The Daily Dispatch - Saturday, November 28, 2009 by The Daily Dispatch

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American Profile magazine

Sports, Page 1B

Faith, Page 1C

Inside Today SATURDAY, November 28, 2009

Volume XCV, No. 279

(252) 436-2700

www.hendersondispatch.com

50 cents

Council opens way ‘Bikes for $30...it was worth it’ for auto repair shop, but permit needed Property on North Garnett Street is in the proper zone, but it’s now nonconforming By WILLIAM F. WEST Daily Dispatch Writer

The Henderson City Council earlier this week approved allowing automobile repair facilities to obtain a special use permit with conditions, such as the radius from adjacent properties, if they are located in any business district where they are presently allowed. Real estate agent Karen Stainback told the council that an unnamed potential buyer would like to open a car restoration business at 1343 N. Garnett St., which is in an aging area between North Beckford Drive and the Interstate 85/Bypass U.S. 158 interchange. “I think that that would be an improvement, not only for the area, but for economic development for Henderson,” Stainback said, referring to the vacant building at that

location as an eyesore. The location was once an automobile dealership and was later a tractor business before becoming the site of Coverall, which was in the business of parking roofs for vehicles. The Coverall site has been vacant for 2 1/2 to three years and the building has many broken windows, Stainback said. The council’s vote Monday night for the zoning amendment was 7-0, with Councilman Bernard Alston absent from the meeting. Stainback will now have to seek the special use permit from the Zoning Board of Adjustment. The amendment had already been recommended by the Planning Board. Planning Director Erris Dunston said that there is a radius of 500 feet from any house or residential district and that this is Please see COUNCIL, page 3A

Zoning amendment eases limits on sign advertising By WILLIAM F. WEST Daily Dispatch Writer

Henderson City Council approved Monday night a zoning amendment that will allow advertising in a neighborhood business district by a special use permit. This would mean businesses on properties back off of busy thoroughfares in the district could seek Board of Adjustment approval to have signage more closely along the roadway for motorists’ visibility. Councilman Garry Daeke voted no. In other business, the council: • Approved allowing retiring Senior Police Officer Daniel Currin III to receive his badge and sidearm, which is standard procedure when an officer

steps aside from the force. Currin’s retirement takes effect on Dec. 1. • Authorized extension of a lease agreement with Archer Western Contractors of Morrisville so the company can continue to use the former public works building at 120 Ramsey St. off North Beckford Drive and adjacent to Interstate 85. The city is to receive $600 a month from the company, which has been rehabilitating a segment of I-85. • Formally approved the results of the Oct. 6 municipal election. Re-elected Mayor Pete O’Geary, seven of the re-elected council members and Councilwoman-elect Sara Coffey are set to be sworn in at the Dec. 14 council meeting. Coffey defeated Councilman Bernard Alston, who was not present for Monday night’s council meeting.

Daily Dispatch/ASHLEY STEVEN AYSCUE

Shoppers leave Wal-Mart just after 5 a.m. Friday with a pair of bicycles purchased during the store’s early bird sale. One customer left the store with seven bikes and saying how she had never been shopping that early. A reporter asked her if it was worth it? Her reply, “Bikes for $30, yeah, it was worth it!” Wal-Mart was open all night with the sale beginning at 5 a.m. At right, shoppers stand outside Staples just before 5:30 a.m. Friday waiting for the store to open at 6 a.m.

Sale prices, discounts draw shoppers early By DAVID IRVINE Daily Dispatch Writer

“Green Friday” might be a better description than “Black Friday” for some area merchants at the beginning of the post-Thanksgiving shopping season. They report surges of shoppers in search of sale prices and discounts. Betty Boyd, owner of Betty B’s on S. Garnett St., told The Daily Dispatch that business was “very, very good. We’ve been imprinting bibles and gift-wrapping items.” She added that usually on the day after Thanksgiving they see a pick-up in business later in the day, but this year it started in the morning. Like many other stores, Belk of Henderson Square opened its doors at 4 a.m. on Friday. Asked whether they had customers at

that early hour, Area Sales Manage Sasha Alston said, “They were here when we opened.” Interiors & Gifts Too, in downtown Henderson, served numerous customers on Friday morning. According to Evelyn Hedrick, the activity represented an increase over last year. When J. C. Penney Store Manager John Cho was asked what time they opened, he said, “Four o’clock.” What time did the customers start coming? “About four o’clock,” he replied. And he indicated in late morning that they were still coming. Unlike its neighbors in Henderson Square, the Wal-Mart SuperCenter remained open from Thanksgiving evening into Friday morning. Shoppers who came out early were allowed inside the store to

Henderson police drive helps eight families Index By DAILY DISPATCH STAFF

Daily Dispatch/ASHLEY STEVEN AYSCUE

Officer B. Bishop, right, and Officer J. West carry a box of food to a house on Water Street as Lt. S. Lawhorne and Sgt. D.A. Diogo wait by the van Wednesday afternoon. The group delivered food to eight families across Henderson that reached 43 people.

Eight Henderson families had a little more on the table this Thanksgiving — thanks to the efforts of the Henderson Police Department, according to Lt. Sandra Lawhorne. For the third consecutive year, officers conducted a November food drive. Several boxes were placed throughout the department for donations of nonperishable items. Assisted by personal donations and donations by Supply Line, Henderson Fruit and Produce, Food Lion and Walmart, the HPD assisted the 43 members of the families. The donations were divided equally among the families, and on Wednesday officers of the Power Shift made the deliveries.

shop, but sale prices did not take effect until the official start of the “doorbuster” sales at 5 a.m. Bicycles were particularly popular. One couple was seen leaving the store with seven bikes, bought for less than half price, but still boxed and requiring assembly at home. Craig Bailey at Vance Furniture said, “We’ve had good traffic. There are people in the store right now.” He added that the flow of customers was about typical for the day. But a good sign was that he had to cut the telephone interview short so he could take care of business. The Brass Shoppe’s Robert Teiser said the Thanksgiving-toChristmas period was important

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

Please see SHOPPERS, page 3A

2A 5A 6A 7A

Deaths

Sports. . . . . . . . . . 1-4B Faith. . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4C Comics . . . . . . . . . . . 5C Classifieds. . . . . . . 6-7C

Weather

Henderson Claude W. Davis Jr., 69 Thomas W. Johnson, 72 Joel S. Mosley, 60 Alfonso Perry, 36 Philadelphia, Pa. Delores W. Moore, 76 Warren County Joey R. Silver, 45 Warrenton Frank Williams, 81 Whitesville Eula Townes, 74

Obituaries, 4A

Today Sunny day

High: 57 Low: 33

Saturday Mostly sunny

High: 66 Low: 41

Details, 3A

Good news! Your Dispatch is printed on recycled paper.

Our Hometown

The Daily Dispatch

Mark It Down Today 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. Light The Night — The “Light the Night in Downtown Henderson” lighting ceremony will be held at 6 p.m. 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.

Wednesday

Christmas trees: keep’em real There are some things happening in this community that are causing me great concern. First, it has come to my attention that some of you are buying artificial Christmas trees. Yes, I’ve seen them in the stores for years. But to imagine Paul that McKenzie people Cooperative are actuExtension ally buying them? Horror of horrors! I’ve heard the argument that artificial trees are better for the environment. A plastic tree? Yeah, right Perhaps some misinformed tree hugger is imagining vast forests of fir trees being razed all in pursuit of Christmas cheer. Wrong! These trees come from farms! (By the

Guidelines The “Mark It Down” calendar announces events happening in the community that are sponsored by civic organizations, non-profit groups, government organizations and similar groups. The Daily Dispatch staff asks that items intended for inclusion in the calendar be submitted in writing at least five days in advance of the event. Please include a contact person’s name and phone number in case there are questions. Items for this listing can be e-mailed to communitynews@ hendersondispatch.com. Due to the overwhelming number of churches served by the Dispatch, church events cannot be listed in the “Mark It Down” calendar.

Make reading part of your daily routine. Young children are attracted to simple stories with few words and big, simple pictures. In particular, young brains are wired to respond to the human face. Pick out picture books with babies making differ-

Henderson Middle School’s Department for Exceptional Children is sponsoring its sixth annual Christmas program and needs help from local sponsors. On Dec. 18, the school wants to provide at least one gift to 60 students with disabilities during the department’s annual program to celebrate the holiday season with teachers, family, administrators, and community and business leaders. A child can be sponsored by donating the items on his/

Marketplace Cinema

Marketplace Shopping Center

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(PG) FRI-SAT: 1:05, 3:05, 5:05, 7:05 & 9:05PM SUN: 1:05, 3:05, 5:05 & 7:05PM MON-THUR: 5:05 & 7:05PM

TWILIGHT SAGA: NEW MOON

(PG13) FRI & SAT: 12:45, 3:30, 6:45 & 9:30PM SUN: 12:45, 3:30 & 6:45PM MON-THUR: 4:45 & 7:30PM

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(PG13) FRI & SAT: 1:00, 3:30, 7:00 & 9:30PM SUN: 1:00, 3:30 & 7:00PM MON-THUR: 5:00 & 7:30PM

PLANET 51

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(PG) FRI & SAT: 1:10, 3:10, 5:10, 7:10 & 9:10PM SUN: 1:10, 3:10, 5:10 & 7:10PM MON-THUR: 5:10 & 7:10PM

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West Hills Veterinary Centre

(252) 438-7163

158 By-Pass West Gwynn Lane PO Box 590 • Henderson, NC 27536

her wish list or by providing money to purchase wrapping paper, decorations, Christmas gifts, food and gift bags. To help sponsor a child, please contact Angela Pugh, assistant principal, at (252) 738-3907 or (252) 492-0054. Donations can also be mailed to Henderson Middle School, Department for Exceptional Children, 219 Charles St., Henderson, N.C., 27536.

Tis the Time to Shop The Attic Fa la la la la la la la! See our sales, you’ll be ecstatic! Fa la la la la la la la!

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Hours of operation are 6:30 am to 5:30 pm Mon.-Fri.

(Off Carey Chapel Rd.)

Holiday Collars Now Available

By Jeriann Thacker, H. Leslie Perry Memorial Library

FRI & SAT: 1:00, 5:00 & 9:00PM SUN: 1:00 & 5:00PM MON-THUR: 5:00PM

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For more information call Vivian or Jenny Robertson at 438-8138.

ent expressions or showing a family. Point to each picture individually, name the character and make a remark about it. For example: “This is a grandpa. He has brown eyes. Your Grandpa has brown eyes, too.”

FRI-SUN: 3:00 & 7:00PM MON-THUR: 7:00PM

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tree, you will need to drive west a fair distance. Closer by you will find farms growing Leyland cypress, white pine, and other fine choices. Although I can’t guarantee a sleigh ride through the fields, I expect you will find attractive farms, beautiful trees and warm memories. Also popular among us tree huggers is the “living” tree. These are trees sold with root and soil attached, ready to be planted in your garden at the end of the season. This prevents the senseless slaughter of an innocent tree. However, if you want to try this, get a Leyland cypress or other locally adapted species. A fraser fir would die a slow death if planted outside here. For my part, I will trek into the woods with a bow saw in search of the perfect cedar. Its fragrance will fill the house through the season, and it will be recycled back into the woods afterwards.

DISNEY’S A CHRISTMAS CAROL (PG)

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

. Garnett St. • Henderson, NC 27536

the nation. In fact, on numerous occasions, North Carolina Christmas trees have adorned some of the most prestigious locales in these great states. Ever heard of that quaint little abode at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in our nation’s capital? So the responsibility is yours to ask your supplier where the tree originated. Why would you want anything other than a North Carolina tree? Perhaps one that was shipped in an 18-wheeler from Oregon or Canada? No thanks! For the ultimate in freshness and Christmas merriment, nothing beats a trip to a cut-your-own tree farm. So load up the kids and dogs in the station wagon and head out. Alas, no such farms exist (to my knowledge) in Vance County, but you needn’t travel far. Contact my office for a list, or visit www.ncfarmfresh.com. For the venerable fir

Spread some Christmas cheer!

OLD DOGS

1020 S. Garnett St. • Henderson, NC 27536

way, I consider myself a tree hugger, so no offense intended). One thing you may recall about farmers is that, after they have harvested their crop, they plant a new one. How else would they make a living? So have no fear of vast mountainsides being cleared by the Christmas marketing juggernaut. We’re talking about family farms that lovingly plant a new seedling whenever and wherever a tree is cut. Second, I recently learned that some of the Christmas trees sold here come from (gasp!) other states! This is truly unimaginable. After all, North Carolina produces the highest quality Christmas trees in the world. The venerable fraser fir, highly coveted for its fine fragrance and unmatched beauty, thrives in the mountains in North Carolina. Our farmers produce more Christmas trees than almost any other state in

Tips from the Vance Co. Parenting Task Force A reading routine

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.

Saturday, November 28, 2009

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

From Page One

The Daily Dispatch

FIVE-DAY FORECAST FOR HENDERSON TODAY

TONIGHT

SUNDAY

Sunny

Clear

Mostly Sunny

57º

33º

66º 41º

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

Few Showers

Isolated Rain

64º 41º

55º 37º

51º 44º

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 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54 Low . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36 Normal High . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59 Normal Low . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37 Record High . . . . . . . . .83 in 1973 Record Low . . . . . . . . .19 in 1977

.7:04 .5:00 .2:15 .3:05 .7:04 .4:59 .2:48 .4:09

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

Moon Phases

Precipitation Yesterday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Trace Month to date . . . . . . . . . . . .6.73" Normal month to date . . . . .2.69" Year to date . . . . . . . . . . . . .34.16" Normal year to date . . . . . .39.73"

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. 24-Hr. Lake Capacity Yest. Change Jordan 240 217.7 0.0 Neuse Falls 264 253.1 -0.2

24-Hr. Capacity Yest. Change 203 200.3 +0.5 320 305.0 -0.2

Regional Weather Henderson 57/33

Winston-Salem Durham 58/35 58/35 Asheville 59/32

Rocky Mt. 58/33

Greensboro 58/35 Raleigh 59/35 Charlotte 60/35

Fayetteville 60/35

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

Cape Hatteras 54/45

Wilmington 60/37

Regional Cities Today

Today

Sun.

City

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

59/32 54/34 58/34 59/34 63/37 59/35 58/35 56/38 57/32 60/35 59/36 58/35 58/36 60/33 60/33

58/33 58/33 58/35 60/36 61/40 55/44 55/44 58/36 59/35 57/36 57/34 58/33 59/33 60/37 58/35

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

64/37 58/37 66/42 67/42 65/45 66/40 67/42 68/46 62/41 68/44 67/46 65/41 69/48 69/50 64/38

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 s s s s s s

65/42 67/47 69/49 69/43 67/48 64/53 64/53 69/48 67/44 64/42 67/43 67/44 68/42 69/51 65/41

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

posing problems for auto repair facilities. Councilman Michael Inscoe, who doubles as a Planning Board member, told the Dispatch prior to the council meeting that the problem in this case is that, even though the North Garnett location is in a business district, there is a residence behind the former Coverall building. The other problem is the utilities meter was removed from the unoccupied location, meaning the property is no longer grandfathered in, Inscoe said. No one spoke against the amendment to the zoning ordinance at Monday

night’s council meeting, but there was several minutes of discussion by council members before Stainback spoke in the public hearing phase of the matter. Councilman Garry Daeke expressed concern about the impact on neighborhoods. And Daeke said the issue would be: “We have a residence that might be already being affected by the fact that they’re in a zoning which probably isn’t appropriate, technically, for a house.” “And therefore we’re changing and lessening that and we’re also giving the distance viability to the Zoning Board,” Daeke said. Dunston said the other

reason, in Henderson and Vance County. Inscoe said he hopes Henderson can have conditional zoning specific to a particular location. And Inscoe emphasized the amendment only applies to districts that are presently zoned commercial. And Inscoe said, “If we can’t be a little bit flexible to some of these buildings, then these buildings are going to sit there and be unoccupied for years and years and years. And all they’re going to do is deteriorate more and more every year.”

had to go to take care of a customer. “Fantastic!” That was Staples Store Manager Stan Wolfenbarger’s response when asked how things were going. “So far, we’re ahead of last year.” He said that about 100 people were waiting when the store opened at 6 a.m. Some had been waiting outside the store at 160

Dabney Road since 4 a.m., he added, noting that people knew that quantities were limited on “hot” items. Most popular items by midday on Friday had been laptop computers, digital cameras and GPS systems, he said.

for his store, located at the corner of Chestnut and Mongomery streets. “We’re here with lamps and other things” that make good Christmas presents, he said. David Grissom of Brewer Cycles, located at 420 Warrenton Road, said that business was “pretty good,” but he added, “We’d like to see them knocking

down the doors.” He said that small dirt bikes were especially popular this year. Bobby Tippett of Dot’s Hallmark in Henderson Mall said they were busy but he wouldn’t know until the end of the day how profitable it had been. But he said, “I’m real happy right now.” Then he quickly added that he

By MIKE STARK Associated Press Writer

SPANISH FORK, Utah — The Utah cave where a 26-year-old medical student died earlier in the week will be closed permanently and his body will not be removed. State and county officials made the announcement Friday afternoon, saying it was simply too dangerous to try to recover John Jones’ body. Jones died late Wednesday about 28 hours after

getting wedged into a tight, unmapped passage of Nutty Putty Cave, a site about 80 miles south of Salt Lake City. The 6-foot-tall, 190-pound Jones got stuck with his head at an angle below his feet about 9 p.m. Tuesday. He was in an L-shaped area of the cave known as “Bob’s Push.” The area is only about 18 inches wide and 10 inches high. State officials plan to meet Monday to discuss the best way to permanently close the cave.

tion truck overturned onto a car in North Carolina’s largest city, killing one and seriously injuring three. The Charlotte Observer reports the Charlotte truck crushed a car with four people inside. The truck driver lost control Friday afternoon while turning right off of Billy Graham Parkway. Charlotte Fire Capt. Rob Brisley said one person in

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

Wayne Harp (252) 438-8319 wayne@nrsb.net

LET US HELP YOU WITH YOUR MORTGAGE LOAN NEEDS

INFO or ABSENT BIDS (252) 738-2427 (919) 961-3731 www.auctionzip.com

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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

H This map shows high temperatures, type of precipitation expected and location of frontal systems at noon.

Stationary Front

Warm Front

Low Pressure

BURGLAR & FIRE ALARMS CENTRAL VAC, CCTV

ALARM MONITORING FOR $16/mo.

High Pressure

Yesterday’s National Extremes High: 87° in Fullerton, Calif. Low: 3° in Kremmling, Colo.

AHNER SECURITY

Call Dave Arner at 438-7181 In Business since 1988

INCORPORATED X

XII I

II III

VIII VII VI

IV V

X IX

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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. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Daily Dispatch, P.O. Box 908, Henderson, N.C., 27536

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Newly Remodeled Building Under New Management Now Enrolling Ages 6 Weeks - 12 Years Old

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For all departments dial 252-436-2700 or fax 252-430-0125

Classified 436-2810 Advertising 436-2820

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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minutes. Nearly 50 firefighters worked for 80 minutes to free the fourth person. Charlotte spokeswoman Brandi Williams said the city truck was picking up yard waste. The driver and one of two other workers on the truck were taken to hospitals with non-lifethreatening injuries. Officials have not yet identified anyone in either vehicle.

PREMIER ESTATE AUCTION

SATURDAY, Nov. 28th at 12:00 pm

(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!

Contact the writer at dirvine@ hendersondispatch.com.

Officials: Body of trapped Utah Sanitation truck crushes car, killing one CHARLOTTE (AP) — the car died at the scene, spelunker won’t be recovered Authorities say a sanitaand two were rescued within

117 Horner St., Henderson, NC 27536

Contact the writer at bwest@ hendersondispatch.com.

SHOPPERS, from page one

Selling the Estate of Dr. Joseph Mayo, Jr., M.D.

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side of the issue is the potential restrictions on auto repair facilities that could be located 500 feet from a house but not 500 feet from a residential district. Councilman Michael Rainey, who chairs the Planning Board, said the Board of Adjustment should be allowed to make decisions about whether to set conditions to make properties fall within guidelines. “If you don’t do that, then you’re going to wind up with a bunch of lots around here with no business wanting to move in at all — and we can’t have it,” Rainey said, citing the need for commerce, within

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The Daily Dispatch

Local & State

Saturday, November 28, 2009

Carolina Briefs

Deaths Claude W. Davis Jr. HENDERSON â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Claude Wilson â&#x20AC;&#x153;Busterâ&#x20AC;? Davis Jr., 69, of 2412 Satterwhite Point Road, died Friday, Nov. 27, 2009, at Maria Parham Medical Center. Born on May 4, 1940, in Mecklenburg County, Va., he was the son of the late Claude Wilson Davis Sr. and Elizabeth Hayes Davis Seay. He was retired with 40 years of service at St. Gobain. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday in the J.M. White Funeral Home Chapel by the Rev. Gary Harper. Burial will follow in the Haithcock Family Cemetery in Warren County. He is survived by his wife, Ruth Haithcock Davis, of the home; a son, Claude Wilson Davis III, of Henderson; two daughters, Teresa Davis Stegall of Kernersville and Angela Davis Smith of Henderson; a brother, Theodore Davis of La Crosse, Va.; and a sister, Anne D. Hudson of Marshall, Va.; and six grandchildren. The family will receive friends today from 7 until 8:30 p.m. at J.M. White Funeral Home. At other times they will be at the home at 2412 Satterwhite Point Road. Serving as active pallbearers will be Vernon Mustian, Coy Aiken, James Williams, Dolan Lawrence, Wilbert Dubois and Spotswood Burwell. Arrangements are by J.M. White Funeral Home.

Thomas W. Johnson HENDERSON â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Thomas Webster Johnson, 72, a resident of Senior Citizens Nursing Home, and a former resident of Brodnax, Va., died Monday, Nov. 23, 2009, at the University of North Carolina Hospital in Chapel Hill. The family will be at the home of Shelia Orr at 46 Dodi Lane. Other arrangements will be announced by J.M. White Funeral Home.

Delores W. Moore PHILADELPHIA â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Delores W. Moore, 76, a resident of Philadelphia, Pa., died Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009, in Philadelphia. She was the daughter of the late George W. Howard and Eula Howard. Funeral services were conducted on Friday at Monumental Baptist

Church in Philadelphia. She was a graduate of the former Mary Potter Academy in Oxford and Shaw University in Raleigh. She was a former member of Antioch Baptist Church, also located in Oxford. She was inducted into the Chapel of Four Churches, an award for outstanding service to Shaw University Alumni Association, selected as Church Woman of the Year at Monumental Baptist Church and received an award for community service from the Philadelphia Democratic Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Organization. She also contributed significantly to the development of Carroll Park in West Philadelphia. She is survived by daughters, Blanche Staton, Earlene Staton, Denise Staton, and Jacqueline Staton; a son, Andre Staton; a grandchild; a great-grandchild; and three step-grandchildren. Local announcements are by Wright Funeral Home.

Joel S. Mosley HENDERSON â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Joel Samuel â&#x20AC;&#x153;Joeâ&#x20AC;? Mosley, 60, of 75 Morton Lane, in the Williamsboro community, died Thursday, Nov. 26, 2009, in Newark, N.J. Funeral arrangements will be announced later by Davis-Royster Funeral Service.

James L. Reavis HENDERSON â&#x20AC;&#x201D; James Lewis Reavis, 94, formerly of 1393 Satterwhite Point Road, died Nov. 27, 2009, at Universal Health Care of North Raleigh. Funeral arrangements will be announced by Flowers Funeral Home.

Alfonso Perry HENDERSON â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Alfonso Perry, 36, of 306 Mulberry St., died Friday, Nov. 27, 2009, at Maria Parham Medical Center. The family is receiving friends at the residence. Funeral arrangements will be announced later by DavisRoyster Funeral Service.

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Joey R. Silver WARREN COUNTY â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Joey R. Silver, 45, of Warren County, died Friday, Nov. 27, 2009, at Nash General Hospital in Rocky Mount. Funeral services are incomplete at this time, but will be announced later by Boydâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Funeral Service in Warrenton.

Eula Townes WHITESVILLE â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Eula Townes, 74, of Whitesville, formerly of Warren County, died Friday, Nov. 27, 2009, at her residence. Funeral services are incomplete at this time, but will be announced later by Boydâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Funeral Service in Warrenton.

Frank Williams WARRENTON â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Frank Williams, 81, of 103 Williams Farm Road, Warrenton, died Thursday, Nov. 26, 2009, at his residence. Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Monday at Boydâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Funeral Service Chapel in Warrenton. Evangelist Shirley Hicks will officiate and burial will follow at Greenwood Baptist Church cemetery in Warrenton. He is survived by three daughters, Teresa W. Benson of the home, Shirley D. Williams-Sweeper of Palmyra, Va., and Ella B. Williams of Delaware; a son, Frank Rivera Montes of Delaware; four grandchildren; a great-greatgranddaughter; three sisters, Elizabeth Willis of Chester, Pa., Fannie Brown of Warrenton and Ella Foster of Henderson; seven brothers, Mason Williams, Alex Williams and Archie Williams, all of Warrenton, Nelson Williams of Newark, N.J., Charlie Williams of Chester, Pa., Spencer Williams of Darson, Ga., and Neanie Williams of Groton, Conn. A private viewing will be held for the family on Monday from 9 a.m. until 10 p.m. Arrangements are by Boydâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Funeral Services of Warrenton.

Woman accused of killing man on Thanksgiving

Cookie cravings waylaid, N.C. man winds up in ditch

STATESVILLE (AP) â&#x20AC;&#x201D; A North Carolina woman has been charged with murder in the shooting death of man with whom she lived. The Charlotte Observer reports 41-year-old Cheryl Dhonayle Davis of Statesville was arrested and charged Thursday morning in the shooting death of 47-year-old Rodney Herron, who lived at the same address. Davis is in the Iredell County jail. Officials say Herron was shot around 6 a.m. and taken to the hospital where he later died. Davis will appear in court Monday. She does not yet have an attorney.

CHARLOTTE (AP) â&#x20AC;&#x201D; A 76-year-old North Carolina man spent a cold night in his car at the bottom of a ditch after he left his rural home to buy his favorite oatmeal cream cookies. Multiple media outlets reported that Arthur McKenzie told hospital workers a deer ran in front of his car Wednesday night and he wound up down an embankment so steep he couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t climb out. McKenzie had planned to drive about five miles to the store and back to his Cleveland County home because he had run out of the cookies. But the trip over a winding, remote country road was interrupted by the deer. McKenzie was in stable condition at Cleveland Regional Medical Center in Shelby.

Couple sentenced in N.C. Satanism abuse case DURHAM (AP) â&#x20AC;&#x201D; A North Carolina couple has been sentenced on misdemeanor charges in a case involving abusing other adults during Satan worship. WRAL reported that 25-year-old Joseph Scott Craig and his 30-year-old wife Joy Johnson were each sentenced Friday to two 60-day suspended sentences and a year of probation. Search warrants said the victims were a man and a woman who moved in with Craig and Johnson after they became friends through their satanic interests. The victims say Craig beat them, shackled them to beds, kept them in dog cages and starved them. Craig entered an Alford plea, which means he maintained his innocence but acknowledged prosecutors had enough evidence for a conviction. Johnson pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting her husband.

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MARS HILL (AP) â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Students at a North Carolina college were so inspired by the author of a summer reading assignment they launched a campaign to help refugees in war-torn Darfur. The Asheville CitizenTimes reported Friday that freshmen classes and campus organizations at Mars Hill College are competing to see who can buy the most high-efficiency cook stoves. Student Kasey Boston launched the effort after finding something tangible students could do to help besides raising cash. Sudanese author Daoud Hari visited Mars Hill during the collegeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s year-opening convocation to describe the genocide he witnessed against tribal people of his native country. Hariâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s book â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Translatorâ&#x20AC;? was part of Mars Hillâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s summer reading list.

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ASHEVILLE (AP) â&#x20AC;&#x201D; North Carolina police say a man kidnapped an elderly woman while she sat in a car outside the Asheville hospital where she was being discharged. The Asheville CitizenTimes reported Friday that 29-year-old Anthony Blaine Messer is accused of seconddegree kidnapping, theft of a motor vehicle, and other

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Business & Farm

The Daily Dispatch

Area

A DAY ON WALL STREET

Dow Jones industrials

10,000 8,000 A

Pct. change from previous: -1.48%

High 10,452.23

2,400

Nasdaq composite

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

-37.61 2,138.44

High 2,155.41

Pct. change from previous: -1.73%

Standard & Poor’s 500

there and at most other stores about 45 minutes later. However, Bloomingdale’s — one of the mall’s anchors — remained in the dark as of 2 p.m., and it was not known when or if power would be restored there. Employees standing at the store’s entrances handed out $15 mall gift cards. The cause of the outage remained unclear Friday afternoon.

Bookkeeping subject of VGCC small business seminar McLamb was a senior-level manager in the financial services industry for 20 years before starting her consulting and training business, the Roper Group. She is a presenter for many Small Business Centers throughout the state and has helped hundreds of entrepreneurs start their businesses. VGCC Small Business Center Director Diane Finch advised that space is limited. To reserve a seat, register by calling the Small Business Center at (252) 738-3240 or 738-3275.

MARKET ROUNDUP 112709: Market urrencies etals charts show Dow, S&P 500, and Nasdaq; stand-alone; 2c x 4 1/2 inches; 96 mm x 114 mm; staff Aluminum - $.9112 per lb., London Metal NEW YORK (AP) — Key currency exEditors: All figures as of: 2:29:34 PM EST change rates Friday: Exch. NOTE: Figures reflect market fluctuations after not match other AP content close; Coppermay -$3.1314 Cathode full plate, LME. Dollar vs: ExchgRate PvsDay Copper $3.0935 N.Y. Merc spot Fri. Yen 86.70 86.49 Lead - $2343.50 metric ton, London Metal Euro $1.4954 $1.5007 Exch. Pound $1.6479 $1.6507 Zinc - $1.0166 per lb., London Metal Exch. Swiss franc 0.0065 1.0032 Gold - $1166.50 Handy & Harman (only Canadian dollar 1.0623 1.0598 daily quote). Mexican peso 12.9200 13.0050 Gold - $1174.20 troy oz., NY Merc spot Fri. Metal Price PvsDay Silver - $17.980 Handy & Harman (only NY Merc Gold $1174.20 $1165.50 daily quote). NY HSBC Bank US $1172.00 $1188.00 Silver - $18.302 troy oz., N.Y. Merc spot Fri. NY Merc Silver $18.302 $18.768 Platinum -$1430.00 troy oz., N.Y. (contract). Platinum -$1447.10 troy oz., N.Y. Merc spot Nonferrous Fri. NEW YORK (AP) — Spot nonferrous metal n.q.-not quoted, n.a.-not available r-revised prices Friday:

& M

Since 1941

55.54 26.99 49.85 15.47 24.26 57.18 31.20 16.69 74.87 8.73 15.94 27.61 125.70 62.89 23.00 3.14 6.06 21.96 3.36 62.30 19.00 62.48 38.80 4.30 53.24 51.32 17.33 3.75 22.59 44.10 31.63 48.69 54.63 27.14 4.07 76.34

Proposed N.C. port prompts town’s traffic concerns

BOILING SPRING LAKES (AP) — Officials in this small North Carolina city of 4,000 people are worried truck and train traffic from a proposed international port terminal could ruin their community, The Star-News of Wilmington reported Friday . Their concerns are voiced in a letter to the Army Corps of Engineers, plane reached an altitude of 6,600 feet and a which is doing a feasibility speed of 170 knots, and that it performed as study of the proposed port expected. near the mouth of the Cape The plane, which is designed to have a range Fear River in Brunswick of 7,000 miles and a top altitude of 51,000 feet, County. is scheduled for certification in 2011 and for entry into service the following year.

VANCE FURNITURE COmpANy INC.

Low 1,083.74

SOURCE: SunGard

New Gulfstream plane makes first test flight SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) — Gulfstream Aerospace says its new long-range G650 business jet has made its first test flight. The company says test pilots made a 12-minute flight from Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport on Wednesday. Gulfstream said in a news release that the

High 1,105.47

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

ACS ATT Ball Corp. BankAmerica BB&T Coca-Cola CVS Duke Energy Exxon Ford General Elec. Home Depot IBM Johnson & Johnson Kennametal Krispy Kreme Louisiana Pacific Lowes Lucent Tech. Pepsico Phillip Morris Procter & Gamble Progress Energy RF Micro Dev Royal Bk Can RJR Tobacco Revlon Sprint Sun Trust Universal Verizon Comm. Vulcan Wal-Mart Wells Fargo Wendy’s Establis Delhaize

The State Ports Authority estimates the $2 billion international container port will support nearly a half million jobs and gener-

ate more than $1 billion annually by attracting business from ports in New Jersey, Virginia and South Carolina.

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Vance-Granville Community College’s Small Business Center will present a free seminar, entitled “Basic Bookkeeping for Your Small Business,” on Tuesday, Dec. 15, from 6 to 9 p.m. in room 7107 of Building 7 on the college’s main campus in Vance County. Jess McLamb of Raleigh will lead the class. This seminar will help small business owners understand financial terms, and participants will get hands-on experience inpreparing financials.

Pct. change from previous: -1.72%

Howard Miller Clocks Mailbox Covers

BRIDGEWATER, N.J. (AP) — Black Friday began truly black at one New Jersey Mall. Customers at the Radio Shack store in the Bridgewater Commons Mall used flashlights to search for high-tech bargains as a power outage affected several stores shortly after the mall’s 6 a.m. opening. The staff used hand-written tickets to process sales before the lights came on

-19.14 1,091.49

1,400

Low 2,113.99

November 27, 2009

Real Black Friday as stores lose power

7,000

Low 10,231.25

November 27, 2009

Adam Ciccarino, left, of Manhattan, purchases Playstation 3 controllers Friday during a temporary power outage at RadioShack in the Bridgewater Commons Mall in Bridgewater, N.J., with the assistance of assistant manager Christopher Sanchez and sales associate Michael Byrne, right.

Listed below are representative inter-dealer quotations at approximately 4 p.m. Friday from the National Association of Securities Dealers. Prices do not include retail mark-up, mark-down or commission.

9,000

-154.48

AP Photo/Courier News, Andrew Miller

Stocks

11,000

November 27, 2009

10,309.92

Saturday, November 28, 2009

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Opinion

The Daily Dispatch

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Saturday, November 28, 2009

‘Precious’ — an ode to life

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 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just [man], and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins. Matthew 1:18-21

Our Opinion

Time has come for this project The folks who live in South Henderson and routinely walk along Chavasse Avenue from Raleigh Road to William Street deserve a break. It would appear the Henderson City Council and our state Rep. Jimmy Crawford have made valiant efforts to help in recent years. But it’s been at least more than five years since the talk began about constructing a sidewalk on the Chavasse bottleneck between Raleigh Road and William. And now a project that in March was seemingly under way may be off the table. This week, the council was told the N.C. Department of Transportation has put off plans to do the upgrade because the Chavasse crossing of the railroad line would be closed with the construction of the proposed high speed train route. Henderson is located along one of the corridors identified by the Obama administration for possible high speed rail. The Southeast corridor would extend from Washington to Richmond, Va., through Henderson and on to Raleigh and Charlotte in North Carolina; Columbia, S.C.; Atlanta, Macon and Savannah in Georgia; and ultimately to Jacksonville, Fla. It appears the only crossings that will remain in the city are a new overpass that would be built at Andrews Avenue and a new overpass that would be constructed in the area of Dabney Drive Extension and Raleigh Road, ultimately connecting motorists to William further south of the Chavasse crossing. While there’s much about the high speed rail for us to learn, we know that Henderson having a stop along the rail route would be a huge boom for our town. Henderson City Manager Ray Griffin’s talk of a possible station for Henderson in the former First National Bank building in the heart of downtown is exciting. As expected, the proposal to close street crossings for the high speed rail was not met with enthusiasm recently by residents along the route who do not want to see their neighborhoods appear to be more difficult to access. As recently as March, plans called for widening Chavasse to three lanes, along with installing curbs and gutters and constructing at least one sidewalk. Those plans were developed after new crossing gates were installed alongside the railroad crossing and the NCDOT approved $700,000 in contingency funds for the widening project. Frank Frazier, the assistant city manager, told the council this week that further correspondence with the state is needed for the council to go on record in support of the long-delayed project. It was agreed te city needs more details. On at least three occasions in the past five years, members of the council have given first-hand accounts of how they have seen pedestrians – mothers pushing baby strollers and a man in a wheelchair, among them — come dangerously close to being struck by vehicles. It’s safe to assume the construction on the rail is at least two years, maybe three, down the road. In the meantime, people take their lives in their own hands as they make the trek along Chavasse from William to Raleigh Road and Dabney Drive. It’s past time to make that route a safer walk. At the very least a sidewalk would make a huge difference in reducing the risks of injury or death. This promised upgrade is long overdue.

“I wanna say I am somebody. I wanna say it on subway, TV, movie, LOUD. I see the pink faces in suits look over top of my head. I watch myself disappear in their eyes. ... I talk loud but still I don’t exist.” — Precious Not everyone is singing hosannas. Indeed, though it is — maybe “because” it is — among the most critically acclaimed movies of the year, “Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire,” has inspired a fierce backlash. Jack White on TheRoot.com (full disclosure: Jack and I worked together a few years ago at Hampton University) slammed it, unseen, as over-hyped and a waste of time. Courtland Milloy of The Washington Post called it “a film of prurient interest that has about as much redeeming social value as a porn flick.” Armond White of nypress.com said it was more demeaning to black people than any film since D.W. Griffith’s crudely racist “Birth of a Nation” in 1915. And hiding behind the anonymity of a YouTube message board, some individual asked: “Who let this gorilla out of her enclosure?” None of which is surpris-

ing. It might even be said that the YouTube poster and the others are simply working opposite sides of the same street. Any time art tiptoes too closely to the tripwires of racial stereotype one can expect it to fire indignation among defenders of the Leonard AfricanPitts American image on Tribune Media the one Services hand and smug, racist graffiti from online halfwits on the other. And “Precious” doesn’t tiptoe, it “stomps.” At one point, we see the title character, a dark-skinned, morbidly obese Harlem girl, running down the street snacking from a stolen bucket of fried chicken. It’s as if the storytellers challenged themselves to see how many stereotypes they could cram in. And if that were all there was to “Precious,” I might think the criticism justified. It isn’t, and I don’t. “Precious” is an ode to

refusing to die. She is a girl struggling to live an unlivable life, 16 years old, illiterate, sexually abused by both parents, mother of two children (one with Down syndrome) sired by her father, physically and verbally beaten down by her monster of a mother and yet, somehow unable to give in to the idea that she is nothing and her name, nobody. She is that invisible girl, the one we decline to see because she doesn’t look like Halle, enunciate like Condi, inspire like Oprah, doesn’t ratify our faith in the inevitability of happy endings. There are more of them than we would care to know. They are not just girls, not just poor, not just black. They are incest victims in silent suffering, gay boys abandoned by their families, girls sold into prostitution by their mothers, 12-year-olds at home caring for 6-yearolds because nobody’s seen the 35-year-old in days. They are high school graduates who cannot read their own diplomas. They are children — “our” children — failed by families and then failed again by overburdened social agencies whose job is to take up the slack, catch them before they fall.

They are children we never see until it’s a police lineup. They do not appear in music videos. They are not shown in toothpaste commercials. They do not resemble the idealized, smiling, fresh-scrubbed and happy face beamed out to us on 500 channels 24/7. No, they look like Precious, struggling to read, struggling to surmount or even survive, struggling to live the unlivable. And every once in awhile, doing it. There is a scene wherein Precious faces a mirror and sees her ideal looking back: beautiful, blonde, white. Then, in a later scene, she enters a building and there’s a mirrored wall. And she looks and sees finally, only, herself. In that juxtaposition of growth lies the soul of a remarkable film. If Jack White doesn’t see it, that’s fine. But one hopes the invisible children will. They’ll find in it a rare reminder that they do, indeed, exist. And that they are precious, too. Leonard Pitts is a columnist for the Miami Herald, 1 Herald Plaza, Miami, Fla., 33132. Readers may contact him via e-mail at lpitts@miamiherald.com.

Letters to the Editor Answers needed on healthcare plans To the editor: Dear President Obama, Publisher Mr. Edwards and readers: I am upset with the current statistics that we have heard this last week concerning the mammogram examinations. I would be interested if the PSA tests would have the same interest if the test should be done later as the mammogram test have been suggested. If one person is saved from either test isn’t it important to save that person? The issue of the new insurance should be choices should be compatible to both the healthcare giver paths, jungle gyms, sidewalks, and the insured. It’s not brain surgery lighting, farmer’s markets, that each person should etc., as a “preventative” health contribute for whatever measure. service that person would Certainly preventative health care is a worthy topic for require. If that person candiscussion, but is a “reform” of not contribute, they should our health care system really not ignored or refused the appropriate place to spend service nor should that be billions on children’s playthe criteria for service. grounds? The taxes that the Earmarks and “pork” are not major of the citizens pay new in Washington politics. should more than pay for However, earmarks and pork health coverage. required to get Democrats to We are already paying support a Democratic-authored for the health insurance of health care reform bill should our representatives. Let’s tell us all we need to know — share that wealth. If the that even internally, many person who works here Democrats recognize that Americans do not support their pays a tax, that will pay for services expected or effort to further empower the federal government and drive used. up the national debt all in the Since each community name of faux “reform.” votes for local services, let The time has come for us challenge our governAmericans of every political ment to let the majority persuasion to stand up and choose our health coverdemand that our representaage. tives seriously debate the I do not believe the ramifications of this health care people in Congress underlegislation rather than trying to stand the person who is find ways to get compensated trying to feed their family for their votes. would choose groceries Perhaps the clearest way to over a insurance that is send that message is to send mandated by the governSen. Landrieu packing. After ment in Washington. all, in the actual Louisiana Nancy Ingham Purchase, Thomas Jefferson managed to purchase half the Henderson county for twenty times less than it took for Sen. Landrieu Correction to give it all away!

Louisiana Purchase, Part Deux Unsurprisingly, President Obama has recently realized early legislative success in pursuit of his massive governmentheavy health care program. Sen. Harry Reid pushed the initial legislation to the Senate giving our representatives very little time to review the bill in advance of the first vote opening up further debate. In attempting to clear this initial procedural hurdle, Sen. Reid and the Obama administration could not find the support of a single Republican Senator and were also having difficulty in rounding up even the necessary 60 votes, all of which would have to be Democrats, to advance the legislation. Now, most taxpayers would hope that in pursuit of the 60 votes the administration and Senate Democrats would use the merits of the legislation as the basis for their swaying of members of their own party. Sadly, that simply is not the case. Rather, bribes in the form of earmarks ended up being the carrot that lured in the final votes on a critical piece of legislation that may dramatically impact the future of our nation’s health care … and our nation’s debt. Take, for example, Sen. Mary Landrieu of Louisiana, one of the last Senate holdouts who only joined her fellow Democrats hours before the controversial vote. What was it that drew Sen. Landrieu to vote in support of the legislation? Was it her comfort with the cost, or perhaps her satisfaction that the concerns of her constituents had been satisfied? Sadly, the answer lies with

a seemingly minor provision added to the health care legislation, which currently takes two pages to write up a description of which states would qualify for an influx of $100 million additional dollars in federal Medicaid subsidies, using phrases such as “certain states recovering from a major disaster.” All two pages make it so that the only state which could qualify is Louisiana. Sen. Landrieu says the funds will total to $300 million ($100 million Michael in disaster Reagan relief and $200 in MedCagle icaid). Cartoons But if you thought the esteemed senator would feel the least bit ashamed of how her decision was made, think again. In her floor speech, after accusations that her vote was bought, Senator Landrieu said: “I will correct something. It’s not $100 million, it’s $300 million, and I’m proud of it and will keep fighting for it.” But the waste and hidden vote purchases are not confined to Sen. Landrieu and the Democrats’ 21st Century Louisiana Purchase. A July piece by The Boston Globe uncovered a provision in both the Senate and House versions of the bill which would designate large sums of money (up to $1.6 billion each year in the House version) to improve the nation’s “health infrastructure.” The proposal will cover community grants for such things as bike

Mike Reagan, the elder son of the late President Ronald Reagan, is chairman and president of The Reagan Legacy Foundation (www.reaganlegacyfoundation.org). Look for Mike’s books and other information at www. Reagan.com. E-mail comments to Reagan@caglecartoons.com.

Editor’s note: A letter that appeared in Tuesday’s edition of The Daily Dispatch was mistakenly attributed to C.E. Mustian. The letter was written by his wife, Edna Mustian. The Dispatch regrets the error.

The Daily Dispatch

Dear Abby

News From The Light Side SATURDAY Morning / Early Afternoon 11/28/09

Today’s Highlight: On Nov. 28, 1909, Sergei Rachmaninoff’s notoriously difficult Piano Concerto No. 3 in D minor, Op. 30 had its world premiere in New York, with Walter Damrosch conducting the New York Symphony and Rachmaninoff himself at the piano. On this date: In 1520, Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan reached the Pacific Ocean after passing through the South American strait that now bears his name. In 1919, American-born Lady Astor was elected the first female member of the British Parliament. In 1942, nearly 500 people died in a fire that destroyed the Cocoanut Grove nightclub in Boston. In 1943, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Soviet leader Josef Stalin began conferring in Tehran, Iran, during World War II. In 1964, the United States launched the space probe Mariner 4 on a course to Mars. Ten years ago: Hsing-Hsing, the popular giant panda that arrived in America in 1972 as a symbol of U.S.-China detente, was euthanized at Washington, D.C.’s National Zoo at age 28 because of his deteriorating health. Five years ago: Al-Qaida in Iraq claimed responsibility for slaughter-

One year ago: Indian forces fired grenades at the landmark Taj Mahal hotel, the last stand of suspected Muslim militants, just hours after elite commandos stormed a Jewish outreach center and found six hostages dead. (The 60-hour rampage in Mumbai ended the following day.) Today’s Birthdays: Recording executive Berry Gordy Jr. is 80. Former Sen. Gary Hart, D-Colo., is 73. Singer-songwriter Bruce Channel is 69. Singer Randy Newman is 66. CBS News correspondent Susan Spencer is 63. Movie director Joe Dante is 62. “Late Show” orchestra leader Paul Shaffer is 60. Actor Ed Harris is 59. Former NASA teacher in space Barbara Morgan is 58. Actress S. Epatha Merkerson is 57. Former Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff is 56. Country singer Kristine Arnold (Sweethearts of the Rodeo) is 53. Actor Judd Nelson is 50. Movie director Alfonso Cuaron is 48. Rock musician Matt Cameron is 47. Actress Jane Sibbett is 47. Comedian/ talk show host Jon Stewart is 47. Actress Garcelle Beauvais-Nilon is 43. R&B singer Dawn Robinson is 41. Hip-hop musician apl.de.ap (Black Eyed Peas) is 35. Actress Aimee Garcia is 31. Rapper Chamillionaire is 30. Actor Daniel Henney is 30. Rock musician Rostam Batmanglij (Vampire Weekend) is 26. Actress Mary Elizabeth Winstead is 25. Actress Scarlett Pomers (“Reba”) is 21.

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