SPORTS: Cougars still have high expectations • Page 1B
The Sanford Herald WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 13, 2010
SANFORDHERALD.COM • 50 CENTS
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LEE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
SHANIYA CASE
Reives in serious condition
County commissioner hospitalized; cause of illness unconfirmed By GORDON ANDERSON anderson@sanfordherald.com
INJURIES LIKELY CAME FROM SEXUAL ASSAULT
Injuries suffered by 5-year-old Shaniya Davis are consistent with a sexual assault, according to an autopsy report released Tuesday by the N.C. Office of the Chief Medical Examiner Page 3A
ENTERTAINMENT
SANFORD — Lee County Commissioner Robert Reives was hospitalized Monday with an unknown ailment, several sources confirmed Tuesday. Reives, who works in Raleigh
for the state Department of Commerce, was in the intensive care unit at Rex Hospital in Raleigh Tuesday afternoon, where his condition was listed as serious. Reives’ son, Robert Reives II, said Monday that doctors were unsure of the reason for his
father’s hospitalization and were set to begin running tests today which will make that determination. “We’re kind of in a wait-andsee mode,” Reives II said. “The doctors told us they’re going to
Reives has represented District 1 since 1990. His seat is up for election in November, but he will have to decide by Feb. 26 whether to seek re-election.
See Reives, Page 6A
CHATHAM COUNTY
LEE SCHOOLS
GOP hopefuls kick off 2010 election season
District approves calendar changes If state approves, students would return on Aug. 10
O’BRIEN SAYS NO TO LATER SCHEDULE
By CAITLIN MULLEN
Conan O’Brien has refused to play along with NBC’s plan to move “The Tonight Show” and return Jay Leno to latenight, abruptly derailing the network’s effort to resolve its scheduling mess
cmullen@sanfordherald.com
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HEALTH CARE
ASHLEY GARNER/The Sanford Herald
OBAMA INDICATES SUPPORT FOR EXCHANGE
President Barack Obama has indicated support for a national clearinghouse where consumers could shop for health coverage and an end to the decades-old antitrust exemption enjoyed by insurance companies, Democratic officials said Tuesday Page 8A
STATE DANGEROUS EXPLOSIVES SHUT DOWN N.C. PORT Officials shut down a North Carolina port and urged people to leave the area Tuesday after a forklift operator punctured at least one container filled with a powerful explosive
Second District Republican Party Congressional candidates Renee Ellmers (right) and Frank Deatrich answer questions to attendees at the Chatham County Council on Aging in Pittsboro on Tuesday.
Two Etheridge challengers debate in Pittsboro By GORDON ANDERSON anderson@sanfordherald.com
PITTSBORO — Two Republican candidates for North Carolina’s Second District Congressional seat met with voters in Pittsboro Tuesday to voice their opposition not only to incumbent Rep. Bob Etheridge (D-Lillington), but also President Barack Obama and Democratic initiatives working their way through the federal government. Republicans Frank Deat-
rich of Franklin County and Renee Ellmers of Dunn spoke about their candidacies to voters at a meeting of the Chatham County Republican Party. Candidates Dan Mansell and Jay Johnson had been billed as participants but didn’t show up. “Right now America is in serious trouble,” Deatrich said. “We’re right on the brink of going over the edge, and that’s got to be turned around. We’ve got to have
See GOP, Page 10A
THE CANDIDATES Learn about the Second Congressional District candidates online: o Frank Deatrich: www. frankforrepresentative.com o Renee Ellmers: www. reneeforcongress.com o U.S. Rep. Bob Etheridge: www.etheridgeforcongress.org o Jay Johnson: www. resistnet.com/profile/JayJohnson o Dan Mansell: www. danmansell.com
See School, Page 3A
LEE COUNTY
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THIS WEEKEND SEE OUR CITIZEN OF THE YEAR, LIFETIME WINNERS Saturday and Sunday, The Herald will feature the 2010 winners of our annual “Lifetime Achievement Awards” and “Citizen of the Year.” We thank all of you who submitted a nominee this year. TO INFORM, CHALLENGE AND CELEBRATE
Vol. 80, No. 10 Serving Lee, Chatham, Harnett and Moore counties in the heart of North Carolina
SANFORD — The Lee County Board of Education Tuesday night approved changes to its 2010-11 calendar that, if OK’d by the state, would send all traditional students back to class two weeks earlier this summer. The board approved two motions: one asking the state to allow it to send high school students to class on Aug. 10 and another requesting the same for middle and elementary school students. Board members Cameron Sharpe, Shawn Williams and Lynn Smith voted against the proposed changes for the high school calendar; Ellen Mangum, Linda Smith and Frank Thompson voted for it. Chairman Bill Tatum broke the tie, voting in favor of the change. The middle and elementary motion passed unanimously. The calendars will now go to the state Department of Public Instruction, which must approve the changes before they take effect. Vice Chairman Lynn Smith
Deputies seek paintball bandit By GORDON ANDERSON anderson@sanfordherald.com
SANFORD — Lee County sheriff’s deputies are seeking a paint ball bandit who damaged churches, homes, businesses and vehicles sometime Saturday night or Sunday morning. Deputies are investigating several incidents in which various property — including five churches in the
HAPPENING TODAY n A Veterans Remembrance Group meeting will be held at 2 p.m. at the Enrichment Center in Sanford. Douglas Roe, an artist and former Air Force pilot, will share his experiences and will display his paintings of various planes. For more information, call 776-0501, Ext. 201.
Kendale/Jonesboro/Lemon Springs area — was damaged by paintballs. Pastor Doug Western of Kendale Acres Freewill Baptist Church on Cemetery Road said his parishioners noticed that paintballs had been fired at the church’s sign when they showed up for services Sunday morning.
See Paintball, Page 6A
ONLINE
TO HELP Anyone with information about the paint ball damage around the Lemon Springs area of Lee County is asked to call the Lee County Sheriff’s Office at (919) 7755531. The department also has an anonymous tip line at (919) 718-4577 and accepts tips through e-mail at reporta-crime@leecountync.gov.
High: 48 Low: 22
FOLLOW MIGDALIA
Read The Herald’s take on last night’s episode of “The Biggest Loser,” featuring Sanford’s Migdalia Sebren and her mother, Miggy, at our Web site, sanfordherald.com
INDEX
More Weather, Page 10A
OBITUARIES
R.V. HIGHT
Sanford: Alvis Goldston, 68; Ascencion Morales, 69; Willie Stringfellow, 67; Frances Willett, 68 Apex: David Sugg Jr., 62
A recent story out of New York City shows that honesty and goodwill are alive and well
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Abby, Graham, Bridge, Sudoku............................. 6B Classifieds ....................... 8B Comics, Crosswords.......... 7B Community calendar .......... 2A Horoscope ........................ 6B Obituaries......................... 5A Opinion ............................ 4A Scoreboard ....................... 4B