SOME AM SNOW, CLOUDY & COLD Saturday, December 19, 2009 / 50¢ 38º/31º Forecast 6C Send us your snow pictures! Upload them on Salisbury Postables.
Lottery winner gets $1M award
Winter storm blows through BY HUGH FISHER hfisher@salisburypost.com
After a rainy start in the morning, wintry weather moved in across Rowan and Cabarrus counties late Friday and covered local roads with snow and ice. The result: a slew of auto accidents, including numerous reports of cars sliding off of roads. No serious injuries were reported. Predictions of 1 to 3 inches of snow and sleet led Rowan-Salisbury and Kannapolis City school systems to dismiss early Friday. The snow didn’t start in earnest in Rowan until 3:30 p.m., and Cabarrus dealt mostly with rain. By 10 p.m., the National Weather Service was reporting 2 inches of snow in Salisbury, 3 inches in Lincolnton, 6 in Statesville and 11 in Morganton. Residents of Davie County reported several inches of snow. A number of local events were cancelled, including high school sports and the Candlelight Tour of Churches in Spencer. The snow and sleet were part of a major storm moving up the Atlantic Coast that threatened to shut down much of the region as officials warned of up to 20 inches of snow in some places and significant power outages. The National Weather Service issued winter storm warnings from the Carolinas to Rhode Island. Elsewhere in North Carolina, snowfall totals of 6 to 15 inches were predicted as the storm hit cold air over the mountains. The wintry mix was expected to continue overnight. A winter storm warning remains in effect for Rowan County until at least 7 p.m. The Federal Aviation Administration said departing flights at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport were de-
B Y H UGH F ISHER hfisher@salisburypost.com
JON C. LAKEY/SALISBURY POST
Snow covers Innes Street near The Plaza in downtown Salisbury Friday evening. layed by as much as an hour Friday because of rain and wind. United Airlines said it had canceled more than 140 Saturday flights on the East Coast ahead of today’s weather. Forecasters expected up to 20 inches of snow through late Saturday from the Washington metro area to West Virginia.
CHINA GROVE — Brian Bost, winner of $1 million in the N.C. Education Lottery, celebrated his prize this morning with lottery officials at Sandy Ridge Service Station, where he bought the winning ticket. Bost, who lives in China Grove and is a regular cus- BOST tomer, said the prize won’t change him. The Duke Power retiree won a $1 million prize in the “$200 Million Extravaganza” scratch-off game. He bought the ticket at Sandy Ridge and scratched it off at the store. Store clerk Allan “Bunky” Storie sold Bost two game tickets at $20 each. Bost scratched off the first one there at the store and, for a moment, didn’t believe what he saw. “I said, ‘Bunky, check this for me.’” He checked it. It was ver-
See WINNER, 3A
JON C. LAKEY/SALISBURY POST
HUGH FISHER/SALISBURY POST
Numerous wrecks occurred due to slippery conditions, including this one involving a tractor-trailer on Webb Road.
The Rowan-Salisbury School System dismissed classes three hours early Friday because of the forecasted wintry weather that was impending. The season’s first snow raised the excitement level among students and teachers alike as many parents lined up early at schools to pick up their children.
Sacred Heart dedication still on go, with snow BY DEIRDRE PARKER SMITH dp1@salisburypost.com
NASCAR, NFL lend hand for Toys for Tots
Christmas Happiness
BY SHELLEY SMITH
BY SHAVONNE POTTS
ssmith@salisburypost.com
spotts@salisburypost.com
The local Toys for Tots campaign is picking up speed with the help of NASCAR and the NFL. The office of Alan Burke, CPA, held a Toys for Tots fundraising party Friday, with some very special guests. NASCAR drivers Scott Riggs and Jamie McMurray were present for a meet and greet, as well as former NFL player Mike Morton. “When we were discussing what to do with Christmas this year, we didn’t feel like a corporate Christmas party would be the right thing to do,” Alan Burke said. “Toys for Tots was looking for sponsors, and we asked the NASCAR drivers and Mike MorSHELLEY SMITH/SALISBURY POST ton if they could participate. It just Toys for Tots coordinator Raul ‘Arbe’ Arbelaez shows how many stuffed all came together. animals were donated prior to boxing and bagging of toys for families. “I can’t say how proud and fulfilling it makes us feel,” Burke said. “It was a great all-day event.” Of course, Toys for Tots super- idea and something to do that would “If every single area in North man Raul “Arbe” Arbelaez was be an easy way to give back to the Carolina gave back as much as this present. community,” McMurray said. one, we’d have plenty of toys “He is so great and so inspirNASCAR great Scott Riggs has around.” ing,” Burke said of Arbelaez. “We two kids of his own and knows the Superbowl winner Morton now all feed off of Arbe’s energy, and importance of having a Christmas is a dentist in Kannapolis, and was are tickled to death to work with for the children to enjoy. happy to help. him.” “It’s hard to find the right peo“It’s a good program,” Morton NASCAR driver Jamie McMur- ple with the most needs over said. “How can you not think that ray is a client of Burke’s and was Christmas,” Riggs said. “You al- it’s great?” happy to help. ways want to give back, and this is See TOYS, 3A “It seemed like a really good a pretty strong organization.
[xbIAHD y0 0 1rzu
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Deaths
John Burdette Sr. John Barnhardt Ruth Erwin Josh York
This is the first year that Mary Knapp has donated to the Christmas Happiness Fund. When she thought about who she would honor with her donation, the volunteers she works with came to mind. Knapp is with Rowan County Relay for Life. She donated $25 in honor those volunteers who help raise money for cancer. “I thought I should honor somebody and the relay volunteers were a good group. I wanted to let them know how much I appreciated them,” she said. Knapp said she’s been blessed and she felt like she could share this year. “I know that a lot charities are suffering this year. I think it’s a really good thing the Happiness Fund does. I would hate to find out some child went without for Christmas because they were missing a few dollars,” Knapp said. Knapp said she hopes more people give to Christmas Happiness. Yesterday’s total $40,506.25
Sacred Heart Catholic Church will dedicate its new church building today at 10 a.m., come rain, sleet or snow. The project, which has been in planning since 2000, was built in a year. It includes a new church that seats around 750 people and Sacred Heart Catholic School, housing grades kindergarteneight, as well as church offices and meeting areas. Bishop Peter J. Jugis of the Charlotte diocese, once parochial vicar at Sacred Heart, will perform the celebratory Mass. With much solemn ceremony, the church will be baptized and confirmed. Concelebrants with the bishop with be the Very Rev. John Putnam, church pastor, and the Rev. James A. Ebright, in residence at the church. Deacons the Rev. Dr. Jim Mazur of Sacred Heart and the Rev. Dr. Brian McNulty are the deacons. The Very Rev. Christopher A. Roux will be master of ceremonies, along with seminary student Paul McNulty. They will be assisted by a host of seminary students and Sacred Heart servers. Relics of Saint Thomas Becket and Saint Barnabus
See HAPPINESS, 5A
Contents
Bridge Classifieds Comics Crossword
5C 4C 4C 4C
Deaths Faith Horoscope Opinion
See DEDICATION, 3A
5A 1C 5C 4A
Second Front Sports Television Weather
2A 1B 5C 6C