The Daily Dispatch - Tuesday, October 6, 2009 by The Daily Dispatch

CMYK Henderson city voters: Polls are open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Warren gets accounting certificate

SVHS soccer falls to Orange, 1-0

Crossroads volleyball sweeps Lighthouse

Local News, Page 4A

Sports, Page 1B

Sports, Page 1B TUESDAY, October 6, 2009

Volume XCV, No. 234

(252) 436-2700

www.hendersondispatch.com

Voting in Henderson municipal elections begins at 6:30 a.m.

Construction will begin Feb. 1

By WILLIAM F. WEST Daily Dispatch Writer

By AL WHELESS Daily Dispatch Writer

Please see WATER, page 3A

Daily Dispatch/ASHLEY STEVEN AYSCUE

Harold Henrich stands next to a fire truck outside the Vance County Fire Department Monday afternoon. Henrich is the new Vance County EMS director/fire marshal. The city and county fire and EMS departments officially were separated effective Oct. 1.

County’s new fire/EMS leader unveiled Hiring of Harold Henrich does bring questions from a commissioner By AL WHELESS Daily Dispatch Writer

Harold Henrich, Vance County’s new fire marshal/EMS director, was introduced a little ahead of schedule Monday night to the Board of Commissioners. County Manager Jerry Ayscue had to move up his unveiling of the man who was hired to manage the newly independent Vance fire and EMS services when Commissioner Deborah Brown decided to express her concerns about how Henrich was chosen. Henrich is from Johnston County, and Brown appeared to wonder why someone closer to the fire and EMS operations in Vance wasn’t picked. Brown said she did not support “the manner in which personnel actions were taken” to fill the position, and listed her reasons. “Since establishing the Human Resources Committee,

the procedures we use for hiring department heads have not been consistent,” she said. “When Vance County applicants are deemed quali- Brown fied for positions, they should be afforded opportunities by Vance County to grow and develop their skills accordingly.” However, Brown pledged to support Henrich and all efforts to improve the fire and EMS services in the county. “Failure to achieve anything less than the best service for our citizens can and should not be an option,” Brown told her fellow board members. Chairman Dan Brummitt told Brown that Ayscue conducted interviews of the six finalists from 13 applicants during the screening process with the help

of the regional representatives of the State Fire Marshall’s Office and the North Carolina Office of Emergency Medical Services. Commissioner Scott Hughes told Henrich: “You do have charisma, and that is what it is going to take to bring all those departments together.” When he addressed the board, Henrich said, “It’s a challenge with a lot of obstacles, but I have a wonderful staff.” Contacted by telephone late Monday afternoon, Ayscue said, “I am pleased to have Chief Henrich in this important position of critical leadership.” According to the county manager, Henrich, “has the necessary skills to help guide the Vance County Fire and Ambulance Department through a successful period of transition and progress.” Please see HIRING, page 3A

Proposal to move VGCC Small Business Center downtown withdrawn By AL WHELESS Daily Dispatch Writer

With three members already against it, the proposed downtown location for Vance-Granville Community College’s Small Business Center was to have gone before the full board of Vance County commissioners Monday night. However, County Manager Jerry Ayscue announced to the board during its meeting that the discussion item had been withdrawn from the agenda by the Henderson-Vance Economic Development Commission.

The action by the EDC came on the heels of a negative response to the proposal on Sept. 25 by the Vance Commissioners’ Planning and Environmental Committee. In a recent letter from Chairman Sam Watkins, the EDC asked the Board of Commissioners to approve footing the bill for the relocation, rental and utilities expenses in connection with moving the center from the VGCC campus to the vacant BB&T building on Chestnut Street in Henderson. Watkins’ letter wanted the county to rent space in the build-

Index Our Hometown . . . . . Business & Farm. . . . Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . Light Side . . . . . . . . .

Deaths

2A 5A 6A 7A

Sports. . . . . . . . . . 1-6B Football Contest. . 4-5B Comics . . . . . . . . . . . 7B Classifieds. . . . . . 8-10B

Weather

ing from Henderson Investment Development Corporation, which has an option to purchase the property for $300,000. Part of the center would consist of classrooms, and there would be small business “incubators” in the building. Watkins also mentioned that the EDC would like to move its office to the site if space is available. The Planning and Environmental Committee — consisting of Chairman Dan Brummitt and commissioners Terry Garrison and Danny Wright — decided to

Today

let all of the Vance Commissioners consider the proposal. But Brummitt, Garrison and Wright agreed that the county already has enough buildings, including some that are not being used. During the committee meeting, concern was expressed about spending $240,000 for rent and an equal sum for utilities in a $300,000 building over the life of a five-year contract with HIDC.

Polls open at 6:30 a.m. today in Henderson’s municipal election, with voters to decide who should serve in the mayor’s position and to decide five of eight City Council positions being contested. The polls will close at 7:30 p.m., with the chosen leaders to serve a two-year term in the councilmanager form of government. In the contest for Henderson’s chief executive position, firstterm incumbent Pete O’Geary is facing opposition from four candidates. They are Tina Hunter, Tammy Sue Lightfoot, Tim McAllister and Juanita Somerville. Hunter is a substitute teacher for Granville County Schools. O’Geary, a former councilman, won the mayor’s position in 2007 by defeating Jeannie Hight, a former councilwoman. The two were competing to replace then-Mayor Clem Seifert, who declined to seek re-election. Here is a recap of the council contests and the candidates: • Ward 1: Incumbent Mary Emma Evans is being challenged by Cathy Ringley. • Ward 1 At Large: Incumbent Bernard Alston is again being challenged by Sara Coffey. • Ward 2: Incumbent Michael Rainey is being challenged by Lewis Edwards. • Ward 2 At Large: First-term incumbent Michael Inscoe is being challenged by Lowell West Jr. Although former Councilman Bobby Gupton will be on the ballot as a candidate for the Ward 2 At Large position, he withdrew from the contest for health reasons. • Ward 4 At Large: Incumbent George Daye is being challenged by former Councilman Ranger Wilkerson. Unopposed are Ward 3 Councilman Garry Daeke, Ward 3 At Large Councilwoman Brenda Peace and Ward 4 Councilman Lonnie Davis. Daeke, whose tenure on the council dates back to 2005, is development coordinator at Franklin-Granville-Vance Partnership for Children.

Contact the writer at awheless@ hendersondispatch.com.

Please see ELECTIONS, page 3A

Phoenix fails to get ambulance franchise Business made bid to provide non-emergency service from Granville to Durham By WILLIAM F. WEST Daily Dispatch Writer

OXFORD – A company’s request to obtain a non-emergency ambulance franchise to transport military veterDreary ans in Granville County to High: 66 the Veterans Affairs Medical Low: 53 Center in Durham failed on Monday evening. W ednesday County Manager Brian Obituaries, 4A Alligood recommended denial of an application Warmer by Phoenix Industries, High: 79 citing deficiencies in the Low: 51 paperwork and a failure to demonstrate a public need Details, 3A for such a service.

Creedmoor Jeffrey L. Cash, 49 Henderson Sally S. Nowell, 81 Jacksonville, Fla. Tyrone M. Fore, 53 Warrenton Alphonso Twisdale, 74

50 cents

City polls open early

County OKs Phase 1 of water plan

Construction of Vance County’s proposed water district will begin Feb. 1 of 2010 under a progress schedule for Phase 1 that was approved Monday night by the Board of Commissioners. Members of the board also authorized the County to proceed with Phase 2A, which includes Dabney and the southern part of Williamsboro, and Phase 2B, which includes Townsville and the northern part of Williamsboro. Phase 1A covers Cokesbury and Aycock. The related timeline, which was recommended by the board’s Planning and Environmental Committee, also includes these steps: • Appoint from Oct. 5-19 a citizens’ advisory committee to obtain sign-ups on a local level. It would report to County Manager Jerry Ayscue. • Send out water bills on Oct. 1 to Phase 1A service area residents at the beginning of mass mailings of sign-up forms that will stop on Oct. 15. If approved, the contracts would specify estimated monthly rates of $35 to $45 for 5,000 gallons of water. • Start conducting sign-up drives on Oct. 15 in public meetings at locations in Phase 1A and door-to-door. Participation is not mandatory.

After Commission Chairman Hubert Gooch three times asked what his fellow commissioners wanted to do, Commissioner Tony Cozart made a motion backing Alligood, which died for lack of a second. After Bob Stewart, a representative of Phoenix, had made a presentation to the commission at the panel’s Sept. 8 meeting, the commission had referred the application to County Emergency Services Director Martin Bragg. Bragg returned with a memorandum saying:

• Stewart at the September commission meeting had indicated Phoenix had a contract with the VA Medical Center in Durham. • Bragg subsequently asked for a copy of the contract and received a document appearing to be a contract, but making no reference to Phoenix and being absent of any signatures. • Bragg received another copy of a contract, which appeared to have pages missing. • And Bragg, after a third request, received what appeared to be a con-

tract between the two for “ambulance services.” • Phoenix’s application said the company provides “comprehensive, transportation services” for the Atlanta VA Medical Center and the Miami VA Medical Center. • Bragg said his discussions with the Georgia and Florida offices of emergency medical services said Phoenix provides non-medical transportation for these facilities and has no license to provide any type of ambulance service in these states. Please see AMBULANCE, page 3A

Our Hometown

The Daily Dispatch

Mark It Down Today Board of Adjustment — The City of Henderson’s Zoning Board of Adjustment will meet at 3 p.m. in the City Council chambers of City Hall, 134 Rose Ave. The board will then go out and inspect the former America’s Best Value Inn, 200 Parham Road. Rail meeting — The N.C. Department of Transportation Rail Services will conduct a meeting at 6 p.m. in the City Council chambers of Henderson’s City Hall, 134 Rose Ave. Cattle assessment vote — The North Carolina Cattlemen’s Association (NCCA) has announced that the N. C. Cattle Industry assessment referendum vote will take place today at cooperative extension centers in each county. In Vance County, voting is from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 305 Young St. Call the extension center at 438-8188 for information. Paint-in — Art du Jour, 209 E. Nash St., Louisburg, will host a “Paint In” for all area artists from 6-9 p.m. Suggested donation fee is $5. For more information, call (919) 496-1650. Bus driver training — Anyone interested in becoming a school bus driver for Vance County Schools is urged to attend the bus driver training sessions today through Thursday in the Drama Room at Southern Vance High School. The sessions each day are scheduled from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Participants must attend all three sessions to complete training. Kiwanis Club — The Kiwanis Club of Henderson meets at 6:30 p.m. at the Dabney Drive Restaurant on West Andrews Avenue. State Rep. Jimmy Crawford will speak on “What’s Going On In The Legislature.” Interested non-members may call Opie Frazier at (252) 430-1111 for reservations or membership information. Community watch — The Pines/Ranes Community Watch will meet at the Elks Lodge on Rockspring Street in Henderson at 6 p.m. Linda Lynn with the City of Henderson will speak on recycling.

Wednesday Clean-Up Henderson — The Clean-Up Henderson Committee meets at 8 a.m. at the City Operations Center. The public is invited to attend. Redevelopment commission — The City of Henderson’s Redevelopment Commission will meet at 10 a.m. in the City Council Chambers of City Hall, 134 Rose Ave. Lake Gaston Association — The Lake Gaston Association will hold its monthly meeting at 9:30 a.m. at the Lake Gaston Baptist Church on Route 903, one mile north of Eaton Ferry Bridge, near Littleton. Guest speaker will be Christine Barford, principal of the middle school at Gaston College Preparatory (GCP) in Gaston, a Knowledge Is Power Program (KIPP) charter school. She will explain how GCP was founded; the requirements of students, parents and teachers; the student successes so far; and KIPP Pride High. The meeting is open to members and non-members. For further information, call (252) 586-6577, or toll free 1-888-586-6577. Caregiver support group — A caregiver support group meets monthly at Granville Medical Center, 1010 College St., Oxford, in the education classroom from noon to 1:30 p.m. Participants are asked to bring their own bag lunch and soda and cookies will be provided. This group is open to the public and hosted by the Harold Sherman Adult Day Care. For more information, contact Melissa Starr, MSW, at (919) 690-3273. Game day — The Vance County Senior Center will sponsor Wii Games Day from 9:30-11:30 a.m. at the center, 126 S. Garnett St. The Wii Sports and the Wii Fitness games were donated to the senior center. There are many games to have fun with such as bowling, boxing, tennis, golf, baseball, skiing, hula hoop, etc. Anyone 50 years old or more is invited to come out and have fun and get in plenty of exercise at the same time. Please call (252) 430-0257 for more information.

Thursday Shriners’ meeting — The Henderson Shrine Club meets at 6:30 p.m. at the Henderson Masonic Lodge 401 Services#229, Provided By: Brodie Road, Henderson. Dinner will be served, followed by the business meeting. Crime Stoppers — The Henderson-Vance Crime Stoppers 2009 Annual Awards Banquet will be held at 6:30 p.m. at South Henderson Pentecostal Holiness Church. Crime Stoppers will be naming the recipients of the Sam Pearson Memorial Crime Stoppers Law Enforcement Award and the Tom Long Memorial award. Awards will also be given to Community Watch organizations, a local citizen who has supported Crime Stoppers, and businesses and industries, among others. Tickets are $10 and includes a barbecue chicken dinner with the trimmings and a beverage. Tickets are available from The Screen Master, Carolina Lanes, Flowers Funeral Home, the Henderson Police Department, South Henderson Pentecostal Holiness Church, The Daily Dispatch and any member of the Henderson-Vance Crime Stoppers board of directors. Door prizes will also be awarded. Parks and Recreation — The Henderson-Vance Parks and Recreation Commission will meet at noon at the Aycock Recreation Center, 307 Carey Chapel Road. NAACP event — The Youth Council of the Vance County Branch of the NAACP will hold a membership drive at Davis Chapel Baptist Church, 742 N. Chestnut St., Henderson from 6-7:30 p.m. Youth ages 10-19 are eligible to join. Free memberships will be given to the first 25 interested youth. Free food will be available and gifts and door prizes will be given away. For more information, contact Elnora O’Hara at 431-0708 or Vivian Bullock at (252) 213-0218. 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). Retired school personnel — The Vance County Unit of the N.C. Retired School Personnel will meet at 11 a.m. at the Western Sizzlin on Ruin Creek Road in Henderson. Terri Hedrick with Vance County Schools will be the guest speaker. Each member is asked to bring a prospective member. For information or to request transportation, call Louise Kelley at 438-8071 or W.T. Ramey III at 492-3096.

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Guardian ad litems sworn in Judge J. Henry Banks swore in five new guardian ad litem volunteers in Vance County District Court in September. Pictured (left to right) are Pam Stevenson, Vanita Henderson, Banks, Alethea Marcellus, Kathy Henderson and Wanda Buchanan. The guardian ad litem program is a non-profit program that trains community volunteers to advocate for abused and neglected children in court. Volunteers are trained to conduct an investigation to determine what is in the best interest of the child victim and report their findings to the judge when he makes decisions about the children’s cases. For more information about the program, contact Wynona Thomas, program supervisor, at (252) 738-9024 or Mary Jo Van Horne, district administrator, at (919) 497-3010.

Carver Elementary teachers honored

St. Gobain supports United Way of Vance County’s 211 program Sandra Tuck, Human Resources Department assistant at St. Gobain Containers in Henderson, presents a check in the amount of $2,770 to Mike Rainey, president of United Way of Vance County. The funds will be used for the 2-1-1 program supporting Vance and Warren counties. The 2-1-1 number is a toll free connection for basic needs (food, clothing, shelter), child care services, consumer help, counseling, crisis intervention, health care, housing, senior services, support groups and volunteer opportunities. Its free, confidential and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week in any language.

Public meeting on Vance Co. Men’s Homeless Shelter to be held tonight The public is invited to attend an informational meeting about the opening of the Vance County Emergency Men’s Homeless Shelter this evening at 7 p.m. at the Five County Mental Health Authority administrative building, 134 S. Garnett St., Henderson. During the past several months, a group of concerned citizens from the community has been working to develop a plan for an emergency men’s shelter in Henderson. The following organizations have already committed resources for the shelter:

• First Presbyterian Church in downtown Henderson has donated a heated space. • Maria Parham Medical Center has donate linens and laundry needs. • Lifeline Outreach has donated help with food preparation. • Fort Bragg has donate 40 cots. • Many people have volunteered to help. There are a number of additional supplies and resources needed, in addition to volunteers to staff the shelter. For more information, contact Joel Rice at (252) 430-3073.

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Two teachers, Henri Parham and Janice Ellington, have received the Golden Eagle Award at Carver Elementary School for being “deserving, hardworking” staff members, said Carver Principal Harold Gene Thompson Jr., Ph.D. The awards program, which started last year, was the result of a brainstorming session between Thompson and his staff, he said. “We’re just trying to boost morale and pay homage to those who have gone beyond the call of duty,” he said. Each recipient is chosen for a two-week period by the previous winner. Recipients are awarded an eight-inch stuffed cloth eagle, the school’s mascot, which is passed from one recipient to the next. Besides teachers, those eligible for the honor include cafeteria workers, custodians, teachers’ assistants, clerical personnel and bus drivers. Parham was recognized for the period of Sept. 7-18. She is married to Ricky Parham and has two children, Samantha and Casey, and a grandson, Jordan. The eight-year employee has done tutoring at the school, and currently is an instructional assistant in a second-grade classroom and an art teacher. She serves on the curriculum, hospitality, cultural awareness, positive behavior support and safety and flag patrol committees. “Mrs. Parham never stops giving of her time and talents,” Thompson said. “Her students’ works are displayed beautifully in the halls and classrooms at Carver.” Ellington was spotlighted for the period of Sept. 21 through Oct. 2. She is married

to Michael Ellington Sr. and has two children, Michael Jr. and Chrystal Ivey. The couple’s two granddaughters are Kelsey and Kaylee Ivey. Ellington has worked as a tutor and computer lab instructor for seven years. The committees she serves on include awards and recognition, hospitality and technology club. “Mrs. Ellington’s goals for her students at Carver are to inspire a thirst for learning and to demonstrate that learning can be fun,” Thompson said. “She works passionately with her students. This is seen vividly while she works with her computer club members after school.” During their assigned weeks, Ellington’s students enjoy serving as lab technicians, Thompson said. “The word-processing skills of her primary students are sure to brighten anyone’s day.”

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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 61/46 Minneapolis 51/39

Billings 51/39

New York 68/57

Chicago 62/45 Detroit 62/49 San Francisco 70/51

Denver 60/34

Washington 71/58

Kansas City 66/44

Los Angeles 72/56

Fairbanks 44/32

-10s

-0s

Houston 93/75 Honolulu 86/75

Anchorage 47/39

10s

20s

Miami 91/79

Hilo 84/71

Juneau 53/39

New Vance County Area Farmers WATER, from page one Door-to-door surveys ing fees. Market gets commissioners’ OK; for•sign-ups will be done Commissioner Scott by members of the Citizen Hughes said he would like building cost estimated at $400,000 Advisory Committee and for late-signers who have By AL WHELESS Daily Dispatch Writer

Atlanta 76/65 El Paso 82/62

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

79°

66°

53°

Mostly cloudy, a little rain

Partly cloudy and mild

Warmer with a shower

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

51°

79°

83°

78°

54°

64°

53°

Sunny and beautiful

Partly sunny and humid

Periods of rain

ALMANAC

SUN AND MOON

Temperature

Sunrise today ........................... 7:13 a.m. Sunset today ............................ 6:50 p.m. Moonrise today ........................ 7:58 p.m. Moonset today ......................... 9:44 a.m. Sunrise tomorrow ..................... 7:14 a.m. Sunset tomorrow ...................... 6:48 p.m. Moonrise tomorrow .................. 8:43 p.m. Moonset tomorrow ................. 10:52 a.m.

Raleigh-Durham through 6 p.m. yest. High .................................................... 67° Low ..................................................... 57° Normal high ........................................ 75° Normal low ......................................... 53° Record high ............................ 96° in 1954 Record low .............................. 32° in 1974

Moon Phases

Precipitation 24 hours through 6 p.m. yest. ......... 0.09” Month to date .................................. 0.09” Normal month to date ..................... 0.61” Year to date ................................... 26.42” Normal year to date ...................... 34.47”

Last

New

First

Full

Oct 11

Oct 18

Oct 25

Nov 2

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

WinstonSalem

Asheville

Henderson

Greensboro

67/57

72/55

66/53

Rocky Mt.

66/56

67/56

Durham

Raleigh

64/55

Charlotte

67/61

66/59

Cape Hatteras

Fayetteville

72/68

64/58

LAKE LEVELS

Wilmington

71/61

Elevation in feet above sea level. Data as of 7 a.m. yesterday. 24-Hr. Lake Capacity Yest. Change Gaston 203 199.51 -0.15 Kerr 320 294.14 +0.06

24-Hr. Capacity Yest. Change 240 213.01 -0.04 264 248.27 -0.06

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

72 70 66 62 78 65 64 66 74 64 63 67 73 71 71

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

66 70 69 70 70 71 68 70 66 70 63 66 64 71 67

55 57 55 57 64 56 55 59 53 58 58 56 61 63 50

pc pc sh sh pc pc sh r pc sh r sh pc r pc

74 67 77 77 74 75 81 83 74 80 78 76 82 85 75

43 c 45 pc 48 c 48 c 48 c 48 pc 49 c 52 c 44 pc 57 c 52 c 51 c 52 c 57 t 44 c

55 62 59 60 64 65 64 62 59 58 58 56 56 61 57

sh r r sh sh r r r sh pc r r sh c pc

80 87 83 85 87 77 77 83 79 80 76 81 82 85 74

50 c 55 t 53 c 55 t 57 t 58 t 62 t 56 t 56 c 49 pc 51 c 53 c 48 c 58 t 48 c

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

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AMBULANCE, from page one • Bragg said Stewart indicated by telephone these services were the same as those intended for Granville County. • Bragg said, however, they are not of a medical nature. • And Bragg said the county’s present franchised provider of nonemergency transports, North Central Medical Transport, has provided competent service. Additionally, County Finance Director Michael Felts in a memorandum said that he looked at the financial information submitted with Phoenix’s application and that what was provided was not a complete audit. And without full financial documentation, Felts said, the information did not appear to be complete or correct. Stewart, appearing in the public comment phase earlier in Monday evening’s commission meeting, said he was unsure everyone at the September meeting understood this would be strictly to provide non-emergency services for VA patients with the VA in Durham. “Phoenix was awarded the contract to provide transportation for those services and I have learned this evening of seeing some memos that passed back and forth that we were not aware of that there may be some things missing in our application,” Stewart said. “If that is the case, we

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

The Daily Dispatch (USPS 239-940) is published Tuesday through Sunday mornings, except Dec. 25, by Henderson Newspapers Inc. Periodicals postage paid at Henderson, North Carolina, 27536.

Contact the writer at awheless@hendersondispatch.com.

Wayne Kinton Authorized Agent (252) 438-2635 wayne@cmiins.com

would certainly be happy to provide anything additional that is needed,” Stewart said. “Also in speaking with people in Raleigh at the EMS at the state level, is that there is no restriction on the number of ambulance services that can serve a single county,” Stewart said, adding that the ability is based on having the appropriate equipment, manpower and training in place. “And the company has already begun to do that and will create a payroll of somewhere in the neighborhood of $500,000 in Granville County the first year of operation,” Stewart said, adding that the company intended to hire local people. Stewart left after the commission’s vote. The commission, after meeting openly for nearly an hour, went into closed session, citing the attorney-client privilege and the need to discuss a property acquisition matter as exemptions to the state’s open meeting laws. Contact the writer at bwest@ hendersondispatch.com.

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possibly part-time hired staff. They will take place from Oct. 15 to Nov. 30. • Evaluate sign-ups to date and provide recommendations from Nov. 1 to Dec. 30. • Additional evaluation of sign-ups to date and provide recommendations to the County on Dec. 30. • Continue sign-up period, if needed, from Jan. 1 to Feb. 28 in 2010. The board’s approval of the process included Commissioner Terry Garrison’s suggestion that the County use a “three-pronged approach” in helping potential customers finance their costs. They include: the line from the meter to the house; tap fee; and plumb-

to pay a $3,000 tap fee to be able to make monthly payments through their water bills. Tim Carpenter, lead engineer for Hobbs, Upchurch & Associates, said financial assistance will be sought through three programs: USDA, Community Development Block Grant; and County-funded. In related business on Monday night, the Commissioners authorized the staff and engineers to develop an application to the North Carolina Rural Economic Development Center for $1 million in grant funding which can be used for the County’s rural water district.

Contact the writer at awheless@hendersondispatch.com.

HIRING, from page one Ayscue said Henrich’s annual salary will be $57,480. In a telephone interview earlier in the day, Henrich said he was looking forward to, “the opportunity to lead the fire and ambulance department into the future and serve the citizens of Vance County.” Thursday of last week was the first day on the job for Henrich, a 40-year-old New York state native who served the last four years as deputy fire marshal in Johnston County. Henrich was also Johnston’s Emergency Management director. He also had some EMS administrative duties, and was liaison to the county’s 28 volunteer fire departments.

Prior to that, Henrich was chief of Western Carteret Fire and EMS services for four years. Henrich estimated that the department had 20 full-time and part-time employees, as well as some volunteers. The city of Henderson and Vance County parted company in terms of joint fire-and EMS operations on Oct. 1 when the binding contract between to operate the services as a joint venture expired. A few months ago, a fire-EMS study funded by the county recommended that Vance have its own department. Contact the writer at awheless@ hendersondispatch.com.

ELECTIONS, from page one Peace is a minister who in 2007 defeated incumbent Elissa Yount. Davis, whose tenure on the council dates back to 1996, is a retired educator and a retired coach. Davis doubles as Henderson’s mayor pro-tem.

Polling places Ward 1: North Henderson 1, Vance County Office Building, 305 Young St. and Walnut

Street. Ward 2: West Henderson, Central Fire Station, 211 Dabney Drive. Ward 3: South Henderson 1, American Legion Hut, 110 E. Spring St.; West Henderson, Central Fire Station, 211 Dabney Drive; Hilltop, St. James Baptist Church, Old Oxford Road. Ward 4: South Henderson 1, American Legion Hut, 110 E. Spring St.; East Henderson 1, Henderson Middle School, 219 Charles St.

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The idea of creating a new Vance County Area Farmers’ Market began to take root Monday night when the Board of Commissioners OK’d a planning committee to identify potential sites and seek grants. The successful motion for approval was made by Commissioner Deborah Brown, who also said: “Let’s get the show on the road.” The board’s Planning & Environmental Committee had expressed full support for the project. During the committee’s meeting on Sept. 24, Danny Wright and Chairman Dan Brummitt got caught up in Terry Garrison’s

vision of Vance having a scaled-down version of the open air market enjoyed by residents of Charleston in South Carolina. Garrison had nothing but praise for the out-ofstate event which includes the sales of produce, crafts and other agricultural items. Pete Burgess of the Vance County Farm Bureau estimated that a suitable building for a local farmers’ market would cost $400,000. The committee members agreed to recommend that their board appoint a committee to help with the process of creating the market.

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Local News

The Daily Dispatch

Warren County earns citation for ‘excellence in financial reporting’ By DAVID IRVINE Daily Dispatch Writer

WARRENTON — The unofficial business took precedence over the official business Monday, as Warren County commissioners began their October meeting. Chairman Barry Richardson asked Finance Director Barry Mayo and his staff to come forward to accept a “Certificate of Achievement for Exellence in Financial Reporting,” awarded to Warren County by the Government Financial Officers Association of the United States and Canada. Richardson presented Mayo with an engraved plaque, which Mayo accepted along with staff members Gloria Edmonds, Cecile Renn, Evelyn Cooper, Debbie Brauer and Louise Andrews. County Manager Linda Worth noted this is the fourth consecutive year that the Finance Department has earned the distinction. Commissioners approved a request by Robert Whitehead on behalf of the Roanoke Wildwood Volunteer Fire Department to authorize them to borrow $1 million to build a new fire station. Commissioner Bill Davis asked if the action obligated the county financially. Worth confirmed that it does not. At the request of Diane Cox, Kerr Tar Area Agency on Aging director, the commissioners approved $1,312 to match a $11,809 grant from the federal American Recovery and Reimbursement Act, also known as Economic Stimulus legislation. The match will be paid out of the county’s fund balance. The commissioners approved selling through a sealed-bid auction the following surplus properties:

Person’s Ordinary, a historic tavern in Littleton; Mayflower School; Oine School; and North Warren Elementary School. A condition of the sale, recommended by the County Attorney, is that the properties should be sold to an organization that would put them to a public use. The commissioners also approved the auctioning of tax-foreclosed property at 1722 Tower Road, Norlina. At the request of Debbie Scott, Healthy Carolinians of Warren County chairperson, the commissioners approved $6,350 for the program to make up for anticipated cuts in state funding, to be paid out of the county’s fund balance. Commissioner Davis asked if the amount would be reimbursed to the county if state funds are restored. Worth said it would, although she added that restoration of the state funds was “not likely.” At the request of Department of Social Services Director Jeffrey Woodard and Adult Services Manager Charles Walton, the commissioners approved an application for Rural Operating Assistance Program funds to assist the county in reaching out to the Hispanic community. In other actions, the commissioners: • Approved the purchase of several vehicles, including: 1) one EMS Chassis remount; 2) nine 2010 Ford Crown Victoria law enforcement vehicles; and 3) one Ford Edge, at a total cost of $299,335, including principal and interest. • Passed a resolution declaring the county’s intent to borrow up to $59,000 to renovate the former Warren County Library and to reimburse itself within three years.

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Deaths Jeffrey L. Cash

CREEDMOOR — Jeffrey L. “Big Dawg” Cash, 49, a resident of Durham, • Passed a resolution indied Friday, Oct. 2, 2009, dicating the county’s intent at Duke Medical Center. A to borrow up to $200,000 to renovate the Warren County native of Durham County, he was the son of the late Armory and to reimburse Marvin Clifton and Annie itself within three years. Myrtle Hill Cash. • Renewed the School He was of the Baptist Resource Officer contract between the Sheriff’s Office faith and was a meat cutand Warren County Schools ter. A private graveside fuin an amount not to exceed neral service was conduct$88,000 for the 2009-2010 school year. ed at 11 a.m. Monday in • Appointed McDonald the Creedmoor Cemetery. Yancey, William Kearney He is survived by a and Teresa Wimbrow to brother, Tim Cash, of the Juvenile Crime Preven- Creedmoor. tion Council. Yancey and Arrangements are by Kearney are currently on Eakes Funeral Home of the council. Creedmoor. • Set a public hearing for 9:45 a.m. on Nov. 2, 2009 to Tyrone M. Fore hear citizens’ comments on a rezoning request for the Elams Road area. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. • Authorized contracting — Tyrone Malachi “Lat” with the firm of Wilson & Fore, 53, died Friday, Oct. Ratledge, PLLC, of Raleigh 2, 2009, at St. Vincent to provide legal services for Hospital in Jacksonville, certain tax-related matters. Fla. He was a native of The cost would be computed Jacksonville and the son at $150 per hour for up to of the late Willie R. Fore 60 hours within a twelveand Bessie Lou Davis Fore month period for a maxiLinder. mum expense of $9,000. He was educated in the • Appointed Jean Lynch Warren County public as Interim Veterans Service schools, was a graduate of Administrator, effective John Graham High School, Sept. 16, 2009 until the position is filled. The motion was an Air Force veteran, had worked as a transfer included an increase in salary equivalent to $5,000 per truck driver, and was of the Baptist faith. year to $34,276 to compenFuneral services will sate Lynch for the additional duties. The action was triggered by the resignation of Contact our the previous administrator, Theodore Paige, effective Sept. 15. • Conveyed U.S. Code Books, which had been about placing withdrawn from use by the Warren County Court’s Law Library, to Elon University for that for the price of $1.

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be conducted at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Nesbitt Cathedral, the Heart of Jacksonville. Burial will follow in the Veteran’s Cemetery. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Deborah Fore. He is survived by his wife, Brenda Riddles Fore of Jacksonville, Fla.; a son, Tyrese Harriott of New Jersey; a granddaughter; a brother, Alphonso Fore of Henderson; two half-brothers; and two half-sisters. Funeral arrangements are by Harris Funeral Home of Jacksonville, Fla.

Long Branch, N.Y., Teresa Nowell of Henderson and Gloria Britton of Raleigh; a son, Elvis Nowell of Henderson; a brother, Hardy Small of Henderson; three sisters, Doris Hanks of Henderson, Eliza Hart and Mary Gwynn, both of Philadelphia, Pa.; 20 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren. A private viewing only for the immediate family will be from 7 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home. The family is receiving visitors at 653 Daniels St. Arrangements are by Davis-Royster Funeral Service.

Sally S. Nowell

Alphonso Twisdale

HENDERSON — Sally Bea Small Nowell, 81, of 820 Coble Boulevard, died Saturday, Oct. 3, 2009, at Guardian Care of Henderson. She was born in Vance County and was the daughter of the late Hardy and Sophia Terry Small. She attended the Vance County public schools in Townsville and retired from Purolator Air Filtration after 18 years. Services will be conducted at 1 p.m. Wednesday at Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses by Brother Steve Perry. Survivors include five daughters, Frances Small, Shirley Nowell and Karen Nowell, all of

WARRENTON — Alphonso Twisdale, 74, of Warrenton, died Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2009, at Maria Parham Medical Center in Henderson. Funeral services were conducted at 3 p.m. Sunday at Boyd’s Funeral Service Chapel in Warrenton. The Rev. Shondra Jordan officiated and burial followed in Manson Baptist Church Cemetery in Manson. The family received friends Sunday from 2 to 3 p.m. at Boyd’s Funeral Service Chapel in Warrenton. Arrangements are by Boyd’s Funeral Service of Warrenton.

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Business & Farm

The Daily Dispatch

Toyota formally recalls 3.8 million vehicles By KEN THOMAS Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON — Toyota Motor Corp. officially recalled 3.8 million vehicles in the United States on Monday to address problems with floor mats that could cause the gas pedal to stick and cause a crash. The automaker formally informed the federal government of the recall in a letter Monday. It will be Toyota’s largest U.S. recall and the country’s sixth-largest recall, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The recall includes 20072010 model year Toyota Camry, 2005-2010 Toyota Avalon, 2004-2009 Toyota Prius, 2005-2010 Tacoma, 2007-2010 Toyota Tundra, 2007-2010 Lexus ES350 and 2006-2010 Lexus IS250/ IS350. Chris Santucci, Toyota’s assistant manager for technical and regulatory affairs, wrote in the letter to NHTSA that there are 3.8

million vehicles involved but “this estimate is subject to change as Toyota refines the number of affected vehicles by model.” Toyota told the government it has not determined that the vehicles “contain a ’safety-related defect’ within the meaning of the federal safety laws” but would notify owners of the safety campaign. Santucci wrote “there is a potential for an accelerator pedal to get stuck in the wide open position due to an unsecured or incompatible driver’s floor mat. A stuck open accelerator pedal may result in very high vehicle speeds and make it difficult to stop the vehicle, which could cause a crash, serious injury or death.” Toyota said last week it would recall the vehicles and warned owners to remove the driver’s side floor mats and not replace them until the company determined a way to fix the problem. The massive recall was prompted by a high-speed

crash in August involving a 2009 Lexus ES350. California Highway Patrol Officer Mark Saylor, 45, and three members of his family were killed when their vehicle hit speeds exceeding 120 mph, struck a sport utility vehicle, launched off an embankment, rolled several times and burst into flames. Family members made a frantic 911 call from the Lexus and said the accelerator was stuck and they couldn’t stop the vehicle. In Japan, Toyota President Akio Toyoda said last week that the fatal crash was “extremely regrettable” and offered his “deepest condolences.” Toyota said in the letter it would tell owners of the affected vehicles to take out the driver’s floor mat and not replace it with another floor mat until model-specific remedies are developed. Toyota said it expects to begin notifying customers by first class mail in late October and complete its mailing in December.

Area

A DAY ON WALL STREET

Dow Jones industrials

9,000 8,000 7,000

+112.08 J

Pct. change from previous: +1.18%

High 9,625.06

2,400

Nasdaq composite

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

+20.04 J

High 2,074.78

Pct. change from previous: +0.98%

Oct. 5, 2009

+15.25 J

High 1,042.58

Pct. change from previous: +1.49%

1,400

Low 2,049.04

Standard & Poor’s 500 1,040.46

6,000

Low 9,481.09

Oct. 5, 2009

2,068.15

Stocks

10,000

Oct. 5, 2009

9,599.75

Tuesday, October 6, 2099

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

Low 1,025.92

SOURCE: SunGard

MARKET ROUNDUP 100509: 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 Aluminum -$0.7000 per lb., N.Y. Merc spot NEW YORK (AP) — Key currency exEditors: All figures as of: 5:25:05 PM EDT Thu. change rates Monday: NOTE: Figures reflect market fluctuations after close; may not match other AP content Copper -$2.0430 Cathode full plate, U.S. Dollar vs: ExchgRate PvsDay destinations. Copper $2.0705 N.Y. Merc spot Thu. Yen 100.52 99.70 Lead - $1310.0 metric ton, London Metal Euro $1.3165 $1.3234 Exch. Pound $1.4677 $1.4681 Zinc - $0.6189 per lb., delivered. Swiss franc 1.1559 1.1493 Gold - $880.50 Handy & Harman (only daily Canadian dollar 1.2251 1.2380 quote). Mexican peso 13.0805 13.3752 Gold - $882.20 troy oz., NY Merc spot Thu. Silver - $12.315 Handy & Harman (only Metal Price PvsDay NY Merc Gold $882.20 $884.80 daily quote). Silver - $12.325 troy oz., N.-. Merc spot Thu. NY HSBC Bank US $882.00 $882.00 NY Merc Silver $12.325 $12.335 Mercury - $640.00 per 76 lb flask, N.Y. Platinum -$1183.00 troy oz., N.Y. (contract). Platinum -$1190.00 troy oz., N.Y. Merc spot Nonferrous NEW YORK (AP) — Spot nonferrous metal Thu. n.q.-not quoted, n.a.-not available r-revised prices Monday:

& 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 52.26 ATT 26.76 Ball Corp. 50.11 BankAmerica 16.96 BB&T 26.93 Coca-Cola 53.80 CVS 34.78 Duke Energy 15.51 Exxon 67.58 Ford 7.05 General Elec. 15.83 Motors Liquidation 0.64 Home Depot 26.15 IBM 119.75 Johnson & Johnson 59.82 Kennametal 22.00 Krispy Kreme 3.50 Louisiana Pacific 6.42 Lowes 20.46 Lucent Tech. 4.26 Pepsico 60.85 Phillip Morris 17.64 Procter & Gamble 56.68 Progress Energy 38.53 RF Micro Dev 4.83 Royal Bk Can 52.59 RJR Tobacco 45.23 Revlon 4.96 Sprint 3.81 Sun Trust 21.87 Universal 43.18 Verizon Comm. 29.96 Vulcan 50.44 Wal-Mart 49.06 Wells Fargo 28.09 Wendy’s 4.77 Establis Delhaize 70.08

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Opinion

The Daily Dispatch

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II III

VIII VII VI

IV V

X IX

XII

VII

II III

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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 Sing aloud unto God our strength: make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob. Take a psalm, and bring hither the timbrel, the pleasant harp with the psaltery. Blow up the trumpet in the new moon, in the time appointed, on our solemn feast day. Psalm 81:1-3

Our Opinion

On our new site, please continue to play nice It’s been awhile since we checked in with readers on the status of our new Web site, and in particular, comments from readers that have been placed upon same. Frankly, the behavior and contributions of our readers continues to be a bit good and a bit not so good. Sometimes, bad. We do believe that the most vile comments to have been posted on our Web site — in response to an editorial about rapper Kanye West and President Barack Obama’s response to West’s interruption of young Taylor Swift’s acceptance speech at the MTV Video Music Awards — were not written by someone locally. We have the power to determine the Internet Protocol address of our posters, and that statement — which included both racial epithets and the most coarse of four-letter words — traced to an Internet provider in Indiana, not in North Carolina. So, thanks, we guess, for that. We have had some good dialogue between our readers, as well; instances in which readers have had frank discussions of issues — sometimes contentious, but not obnoxiously so. At least, not obnoxious enough to force deletion of their posts. And, we’ve had some users who want to “game” the system. Since — for now — we are not requiring registration of the reader before he or she posts a comment after each story, some of our visitors have decided to post under different nicknames. How do we know? Again, via your IP addresses. Certainly we haven’t caught every instance of these double- and triple-identity posters. Nor have we even tried. But on three occasions now, we’ve deleted posts that were both borderline in their acceptability, and posted by someone — sometimes minutes apart — using multiple identities from the same computer. That’s a practice we just aren’t going to allow. Hopefully soon registration will be required to post on our site. Until then, we do ask that you continue to “play nice.”

Quotable “I don’t foresee the return of the Taliban. Afghanistan is not in imminent danger of falling. The al-Qaida presence is very diminished. The maximum estimate is less than 100 operating in the country, no bases, no ability to launch attacks on either us or our allies.” — Retired Gen. James Jones, in a statement rebuking a top U.S. commander’s public plea for more troops in Afghanistan as the Obama administration heads into a second week of intensive negotiations over its evolving Afghan strategy. “This was a complex attack in a difficult area. Both the U.S. and Afghan soldiers fought bravely together.” — U.S. Col. Randy George, in a statement after hundreds of insurgents armed with automatic rifles and rocket-propelled grenades stormed a pair of remote outposts near the Pakistan border, killing eight U.S. soldiers and capturing more than 20 Afghan security troops.

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Taking a walk with faith The old gentleman stood backstage, behind the curtain. He was a little wobbly, and he leaned against a friend. “All set?” I whispered. “Here we go,” he said. I hooked his thin arm around my elbow and we stepped into a spotlight. Instantly, the noise was thunderous, a screaming, loving shower of applause, filling the building from floors to rafters. It roared on as he walked gingerly across the stage to a waiting chair, his 91-year-old body taking small steps, as if savoring the moment, or being alive. Finally, Ernie Harwell sat down. “Thank you for that vocal hug,” he told the crowd. Someone yelled out, “We love you, Ernie!” and he chuckled and weakly raised his hand in acknowledgment. The Fox Theatre was sold out. The lower orchestra seats. The balcony. The entire upper level. Faces everywhere you looked. But when he spoke, you didn’t hear a breath. Harwell is dying from inoperable cancer. His doctors didn’t want him doing this. His wife was worried it might be too much. But the voice of summer, the voice of our childhoods, the voice of warm nights and long car rides and beach radios and hidden transistor headphones in a

schoolchild’s ear, the Tigers’ announcer for almost half a century and easily the most beloved man in the state of Michigan, wanted to be there. Because it was helping others. And because he had something to say. Nothing but faith The occasion was my Mitch charity book Albom launch, a Tribune Media book about Services faith, charities to help the homeless. A once-homeless man opened the night, and told of how the kindness of one poor pastor — who let him sleep in his home for a year — turned his life around. Now it was Ernie’s turn to talk. I asked him questions, about his early career, about his time with legends like Jackie Robinson and Ty Cobb. He told a funny story about Rachel Robinson getting expensive gifts from Jackie after road trips, while Ernie’s wife, Lulu, was lucky to get “a bar of soap from the hotel.” Then he spoke about an unexpected subject: his ambition. He said early on he wanted success, notoriety, and he chased it from a small

newspaper to a major league broadcast booth. “But none of those things fulfilled me,” he said. One night in 1961, in Florida, something inside him said to go to a Billy Graham service. And there he gave his life to Jesus. He didn’t announce it on the radio. He didn’t make a big deal to the outside world. But inside, it was the biggest deal. The ultimate destination Because of his faith, Ernie is more humble than most, yet humility made him more beloved than flamboyance ever could. I told him his voice was like “going home” for people from this state. “Well, thank ya,” he said softly, the Georgia drawl still a small shadow behind his words. Finally, he spoke about dying. “I don’t know how many days I’ve got left ... but I praise God because he’s given me this time. ... I can really know ... whose arms I’m going to end up in, and what a great, great thing heaven is going to be.” When he said that, a shiver shot from my chest to my fingers. It is one thing to read about belief, but it is another thing to witness belief in the face of death, and hear it spoken in a calm, serene voice. “Whose arms I’m going to end up in.” No matter what religion you may or may not follow, when delivered that

way, how can faith not be a beautiful thing? The evening was getting long and Ernie’s strength was ebbing, I could see his lips trembling. I asked for any final thoughts. “Folks, I’d like to say that one of the greatest honors I could have bestowed upon me is to be here and to look in the faces that I’ve talked to and never seen before, but I know that maybe some of you at one time turned the radio on. And the great thing about a radio — you can always cut it off. ... Thank you and God bless you.” And as the people rose to their feet, many in tears, Ernie rose to his and said to me again, “Here we go,” and armin-arm we headed to the curtain. I had to ask him to stop two times simply to acknowledge the deafening crowd. Finally, we reached the curtain, where a friend helped him to a waiting car, which drove him back to his modest home, his loving wife, his familiar bed. As a sportswriter, I have walked alongside greatness, walked alongside skill, walked alongside power, success and fame. But I have never been arm-in-arm with pure goodness and faith the way I was that night. And while I know it looked as if I was boosting Ernie up, it was, and will forever be, the other way around.

Letters to the Editor Fire Safety Week To the editor:

Chicago’s ambivalence of hopes Ah, well. Let the games begin — somewhere else! Even President Barack Obama’s magic has its limits, it turns out. The International Olympic Committee rejected Chicago’s bid to host the Olympics, despite the president’s quickie trip to make the pitch in person. In the end, Chicago was the first to be eliminated — in the first round of voting and with fewer votes than fellow finalists Tokyo, Madrid and the eventual winner, Rio de Janeiro. Sometimes the magic works, sometimes it doesn’t. In fact, Obama and the rest of Chicago’s powerhouse delegation, which included his wife, Michelle Obama, Mayor Richard M. Daley and his wife, Maggie Daley, and the powerhouse Queen of All Media, Oprah Winfrey, was fighting an uphill battle all along. Expectations were overinflated by all the media hoopla surrounding historic trip, as media hoopla surrounds everything Obama does. But as the final bidding indicated, the insider club known as the IOC has minds of its own. Speculation runs wild as to why Chicago lost. Most of it follows a lot of personal agendas. The negatives that various analysts and critics bring up — crime, corruption and cronyism lead the pack — are hardly unique to Chicago and are certainly no worse than the problems faced by Rio. Rio took an edge in less tangible yet viscerally felt ways. Chicago’s presentation to IOC, despite the Obama glitter, was lackluster and disorganized compared to the colorful and passionate presentation delivered by Rio. Brazil reportedly played the geopolitical card skillfully, holding up maps that showed South America to be the only region left without a single Olympics. This apparently touched the hearts of

the IOC, which likes to think of itself as a groundbreaking force for international development and unity. And how unkind but savvy it was for Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva to use a certain Chicagoan’s famous slogan when talking to reporters to Clarence promote his country’s bid: Page “Yes we can!” Tribune Media “For some Services countries, it is just one more sports event that they are going to organize,” he said. “But for us, it is a unique and extraordinary thing.” That’s more than you could say for a lot of folks back in Chicago, where a Chicago Tribune/WGN poll indicated that, either way the IOC decided, about half of the city would be happy or, at least, relieved. Only 47 percent of Chicagoans favored bringing the games here, according to the poll, while 45 percent opposed it. That’s a fair measure, in my humble view, of an intelligent Midwestern ambivalence, two warring attitudes deeply imbedded in the cultural DNA of Chicagoans when they are exposed to a deal that sounds almost too good to be true. One of these attitudes is the boundless optimism captured in the ambitious slogan often attributed to the great Chicago architect/city planner Daniel Burnham: “Make no little plans.” Burnham brought the world such wonders as the World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893. His grand vision is constrained in today’s Chicagoan only

by a healthy skepticism, as expressed in the late Chicago City News Bureau’s slogan: “If your mother says she loves you, check it out.” Visions of Chicago’s great past triumphs danced in the heads of local folks. But, with one former Illinois governor in jail and another famously under indictment, so did the possibility of a grand, overpriced boondoggle with powerful elites stuffing their pockets and regular taxpayers left to foot the bill. Political rivals of Obama and Daley stop at nothing to wage a partisan attack — and in some cases boost TV ratings — by smearing Obama’s efforts to bring the Olympics to the United States. And that’s too bad. Los Angeles showed in 1984 that an Olympics can make a profit, if it’s done right. It can create jobs, boost commerce and build civic pride and national unity. But that requires a sense of shared purpose that Chicago and our national politics aren’t very good at pulling together these days. Instead, Obama and his hometown’s leaders hear calls to scale things back. Don’t take on so much. Make only small plans. Little plans “have no magic to stir men’s blood,” said Burnham, “and probably will not themselves be realized.” Burnham had a point, but small plans seem to be all that a lot of Americans want to tackle these days. Someday, my Midwestern optimism tells me, the Chicago and the America that Burnham knew will be back. Until then, let the Games begin in a place that appreciates big ideas: Brazil. E-mail Clarence Page at cpage@ tribune.com, or write to him c/o Tribune Media Services, 2225 Kenmore Ave., Suite 114, Buffalo, NY 14207.

The Henderson Fire Department urges Henderson residents to “Stay Fire Smart! Don’t Get Burned.” Once a child touches a hot stove, as the cliché goes — he learns his lesson, stay away from a hot stove. This cliché does not take into account the pain and suffering from burns and burns should not be part of the learning process. That’s why the Henderson Fire Department is teaming up with the National Fire Protection Association for Fire Prevention Week 2009 — Oct. 4-10 — to urge city residents to “Stay Fire Smart! Don’t Get Burned.” This year’s campaign focuses on ways to keep homes fire safe and prevent painful burns. Additionally, fire safety educators will be teaching local residents how to plan and practice escape from a home in case a fire occurs. The statistics are staggering. Each year roughly 3,000 people die as a result of home fires and burns, and more than 200,000 individuals are seen in the nation’s emergency rooms for burn injuries. The most common types of burn injuries result from fire or flame burns, scalds and contact burns. Burns are painful and can result in serious scarring and even death. When we take extra caution in our homes to ensure that the curling iron is out of children’s reach or pot handles are turned away from the edge of the stove, such injuries are entirely preventable. Keeping our homes safe from fire and preventing devastating burn injuries is a healthy change we can make happen. By following simple safety rules, you can “Stay Fire Smart! Don’t Get Burned.” • Keep hot foods and liquids away from tables and counter edges so they cannot be pulled or knocked over. • Have a 3-foot “kidfree” zone around the stove. • Never hold a child in your arms while preparing hot food or drinking a hot beverage. Please see LETTERS, page 8A

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on their hands. If all they have to do is debate which way to turn the pillows when they make the bed, how do they feel about the epidemic of belly-button lint? What difference does it make which way the pillow edges are turned? They’re usually hidden by a comforter or spread anyway. — PRACTICAL IN WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. DEAR ABBY In nursing school we were taught that the opening of the pillowcase should face away from the entrance to the room. The reason is when you walk, germs and particles from the floor are kicked up and can enter the side of the pillow, which increases the potential for infections and disease through the capture of microorganisms in the pillow opening. — SANDY IN ARIZONA DEAR ABBY I didn’t think your readers could top (or bottom) the great toilet paper debate (over the front or under the back), but the question about the direction of the pillowcase opening has done it. Most of us are preoccupied with worrying about health care, the economy, the two wars we are fighting, our jobs and putting food on the table. That couple needs to get a life! — JOHN W., LEXINGTON, KY. DEAR ABBY As a young girl I was taught the “proper” way to make a bed was with the pillowcase opening facing the edge of the bed — not the middle. Back then, this was done so leaking feathers wouldn’t end up inside the bed but on the floor. — INGER IN PORTSMOUTH, N.H. DEAR ABBY My husband and I had the same argument, until he explained why he wanted the edges facing out. When he put his arm under me to “spoon,” he would get caught in the pillowcase if it faced in. We solved the problem by making the bed up for “looks,” but when we turn it down for the night, we flip the pillow around. Now we’re both happy! — MINDY IN NEW MEXICO

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DEAR ABBY “Pillow Talk in Abilene” (July 24) had to have been written by my husband, Dick. I went looking for him and asked if he had written to you. When I held up your column, he was shocked. We laughed so hard I had trouble reading the piece to him. This scenario must be universal. I make the bed with the pillow opening on the outside; Dick makes it with the opening on the inside. We always thought it was funny Dear because we Abby do many things Universal Press differently. Syndicate Thanks for the dose of morning humor. — PAT AND DICK IN SPRING HILL, FLA. DEAR PAT AND DICK: I’m pleased to have started your morning on a light note. Read on for more — as well as some practical explanations: DEAR ABBY There’s a very good reason why the open end of the pillow faces the inside of the bed. When I was 3 or 4, I realized that placing the open end toward the inside would prevent monsters from getting into my pillow. It has worked like a charm for 55 years. — RESTING EASY IN KANSAS DEAR ABBY I was in the military, and bed-making is one of the things you learn in boot camp, in addition to how to properly fold T-shirts, underwear and bras — yes, folding bras. The mantra for placing pillowcases is, “Seam and Slack to the Center of the Rack,” open end to the left (which indicates the outside edge of the bed). So there you go — straight from Uncle Sam himself. — SHELLIE IN CHICAGO DEAR ABBY It sounds to me that “Pillow Talk” and his wife have too much time

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Today’s Birthdays: Louis Philippe, king of France (1773-1850); Jenny Lind, Swedish soprano (18201887); Charles Edouard Jeanneret, Swiss architect known as “Le Corbusier” (1887-1965); Thor Heyerdahl, Norwegian anthropologist and leader of Kon-Tiki expedition (19142002); Hafez Assad, former Syrian president (1930-2000); Britt Ekland, Swedish actress (1942--); Elizabeth Shue, (1963--). Thought For Today: Every ambitious man is a captive, and every covetous one, a pauper — Arab proverb

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