The Daily Dispatch - Saturday, December 26, 2009 by The Daily Dispatch

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Inside Today SATURDAY, December 26, 2009

Volume XCV, No. 302

(252) 436-2700

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Trio of veterans undecided on 2010 run

Passenger helps subdue man Granville commissioners mull re-election campaigns as primaries near in failed attack Attempt to blow up plane believed to have al-Qaida link By JIM IRWIN, LARA JAKES and LARRY MARGASAK Associated Press Writers

DETROIT (AP) — A Northwest Airlines passenger from Nigeria, who said he was acting on al-Qaida’s instructions, set off an explosive device Friday in a failed terrorist attack on the plane as it was landing in Detroit, federal officials said. Flight 253 with 278 passengers aboard was 20 minutes from the airport when it sounded like a firecracker had exploded, witnesses said. One passenger jumped over others and tried to subdue the man. Shortly afterward, the suspect was taken to a front row seat with his pants cut off and his legs burned. The White House said it believed it was an attempted act of terrorism and stricter security measures were quickly imposed on airline travel, but were not specified. Law enforcement officials identified the suspect as Umar Farouk Abdul Mutallab. Others had slightly different spellings. One law enforcement source said the man claimed to have been instructed by al-Qaida to detonate the plane over U.S. soil. “It sounded like a firecracker in a pillowcase,” said Peter Smith, a passenger from the Netherlands. “First there was a pop, and Please see TERRORIST, page 3A

Index Our Hometown . . . . . 2A Business & Farm. . . . 5A Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . 8A Light Side . . . . . . . . . 9A Sports. . . . . . . . . . 1-3B Faith. . . . . . . . . . . . 1-4C Comics . . . . . . . . . 5-6C Classifieds. . . . . . . 7-8C

Weather Today Partly cloudy

High: 57 Low: 30

Sunday Mostly sunny

High: 49 Low: 23

Details, 3A

Deaths Dabney Orlanda Small, 45 Henderson Irvin U. Nutt Jr., 82 Saimaya William, 6 months Richmond, Va. James M. Terry, 59 Stem Helen R.S. Martine, 79

By WILLIAM F. WEST Daily Dispatch Writer

Three Granville County commissioners up for re-election are undecided about whether they will seek another four-year term. “I can’t answer your question right now because I’ve got a lot of soul searching to do,” James Lumpkins said when asked by the newspaper, noting his nearly three decades of public service in the county. “I’m giving it a lot of

deep considhe is in the eration.” consider“By midation stage, January but does not I will say have an estiyes or no,” mated time Lumpkins when he will said. make his Alligood Averette Lumpkins Ron Aldecision. ligood told the newspaper that he The political party primaries will make his decision sometime are May 4, with the general electhe latter part of next month. tion to be Nov. 2. The opening for The commission’s senior member, filing by candidates seeking to Pete Averette, told the newspaper enter the primaries is noon Feb. 8,

with the qualifying deadline being noon Feb. 26. Those seeking to campaign as unaffiliated candidates must file a petition at or before noon on the last Friday in June preceding the general election. Granville County’s seven commissioners are all Democrats who serve staggered terms. Each represents a district. Averette, 77, serves District 6,

Please see TRIO, page 3A

Sheriff to seek full term Wilkins took top post when Smith retired By WILLIAM F. WEST Daily Dispatch Writer Submitted photo

Santa’s helpers at the Vance County Sheriff’s Office, including, from left, Major Charles Sparrow, Karen Callahan, Pat Ayscue, Captain James Baines and Sheriff Peter White gave away over 70 coats for Christmas. Names were provided by the Department of Social Services. The sheriff and staff delivered coats if families couldn’t pick them up.

Friends help Santa at Christmas time By DISPATCH STAFF

The Henderson Police Department for the past three years has distributed Christmas presents and clothing to children who are less fortunate. With the assistance of local businesses and the HPD Power Shift, the department was able to provide Christmas this year for 26 children ranging in age from two months to 17 years. The gifts included MP3 players, skates, bicycles, clothing and various toys. Officers of the Power Shift went to the parents of the children to find out what each needed. The gifts were delivered to children’s homes as gifts from Santa.

Submitted photo

Officer Jessica West of the Henderson Police Department delivers Christmas presents to less fortunate children.

Winter coats for 50 students in Warren By DAVID IRVINE Daily Dispatch Writer

WARRENTON — Fifty students in Warren County Schools will be a little warmer this winter, thanks to a community effort sponsored by the Warren County Training School/North Warren High School Alumni & Friends Association. The Alumni Association had the cooperation of Warren County Memorial Library to place a gift tree in the library. Hanging on the tree were cards with the vital statistics of 50 students who had been identified by school staff members

as in need of winter coats. The students were not identified by name. Citizens used the cards to buy coats that were appropriate in terms of age, gender and size. The project resulted in 6o donated coats. In addition, local merchants, businesses and individuals donated $400. After making sure that each of the 50 students had received a coat, the 10 remaining coats were placed in a coat closet until additional needs are identified. WCTS/NWHS&F Association President Thomas A. Harris expressed thanks for newspaper coverage in the Daily Dispatch

and Warren Record. In addition, “Radio station WARR in Warrenton gave us a week of announcing the event on the air,” he added. “The Alumni Association wishes to thank each and every one who donated, participated and helped in any way whatsoever,” Harris continued. “This is just another way of giving back to the community that did so very much for so many of us as we were growing up in Warren County, and getting a quality education that stands tall today.” Contact the writer at dirvine@hendersondispatch.com.

OXFORD — Sheriff Brin Wilkins said he is seeking election to a full four-year term because “I love my job and I love serving the people of Granville County.” Wilkins, 49, a Democrat, has been with the Sheriff’s Department since 1989. Wilkins was chief deputy sheriff from 2002 until being sworn in July 1 as the county’s Wilkins top law enforcement officer, replacing the retiring David Smith. Smith joined the department in 1972 and had been the county’s top law enforcement officer since 1998. Smith announced his retirement May 4 in a letter to the County Commission and the commissioners later approved his recommendation that he be replaced by Wilkins. And Wilkins named Smith an auxiliary deputy. The primary election is set for May 4, with the general election to be Nov. 2. Wilkins is a life-long farmer and has served as director of Granville County Emergency Medical Services. Wilkins was elected county coroner in 1998. He served until 2002, when he and the County Commission successfully asked the General Assembly to abolish the coroner position because the posiPlease see SHERIFF, page 3A

Salvation Army major shot in front of three children By TOM PARSONS Associated Press Writer

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Obituaries, 4A A Salvation Army worker was shot and killed Christmas Eve in front of his three young children by a man who attempted to rob him outside the charity’s community center in North Little Rock, a

Salvation Army official said Friday. North Little Rock police said they were looking for the two men who accosted Salvation Army Maj. Philip Wise outside the community center about 4 p.m. Thursday. No arrests have been made. Wise, 40, had gone to the community center with

his children to pick up his wife — also a Salvation Army major — to drive to his mother’s home in West Virginia, said Maj. Harvey Johnson, area commander of Salvation Army. As Wise neared the side door, two men approached. Both men were carrying hand guns, police said. One demanded money

and shot Wise, Pulaski County Coroner Garland Camper told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Wise’s wife, Cindy, was inside the center and called 911. Blood stained the sidewalk outside the center Friday. The Wises had just adopted their children — ages 4, 6 and 8 — last

year, Johnson said. The three were siblings who came from an abusive family. They were receiving counseling after their father’s death, he said. Wise had worked for three years in Baring Cross, a low-income neighborhood troubled by gangs Please see SALVATION, page 4A

Our Hometown

The Daily Dispatch

Mark It Down Today Ridgeway Opry House — Performing this week are Julia Morton, Joyce Chisenhall, Matt Nelson, Ronald Puett, Jackie Turner, Donnie Gillam, Evylena Norwood, Freida & Delores, and Betsy & Allen Reid and the Home Folks, with guest band, The Warren County Travelers. Doors open at 6 p.m. Music starts at 7 p.m.

Sunday Blood drive — Marketplace Cinema will sponsor a blood drive from 2:30 to 7 p.m. at the theater on Beckford Drive. Appointments may be made in 15-minute increments. Every donor will receive a free movie pass plus other goodies. To schedule an appointment, call Nancy Jo Smith at (252) 4383892 or (252) 431-4563 or e-mail her at lighthouse@vance. net.

Wednesday Stroke support group — The Maria Parham Medical Center Stroke Support Group will meet from 3 to 4:30 p.m. in the Center for Rehab Conference Room of the Brodie Waddill Building at Maria Parham Medical Center. The group follows the National Stroke Association Discovery Circles program, a nationally recognized stroke support group format. Stroke survivors, families, friends and caregivers are invited to attend. Please contact Liz Karan at 436-1604 with any questions.

Saturday, December 26, 2009

Tips on planning for long-term change As holiday celebrations wind down, you may be considering changes that you want to make in the New Year. These lists often include resolutions to spend less; save more; organize your home, office or photos; lose weight; or Mary Helen be more Jones physically active. Cooperative As you Extension attempt to change old habits, it may be helpful to become aware of research theories about change and human behavior. Changes that people elect to make don’t happen suddenly, but in progressive steps at an individual’s own rate. These changes must come from inside the person rather than from external

sources. Stable, long-term change cannot be externally imposed.

Stages of change During pre-contemplation, the first stage of change, an individual is not considering change or may not even be aware of a need for change. There may need to be an external stimulus to alert the person of the need for change (for example, a doctor warns of the need to lose weight or the mortgage company threatens foreclosure). In the contemplation stage, the individual is thinking about changing, but has not taken action. Others may help by being supportive and encouraging. During the next stage, preparation, the person has taken some action to prepare for changing, such as reading food labels or collecting healthy recipes. A person in the action stage is performing the desired behavior, but has

Make plans now for a safe and sober holiday By GINA DeMENT Five County Mental Health

Holiday parties give people more chances to use drugs and alcohol. The result is an increase in drug and alcohol related tragedies. According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving, at least 50 percent of all deadly crashes that take place during the holiday season involve alcohol. These facts may mean that your child is more exposed to substance abuse – whether it’s an uncle who drinks too much or a friend who offers your child pot at a New Year’s Eve party. The incidence of alcohol poisoning of children is common during the holiday season. So, during this time, it is especially important that parents keep their children safe and talk with them about staying away from drugs and alcohol. Remember these important tips: • Let your child know what you expect. Tell your child that adults

may be drinking during the holidays but under no circumstances is he or she allowed to drink. • At you holiday gatherings, offer plenty of nonalcoholic drinks, foods and activities. • To lower the risk of alcohol poisoning, be sure to throw out partly empty alcoholic drinks. Children love to imitate adults, and if they have access to leftover drinks they may taste the contents. • Have a plan in place about what you and your family will do if you are at a party where there are people who have had too much to drink. • Model responsible behavior by making sure that guests who have been drinking do not drive. Why not create some substance free-holiday traditions for your family? It’s a great way to show your child that you can have fun during the holidays without alcohol or drugs. Here are some alcohol free holiday tips: • Plan a non-alcoholic

party with your child so that children learn that they can have fun without alcohol. Send out invitations with alcohol- and drug-free messages on them, and make sure guests know that yours will be a substance-free event. • Explain to your potential gift givers why you do not wish to receive holiday gifts of wine or other types of alcohol. This sets an example for your child. You are showing your child how to enjoy a safe, sober holiday season. The gift of an alcohol-free lifestyle lasts long after the holidays are over. • For your holiday meal, let your child help you prepare and serve traditional drinks without alcohol. You can make nonalcoholic cider, eggnog or punch. • If your older child is going to a holiday event, call ahead to make sure that the event will be alcohol or drug free. Check in with the party planners to see what measures are in

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Belief matters To change a behavior, individuals need to believe they can. The “theory of planned behavior” suggests that a person must believe that certain behaviors will result in a desired change. For example, if a person believes that drinking fewer sugar-sweetened drinks will result in weight loss, an individual is more likely to reduce or eliminate consumption of those beverages. Along with the belief that behavior will make a difference, a person must be supported by others or at least believe they are supported by others to take action. And thirdly, an individual must believe

that the action is within his control.

Weight loss challenge The second annual Eat Smart, Move More Weight Loss Challenge will begin with weigh-ins the week of Jan. 11-15. The challenge is open to teams of four adults (18 years or older) that live or work in Granville or Vance counties. Team participants will have ten weeks from weigh-in through March 22-26 (weigh-out week) to lose 10 pounds. Sponsors are the Granville-Vance District Health Department, Maria Parham Medical Center, and Granville Health System, who are organizing the event and providing cash prizes. Additional partners include Team Care Manual and Physical Therapy in Oxford, The Road to Fitness in Creedmoor, the City of Oxford, and MBMA Family Fitness Center in Henderson.

Tips from the Vance Co. Parenting Task Force

place to keep alcohol out. If you have trouble controlling your own substance use during the holidays, you should seek help. The Five County Mental Health Authority Helpline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week by calling 1-877-6193761. Source: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

Read to your baby Scientific studies have shown that the majority of brain development takes place within the first three years of life. When a child is born, his/her brain has about 100 billion nerve cells. Interactions during the first few years of life determine the way that the brain is structured to respond to

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not been doing it for six months or longer. When the individual has continued to perform the desired behavior consistently for six months or more without faltering, the maintenance stage has been achieved.

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From Page One

The Daily Dispatch

FIVE-DAY FORECAST FOR HENDERSON TODAY

TONIGHT

SUNDAY

Partly Cloudy

Mostly Sunny

57º

30º

49º 23º

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

Mostly Sunny

Sunny

Mostly Sunny

45º 22º

45º 24º

46º 22º

Almanac

Sun and Moon

Temperature

Sunrise today . . . . . .7:23 Sunset tonight . . . . .5:06 Moonrise today . . .12:43 Moonset today . . . . .1:51 Sunrise tomorrow . .7:24 Sunset tomorrow . . .5:06 Moonrise tomorrow .1:18 Moonset tomorrow . .2:55

Raleigh -Durham through 6 p.m. yest. High . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57 Low . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36 Normal High . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51 Normal Low . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31 Record High . . . . . . . . .75 in 1955 Record Low . . . . . . . . . .4 in 1983

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

Moon Phases

Precipitation Yesterday . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .0.51" Month to date . . . . . . . . . . . .5.62" Normal month to date . . . . .2.38" Year to date . . . . . . . . . . . . .39.96" Normal year to date . . . . . .42.39"

Full 12/31

New 1/15

Last 1/7

First 1/23

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

24-Hr. Lake Capacity Yest. Change Jordan 240 217.5 -0.5 Neuse Falls 264 254.4 -0.3

24-Hr. Capacity Yest. Change 203 199.9 -0.1 320 305.8 -0.4

Regional Weather Henderson 57/30

Winston-Salem Durham 57/30 52/28 Asheville 48/25

Rocky Mt. 60/32

Greensboro 53/29 Raleigh 58/31 Charlotte 55/29

Fayetteville 61/33

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

Cape Hatteras 61/43

Wilmington 63/33

Regional Cities Today

Sun.

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

48/25 41/22 54/30 56/30 48/28 52/28 57/30 63/34 45/24 61/33 61/34 53/29 63/35 61/36 48/25

53/29 62/36 62/33 59/32 62/37 62/40 61/40 64/35 58/31 53/30 60/32 60/32 58/31 63/33 52/28

s pc s s s s s mc pc s pc s pc pc s

41/24 35/22 49/24 49/24 42/26 46/25 50/24 48/31 38/22 53/28 54/30 47/24 56/32 56/33 42/24

pc s s s pc s s s mc 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 pc pc s pc pc mc pc s mc mc mc s mc s

47/24 57/32 55/31 55/30 57/33 54/36 54/40 55/33 50/25 44/22 50/26 52/26 50/25 58/31 46/24

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

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

Today’s National Map

Stationary Front

Warm Front

Low Pressure

The FBI and the Homeland Security Department issued an intelligence note on Nov. 20 about the threat picture for the 2009 holiday season from the American Thanksgiving holiday through Jan. 1. At the time, intelligence officials said they had no specific information about attack plans by al-Qaida or other terrorist groups. The intelligence note was obtained by The Associated Press. President Barack Obama was notified of the incident and discussed it with security officials, the White House said. It said he is monitoring the situation and receiving regular updates from his vacation spot in Hawaii. There was nothing out of the ordinary about Flight 253 on Friday until it was on final approach to Detroit, said Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Elizabeth Isham Cory. That is when the pilot declared an emergency and landed without incident shortly thereafter, Cory said. The plane landed at 12:51 p.m. EST. One U.S. intelligence official said the explosive

High Pressure

Yesterday’s National Extremes

which takes in most, but not all of, the rapidly growing part of the county east of Interstate 85 and south of N.C. 56. Averette has been a commissioner since 1980. He is a retired tobacco farmer. Alligood, 71, serves District 7, which includes Butner. Alligood has been a commissioner since 1992. He is retired from the N.C. Department of Crime Control and Public Safety. He was a state trooper

from 1961-83 and directed Butner Public Safety from 1983-92 and when Butner was a state-run municipality. He additionally is a Navy veteran, having served two years on a destroyer, the USS Stickell. Lumpkins, 68, serves District 2, which extends from the eastern part of Oxford and east of the Antioch community along the eastern side of U.S. 15 before taking in Stovall and part of the rural north central section of the county.

tion had become outdated. Police departments or the Sheriff’s Department are in charge of investigating suspicious deaths in the county, with autopsies performed by the N.C. Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Chapel Hill. Wilkins has been with Granville Search and Recovery since 1978 and is a past president and a past captain. His son, Holden,

who is a road deputy with the Sheriff’s Department, is president of Granville Search and Recovery for 2010. Law enforcement runs in the Wilkins family, with the sheriff’s late uncle, Archie Wilkins, having served as Oxford police chief. Contact the writer at bwest@ hendersondispatch.com.

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Lumpkins has been a commissioner since 1998. He served on the County Board of Education from 1978-96 and is also a former school board chairman. He has been retired for approximately nine years. He had been in the tobacco business for 25 years. He worked eight years at what was the Max Factor cosmetics plant and was one of a group of supervisors in charge of looking after warehousing,

SHERIFF, from page one

High: 83° in Brooks County, Texas Low: -21° in Glasgow, Mont.

One passenger from the flight was taken to the University of Michigan Medical Center in Ann Arbor, hospital spokeswoman Tracy Justice said. She didn’t know the person’s condition, or whether the person was a man or woman. She referred all inquiries to the FBI. Passenger Syed Jafri, a U.S. citizen who had flown from the United Arab Emirates, said the incident occurred during the plane’s descent. Jafri said he was seated three rows behind the passenger and said he saw a glow, and noticed a smoke smell. Then, he said, “a young man behind me jumped on him.” “Next thing you know, there was a lot of panic,” he said. “We encourage those with future travel plans to stay in touch with their airline and to visit www.tsa.gov for updates,” Homeland Security Department said in a statement. The department encouraged travelers to be observant and aware of their surroundings and report any suspicious behavior to law enforcement officials.

TRIO, from page one

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device was a mix of powder and liquid. It failed when the passenger tried to detonate it. The passenger was being questioned Friday evening. An intelligence source said the Nigerian passenger was being held and treated in an Ann Arbor, Mich., hospital. All the sources spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation was continuing. The official said an official determination of a terrorist act would have to come from the attorney general. The official added that additional security measures were being taken without raising the airline threat level, but declined to describe them. The White House was coordinating briefings for the president through the Homeland Security Department, the Transportation Security Administration and the FBI. A law enforcement source said the explosives may have been strapped to the man’s body but investigators weren’t immediately certain, partly because of the struggle with other passengers.

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Cold Front

then (there) was smoke.” At least one passenger acted heroically. Smith said the passenger, sitting opposite the man, climbed over passengers, went across the aisle and tried to restrain the man. The heroic passenger appeared to have been burned. The incident was reminiscent of convicted shoe bomber Richard Reid, who tried to destroy a transAtlantic flight in 2001 with explosives hidden in his shoes, but was subdued by other passengers. Reid is serving a life sentence. U.S. Rep. Peter King, ranking Republican member of the House of Representatives Homeland Security Committee, said the flight began in Nigeria and went through Amsterdam en route to Detroit. A statement from Delta, which acquired Northwest, said, “Upon approach to Detroit, a passenger caused a disturbance onboard Northwest Airlines Flight 253. The passenger was subdued immediately and the crew requested that law enforcement meet the flight upon arrival.”

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

TERRORIST, from page one

er Ev

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Saturday, December 26, 2009

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Local & Nation

The Daily Dispatch

Deaths Helen R.S. Martine STEM — Helen Ross Stallings Martine, 79, of Stem died Saturday, Dec. 19, 2009, at Durham Regional Hospital. Born May 6, 1930, she was preceded in death by a daughter, Deborah Rose Martine. Survivors include a daughteer, Susan Umstead; a son, Philip “Pete” McDowell; a brother, William Stallings; six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Eakes Funeral Home in Oxford is serving the McDowell family.

Orlanda Small DABNEY — Orlanda Small, 45, of 77 N. Barham Lane in the Dabney community died Saturday, Dec. 19, 2009 in Durham Regional Hospital. He was born in Vance County and was the son of Dorothy Belle Kearney Small and the late Woodrow Small Jr. He attended the public schools of Warren County and was a 1982 graduate of Warren High School. He was a former employee of the Hon Company in Louisburg until declining health. Chapel services will be conducted Sunday at 2 p.m. at Davis-Royster Funeral Service by the Rev. Shelton Carr. Burial will follow in Livingstone Christian Church Cemetery. Survivors include his wife, Sheila Justice Small; two daughters, Louwanda Justice and Adrina Small, both of Henderson; a son, Orlanda Ramon Small of Franklinton; a grandchild; his mother, Dorothy Kearney of Warrenton; two sisters, Vonda Kirkpatrick of Henderson and Crystal

Irvin U. Nutt, Jr. HENDERSON — Irvin Underwood Nutt, Jr., age 82, a resident of Senior Citizens Home, died Wednesday, December 23, 2009. Born in Granville County on October 22, 1927, he was the son of the late Irvin U. Nutt, Sr. and Dorothy Parrott Nutt. He was a Veteran of the United States Merchant Marines. He was employed with the former Clements Motor Company for 16 years and was retired from Roses Stores, Inc. where he worked for 30 years. For many seasons, he worked part time for the Kerr Lake States Parks and Recreational Area. Mr. Nutt was a former member of the Townsville Lions Club. He was a member of Island Creek Baptist Church where he served as Deacon, Sunday School Teacher, RA Leader, and softball coach. A memorial service will be held Sunday at 2 p.m. in the J. M. White Funeral Home Chapel by the Rev. Frank Sossamon and the Rev. Marshall Neathery. He is survived by one Small of Warrenton. The family will receive friends at the residence. The body will be on view today from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Funeral arrangements are by Davis-Royster Funeral Service.

James Milton Terry RICHMOND, Va. — James Milton Terry, 59, of Richmond died Friday, Dec. 18. Funeral arrangements will be announced by

daughter, Patricia N. Curl of Henderson; one son, Irvin Y. Nutt of Arizona; two grandchildren, Lynne Curl and Chris Curl; one brother, James “Jim” Nutt, and wife, Kay, of Henderson; his mother-in-law, Norma W. Harris, of Henderson; and his faithful companion “Miss Peanut”. He was preceded in death by his wife, Lucille Harris Nutt; and his son-in-law, Buck Curl. The family will receive friends immediately following the service on Sunday at J. M. White Funeral Home. At other times they will be at his home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 400 Oberlin Road, Suite 220, Raleigh, N. C. 27605 or the American Cancer Society, P. O. Box 914, Henderson, N. C. 27536. The family would like to thank all the special caregivers who helped the past five years with the care of their beloved father and grandfather. Arrangements are by J. M. White Funeral Home. Paid Obituary

Davis-Royster Funeral Service.

Saimaya William HENDERSON — Saimaya Deshauna William, 6 months old, died Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2009, at Duke Medical Center. The family will receive friends at the residence of Joyce W. Galloway, 3480 Hwy.39 North. Funeral arrangements will be announced by Davis-Royster Funeral Service.

Russian man wanted in N.C. slaying arrested in Colorado STALLINGS (AP) — Authorities say a Russian man wanted in a North Carolina murder case faces an extradition hearing on Monday in Colorado. Stallings police chief Larke Plyler said 32-yearold Bogdan Rudenko of Charlotte was arrested Friday as a fugitive from justice at a Colorado Springs, Colo. hotel. Plyler said there is a murder warrant for Rudenko in connection with the Dec. 20 killing of a Russian man whose body was found behind an auto body shop in Stallings. Plyler was unsure if Rudenko had an attorney. Police couldn’t confirm whether Rudenko is the minor league hockey player of the same name and age who last played for the defunct Twin City Cyclones in Winston-Salem in the 2008-2009 season.

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Firm gives $400,000 for re-enactment as state budget cut WASHINGTON CROSSING, N.J. (AP) — George Washington brought along a tourist for his Christmas Day ride across the Delaware River this year, and technology manufacturer Lockheed Martin brought its checkbook. After months of financial uncertainty, the 57th annual re-enactment of Washington’s daring Christmas 1776 crossing of the river — the trek that turned the tide of the Revolutionary War — took place without problems Friday. Thousands of spectators came out to hear Washington’s stand-in deliver stirring words to the troops and watch three boats make the crossing from Pennsylvania to New Jersey. The role of Washington was played by John Godzieba, a Pennsylvanian who has been a re-enactor for 17 years. It was the first time in three years that re-enactors were able to cross in boats. The past two years, the reenactment was thwarted by bad weather and high water levels, which forced re-enactors to walk across a bridge. During the crossing 233 years ago, boats ferried some 2,400 soldiers, 200 horses and 18 cannons across the river, and the troops marched 8 miles downriver and fell on Hessian mercenaries in the

AP Photo/Joseph Kaczmarek

In this Dec. 25, 2005, file photo re-enacter James Gibson, center, waves to spectators as he portrays Gen. George Washington, during the annual Christmas day of crossing of the Deleware river, in Washington Crossing, Pa. streets of Trenton. Thirty Hessians were killed, and two Continental soldiers froze to death on the march, but none died in the battle. The victory electrified the struggling nation and led to further military successes in Trenton and Princeton. Officials, businesses and residents had been scrambling to pay for this year’s re-enactment since they found out that state budget cuts imperiled it. Money problems likely will be less of an issue in years to come. At the event, Lockheed Martin Space Systems Co., of Newtown, Pa., pledged to donate $400,000 to the Washington Crossing Historical Park. The park is visited by more than 100,000 tourists each year, but state budget cuts have closed the visitor center on the Pennsylvania

side of the river. Lockheed Martin vice president and general manager Marshall Byrd also pledged a five-year commitment of volunteer support from the company’s 13,000 employees in the Delaware Valley area for park maintenance and operations. The company, which also has major operations in Denver and in Sunnyvale, Calif., specializes in human space flight systems, communications satellites and missile defense systems. Other Washington crossing fundraising campaigns included an auction by the new nonprofit Friends of Washington Crossing. Home builder Thomas Fischer, of Newtown, won the auction and paid $3,500 for the right to don period garb and take a seat in the lead boat for the re-enactment.

SALVATION, from page one and drugs, Johnson said. He ran youth programs, a food pantry and church services. “He was involved in the fabric of that community in a lot of different ways,” Johnson said. He described Wise as “a

big boy” who played “a big old tuba” in a brass ensemble and used his love of music to try help others. “He encouraged kids in music as an alternative to the life they were living,” he said.

Wise was originally from Weirton, W.Va., and his wife, Cindy, was from Charleston, W.Va. They met 16 years ago at a Salvation Army school in Atlanta, Johnson said. Both had worked for the Salvation Army ever since.

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Business & Farm

The Daily Dispatch

Saturday, December 26, 2009

Va. Tech, Wake Forest researchers study car safety for pregnant women By ZINIE CHEN SAMPSON Associated Press Writer

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Shifting the focus from infants and children in safety seats, researchers and car manufacturers are looking to prevent fetal deaths by making automobile travel safer for expectant mothers. Biomedical researchers are working with automakers to develop a computer-aided model of pregnant drivers and passengers so they can develop better crash-protection features in future vehicle designs. Stefan Duma, head of the Virginia Tech-Wake Forest University School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences in Blacksburg, Va., said the school recently completed a three-year research project, partly funded by Ford, to gather data about the tissue composition and dimensions of pregnant women and their fetuses. “We can develop restraint systems for any vehicle and any occupant, but we first have to see the injuries themselves, what happens to the placenta and uterus tissues during an accident,” said Duma, who has done research for a range of applications, including safety features for Blackhawk military helicopters. There are no official federal statistics kept on the number of fetal deaths in car accidents. But Duma says dif-

ferent groups estimate 300 to several thousand such deaths occur annually as a result of vehicle crashes — about four times the number of victims between infancy and 4 years old. Overall, about 27,000 vehicle occupants died in car crashes in 2008, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and auto accidents are the single largest cause of death for pregnant women. Researchers used data from computerized tomography, or CT, scans taken at Wake Forest’s hospital to determine the dimensions of a fetus, uterus and placenta at 30 weeks’ gestation. They also tested varying forces’ effects on actual uterine and placental tissue samples so they could devise a more accurate simulation of how crashes affect women and their fetuses. Ford safety researcher Stephen Rouhana says the data gathered during the project ultimately will be used to improve safety features in the company’s vehicles. Rouhana and his team have worked with a variety of crash-test dummies but they want to determine what happens inside a pregnant woman’s body during different accident scenarios. The majority of fetal deaths occur when the force of the crash tears the placenta from the uterus, which cuts off oxygen to the fetus.

Computerized human body models represent humans in intricate detail, and duplicate bones, organs and tissues of the human body, and such models may lead to the development of more lifelike “pregnant” crash-test dummies. The project is among continuing efforts by automakers to use technological advances to boost safety, according to Wade Newton, a spokesman for the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, a trade group representing 11 vehicle manufacturers, including Ford. Though any changes to restraint and crash-protection systems won’t happen immediately, automakers plan to highlight pregnant occupants’ safety needs. Ford, for example, plans to have the manuals for its 2011 models specifically instruct pregnant women on seatbelt safety, based on guidelines for patients from the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Because it takes several years before such systems are updated, Duma says women who are pregnant now should make sure they wear their lap and shoulder belts properly and resist the temptation to shift the lap belt up higher on the abdomen. Allowing it to remain across the pelvis offers the best safety protection in the event of a crash.

$500 REWARD $500 for safe return of Dell Laptop Computer stolen from the residence of Joe Lewis on Vincent Hoyle Road or for information that leads to its recovery. All information will be considered confidential.

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Business & Farm

The Daily Dispatch

Dow Jones industrials

11,000 10,000

For the week ending Thursday, Dec. 24

9,000 8,000 7,000

+191.21 D J

N D

Nasdaq composite

For the week ending Thursday, Dec. 24 +74.00 D J

2,285.69

N D

Standard & Poorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 500

For the week ending Thursday, Dec. 24 +24.01 D J

1,126.48

The Dow this week

THE WEEK ON WALL STREET

10,520.10

Saturday, December 26, 2009

N D

6,000 2,400 2,200 2,000 1,800 1,600 1,400 1,200 1,200 1,100 1,000 900 800 700 600 AP

SOURCE: SunGard

Boston newspaper cane goes to Mass. townâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s oldest resident

The daily high, low and close for the week ending December 24. 10,550

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. (AP) â&#x20AC;&#x201D; A western 10,300 Massachusetts M T W woman Th F who helped revive the tradition Weekâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s close of giving a cane+191.21 from The 10,520.10 Boston Post newspaper to Nasdaq oldest+74.00 her townâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s resident 2,285.69 has become its latest recipient.S&P 500 +24.01 1,126.48 Hazel Burdick turned 101 in2000 August. She reRussell +23.50 ceived634.07 the gold-tipped cane this week in a ceremony AMEX +57.34 in Williamstown, a rural 1,824.38 community of about 8,000 NYSEin the+168.81 residents heart of the 7,255.00 Berkshire Mountains. SOURCE: SunGard The publisher of the AP

MARKET WEEKLY 122409: Market charts show weekly figures for Dow, S&P 500, Nasdaq, NYSE, AMEX and Russell 2000; two sizes; 2c x 3 7/8 inches; 96.3 mm x 98.4 mm; 1c x 4 inches; 46.5 mm x 101.6 mm

now-defunct Boston Post gave hundreds of the canes in 1909 to towns in Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. It was a publicity gimmick and a way to honor the communitiesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; oldest residents. Williamstown revived its tradition 10 years ago after Burdick pushed officials in the town to find its lost cane, which was discovered later in a residentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s attic. Burdick says sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d been hoping for decades for her turn to receive it.

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Great Day! A Choral Celebration for Christmas Arranged by Mosie Lister

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Warrenton antiques store to close Federal government repays Va. ing has been sold, accordAll figures as of: 4:10:52 PM EST BEditors: y DAVID IRVINE ingclose; to Miller. NOTE: D Figures reflect W market may not match other AP content aily Dispatch riter fluctuations after Many items in the store have been marked down as much as 50 percent, which could benefit last-minute Christmas shoppers as well as those who look for after-Christmas bargains. The last day of business will be Dec. 30. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve enjoyed it,â&#x20AC;? Miller says.

WARRENTON â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Picket Fence Antiques at 123 South Main Street will close at the end of the year. Owner Bill Miller said that it is time for him to retire. He has operated the business for the last six years. Contributing factors were the slow economy and the fact that the build-

Contact the writer at dirvine@ hendersondisaptch.com.

And presented by

for Inauguration Day bus service RICHMOND, Va. (AP) â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Virginia has been reimbursed nearly a halfmillion dollars for providing free bus service to President Barack Obamaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s inauguration. The Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation says the federal government reimbursed the state $421,708 for its Inauguration Day transit costs. The state had agreed to

The Westwood PHC Choir In â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Living Christmas Treeâ&#x20AC;?

pay eight northern Virginia public transit agencies to run 300 buses to help avoid massive traffic jams. The state says the service carried an estimated 4 percent of those attending the inauguration. The federal government has reimbursed $2.8 million of the $5.7 million that 51 of Virginiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s state and local agencies spent helping with security for the inauguration.

On December 27th at 6:00 PM Westwood Pentecostal Holiness Church 621 US 158 Bypass Henderson, NC 27537 Rev. Cleveland Harrison, pastor Church phone: 252-492-9143

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Word Study on Faith and Salvation from the Scripture s:

Thus saith the Lord, learn not the way of the heathen. Jer. 10 That Wicked shall be rev deceivableness of unr ealed whose coming is with all ighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the that they might be sav love of the truth, ed. 2 Thess. Your blood be upon your own heads; I am 2 clean. Acts 18

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CMYK 8A

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 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. When Herod the king had heard [these things], he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, And thou Bethlehem, [in] the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel. Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found [him], bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also. Matthew 2:1-8

Our Opinion

Developing a love for books Once again, a child has shown us the way. Thanks to a program initiated by the Key Club at Northern Vance High School, more elementary school children and teenagers are developing an appreciation for reading. Many parents have heard their children say, “I hate reading” or “Reading isn’t fun.” Oh the joy of having a child who would immerse himself or herself in an exciting adventure in literature — especially without the prodding of mother or father! With video games, 24-hour television and iPods as major distractions, many a child today finds the process of cracking open a book and poring over its pages “old school” and “boring.” Reading is fundamental to achievement in our modern world, says B.B. James, who posts on Helium.com. “It’s also a source of enjoyment, entertainment, consolation, inspiration, and much more.” “Yet, sadly,” he notes, “many people are not regular readers. The statistics show that youngsters and young adults read far less than older generations, especially challenging newspapers, magazines, or books. “Reading has truly degenerated for many youngsters to the 140-character limit of a ‘tweet,’” a reference to the popular web program Twitter. Enter the kids who want to “reinvent” the idea of reading to children in our local schools. The Book Buddies program, started by the Key Club and hoping to be an independent project, has sent more than 40 readers to New Hope, L.B. Yancey, Clark Street and E.M. Rollins elementary schools in the last two school years. They established the program to help bring the joy and fun back into reading for children in the community. The student-volunteer “book buddies” take books and activities into one of the local schools and pair off into groups of two, dividing up to cover all of the classes and read out loud to the students. These high school students are hoping that if the children in the elementary schools see football players, cheerleaders, and other teens they idolize taking time to read and make it fun, then those children would see that reading actually is “cool.” These teens who are leading the program are being strong role models. Aaron Daeke, who has participated in the program as a reader, said, “Book buddies are there to show kids how good being smart and educated can be.” These Northern Vance teens are volunteers who have learned the importance of giving back to their communities. It’s a safe bet that they’re making a powerful impression on these younger children. As we said, the children have shown us once again how it’s supposed to be done. Our local schools would tell you there’s room for adult reader volunteers, too, in addition to other programs that give members of the community a chance to spend time mentoring to students or eating lunch with them as well as helping with homework or reading assignments.

Saturday, December 26, 2009

It is still a wonderful life To many Americans, the Christmas season wouldn’t be complete without at least a few scenes from “It’s a Wonderful Life.” The movie wasn’t a box-office hit when it was released just after the Second World War, but it’s acquired quite a following since — and even some critical acclaim. Years ago I read a brief analysis of “It’s a Wonderful Life” by a professor of American Studies at Boston University. To him, it showed that, while life can be “an enriching Norman Rockwell experience, it also can be smothering, where you end up marrying the girl you went to high school with, and you never get to go to Europe. ... It tells us George is one of the most sad and lonely and tragic characters ever imagined. I cry when I see it.” Me, I cry for the professor. Not that I haven’t shed a few tears myself while watching “It’s a Wonderful Life” over the years. But not for the professor’s reasons. To me, nothing in the movie seems as sad as the professor’s analysis of it. The movie makes marrying your high school sweetheart seem any number of things, including comedy, but never tragedy. Frank Capra’s tearjerker is a celebration of the ordinary middle-class virtues, which are not nearly ordinary

enough in these times. George Bailey a tragic figure? Come on. Why, he’s the richest man in town, as his brother says at the end of the movie. He makes Mr. Potter, the stock plutocrat in the story, look like a pauper. That’s Paul Greenberg because George Tribune Media Bailey has Services loved and sacrificed and built and given and stood alone a time or two. That is, he has lived. He has not gone through life as a tourist. Never getting to Europe does not strike me as the kind of experience that qualifies for tragedy, possibly because I grew up as the child of immigrants who were born in Europe — and they could scarcely think of a worse fate than having to return there. To them, not coming to America would have been the tragedy. Surely only an American swimming in blessings would consider marrying your high school sweetheart, which is what I did, some kind of tragedy. To me, the movie’s message

is that George Bailey’s life has not been sad or lonely, let alone tragic. Even if George himself, played with all-American earnestness by Jimmy Stewart, might think so at his lowest, most self-pitying point. Can the professor, like so many Americans, have been using “tragic” as just a synonym for sad? Only a richly blessed people would confuse everything from fender-benders to bankruptcy a tragedy. On these shores, tragedy in its original, legitimate Greek sense — that is, the inevitable fall of a noble character because of a fatal flaw, usually hubris — has an artificial air about it. While in Europe, where the classic concept of tragedy originated, it seems to come naturally. If there is a moral to Frank Capra’s movie, it may be the comment from Clarence, George’s bumbling guardian angel: “Strange, isn’t it? Each man’s life touches so many other lives, and when he isn’t around he leaves an awful hole to fill, doesn’t he? ... You see, George, you really had a wonderful life. Don’t you see what a mistake it would be to throw it away?” There’s a lot more Eugene Field in that comment than Sophocles. The values of Bedford Falls are those our professional intellectuals are almost obliged to see through. Sometimes

they are so busy seeing through those values that they don’t see them at all. Or they confuse the happy with the sad, the lonely with the interconnected, and, strangest of all, the triumphant with the tragic. Just as George Bailey did — till his eyes are opened and the Happy Ending ensues. Equally undiscerning are those who would idealize small towns; they don’t see the potential Pottersville inside every Bedford Falls. Just one man, like George Bailey, can make the difference. Think of all those who make a difference in your town — and all those who don’t. The most unsettling aspect of the popularity of “It’s a Wonderful Life” is the realization that nostalgia for certain values tends to set in just as they are disappearing. Happily, nostalgia can bring them back, too. We’re free. We can choose how to live. If the professor’s view of George Bailey as a tragic figure struck me as sadder than anything in the movie, at least it wasn’t tragic. It was more comic, this being America. Paul Greenberg is the Pulitzer Prize-winning editorial page editor of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette; today’s column is based on one of the essays collected in his book, “Entirely Personal.”

Pork rather than good public policy As families across our nation were preparing to celebrate Christmas together, Democrats in the United States Senate and their ringleader, Harry Reid, was being deviously busy once again. They were working hard to fill taxpayers’ stockings with large lumps of coal in the form of health care reform legislation that will likely decrease the quality of care for Americans, create a flurry of new taxes, and exponentially increase America’s deficit. How is that for holiday cheer? While Sen. Ben Nelson, a Democrat, of Nebraska appeared to be holding out as the Democrats’ 60th vote because of his moral concerns over taxpayer-funded abortions, he suddenly “found the light” when offered an additional $100 million in assistance for Nebraska’s state Medicaid program. This new provision, negotiated by Harry Reid and Sen. Nelson, makes Nebraska one of only three states to have their Medicaid expansion fully funded, leaving the rest of the country to pick up the tab. This compromising carrot is made all the more disturbing by the cost to the American taxpayer — the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released new information last Sunday

saying that this amendment alone will end up costing $1.2 billion over 10 years, hardly chump change. And in a less obvious bribe, Sen. Nelson also cut a deal to get tax and free breaks for Nebraska’s insurance companies. (Not surprisingly, the Center for Responsible PoliMichael tics reports Reagan that Nelson has been Tribune Media given nearServices ly $650,000 from insurance companies over the past five years — more than any other industry has contributed.) These negotiated breaks are significant, saving companies like Blue Cross/ Blue Shield up to $20 million. In other words, even as more tax money will be flowing into Nebraska, considerably less will be flowing out. For all the other states, a bad bill just got that much worse. But as I wrote just a few weeks ago, a cause for concern in this debate is not only the “what” of the actual legislation itself: it is the “how” we got here. When this debate

headed to the Senate after the left wing-led House pushed through its own version of reform, Harry Reid faced an uphill battle in finding the necessary 60 votes. But rather than relying on the actual merits of the legislation, if any such merits actually exist, the Senate’s fearless leader opened the troughs for a pork feeding frenzy … recognizing that his only chance at passage required buying off key Senators. Now, I am not naïve in this criticism, fully recognizing that when placed in a similar position of power, Republicans in Congress have been guilty of similar activities. Today in Washington, it seems that bribery by tax dollar has become the norm when it comes to moving bills along. But for us taxpayers, that is simply not acceptable. Senators Reid, Nelson, Landrieu and other Democrats are simply trading their votes, trading their principles, so they can create a cycle of political gain rather than demanding good legislation. Their despicable behavior is meant to secure national “victories” for Democrats while also trying to pacify the growing chorus of opposition to the latest offered health care reform proposal within their

own state by masking it with pork, plain and simple. Today, a lobbyist can face criminal charges for taking an elected representative to lunch or offering small gifts in exchange for votes or attention. President Obama has frequently boasted about his “ground-breaking” efforts to crack down on these types of negotiations. In the Senate, however, it is openly acceptable for intra-congress bribery costing billions of dollars in our tax dollars to take place. Landrieu and Nelson have both gloated over their respective high price tags. Where’s the honor here? The transparency, good governance, and integrity we were promised? Senate Democrats and President Obama should be ashamed they that have let petty bribes and pennypinching politics triumph over sense and judgment. How’s that for the true meaning of Christmas? 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.

The Daily Dispatch

Dear Abby

News From The Light Side SATURDAY Morning / Early Afternoon 12/26/09

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