America’s Best Value Inn. They are as follows: •The property must not be an extended stay location. •There cannot be any cooking in the rooms. •The driveway needs to be unblocked. •The fire alarm system needs to be brought up to code. •The electrical system needs to be brought up to code. •The second floor needs to be brought up to code. •Results need to be provided for a decontamination of the room in which police found a methamphetamine laboratory. •The swimming pool needs to be tested. •An updated health inspection is needed. •The sewer pumping station needs to be up to code. •If a kitchen will be operated, then a grease trap needs to be installed. And the committee wants to know whether the conference room will be rented out. there is a problem. Board member Cathy Ringley wanted to know about whether the property could meet codes with appropriate intervention and management. Dunston said, “I think it’s going to take a lot to get it where it needs to be.” Amin said the property was not maintained because business had gone down and cited the downturn in the nationwide economy. And Amin, in response to Sidwell saying rooms were rented for as low as $5, countered, “There must be some misunderstanding somewhere” because $5 would not buy two gallons of milk. Amin said what he believes happened is the front desk person said the motel would accept $5 less than the nightly rate for a room. The motel, which is located off Interstate 85 and North Garnett Street, was once part of the Howard Johnson chain. Board member Ruxton Bobbitt made the motion on Tuesday to continue the matter until Oct. 6, with Ringley seconding. There was no dissent, although Badger

paused before voting yes. Zollicoffer told the Dispatch the board will meet at 3 p.m. and go take a look at the property. Contact the writer at bwest@ hendersondispatch.com.

Corrections The amount of $2,639 is the City of Henderson’s one-twelfth share of the local match of $31,660 for a $316,600 grant from the Federal Assistance to Fire Fighters Grant Program for VIPER end-user radio equipment. The city’s share was incorrectly stated in Wednesday’s Daily Dispatch story on the effort to supply local emergency response personnel with portable and mobile radios needed to use the State-wide Voice Interoperability Plan for Emergency Responders (VIPER) network. *** Elections for Henderson City Council seats with expired terms will be held Oct. 6 instead of Oct. 3, as incorrectly stated in a story in Wednesday’s edition of The Daily Dispatch. We’ll straighten everything out!

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York, Amin in Richmond “and somebody in Florida.” Sidwell repeated what he told the Clean Up Henderson Committee on Sept. 2 about being told by the clerk and the manager about nightly room rates generally being $30, but with $5 being a sufficient payment if one did not have the $30. And Sidwell repeated what he said Sept. 2 about a long-term resident having lived in deplorable conditions. And Sidwell noted police had to wait for a maintenance man to go to Lowe’s Home Improvement to get wood to properly secure the place because bullets had shattered one of the doors. And Sidwell noted the entrances to the parking lot were cordoned off with used mattresses, tires and pieces of wood. Sidwell said there had been numerous calls to his department about disorder and large crowds, adding, “It was a great source of frustration for the people with a permanent residence that are around that area.” Williams said his concern focused on what was there and who was there. “We ran into one incident where there was a gentleman who had just had surgery who had been staying there and had the care people coming in and out to care for him as if that was his home,” Williams said. Dunston said she went to the property on Aug. 31 and said there were still issues with the first floor room in which the methamphetamine laboratory had been located, with a burned out room on the second floor, with moisture, with boarded up doors and with “shot out” doors. And Dunston said there were issues of leaking and there was evidence of portable cooking devices within the rooms. Dunston said there were other rooms that “probably” needed to be decontaminated. And Dunston said a photograph showing a red light on above the sewer pumping station means

ay yd

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

work would start this week. Wilkerson said his department responded on June 15 to an anonymous complaint about unsafe conditions at the motel. The state fire code requires a yearly inspection, but Wilkerson said his department had been to the motel three different times and had always found violations. Wilkerson said what concerned him on June 15 “is we found 13 rooms that opened out to the outside on the ground floor that were locked by a piece of wood in the sliding track of the door.” And Wilkerson noted the wood was held down with steel bolts. “And if you had a fire out in the hallway, the only way out is to go through something through that glass door to get out,” Wilkerson said. “And that was a life safety issue. And I saw enough right then.” Additionally, the fire alarm system was not working and the second floor, which had been closed to all but the manager’s room after a fire, had two other occupied rooms, Wilkerson said, noting the motel had been warned many times about the second floor. Regarding the methamphetamine laboratory, Wilkerson said, “It’s never been professionally decontaminated to my knowledge.” Wilkerson said he did not know whether the room in which the laboratory had been located had been rented since then, but he said adjacent rooms had been rented. Wilkerson said that, on Aug. 31, he was disturbed when he returned to the property and saw the problem with the locked doors had not been corrected. Wilkerson added that, on a previous visit on May 27, additionally in response to an anonymous complaint, he found electrical and fire alarm issues and burned out exit lights. Wilkerson additionally recalled the June 15 closure of the motel as “a very trying day” because the city was dealing with Patel in New

er Ev

OXFORD — Departing City Commissioner Bob Shope is backing Frank Strickland for mayor over incumbent Al Woodlief and is backing Ron Bullock, Sue Hinman, Jackie Sergent and David Wicker for the commission. Shope on Wednesday announced his endorsements for the Nov. 3 election. Shope and fellow Commissioners Paul Kiesow, Steve Powell and Chance Wilkinson are not seeking re-election,

meaning all four of the commission seats up for election are open. Meantime, 14 candidates are seeking election to the commission. Oxford’s mayor serves a two-year term and the city’s seven commissioners serve staggered four-year terms. Woodlief, a retired radio station owner, served as a commissioner from 1987 before being elected mayor in 2001. Strickland, who is chief of campus security at Meredith College, is challenging Woodlief for the third consecutive time. Of Shope’s preferences for

MOTEL, from page one

63°

Partly cloudy

Departing Shope backs Strickland for mayor By WILLIAM F. WEST Daily Dispatch Writer

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Local News

The Daily Dispatch

Deaths Thomas H. Paynter Sr. HAMPTON, Va. — Thomas H. “Wilber” Paynter, Sr., known to his loved ones as Wilber, passed away on Monday, September 7, 2009 at The Gardens of Warwick Forest. He was born on October 15, 1926 at the Paynter family house in Carolina. He graduated from Norlina High School and went on to join the U.S. Army, serving his country proudly in WWII. On March 12, 1954, he married the love of his life, Lottie, and soon after relocated to Hampton. Wilber lived in Hampton for over 55 years and retired from Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co. after 42 years of service. Wilber helped his local community by actively serving as a volunteer firefighter for Northampton Fire Dept. and did so for over 22 years. The entire family has been left with fond memories of time spent with “Daddy”, “Grandpa” or “Uncle Wilber”. Quite traditional in many ways, Wilber loved tinkering around the home, doing yard work, and completing the “honey-do” list Lottie always had for him. Wilber loved spending time with his family; he especially made time for the children in his life. From his son’s childhood, his grandchildren’s growing up, as well as his nieces and nephews, Wilber had the ability to make a child smile and always feel loved. He found fulfillment in giv-

Robert Cheek WARRENTON — Robert Cheek, 70, of 1396 Park Town Road, Warrenton, died at Duke University Medical Center in Durham on Sept. 8, 2009. Arrangements are incomplete at this time, and will be announced later by R.H. Greene Funeral Home in Warrenton.

Dorothy E. Mitchell HENDERSON — Dorothy Eubanks Mitchell, 83, a resident of Oakridge Avenue, died Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2009, at her home. Born in Vance County on Aug. 9, 1926, she was the daughter of the late Bosher Wayland “B.W.” Eubanks and Nannie Hicks Eubanks. She was a homemaker and a member of Raleigh Road Baptist Church.

ing to others and never held a grudge. Wilber always thought the best of people and forgave others without hesitation. God gave us the most kind hearted, thoughtful, and loyal man we could have ever imagined. God has called Wilber back home but the time he spent here with the family will be cherished forever. Wilber was preceded in death by his parents, Luther and Roxanna Paynter; his wife, Lottie; brothers, Charlie Morton, Arthur and Johnny; as well as his sister, Shirley. A loving father, grandpa, uncle and brother, Wilber was greatly devoted to his family and will be missed tremendously by those he leaves behind to cherish his memories, son, Thomas Holt Paynter, Jr. and his wife, Melba; three grandchildren, Crystal, T.H. and Melinda; five great-grandchildren; two brothers, Wallace and Herbert; sister, Elizabeth; and many nieces and nephews, whom he loved and cared for dearly. The family would like to thank the Northampton Fire and Rescue Squad, The Gardens of Warwick Forest staff and all of the physicians and nurses who over the years have helped and cared for someone very special to us, a man we loved so much. The family will receive friends from 7-9 pm on Friday, Sept. 11 at Blalock Funeral Home in Warrenton, N.C. Funeral services will be held at 1 pm on Saturday, Sept. 12 at Blalock Funeral Home with burial to follow in Fairview Cemetery. Peninsula Funeral Home is in charge of local arrangements. Paid Obituary

Graveside services will be conducted at 3:30 p.m. today at Sunset Gardens. She is survived by a sister, Irene E. Whaley of Henderson. She was preceded in death by her husband, William O. Mitchell; and her daughter, Lynda M. Bullock. Flowers will be accepted or memorial contributions may be made to Vance County Relay for Life, P.O. Box 914, Henderson, N.C. 27536. Arrangements are by J.M. White Funeral Home.

VANCE, from page one

for $850,000 in Community Development Block Grant funds for a target neighborOXFORD — Thelma hood that will be identified Thornton, 82, died at the commissioners’ Sept. Monday, Sept. 7, 2009, 22 meeting when the second at Brantwood Nursing hearing will be held. Center. Julie Reid, community She was a member of development administrator Goshen Chapel Church. with the Kerr-Tar Regional Survivors include five Council of Governments, said Sept. 30 is the deadline for daughters, Helen Harsubmitting the application. grove and Eloise Thorpe In other business Monday of Oxford, Rose Harris of night, the commissioners Raleigh, and Clara Mae agreed to apply for $173,333 Thornton and Ann Hart in Rural Assistance Operatof Henderson; two sons, ing Program funds available Allen Mack Thomas and through the North Carolina Larry Thornton, both of Department of TransportaOxford; a sister, Annie Smith of Oxford; a brother, tion. The action followed a Bishop James L. Hester of public hearing. Oxford; 43 grandchildren; Steve Stanton, County 13 great-grandchildren; finance director, gave the and eight great-greatcommissioners information grandchildren. on the program. Funeral services will The money would be used be conducted at 2 p.m. during the 2009-2010 fiscal Sunday at Betts and Son year to provide transportaChapel by the Rev. Kention assistance to the elderly neth Hester. Burial will and disabled, participants follow in Meadowview in local Work Force DevelMemorial Park. opment programs and the general public with employThe family will receive ment-related needs. friends Saturday from 7 In other business Monday to 8 p.m. at Betts and Son night, the commissioners Funeral Home in Oxford. awarded the construction Arrangements are by bid for the Warrenton Road Betts and Son Funeral Sewer Project to Hendricx Home of Oxford.

Thelma Thornton

Vinston E. Thorpe OXFORD — Vinston Edward Thorpe, 64, of 8616 Aaron Creek Church Road, died Monday, Sept. 7, 2009, at Granville Medical Center. He received his education in the Granville County school system. He was a member of the St. Matthew Baptist Church. Survivors include his wife, Geneva Thorpe; a daughter, Chantelle Coleman of Baltimore, Md.; three sisters, Virgie Manly, Dorothy Mae Price and Deliah Alston; and two brothers, Willie Louis Thorpe and Curtis Thorpe. Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday at St. Matthew Baptist Church by the Rev. Gregory J. Webb Sr. Burial will follow in the Thorpe Family Cemetery. The family will receive friends Friday from 7 to 8 p.m. at Betts and Son Funeral Home in Oxford. Arrangements are by Betts and Son Funeral Home of Oxford.

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Thursday, September 10, 2009

Barnhill, Inc. in the amount of $168,971. Ayscue said the bid was 20 percent below budget. Also Monday night, the board approved a proclamation in recognition of the 2009 Fall Litter Sweep. The event will occur Sept. 19-Oct. 3. In other business Monday night, the commissioners adopted a resolution of appreciation honoring the 20year service of Dr. Michael Smith as Vance County EMS Medical Director. Also, the board voted to appoint Dr. Glenn Charlton, director of emergency room operations at Maria Parham Medical Center, to replace Smith in the EMS medical director position. In other business, the commissioners agreed to apply for a $40,000 grant from the N.C. Rural Center for a plan/feasibility study for a proposed sewer line along U.S. 1 South. The grant requires a 10 percent match of up to $4,400 from the County. Also Monday, the board accepted the Human Resources Committee’s recommendations to fill vacancies for: • An income Maintenance Caseworker II in the Family

and Children’s Medicaid Unit in the Department of Social Services. • A Social Work Supervisor II who is responsible for managing several programs, including Work First, the reception desk and the Electronic Records Program in the Department of Social Services. • Two detention officers at the Vance County Jail. • An EMT-B/Firefighter with the Fire & Ambulance Department. At the request of State Sen. Doug Berger, the commissioners agreed to support an application for federal funds through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to widen and improve U.S. 401 in Wake and Franklin counties. According to Ayscue, support of the project is consistent with the transportation priority plan as established by the Kerr-Tar Rural Transportation Planning Organization (RPO). He said it provides enhancements to transportation systems that will serve member counties of the Kerr-Tar Regional Economic Development Corporation (Hub Project). Contact the writer at awheless@hendersondispatch.com.

SHOOTING, from EDC, from page one page one interview, Parker explained the first session, according Investigators said that David Lee Hargrove was fatally shot in his home at 2697 Morgan Road and have previously said that the shooting occurred during an attempted burglary. Anyone with information concerning the whereabouts of Watkins and Durham is asked to call the Sheriff’s Office at (252) 738-2200 or Crime Stoppers at (252) 492-1925. Send comments to news@ hendersondispatch.com.

that there could be classrooms and a library with computers for small business people to use at the proposed new site. Parker said at the time that the ball is in the EDC’s court as to whether efforts are made to make the concept happen. In other business Wednesday, the EDC board agreed to hold strategy-planning sessions on Sept. 27 at a yetto-be-decided place, and on Sept. 28 at the library. As many as 50 people would be expected to attend

to Henderson City Manager Ray Griffin. They would include the County Commissioners, the City Council, the EDC board, organizations designated as their partners, and some stake-holders. The second session would only involve the EDC, Griffin said.

Contact the writer at awheless@hendersondispatch.com

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Business & Farm

Obama on health care: ‘Time for bickering is over’ WASHINGTON (AP) — Shaking off a summer of setbacks, President Barack Obama summoned Congress to enact sweeping health care legislation Wednesday night, declaring the “time for bickering is over” and the moment has arrived to protect millions who have unreliable insurance or no coverage at all. Obama said the changes he wants would cost about $900 billion over decade, “less than we have spent on the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, and less than the tax cuts for the wealthiest few Americans” passed during the Bush administration. In a televised speech to a joint session of Congress, Obama spoke in favor of a provision for the federal government to sell insurance in competition with private industry. But in a remark certain to displease liberals, he did not insist on it, and

said he was open to other alternatives that create choices for consumers. Obama said he remains ready to listen to all ideas but added in a clear reference to Republicans, “I will not waste time with those who have made the calculation that it’s better politics to kill this plan than to improve it.” In an unusual outburst from the Republican side of the House chamber, Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., shouted out “You lie” when the president said illegal immigrants would not benefit from his proposals. The president paused briefly and smiled, but from her seat in the visitor’s gallery, first lady Michelle Obama shook her head from side to side in disapproval of the interruption. In general, the president shied away from providing lawmakers with a list of particulars he wants to see

included in the legislation, and there was nothing in the speech to invite comparisons with Bill Clinton’s pen-waving veto threat more than a decade ago on health care. Obama’s speech came as the president and his allies in Congress readied an autumn campaign to enact his top domestic priority. Republican opposition, contentious town hall meetings and drooping polls have contributed to their woes. An AP-GfK survey hours before the speech showed public disapproval of Obama’s handling of health care has jumped to 52 percent, an increase of 9 percentage points since July. While Democrats command strong majorities in both the House and Senate, neither chamber has acted on Obama’s top domestic priority, missing numerous deadlines leaders had set for themselves.

Perdue signs beefed up consumer protection law RALEIGH (AP) — North Carolina consumers soon will have new protections from foreclosures and intimidating debt collection practices. Gov. Beverly Perdue on Wednesday signed into law a bill approved by the Legislature last month and backed by Attorney General Roy Cooper. Once the new law takes effect next month, it will allow a clerk of court to postpone a foreclosure hearing for up to 60 days to allow a homeowner more time to work out a payment plan with the mortgage holder and remain in their home. “During this recession, thousands of North Carolinians have lost their homes because of foreclosure,” Perdue said. “When a home is foreclosed it’s bad for our families, it’s bad for our communities, it’s bad for our businesses and it’s bad for North Carolina. This bill makes it easier for homeowners to work out a deal with their lenders and avoid

foreclosure.” The bill also sets out new rules for companies that attempt to collect from consumers on old debts from credit cards or other unpaid bills. The law extends regulation to debt buyers, who Cooper said have engaged in overly aggressive debt collecting practices. Debt buyers pay credit card companies, hospitals and others a fraction of the full amount due on unpaid accounts, then work at forcing debtors to pay up. The state law extends debt-collection regulations to cover the law firms that often file lawsuits to collect the cash. Critics say debt buyers often pursue collection even when it is barred by law, such as when the debt is discharged after bankruptcy or has lingered beyond the legal collection deadline. “In a lot of cases, there’s no liability on the part of the individual,” said Sen. Tony Rand, D-Cumberland, who sponsored the legislation.

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Beginning next month, debt buyers who try to collect on a debt that they should reasonably know is blocked by a statute of limitations could face lawsuits and civil penalties of up to $4,000 per violation. The state law also will require debt collectors to provide documents proving they own the accounts they’re trying to collect. Taking a debtor to court will require records including the original account number of the debt, the name of the original creditor, and an itemization of charges and fees the current creditor claims is owed.

Area

A DAY ON WALL STREET

Dow Jones industrials

9,000 7,000 M

Pct. change from previous: +0.53%

J High 9,577.22

6,000

Low 9,476.18

Sept. 9, 2009

2,400

Nasdaq composite

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

+22.62 M

J High 2,066.34

Pct. change from previous: +1.11%

Standard & Poor’s 500 +7.98 M

Pct. change from previous: +0.78%

J High 1,036.33

1,400

Low 2,033.47

Sept. 9, 2009

1,033.37

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

8,000

+49.88

2,060.39

Stocks

10,000

Sept. 9, 2009

9,547.22

Thursday, September 10, 2009

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

Low 1,023.97

SOURCE: SunGard

MARKET ROUNDUP 090909: Market urrencies etals charts show Dow, S&P 500, and Nasdaq; stand-alone; 2c x 4 1/2 inches; 96 mm x 114 mm; staff Aluminum -$0.8600 per lb., N.Y. Merc spot NEW YORK (AP) — Key currency exEditors: All figures as of: 5:25:04 PM EST Wed. change rates Wednesday: NOTE: Figures reflect market fluctuations after not match other AP content close; Coppermay -$2.9745 Cathode full plate, U.S. Dollar vs: ExchgRate PvsDay destinations. Copper $2.9060 N.Y. Merc spot Wed. Yen 92.13 92.32 Lead - $2481.50 metric ton, London Metal Euro $1.4542 $1.4490 Exch. Pound $1.6530 $1.6487 Zinc - $0.9166 per lb., delivered. Swiss franc 1.0421 1.0472 Gold - $999.50 Handy & Harman (only daily Canadian dollar 1.0812 1.0807 quote). Mexican peso 13.4615 13.3225 Gold - $995.30 troy oz., NY Merc spot Wed. Silver - $16.630 Handy & Harman (only Metal Price PvsDay NY Merc Gold $995.30 $997.90 daily quote). Silver - $16.443 troy oz., N.-. Merc spot Wed. NY HSBC Bank US $994.00 $996.00 NY Merc Silver $16.443 $16.488 Mercury - $640.00 per 76 lb flask, N.Y. Platinum -$1290.00 troy oz., N.Y. (contract). Nonferrous Platinum -$1291.40 troy oz., N.Y. Merc spot NEW YORK (AP) — Spot nonferrous metal Wed. prices Wednesday: n.q.-not quoted, n.a.-not available r-revised

& M

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

45.05 25.94 49.66 17.04 27.00 50.63 36.64 15.43 70.50 7.39 14.87 27.38 116.76 60.92 22.96 3.66 7.08 21.72 3.71 58.04 18.59 53.76 39.06 5.01 51.78 45.76 4.85 3.68 21.13 40.38 30.89 52.24 51.11 27.68 5.05 70.01

N.C. airline maintenance firm cuts up to 215 jobs WINSTON-SALEM (AP) — Pace Airlines Inc., a charter airline and maintenance company, has cut up to twothirds of its 300-member work force just weeks after losing a major maintenance contract with Continental Airlines Inc. Pace Airlines cut between 125 and 215 employees at its maintenance operation in Winston-Salem, the Winston-Salem Journal reported Wednesday. The company had about 300 local full- and part-time workers. Pace also has operations in Atlantic City, N.J., and Dallas. Company owner William Rodgers Sr., declined to

specify how many jobs were cut. Rodgers bought the company in June and pledged a 120-day program to improve its finances. In a memo to employees Friday, Rodgers said he had secured “a multimillion-dollar line of credit” with a source he did not identify. The money was supposed to be available to the company by Wednesday. Late last month, Pace lost a contract to perform heavy-maintenance checks on some of Continental’s 737 aircraft. The Winston-Salem company had landed the deal, which was supposed to run through at least 2010, in December 2007.

Pace employees said they have had little work to perform since losing the Continental contract. Pace also runs a charterairline service from its base at Winston-Salem’s SmithReynolds Airport. The company owes the Airport Commission of Forsyth County more than $888,000 in overdue lease payments. Pace started falling behind on its $145,000-amonth rent in October, airport commission chairman Tom McKim said, but has made partial payments from time to time. The commission didn’t want to lose Pace as an airport tenant, he said.

Opinion

The Daily Dispatch

XII I

II III

VIII VII VI

IV V

X IX

XII

Saving our kids from an education II III

VIII

VII

Thursday, September 10, 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 And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them. And he spake this parable unto them, saying, What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance. Luke 15:2-7

Our Opinion

SAT a measure of preparedness, and of desire for more Recently released SAT results for Vance County high school seniors of 2009 were good, and not so good. While local public school seniors fared better on the test in 2008-09 than in previous years — a total of 54 points better, to a 1,291 (out of 2,400 possible) on average — the numbers still have a long way to go toward equalling the statewide average score (1,486) and the national average (1,509). More important, the percentage of Vance County public school seniors who took the test plummeted, from roughly half of all seniors in 2007-08 to only about 37 percent of seniors last year. In reality, the decline in participation is likely accountable for the rise in Vance County’s scores. Nationwide, the states in which SAT participation is lowest traditionally are those where the average score is highest. That’s because as participation falls, only the higher achievers remain — those most likely to attend college and thus to need an SAT score on record. We’re not certain why the number of Vance County students who were willing to take the SAT dropped so sharply last year. Perhaps the economy was a factor, as a representative of the school system suggested. The test costs about $50 to take, and it isn’t necessary for local students who intend to save money by staying at home and attending VanceGranville Community College. (VGCC will accept an SAT score for admission, but will also admit high school grads or GED-holders who pass the college’s own entrance exam, without taking the SAT at all.) And, thankfully, Vance officials seem intent upon increasing participation — not decreasing it for the sake of higher scores. Some districts around the country have been criticized for discouraging average and lower-achieving students from taking the SAT in order to boost the district’s mean score on the exam. In these times of economic hardship, more than ever it is apparent that education is key to a rewarding career and a comfortable lifestyle. We hope that the decline in local seniors taking the SAT is not a sign that local kids have lost interest in college; only a temporary dip in participation that will be erased as some of the Vance County Schools’ more recent educational initiatives — such as the Freshman Academies at Northern and Southern Vance and at the new Early College High — take hold and better prepare our youngsters for graduation and beyond.

Quotable “The truth is, being successful is hard. You won’t love every subject you study. You won’t click with every teacher. Not every homework assignment will seem completely relevant to your life right this minute. And you won’t necessarily succeed at everything the first time you try.” — President Barack Obama, in a speech to the nation’s schoolchildren.

Well, that was close. Surely, we are all relieved that at least some children were protected this week from the diabolical Barack Obama. It was touch and go there for a while after the White House announced its plan for the president to give a back-to-school address to America’s kids. They might have gotten away with it, too, but for conservative pundits and politicians who spent last week raising a ruckus about this scheme to indoctrinate our youth into the president’s socialist cult. They were able to persuade an untold number of schools to prohibit Tuesday’s speech from being shown on campus and an untold number of parents to keep their children home. By this decisive action, untold millions (thousands?) of our kids were saved from exposure to subversive sentiments like “pay attention,” “listen to your parents,” and “every single one of you has something to offer.” That mission accomplished, one wonders if conservatives will be equally energetic in rescuing kids from other things that threaten them. Our children need all the

help they can get, after all. They are coming of age in an America where, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in four girls between ages 14 and 19 is infected with at least one of four dangerous Leonard sexuallytransmitted Pitts diseases Distributed by (human Cagle Cartoons papillomavirus, chlamydia, genital herpes, trichomoniasis). An era where, according to the National Center for Children in Poverty at Columbia University, more than 13 million kids live below the poverty line. An era where, according to the Education Department, despite noteworthy progress in recent years, one in four public school eighth-graders lacks basic grade level reading skills, and one in five fourthgraders can’t do the math. What’s arguably more frightening in the long view is

that they’re coming of age in an America so hyper-partisan, shrill, silly and incoherent that a pep talk to school kids — surely the most plain vanilla presidential duty this side of pardoning the turkey at Thanksgiving — gets treated like it was Osama bin Laden giving an al-Qaida recruitment speech in lower Manhattan on Sept. 11th. It is an absurd controversy, but in a nation of birthers and truthers, death panels and tea parties, absurdity has become our default setting — as has political violence, whether rhetorical or real. Last week, for goodness’ sake, we heard about a health care reform proponent “biting off the finger” of someone who disagreed with him. Meanwhile in Arizona, an alleged Christian minister made headlines preaching and praying for the president’s death. If America were a person, you’d sedate it. You might even have it committed. This is not politics, it’s a temper tantrum, a national hissy fit that calls into question — and not for the first time — whether a nation so vast and varied still can, or still wants to be, a nation.

A few days ago, a woman running for office in Pennsylvania e-mailed me about her encounter with a voter who objected to the idea of, as he put it, paying for his neighbor’s health insurance. She reminded him that to live in a society is to be interdependent. We all pay for libraries, we all pay for national defense and we all pay to school our kids. Except, he said he doesn’t want to pay to educate someone else’s kids, either. We are “not” interdependent, the man insisted. We are alone, each man in it by and for himself. You might call that view an aberration. My fear is that it is a harbinger. My fear is that we are a people stampeded by and toward political extremes, and that in our shrillness, our ignorance, our paranoia, hatefulness and fear, we dig a trench through common ground and make this nation ungovernable. If we want to save our children from anything, maybe we ought to save them from that. Leonard Pitts is a columnist for the Miami Herald, 1 Herald Plaza, Miami, Fla., 33132. Readers may contact him via e-mail at lpitts@ miamiherald.com.

Letters to the Editor Health care bill too expensive, deadly to seniors To the editor: The Health Care Legislation contains too much spending outside of health care. It is a conspiracy by the Democrat congressmen to commit mass murder on the elderly, starting with persons age 60 and above with health problems. Persons 70 and older are considered worthless and will be denied health care and offered pills to go to the great beyond. If this health care reform plan is considered to be so great, why does it exempt the president and family, the gongress and the senators and their families? If approved this legislation should be integrated with only ONE Bush responded to intelligence plan and no exemptions. information that Osama Bin These people are not “gods,” Laden was determined to attack they are only hired to do a the United States. job and not to evolve into Significantly, Jones’ remarks criminal gangs. hardly ventured further to Anyone that signs on to the left than Beck’s rambling or approves this legislation commentaries swerve to the far should be prosecuted for right. But Beck’s a talk-show their participation in these host. When he goes over-themass murders. Seniors, as top and accuses Obama of a last resort, have a right to “deep-seated hatred of white protect themselves. After all, people,” as he did recently with- they are condemned to die. out offering evidence to back These Democrats approve it up, he gets bigger ratings. A of murder of the unborn (and presidential appointee would pay for it with taxpayer monget the ax. ey), now attempt to legalize But the larger significance murder of seniors, but say of Jones’ departure is what it that execution of murderers says about the conservatives is too unjust and cruel. who pushed him out. As Sam What kind of persons can Tanenhaus, a biographer of believe this? Whittaker Chambers and WilThis is not a racist letter. liam F. Buckley, writes in his When I read parts of this legnew book-length essay, “The islation, I did not see where Death of Conservatism,” the it exempted old black folks movement that turned the Refrom the rationing of health publicans into the party of ideas care and eventual death. If with Ronald Reagan’s rise has black people wish to vote for become a movement that sadly this health care reform plan, cares more about attacking fine and dandy. They have a other people and their ideas. right to do so, but I suggest Ramesh Ponnuru, a senior they read this horrific legislaeditor at the conservative tion in advance. National Review that Buckley founded, sounds similarly Bob Kingan, frustrated. “Republicans have a Henderson high degree of unity these days, which has been very helpful in opposing liberal initiatives such as the stimulus and the Democrats’ health care legislation,” he writes in the magazine’s current issue. “The downside of that unity is that it is less helpThe Daily Dispatch welful in generating new ideas, comes letters to the editor. some of which the party will Letters must be signed, probably need to retake power include the author’s city and will certainly need to exerof residence, and should cise it productively.” be limited to 300 words. In the meantime, the GOP’s Please include a telephone conservative base has legions number for verification. of talk-show pundits to fire up their hearts, if not their minds. We reserve the right to edit comments for length, E-mail Clarence Page at cpage@ clarity, libelous material, tribune.com, or write to him c/o personal attacks and poor Tribune Media Services, 2225 taste. We do not publish Kenmore Ave., Suite 114, Buffalo, anonymous letters. NY 14207.

Brain-dead mudslingers Score one for the right wing. Conservative witch hunters, notably Fox News’ Glenn Beck, are claiming victory for hounding President Obama’s green jobs czar out of office. Yet the victory also highlights a gaping deficit in America’s conservative movement. They’ve become more adept in recent years at trashing liberal ideas than at coming up with some new ones of their own. Van Jones, a San Francisco Bay-area activist for environment-friendly “green-collar” industries, resigned as the president’s special adviser for environmental jobs after weeks of mud slung up against him by Beck and other conservative media pundits. His credentials are outstanding, but these are politically polarized times. At a time when nervous parents were threatening to pull their children out of school, for example, ironically to avoid hearing President Obama speak about the value of education, the outspokenly progressive Jones hardly had a chance. At 40, Jones is a bright, charismatic organizer who came up from a small-town Tennessee childhood to graduate from Yale Law School and become a rising star in the world of environmental activism. He’s author of a New York Times best-seller “The Green Collar Economy,” and was named by Time Magazine this year as one of the “100 most influential people in the world” and by Fast Company magazine last year as one of the “12 Most Creative Minds.” Like Obama, he has a knack for reaching across lines of race, class and political parties — until now, anyway — to create jobs and help save the environment. At the center of his vision is the creation of “green collar” jobs, a phrase he popularized for jobs that can provide family-supporting wages and upward mobility to higher skills, and help save the planet, too.

“We’re asking questions progressives like but we’re giving answers that conservatives should like,” he said at last month’s National Clean Energy Summit in Las Vegas. “We’re not talking about expanding welfare, we’re talking about expanding work. We’re not talking about expanding entitlements, we’re talking about expanding enterprise and investments. ...We should be to stand Clarence able together and Page be one country on this.” Tribune Media Yes, we Services should. But while Jones was calling for “one country,” Beck and Company were digging into his background like a political campaign’s hit squad to smear Jones as a “communist-anarchist radical.” Yes, Jones dabbled in radical politics in his younger days, but that was then. Beck and Company apparently don’t think much of political redemption, at least not when it is claimed by a liberal. Most embarrassing to Jones are YouTube videos of him speaking his mind before he was appointed to his White House post. They include a well-publicized vulgarity that starts with “A” and has an “H” in the middle. He employed the A-word to describe Republicans during a February meeting. He’s apologized, but the flap made him too big a headache for the Obama White House. He also apologized for signing a petition in 2004 that called for further investigation of the Bush administration’s actions before the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks — although he was hardly the only person in 2004 who wanted to know more about how

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Dear Abby

News From The Light Side THURSDAY Morning / Early Afternoon 9/10/09

ELECTRIC LAB, HARRISONBURG, VA.

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DEAR ABBY: I’m not against spontaneous cleaning (I do it myself), but the fact that the wife would rather clean than spend time with her husband tells me she’s either unable to read his signals or she just doesn’t care to be close and intimate with him. It also shows a lack of judgment, compassion and understanding on her part. If the situation were reversed and he had decided he’d rather watch sports than be with his wife, I’m sure she would have been equally upset. I don’t think the rules should be different for men and women in this regard. And yes, I am a woman. — HEATHER IN KANKAKEE, ILL.

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DEAR ABBY: The guys and I enjoy reading your column out loud to see if we agree or not with your advice. We were unanimous in our disagreement with your advice to “Still Hot and Bothered.” We would have been torqued if our wife had stayed in the shower to clean it instead of coming to bed for a good romp. We also would have showered with our wife to start the festivities early and then moved to the bedroom. Dear Abby is written by Abigail Several of the guys said Van Buren, also known as they’d have gotten into the Jeanne Phillips, and was shower and made the cleanfounded by her mother, Pauing come to a halt. There’s client line willPhillips. fill Write Dear Abby a time for cleaning, and it’s not when your husband is at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. waiting with his motor runBox 69440, Los Angeles, CA ning. — THE GUYS IN THE 90069.

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Ten years ago: A federal judge ordered an end to busing and other means of achieving racial balance in Charlotte-Mecklenburg, the North Carolina school system that had pioneered urban busing in

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Today’s Birthdays: Golfer Arnold Palmer is 80. Actor Philip Baker Hall is 78. Country singer Tommy Overstreet is 72. Actor Greg Mullavey is 70. Jazz vibraphonist Roy Ayers is 69. Singer Danny Hutton (Three Dog Night) is 67. Singer Jose Feliciano is 64. Actor Tom Ligon is 64. Actress Judy Geeson is 61. Former Canadian first lady Margaret Trudeau is 61. Political commentator Bill O’Reilly is 60. Rock musician Joe Perry (Aerosmith) is 59. Actress Amy Irving is 56. Country singer Rosie Flores is 53. Actress Kate Burton is 52. Movie director Chris Columbus is 51. Actor Colin Firth is 49. Rock singermusician David Lowery (Cracker) is 49. Pitcher Randy Johnson is 46. Rock musician Stevie D. (Buckcherry) is 43. Rock musician Robin Goodridge (Bush) is 43. Rock singer-musician Miles Zuniga (Fastball) is 43. Rapper Big Daddy Kane is 41. Movie director Guy Ritchie is 41. Actor Ryan Phillippe is 35. NBA All-Star Ben Wallace is 35. Rock musician Mikey Way (My Chemical Romance) is 29.

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