The Daily Dispatch - Tuesday, September 22, 2009 by The Daily Dispatch

CMYK

Use these, with fix

Major auto plant headed to South

Baucus grooms health plan to suit Dems

KVA-NVHS battle to soccer draw

Business & Farm, Page 5A

Washington, Page 8A

Sports, Page 1B TUESDAY, September 22, 2009

Volume XCV, No. 222

(252) 436-2700

www.hendersondispatch.com

50 cents

Mayoral hopefuls vie for votes in forum Water, taxes, Embassy Square among issues raised by media questioners By WILLIAM F. WEST Daily Dispatch Writer

A candidate for mayor not only supports expanding the Kerr Lake Regional Water System plant in northeastern Vance County, he would favor North Carolina’s capital city being a water customer. “If Raleigh wants to buy it, we should sell it to Raleigh,” Tim McAllister said at Sunday’s pre-election forum for candidates for Henderson’s chief executive position. “We should take the money and go ahead and fix our infrastructure and prepare for the future growth that we hope will come.” The Kerr Lake System has been work-

McAllister

O’Geary

Somerville

ing toward obtaining state authorization to move massive amounts of water from one river basin to another so the system can increase the daily capacity of the water plant to 20 million gallons to meet expected future demand. The project is expected to cost $24 million-$25 million. The system’s partnership of Hen-

derson, Oxford and Warren County is authorized by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to withdraw up to 20 million gallons from John H. Kerr Reservoir. The partnership has made clear there are no plans to sell water to Raleigh, with Henderson City Manager Ray Griffin having said he believes there are fears the Kerr Lake System will become a pipeline to Raleigh and Durham. Creedmoor has been interested in a utilities link with Oxford. Henderson is selling water to Franklin County and Vance County voters in May 2008 narrowly agreed to a countywide water system. The subject came up at the Sunday forum when the three mayoral candidates

present who attended City Council the forum — candidates talk incumbent Pete 0’Geary A full page of Henderson and challengCity Council candidate ers McAllister forum coverage. and Juanita Somerville — Page 12B were asked whether they believed the capacity of the water plant should be increased and how the increase should be funded.

N.C. nuke plant shuts down 2 units WILMINGTON (AP) — Federal officials say both units at a North Carolina nuclear power plant were shut down when maintenance workers were unable to repair an emergency diesel generator. The Star-News of Wilmington reported Monday that the units at the Brunswick Nuclear Plant in Southport were shut down Sunday. According to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, both reactors, which were operating at full power early Sunday, were completely shut down by early Monday. An NRC report showed the utility said the shutdowns were required because the emergency diesel generator was inoperative for more than seven days. Progress Energy spokesman Ryan Mosier said maintenance workers were still troubleshooting the problems with the emergency generator. Mosier said while the plant is shut down, maintenance scheduled for later in the year needing full shutdown is being performed.

Please see MAYORAL, page 3A

Grand grant panel $2.1 million local Golden LEAF effort results in forming of 21-person committee By AL WHELESS Daily Dispatch Writer

Chosen by their peers to represent three interest groups Monday night, the 21 members of the Golden Leaf Foundation’s local review team will meet Sept. 30 to begin picking worthy projects among 22 entries to recommend them for grants totaling $1 million. Four alternates were also named. Daily Dispatch/ASHLEY STEVEN AYSCUE The board members will meet in public at 6 p.m. in the Civic Center at VanceGranville Community College, according to Patricia Susann Elliott, an employee in the reclamation department at M.R. Williams, Inc., receives a flu shot from Valerie Ingram of WalCabe, the foundation’s greens, in the company’s break room Monday morning. For the fifth year, M.R. Williams offered free flu shots to their employees. vice-president of Programs/ Off site employees received a certificate to get the flu shot at their nearest Walgreens store. According to Barbara Krahn, human Community Assistance and resources manager, M.R. Williams, Inc. wanted to offer the shots to employees because they care about the health of their emOutreach. ployees and with their busy schedules, this makes it easier for them to protect themselves. “We’d love to be writing checks by Christmas time,” Cabe told everyone who gathered and keep it going until the By AL WHELESS at the Civic Cabe early spring. Daily Dispatch Writer Center on On Monday, Marchita B. VGCC’s main campus. “We Vann, vice-chairwoman of the want projects that can do Henderson City Council planning board, told Baxley: members will consider at the most good.” “We used to have one (hometheir October meeting the Those selected from Planning Board’s recommen- less shelter for men) at Jubilee the economic developHouse before it caught on fire.” dation to amend the zoning ment sector were: AnShe said law enforcement ordinance to allow First drea Harris of the N.C. Presbyterian Church to have personnel would be on hand at the new shelter if it mate- Institute of Minority a homeless shelter for men. Economic Development; rializes. The facility would be run Many of the occupants, who Bill Edwards, president by volunteers, according to of the Henderson-Vance would be given rooms for the Rev. Paul Baxley of First Chamber of Commerce; night, will have mental probBaptist Church. He is chairAbdul Rasheed, president lems and other issues such as man of the Ministers Comdrug-related ones, Vann added. and CEO of the North munity Partnership. Daily Dispatch/KELLY BONDURANT Carolina Community DePlanning Director “I want to thank the PlanErris Dunston told the board velopment Initiative and ning Department for your members, “We don’t have a member of the Vanceinterest in this,” Baxley said Granville Community Monday during a hearing on any regulations on how to govern or regulate them College Board of Directhe proposed project. “Your This praying mantis rested on the back glass of a car on a recent morning, seemingly (homeless shelters).” help has been invaluable.” tors; Cornell Manning, a oblivious to the fact that — with autumn arriving today — the days will soon be numBaxley has previously said member of the Henderson bered for local insects. While temperatures will be in the 80s the next few days, overnight Contact the writer at awheless@ Planning Board; Sam that the plan is to open the readings are dipping ever closer to the 50s. hendersondispatch.com. shelter in early November Watkins, chairman of the Henderson-Vance Economic Development Commission; Nancy Wilson, executive director of the Henderson Wednesday Our Hometown . . . . . 2A Today Vance County Tourism Madison L. Ayscue, infant Authority; and Phil LakBusiness & Farm. . . . 5A Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . 6A Nokesville, Va. ernick, executive director P.M. rain Wet again Light Side . . . . . . . . . 7A of the Henderson-Vance Walter Clemon Smith, 79 High: 80 High: 83 Nation & World . . . . . 8A Downtown Development Low: 63 Oxford Low: 68 Sports. . . . . . . . . . 1-7B Patricia W. Colenda, 81 Commission. Comics . . . . . . . . . . . 8B Please see LEAF, page 4A Details, 3A Obituaries, 4A Light Side . . . . . . 9-11B

A real shot in the arm

Planning Board gives nod to zoning amendment for shelter

Prayer for warm weather? Index

Weather

Deaths

The Daily Dispatch

Mark It Down Today Community watch — The Carey Chapel Community Watch will hold it’s next meeting at 7 p.m. at the Aycock Recreation Center. Please plan to attend as mailbox and roadside signs will be available for pickup at the meeting. Charter school forum — A community forum to provide information about Henderson Collegiate, the new charter school opening in Vance County in the fall of 2010, will be held from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the H. Leslie Perry Memorial Library in Henderson. Everyone interested in learning more about the school is invited to attend. Land use committee — The City of Henderson’s Land Use Plan Steering Committee will meet at 5 p.m. in the City Council chambers of City Hall, 134 Rose Ave. City/county meeting — Henderson and Vance County government officials will meet jointly at 6 p.m. at The Silo restaurant near the I- 85/Ruin Creek Road interchange.

Wednesday VGCC event — Vance-Granville Community College’s (VGCC) Warren County Campus in Warrenton will hold an event to celebrate VGCC’s 40th anniversary from 5-7 p.m. Prostate cancer screening — Dr. Linga Vijaya, Dr. Adrian Ogle and Dr. Kirit Trivedi, in conjunction with Maria Parham Medical Center, are offering a prostate cancer screening to local men from 5-7 p.m. at the medical center. Participants are asked to enter the main entrance of the hospital and will receive further directions from there. No appointments are necessary, but anyone seeking additional information about the screening may call Lee Anne Peoples at Maria Parham at 436-1116. Wednesday Farmer’s market — The Wednesday Farmer’s Market, located near the track behind the Henderson Family YMCA, 380 Ruin Creek Road, is open from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. selling local produce. The market is sponsored by the YMCA, the Vance County Cooperative Extension Service and Maria Parham Medical Center. Venders interested in selling at the market should contact Wayne Rowland at 438-8188. Oxford Farmers’ Market — The Oxford Farmers’ Market, located on the corner of McClanahan and Lanier streets across from the police station in Oxford, is open from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Senior workshop — The Vance County Senior Center will sponsor a presentation at 11 a.m. on “Falls in the Elderly” by Nick LaRaia, physical therapist at Maria Parham Medical Center, and Marci Ryan, physical therapy student at Duke University. The public is invited to attend. The center is located at 126 S. Garnett Street. For more information, call 430-0257. Board of Elections — The Vance County Board of Elections will meet at 4 p.m. in the Board of Elections office in the Henry D. Dennis Building, 300 S. Garnett St.

Thursday Alive After Five — The Granville County Chamber of Commerce will sponsor an “Alive After Five” from 5:30-8:30 p.m. in downtown Oxford featuring The Craig Woolard Band. Red Cross training — The Central North Carolina Chapter of the American Red Cross is seeking volunteers in Granville and Vance counties. A volunteer information session will be held from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at First Baptist Church, 200 West D Street in Butner. Volunteers are needed at local blood drives and disaster volunteers are needed to respond to disasters in the area, which includes home fires. Paint-in — Art du Jour, 209 E. Nash St. in Louisburg, will host a “paint-in” for all area artists from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information, call Art du Jour at (919) 496-1650. Grant workshop — An “Eat Smart Move More” mini-grant information session will be held at 4 p.m. at the H. Leslie Perry Memorial Library, 205 Breckenridge St. in Henderson. All interested applicants should attend. Call Jackie Sergent at (919) 693-2141 or 492-7915 for more information. Business After Hours — The Henderson-Vance County Chamber of Commerce will hold a Business After Hours at 5 p.m. at Franklin Family Farms on Vicksboro Road. Chamber members and potential members are encouraged to bring their families. The maze and the pumpkin patch will be open, and hay rides and carriage rides will be conducted throughout the evening. Thousands of plants including garden mums will be on display. 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). Candidate’s forum — A people’s candidates’ forum will be held at 7 p.m. on Sept. 24 at the Vance County Senior Center, 126 S. Garnett St. A group of concerned community citizens is sponsoring the event. For more information, contact Deryl von Williams at 432-4117. Forestry meeting — A landowner forestry/natural resources meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. at Aycock Recreation Center on Carey Chapel Road. The meeting will focus on giving landowners new information on forestry management, selling of timber, cost share opportunities, grants to protect natural resources and alternative enterprises. Dr. Joshua O. Idassi from N.C. A&T State University will be the speaker. The meeting is sponsored by the Vance County Cooperative Extension Office. For more information, contact Wayne Rowland at 438-8188. Registration deadline — Registration closes today for The Incredible Years Parenting Program for parents of children 2 -5 years of age. Classes are Thursdays, 5-7 p.m., at the Vance County Cooperative Extension Center, 305 Young St. The classes are funded by Smart Start and are available at no charge. To register, call the extension center at 438-8188. Safety tips for seniors —The Vance County Senior Center will sponsor an information session by Triple D Security at 11 a.m. in the dining room. Jackie Richardson, along with David Daniels, will discuss safety and crime prevention tips and provide information on non-lethal weapons. The public is invited to attend. The senior center is located at 126 S. Garnett Street. For more information, call the center at 430-0257.

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Warren Family Institute sponsors classes, workshop on communication The Warren Family Institute will be offering “Nurturing Parenting” classes, a 24-week course for parents of children from birth to 12 years, beginning today. The program is designed to increase family communication, cooperation, closeness and respect. Practical, effective techniques

are taught for handling challenging behaviors and conflicts. The classes take place in a supportive and confidential atmosphere, and are offered at no charge. Classes will be held on Tuesday mornings from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Warren Family Institute. A light lunch will be provided. The institute, in col-

laboration with the N.C. Cooperative Extension Service, will also host its second Academic Success Workshop on Thursday at 6 p.m. entitled, “Establishing A Relationship With Your Child’s Teacher.” Rachel Monteverdi will be the speaker for the evening. Activities will be provided for the children and light

refreshments will be served. Parents will learn about steps to take in a parent/ teacher conference and who to go to when they have concerns or problems with their child at school. For more information and to register for either the classes or the workshop, contact Lori Parrott at 2571134.

Are you or is someone you love suicidal? By Gina DeMent Five County Mental Health Authority

Did you know that in the United States, an average of 91.2 individuals per day, one every 15.8 minutes, will die by suicide? Or that it’s estimated that more than five million people in the United States have been directly affected by suicide? Or that 52 percent of all persons who die by suicide use a firearm, kept in the home, to kill themselves? Suicide is the 11th leading cause of death in the United States. For young people between the ages of 15 -24, suicide is the third leading cause of death after accidents and homicides. The elderly make up 12.4 percent of the population, but account for 16.6

percent of all suicides. Experts believe that most suicidal individuals do not want to die. They just want to end the pain they are experiencing. Experts also know that suicidal crises tend to be brief. When suicidal behaviors are detected early, lives can be saved. There are services available in our community for the assessment and treatment of suicidal behaviors and their underlying causes. Here are some of the possible signs that someone who may be contemplating suicide may display: • threatening to hurt or kill oneself or talking about wanting to hurt or kill oneself • looking for ways to kill oneself by seeking access

to firearms, available pills, or other means • talking or writing about death, dying or suicide when these actions are out of the ordinary for the person • feeling hopeless • feeling rage or uncontrolled anger or seeking revenge • acting reckless or engaging in risky activities – seemingly without thinking • feeling trapped – like there’s no way out • increasing alcohol and drug use • withdrawing from family, friends and society; feeling anxious, agitated, or unable to sleep; or sleeping all the time • experiencing dramatic mood changes; • seeing no reason for liv-

ing or having no sense of purpose in life. Many of these signs are related to depression or other mental health issues, but feelings of hopelessness are found to be more predictive of suicide risk. Suicide can be prevented by raising awareness, seeking help for yourself or those close to you, and recognizing the warning signs. For more information about available services, contact your local mental health provider at 1-877619-3761, or contact the 24-hour National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or go to www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org. Those who make contact will be routed to the closest crisis center.

Craig Woolard Band to be at ‘Alive After Five’ The Granville County Chamber of Commerce will sponsor its third “Alive After Five” event of the season Thursday from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. in downtown Oxford’s parking lot behind Main Street at the intersection of Littlejohn and Gilliam streets. The music of The Craig Woolard Band will entertain the crowd. As the ambassador of beach music, Woolard enjoyed a stellar career as the front man of one of the Carolinas’ premiere bands, The Embers. After 27 years with his former group, Woolard took on a new persona and founded his current band, which performs music from a variety of genres, including beach music, R&B, Top 40, Motown, and rock and roll from the 70s and 80s. Sponsors for the event include Harris Inc., Wake Electric Membership Corporation, Downtown Oxford Economic Development Corporation, Embarq, Granville Health System, Progress Energy, A-1 Mini-Storage, Duke Energy, Lewis Electric of Oxford Inc., Bailey-Wright Realty, City of Creedmoor,

City of Oxford, Coca-Cola Bottling Co., Coley Bunch Nursery, Creedmoor Fuel Service, Inc., Fishing Creek Nursery and Florist, Jimmy Williams & Assocs.-Nationwide Insurance, Perry & Waters LLP, Remax in the Country, School of Graphic Arts, Simply Delicious Catering, Services Provided By: Marketplace Cinema

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George’s Oxford Village Family Restaurant, Munchin’ Marvin’s Bar and Grill, and Pat’s Grill on Wheels. Coca-Cola products will be available at the stand manned by Flextronics volunteers. Harris Inc. will be offering beverages, and wine will also be available.

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From Page One

The Daily Dispatch

NATIONAL WEATHER Seattle 88/55

Billings 76/45

Minneapolis 74/61

Detroit 80/63

New York 76/67

Chicago 82/61 Denver 54/36

Washington 78/66

Kansas City 74/55

Los Angeles 96/68 Atlanta 81/69

El Paso 76/53 Houston 86/70

Fairbanks 43/33

-10s

-0s

Miami 87/79

Honolulu 88/73

Anchorage 49/38

Hilo 84/69

Juneau 54/43

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

83°

63°

80°

68°

A p.m. shower or t-storm

A couple of thunderstorms

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

87°

85°

66°

64°

A thunderstorm possible

84° 60°

Some sun, a t-storm possible

Times of clouds and sun

ALMANAC

SUN AND MOON

Temperature

Sunrise today ........................... 7:02 a.m. Sunset today ............................ 7:10 p.m. Moonrise today ...................... 11:17 a.m. Moonset today ......................... 9:14 p.m. Sunrise tomorrow ..................... 7:02 a.m. Sunset tomorrow ...................... 7:09 p.m. Moonrise tomorrow ................ 12:20 p.m. Moonset tomorrow ................... 9:58 p.m.

Raleigh-Durham through 6 p.m. yest. High .................................................... 82° Low ..................................................... 57° Normal high ........................................ 80° Normal low ......................................... 59° Record high ............................ 96° in 1948 Record low .............................. 41° in 1962

Moon Phases

Precipitation 24 hours through 6 p.m. yest. ......... 0.00” Month to date .................................. 0.99” Normal month to date ..................... 3.04” Year to date ................................... 23.97” Normal year to date ...................... 32.64”

First

Full

Last

New

Sep 26

Oct 4

Oct 11

Oct 18

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

WinstonSalem

Asheville

Henderson

Greensboro

77/66

78/59

80/63

Rocky Mt.

81/66

80/66

Durham

Raleigh

82/64

Charlotte

82/68

Cape Hatteras

Fayetteville

82/64

79/72

84/69

LAKE LEVELS

Wilmington

82/69

Elevation in feet above sea level. Data as of 7 a.m. yesterday. 24-Hr. Lake Capacity Yest. Change Gaston 203 199.58 +0.01 Kerr 320 294.90 +0.08

24-Hr. Capacity Yest. Change 240 212.40 -0.02 264 248.07 -0.05

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

78 69 79 82 80 79 82 80 81 84 83 80 80 80 78

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

81 81 82 84 86 80 79 81 82 80 81 81 82 82 77

59 t 57 t 65 t 65 t 67 t 62 pc 64 t 69 t 59 t 69 t 67 t 66 pc 65 pc 70 r 58 t

79 79 85 85 85 81 84 82 85 85 82 83 86 83 82

62 56 64 67 67 63 67 66 60 68 65 67 65 68 63

t t t t c t t t t t t t t t t

63 pc 70 r 68 t 68 t 72 t 71 r 72 r 68 t 68 t 65 t 67 t 66 t 67 t 69 r 66 pc

85 82 83 84 81 80 81 84 86 83 81 83 83 82 84

67 69 66 66 71 71 73 68 68 67 67 67 67 69 65

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

O’Geary replied, “Yes, we need to expand our water plant. And that’s what we’re working for.” Somerville said she believes the plant needs to be expanded to attract jobs, but emphasized the need to take care of infrastructure. The City Council majority, in approving the municipal budget for this current fiscal year, agreed to increase the Kerr Lake System rate by 6 percent, as recommended by the system’s Advisory Board, to pay for increasing operational costs. The three mayoral candidates participated for approximately a half hour at the forum, with Somerville arriving 11 minutes into the session. Somerville, when asked by the Dispatch afterward why she was late, said she has to care for her father, who suffers from dementia. McAllister said at the forum that he has lived in the city more than a dozen years, but that, “It’s gotten to the point now where I believe special interests have firmly entrenched in Henderson city politics. “And it’s no longer for the people but for the special interests,” McAllister said, adding that needs to change and in a hurry. “We don’t need any more committees to study the same problems we’ve known about for years. It’s time to fix the problems and stop avoiding them,” McAllister said. O’Geary said that he believes in Henderson and that the city can and must have a brighter and more prosperous future. And O’Geary said that he wants to continue working in partnership with the council, partners and staff to improve the city by lay-

RALEIGH (AP) — The president of a North Carolina women’s college has announced that she will retire from her post next summer. Peace College President Laura Carpenter Bingham announced Monday that she will end her term as the Raleigh college’s ninth president, and its first

alumna president, after 12 years in office. Under Bingham, Peace College completed its transition to, and established its identity as a four-year baccalaureate institution, grown its campus and expanded its facilities. The school also set a succession of record enrollments. Bingham and the col-

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municipal piggy bank, and the city would have funds to cut taxes. After Somerville arrived, she and the other two mayoral hopefuls were asked what they would do to increase the collection of back taxes. O’Geary said, “I think we need to go after people that don’t pay their taxes more aggressively.” McAllister said, “Saying something and doing something are really different things.” “I believe with proper pressure put on the tax office and the county commissioners, I think these things can change and the collection rate can pick up,” McAllister said. And playing on an old saying, McAllister said, “It’s time to be the squeaky wheel. It’s not time to keep saying, ‘We’re gonna. We want to. We’re gonna try.’ It’s time to do it.” Somerville expressed her support for going after those who owe back taxes, adding, “Once you let something go and you let it go, it has a tendency of no one actually being accountable.” Somerville said she believes the form or the measure of how to collect taxes has just come to the forefront because of the tight funding situation. “But, this is something that the county has let go on for quite some time,” Somerville said. Mayoral candidates Tina Hunter and Tammy Sue Lightfoot were no shows at the forum, which was sponsored by the Dispatch, the Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce, radio station WIZS and the Home in Henderson Web site. The election is Oct. 6.

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as a good business venture,” McAllister added. O’Geary said he supports building the center, adding, “I think it would be wonderful for this city” because children and seniors to have a place to go to see some of the programs often found in Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill. “However, I think we need to find the funds to fund this. I know that there are a lot of people who are involved and want to see this come to pass,” O’Geary said. McAllister and O’Geary were asked their positions on jointly funded city-county projects. O’Geary said the reason for the library, the Aycock Recreational Center and the Emergency 911 system “is because the county and the city came together to have these things. “And we must think about what benefits our citizens get from the library and from the recreation complex,” O’Geary said. O’Geary said the city is involved in looking at the funding. “And I think you will see some changes coming to pass in the funding,” O’Geary added. “But it’s great that the city and the county are working in those terms to do something that’s good for our community.” McAllister said that he favors all of the projects, but that he is not in favor of how they are funded. “I think they could be funded through a line item added to the county tax bill,” McAllister said. “This is pretty simple problem to solve if people would work toward solving it,” McAllister said, noting the city could rebuild the fund balance, which is the

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ing solid foundations and initiatives for crime reduction, economic growth, safe and vibrant neighborhoods, improved quality of life and a well-respected municipal organization with businesslike principles. “I believe these are the right things to do. I want to continue helping this city move forward,” O’Geary said. McAllister and O’Geary were asked whether they are for or against the performing arts center at Embassy Square and whether federal, state or local tax dollars be used in building the facility. The Embassy Square Cultural Center Foundation is the nonprofit fundraising arm of the redevelopment project that resulted in the McGregor Hall Gallery and the relocated H. Leslie Perry Memorial Library in 2006 along Breckenridge Street. The second phase of the project called for a performing arts center to seat 1,000 spectators. The state on Aug. 14 turned down the council’s Nov. 24 request for a $1 million Community Development Block Grant to help with paying for the proposed cultural focal point. During the Sunday forum McAllister said, “I am for the construction of the performance hall as soon as we can afford to construct it and run it.” And McAllister said if grants are available to those seeking them, then so be it. “But, I think if this thing were as prosperous as was stated by the Embassy Square Foundation, I think they could find the money privately,” McAllister said. “And since they haven’t found it all privately, my guess is that it’s not seen

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Local & Region

The Daily Dispatch

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Toddler among 6 dead in Southern storms gia have had more than 20 inches since Friday. “Any rain that fell has no place to go,” said Georgia climatologist David Stooksbury. “This rainfall on top of already saturated soils really made the situation worse.” Many parts of north Georgia have experienced “historic” amounts of rain well in excess of so-called 100-year predictions, which describe a storm with the likelihood of happening once every century, said Stooksbury. The downpours come just months after much of the region emerged from an epic drought that plagued the region since 2007. As the storm front rumbled through west Georgia, it turned a normally docile creek into a surging headwater that tore apart 2-year-old Preston Slade Crawford’s mobile home around 2 a.m. The boy’s body wasn’t found until hours later, but his parents had been rescued as another son, age 1, clung to his mother’s arms in the county west of Atlanta. “By the time we got into our vehicle, they were screaming at the back of our house,” said Pat Crawford, the boy’s grandmother, who watched as the family’s mobile home was whisked away. “We could see them, but the current was so bad, we couldn’t get to them.” Crawford said she was

By GREG BLUESTEIN Associated Press Writer

ATLANTA — Surging floodwaters ripped apart a west Georgia trailer home, drowning a 2-year-old boy swept from his father’s arms. In Atlanta, stranded motorists scrambled to the tops of their car as waters rose on one of the city’s busiest highways. To the north, crews worked furiously to shore up a levee holding a surging river back from an isolated town. Storms that pounded the Southeast on Monday turned sleepy creeks into rivers, and rivers into raging floodwaters. Six people were killed across the region, including five in the Atlanta area. Aerial shots showed schools, football fields, even entire neighborhoods submerged by the deluge, sending some unlucky residents scurrying for higher ground. “It’s a mess all over,” said Lisa Janak of the Georgia Emergency Management Agency. At least two people were missing, including a Tennessee man who went swimming in an overflowing ditch on a $5 dare and a 15-year-old Georgia teen who never returned from a swim in the surging Chattooga River. The storm came after days of rain pounded most of the region and saturated the soil. Some parts of Geor-

on higher ground, unable to help her family members. Craig Crawford clung to his 2-year-old son, but the boy was pulled away in a strong undercurrent. To the northwest, crews in the tiny Georgia town of Trion worked to shore up a levee breached by the Chattooga River and in danger of failing. The town evacuated more than 1,500 residents, and Red Cross workers quickly set up an emergency shelter able to help hundreds nearby. “It’s a grave situation for us,” said Lamar Canada, Chattooga County’s emergency management director. Most of the dead were motorists trying to navigate the treacherous roadways. Seydi Burciaga, a 39-yearold woman from Georgia’s Gwinnett County, was found dead in her vehicle after it was swept off a road by flooding, said Gwinnett County Fire Capt. Thomas Rutledge. But the surging waters weren’t just dangerous for drivers. A 22-year-old Alabama man, James Dale Leigh, drowned when a pond’s rain-soaked bank collapsed beneath him, said Etowah County Sheriff Todd Entrekin. Among the hardesthit areas was Georgia’s Douglas County, where as much as a foot of rain fell Monday. Flooding there was blamed for the deaths

LEAF, from page one Grainger, assistant chief of the Townsville Volunteer Fire Department; Henry Crews; Angela Jefferson; Mack Bobbitt; and Charles Holtzman, No alternates were selected. Under a timeline agreed upon by consensus: • The review team will work from today through Oct. 22. • A priority slate of projects will be established by Oct. 26. • The meeting with representatives of the Golden Leaf Foundation Board, priority applicants and review team members will be held Nov. 4 or 5. • Full projects are due Nov. 13. • The Golden Leaf Board will make funding decisions on Dec. 3. “We don’t want you sectioning off and holding meetings,” Cabe said after the three elections were conducted in different parts of a large room. “We want you all to work together.” At the same time, Cabe mentioned that the foundation’s staff members will not police the decisionmaking process. “You all

Listed as alternates by the economic development group were Brenda Peace of the Henderson City Council and Dennis Tharrington, chairman of the Henderson-Vance Economic Development Partnership. Those chosen from the education sector as members were: Margaret Ellis, vice-chairwoman of the Vance County Board of Education; Brian Creasman, principal of Northern Vance High School; Terry Garrison, Vance County Commissioner; Marta Brooks of Life Line Outreach Ministries; Vanessa Jones of VGCC; Jill Ulman of Citizen Schools; and Norman Shearin, superintendent of Vance County Schools. The two alternates from education are Deryl von Williams of the Vance County Learning Center and Lucille Quintichette of Holy Faith Temple. Those chosen from the emergency services group were: Daren Small, chief of the Townsville Volunteer Fire Department; Dan Brummitt, chairman of the Vance County Board of Commissioners; Renee

are going to have to police yourselves.” She added that those on the review board are expected to talk among themselves when they are not all meeting together. “Our board members get calls from applicants every day.” Cabe also told the panel: “You are required to be as objective as possible. Know that your work will be under scrutiny.” She said the foundation board will meet in November, December and February. “I think it would be really tough to be ready by November,” Cabe cautioned. When Terry Garrison questioned whether review team members could vote on their own projects, she replied that they will be asked to refrain from doing that. “You need to manage the conflict of interest,” Cabe said at one point Monday night. “Most folks (in the past in other communities) have been able to lay down some ground rules.” Cabe also discussed various criteria for ranking grant proposals, and

of a man and two women in three separate situations, said county spokesman Wes Tallon. Emergency officials were often forced to improvise to rescue dozens of people stranded in their homes and cars. “We’re using everything we can get our hands on,” Tallon said. “Everything from boats to Jet Skis to ropes to ladders.” Other southeastern states were hit less severely. In Kentucky, rescue crews went on more than a dozen runs to help stranded people after 4 inches of rain fell on parts of Louisville Sunday, said Louisville fire department spokesman Sgt. Salvador Melendez. Water rose as high as window-level on some houses in North Carolina’s Polk County, forcing emergency officials to evacuate homes along a seven-mile stretch of road. Flooding in more than 20 counties in western North Carolina closed roads, delayed school and forced evacuations. The forecast held little good news for Georgia: Another round of storms was expected to move in Tuesday from the west. “Don’t remind me,” Carroll County Emergency Management Director Tim Padgett said of the forecast. “That’s the worst news we could hear.”

Dr. Dennis Myers, 1503 Graham Ave, (252) 436-2500 www.hendersonbackdoctor.com • Mon-Thurs 9:30-6, Fri 9:30-11

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Walter C. Smith NOKESVILLE, Va. — Walter Clemon Smith, 79, of Nokesville, died Sunday, Sept. 20, 2009, at Prince William Hospital. He was born on Aug. 14, 1930, and was the son of the late Chester and Mammie Smith. He is survived by his wife, Joyce W. Smith; four children, Walter C. Smith Jr., Michael K. Smith, Carolyn Roberson and Debra Hearn; two sisters, Madeline Wester and Jamie Kemp; two brothers, Chester Smith Jr. and Jimmy Smith; 13 grandchildren; 21 greatgrandchildren. He was preceded in death by two children, Peggy Pitchford and Linda Lassiter. The family will receive friends from 7-9 p.m. Thursday at Pierce Funeral Home, 9609 Center St., Manassas, Va., where services will be held on Friday at 1 p.m. Interment will follow at Stonewall Memory Gardens. Arrangements are by Pierce Funeral Home of Manassas, Va.

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HENDERSON — Madison Lynn Ayscue, infant daughter of Erica Marie Ewing and Chad Wayne Ayscue, of 52 S. Oakwood Lane, Henderson, was born and died Sunday, Sept. 20, 2009, at Maria Parham Medical Hospital. A graveside funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. today at the Williamson Family Cemetery, conducted by the Rev. Allen R. Ayscue. Surviving, in addition to her parents, are a brother, Hunter Wayne Ayscue, of the home; maternal grandparents, Cassandra and Michael Ewing, of Henderson; paternal grandparents, Judy and Wayne Ayscue, of Henderson; maternal greatgrandparents, John Godwin, of Palmetto, Fla.; and Donna and Michael Ewing, of Macomb, Ill.; and paternal great-grandparents, Kennon Lassiter, and Effie and John Ayscue, all of Henderson. The family will receive friends at the cemetery immediately following the service. All other times, they will be at the home, 52 S. Oakwood Lane, Henderson. Arrangements are by Flowers Funeral Home.

Flowers are accepted or memorials may be made to Masonic Home for Children, 600 College St., Oxford, NC, 27565. Arrangements are by Gentry-Newell and Vaughan Funeral Home of Oxford.

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OXFORD — Patricia Wade Colenda, 81, of 114 Forest Road, died Sunday, Sept. 20, 2009, at Duke University Medical Center. A native of Carteret County, she spent most of her life in Granville County. She was the daughter of the late Howard and Sally Daniel Wade and was mentioned that the review a member of Oxford United panel needs to use them. Methodist Church where she Examples included: was a member of the choir. • Direct relation of the She retired from Oxford Orproject to the key issue phanage Masonic Home. Funeral services will area and the priority be conducted Wednesday objective. at noon at Oxford United • The project’s potenMethodist Church by the tial to impact the most Rev. Pat Hawkins. Burial citizens. will be in Bayview Cemetery • The applicant’s abilin Morehead City on Thursity/capacity to achieve day at 2 p.m. desired objectives. Surviving are a son, Allen • Sustainability of the Colenda Jr. of Maryland; a project. daughter, Ann Colenda of • Partner support and Oxford; a sister, Shirley W. participation. Lucas of Morehead City; • Leveraging of new or three grandchildren; and existing resources. eight great-grandchildren. • Eligibility of the apShe was preceded in death plicant. by her late husband, Allen • Project resources G. Colenda; and a son, Kenmust be used for eligible neth Colenda. activities. The family will receive friends from 11 a.m. until Contact the writer at awhenoon, prior to the services, in less@hendersondispatch.com. the church.

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Business & Farm

The Daily Dispatch

Mitsubishi plans $325M plant in Ga.

Dow Jones industrials

9,000 8,000 7,000

-41.34 9,778.86

Pct. change from previous: -0.42%

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Sept. 21, 2009

-3.64 M

Pct. change from previous: -0.34%

High 1,067.28

1,400

Low 2,118.48

Standard & Poor’s 500 1,064.66

6,000

Low 9,725.88

Nasdaq composite

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

Low 1,057.46

SOURCE: SunGard

MARKET ROUNDUP 092109: Market charts show Dow, S&P 500, and urrencies etals Nasdaq; stand-alone; 2c x 4 1/2 inches; 96 mm x 114 mm; staff Mon. NEW YORK (AP) — Key currency exEditors: All figures as of: spot 5:25:02 PM EST change rates Monday: Copper -$2.8060 Cathode full plate, U.S. NOTE: Figures reflect market fluctuations after close; may not match other AP content destinations. Dollar vs: ExchgRate PvsDay Copper $2.7925 N.Y. Merc spot Mon. Yen 92.13 91.35 Lead - $2172.00 metric ton, London Metal Euro $1.4677 $1.4720 Exch. Pound $1.6194 $1.6272 Zinc - $0.8889 per lb., delivered. Swiss franc 1.0327 1.0287 Gold - $997.00 Handy & Harman (only daily Canadian dollar 1.0778 1.0697 quote). Mexican peso 13.3805 13.2605 Gold - $1003.70 troy oz., NY Merc spot Mon. Metal Price PvsDay Silver - $16.940 Handy & Harman (only NY Merc Gold $1003.70 $1012.30 daily quote). NY HSBC Bank US $1004.00 $1015.00 Silver - $16.858 troy oz., N.Y. Merc spot Mon. NY Merc Silver $16.858 $17.243 Mercury - $550.00 per 76 lb flask, N.Y. Platinum -$1345.00 troy oz., N.Y. (contract). Nonferrous Platinum -$1322.20 troy oz., N.Y. Merc spot NEW YORK (AP) — Spot nonferrous metal Mon. prices Monday: n.q.-not quoted, n.a.-not available r-revised Aluminum -$0.8500 per lb., N.Y. Merc

& M

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. ACS 46.85 ATT 26.87 Ball Corp. 51.21 BankAmerica 17.25 BB&T 28.60 Coca-Cola 53.00 CVS 36.18 Duke Energy 15.75 Exxon 69.57 Ford 6.83 General Elec. 16.76 Motors Liquidation 0.76 Home Depot 28.14 IBM 121.57 Johnson & Johnson 60.67 Kennametal 23.93 Krispy Kreme 3.61 Louisiana Pacific 7.22 Lowes 21.95 Lucent Tech. 4.32 Pepsico 59.02 Phillip Morris 18.04 Procter & Gamble 57.10 Progress Energy 39.23 RF Micro Dev 5.65 Royal Bk Can 52.82 RJR Tobacco 45.29 Revlon 4.62 Sprint 4.25 Sun Trust 23.16 Universal 42.74 Verizon Comm. 29.49 Vulcan 56.73 Wal-Mart 50.91 Wells Fargo 28.29 Wendy’s 5.17 Establis Delhaize 70.71

By ALEX VEIGA AP Real Estate Writer

LOS ANGELES — Asians, many of them living in foreclosure-ravaged California, suffered the sharpest drop in homeownership last year, eclipsing declines felt by whites, blacks and Hispanics, according to new Census data. The decline was surprising, because Asians tend to earn more than other minority groups and have less debt. But one out of three Asian homeowners lives in California, which has seen foreclosure rates skyrocket and home values plummet since the housing bubble burst. And that appears to have disproportionately exposed them to the effects from the housing collapse, experts suggested. The U.S. homeownership rate fell to 66.6 percent last year, the lowest in six years, after hitting a peak of 67.3 percent in 2006, according to figures from the American Community Survey, which was released Monday by the U.S. Census Bureau. Homeownership for Asians fell 1.24 percentage points last year to 59.4 percent. The decline was 0.88

percentage points for blacks to 45.6 percent. Hispanics experienced a similar decline, down 0.80 to 49.1 percent. Whites suffered the smallest decline, down 0.40 to 73.4 percent. But because Asians only represent 3.3 percent of all U.S. homeowners, the decline in the number of black and white households was greater. The number of Hispanic homeowners actually rose, reflecting trends in immigration and higher birth rates. Nevertheless, as a population group, Asian homeowners fared far worse than others. That revelation surprised some experts such as Edward Wolff, an economist at New York University. “Based on their income and relatively low debt,

SEC going to trial against BofA over employee bonuses By MARCY GORDON AP Business Writer

WASHINGTON — The Securities and Exchange Commission said Monday it will go to trial against Bank of America Corp. over bonuses at Merrill Lynch, opening the possibility of also bringing charges against bank executives, a week after a judge’s stinging rejection of a $33 million settlement of the case. The SEC said it will “vigorously pursue” its case against Bank of America, which acquired Merrill in a hastily arranged deal a year ago. The agency had accused the bank, one of the biggest U.S. financial institutions, of failing to disclose to shareholders that it had authorized Merrill to pay up to $5.8 billion in bonuses. The SEC has been weighing its options since U.S. District Judge Jed Rakoff called the proposed settlement a breach of “justice one would expect that and morality” and ordered they would have a smaller the case to trial. Another decline in homeownership,” route would have been to Wolff said. try to renegotiate the accord The median annual with Bank of America. “We firmly believe that household income for Asians the settlement we submitwas just over $70,000 last ted to the court was reasonyear, higher than for any able, appropriate and in the other racial group. public interest,” the SEC “It’s possible that it’s said in a statement issued a regional effect,” Wolff Monday night. The agency suggested. “There’s a high had made that argument in concentration of Asianbriefs filed in recent weeks Americans in California, to Rakoff. Bank of Amerand California got particuica also had defended the larly hard hit by property settlement as appropriate. (price) declines and high Rakoff had questioned foreclosure rates.” why individual executives at While foreclosures have been declining on a monthly Charlotte, N.C.-based Bank basis in California this year, of America weren’t charged the state continues to have by the SEC. His unprecedented rejection of the the most foreclosures in settlement put the SEC in a the country and one of the highest rates of foreclosure- touchy legal situation. The related filings, according to agency on Monday notified the federal court in ManhatRealtyTrac Inc.

Homeownership fell in ’08; Asians hit worst

It’s T he Perfect Time Highlights! r o F Jessica Ayscue Brings Her Experience From Raleigh

Sept. 21, 2009

2,138.04

Stocks

10,000

Sept. 21, 2009

By RUSS BYNUM Associated Press Writer

POOLER, Ga. — After sitting vacant for seven years, a 1,500-acre industrial site near Savannah landed its first manufacturer Monday as Mitsubishi Power Systems announced plans to produce giant steam and gas turbines in coastal Georgia. The company said it will begin construction before the end of the year on a $325 million plant that will employ about 500 workers. The plant will manufacture and service turbines used by power plants to generate electricity. The state bought the industrial site for $23 million in 2002, as part of an incentive package Georgia used to woo DaimlerChrysler to agree to make cargo vans here. The deal, expected to bring 3,000 jobs, fell through in 2003 because of economic turbulence. State economic development officials held out for years trying to find a single manufacturer. Finally, they opted to parcel out smaller tracts of the site to different businesses. During Mitsubishi’s announcement at the plant site, covered by tall weeds, Gov. Sonny Perdue acknowledged the state’s seven years or corporate courtship in search of a match for the site. “This state has dated a lot of pretty girls, but it hadn’t found the right one yet,” Perdue said. “You got one to bring home to momma today.” Mitsubishi Power Systems, which is based in Lake Mary, Fla., will build its plant on 119 acres, leaving about 600 acres open to future development. Roughly half the site is protected wetland. Koji Hasegawa, the company’s president and CEO, said a major draw was the site’s location at the intersection of Interstate 95 and I-16, and just a few miles from Savannah’s airport and its bustling container port — the nation’s fourth largest. “The availability to us of this portion of the mega site made locating a new facility here a very easy decision,” Hasegawa said. Senior Vice President Dave Walsh said the firm plans to begin construction in December and start hiring in 2010. He said it plans to employ 200 workers within two years. State officials said wages at the Mitsubishi plant will average about $58,000 a year.

Area

A DAY ON WALL STREET

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

tan, where Rakoff issued his ruling a week earlier, that it had decided to proceed to trial in the case. The SEC said it could seek to bring additional charges if supported by the record of evidence that develops in the trial, meaning that it could seek to charge individual executives. “As we consider our legal options with respect to the court’s ruling, we will vigorously pursue our charges against Bank of America and take steps to prove our case in court,” the SEC statement said. “We will use the additional discovery available in the litigation to further pursue the facts and determine whether to seek the court’s permission to bring additional charges in this case. In deciding how to proceed we will, as always, be guided by what the facts warrant and the law permits.” Bank of America spokesman Scott Silvestri had no immediate comment. Bank of America agreed to pay the $33 million in the settlement without admitting or denying wrongdoing. The bank has said it didn’t violate disclosure rules but wished to avoid litigation with the SEC at a time of market uncertainty. Rakoff, in his ruling, found that the settlement “suggests a rather cynical relationship between the parties.” “The SEC gets to claim that it is exposing wrongdoing on the part of the Bank of America in a high-profile merger, the bank’s management gets to claim that they have been coerced into an onerous settlement by overzealous regulators. And all this is done at the expense, not only of the shareholders, but also of the truth,” he wrote.

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Opinion

The Daily Dispatch

XII I

II III

VIII VII VI

IV V

X IX

XII

VII

Harwell: Gentleman in booth, and in life II III

VIII

Tuesday, September 22, 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 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:3-6

Our Opinion

Talk about crazy Many times it has been said that a picture paints a thousand words. Working a bit in reverse, we ask you to consider what’s wrong with the picture painted by these words. SEATTLE (AP) — An insane killer who slipped away from the staff of a mental institution on a field trip Thursday to the Spokane County Interstate Fair was recaptured Sunday without injury more than 180 miles away in south-central Washington. We know what you’re thinking: “Are they %&$*(&^ serious? … There’s no %&$*(&^ way that can be true!” Yes, we’re %&$*(&^ serious. Yes %&$*(&^ way it’s true. Insane killer. Mental institution field trip. Spokane County Interstate Fair. And the full story is actually even worse than it sounds. Apparently staff from Eastern State Hospital in Washington took a number of patients on an outing to the Spokane County Interstate Fair. Which would be fine — commendable, in fact — if those patients only included individuals whose disabilities are severe enough to require institutional care, but do not make the patients a threat to themselves or to society. There is every reason to facilitate the disabled in enjoying a few of the good things life has to offer. But among that group of patients was one Phillip Arnold Paul, 47. Paul was committed to the state mental hospital after he was diagnosed as schizophrenic and acquitted by reason of insanity in the murder of an elderly woman in Sunnyside, Wash., in 1987. In that case, Paul didn’t just kill the woman, he also soaked her body in gasoline in hopes of throwing police dogs searching for the victim off the trail. So, insane, he is, but obviously not beyond knowing right from wrong and that what he did merited some covering-up. It gets worse. Among the officers who caught up with Paul on Sunday — three days and 180 miles separated from his time and place of escape — was Spokane County sheriff’s Detective Roger W. Knight. And Detective Knight has been down this road before. Knight, you see, captured Paul in 1991 after the “insane killer” escaped from another state hospital field trip. Following his recapture, Paul attacked Knight in the jail booking area, knocking the officer unconscious and separating the detective’s shoulder. Paul as a result was convicted of firstdegree escape and second-degree assault. Now, 18 years later, Knight is having to round-up Phillip Arnold Paul again because the state mental hospital decided to take the man — did we mention he is an “insane killer” — on another field trip. To the Spokane County Interstate Fair. Which is sort of like presenting a man who has already killed once with a veritable flea market of potential victims. Susan Dreyfus, secretary of the Washington Department of Social and Health Services, issued a statement in the wake of the incident. “We are committed to finding out how and why this happened, why there was an unacceptable (two-hour) delay in notifying local law enforcement of his escape, and how potentially dangerous patients were brought to such a public venue with the reported staffing ratios,” Dreyfus said. We don’t know “the reported ratios” of supervision in this case; that is, how many staffers were assigned to monitor patients on the outing. What we do know is, it doesn’t matter. After all, exactly what staff-to-homicidal-psychiatric-patient ratio is recommended for escorting an “insane killer” with a history of escape on a field trip to the Spokane County Interstate Fair?

It was late summer, a baseball night, and in downtown Detroit, the Tigers were playing. Miles away, sitting in his chair, Ernie Harwell wanted some ice cream. “How about you?” he asked me. I said sure, and he turned to his beautiful wife of 68 years and said, “Lulu, let’s have some butter pecan ice cream,” and Lulu rose from the couch to get it, although I imagine Ernie would have done it first if he weren’t sick. This was a last week, in his modest home, where The Last True Gentleman of the Booth spends every night now, reading quietly, going through letters, enjoying the moments he has left because his moments are dwindling, a game in the late innings. Ernie has inoperable cancer. He accepts it the way a good ballplayers accept a strike call. May not like it. Can’t change it. Anyhow, Ernie Harwell is 91 years old and he has long since learned to make the best of things. He did it as a young broadcaster on away games when he stayed in the studio, read the ticker, then waited for the sound effect of a smacked bat. He did it for decades in the cramped bird’s nest booth in old Tiger Stadium, where your spine surrendered to inhuman angles. He learned it from his father,

who suffered an illness in his later years that cost him his eyesight. Radio was how his father followed baseball after that, and for every game in his 55 years of broadcasting, through the Dodgers, Giants, Orioles and Tigers, Ernie never forgot that, never forgot how Mitch he might be Albom the his eyes Tribune Media and ears for Services someone like his father, who was making the best of it. Now Ernie makes the best of it, with grace, warmth and faith. Above all, faith.

Blessed with modesty “A church wants you to do the Sunday sermon,” his friend and attorney Gary Spicer said, sitting with stacks of mail and requests. I mentioned that would be a sure way to increase church attendance. “Oh, I dunno,” Ernie answered, laughing, “They might throw tomatoes.” It came out “tamay-tahs,” the soft Georgia coda to his words, easy on the ears, like cool tea to the lips. Ernie’s

voice has always been soothing — he sounds like baseball would sound if the game could talk — but we forget it’s soothing mostly because Ernie himself is soothing, He is as gentle, open, kind and decent as anyone I have ever met. In two days, he was scheduled to say a farewell at Comerica Park. Spicer told him there would be a long video, and a salute, and then he’d be given the microphone. “Well, I’ll just talk for 30 seconds,” Ernie said. And sure enough, when the night came, last Wednesday, he didn’t go much longer. He walked out briskly, offering his most healthy posture, and told the crowd he was lucky and blessed, especially because his journey was “going to end in the great state of Michigan.” He finished with a “God bless you” and walked to the tunnel. No surprise Ernie always preferred to tell the story, not become it.

Still time to do good Too late. Harwell’s illness and his farewell speech became national news. Endless accounts of his long career were written, hosannas were thrown, all deserved. But be careful not to eulogize Ernie, because he’s not only still with us, he is enter-

ing a phase where he may be more precious than ever. “Maybe I can help somebody else,” he said, after we’d finished the ice cream. Harwell has been an example of grace over every game he’s called, genteel, respectful, never in the way, accepting that he is there to paint the picture, but he doesn’t own the brush. He has that same approach to life and now to death. He says he has long believed that his life is in God’s hands, and he’s lived it that way. And he will continue to do so. To the end. I have written a new book about faith, part of which chronicles a broken down church in Detroit led by a poor pastor who fights to keep it going. Ernie read an advanced copy of book a few weeks ago. He told me he liked it. That was special enough. But do you know that on his way down to his big night at Comerica Park, Ernie first drove by that crumbling church, unannounced, in a rundown section of Detroit, and when he saw the pastor, he rolled down his window and said “Hi, I’m Ernie Harwell, I just wanted to meet you.” Nobody looking. Nobody taking notes. Just something he wanted to do. The Last True Gentleman of the Booth is making the best of it. We are all better for it.

Letters to the Editor In food safety, what are our priorities? To the editor: It appears to be a conflict in the safety issues. We have been told for years through investigative journalism how improper food processing is handled. The latest food recalls have been from commerical processors. I never hear of local producers having recalls. The pros of small farms is keeping private land in the hands of local residents, jobs for residents, less chemical uses as organic farming is catching on with small farms. The enviromental footrienced some of the discrimination that he was talking about. print is lessened by saving Yet I disagree that race is fuel and less polluted air. “an overwhelming portion” of We know the jobs stay in Obama’s opposition. There are our country rather than plenty of legitimate reasons for some of the processing people to oppose Obama’s polibeing sent across borders cies, whether I agree with them where U.S. regulations do or not, without racism having much, if anything, to do with it. not exist. Less waste from packaging and more recyAfter all, political and cling is encouraged. culture clashes between what I call “Obama Country” and “Sarah Palin’s Nation” have a Dr. Delores Harris, long tradition in America. Palin Louisburg thrills the Republican base by extolling the virtues of “small towns” in much the way past populists and progressives traditionally have railed on behalf of “ordinary people” against “fat cats” and educated “elites.” It is an odd sign of progress that a black man can rouse so much “anti-elitist” fervor. Sometimes asking to be treated like every other presiThe Daily Dispatch weldent doesn’t really ask for as comes letters to the editor. much as one might think it Letters must be signed, does. Even the more vulgar politically incorrect signs at Town include the author’s city Hall and Tea Party demonstraof residence, and should tions hark back to days when be limited to 300 words. Abraham Lincoln was porPlease include a telephone trayed as an ape. After moving number for verification. aggressively to tackle problems We reserve the right to ranging from economy to edit comments for length, global warming to health care, clarity, libelous material, Obama was bound to bring on a backlash even if he were a fullpersonal attacks and poor blooded Caucasian. taste. We do not publish What matters as we navigate anonymous letters, form these age-old differences now letters, letters with names is our sense of civility, that withheld or letters where ultimately we are in this mess we cannot verify the together. Whether we come writer’s identity. from the worlds that produced Writers should limit the music of Kanye West or Taylor Swift, we share probthemselves to one letter lems in common that beg for us every 30 days. to come together as Americans. Letters can be acLet Beyonce be our guide. cepted by e-mail, but city of residence and a phone E-mail Clarence Page at cpage@ number for verification tribune.com, or write to him c/o purposes still must be Tribune Media Services, 2225 included. Kenmore Ave., Suite 114, Buffalo, NY 14207.

Obama Country vs. Palin Nation I understand why President Obama didn’t want reporters to tell the world that he thought Kanye West behaved like a “jackass” at this year’s “MTV Video Music Awards.” After all, politicians get in trouble when they tell the truth. It was double-plus un-good for the hip-hop star to snatch the microphone from sweet Taylor Swift’s hands as the 19-year-old country music star was accepting her first VMA award. Then he announced that he thought the award should have gone to Beyonce Knowles, who cameras caught with a look of shock and awe as the audience erupted in boos and jeers for Kanye. Well deserved. Bless Beyonce, who received another award, for later saving the evening. She called a grateful Swift back on stage to finish her rudely interrupted acceptance speech. What a relief. In a program that historically erupts with weird scene-stealers, there was at least one grown-up in the room. It was ironic, then, that Obama could not have taken a more public stand. Even in this age of culture wars and polarized politics, Americans of good will can stand together in our contempt for West’s mirrorkissing narcissism. The same can be said regarding tennis start Serena Williams’ profanity-laden eruption against a line judge’s call. Both West’s and Williams’ exercises in incivility happened to come a few days after South Carolina Republican Rep. Joe Wilson’s “You lie” outcry interrupted Obama’s health care speech to Congress. A door was opened wide for Obama to stand tall for better manners in these raucous times. But he passed. He even tried to persuade the nearby pool of White House reporters that the remark about West was “off the record,”

according to reports that leaked out anyway. Reporters should cut the president “some slack,” the president said, since “I’ve got a lot of other stuff on my plate.” Right. The last thing Obama wanted was to step on his own health Clarence care momentum, as he Page did in his Tribune Media last primeServices time news conference with off-the-cuff allegations of racial profiling. This time, even when talking about health care, Team Obama dodged persistent questions about how much racism might be playing a role in the raging anger, fears, suspicions and resentments expressed by some opponents of his policies across the nation. The White House left it to the likes of former President Jimmy Carter, who continued his tradition of saying things that cause consternation to sitting presidents of both parties. On Kanye, Carter said West’s behavior was “completely uncalled-for.” He then cleverly declared that West’s “punishment was to appear on the new Jay Leno show.” Good one, Jimmy. On race, the great peace negotiator was not nearly as sanguine. “I think an overwhelming portion of the intensely demonstrated animosity toward President Barack Obama is based on the fact that he is a black man, that he’s African American,” Carter said, recalling the nation’s long, sad history of racial segregation, particularly in his native south. I’m old enough to have expe-

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Dear Abby

9/22/09

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you may no longer be a pullet, your best chance at happiness might be to fly the coop.

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Thought For Today: The autumn always gets me badly, as it breaks into colors. I want to go south, where there is no autumn, where the cold doesn’t crouch over one like a snow-leopard waiting to pounce — D.H. Lawrence, English author (1885-1930).

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Today’s Birthdays: Michael Faraday, British physicist (1791-1862); Caroline Astor, U.S. aristocrat of New York high society (1830-1908); Erich von Stroheim, German director and actor (1885-1957); Louis Botha, South African soldierstatesman (1862-1919); John Houseman, U.S. stage/radio actor (1902-1988); Fay Weldon, British writer (1931--); Joan Jett, U.S. rock singer (1960--).

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