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Local & Nation, Page 4A
Opinion, Page 8A
Faith, Page 1C SATURDAY, October 17, 2009
Volume XCV, No. 243
(252) 436-2700
www.hendersondispatch.com
50 cents
2 held N.C. inmates being freed have prison infractions on drug charges By MIKE BAKER Associated Press Writer
From STAFF REPORTS
Traffic stops by the Henderson Police Department’s Narcotics Unit have resulted in two drug-related arrests, Chief Keith L. Sidwell announced. William Barksdale Granger, 44, of 365 Willieville Lane, a passenger in a vehicle stopped in the parking lot of Burger King, 1817 N. Garnett St., was arrested Oct. 15. During the investigation, he and the driver were detained. Police said a search of Granger found approximately 10 grams of powder cocaine, digital scales and cash. Granger was charged with: • Possession with the intent to manufacture, sell and deliver cocaine. • Manufacture of cocaine. • Possession of drug paraphernalia. Granger is being held on $30,000 bond, with a court date of Nov. 9. Darrick Bullock, 32, of 430 John St., the driver of a vehicle stopped in the Please see CHARGES, page 7A
Index Our Hometown . . . . . 2A Business & Farm. . . . 5A Nation . . . . . . . . . . 6-7A Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . 8A Light Side . . . . . . . . . 9A Sports. . . . . . . . . . 1-4B Faith. . . . . . . . . . . . 1-6C Comics . . . . . . . . . . . 7C Classifieds. . . . . . 8-11C
Weather Today Mostly... High: 56 Low: 38
Sunday ...cloudy High: 60 Low: 40
Details, 3A
Deaths Henderson Preston Mosely, 84 Mary B. Overton, 70 Charlie M. Phelps Sr., 88 Clifton Watkins, 57 Mt. Vernon, N.Y. William C. Thorpe, 87 Oxford Cleo A. Bass, 76 Rufus Nevels, 76 Marguerite C. Parker, 85 Sarah C. Wortham, 81 Stratford, Conn. Juanita W. Muller, 75
Obituaries, 4A
RALEIGH — The violent North Carolina criminals set to be freed later this month because of a court ruling and good conduct credits have racked up more than 250 infractions in prison for offenses such as fighting, weapon possession and theft. Department of Correction records reviewed Friday by The Associated Press show the viola-
tions go as far back as the 1970s but also appear as recently as 2008, raising questions about whether the prisoners are reformed. Each one of the 20 inmates has at least two infractions, and combined Bowden they have a total of 256. They have repeatedly been denied parole. The inmates are scheduled to
be released Oct. 29 after state courts sided with one of the inmates, double murderer Bobby Bowden, that a 1970s law defined a life sentence as only 80 years. The state’s Fair Sentencing Act in 1981 included a retroactive provision essentially cutting all those sentences in half, and good behavior and other credits have shortened the sentences to the point that they are now complete. Bowden had argued before the Court of Appeals in 2008 that
he had accumulated 210 days of good conduct credit, 753 days of meritorious credit, and 1,537 days of gain time credit. But the 60-year-old has also racked up 17 infractions in prison, including two for weapon possession, one for damaging property and several for disobeying orders. Others have equally long rapsheets: William Baggett, a 60-year-old convicted of a 1976
Nature’s water colors
Please see INMATES, page 3A
Zoning amended for men’s shelter Organizers still need a special use permit By WILLIAM F. WEST Daily Dispatch Writer
The City Council earlier this week unanimously approved a zoning text amendment allowing First Presbyterian Church to have a voluntarily-run homeless shelter for men. Councilwoman Mary Emma Evans expressed excitement in leading the Daily Dispatch/ASHLEY STEVEN AYSCUE vote. “And it is one of the better things that I’ve A spider web traps water droplets inside a holly bush outside the office of optometrist Dr. Robert Allen Thursday afternoon. heard about that has come before this council,” Evans said. The vote came after the Rev. Paul Baxley urged support for the shelter at First Presbyterian. Baxley, North Carolina’s uneman eighth consecutive claims for unemployment By EMERY P. DALESIO of First Baptist Church, is ployment rate has been month the unemployment insurance in September, AP Business Writer past chairman of the Minhovering around 11 perrate topped the previous almost 5,000 fewer than isters Community Partnercent since February and historic high. Before this in August. More than RALEIGH — North ship. Additionally speaking has been worse than the year, the state’s highest half of those initial claims Carolina’s unemploywas Joel Rice, of the Five national average for more unemployment rate was indicated that employees ment rate stayed stuck County Mental Health than a year, the monthly 9.7 percent in March 1983, expect to be recalled to in double-digit territory Authority and who has report by the state’s a level matched in Janutheir jobs. for the eighth straight been chairing the shelter’s Employment Security ary. Economists closely month in September, with task force. Commission said. August’s But there were hopeful watch initial claims, which 10.8 percent of the state’s The partnership has jobless rate was also 10.8 signs in the state jobless are considered a measure ready and willing workers been working for almost a percent. report. Newly laid off unable to find jobs, data Please see JOBLESS, page 7A year trying to develop a reSeptember also marked workers filed 77,312 initial released Friday said. sponse to various challenges related to homelessness and poverty in Henderson and Vance County. “In dialogue both with churches and with leaders in the public sector, it became apparent that we had a growing challenge related to homelessness in had cast ballots compared By WILLIAM F. WEST this community,” Baxley to 37 on Thursday. And on Daily Dispatch Writer told the council on Monday Friday in Creedmoor, 28 evening, adding that the had cast ballots compared OXFORD — One-Stop churches in Henderson and to 22 on Thursday. Early Voting began Thursthe county felt compelled to The one-stop period day for all five municipal respond. is from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. elections in Granville And Rice said, “The Mondays through Fridays, County. livelihood of this shelter with the last day being “So far, very smoothly,” will be on the commitment Saturday, Oct. 31, from County Elections Director of volunteers.” 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m. And that Tonya Burnette said when The Planning Board at asked about the process on Saturday is the only one a Sept. 21 special meeting when the two stations Friday afternoon. recommended changing will be open for one-stop There are two one-stop wording in the zoning reguvoting. polling stations, with Daily Dispatch/ASHLEY STEVEN AYSCUE lations to allow homeless The turnout usually one being in the County shelters in Office-Instituis slow the first couple Administration Building tional districts by a special of days and then the conference room at 141 use permit, with the latter word circulates about the Williamsboro St. in Oxford process being underway, having to be approved by Cayla Williams and Shawn Brown were crowned 2009 and the other being in the the Zoning Board of AdBurnette said. Homecoming Queen and King at Northern Vance during Creedmoor City Commisjustment. “And then the final halftime festivites Friday night. To view or purchase a photo sion meeting room at 111 First Presbyterian is week will be the busiest,” of a member of the court, visit us on the Web at www.henMasonic St. dersondispatch.com. Please see SHELTER, page 3A Please see GRANVILLE, page 3A On Friday in Oxford, 34
N.C. jobless rate holds at 10.8 percent
One-Stop Voting starts in Granville
Northern’s royalty