SPORTS: Lee County takes on rival Western Harnett • Page 1B
The Sanford Herald FRIDAY, JANUARY 22, 2010
SUNDAYQUICKREAD STATE
SANFORDHERALD.COM • 50 CENTS
SANFORD CITY COUNCIL
Staffing new fire station could mean a tax hike Construction on a new station at south end of town could start in ’11
EDWARDS ADMITS HE IS THE FATHER OF MISTRESS’S DAUGHTER Former Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards finally admitted Thursday he fathered a child during an affair before his second White House bid, dropping long-standing denials just ahead of a book by a former campaign aide who initially took the fall Page 7A
By GORDON ANDERSON anderson@sanfordherald.com
SANFORD — A fourth fire station for the city of Sanford would cost taxpayers nearly $850,000 in annual operating expenses, according to report given to the city council Thursday. The new station, recommended in the city’s Capital Improvement Plan for con-
struction in 2011 or 2012, would likely be built along U.S. 421 on the south end of town at a one-time cost of about $2.5 million. The $850,000 in annual costs — equal to 4.12 cents on the city’s property tax rate — would come from staff-
See Council, Page 6A
TODAY The council’s annual retreat concludes today with a planning overview, an overview of city services and Police Chief Ronnie Yarborough’s presentation on crime statistics. This open meeting will be held from 8:30 a.m. to noon at City Hall in Sanford.
FAITH & VALUES
Singers lift hopes high
HAITI
AS MASS GRAVES SWELL, DOCTORS FEAR MORE DEATHS AHEAD Workers are carving out mass graves on a hillside north of Haiti’s capital, using earth-movers to bury 10,000 bodies in a single day even as relief workers warn that Haitians are still dying of injuries from the Jan. 12 quake for lack of medical care Page 9A
ECONOMY
ASHLEY GARNER/The Sanford Herald
Greta Kochanek, 70, (left) and Ruby Taylor, 76, share a laugh as they rehearse “I Believe” with the High Hopes volunteer chorus on Wednesday at Jonesboro Presbyterian Church.
OBAMA TURNS HIS ATTENTION TO THE NATION’S ECONOMY Facing a potentially disastrous political shift, President Barack Obama tried Thursday to begin resetting his wounded presidency with a one-two-three populist punch Page 8A
ENTERTAINMENT CONAN TAKES $45M BUYOUT Conan O’Brien bid NBC good riddance Thursday in a $45 million deal for his exit from “The Tonight Show,” but his immediate future in television remains a question mark Page 11A
Community choir a staple in Sanford for 30 years By CAITLIN MULLEN cmullen@sanfordherald.com
SANFORD — The High Hopes choir is praying for a pianist. About 15 members of the non-denominational community choir met Wednesday afternoon at Jonesboro Presbyterian Church to practice singing and ask God for a
piano player to accompany the choir. The choir, made up mostly of Sanford residents age 50 and older, performs at nursing homes and assisted living facilities in the fall and spring. Mary Ann Ludwick, board president of the choir, said the group began about 30 years ago. They sing church
Neil Morris says the blockbuster actor’s recent films have been a series of forgettable, phoned-in variations on the same crotchety curmudgeon persona, and “Extraordinary Measures” is no different
The High Hopes choir meets at 2 p.m. every Wednesday at the Jonesboro Presbyterian Church. The choir is open to anyone, and is currently searching for an experienced piano player. For more information, contact Mary Ann Ludwick at 776-4502.
Bands to crank it up in historic theater cmullen@sanfordherald.com
‘MEASURES’ NOT FORD’S BEST
See Choir, Page 5A
WANT TO JOIN?
TEMPLE THEATRE By CAITLIN MULLEN
FILM REVIEW
hymns, patriotic songs and even some Broadway tunes. “We try to keep it varied but then again we’re singing to an older crowd. We try to sing a lot of the oldies but the goodies,” she said with a grin. “They remember a lot of them and will tap and they
SANFORD — Seven different local acts will perform at Temple Theatre tonight with proceeds benefitting the theater itself. Ol’ North State, Hymn All the Fires, Dr. Powerful, Beyond
the Broken, Whiskey Romeo and The Fog Blues Band will perform. Albert Rowe, a local friend of the Temple Theatre and Elvis impersonator, will be the opening act. Each band will have 30-45 minutes to perform, said Peggy Taphorn, producing artistic di-
WANT TO GO? The show begins at 7 p.m. tonight at Temple Theatre. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
See Bands, Page 6A
Page 12A
Vol. 80, No. 17 Serving Lee, Chatham, Harnett and Moore counties in the heart of North Carolina
HAPPENING TODAY n A blood drive will be held from 3 to 7 p.m. at Flat Springs Baptist Church, 4148 Deep River Road. To schedule an appointment, contact Rev. McCollough at (919) 775-9622.
CALENDAR, PAGE 2A
High: 43 Low: 33
INDEX
More Weather, Page 12A
OBITUARIES
FROMA HARROP
Sanford: Sherman Harris, 61; Bruce Hums, 66; Francis Leonard, 87; Cythina Moffitt, 60; Rebecca Riddick, 68; John Stephens, 72
There will be no serious financial reform unless Congress unchains itself from its Wall Street Page 4A
Abby, Graham, Bridge, Sudoku............................. 6B Classifieds ..................... 10B Comics, Crosswords.......... 7B Community calendar .......... 2A Horoscope ........................ 6B Obituaries......................... 5A Opinion ............................ 4A Scoreboard ....................... 4B