The Daily Dispatch - Friday, November 27, 2009 by The Daily Dispatch

CMYK Thankful Americans see parades, feast

The nuts and bolts of Black Friday

Cowboys win on Thanksgiving Day

Local News, Page 4A

Business & Farm, Page 5A

Sports, Page 1B FRIDAY, November 27, 2009

Volume XCV, No. 278

(252) 436-2700

www.hendersondispatch.com

50 cents

Crash kills mom, two children

NCDOT planning upgrade of I-85 in Granville in spring

Police: All were wearing proper seat restraints

Work will be on concrete part from N.C. 56 to Vance By WILLIAM F. WEST Daily Dispatch Writer

By DAILY DISPATCH STAFF

WILTON — A 26-yearold Franklin County woman and her two children are dead as a result of a Wednesday evening one-vehicle wreck at the southeastern edge of Granville County, the N.C. Highway Patrol said. Melissa Jo Bullock was driving westbound on Mays Store Road when she overcorrected and the vehicle struck a ditch and a tree, the patrol said. The two children were Georgia Lee Godfrey, 5, and Wyatt Anthony Godfrey, 4, the patrol said. The patrol said the three lived at 371 Stone-Southerland Road, which is a Louisburg address. Bullock was wearing seatbelts and the two children were wearing proper restraints at the time of the wreck, which happened at 9:54 p.m., the patrol said. The person answering the patrol’s phone in Raleigh did not have the make and model of the vehicle. Trooper David Stuart responded to the wreck, which happened 9.4 miles southeast of Creedmoor and near the Granville County-Franklin County line. Stuart said original information police had reported that Bullock was pregnant. He said her family said she was not pregnant, the Associated Press reported. Send comments to news@ hendersonsondispatch.com.

Index Our Hometown . . . . . 2A Business & Farm. . . . 5A Opinion . . . . . . . . . . 10A Light Side . . . . . . . . 11A Sports. . . . . . . . . . 1-4B Comics . . . . . . . . . . . 5B Classifieds. . . . . . . 6-7B

Weather Today Mostly sunny

High: 52 Low: 33

Saturday Lots of sunshine

Happy Thanksgiving breakfast

Daily Dispatch/EARL KING

Good food and good friends once again made the Warrenton Rural Volunteer Fire Department’s annual Thanksgiving breakfast a hit. The 5 to 10 a.m. buffet served 573 people and had to be extended by a half hour to accommodate them. The VFD only asked for a donation.

Christmas parade coming Dec. 6; not too late to enter floats, groups By DAILY DISPATCH STAFF

Santa’s already signed up for the Henderson Christmas Parade on Sunday, Dec. 6, but there’s room in front of him for more bands and more floats. The annual parade through downtown Henderson will begin at 2:30 p.m. at Dabney Drive Extension and will proceed down Garnett Street to Rose Avenue. The event is again being sponsored by the Henderson-Vance Downtown Development Commission (HVDCC). Parade rules and entry forms are available online at the commission’s web site at www.hendersondowntown.us. (Click on Downtown Events and then Christmas Parade to get to the forms.) Forms may also be picked up at the commission’s office at City Hall on Rose Avenue . All entries are required to have a Christmas theme, according to Phil Lakernick, HVDCC director and the Main Street Program manager. Additional rules are available from the HVDCC. Only preauthorized groups will be allowed to

‘Light the Night’ ceremony Tuesday The new lights are on display in downtown Henderson already, but there’s an official ceremony planned to celebrate the start of this season next week. The “Light the Night in Downtown Henderson” lighting ceremony will be held Tuesday evening, Dec. 1, at 6 o’clock. Sponsored by the Henderson-Vance Downtown Development Commission, the ceremony marks the official “lighting of the greens” in downtown Henderson . The choirs from Greater Little Zion Holiness Church and Room at the Cross Pentecostal Holiness Church will be singing Christmas carols. The ceremony will take place on Garnett Street in front of the Vance County Senior Center . participate in the parade, Lakernick noted. Entry fees are $50 for floats, marching units, horse units, vehicles and non-profit groups. There is a $200 charge for semitractor/trailer vehicles over 10,000 pounds. The HVDCC has information on where groups may order floats if they wish and information on how to order float preparation kits to create original floats. The parade lineup will begin at 1:30 p.m. on Dabney Drive Extension between Walgreen’s on

OXFORD — At least $1.8 million worth of improvements to Interstate 85 are scheduled this coming spring in Granville County, the N.C. Department of Transportation said. The work will be on the segment of I-85 from slightly north of the N.C. 56 interchange to the Granville County-Vance County line, Michael Kneis, an NCDOT project manager and contract officer, told the Dispatch. Specifically, plans call for grinding the two northbound lanes to smooth the concrete surface and to correct faulting, which is when one slab becomes lower than the preceding one because of the constant pounding by tractortrailers. And plans for the northbound side additionally call for resealing the joints to keep water from seeping into the concrete, for putting down new reflective center markers and for spray painting new lines. Kneis said there are no plans to grind the southbound side because those two lanes are not experiencing the faulting found on the northbound side. Still, Kneis said, the southbound side is being remarked now, with plans to include replacing the reflectors and resealing the joints. NCDOT in February will take bids for the project,

I-85 improvements in Tri-County area Crews are working to complete a $26 million restoration of Interstate 85 from the Granville County-Vance County line to near the N.C. 39/ Downtown Henderson interchange. The N.C. Department of Transportation says the temporary 55 mph speed limit in the project zone will remain in place because of the possibility of some work carrying over into next year. The only major contract work left to be done includes installing two overhead signs next month. Additionally, the contractor will be provided with a punch list after NCDOT conducts a final inspection of the project. The punch list work will include a variety of items, from making minor pavement repairs to dressing and seeding shoulders and medians. Crews in the fall of 2008 completed a more than $8 million I-85 restoration project from N.C. 39 to the North Carolina-Virginia border. with work anticipated to start the middle of April, Kneis said. As for the funding, $1.5 million for the northbound lanes will come from interstate maintenance funds and $300,000 for the southbound lanes will come from the division’s maintenance funds. Contact the writer at bwest@ hendersondispatch.com.

Oxford Road and Burger King on Raleigh Road . The official lineup will be printed in The Daily Dispatch a couple of days prior to the event. Floats and bands will be judged and prizes awarded in one of three categories: $200 for first place, $150 for second, and $100 for third, according to Lakernick. A total of 75 entries participated in the 2008 edition of the parade. Send comments to news@ hendersondispatch.com.

Shaq pays for N.C. girl’s funeral

High: 56 Low: 34

Details, 3A

Deaths Henderson Bobby Arnold Dail Sr., 69 Nannie Ruth Waverly, 51 Florence Boyd West, 80

Obituaries, 4A

FAYETTEVILLE (AP) — Basketball star Shaquille O’Neal paid for the funeral of a 5-year-old North Carolina girl after being moved by national news coverage of the case of Shaniya Davis, who police say was kidnapped and killed. The Cleveland Cavaliers player was touched by the stories he saw and got in touch with the family to see what he could do to help, a spokeswoman for O’Neal said Thursday.

More than 2,000 people attended the girl’s funeral Sunday. Her body was found Nov. 16 beside a rural O’Neal road. Her mother, Antionette Davis, who had reported the child missing six days earlier, is charged with human trafficking and child abuse involving prostitution. Mario McNeill is

charged with murder, rape and kidnapping in the case. “I was sitting at home watching it on the news and the story brought a tear to my eye,” O’Neal told The Cleveland Plain Dealer newspaper. Corey Breece, of Rogers and Breece Funeral Home, which handled the service, declined to tell the Fayetteville Observer newspaper how much it cost but added Please see SHAQ, page 3A

Daily Dispatch/WILLIAM F. WEST

Turkey Trot the fun way Blaise Gruchacz, 11, a student at Vance Charter School, approaches the finish line of the annual two-mile Turkey Trot fun walk and run in central Oxford — on rollerblades. Finishing second behind Blaise is Justin Commee, 16, a student at Kerr-Vance Academy. The 153 participants each provided a can of food or a donation to Area Congregations in Ministry (ACIM), which is a non-profit organization assisting the needy. ACIM received $2,700 in checks prior to the Thursday event, $1,495 in checks from the event and $136 in cash from the event. And ACIM said the totals included 720 pounds of food.

Our Hometown

The Daily Dispatch

Mark It Down Today Red Kettle Campaign kickoff — The Salvation Army will kick-off its local Red Kettle Campaign for the holiday season at 11 a.m. between the two entrances of the Henderson Super Walmart on N. Cooper Drive. City, county and state officials will be on hand to participate. The public is invited to attend.

Saturday Stem Christmas parade — The Town of Stem will hold its Christmas parade at 2 p.m. Dee’s Music Barn — Dee’s Music Barn, 3101 Walters Road, Creedmoor, will be featuring the Ace In The Hole Band with James Potreat at 7 p.m. For more information, call (919) 528-5878. Holiday workshops — Art du Jour, 209 E. Nash St., Louisburg, will host a holiday workshop led by Cheryl Kearns from 11 a.m. to noon. Please contact Kearns at (919) 556-6451 or Art du Jour at (919) 496-1650 for more information. The second in a workshop series by Cheryl Yoacham featuring knot tying for jewelry will also be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Please contact Yoacham at (919) 496-7215 or Art du Jour for more information. Ridgeway Opry House — Performing are guest band, Classic Country, along with Matt Nelson, Joyce Chisenhall, Evelena Norwood, Julia Morton, Jackie Turner, Betsy and Allen Reid, and Donnie Gillam. Doors open at 6 p.m. Music starts at 7 p.m.

Tuesday Board of Elections — The Vance County Board of Elections will meet at 11 a.m. in the Board of Elections office at 300 S. Garnett St. in the Henry A. Dennis Building. 4-H event — Today is the deadline to register for 4-H Holiday Craft Carousel on Dec. 5 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Vance County Extension Office at 305 Young St. Cost is $5 and spaces are limited. Open to all youth ages 5-18. Call (252) 438-8188 for more info.

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. Grant workshop — A free workshop for those interested in applying for grant funding through Teen With Power, a program of the Vance County Community Foundation, will be held at 6:30 p.m. at the Henderson-Vance County Chamber of Commerce, 414 S. Garnett Street in Henderson. The workshop will allow applicants to ask questions about the application and talk about their ideas for projects. Registration is by e-mailing jlawson@nccommunityfoundation.org or calling 1-800-201-9533. 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. Joint replacement surgery class — Rehabilitation Services at Maria Parham Medical Center is offering a free before-surgery class for those who have elected to have joint replacement surgery. The class will be held from 3:30-4:30 p.m. in the classroom at the hospital. For more information, call Ben Soyden at (252) 436-1235.

Friday, November 27, 2009

H1N1 flu clinic scheduled for Tuesday The Granville and Vance County health departments will hold a special H1N1 Flu Clinic on Tuesday from 4-7 p.m., while supplies last. This clinic will be for the following target groups who are at highest risk of illness related to the H1N1 flu: • Pregnant women • Caregivers of infants younger than six months

of age • Individuals six months of age through 24 years of age • Individuals 25 years of age but younger than 65 years of age with underlying chronic conditions such as chronic pulmonary (including asthma), cardiovascular (except hypertension), renal, hepatic, cognitive, neurologic/neuromuscular, hematologic,

metabolic disorders (including diabetes mellitus), or immuno-suppression (including immunosuppression caused by medications or by human immunodeficiency virus). • Healthcare and EMS workers Please remember, the best way to avoid getting any type of influenza is to receive the flu vaccine, practice frequent hand-

washing, and cover your mouth when coughing. Most importantly, stay home when you are sick until you have been free of fever for at least 24 hours without the use of feverreducing medications. Most people with the flu or flu-like illness do not need to be seen by their physician or the emergency room.

Vance County’s fire chief warns that winter fire hazards can be avoided As the temperature outside drops, Vance County families take to the indoors to keep safe and warm. What they may not realize is that turning up the heat can increase the rise of home heating fires. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), nearly half of all home heating fires occur during the winter months. On average, NFPA research shows that heating equipment is involved in roughly 70,000 reported U.S. home structure fires, with associated loss of more than 600 civilian deaths, almost 1,600 civilian injuries and more than $1 billion in direct property damage. “While these numbers are frightening, nearly all of these fires are preventable,” said Vance County Fire Chief Harold Henrich. “We can reduce the number of home heating fires in our community by taking some simple precautions and using heating equipment properly.” NFPA and Vance County recommend some simple home heating safety tips, so residents can help keep

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the community safe and warm this winter: • Have your chimney inspected each year and cleaned if necessary. • Use a sturdy fireplace screen. • Allow ashes to cool before disposing. Dispose of ashes in a metal container. • Space heaters need space. Keep all things that can burn, such as paper, bedding or furniture, at least three feet away from heating equipment. • Turn portable heaters off when you go to bed or leave the room. • Plug power cord only into outlets with sufficient capacity and never into an extension cord. • Install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each sleeping area and on

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TWILIGHT SAGA: NEW MOON

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every level of the home. Interconnect all smoke alarms throughout the home so that when one sounds, they all sound. Test smoke alarms at least once a month. • Inspect for cracked or broken plugs or loose connections. Replace before using.

• Install and maintain a carbon monoxide alarm in a central location outside each sleeping area. • Never use an oven to heat your home. • If you have a live Christmas tree, always make sure it’s watered and never leave it on when you are not home.

PREMIER ESTATE AUCTION

SATURDAY, Nov. 28th at 12:00 pm

(Preview Friday Nov. 27th at 1:00 pm & Saturday at 10:00 am)

Henderson Auction Gallery 117 Horner St., Henderson, NC 27536

Selling the Estate of Dr. Joseph Mayo, Jr., M.D. (Deceased) of Henderson, NC, Plus Several Exquisite Antique Consignments. Pre Civil War Parlor Set, Victorian Sets, Y & J Cherry Corner China Cabinet, Eastlake Furniture, Sterling, Exquisite Glass, Furs, Jewelry, Antique Toys, High End Household Items & Appliances, SO MUCH MORE!

INFO or ABSENT BIDS (252) 738-2427 (919) 961-3731 www.auctionzip.com 13% Buyer’s Premium 3% discount for cash or check Announcements on day of the sale take precedence over printed/online materials. Auctioneer, Steve Brigandi, NCAL 8559

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Wester Insurance Agency 1020 S. Garnett St. • Henderson, NC 27536

1020 S. Garnett St. • Henderson, NC 27536

Skip Satterwhite

Account Executive

Phone: 252-438-8165 Account Executive Fax: 252-438-6640

Phone: 252-438-8165 • Fax: 252-438-6640

skipsatterwhite@ncol.net Cell: 919-522-3825 www.westerinsurance.com

skipsatterwhite@ncol.net • www.westerinsurance.com

1020 S. Garnett St. • Henderson, NC 27536

Satterwhite DearSkip Santa,

is currently accepting applications for children 0-5 years old. We are a three star center. We offer breakfast, lunch and afternoon snack.

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Phone: 252-438-8165 • Fax: 252-438-6640 Cell: 919-522-3825

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Hours of operation are 6:30 am to 5:30 pm Mon.-Fri. For more information call Vivian or Jenny Robertson at 438-8138.

KIDS...

Make sure Santa sees your message in our upcoming “Letters To Santa” section to be published on Dec. 24th.

*After School Care Available* *Accepts SS Vouchers*

53 Brookhaven Ct. Henderson, NC 27537 (Off Carey Chapel Rd.)

Trying to Save Money By Cutting out Your Newspaper Advertising Is Like... Trying to Save Electricity By Cutting Off Your Open Sign

Children of 3rd - Grade or Younger Send Your Letters To:

Letters to Santa

The Daily Dispatch, P.O. Box 908 Henderson, NC 27536 We will print all letters that space permits. Letters must be received by Dec. 4th at 5pm. Please enclose your home phone number in your letter, in case questions arise. The charge for a photo to accompany the letter is $5.00. Photos should have child’s name on back.

From Page One

The Daily Dispatch

FIVE-DAY FORECAST FOR HENDERSON TODAY

TONIGHT

SATURDAY

Mostly Sunny

Clear

Sunny

52º

33º

56º 34º

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

Mostly Sunny

Few Showers

63º 39º

61º 41º

58º 40º

Almanac

Sun and Moon

Temperature

Sunrise today . . . . . Sunset tonight . . . . Moonrise today . . . Moonset today . . . . Sunrise tomorrow . Sunset tomorrow . . Moonrise tomorrow Moonset tomorrow .

Raleigh -Durham through 6 p.m. yest. High . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61 Low . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41 Normal High . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59 Normal Low . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37 Record High . . . . . . . . .76 in 2001 Record Low . . . . . . . . .14 in 1950

.7:03 .5:00 .1:46 .2:03 .7:04 .5:00 .2:15 .3:05

a.m. p.m. p.m. a.m. a.m. p.m. p.m. a.m.

Moon Phases

Precipitation Yesterday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .0.00" Month to date . . . . . . . . . . . .6.66" Normal month to date . . . . .2.59" Year to date . . . . . . . . . . . . .34.09" Normal year to date . . . . . .39.63"

Full 12/2

New 12/16

Last 12/8

First 12/24

Lake Levels Elevation in feet above sea level. Data as of 7 a.m. yesterday. Lake Gaston Kerr

24-Hr. Lake Capacity Yest. Change Jordan 240 217.6 +0.4 Neuse Falls 264 253.5 +0.4

24-Hr. Capacity Yest. Change 203 199.6 0.0 320 305.4 -0.3

Regional Weather Henderson 52/33

Winston-Salem Durham 53/33 52/32 Asheville 44/26

Rocky Mt. 53/35

Greensboro 52/33 Raleigh 53/34 Charlotte 53/31

Fayetteville 56/34

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

Cape Hatteras 54/42

Wilmington 57/36

Regional Cities Today

Today

Sat.

Hi/Lo Wx Hi/Lo Wx City

Hi/Lo Wx Hi/Lo Wx

Asheville Boone Burlington Chapel Hill Chattanooga Danville Durham Elizabeth City Elizabethton Fayetteville Goldsboro Greensboro Greenville Havelock Hendersonville

44/26 36/28 52/33 53/33 53/31 51/32 53/33 57/37 43/28 56/34 54/35 52/33 53/34 55/34 47/28

52/32 56/34 54/34 56/35 57/38 55/42 55/41 56/34 53/34 54/33 52/34 53/35 55/33 57/36 52/32

s sn pc pc s s pc s mc s s s s s s

55/33 49/30 56/34 57/34 61/38 56/34 57/34 58/36 56/32 60/36 58/37 56/34 58/37 59/36 55/32

s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s

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

s s s s s s s s s pc s pc s s s

Court drops case in nude photo shoot at NYC museum NEW YORK (AP) — Nude, yes. Lewd, no. A New York judge dismissed public lewdness and other charges Monday against a model who posed for a nude photo shoot at a museum while visitors looked on. Kathleen “K.C.” Neill was arrested in August during photographer Zach Hyman’s shoot in the arms and armor department at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Defense lawyer Thomas J. Hillgardner says Neill did nothing indecent while posing in an institution full of depictions of nudes. He says she was making art and he noted court rulings saying public nakedness isn’t necessarily lewd. Prosecutors say they aren’t sure they could prove the charges beyond reasonable doubt. The museum had no immediate comment. Hyman calls the charges “completely absurd.”

Sat.

City

56/34 60/37 59/36 61/35 61/39 59/46 56/44 59/37 58/35 58/35 56/35 57/36 58/35 62/36 56/33

s s s s s s s s s s s s s s s

Weather (Wx): cl/cloudy; pc/partly cloudy; ra/rain; rs/rain & snow; s/sunny; sh/showers; sn/snow; t/thunderstorms; w/windy

Today’s National Map

to help raise money to pay for the funeral. Lockhart was not available to talk Thursday, said a man who answered the By DAILY DISPATCH STAFF phone at his home. O’Neal is recovering from The name of an alleged a shoulder injury that has elk poacher from Granville sidelined him for six straight County has been made public. games since getting hurt Bruce Wayne Cromer Jr. Nov. 12 against Miami. of Stovall is facing charges of shooting the protected Odd News species in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, his wife noticed shortly the Oxford Public Ledger after dawn Thursday that newspaper reported Thurssomeone had “teepeed” the day, quoting N.C. Wildlife front lawn. Officer Tim Sasser. State officials said it Sasser was quoted as was the first time that saying Cromer did not know happened to the 101-year- that killing an elk is illegal and that when he saw the old landmark. horns “he just couldn’t stand Ritter joked about it, it.” saying he has teenage Park rangers told the children at home and that Asheville Citizen-Times it was probably a prank. newspaper they found bull First Lady Jeannie Ritter No. 21 — known by many of said she would be worthe park’s regular elk watchried if the house had been ers as one of the herd’s bigegged or damaged but gest breeding bulls — dead the toilet paper prank is Nov. 13 along the edge of a harmless. pasture in the Cataloochee The 1908 Georgian Valley. revival home is near the Elk were common in the state Capitol in Denver. region until they were wiped

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Friends Helping Friends A member of our Golden Skillet Family, Tonya Harrison lost all of her possesions in the fatal fire of this past Thursday (11-19-09), to provide some much needed relief, the Golden Skillet will donate 25 cents of every $1.00 sold All Day Sunday, 11/29/09.

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DENVER (AP) — It wasn’t fresh mountain snow but toilet paper that blanketed the front lawn of the Colorado governor’s mansion Thanksgiving morning. Gov. Bill Ritter told KUSA-TV that he and

out by hunting and habitat losses in the early 19th century. The park reintroduced 25 elk to the valley in 2001, with the herd having since grown to approximately 100 and having become a popular park attraction. Sasser was quoted by the Oxford Public Ledger as saying that, the night before the shooting of the elk, Cromer was driving on Interstate 40 when he hit a black bear and that Cromer put the bear in his vehicle. And Cromer’s son slept in the vehicle that night, Sasser was quoted as saying. The next morning, Cromer and his son saw the elk and Cromer stood up through the vehicle’s open sunroof and, with a rifle, shot the elk three times, Sasser was quoted as saying. Officials have said someone jotted down the suspect’s vehicle license plate number, prompting the start of a probe.

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Governor’s lawn in Colorado draped in toilet paper

110s 100s 90s 80s 70s 60s 50s 40s 30s 20s 10s 0s

Stovall man faces charges of shooting protected elk

SHAQ, from page one that a child’s funeral “averages around $4,500.” A man who answered the phone at the funeral home Thursday told the AP that only the owner could comment and that he was away. Shaniya Davis’ father, Bradley Lockhart, and his family had set up a trust fund in memory of Shaniya

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High Pressure

Yesterday’s National Extremes High: 86° in Miami, Fla. Low: -2° in Alamosa, Colo.

Vance County Water District Customer Sign-up Drive

XII I

II III

VIII VII VI

IV V

X IX

XII

VII

II III

VIII

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

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The Associated Press (AP) is entitled to use for publication all local news published in this newspaper as well as all AP news dispatches. Member of The Audit Bureau of Circulations and the Associated Press.

The Vance County Water District (VCWD) announces the beginning of the “Customer Sign-Up” drive for Phase 1A of the County Water Project. This project phase includes the construction of approximately 65 miles of water distribution mains along various roads in and around the Sandy Creek Township of Vance County. The County will be conducting a series of Informational/Sign-Up Meetings to be held at the times and locations shown below.

Sign-Up Meeting #1 • When: Tuesday, December 1st at 6:30pm • Where: Carver Elementary School Cafeteria, 987 Carver School Road, Henderson, NC 27537 Sign-Up Meeting #2 • When: Thursday, December 3rd at 6:30 pm • Where: Aycock Elementary School Cafeteria, 305 Carey Chapel Road, Henderson, NC 27537 Sign-Up Meeting #3 – • When: Thursday, December 10th at 6:30 pm • Where: Cokesbury Volunteer Fire Department, 1516 S. Cokesbury Road, Henderson, NC 27537

These meetings will help to answer technical questions about becoming a Vance County Water District customer and will provide an opportunity to sign up and pay for the early signup/connection fee of $125. PARTICIPATION AS A VANCE COUNTY WATER DISTRICT CUSTOMER IS NOT MANDATORY!! However, customer participation is important to facilitate construction of the proposed water lines. Your attendance and participation are vital to the success of the project aimed at providing a safe, reliable source of drinking water for the residents of Vance County. For additional details and Official Signups for County water (Phase 1A) please contact at 252-738-2080 or visit the Vance County Planning and Development Department at 156 Church Street, Suite 3, Henderson, NC 27536.

Local News

The Daily Dispatch

Deaths Bobby A. Dail Sr. HENDERSON â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Bobby Arnold Dail Sr., 69, of 871 Coble Blvd., died Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2009, at Maria Parham Medical Center. Born in Duplin County, he was the son of the late William Wright and Isabel Stanley Dail. Mr. Dail was the retired owner and operator of B.D. Paving. He was a member of Clearview Baptist Church. Surviving are his wife, Nancy Aycock Dail; three daughters, Teresa D. Moore, of Swansboro, Jennifer D. Wade, of Oxford, and Angela D. Owen, of Kittrell; two sons, Bobby Arnold Dail Jr., of Henderson, and William Vance Dail, of Oxford; two step-daughters, Annette G. Newbern, of Littleton, and Cynthia G. Rooker, of St. Augustine, Fla.; two sisters, Wanda D. Grist and Sally D. Lanzier, both of Alabama; two brothers, Billy Dail, of Flordia, and David Dail, of Alabama; 13 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren. The family will receive friends Friday, from 7 to 8:30 p.m., at Flowers Funeral Home. All other times, they will be at the home, 871 Coble Blvd, Henderson. Funeral services will be held Saturday, Nov. 28, at 11 a.m. at Clearview Baptist Church, conducted by the Rev. Robert Kelley and Stephen Andrews. Burial will follow in Elmwood Cemetery. Serving as active pallbearers will be Stephen Andrews, W.A. Currin, Charlie Keeter, Billy Stevenson, Richard Long, Ricky Causby, Bobby Wilkerson, Mike Carter, Willie Journigan, and Wesley Jackson. Flowers will be accepted, or memorials may be made to Clearview Baptist Church, c/o Rev. Abidan

Shah, 1069 Eastern Blvd., Henderson, N.C. 27536. Arrangements are by Flowers Funeral Home.

Friday, November 27, 2009

Thankful Americans see parades, feast in space

NEW YORK (AP) â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Giant balloons, floats, marching bands and clowns with HENDERSON â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Nanconfetti brought smiles to nie Ruth Waverly, 51, of hundreds of thousands of rev150 Green Forests, Frank- elers eager to catch a glimpse lin, died Nov. 25, 2009, at of a parade as steeped in her residence. Thanksgiving Day tradition Family will receive as turkey and pumpkin pie. friends at the residence of Crowds six to seven people Willie Lee Waverly, 407 deep lined the streets of Manhattan on Thursday Jane Ave. for the 83rd annual Macyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Funeral arrangements Thanksgiving Day Parade as will be announced by merrymakers gathered naDavis-Royster Funeral tionwide for massive parades Service. in cities such as Detroit and Philadelphia. Florence B. West Soldiers in war zones received phone calls of HENDERSON â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Florappreciation from Presience B. West, 80, of 2857 dent Barack Obama, while Hicksboro Road died astronauts hovering above Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2009, the Earthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s surface feasted on at Maria Parham Medical turkey smuggled aboard the space shuttle Atlantis. Center, Henderson. In New York City, Miss A native of Granville America Katie Stam waved County, she was the to crowds from a Statue of daughter of the late LuLiberty float she shared with ther E. and Bessie King Meb Keflezighi, the first Boyd and the widow of American in 11 years to win Curneral West. the New York City MaraFuneral services will thon. be conducted at 2 p.m. Shailesh Dighe and his Sunday, Nov. 29, from family came to the fabled Gentry-Newell & Vaughan parade to snap pictures of ceFuneral Chapel, 503 Collebrities including rapper Jay lege St., Oxford, by Dr. Sean and singer-actress Keke Cecil Newton. Burial will Palmer. Despite the crowds, follow in Grassy Creek Dighe said the parade is Baptist Church cemetery. â&#x20AC;&#x153;totally worth it.â&#x20AC;? Surviving are a daughâ&#x20AC;&#x153;When you watch it on TV, ter, Peggy West Stegall of you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get that feeling,â&#x20AC;? said Dighe, who splits his Henderson; a son, Curneral Junior West of Oxford; time between Manhattan and Princeton, N.J. three grandchildren and For the first time, the pathree great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death rade route bypassed Broadway, which cuts a diagonal by two grandchildren, slice through Manhattan, as Waylon West and Grover it made its way south from Stegall III. Visitation for the family the Upper West Side to the finish at Macyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s flagship store will be from 7 to 8 p.m. in Herald Square. Saturday, Nov. 28, at The new route traverses the funeral home and at the grid of the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s streets other times at the home of and avenues, includes turns Grover and Peggy Stegall, around five corners, and 2857 Hicksboro Road, is slightly longer than in Henderson. previous years â&#x20AC;&#x201D; 2.65 miles Flowers are accepted. compared with 2.5 miles. For online memorials, go Johanna Castillo, 38, of to www.gnvfh.com and Guttenberg, N.J., said the select obituaries. new route seemed to better accommodate the crowds. Arrangements are by â&#x20AC;&#x153;I was very blessed to get Gentry-Newell & Vaughan here at the time I did and Funeral Home.

Nannie R. Waverly

AP Photo/Jeff Christensen

The Kermit the Frog balloon floats through Times Square during Macyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Thanksgiving Day parade in New York. find a spotâ&#x20AC;? a half-hour before parade time, said Castillo, who arrived with her two children. Maryann Alonzo, 48, of Queens, N.Y., has been coming to the parade since she was a baby. She showed up Thursday with her daughter and friends to cheer on her father, whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been performing in the parade for 25 years as a clown. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is our Thanksgiving,â&#x20AC;? Alonzo said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;More than the food.â&#x20AC;? Celebrity entertainment included Italian tenor Andrea Boccelli, comedian Jimmy Fallon, former â&#x20AC;&#x153;American Idolâ&#x20AC;? star Katharine McPhee and singers Gloria Gaynor and Carly Simon. Elsewhere, tens of thousands gathered in the streets of downtown Detroit for the 83rd annual Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Thanksgiving Parade. The countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s longest-run Thanksgiving Day parade

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was held in Philadelphia for its 90th year. In Detroit, where the September unemployment rate was 17.3 percent, parade organizers set up three locations where revelers could drop off donations of canned food for the area food bank. Eugene Peterson, 35, an unemployed construction

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worker from Detroit, said he had plenty to be thankful for. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m thankful we have a president who understands weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re going through a hard time,â&#x20AC;? Peterson said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m thankful they extended unemployment (benefits) because there ainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t no jobs around here. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s kind of like government showing yeah, they care.â&#x20AC;? Aboard Atlantis, astronauts expecting to give thanks with pantry leftovers were surprised by turkey dinners with candied yams, freeze-dried cornbread stuffing and green beans â&#x20AC;&#x201D; just add water. NASA suspected the stationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new skipper was responsible for the Thanksgiving feast. Obama enjoyed a quiet holiday at the White House with his family and telephoned 10 members of the U.S. military stationed in war zones to thank them for their service. As daylight faded in Afghanistan, soldiers huddled inside a crude wooden hut to tuck into Thanksgiving turkeys the unit itself had fattened and to give thanks for having survived a year of combat. Dense fog delayed some flights Thursday for Thanksgiving travelers headed to the Washington and Baltimore areas. The Federal Aviation Administration says the fog prompted a ground stop for flights arriving Thursday morning at all three Washington-area airports. Departing flights were apparently not affected. The FAA lifted its ground stop by 10:30 a.m.

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The Daily Dispatch

Friday, November 27, 2009

The nuts and bolt of day dubbed Black Friday By ANNE D’INNOCENZIO AP Retail Writer

NEW YORK — The nation’s stores usher in the traditional start of the holiday shopping season Friday with extended hours, freebies and deep discounts on everything from toys to flat-panel TVs. Here are the nuts and bolts of the holiday kickoff, dubbed Black Friday because it traditionally was when the crowds of shoppers pushed stores into profitability, or “the black.” Q. Is Black Friday the busiest day of the season and year? A. Historically, no. Recently, yes. Ellen Davis, spokeswoman at the National Retail Federation, said that traditionally the Saturday before Christmas had been the biggest sales day. But that day has taken a back seat in recent years as the tough economy has made shoppers focus on predawn early specials. “In a recession, there’s a greater response to the big deals,” she said. In fact, ShopperTrak, a

AP Photo/Jim Mone

In this Nov. 28, 2008, file photo, shoppers check out Black Friday early bird specials at the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minn. research firm that tracks sales and traffic at more than 50,000 stores, says that Black Friday has been the top sales day every year but one since it started monitoring holiday data in 2002; the only exception was in 2004, when the Saturday before Christmas stole the crown. Bill Martin, co-founder

of ShopperTrak, expects that Black Friday will maintain that status again this year. Q. How important is Black Friday to retailers? Does Black Friday and the Thanksgiving weekend predict holiday spending? A. Thanksgiving weekend may be the traditional

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start of the holiday shopping season, but it doesn’t necessarily provide a complete forecast of holiday sales. Last year, the Thanksgiving shopping weekend accounted for 11.6 percent of overall holiday sales, according to ShopperTrak. Black Friday itself made

up almost half of that. Still, retailers closely study buying patterns for the weekend to gauge shoppers’ mindset — what kinds of items they’re buying, what deals are luring them. This Black Friday, analysts will dissect whether shoppers stick with necessities like socks and coats, and fewer discretionary items like flatscreen TVs. They will also examine whether shoppers are focused only on the early morning specials and not buying anything else. Stores also know that if they have a weak start, there’s a slim chance they’ll be able to make up the lost sales. Last year, sales for the Thanksgiving weekend fell 1.01 percent — weak but not disastrous, according to MasterCard Advisors’ SpendingPulse. But shoppers cut back even more as the season went on, pushing overall sales for November and December down 6.3 percent, according to the data service, which provides an estimate of spending in all forms, including cash. Q. So what’s expected this weekend? A. Many analysts expect

sales for the weekend to be unchanged compared with last year, even though the National Retail Federation trade group projects bigger crowds. That’s because individual shoppers are likely to cut back on their spending even more this year. Another reason is that stores, particularly apparel merchants, are competing with last year’s big clearance sales as they desperately sought to liquidate inventory following the sudden halt in consumer spending. Q. What will drive shoppers to the stores? A. Deep price cuts on big-ticket items like flatpanel TVs, GPS systems and netbooks, says Dan de Grandpre, editor-in-chief of online shopping and discount guide dealnews.com. But this season, there are already hard-to-find items like Cepia LLC’s Zhu Zhu pet hamsters that are expected to draw shoppers to stores for limited quantities. Toys R Us is giving the first 100 customers in line at its stores on Black Friday a ticket for the opportunity to purchase the robotic hamster.

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The Daily Dispatch

State & Nation

Friday, November 27, 2009

News Briefs ful to his fatherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s memory. The foundation says ashes are supposed to be given to them in a cardboard box so they will disperse easily, and they would not have accepted the remains if they knew they were in a plastic box.

N.C. vetâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ashes plummet from sky in plastic box GREENSBORO (AP) â&#x20AC;&#x201D; World War II veteran Robert Comitoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ashes were supposed to be spread across the North Carolina sky. Instead, WXII-TV reports the plastic box with the ashes ended up in a 5-inch crater in a Davie County yard. Sheriffâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Capt. J.D. Hartman says if the box had hit anyone on the way down, it likely would have killed them. Comitoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s son says he is angry at the Collings Foundation, which was supposed to spread the ashes as part of a local airplane exhibition. He thinks what happened was disrespect-

N.C. motel sees 3 murders in 5 weeks GREENSBORO (AP) â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Police are trying to figure out how to root out drugs and prostitution from a North Carolina motel that has been the scene of three homicides in the past five weeks. Greensboro Police Chief Tim Bellamy told the News & Record of Greensboro officers increased patrols and sting operations at the LandMark Inn near Interstate 40 in the spring.

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The extra patrols helped somewhat, but Bellamay says a lot of crime happens inside the rooms. The newspaper couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get the owner of the extended-stay motel to comment, but police say it has a state-of-the art security system and workers help police any way they can.

Christmas tree crop offers many options COLFAX (AP) â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Just as shoppers in North Carolina prepare to find Christmas gifts, some of them will be looking for a tree to place them under. State Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler says the state has one of the best crops ever thanks to cool weather and adequate rainfall. Troxler said North Carolinaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 2009

Christmas tree harvest should top 5 million trees from more than 1,500 growers. More than 96 percent of N.C. Christmas trees are Fraser firs, which are grown in the mountains. Farmers in the Piedmont and coastal plain grow pines, cedars and other varieties well-suited to warmer conditions.

Mass. cops: Dad doing errand locked kids in trunk FALL RIVER, Mass. (AP) â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Massachusetts police say a man locked his two young sons in the trunk of his car while he ran an errand. Fall River police say Michael Monahan put his kids, ages 3 and 6, in the

trunk of his Pontiac Trans Am for several minutes Tuesday morning while he went inside a sailing shop. According to court records, Monahan told investigators the boys like to play in the trunk. The 35-year-old Monahan pleaded not guilty Wednesday to assault and reckless endangerment of a child. He was released on cash bail. A broadcast from WPRITV showed Monahanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s attorney telling a judge that his client loves his children. The children are in the custody of their mother.

Calif. driver faints, crashes into planes EL CAJON, Calif. (AP) â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Police say a California man passed out behind the

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wheel of his truck, sending the vehicle crashing through a fence and into a row of parked planes at an airport in El Cajon. Police say a 57-year-old man was driving just after 4 p.m. Wednesday when he fainted and crashed through a fence near Golden State Flying Club at Gillespie Field. When he woke up, his truck was underneath a Cessna. Two 152 Cessnas were destroyed and a third plane was slightly damaged. The man and a dog in the car appear unharmed. Police do not believe alcohol or any other drugs were involved. The crash remains under investigation. Damage to the planes and fence is estimated at $200,000.

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SALT LAKE CITY — The brother of a man who died early Thursday trapped 700-feet inside a Utah cave said his family is remarkably strong but struggles to make sense of what happened. John Jones, 26, of Stansbury Park, died nearly 28 hours after he became stuck upside-down in Nutty Putty Cave, a popular spelunking site about 80 miles south of Salt Lake City. “We all were very optimistic and hopeful. But it became increasingly clear last night after he got re-stuck that there weren’t very many options left,” Jones’ brother, Spencer Jones, 30, of San Francisco, told The Associated Press. Workers at one point had

freed John Jones, but a rope and pulley system failed and he became stuck a second time. “We thought he was in the clear and then when we got the news that he had slipped again. That’s when we started to get scared,” Spencer Jones said. The family is expected to issue a statement Thursday afternoon. His funeral is planned for Saturday in Stansbury Park. He had a wife and 8-month-old daughter and was a second-year medical student at the University of Virginia. John Jones was part of a group of 11 people exploring the cave passages. The 6-foottall, 190-pound spelunker got stuck with his head at an angle below his feet about 9 p.m. MST Tuesday. At times

more than 50 rescuers were involved in trying to free him. The crevice was about 150 feet below ground in an L-shaped area of the cave known as “Bob’s Push,” which is only about 18 inches wide and 10 inches high, said Utah County Sheriff’s Department spokesman Sgt. Spencer Cannon. Jones was freed from the crevice late Wednesday afternoon but fell back several feet into the tight space when the cord supporting him failed, Cannon said. Rescuers were able to get him food and water during that temporary freedom. But in the hours after he became wedged again, Jones’ physical condition deteriorated. Spencer Jones said the family of five boys and two girls was close, and his brother was a wonderful person.

U.K. won’t stop extradition of hacker to U.S. LONDON (AP) — The British government says it will not prevent the extradition of an autistic computer hacker accused of breaking into U.S. military computers. Home Secretary Alan Johnson said Thursday he will not intervene in the case of Gary McKin-

non. U.S. prosecutors say McKinnon hacked into computers shortly after the Sept. 11 attacks. McKinnon claims he was searching for evidence of alien life. His lawyers say he has a form of autism and is at risk of suicide if extradited. Johnson said U.S. authorities had assured

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — A Polish official says the U.S. and Poland have agreed on terms for stationing American troops and military equipment in the eastern European country. The move is a prerequisite for deploying U.S. Patriot missiles to Poland next year and a possible future missile defense site.

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him that they would meet McKinnon’s health needs. Britain’s High Court ruled last month that McKinnon should be extradited. His lawyers had hoped that the government would intervene. McKinnon can now still appeal to the European Court of Human Rights.

U.S., Poland agree on terms for stationing troops Defense Ministry spokesman Robert Rochowicz said Thursday Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s government must still approve it. He didn’t say when that would happen or

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Cuba exercise guards against U.S. strike HAVANA (AP) â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Cubaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s armed forces launched three days of intense military exercises across the island Thursday, a mobilization that state-controlled media says is designed to guard against an American invasion. Americans focused on a U.S. military assault more likely are thinking about how President Barack Obama will pursue war in Afghanistan â&#x20AC;&#x201D; not Cuba. But the siege mentality of the Cold War hasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t faded on the island, where the communist government continues to warn about imperialist aggression and the menace from the north. The exercises, which run through Saturday, are the first since President Raul Castro took over from his brother Fidel in February 2008 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and since relations between Havana and Washington began to thaw somewhat under Obama. The U.S. leader has loosened financial and travel restrictions on Cuba. The two countries have begun negotiations on restarting direct mail service, and there is talk of

future cooperation on counternarcotics and disaster relief, among other things. More than the specifics, officials on both sides speak of a new tone between Havana and Washington that has made further progress a possibility. But the rhetoric connected with Thursdayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mobilization â&#x20AC;&#x201D; dubbed â&#x20AC;&#x153;Bastion 2009â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201D; displayed none of that new warmth. The exact number of troops involved is not known, but past exercises have involved hundreds of thousands of people â&#x20AC;&#x201D; both uniformed and civilian. Analysts say Cuba is more concerned with sending a

message to those who would seek to destabilize the country than with an actual military assault. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think it is so much that they expect an invasion or anything like it,â&#x20AC;? said Hal Klepak, a Cuba military expert and professor emeritus at the Royal Military College of Canada. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think what they worry about is disorder in Cuba of any kind that would lead to blood in the streets.â&#x20AC;? Such a show of force is particularly important, Klepak said, given the open question of who would succeed Fidel and Raul Castro, aged 83 and 78, and because of Cubaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s current economic difficulties.

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Opinion

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Friday, November 27, 2009

Editorial Board: James Edwards, Publisher jedwards@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 Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and [his] doctrine be not blasphemed. And they that have believing masters, let them not despise [them], because they are brethren; but rather do [them] service, because they are faithful and beloved, partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort. If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, [even] the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into [this] world, [and it is] certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. 1 Timothy 6:1-8

If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is thank you, it will be enough — Meister Eckhart I was out of breath, my sweaty 16-year-old fingers clenching the bathroom doorknob, locking it behind me as I whispered the following prayer: “Thank you dear God. Thank you for making my legs longer and faster than Mama’s!” I carefully creaked the door open after a few minutes passed, spying a belt dangling from the stairwell banister. “Thank you, God!” I sighed once more, and as I fought a smile, I vowed to the dear Lord to never disobey my Mama again. And then I quickly hid the belt, in case I couldn’t keep my promise. Despite my numerous flaws, from a young age I recognized the importance of giving thanks. And in spite of its failing popularity, there’s even a holi-

day that marks the prayerful practice. Somewhere hidden between candy-filled trick-or-treat bags and Santa’s sack topped with toys is sandwiched a holiday known for massive feasts, football frenzy … and for thanks-giving. My first Thanksgiving memories date back to the childhood coloring assignments of plump, smiling turkeys accompanied Gina by “pilEaves grims and Indians” Daily Dispatch history lesColumnist sons. These grade school festivities incorporated classroom cooking tasks, culminating in a somewhat messy meal prepared by sticky, small hands. Twenty years later, I have come to understand that

Thanksgiving Day symbolizes more than its Plymouth Rock heritage. Thanksgiving Day has become Black Friday Eve, the night before the biggest retail shopping day of the year. Leftover turkey and fixings packed away, credit cards begin their ritualistic holiday exercise, sliding through terminals as holiday shoppers begin Christmas gift purchases. Online retail advertisers offer holiday savings prior to Black Friday. A stroll through Wal-Mart displays Santa’s Specials before the turkey has even had a chance to gobble. My college sociology professor, who spent most lecture time seated Indian-style on his desk, referred to Black Friday as “The Monument to Capitalism.” He used similar terms for most franchise stores and shopping centers. Despite our many political debates, my professor and I agreed that our societal fixation with material possessions

Gina Eaves is an Epsom native, a graduate of Peace College and an advertising sales representative at The Daily Dispatch. Her column appears on Fridays.

Letters to the Editor Curbside plans causing a stink

Our Opinion

Shopping local a ‘win-win’ So what were you doing at 4 a.m. today? Were you one of those folks rushing down the aisles at J.C. Penney or Belk? Maybe you held out for a 5 o’clock start at Walmart? Or maybe — just maybe — you’re waiting for the crowds to die down after your morning coffee and newspaper and you’ll go to your favorite stores at a more “decent” hour this morning or afternoon — 6 a.m. or even 7! Doorbusters! Early birds! Super values! Half-price and more bargain bonanzas! The after-Thanksgiving Day sales started in the wee hours of this morning with shoppers counting on big savings and merchants counting on busy cash registers. The traditional “after-Thanksgiving Day” sales are now more likely to be called “Black Friday” events as retailers focus on taking advantage of this traditional day of shopping to keep — or maybe to get — their cash flow charts into the black. That’s better than that nasty red ink that indicates they’re not making as much money as they should. The huge, loss leader drawing cards, those items that are offered for sale at a loss in order to draw customers, are reserved mostly for the big chain retailers. The Daily Dispatch had enough of those advertising circulars bundled with Thursday’s newspaper to make the holiday edition seem more like a Sunday newspaper. And many of the specials were impressive. Beyond the chains, however, dozens of retailers around town were also promoting discounts — many of them up to 50% off, plus coupons, special hours and gift ideas in the Dispatch’s traditional Holiday Gift Guide. When a local merchant offers you the opportunity to get a discount by clipping an ad or by saying you saw the ad in the newspaper, the Gift Guide can be a valuable shopping tool for you around the Tri-County area. We recommend you not leave home without it. These are critical make-or-break shopping days between now and Christmas — especially so for the merchants, we’re sure, but also for everyone who is riding out what we hope is the tail end of a tough recession. Now more than ever, shoppers, shop wisely. And the best way to start is by shopping locally. Before you head out to the Triangle to buy what some of the “big boxes” are offering, take a look around the Tri-County area at your neighbors who are in the retail business. Chances are, you’re find comparable or probably even lower prices. You’ll keep your tax dollars right here at home. You can be better assured of quality and service in most cases. And you’ll burn less of your gas in the process. Shopping local can provide a winwin situation for you and your retailing neighbors in these make-or-break days. Happy shopping! Only 27 days to go!

has grown to overpower us — and our holiday whose sole purpose is to emphasize the expression of gratitude. Perhaps it’s more commonplace to give thanks following relief — after successfully dodging the angry footsteps of a mad Mama, belt in hand. Or following the return of good test results from the doctor … or the statistics professor, as in my case. Maybe it’s a positive performance review that motivates a thank-you prayer. Whatever reasons you might have had to be thankful this year, I hope you stopped yesterday and took time to say your thanks. And that you won’t forget to be thankful again a month from now, on a Christmas holiday that was never meant to be about what presents you got, but about giving thanks for the greatest gift of all.

To the editor: I am baffled by the city administration’s plans to tinker with garbage collection as the way for the city of save money. Several years ago, the administration suggested that switching to curbside rather than backyard collection of garbage would save a lot of money. At the start of this fiscal year, garbage collection was cut back to once a week from twice a week. Now the administration suggests that “privatization” of garbage collection will save lots of money. I would like to know how much the city has already saved from reducing the service to once a week. Have the promised savings been realized? If they have saved money, why aren’t our sanitation bills lower? If they haven’t saved a lot of money, why should we believe their projections of savings through privatizafallen out of the ceiling. tion? I was sent back to bed, not It seems that the public knowing that when I reaphas repeatedly made peared hours later, the traditheir feelings known that tional scene of what Christmas morning should look like would garbage collection should be a city function, with city have been brought back to life employees doing the job. by my mother and father, who had stayed up most of the night We have also said that we want backyard collection. to make it happen. Why is the administraI remember both. tion so set on pushing Branded on my brain since through something that the age of six-or-so is seeing the residents of HenderSanta Claus and his reindeer son clearly do not want? through a second-floor window Why do they insist on as they made an eye-level turn fixing something that isn’t in the air one Christmas Eve, less than a hundred feet from my broken? In addition, why are so bed where I lay with a high fever from some kind of virus, I guess. many other services and funding shortfalls tacked I yelled to them, but they on to the city sanitation must not have heard me, becharges? Will the price of cause they sped away without sanitation services rise looking back. again because of future My parents did, though they budget shortfalls? didn’t take me seriously. I think these and many I know what you’re probably other questions need to going to say, but you’ll never be answered by City of convince me. Henderson administration For your information, the before the council votes sleigh was painted a deep green. to privatize sanitation I’m sure it still is. services. Contact the writer at awheless@ Arline Richardson hendersondispatch.com. Henderson

The real spirit of Christmas — truly a present from God Like New York, Christmas is a state of mind. Anytime I want to — and sometimes when I need to — I can suddenly find myself sitting near the back of Duke Chapel on a Christmas Eve, taking in the sights of colorfully clad believers and want-to-believers immersed in the soulful sounds of a Bach hymn brought from ink-on-paper to life through gifted fingers and legions of organ pipes in the front of the sanctuary. Attached by a green ribbon to a cloth wall inside my newsroom stall is one of the small sleigh bells handed out to the congregation more than five years ago as both souvenirs and catalysts. The spirit of Christmas is a present from God. Through our memories of those we’ve experienced, we can enjoy it anytime of year, not just when we’re told we should. When I glance at the bell, which is year-round, I think of Jesus — the real reason for the season — as well as snowmen and rainbows of lights and sleigh-rides and family gatherings and awe-struck children of all ages on Christmas morning. The feeling can fade as quickly as it can return. In the Bible, Luke 18:17 says: “Whosoever shall not receive the Kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.” In contrast, I don’t think Christmas has anything to do with door-buster “holiday” specials that are heavily discounted to draw frenzied crowds to early morning sales events at WalMart. The bell, itself, has nothing to do with “Only 30 more shopping days.” Some years back, I saw an

ad in an upscale merchandise catalog that I can’t forget, probably because I consider it the antithesis of what Christmas really represents. In a photo, the typed words coming from an exceedingly well-dressed woman whose hands, neck and ears were weighed down by budgetbreaking jewelry as she managed to hold several elaborately wrapped boxes with grace and Al were: Wheless elan “Christmas Daily Dispatch is the season Writer for opulence.” One July in the early ’60s, I went to a Christmas party at a house where there was a tree complete with ornaments, carols emanating from a 78-rpm record-player, and decorations scattered throughout the room. The occupant, whom I had met about a month before, was in the early stages of mental illness, and was only a few weeks away from being hospitalized for treatment. She had found a way of escaping from harsh realities to her inner child’s vision of peace and good feelings and safety. I still recall the uncertainty of a Christmas Eve in the late ’40s when my parents and I woke up in the darkness to a loud crash in the living room beneath us. Once we got there, it was a sad sight: wrapped presents covered with thick, white dust and the tree toppled over by large chunks of plaster that had

What’s your opinion? The Daily Dispatch welcomes letters to the editor. Letters must be signed, include the author’s city of residence, and should be limited to 300 words. Please include a telephone number for verification. We reserve the right to edit comments for length, clarity, libelous material, personal attacks and poor taste. We do not publish anonymous letters, form letters, letters with names withheld or letters where we cannot verify the writer’s identity. Writers should limit themselves to one letter every 30 days. Letters can be accepted by e-mail, but city of residence and a phone number for verification purposes still must be included.

The Daily Dispatch

Dear Abby

News From The Light Side FRIDAY Morning / Early Afternoon 11/27/09

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