The Daily Dispatch - Tuesday, December 8, 2009 by The Daily Dispatch

CMYK Vance farmers’ market more a possibility

Now it’s Obama’s Afghan war

Weight lifting team strong in Va. event

Local News, Page 8A

Opinion, Page 6A

Sports, Page 1B TUESDAY, December 8, 2009

Volume XCV, No. 287

(252) 436-2700

Parolee in murder case met criteria Henderson man sentenced to life plus 50 years in 1981 deaths of two By CAREY JOHNSON Staff Writer The Franklin Times

LOUISBURG — Parole officials say a Henderson man convicted of killing a Franklin County store owner and clerk decades ago met all of the criteria needed to be released from prison. And the victim’s family had all available avenues, by law, to express their concerns. A jury found Howard Lee Alston guilty of killing R.W. Bobby Foster and Jack Stainback on Feb. 9, 1981. Alston was sentenced to life in prison on a first-degree murder charge plus 50 more years on the charge of second-degree murder. However, when structured sentencing laws took effect in October of 1994, Alston because eligible for parole. Foster’s family members said they became increasingly frustrated with a parole process they say does not do enough to include input from the victim’s family. Pat Joyner, with the state Post Release Supervision and Parole Commission, said the commission is tasked with determining parole and followed protocol in the case. Alston, Joyner said, completed the parole commission’s Mutual Agreement Parole Program, which prepares inmates for

www.hendersondispatch.com

By WILLIAM F. WEST Daily Dispatch Writer

A text amendment to the zoning ordinance allowing for truck stops was quickly and unanimously recommended Monday afternoon by the Planning Board. The recommendation will now go to the City Council for approval. The amendment, if approved by the council, would allow for truck stops in the industrial districts. Board

‘We have a person that’s interested in a truck stop’ — Planning Director Erris Dunston Vice Chairwoman Marchita Vann made the motion, with board member Jimmie Ayscue seconding. Board member Ricky Easter asked whether someone wants to open a truck stop. “We have a person that’s interested in a truck stop,” City Plan-

ning Director Erris Dunston said, noting Henderson does not have any regulations defining such a facility. “So, they’ve got a place in mind?” Easter asked. “We don’t know,” Dunston replied. Board member Horace Bullock,

By AL WHELESS Daily Dispatch Writer Daily Dispatch/ASHLEY STEVEN AYSCUE

He’s making a list... Santa and Mrs. Claus wave from the top of the Henderson Fire Department’s platform truck while riding in the Henderson Christmas Parade Sunday afternoon. The event was sponsored by the Henderson-Vance Downtown Development Commission. To view or purchase photos, visit us on the Web at www.hendersondispatch.com.

A member of the Northern Vance Marching Vikings, left, plays his trombone and the Southern Vance Marching Raiders perform, right, during the Henderson Christmas Parade Sunday afternoon. To view or purchase photos, visit us on the Web at www.hendersondispatch.com.

High: 66 Low: 38

Details, 3A

Deaths Henderson James E. Blackwell, 82 Frank T. Wrenn Sr., 88 Kittrell Alice D. Hargrove, 57 Rougemont Doris L. McCray, 71

Obituaries, 4A

Please see WRIGHT, page 8A

By DAVID IRVINE Daily Dispatch Writer

Mostly cloudy

Rain likely

On a 5-1 vote, Danny Wright of District 3 was elected chairman of the Vance County Board of Commissioners Monday night. The dissenting vote was cast by Eddie Wright, who had already lost the chance to become chairman when his nomination by Deborah Brown failed in a 3-3 tie. Besides Eddie Wright, those voting for him to be chairman were Brown and Tim Pegram, who had seconded his nomination. Voting nay were Danny Wright, Scott Hughes and Dan Brummitt, who had served as chairman the previous year. Hughes had nominated Danny Wright for the chairmanship, saying that it would be a good way for him to spend his last year on the board. Taking the seat that he had occupied a number of times during his 27 years as a commissioner,

Richardson chairman of Warren board

Today

Wednesday

Please see TRUCK STOP, page 4A

D. Wright is Vance chairman

Weather

High: 49 Low: 44

noting he assumed a truck stop would be operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week, asked whether this would be in violation of the noise ordinance. Dunston said there should not be any violations in the industrial non-park (I-2) district. Most of the I-2 districts are southwest, south and southeast of Welcome Avenue, along Bypass U.S. 1 from north of the Vanco Mill

Danny Wright, left, and Eddie Wright

Daily Dispatch/ASHLEY STEVEN AYSCUE

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

50 cents

Planners quickly OK truck stop zoning

Please see PAROLEE, page 3A

Index

sign has been in Currin’s yard for the last several days. Currin, through documents submitted by the contractor, said the plan is to make repairs and restore the approximately 120-year-old Victorian residence to the original condition. “It should be noted that Mrs. Currin has been planning the restoration of this property for some time now and is eager to receive guidance” from the historic

WARRENTON — The Warren County Board of Commissioners held its annual organizational meeting in the Community Room of Warren County Memorial Library on Monday. County Attorney Karlene Turrentine called the organizational meeting to order and accepted nominations for the position of chairman. Barry Richardsome was nominated and unanimously re-elected to serve as chairman. At that point, Turrentine symbolically turned over the gavel to Richardson to preside over the remainder of the meeting. The commissioners voted to re-elect Ulysses S. Ross as vice-chairman and approved the following appointments: • Turrentine--County Attorney. • Angelina Kearney-Dunlap-Clerk to the Board. • Paula L. Pulley--Deputy Clerk to the Board. • Cindi Richardson, Bonnie C.

Please see HISTORIC, page 8A

Please see WARREN, page 4A

Daily Dispatch/ASHLEY STEVEN AYSCUE

A pair of tots wave as they ride in their electric car along the parade route during the Henderson Christmas Parade Sunday afternoon. A rider on a fire truck from the Kerr Lake Volunteer Fire Department throws candy to waiting children. To view or purchase photos, visit us on the Web at www.hendersondispatch.com.

Currin house renovation, church columbarium need Historic Preservation Commission OK By WILLIAM F. WEST Daily Dispatch Writer

OXFORD — A decrepit-looking residence in the heart of Oxford will undergo renovation, but the Oxford Historic Preservation Commission first has to give approval. The Preservation Commission is set to meet at 6 p.m. Thursday at City Hall, with one of the items being a request for a Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) for Manie Currin to restore her home at 203

Main St. The other item is a request for a COA for Oxford Baptist Church, 147 Main St., to have a columbarium, which is a vault with niches containing urns of the ashes of the dead. A COA is an approval given to a local historic landmark or property in a historic district for alterations as proposed by the property owner. The COA assures maintenance of the property’s historic integrity. An S.E. Gregory Construction

H THE PAIN!

Mark It Down Today Oxford Commission â&#x20AC;&#x201D; The Oxford City Commission will meet at 7 p.m. in the commission meeting room of City Hall, 300 Williamsboro St. The mayor and four city commissioners-elect will be sworn in. Zoning Board â&#x20AC;&#x201D; The City of Hendersonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Zoning Board of Adjustment will meet at 3:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers of City Hall, 134 Rose Ave. Community watch meetings â&#x20AC;&#x201D; The Pine Ranes Community Watch will meet at 6 p.m. at the Elks Lodge on Rock Spring Street. The Flint Hill Community Watch will meet at Greater Little Zion Holy Church on Flint Street at 7 p.m. Natural resources meeting â&#x20AC;&#x201D; The Warren County and Franklin County soil and water conservation districts are sponsoring a public meeting at 6 p.m. to identify and prioritize the natural resource issues in the two counties. The meeting will be held at the Warren County Memorial Library, 119 N. Front Street, Warrenton. The purpose of the meeting is to evaluate the current conditions of natural resources and dominant land uses within the area and identify resource concerns and goals for where conservation efforts are most needed. For more information, contact Brian Short, district conservationist, USDA-NRCS, at (252) 257-3836, ext. 3 or (919) 496-3137, ext. 3.

Wednesday â&#x20AC;&#x153;Greenâ&#x20AC;? economy seminar â&#x20AC;&#x201D; A free seminar on new job and business opportunities developing around the â&#x20AC;&#x153;greenâ&#x20AC;? economy in rural North Carolina will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Ambassadorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Inn and Suites in Henderson. Sponsored by the Center for Green Research and Evaluation at Elizabeth City State University. To register, go to www. thesynergygroupnc.com or call Monique Edwards at (919) 413-1990.

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Grassy Creek Christmas parade set for this Saturday

Local funeral home plans toy giveaway on Dec. 19

The 25th annual Grassy Creek Community Christmas Parade will take place on Dec. 12 at 2 p.m. on Grassy Creek/Virgilina Road. The parade has a reputation for unusual floats, an extensive line of vintage cars and trucks, tractors, horses, local marching bands and every siren known to man. Awards are given for the most original float, the most attractive float and the most religious float. Refreshments of hot dogs, stew, french fries, candy apples, drinks and coffee will be available.

Daily Dispatch/ASHLEY STEVEN AYSCUE

Claudette Toney sits amid the hundreds of toys collected by Garnes-Toney Funeral Home. Toney, along with her husband, Antonio, will be giving out toys on Dec. 19 beginning at 10 a.m. until all the toys are gone. Children whose names are on their list will be provided toys first, with the rest on a first come, first-served basis. This is the second year that Garnes-Toney Funeral Home has helped provide toys and books for needy children.

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Thursday Chamber Christmas social â&#x20AC;&#x201D; The second annual Chamber Christmas Social sponsored by the Henderson-Vance County Chamber of Commerce will be held from 6-8 p.m. at The Silo. For more information, call the chamber at (252) 438-8414 or e-mail RSVP@hendersonvance.org. Parks and Rec â&#x20AC;&#x201C; The Henderson-Vance Parks and Recreation meeting will be held at noon at the Aycock Recreation Center, 307 Carey Chapel Road. Water district meeting â&#x20AC;&#x201D; A Vance County Water District sign-up meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. at the Cokesbury Volunteer Fire Department, 15116 South Cokesbury Road, in the multipurpose room. The purpose of the meeting is to provide an opportunity to sign up and pay the early signup/ connection fee of $125 as well as answer technical questions. Lionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Club â&#x20AC;&#x201D; There will be a Lionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Club meeting at 6 p.m. at the Henderson Country Club. This will be the clubâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s annual Christmas party. Anyone who is interested in becoming a member of the Henderson Lions Club, please contact Randy Oxendine at oxendine@nc.rr.com. Retired school personnel â&#x20AC;&#x201D; The Vance County unit of the N.C. Retired School Personnel will meet at 11 a.m. at the Western Sizzlin, 619 Ruin Creek Road, Henderson. Jasman Hightower, athletic director for Vance-Granville Community College will be the guest speaker. All members are asked to bring canned and non-perishable food items to be donated to the Salvation Army. Any member who needs transportation can call Louise Kelley at (252) 438-8071 or W. T. Ramey III at (252) 492-3096. Community watch â&#x20AC;&#x201D; The Highland Greens Apartments Community Watch will meet at the Community Building, 111 Pinkston St., at 6 p.m. Chess Club â&#x20AC;&#x201D; The Henderson/Vance Chess Club, affiliated with the U. S. Chess Federation, meets at the First United Methodist Church from 6 to 9:30 p.m. All are welcome, adults and youths, novice or experienced. For more information, call Rudy Abate at 438-4459 (days) or 738-0375 (evenings).

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Blu Ray E F RE or Player The Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) recently held its Virginia/North Carolina Educatorsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Convention at the new Raleigh Convention Center in November. A total of 24 faculty members from Crossroads Christian School in Henderson attended the two-day convention. Keynote speakers were Dr. Daniel Akin from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and Dr. Glen Schultz from Sherwood Christian School in Albany, Ga. Schultz is an administrator at the school, which is associated with Sherwood Baptist Church where the motion pictures â&#x20AC;&#x153;Facing the Giantsâ&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;&#x153;Fireproofâ&#x20AC;? were produced. Attendees included (left to right) Sarah Paynter, Kathy Paine, Heather Harris and Mary Helen Mustian.

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From Page One

The Daily Dispatch

FIVE-DAY FORECAST FOR HENDERSON TODAY

TONIGHT

WEDNESDAY

Mostly Cloudy

Rain Likely

Showers Likely

49º

44º

66º 38º

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

Mostly Sunny

Isolated Rain

49º 25º

46º 33º

45º 33º

Almanac

Sun and Moon

Temperature

Sunrise today . . . . . .7:12 a.m. Sunset tonight . . . . .4:59 p.m. Moonrise today . . . . .No Rise Moonset today . . . .12:02 p.m. Sunrise tomorrow . .7:13 a.m. Sunset tomorrow . . .4:59 p.m. Moonrise tomorrow 12:18 a.m. Moonset tomorrow .12:31 p.m.

Raleigh -Durham through 6 p.m. yest. High . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51 Low . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27 Normal High . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55 Normal Low . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34 Record High . . . . . . . . .80 in 1998 Record Low . . . . . . . . .15 in 1954

Moon Phases

Precipitation Yesterday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .0.00" Month to date . . . . . . . . . . . .2.71" Normal month to date . . . . .0.65" Year to date . . . . . . . . . . . . .37.05" Normal year to date . . . . . .40.66"

Last 12/8

First 12/24

New 12/16

Full 12/31

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 240 219.9 -0.6 Neuse Falls 264 255.1 -0.1

24-Hr. Capacity Yest. Change 203 200.3 0.0 320 303.7 0.0

Regional Weather Henderson 49/44

Winston-Salem Durham 49/45 45/42 Asheville 44/40

Rocky Mt. 51/46

Greensboro 46/42 Raleigh 50/46 Charlotte 49/44

Fayetteville 53/50

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

Cape Hatteras 57/56

Wilmington 58/57

Regional Cities Today

Today

Wed.

Hi/Lo Wx Hi/Lo Wx

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

44/40 45/38 47/43 49/45 51/49 48/38 49/45 51/47 47/42 53/50 52/50 46/42 55/51 56/52 44/39

45/42 57/53 55/50 56/52 59/56 58/54 55/55 56/51 50/46 45/40 50/44 51/46 50/47 58/57 45/42

ra ra ra mc ra ra mc ra ra mc mc ra ra mc ra

60/31 55/31 63/36 67/38 61/32 58/36 67/39 73/46 57/29 73/43 72/45 63/36 71/52 73/52 60/32

sh ra sh sh mc ra sh sh sh t t sh t t sh

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

ra mc ra ra mc mc pc mc mc ra mc mc mc mc ra

63/35 73/52 72/51 72/47 73/51 73/53 66/53 72/53 70/39 61/39 68/38 71/41 70/39 73/51 63/35

sh t t t t t t t sh sh sh t sh t sh

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

release through structured activities, scheduled progress in custody levels, participation in community based programs and established parole dates. “The parole commission is here to make sure the laws that are set in place are followed in terms of who stays in and who gets out,” Joyner said. “The decisions made are not just the opinion of the individual commissioner or staff member. “We do what we do based upon the law,” she said. “It’s not a personal opinion. “Sometimes, it’s hard for people to deal with and we understand that.” Specifically, Foster’s family members said the parole system, as it’s set up, required them to set up meeting times with parole commissioners to express their concerns about Alston’s parole prospects. Also, family members said, they could only speak with one parole commissioner and there was a limit as to how many people could meet with the parole commissioner — a difficult prospect considering there were two families affected by Alston’s actions. “That’s not really fair,” said a niece of Foster’s, whose name is being withheld for safety reasons. A final indignity, Foster’s family said, was that they were not notified of Alston’s release until after it had happened. They were assured, family members said, that they would be contacted prior to any decision. “We knew his parole was coming up, so we figured we’d better call,” Foster’s niece said. “If we hadn’t called, we would have never known he was released.” Joyner said the state has an automated system that

ay yd r e Ev

contacts either victims, family members or anyone who registers, about issues concerning an inmate, such as if they are being moved to a new facility, if they’re up for parole or if parole has been granted or denied. “(Victims or their families) have to make sure the victim notification office has all of their contact information, because the notices are automated,” Joyner said. “If a victim or their family moves or changes numbers or whatever, they need to call victims’ services,” she said. “There is no limit to who can be placed on that list and get information.” As far as the process for dealing with parole commissioners, Joyner said that policy could change. “(Meeting with only one commissioner) is the process right now,” Joyner said. “Is that going to change in the future? I don’t know.” “ ... The voice of that one commission in regards to that meeting services as representation of the commission,” Joyner said. “The commission discusses what’s going on with the case and all the commissioners are aware of any information.” Joyner said the limits on the number of people allowed to engage the parole commission is an issue of time and space, not an issue of exclusion. “This is supposed to be a group of folks specifically tied to that case,” she said. “We aren’t trying to engage a whole neighborhood or community. “ ... (But) there is ample opportunity for people to call ahead as they are notified or when these meet-

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EDITOR’S NOTE: This story was reprinted with permission. In an earlier account last week, the Times reported that Alston was released on parole just before Thanksgiving. He was arrested in May 1981, three and a half months after investigators alleged he shot and killed Foster and Stainback inside Foster’s store along U.S. 401 north of Ingleside. Alston and another man were reported to have been regulars at the store. William T. Dement, who was Franklin County’s sheriff at the time, said the shooting was apparently the result of an earlier argument where Foster alleged that Alston was selling drugs on his property.

Henderson, NC 27536

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

ings are coming up and the commission is very good in trying to make time for as many folks as it possibly can, to express their feelings on a case, one way or another.” Tom Bennett, executive director of the N.C. Victims Assistance Network, which helps victims and their families navigate the justice system, said it helps families annually who are frustrated with the legal system, which includes parole matters. Those issues are declining in numbers, as fewer and fewer people each year are eligible for parole. However, the gravity of the problem never lessens for those affected. “I think we can all be grateful that we have structured sentencing, which gives a minimum and maximum range for punishment and everyone knows a suspect will serve, at least, a certain minimum sentence. “That gives victims some level of comfort and we’re in a better situation now than we used to be (before structured sentencing),” he said. “There are a dwindling number of prisoners eligible for parole, so there will be fewer of these problems as the years go by, but if you’re a surviving family member, this will be a big issue until your dying day.” If anyone needs assistance or would like to learn more about the N.C. Victims Assistance Network, call at (800) 348-5068 or visit www.nc-van.org.

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Deaths Frank T. Wrenn Sr. HENDERSON — Frank Thomas Wrenn Sr., 88, of 180 Wrenn Road, Oxford, N.C., died Sunday, December 6, 2009, at Maria Parham Medical Center. Born in Vance County, he was the son of the late John Thomas and Eunice Newton Wrenn. Mr. Wrenn was a retired welder and pipe fitter, and was a member of the United Association Local 421. He was a United States Navy Veteran of World War II. A lifelong member of Rehoboth United Methodist Church, he was a member of the Open Door Sunday School Class. A memorial service will be held Tuesday, December 8, 2009, at 2:00 p.m., at Rehoboth United Methodist Church, conducted by the Rev. Josh Duckworth.

James E. Blackwell HENDERSON — James Edward Blackwell, 82, of 1770 Satterwhite Point Road, died Friday, Dec. 4, 2009, in Britthaven of Henderson. He was born in Vance County and was the son of Sidney and Frankie Love Blackwell. He attended the Vance County public schools. He joined the United States Army in 1946 and received an Army of Occupation Medal and World War II Victory Medal, along with an honorable discharge. Memorial services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Wednesday in the chapel of Davis-Royster Funeral Service.

Surviving are his wife of 67 years, Carrie Arrington Wrenn; a daughter, Brenda W. Weldon, and husband Robert, of Greensboro, N.C.; two sons, Frank Thomas “F.T.” Wrenn Jr., and wife Alice, of Oxford, and John A. “Johnny” Wrenn Sr., and wife Rhonda, of Oxford; six grandchildren, Frank T. Wrenn III, of Atlanta, Ga., Angela W. Cameron, and husband Chris, of Holly Springs, N.C., Amanda W. McCoy, and husband Kevin, of Greensboro, N.C., Rob Weldon, and wife Kristin, of Greensboro, N.C., John A. Wrenn Jr., and wife Joy, of Henderson, and Justin M. Wrenn, and wife Melanie, of Henderson; nine great-grandchildren, Cole McCoy, Kaitlyn McCoy, Madeline McCoy, Hunter McCoy, Cecelia Wrenn, Luke Wrenn, Logan Wrenn, Catherine Cameron, and

Carrie Cameron; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by two sisters, Frances W. Capps and Lucy W. Stovall; and two brothers, Melvin D. Wrenn and Vincent Wrenn. The family will receive friends immediately following the service at the church. All other times, they will be at the home, 180 Wrenn Road, Oxford (in the Watkins Community). Flowers are omitted. Memorials may be made to Rehoboth United Methodist Church, Cemetery Fund, c/o Barbara Burwell, 2205 Community House Road, Oxford, N.C. 27565; or to Watkins Volunteer Fire Department, c/o Virginia Parrott, 1380 Horseshoe Bend Road, Henderson, N.C. 27537. Arrangements are by Flowers Funeral Home.

Survivors include his wife, Marian Bryant Blackwell of the home; two daughters, Denise M. Fisher of Delaware and Felicia Blackwell of Maryland; four sons, Dennis Emery of Arizona, Brian Blackwell of Delaware, Winston Blackwell Jr. of Maryland and Joseph Blackwell of Rocky Mount; a sister, Mary Frances Jenkins of Boston; a brother, the Rev. Winston Blackwell of Henderson; nine grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and a great-great-grandchild. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer and Diabetic Association. The family is receiving friends at the residence.

Arrangements are by Davis-Royster Funeral Service.

Paid Obituary

Alice D. Hargrove KITTRELL — Alice D. Hargrove, 57, of 390 S. Chavis Road, Lot 12, died Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009, at her home. Arrangements are by Wright Funeral Home in Oxford.

Doris L. McCray ROUGEMONT — Doris L. McCray, 71, of 5659 Days Mill Road, died Monday, Dec. 7, 2009, at her home. Funeral arrangements will be announced later by Betts and Son Funeral Home in Oxford.

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

WARREN, from page one Andrews, Cindy Stegall and Yvonne Sharpes--Deputy Tax Collectors. • Karen Towns--Delinquent Tax Collector. The commissioners approved four depositories for Warren County funds: First Citizens Bank & Trust Company, Warrenton; Branch Banking & Trust Company, Warrenton; N.C. Capital Management Trust, Charlotte; and Southern Bank, Norlina. After adjourning the organizational meeting, Chairman Richardson called the regular monthly meeting to order. The commissioners appointed Zaida White to the position of Veterans Administrator at an annual salary of $35,000, to take effect Dec. 16. White, a Manson resident, is a U.S. Army veteran with more than 20 years of service. She previously served as Warren County Veterans Administrator from 2004 to 2007, leaving the position due to illness. The commissioners approved a plan to transfer responsibility for the Child Support Enforcement Office from the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services to Warren County, as required by the N.C. General Assembly. In their September meeting, the commissioners had designated the Warren County Department of

Social Services as the agency to have administrative oversight of the operation of the CSE Program. The plan calls for the CSE Office to remain in its current location at 307 N. Main St., Warrenton, at least for the first year of county government operation. The plan anticipates implementing the CSE Program in Warren County on July 1, 2010. The commissioners approved a request from County Manager Linda Worth to provide an additional $32,000 to make repairs to the front roofs and deck of the National Guard Armory. Cost considerations had caused this work to be deleted from the original contract to renovate the armory, but recent rains indicated that the current roofs are not adequate. Mike Kilian of Kilian Engineering, lead contractor for the project, told The Daily Dispatch that the work was essential before interior work begins. The additional funds will come from the county’s fund balance. At the request of Public Utilities Director Macon Robertson, the commissioners approved a resolution authorizing the county to enter into a contract to sell treated water to the town of Littleton at the rate of $2.56 per 1,000 gallons, the amount not to exceed 120,000 gallons per day.

Contact the writer at dirvine@ hendersondispatch.com.

Doctor who attended JFK in Dallas has died DALLAS (AP) — Dr. Malcolm Oliver Perry II, who attended to President John F. Kennedy at Parkland Memorial Hospital after he was shot in Dallas on Nov. 22, 1963, has died. He was 80. The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, the teaching hospital for Parkland, said Monday that Perry died Saturday in

Tyler after a battle with lung cancer. The vascular surgeon also was one of the doctors to operate on presidential assassin Lee Harvey Oswald, who was

shot two days after Kennedy’s death by Jack Ruby. After a long career, he retired in 2000 as professor emeritus of surgery at UT Southwestern.

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TRUCK STOP, from page one Road interchange to the N.C. 39/Andrews Avenue interchange, along parts of the north and south sides of Ross Mill Road adjacent to Interstate 85 and along part of the north side of Warrenton Road northeast of the intersection of Garnett Street. There is what is called an I-1 district for manufacturing, storage and wholesale purposes. Most of those districts are along Bypass U.S. 1 from the Newton Dairy Road overpass to near the Warrenton Road interchange and along I-85 northeast of the Spring Valley Road overpass toward the Satterwhite Point

The commissioners approved a contract between Warren County Senior Center and the Warren County Schools Nutrition Program to provide catering services to the Senior Center, as requested by Senior Center Director Arnetta Yancey. Prices agreed upon are $3.75 per congregate meal, $3.75 per home-delivered meal and $3.00 per cold boxed meal. The commissioners also approved a resolution establishing an Advisory Council for the Senior Center. At the request of Recreation Director Richard “Dickie” Williams, the commissioners approved a grant application to the N.C. Parks and Recreation Trust Fund to make improvements at Magnolia Ernest Recreation Park at a cost of $136,990. Warren County’s share will be $68,495, which will be included in the 2010-2011 fiscal year budget. The commissioners accepted a bid of $22,855 for tax foreclosed property at 1722 Tower Road, Norlina. The bid by Joseph Mustian of Warrenton was the highest of six bids received. The commissioners also approved the sale through a sealed-bid auction of three small plots of land that are no longer needed by the county.

“Millie wishes you Happy Holidays and thanks you for your business in 2009.”

interchange. The amendment was prepared by a committee of the board and sent to City Attorney John Zollicoffer. No citizen on Monday spoke for or against the proposal.

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STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA UTILITIES COMMISSION RALEIGH

Director: Lindsay Smith • Hours 6:30am-6:00pm

DOCKET NO. E-100, SUB 118

DOCKET NO. E-100, SUB 124

BEFORE THE NORTH CAROLINA UTILITIES COMMISSION In the Matter of ) Investigation of Integrated Resource ) Planning in North Carolina – 2008 and 2009 ) NOTICE OF HEARINGS

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NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the North Carolina Utilities Commission (Commission) has scheduled hearings in conjunction with the Commission’s review and evaluation of Integrated Resource Planning (IRP) in North Carolina. The purpose of the review and evaluation is to ensure that each regulated electric utility operating in North Carolina is developing reliable projections of the long range demands for electricity in its service area, and is developing a combination of reliable resource options for meeting the anticipated demands in a cost-effective manner. IRP is intended to identify those electric resource options which can be obtained at least cost to ratepayers in North Carolina consistent with adequate, reliable electric service. IRP considers conservation, efficiency, load management, and other demand-side programs alternatives in the selection of resource options. In addition, new rules require that electric power suppliers include their plans for meeting customer electric needs via renewable energy resources and energy efficiency programs. A public hearing for the convenience of public witnesses and solely for the purpose of taking nonexpert public witness testimony is hereby scheduled as follows: Raleigh: 7:00 p.m., on Monday, March 15, 2010, Commission Hearing Room 2115, Dobbs Building, 430 North Salisbury Street, Raleigh, North Carolina. During the public hearing to be held in this docket, the Commission will receive testimony from nonexpert public witnesses with respect to the most current IRPs (including renewable energy and energy efficiency plans) filed for 2009, by Carolina Power & Light Company d/b/a Progress Energy Carolinas, Inc. (PEC); Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC (Duke); Virginia Electric and Power Company d/b/a Dominion North Carolina Power (DNCP); North Carolina Electric Membership Corporation, Piedmont EMC, Rutherford EMC, EnergyUnited EMC, and Haywood EMC. In addition, during the public hearing, the Commission will receive testimony from nonexpert public witnesses with respect to the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standard (REPS) compliance plans filed by GreenCo Solutions, Inc. and Halifax EMC. In addition to the public hearing, the Commission has scheduled an evidentiary hearing which will be convened in Commission Hearing Room 2115 in Raleigh on Tuesday, March 16, 2010, at 9:30 a.m. for the specific purpose of considering the 2009 IRPs and REPS compliance plans filed by Duke, PEC, and DNCP. During this hearing, the Commission will receive the expert testimony from witnesses for Duke, PEC, DNCP, the Public Staff, and other intervenors.

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Anyone wishing to review the IRPs and REPS compliance plans filed by the utilities may do so either at the Commission’s website, www.ncuc.net, by selecting the Docket Information tab and entering Docket Nos. E-100, Sub 118 or E-100, Sub 124, or at the Office of the Chief Clerk of the Commission, Dobbs Building, 430 North Salisbury Street, Raleigh, North Carolina. Upon request, the Chief Clerk will place copies of the IRPs, compliance plans and any other documents filed in this proceeding in centrally-located public libraries where they may be copied without prohibition. Such a request may be made by writing to the Chief Clerk, North Carolina Utilities Commission, 4325 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-4325, by giving the name and address of the library to which the information is to be mailed. Persons desiring to send written statements to inform the Commission of their positions in the matter should address their statements to: Chief Clerk North Carolina Utilities Commission 4325 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-4325 Petitions to intervene shall be filed no later than Friday, February 12, 2010, in conformity with applicable Commission rules. The Public Staff - North Carolina Utilities Commission, through its Executive Director, is required by statute to represent the using and consuming public in proceedings before the Commission. Written statements to the Public Staff should be addressed to: Robert P. Gruber, Executive Director Public Staff - North Carolina Utilities Commission 4326 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-4326 The Attorney General is also authorized by statute to represent the using and consuming public in proceedings before the Commission. Statements to the Attorney General should be addressed to: The Honorable Roy Cooper Attorney General of North Carolina c/o Utilities Section 9001 Mail Service Center Raleigh, NC 27699-9001 ISSUED BY ORDER OF THE COMMISSION.

This the 19th day of October, 2009.

NORTH CAROLINA UTILITIES COMMISSION Gail L. Mount, Deputy Clerk

Business & Farm

The Daily Dispatch

Consumer borrowing falls for ninth straight month WASHINGTON — Americans borrowed less for a record ninth straight month in October, another sign that consumer spending will remain weak, making it harder for the economy to mount a sustained rebound. Consumer credit fell at an annual rate of $3.51 billion in October, the Federal Reserve said Monday. Economists expected a $9.3 billion decline. Demand for revolving credit, the category that includes credit cards, fell 9.3 percent, while borrowing in the category that includes auto loans rose at an annual rate of 2.6 percent. Americans are borrowing less as they try to replenish depleted investments. Many are finding it hard to get credit as banks, hit by the worst financial crisis since the 1930s, have tightened lending standards. The 2.6 percent rise in the category that includes car loans reflected a rebound in auto sales in October after they fell sharply in September. That drop followed a surge in auto sales in August as consumers rushed to take advantage of the government’s popular Cash for Clunkers incentives before it expired. While economists have worried for years about the low rate of U.S. savings, the concern is that consumers could derail the recovery if they start saving too much of their incomes. Consumer spending

10,000 8,000

+1.21 A

10,390.11

O High 10,443.16

Low 10,360.18

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

O High 2,201.42

Pct. change from previous: -0.22%

Dec. 7, 2009

-2.73 1,103.25

billion in September. The 9.3 percent plunge in the credit card category followed drops of 10.5 percent in September, and 10.6 percent in August. In all, credit card borrowing has fallen for a record 13 straight months. The 2.6 percent rise in the category that includes auto loans followed a 0.6 percent drop in September. According to sales results released last week, a diverse group of stores including Macy’s Inc., Saks Inc., Abercrombie & Fitch Co. and Target Corp. posted sharper-thanexpected sales declines in November, translating into a rocky start for the holiday shopping season. The Fed’s credit report excludes home loans and home equity mortgages, only covering borrowing that is not secured by real estate. The previous record of seven consecutive consumer borrowing declines was set in 1943 and again in 1991.

Relations. Zikerria Bellamy claims two McDonald’s managers refused to interview her after she applied for a job. She also says one of the managers later left her a voicemail message that included a gay slur. The 17-year-old Bellamy is male but says she has

been living as a woman for about six years. A spokeswoman says McDonald’s planned to issue a statement later Monday. The New York-based Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund filed the complaint on Bellamy’s behalf.

request was the only way to the blog posts, status updates and other information that Google had indexed since the previous query. To stay on top of what’s

O High 1,110.72

Pct. change from previous: -0.25%

1,400

Low 2,183.13

Standard & Poor’s 500

accounts for 70 percent of total economic activity. Consumers have been reluctant to spend in large part because the labor market has been so weak. The government reported Friday that the unemployment rate improved slightly in November, dropping to 10 percent, after hitting a 26-year high of 10.2 percent in October. Analysts, however, cautioned that they expect the jobs recovery to remain lackluster in coming months because the overall economy will be growing at rates that are too modest to support solid growth. Many analysts believe the unemployment rate will resume rising in coming months, hitting a peak of around 10.5 percent, by next summer before starting to improve. The 1.7 percent fall in overall consumer borrowing left that total at an annual rate of $2.48 trillion in October. The $3.51 billion fall in October followed a decline of $8.77

7,000

2,400

2,189.61

In this March 27 file photo,the Federal Reserve Building on Constitution Avenue in Washington is seen. The Federal Reserve said Monday consumers borrowed less for a record ninth straight month in October.

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

9,000

-4.74

Google search results to include ‘real-time’ data MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. (AP) — Google will begin to automatically update its search results to include relevant information within a few seconds after the content is recorded in its Web index. Provided By: TheServices “real-time” search feature unveiled Monday marks a major step in Google’s ambition to provide a comprehensive look at what people are discussing online as quickly as possible. The fresh information will scroll across a section of the main results page; normally, a new search

Dow Jones industrials

Nasdaq composite

AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite

Stocks

11,000

Dec. 7, 2009

Transgender teen: McDonald’s refused to hire me TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — A transgender teen in Florida is saying that a McDonald’s restaurant refused to let her interview for a job. A discrimination complaint against the restaurant in Orlando was filed Monday with the Florida Commission on Human

Area

A DAY ON WALL STREET

Pct. change from previous: +0.01%

By MARTIN CRUTSINGER AP Economics Writer

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

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

Low 1,100.83

SOURCE: SunGard

MARKET ROUNDUP 120709: Market

Currencies & etals charts show Dow,M S&P 500, and

Nasdaq; stand-alone; 2c x 4 1/2 inches; 96 mm x 114 mm; staff Aluminum - $.9552 per lb., London Metal NEW YORK (AP) — Key currency exEditors: 5:25:06 PM EST change rates Monday: All figures as of: Exch. close; Coppermay -$3.1863 Cathode full plate, LME. NOTE: Figures reflect market fluctuations after not match other AP content Copper $3.1850 N.Y. Merc spot Mon. Dollar vs: ExchgRate PvsDay Lead - $2343.00 metric ton, London Metal Yen 89.48 90.70 Exch. Euro $1.4823 $1.4827 Zinc - $1.0672 per lb., London Metal Exch. Pound $1.6439 $1.6429 Gold - $1142.50 Handy & Harman (only Swiss franc 1.0192 0.0188 daily quote). Canadian dollar 1.0531 1.0589 Gold - $1163.40 troy oz., NY Merc spot Mexican peso 12.6500 12.6600 Mon. Metal Price PvsDay Silver - $18.000 Handy & Harman (only NY Merc Gold $1163.40 $1168.80 daily quote). Silver - $18.336 troy oz., N.Y. Merc spot NY HSBC Bank US $1163.00 $1151.00 NY Merc Silver $18.336 $18.496 Mon. Platinum -$1432.00 troy oz., N.Y. (contract). Nonferrous Platinum -$1444.60 troy oz., N.Y. Merc spot NEW YORK (AP) — Spot nonferrous metal Mon. n.q.-not quoted, n.a.-not available r-revised prices Monday:

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

56.51 27.97 50.07 15.89 25.86 57.87 30.85 17.38 73.77 8.91 16.08 28.22 127.04 64.37 24.81 3.16 6.44 22.78 3.41 64.23 19.37 62.47 40.94 5.04 52.63 53.94 18.97 4.18 22.62 49.48 33.25 48.52 54.93 26.36 4.13 78.60

Creditors: Who owns N.C. charter airline? WINSTON-SALEM (AP) — Three creditors who say they are owed nearly $5 million want a bankruptcy court to determine who owns a struggling North Carolina charter airline company. The Winston-Salem Journal reports that a bankruptcy trustee

expected to be named this week will have to determine who owns Pace Airlines Inc. That has been a mystery since late October, when a Pace attorney said William Rodgers no longer owned the company. Rodgers acquired ownership in May from the estate of Hooters restaurants

founder Bob Brooks, who flew under the name Hooters Air. Rodgers promised to pay $9 million and take over $6 million in debt. Rodgers was charged with a felony in September for willful failure to pay group health-insurance premiums for his employees.

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Opinion

The Daily Dispatch

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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 For it [is] the jubile; it shall be holy unto you: ye shall eat the increase thereof out of the field. In the year of this jubile ye shall return every man unto his possession. And if thou sell ought unto thy neighbour, or buyest [ought] of thy neighbour’s hand, ye shall not oppress one another: According to the number of years after the jubile thou shalt buy of thy neighbour, [and] according unto the number of years of the fruits he shall sell unto thee: According to the multitude of years thou shalt increase the price thereof, and according to the fewness of years thou shalt diminish the price of it: for [according] to the number [of the years] of the fruits doth he sell unto thee. Ye shall not therefore oppress one another; but thou shalt fear thy God: for I [am] the Lord your God. Wherefore ye shall do my statutes, and keep my judgments, and do them; and ye shall dwell in the land in safety. And the land shall yield her fruit, and ye shall eat your fill, and dwell therein in safety. Leviticus 25:12-19

Our Opinion

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

The things we do for fame December is not even halfway over, but I already know the big story of the last 12 months: 2009 will be remembered as the year we sold our souls for fame. There was the Octomom, whose thirst for attention led her to auction her life — and her 14 children — to the cameras and the Web. There was the Balloon Boy family — so obsessed with securing a reality TV series that they faked a disaster involving their own son. There were the State-Gate Crashers, who, with cameras chronicling them right to the door, weaseled their way into a White House dinner. And we can’t begin to list all the pseudo, wanna-be and semi-celebrities who shamelessly threw themselves into the limelight, from the Gosselins to the endless stream of Michael Jackson mourners to the gyrating, guy-kissing Adam Lambert, who seems to grow in stature with each show that cancels him. Lambert, an “American Idol” runner-up, is one of Barbara Walters’ most fascinating people of the year. Really? For what?

Goodbye modesty Doesn’t matter. We’ve reached the point where the “what” is superfluous to the “wow.” So people flock to learn more about the cocktail waitress who last week claimed to have had a long affair with Tiger Woods, and while Woods is chided for his alleged infidelity, no one seems to question why this woman chose to get involved with one of Mitch the most Albom famous

married people on the planet. Does it shock you to learn she’s a minor figure on a reality TV show herself? Why isn’t the lust for a headline as decried as the lust for flesh? It’s as if fame for fame’s sake is now an accepted motivation. And this is where the world gets dangerous. Because right now, there are still some people left who remember when modesty and shame kept you from certain behaviors. Still some people Tribune Media Services

who recall when you wouldn’t endanger children, risk security or soil your family name with unflattering attention. But those people are getting gray and old. And young people today see fame as not only everything, but the only thing. So YouTube is stuffed with a million videos of people hoping to become household names. And entities like TMZ and RadarOnline, instead of being criticized for invading privacy then peddling the results, are growing in popularity with each salacious story. “American Idol” is now, incredibly, almost seen as wholesome, instead of a packaged, calculating money-making machine. And people we once respected for their accomplishments now seem hell-bent on landing a “Dancing With the Stars” appearance. Hello narcissism Once, as an experiment, I walked around a major sporting event with a camera crew. There was no purpose to the filming except to see how people reacted differently when you had a camera. I remember looking at the footage later and seeing people’s expressions change, their smiles widen, their eyes grow interested when the camera caught them.

It was like being under the water when Narcissus caught his reflection. I found it scary. And now I really find it scary. Because we’re heading towards a time when nobody shakes a head or clucks a tongue at this stuff anymore, where today’s kids are tomorrow’s adults who will never have known a world without Perez Hilton or Jon and Kate, where you wouldn’t do anything for five minutes of attention. Just as this country was once a place where working people explained unenviable jobs with “I have to feed my family,” now the thinking is “I have to feed my fame.” And that can lead you to almost anything: faking your son being trapped in a balloon, giving birth to a flock of babies you can’t take care of, or crashing the security at a presidential dinner. It’s the Story of the Year. When the Gatecrashers were exposed as posers, Michaele Salahi told the “Today Show”: “Our lives have been destroyed, everything we’ve worked for. ... For me, 44 years, just destroyed.” But she was talking into a TV camera. How’s that for irony?

Putting brakes on recidivism The Clean Up Henderson Committee continues to plug away at addressing appearance-related issues that put a blemish on the city and its neighborhoods. Last Wednesday’s meeting provided a forum for city officials to shine a light on the unfortunate circumstance of vandals destroying street signs by painting on them, stripping them from their poles and, in some cases, pulling them the signs and poles and tossing them aside. Those signs include a few stop signs, according to Linda Leyen, the city’s Public Works director. As parents, we’ve preached to our children about proceeding with caution through an intersection even when they have the right-of-way for passage. Just because there’s no stop sign at the intersection, it doesn’t mean that someone else won’t be running that stop sign intentionally or accidentally. It’s very scary to think that someone would be pulling up stop signs around town. Motorists would be wise to exercise extra caution when traveling through unfamiliar intersections. The police chief was at the meeting, and the talk at the brief session took on a more philosophical tone as he offered a law enforcement officer’s perspective on vandals, thieves and criminals in general. The biggest challenge for police, Chief Keith Sidwell told the committee, is the “recidivist.” Those are the folks who have a tendency to lapse into a previous pattern of behavior, especially a tendency to return to criminal habits. They are the people who are charged with crimes and then continue to commit crimes again and again after they have made bail, the chief said in an exchange with the Clean Up Henderson Committee chairwoman Juanita Somerville. Recidivism is a situation that his department has brought to the attention of local judges. “We are hoping to get some relief from that in the future,” he said. With the downtown of the economy cited by the committee chair as a contributor to local crime, Sidwell offered his opinion that, “If you have the ability to work, and everybody at this table does, then you should work. If you cannot, assistance is here for you.” “You do have to apply for it,” he continued, whether in reference to the assistance or to a job in general, “but coming from meager upbringings myself, it was never an excuse.” Some people simply don’t have the upbringing, education or determination to move forward. Instead, Somerville offered, they look for excuses. The chief countered that the jails are there for those folks whose excuses include criminal activity when times are tough. We think the chief is on the right track. It’s time for the revolving door for criminals to slam shut. Henderson’s surely not alone with these issues of unemployment and crime, vandalism and break-ins, but that’s no reason that we can’t solve these problems. We’re hoping, too, that the police – and law-abiding citizens – get some relief from the judicial system. To continue to tolerate this revolving door of criminal activity is like driving through an intersection without looking either way – or considering that someone may have pulled up your stop sign.

Now it’s Obama’s Afghan war Generals are notorious for fighting each new war the way they should have fought the last one. President Obama seems to have picked up that tendency as he orders a troop surge in Afghanistan, a strategy that he rejected in Iraq until it worked. Experience is the best teacher, but every war is different. As we became bogged down in post-Saddam Hussein Iraq, I was one of many critics who called for the George Aiken remedy. The late Vermont Republican senator famously suggested as early in the Vietnam War that we declare victory and bring our troops home. In Iraq, a troop surge, which then-Senator Obama opposed, turned the tide. It gave Iraq enough stability and Americans enough breathing room for our troops to begin our pullback and withdrawal, which still continues. Now Obama is employing a surge of his own in Afghanistan. I hope it works. Afghanistan is very different from Iraq. Yet Obama’s long-standing support for the Afghan war as “a war of necessity” moved him to give the war and the government of President Hamid Karzai another chance. He called for 30,000 more troops in Afghanistan before beginning a withdrawal, depending on “conditions on the ground” 18 months later. What if the Taliban simply fade back and bide their time until Obama’s deadline arrives? No problem, a high-ranking White House official said in a briefing with columnists before the speech; the top priority of the surge is

to break the Taliban’s momentum long enough to grow the Afghan military from its current strength of 92,000 to as many as 260,000. If the Taliban take a break, so much the better. Obama could have taken the Aiken route, declared victory in Afghanistan based on our rout of al-Qaida and begun an immediate withdrawal. Instead, he is making the war his own at a time when public opinion, especially among his fellow Democrats, has soured on it. They have good Clarence reasons: The war’s Page original purpose of chasing Osama bin Laden and al-Qaida after the Sept. 11 attacks has faded. Al-Qaida’s leaders fled, apparently to neighboring Pakistan, where our CIA has been picking them off with high-flying robot Predator drones. The Karzai government is infested with corruption. While the U.S. was focused on Iraq, the Taliban have reemerged to pose a possible threat to the Kabul government, which has little control of its own nation outside the capital city of Kabul. And, back home, Americans feel more pressing matters such as jobs, the economy, deficits and the health care debate. Obama took all that into Tribune Media Services

account in a notably sober, yet internally conflicted Afghanistan policy speech at West Point. This is still a war in which “the common security of the world” is “at stake,” he said. Yet, he also said, if it’s not working in 18 months we’re going to start packing up to go home. In classic Obama fashion, he tried to include everybody’s views. The result was one of the least stirring speeches with which any commander-in-chief has sent troops to war. Still his surge could work, which would be a blessing. AlQaida must be denied a safe haven that the Taliban might restore if they topple Karzai’s shaky government. The same is true of Pakistan next door, which also poses a potential nuclear threat. Obama’s deadline sends a signal to Afghans that we don’t plan to stay long, which tends to be OK with them after fending off centuries of imperial invaders. A deadline also puts Karzai, who won reelection amid widespread vote fraud, on notice to clean up his act and his government. Nothing concentrates the mind like a firm deadline, especially with the prospect of being hanged in a Taliban takeover. Whether this surge works or not, America’s larger war against al-Qaida-style terrorism is being fought less like Gen. George Patton than James Bond. Beefed-up human intelligence collection has resulted in Predator strikes that have killed at least a dozen al-Qaida leaders in recent months, the Pentagon says. Obama’s Afghan surge

includes an expanded CIA drone program in Pakistan’s lawless tribal areas, the New York Times reports, to target hideouts of Afghan Taliban leaders. Like his surge, Obama’s secret war on terror, including drones, has stirred protests on his left for taking out civilian casualties. On that sad score, at least drones are preferable to, say, B-52 bombers. A smart “war against terror” is fundamentally a big international police action against ideologically driven criminals. Before we deploy our military, we need to employ science and good detective work. When the enemy is always looking for new weapons, so must we. (E-mail Clarence Page at cpage@tribune.com, or write to him c/o Tribune Media Services, 2225 Kenmore Ave., Suite 114, Buffalo, NY 14207.)

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The Daily Dispatch

Dear Abby

News From The Light Side TUESDAY Morning / Early Afternoon 12/8/09

On this date: In 1854, Pope Pius IX proclaimed the Catholic dogma of the Immaculate Conception, which holds that Mary, the mother of Jesus, was free of original sin from the moment of her own conception. In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln announced his plan for the reconstruction of the South. In 1949, the Chinese Nationalist government moved from the Chinese mainland to Formosa as the Communists pressed their attacks. In 1978, former Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir died in Jerusalem at age 80. In 1980, rock star John Lennon was shot to death outside his New York City apartment building by Mark David Chapman, an apparently deranged fan. In 1982, a man demanding an end to nuclear weapons held the Washington Monument hostage, threatening to blow it up with explosives he claimed were inside a van. (After a 10-hour standoff, Norman D. Mayer was shot dead by police; it turned out there were no explosives.) Ten years ago: A Memphis, Tenn., jury hearing a lawsuit filed by the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s family found that the civil rights leader had been the victim of a vast murder

One year ago: In a startling about-face, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed told the Guantanamo war crimes tribunal he would confess to masterminding the Sept. 11 attacks; four other men also abandoned their defenses. (The Obama administration has since decided to try the defendants in federal civilian court.) Today’s Birthdays: Actor-director Maximilian Schell is 79. Actor James MacArthur is 72. Flutist James Galway is 70. Singer Jerry Butler is 70. Pop musician Bobby Elliott (The Hollies) is 68. Actress Mary Woronov is 66. Actor John Rubinstein is 63. Rock singermusician Gregg Allman is 62. Reggae singer Toots Hibbert (Toots and the Maytals) is 61. Actress Kim Basinger is 56. Rock musician Warren Cuccurullo is 53. Rock musician Phil Collen (Def Leppard) is 52. Country singer Marty Raybon is 50. Rock musician Marty Friedman is 47. Actor Wendell Pierce is 46. Actress Teri Hatcher is 45. Rapper Bushwick Bill (The Geto Boys) is 43. Singer Sinead O’Connor is 43. Actor Matthew Laborteaux is 43. Rock musician Ryan Newell (Sister Hazel) is 37. Actor Dominic Monaghan is 33. Actor Ian Somerhalder is 31. Rock singer Ingrid Michaelson is 30.

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