CMYK VC Special Olympians play Bocce
Crossroads takes rematch with Victory Kayla Felts wins Dispatch Football Contest
Our Hometown, Page 2A
Sports, Page 1B
Sports, Page 4B TUESDAY, December 1, 2009
Volume XCV, No. 281
(252) 436-2700
Shooting claims life of elderly Oxford man
www.hendersondispatch.com
Ringing in the season!
By WILLIAM F. WEST Daily Dispatch Writer
OXFORD — A 77-yearold man is dead after being shot on Sunday evening. Frank J. Branch died while undergoing surgery after being flown to Duke University Medical Center by a Duke Life Flight helicopter, Police Chief John Wolford said in a statement. Wolford said officers responded at approximately 6:20 p.m. to Branch’s 603-B Raleigh St. address in the southeastern part of the city after a call about someone having been shot. Wolford said that no arrests have been made and that, due to conflicting statements from potential witnesses, there are a number of scenarios on which detectives are following up. This is not the first time police have had to deal with trouble in the southeastern part of the city this year. Officers, responding to a report of gunfire on Aug. 30, saw a large crowd in front of Henderson Street duplex apartments 337A and 337B. Police said a man had fired a handgun in the air, with the incident having been part of an ongoing feud between neighbors. Five persons were booked in connection with that incident. The other shooting happened on Aug. 13 in the Peace Street area and police booked three persons. Police have said they believe that incident appears to have been gang related.
Shooting leaves 3 injured
Henderson police sorting out details; arrests pending By DISPATCH STAFF
Three men suffered gunshot wounds in an altercation on Merriman Street Sunday afternoon, Henderson police reports say. Eddie Williams, 41, and Michael Brodie, 39, were Daily Dispatch/ASHLEY STEVEN AYSCUE taken to Maria Parham Medical Center by ambulance for The Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Campaign kicked off last week with a ceremony outside the treatment of gunshot wounds, Walmart in Henderson, beginning a drive that organizers hope will raise more than $35,000 according to a press release to help the needy of area communities. Salvation Army Major James McCurdy, left, presents issued by Henderson Police Henderson Mayor Pro-Tem Lonnie Davis with a bell so he can officially “ring” off the camChief Keith Sidwell Monday paign Friday morning. McCurdy said kettles are located at both entrances of the Henderson morning. Walmart, at the Roses stores at Henderson Mall and on Norlina Road, at Walgreens on Oxford Antonio Hart, 33, was Road, and at the Walmarts in Oxford, Louisburg and Roanoke Rapids. The kettles are manned taken by private vehicle to each day through Christmas Eve by members of various civic clubs, school clubs, businesses, the hospital. He, too, had suschurches, government employees and other organizations. Anyone wishing to volunteer to tained a gunshot wound. ring the bell should call Anita Smith at 438-7107. Williams was treated and released, officials at Maria Parham told The Daily Dispatch on Monday afternoon. They were unable to provide information about the nature of his injuries. Brodie and Hart were Zollicoffer cited both the while the law is generally By WILLIAM F. WEST transferred to Duke Univerattorney-client privilege silent on letting outsiders Daily Dispatch Writer sity Medical Center for further and the need to discuss into sessions excluding the treatment, the release said. an economic development press and public, there is a An attorney for the N.C. They were in stable condition more-narrow rule saying no matter as the exemptions Press Association said at Duke, according to Henderto North Carolina’s open outsiders may be present she believes Henderson’s son Police Lt. Charles Pulley. meetings laws. The council, when the local government government acted wrongly “None of the wounds are which met openly in the in letting City Councilwom- cites the attorney-client life threatening,” Chief Sidwell privilege as a reason for go- council chambers, later an-elect Sara Coffey sit in said in the press release. went into closed session in ing into a closed session. on a closed session of the The shooting reportedly a conference room. During the Nov. 23 council. occurred in the street in the council short regular meetAmanda Martin told the Contact the writer at bwest@ Please see SESSION, page 3A 400 block of Merriman Street ing, City Attorney John The Daily Dispatch that, at 4:15 p.m. on Sunday. hendersondispatch.com.
Press attorney: City in error letting member-elect attend closed session
Vance man dies after being brought to jail Sheriff requests autopsy, asks SBI to assist in investigation By DISPATCH STAFF
An autopsy has been requested by Vance County Sheriff Peter White after the death of a man who
50 cents
had been brought to the jail on Friday morning. Sheriff White said he has also asked the State Bureau of Investigation to assist in the investigation of the death of Alphonso Perry, 36, of 1208 Parham Street. According to the sheriff’s press release issued Monday morning, Perry was brought to the Vance County Jail by the Henderson Police Department
at approximately 1:05 a.m. Friday. The sheriff identified the Henderson Police officers as Simmons and Overton. “Mr. Perry was not under arrest but was brought in due to being intoxicated,” the sheriff said. “EMS (Emergency Medical Services) was called at approximately 1:25 a.m. after Mr. Perry began showing signs of breathing difficulty while
changing from soaking wet street clothes into the jail jumpsuit.” The sheriff said Perry was never placed in any cell during his brief time at the jail. He was taken from the jail to Maria Parham Medical Center at approximately 1:50 a.m., the sheriff said. He was pronounced dead at MPMC shortly thereafter.
“The exact cause of death is unknown at this time,” Sheriff White said. “An autopsy has been requested in order to determine the official cause,” he said. An obit for Perry appears on Page 4A in today’s edition.
Groups providing lightweight jackets for students in area
Creedmoor armed pair still at large One of two men wanted in the armed robbery of a store in Creedmoor is shown in this surveillance video photograph. Officers said two men fled in a Honda Accord or Civic after robbery the Northside Grocery at 1:20 p.m. Saturday. They remain at large and Granville sheriff’s officers are asking for help in getting information. Calls should be directed to (919) 693-3213 or Crime Stoppers at (919) 693-3100. Details, Page 3A
WARRENTON – Warren County middle school and high school students may have a warmer Christmas this year. Warren County Training School and North Warren High School alumni, Warren County School System and Warren County Memorial Library are working together to provide lightweight jackets to students for the holiday season. The jacket drive will
Send comments to news@ hendersondispatch.com.
Index Our Hometown . . . . . 2A Business . . . . . . . . . . 7A Opinion . . . . . . . . . . 10A Light Side . . . . . . . . 13A Sports. . . . . . . . . . 1-5B Comics . . . . . . . . . . . 6B Classified. . . . . . . . 7-9B
Weather Today
Send comments about this article to the newspaper at news@hendersondispatch.com.
‘Giving Tree’ promises a warmer Chistmas for Warren County children
By DAVID IRVINE Daily Dispatch Writer
He added, “No arrests have been made in this incident.” Lt. Pulley said no other people were thought to have been involved in the incident. Lt. Pulley said that the shootings apparently occurred Brodie and Hart went to talk to Williams about an altercation that had taken place earlier with a fourth person. Upon their arrival to the area, police found Williams and Brodie. Hart apparently was not at the scene but was tied to the incident after being transported to the hospital. “Basically, we’re still interviewing witnesses and sorting out just what happened,” Lt. Pulley said late Monday afternoon. Broadcast reports from WRAL-TV earlier had indicated that a suspect, identified as Robert Brody, had been arrested, contrary to the police reports. The chief said this morning that the investigation is continuing by members of the HPD’s Criminal Investigations Division. Anyone with information involving this incident is asked to contact the HPD at (252) 438-4141 or HendersonVance Crime Stoppers at (252) 492-1925.
kick off between 4 and 8 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 4. Centerpiece of the project will be a Christmas Giving Tree located in the library. Hanging from its branches will be cards, each one containing information about a student in need of winter wear. School counselors will select the students. They will provide information about each student, including size and gender, and information about the Please see ‘Giving Tree’, page 5A
Sunny
High: 60 Low: 36
Wednesday Rain
High: 54 Low: 52
Details, 3A
Deaths Creedmoor Margree Winston Durham Preston Bizzell, 65 Henderson Rachel A. Best, 92 Lee Anne Dorr, 64 Jimmie L. Johnson, Jr., 60 Moses E. Jones, 42 Theodore R. McDowell, 61 Ruth C. Nelson, 80 Alfonso Perry, 36 Norlina Randolph Fogg, 58 Townsville Walter G. Appun, 87
Obituaries, 4A