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Inside Today SATURDAY, November 21, 2009
Volume XCV, No. 273
(252) 436-2700
N.C. jobless rate rises to 11 percent
www.hendersondispatch.com
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Father: ‘Continue to pray for us’ By WILLIAM F. WEST Daily Dispatch Writer
“It’s just one more page in the book,” he said. “We’ve just got to move on from here.” Currin was commenting after a hearing in which he and his wife, Juanita, retained temporary custody of Kelly Currin Morris’ and Scott Morris’ 6-yearold daughter, Haley. The girl had been in the custody of Scott Morris, who had been living with his parents. Scott Morris is jailed without bond on the murder charge and on a charge of burning a dwelling house. Moments earlier at the custody hearing, Pat and Juanita Currin were in
the same room with Scott Morris for the first time, according to Pat Currin, “in probably over a year.” Kelly Currin Morris had been missing for 14 months. Pat Currin, when asked what he would say to Scott Morris if he could do so, said, “Nothing at this time.” As for the importance of having custody of Haley, Pat Currin said, “We’ve not had much time with her for the last 14 months, so we’re just glad to have her where we can look after her and tend to her.” Pat Currin and Juanita Currin, who is the step-
OXFORD — The father of deceased Granville County woman Kelly Currin Morris on Friday By EMERY P. DALESIO afternoon spoke publicly AP Business Writer for the first time since the Sheriff’s Department on RALEIGH — North Tuesday evening arrested Carolina’s unemployment rate rose slightly to 11 per- his son-in-law, Scott Morris, on a charge of firstcent in October, a fraction off its historic peak earlier degree murder. Pat Currin expressed this year and the ninth Pat Currin feelings of some relief and straight month in double added he was glad his mother of Kelly Currin digits, the state’s EmployMorris, filed a complaint ment Security Commission daughter’s remains were found on Monday off Sam hours before the arrest reported Friday. Moss Hayes Road. “At least of Scott Morris and Chief The jobless rate continwe got some closure with District Judge Daniel ued to hover around 11 Finch signed an emergenpercent, as it has for nearly that,” he told reporters. all of this year. September’s rate was 10.8 percent. The state’s unemployment rate in October 2008 was seven percent. “The most important feature is that it’s not coming down, which verifies the fears of economists and the Obama administration that unemployment will continue to rise coming out of the recession,” said John Coleman, an economist at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business. Though Wall Street has been on the upswing for months, companies remain cautious about building back their work forces because they continue to see worrying signs on the horizon such as the risk of rising inflation and tax rates, Coleman said. If the pattern of the current economic recovery sticks to the pattern set in the last two U.S. recessions, Daily Dispatch/ASHLEY STEVEN AYSCUE it would likely be many months before employment prospects improve substan- Melted siding and smoke damage are visible on this house at 705 Jefferson St. after a fire Thursday night that killed a 22-year-old man. tially, he said. Construction suffered the greatest job losses in October as employers shed about 6,600 North Carowhere the fire apparently From STAFF REPORTS originated in the bedroom. Please see JOBLESS, page 4A “The heater was too An early evening close to the bed,” Wilkerfire claimed the life of Heating equipment fires accounted for 21 percent son said. “The whole room a 22-year-old Jefferson of home fire deaths and 16 percent of all reported was gutted by the fire. Street man on Thursday, home fires in 2006, according to the National Fire The bedding material was Our Hometown . . . . . 2A the Henderson Fire DeProtection Association. Three deaths in less than consumed by the fire.” partment reports. Business & Farm. . . . 5A two weeks in Henderson have been attributed to The fire burned a hole in It was the third fire Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . 8A electric space heaters. death in Henderson in less the roof over the bedroom Light Side . . . . . . . . . 9A than two weeks. The leading factor contributing to home heating of the 900-square-foot Sports. . . . . . . . . . 1-4B fires and deaths was heating equipment placed too As in the fire that killed structure, the fire chief Faith. . . . . . . . . . . . 1-5C two children on South close to things that can burn, such as upholstered said. furniture, clothing, mattresses, bedding and bags. Comics . . . . . . . . . . . 6C Elizabeth Street last week, “When we got there he If you must use a space heater for heating, fire appeared to have a chance Classifieds. . . . . . . 7-9C an electric space heater safety officials offer the following tips to guarantee placed too close to combus- of survival,” Wilkerson that you are using it as safely as possible: tible materials was said to said. “We gave him CPR • Keep the heater three feet away from drapes, be to blame. and the ambulance took furniture, bedding, bags or other flammable materiFredrick Harris, the him to Maria Parham.” Today son of Cleola Owens, was als. Fredrick was uncontaken to Maria Parham • Place the heater on a level surface away from scious upon arrival at Partly Medical Center after atareas where someone might bump it or knock it Maria Parham Medical High: 60 tempts were made by fire over. Center and was proLow: 42 personnel to revive him, nounced dead in the Emer• When buying a heater, look for one that has Fire Chief Danny Wilkergency Room, according to a been tested and labeled by a nationally recognized son said. Sunday hospital spokesman. testing company. The victim was found The fire report indicated • If you must use an extension cord with the at the front door of the that firemen searched the heater, make sure it is a heavy-duty cord marked Likely residence when firemen house when it was believed with a power rating at least as high as that on the High: 51 arrived at 6:11 p.m., Wilka second victim was not label of the heater itself. If the extension cord gets Low: 46 erson said. The front door accounted for. No one else Please see HAZARDS, page 3A of the house was probably Please see FIRE, page 3A Details, 3A less than 30 feet from
Juanita Currin cy order granting Pat and Juanita Currin custody of Haley. Pat Currin said he has Please see FATHER, page 3A
Another fatal fire in Henderson Currins
Space heater to blame in death of man, 22 Heating equipment can be fire hazards
Index
Weather
Deaths Henderson Fredrick J. Harris, 22 Cedric D. Perry, 38 Macon Emma Goode, 84 Warrenton Ida Perry, 76 Washington, D.C. Vernell Bullock, 62
Army relents, will allow media at Palin book event
RALEIGH (AP) — The U.S. Army said Friday it would open Sarah Palin’s appearance on Fort Bragg to media, a reversal from earlier in the week when the military wanted the event closed out of fears it would prompt political grandstanding Obituaries, 4A against President Barack Obama. The attempt to ban media at the event scheduled for Monday was met with protests from The Associated Press and The Fayetteville Observer. The military then proposed limited media coverage, but lifted that plan Friday.
“Given an outpouring over the past two days of media interest in covering the Nov. 23 book signing at Fort Bragg’s North Post Exchange, Fort Bragg will assist interested news media who wish to cover former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin,” said a statement released by Fort Bragg spokesman Tom McCollum. The Army now plans to allow any interested media to cover Palin’s appearance, including allowing interviews with people who attend the event and rotating journalists into the building where Palin will be
signing books. McCollum said Thursday officials planned to allow the general public on base but prevent media from attending so the Palin book signing would not become a political platform to express opinions “directed against the commander in chief.” Palin’s visit to Fort Bragg is one of many stops on a tour promoting a new memoir, “Going Rogue.” Publisher HarperCollins said Friday that the book sold 300,000 copies its first day, among the best openings ever for a nonfiction book.
retain custody of child Morris daughter stays temporarily with grandparents By WILLIAM F. WEST Daily Dispatch Writer
OXFORD — Custody of the 6-year-old daughter of Kelly Currin Morris and Scott Morris temporarily remains with Pat and Juanita Currin after Chief District Judge Daniel Finch issued an order after a brief hearing on Friday afternoon at the Granville County Courthouse. The judge set another hearing for 9:30 a.m. Jan. 7 so Scott Morris will have time to retain an attorney in the civil matter. Scott Morris, 35, of 113 W. Church St., Creedmoor, remains jailed without bond on a charge of first-degree murder of Kelly Currin Morris and the burning of a dwelling house. He faces a Dec. 2 court date in the criminal matter. Pat Currin is the father of Kelly Currin Morris and Juanita Currin is her stepmother. The couple has had custody of the child, Haley, since Finch issued an emergency order in response to a complaint by the couple hours before the arrest of Scott Morris. At the custody hearing Friday afternoon, Scott Morris appeared in an orange jail jumpsuit and in shackles and was seated at the table to Finch’s left. Seated at the table to Finch’s right were Pat and Juanita Currin, represented by their attorney, Tom Currin. Finch told Scott Morris, who did not have legal counsel, that he has 30 days to file an answer to the civil complaint. Under questioning by Finch, Scott Morris said that, being in the position he is in, he did not see what he can do. Please see CURRINS, page 3A