SPORTS: CCCC maintains high academic standards for athletes • Page 1B
The Sanford Herald TUESDAY, JANUARY 19, 2010
SANFORDHERALD.COM • 50 CENTS
TUESDAYQUICKREAD
EAST SANFORD
HAITI RELIEF
Car slams into home
TROOPS, AID ON THE GROUND, BUT PEOPLE ARE STILL HUNGRY Troops, doctors and aid workers flowed into Haiti on Monday and officials said billions of dollars more will be needed following the quake that killed an estimated 200,000 people and left many still struggling to find a cup of water or a handful of food. European nations pledged more than a half-billion dollars in emergency and long-term aid, on top of at least $100 million promised earlier by the U.S. Page 10A
STATE
BILLY LIGGETT/The Sanford Herald
Sanford Fire Department firefighters set up to douse flames that erupted Monday when a car — involved in an accident at the corner of Seventh and Carthage in Sanford — smashed into a gas line at a nearby home.
N.C.-BASED PARATROOPER RETURNS TO HAITI TO FIND FAMILY Junior Florestal left Haiti when he was 13 for a better life in the United States. He long promised to return, but it took an earthquake to bring him back. Florestal is one of at least three Haitian-American paratroopers in the 82nd Airborne Division helping get sorely needed food, water and supplies to survivors of the magnitude-7.0 earthquake that shattered this capital city last Tuesday. Page 7A
ENTERTAINMENT
CAMERON MAY BE KING AGAIN AT OSCARS WITH ‘AVATAR’ James Cameron may get to proclaim himself king of the distant moon Pandora at the Academy Awards. Cameron — who borrowed Leonardo DiCaprio’s line from “Titanic” and declared himself “king of the world” when that film sailed to Oscar glory 12 years ago — positioned himself for a repeat with his Golden Globe wins Sunday for the sci-fi blockbuster “Avatar.” Page 9A
NATION BOTH SIDES POUR INTO MASS. ON EVE OF SPECIAL ELECTION Democrat Martha Coakley rolled out an eleventh-hour TV ad featuring President Barack Obama amid intense get-out-thevote efforts by both parties on the eve of Tuesday’s crucial Senate election in Massachusetts. Page 8A
TO INFORM, CHALLENGE AND CELEBRATE
Vol. 80, No. 14 Serving Lee, Chatham, Harnett and Moore counties in the heart of North Carolina
Car hit house’s gas line after intersection collision; 1 injured By GORDON ANDERSON and BILLY LIGGETT
(LEFT) Firefighters with Sanford Fire Department get their oxygen tanks replaced after nearly 45 minutes of battling a blaze caused when a car rammed into the side of a house Monday.
The Sanford Herald
SANFORD — Firefighters scrambled Monday afternoon to keep a house fire at bay that was the result of a car accident just blocks from downtown Sanford. The Sanford Fire Department was able to finally subdue the flames after gas company personnel dug into the ground and closed a gas line that had been fueling the fire. The fire at 423 Charlotte Ave. began around 1:40 p.m. Monday after a car accident near the home caused Elva Sanchez Crissman’s 2009
VIDEO ONLINE
BILLY LIGGETT/The Sanford Herald
Nissan to crash into the home, severing a gas line leading into the structure. Fire officials said it appeared that power to the house cut off at the same
time, leading sparks to ignite the gas pouring from the line. Of five people in the
See Fire, Page 7A
See a short video clip and several photos from Monday’s accident involving car and a house sanfordherald.com
MARTIN LUTHER KING CELEBRATION
Talent kicks off annual event For first time, MLK gathering includes song, dance routines By CAITLIN MULLEN
VIDEO ONLINE
cmullen@sanfordherald.com
SANFORD — For those celebrating at the Dennis A. Wicker Civic Center Monday, it was “a day on, not a day off.” Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday celebration brought about 250 children, parents and grandparents out for praise and singing to remember the civil rights activist’s life and work. The event was organized by the Council for Effective Actions and Decisions (CEAD), which took advantage of the holiday given to
HAPPENING TODAY n A reception and ceremony to honor General Robert E. Lee will be held at 6 p.m. at the old courthouse on Horner Blvd. with the Rev. Herman White speaking.
CALENDAR, PAGE 2A
See video of Monday’s performances and browse through our photo gallery online sanfordherald.com
BILLY LIGGETT/The Sanford Herald
students and many adults by honoring King’s memory. “It gives us an opportunity to let the youth have
See MLK, Page 6A
Christopher McIntyre with Ebenezer Gospel Assembly performs a dramatic interpretive dance to a gospel song Monday at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. celebration at the Dennis A. Wicker Civic Center. This year marked the first year the annual event began with a talent competition.
High: 64 Low: 38
INDEX
More Weather, Page 10A
OBITUARIES
SCOTT MOONEYHAM
Sanford: Martha Clark, 35; Sherman Harris, 61; Leon Kelly, 84; Larry McKee, 73; Henry Meadows, 68; Rebecca Riddick, 68; Lavenia Womble, 67
How much of the John Edwards we saw on the campaign trail was ever real?
Page 4A
Abby, Graham, Bridge, Sudoku............................. 6B Classifieds ....................... 8B Comics, Crosswords.......... 7B Community calendar .......... 2A Horoscope ........................ 6B Obituaries......................... 5A Opinion ............................ 4A Scoreboard ....................... 4B