SECONDFRONT
The
SUNDAY May 16, 2010
SALISBURY POST
2A
www.salisburypost.com
Hood grads encouraged to continue focusing on God BY SHELLEY SMITH ssmith@salisburypost.com
SHELLEY SMITH / SALISBURY POST
One graduate tries to beat the heat with a cold ice pack during Hood Theological Seminary’s commencement Saturday. Temperatures reached the upper 80s during the ceremony.
Hundreds of people gathered on the grassy hill above Hood Theological Seminary’s campus Saturday for commencement exercises. Although temperatures reached the upper 80s, graduates and guests withstood the heat, celebrating 2010’s degrees, diplomas and certifications. Dr. Jonathan T. Howe gave the commencement address. Howe is the executive director of the Arthur Vining Foundations, which provided Hood funding for its technology program. Prior to his involvement with Arthur Vining Davis Foundations, Howe served in Somalia as the Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, and was also Deputy Assistant to the President of the United States for National Security Affairs. Howe spoke to graduates about the importance of listening to God and remembering His intentions. “What’s God’s intent for you as graduates,” he asked. “You have the scriptures that tell
you from the Bible. But God is speaking to you. God is there. You need to be listening and responsive.” He also spoke on religion, and how it is challenged daily. “We have a trend of a shrinking group of people who are interested in religion and following it,” he said. “We probably have too many churches and probably too many divinity schools.” He urged everyone to work together to bring God back into the lives of everyone. “We’ve got to collaborate and come together,” he said. “We’ve got to share resources. If we need to come together to keep God in our community, let’s cooperate. Let’s work together.” Howe also spoke about leadership. “You have to lead by example,” he said. “It’s not just what you say, it’s what you do. Always believe in yourself and believe in God.” Hood Theological Seminary is a graduate and professional school sponsored by the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, and began in Salisbury in 1892.
Shober Bridge deck repairs begin soon BY SHELLEY SMITH ssmith@salisburypost.com
Deck repairs to the Shober Bridge will begin Monday, May 24, and will last one to two weeks, with the bridge opening by June 1. According to City Engineer Dan Mikkelson, the city has hired a contractor who will remove the asphalt driving surface, and replace the rotted wood decking underneath. The city must pay 100 percent of the project, which will cost around $30,000. The bridge has been closed since the end of December, with the city waiting on Norfolk Southern to approve the repair plans. “We’ve done repairs on this bridge before and it hasn’t taken this long,” Mikkelson said. The Salisbury City Council requested the city send Norfolk Southern a letter requesting an approval as soon as possible. However, the railroad scheduled the preconstruction meeting before Mikkelson had time to draft the letter. Similar bridge repairs were completed in 1994 and 1988. Mikkelson said he’s afraid of how long the railroad will take to go over bridge rehabilitation plans, if the council votes to restore the bridge. “We know the railroad is opposed to that option,” Mikkelson said. “They’ve already put it in writing. “The bridge has been closed for more than five months. It’s taken them (Norfolk Southern) five months to give us permission to do something they’re not op-
posed to. “Whether the railroad has the legal right to block us or not, if they can delay us for five months on something as simple as deck repairs, imagine how long they will take (for rehabilitation plans). This is a serious concern on my part.” The bridge will still have a five-ton weight limit, Mikkelson said. “This is something we have to do regardless whether the bridge is replaced or rehabilitated,” he said. “It’s necessary maintenance.” Jack Thomson, president of the Historic Salisbury Foundation, said the foundation is excited about the upcoming repairs. “It’s now very obvious after the extended closing of the bridge that the bridge serves a vital service to the community, as evidenced by the increased traffic through other parts of the neighborhood,” Thomson said. Thomson and the Historic Salisbury Foundation have been campaigning for months to save the bridge, hoping the council votes to rehabilitate it. “We look forward to working with the city on a plan that includes the future rehabilitation of the bridge so that it can continue to serve our community and provide the vital services that all the citizens in Salisbury need, including providing access for ambulances and fire trucks,” he said. Mikkelson said the contractor thinks the repairs could be completed in seven days, however, the projected opening date of the bridge is June 1.
Lottery — RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — These North Carolina lotteries were drawn Saturday:Midday Pick 3: 3-0-0, Evening Pick 3: 4-4-6, Pick 4: 1-4-11, Cash 5: 6-13-16-25-31, Powerball: 15-21-23-28-36, Powerball: 20, Power Play: 2
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WAYNE HINSHAW / FOR THE SALISBURY POST
Catawba College President W. Craig Turner presented the diplomas during the graduation ceremony.
Stepping into the future 171 students graduate from Catawba College on Saturday BY SUSAN SHINN For the Salisbury Post
t was a day of pomp and circumstance, joy and celebration as 171 seniors received degrees at Catawba College in ceremonies at Keppel Auditorium. Dr. Albert “Robin” Roberts, who retired this spring after 40 years with the college, led the academic procession, carrying the ceremonial mace. Ten minutes before the commencement ceremony at 10 a.m., a ring of graduates lined the perimeter of the Crystal Lounge, the shade of the building a few degrees cooler than the bright, sunny morning. Junior marshals Stephanie Hill and Elizabeth Sloop fussed with the mortarboards of the upperclassmen. Wearing black gowns, some grads fanned themselves against the growing heat, chewing gum or chewing on a fingernail. Most looked cool and calm and ready to walk across the Keppel stage to claim their degrees. The line of faculty waited at the entrance to Keppel, its members stretching back toward Oliver’s Way. They chatted among themselves; they’d seen it all more than a few times before. The graduates began to file in as the chimes at Omwake-Dearborn Chapel struck 10. The students took their seats to the familiar strains of “Pomp and Circumstance,” a lightning storm of camera flashes in their wake. It was a day, said Dr. Ken Clapp, the college’s chaplain and senior vice president, full of anticipation and expectation. Before degrees were conferred, several special awards were given by Dr. Craig Turner, the college’s president. C. Shufford Abernethy III, a member of the class of 1982, received the O.B. Michael Distinguished Alumnus
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Award. He has been a member of the board of trustees since 1983. His father served on the board for 50 years. Turner then recognized graduates Amber Michelle Hughes and Grant Alexander Gibson with the Whitener Medal, the highest honor given to a male and female of the graduating class. The honorees were chosen for their high degree of character, leadership and scholarship, Turner said. Turner attempted to negotiate Hughes’ hairdo and mortarboard in placing the medal around her neck. Her finally just handed her the medal and ribbon as the audience chuckled and applauded. When the seniors were conferred their degrees, their families were invited to stand when their names were called. “For some families gathered here, this graduation ceremony marks a piece of history repeating itself,” Turner said. “Some of the young men and women in this graduation class are following in the footsteps of parents or grandparents or other relatives who are now alumni of Catawba Catawba College senior Justin Pate, College.”
of Charlotte, shows up at the graduaSee FUTURE, 3A tion ceremony carrying his 1-year-old son, Bryson.
Morris family keeps tradition alive B Y S USAN S HINN For the Salisbury Post
The Morris family is at it again. Jamie Morris-Haley was the first in her family to attend Catawba College, graduating in 1986. On Saturday, her son, Therron Causey, received his degree from the college.
Also walking across the stage at Keppel Auditorium was Jamie’s youngest brother, Joseph Morris, born when she was a senior in high school. Four more of the 10 Morris siblings attended Catawba. Jeff Morris graduated in 1985, having trans-
See FAMILY, 3A