COUNTDOWN TO EVERYBODY’S DAY 2009!
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Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Inside Today
THOMASVILLE
Mark Martin takes the checked flag in first race in the chase. See Sports, Page 7.
Times
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Numbers show little relief for jobless
Wastewater spill incites residents, officials BY ELIOT DUKE
BY ELIOT DUKE
Staff Writer
Staff Writer
As the country’s national recession nears the two-year mark, North Carolina’s unemployment rate decreased slightly to its lowest mark in almost six months. The state unemployment rate dipped to 10.8 percent in August, decreasing a tenth of a percent from July and dropping for the fifth straight month. Employment, however, is still down by 217,761 workers from a year ago, according to statistics released by the North Carolina employment Security Commission. “A small loss in our labor force led to a decrease in the rate,” Moses Carey Jr., ESC chairman, said. “Much like previous months, we have not experienced a lot of change in the labor force one way or the other. These small changes have resulted in slight decreases throughout the past few months. However, we are still dealing with a high unemployment rate and continue to assist our customers throughout the state during these tough economic times.” Even with the unemployment rate beginning to stabilize, having increased significantly just one month this year when it jumped from 9.7 to 10.7 percent in February, the ramifications from the recession are still far from over. Since the start of the recession in December of 2007, unemployment has spiked 116.5 percent while employment has decreased 6.2 percent. Both numbers are higher than the national numbers of 98 percent and 4.5 percent,
See JOBLESS, Page 6
bers of society. His insights and contributions will be a welcome asset to StreetSafe.” Blackwell accompanied the Governor to the press conference announcing the task force appointments on September 16. “It is a high honor to be a part of the StreetSafe Task Force and to work shoulder to shoulder with this experienced and dedicated group,” Blackwell said. “I appreciate Governor Perdue for extending me this opportunity to serve our great state in this special capacity.”
Thomasville City Council heard pleas from concerned citizens Tuesday night at its monthly meeting regarding the reported sewage spill that sent nearly 16 million gallons of untreated wastewater into High Rock Lake. Yadkin Riverkeeper Dean Naujoks requested that the council hold a public meeting to fully address the spill, but he was unable to garner a definitive answer. At one point during his address, Najouks, after being told his allotted time expired by Mayor Joe Bennett, said he didn’t want to leave the podium until he got an answer, feeling it was important that the public knows how the city is going to handle the clean up. “This was an egregious spill and the way it was handled was not very well,” Najouks told the council. “You have to answer to the public. The public has a right to know what the health ramifications are, what the city is doing to investigate the matter, what they’re going to do to hold someone accountable and what the city is going to do in terms of developing an action plan.” Najouks said it was going to cost between $5 and $10 million to replace aging sewer lines, and that spill may be what prompts the city to take such action. By holding a public hearing, Najouks said it would give the city a chance to announce any findings from its testing and explain how the city will deal with the problem. Ronnie Lewis, a property owner at High Rock Lake, joined Najouks at the podium and expressed similar concerns as to how the city was dealing with the spill. Lewis’ granddaughter became sick after swimming in the contaminated water and he feels something isn’t adding up when it comes to the dates of when the spill took place. “We need some answers here,” said Lewis. “We don’t need a bunch of promises. Don’t jerk us around. You may have done something wrong, but it’s something you’ve dumped on us down there at the lake. I’ve got a bunch of money invested in property down there and I want something done. I’m bringing a bunch of people with me next time and
See FORCE, Page 6
See SPILL, Page 6
TIMES PHOTOS/LISA WALL
From left, Talmage Hinkle Silversides, Ed Hinkle and DCCC President Mary Rittling discuss some of the plans for the Link Campus of DCCC, which will be built on the 183 acres of land donated by the siblings.
Link to the Future Land donation unlocks doors for community college BY LISA WALL Editor Davidson County Community College unveiled its vision for the future Sunday afternoon after announcing to a crowd of community, state and federal officials the recent donation of 183 acres of land by local philanthropists Ed Hinkle and Talmage Hinkle Silversides. The land gift, which sits across from the college’s current campus on I-85 Business, will one day
be the home of the Link Campus — named in honor of Henry T. Link, grandfather of Hinkle and Silversides. “The incredible generosity and forward thinking of Ed Hinkle and Talmadge Silversides gives us the chance to think about our growth and future success,” said Dr. Mary Rittling, president of Davidson County Community College. “As we approach our 50th anniversary, I cannot imagine a more fitting way to celebrate than to plan a
growth strategy for our next 50 years. Our dream is on its way to reality thanks to this generous gift that we will call our Link Campus.” Initial architectural sketches for the campus include plans for a 3,500-seat arena for sporting events and community functions, a baseball stadium, tennis complex, soccer and softball fields, as well as a nature conservation complex and expan-
See LINK, Page 6
Blackwell named to StreetSafe Task Force TIMES STAFF REPORT
Baptist Children’s Homes of North Carolina president Michael C. Blackwell has been named by Governor Beverly Perdue as a member of the new StreetSafe Task Force. Blackwell will serve on the task force alongside a group of 34 members that includes co-chairs Attorney General Roy Cooper and Department of Correction Secretary Alvin Keller. StreetSafe will bring together faith-based organizations, nonprofits, local and state govern-
Blackwell is in his 27th ment agencies, business year as President of Bapleaders and members tist Children’s Homes of of the community to deNorth Carolina, a nonvelop a plan to combat reprofit child care organicidivism and reintegrate zation headquartered in offenders safely into the Thomasville that procommunity. vides residential services “By uniting the efforts of government, business Blackwell throughout the state. “Dr. Blackwell brings and civic organizations, valuable perspective and this task force will work to stop ex-offenders from com- experience to the task force,” mitting new crimes,” Perdue Perdue said. “As a part of Bapsaid. “StreetSafe will give ex-of- tist Children’s Homes’ statefenders the support they need wide services, he oversees efto successfully reenter society, forts to aid and educate at-risk which will make North Caro- children equipping them to be successful, productive memlina safer for everyone.”
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