STATE OF THE UNION
On the defensive Obama puts emphasis on economy in annual speech Inside
Tar Heels on the Hill
His presidency at a crossroads, President Obama promised in his first address to solve the economic worries and become the transformative leader they thought they were getting Page 5A
Two North Carolina residents — a Marine and a researcher — were among those sitting with First Lady Michelle Obama during the address Page 5A
The Sanford Herald SANFORDHERALD.COM • 50 CENTS
THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 2010
THURSDAYQUICKREAD
EASTER SEALS UCP
CCCC
SAFER PLAY
TECHNOLOGY
College’s renovations will follow high school New Continuing Ed. Building will cost county $9M By KATHERINE McDONALD Special to The Herald
SANFORD — Construction at Central Carolina Community College has taken a back seat to Lee County High School’s renovations, but the college will be Priority No. 2 the county said this week. The Board of Commissioners met with CCCC’s Board of Trustees Tuesday for an overview of the college’s long-range plans at the Dennis A. Wicker Civic Center. The meeting focused on the college’s need for a new Continuing Education building on the Lee County Campus. President Bud Marchant said that, currently, Continuing Education classes are held wherever space can be found. After the meeting, board chairman Richard Hayes said that the sense of the current
APPLE LAUNCHES IPAD AT A BARGAIN ACCORDING TO ANALYSTS
Apple Inc. will sell the newly unveiled tablet-style iPad starting at $499, a price tag far below the $1,000 that some analysts were expecting Page 10A
STATE
See College, Page 6A
REALITY TV FRIEND: ELIZABETH EDWARDS HAS SEPARATED FROM HER HUSBAND
Elizabeth Edwards has separated from her husband, two-time presidential candidate John Edwards, after a tumultuous three years in which the couple’s marital troubles became tabloid fodder
ASHLEY GARNER/The Sanford Herald
Ra’shaiah McIver approaches the tire swing at the renovated playground at Easter Seals UCP Stepping Stones in Sanford Wednesday.
Page 7A
HEALTH CARE DEMS: GIVING UP ISN’T AN OPTION Giving up on overhauling the nation’s health care system is not an option, the top House Democrat said Wednesday as lawmakers looked to President Barack Obama for guidance in his State of the Union address on how to revive the stalled legislation Page 8A
LOCAL WEATHER SNOW MAY FALL THIS WEEKEND A 90 percent chance of precipitation Friday and Saturday could make for icy roads this weekend Page 3A
Vol. 80, No. 22 Serving Lee, Chatham, Harnett and Moore counties in the heart of North Carolina
Sanford woman asks to be booted from ‘Loser’
Kids of all abilities enjoy renovated playground
By KATELYN HOLSHOUSER
By CAITLIN MULLEN
After a rough week filled with feuding teams and feuding trainers, Sanford’s Migdalia Sebren was eliminated from NBC’s “The Biggest Loser” on Tuesday night. Sebren Sebren joined “The Biggest Loser” with her mother, Miggy Cancel of New Jersey, and though they consistently shed
cmullen@sanfordherald.com
SANFORD — Chris Morris of Sanford is thrilled her son Colin has more access to the playground at the Easter Seals United Cerebral Palsy Stepping Stones Children’s Center. Colin, 6, weighs 20 pounds and uses a walker to get around. He has Cornelia de Lange Syndrome, meaning his growth and language skills are delayed, and he has an excessive
Playground, Page 6A
HAPPENING TODAY n The Lee County Library offers story time at 11 a.m. The program is aimed at children ages 3 and up, and lasts 30 to 45 minutes. CALENDAR, PAGE 2A
ASHLEY GARNER/The Sanford Herald
Easter Seals UCP Stepping Stones Children’s Center Director Emily Page (left) leads the Small Miracles Tour on Wednesday as Sue Tipton looks on.
High: 60 Low: 34
Herald Correspondent
See Loser, Page 6A
INDEX
More Weather, Page 10A
OBITUARIES
SCOTT MOONEYHAM
Spring Lake: Christine Jackson, 96
The preliminaries are over — now the federal courthouse minuet begins in Easley case
Page 4A
Abby, Graham, Bridge, Sudoku............................. 6B Classifieds ....................... 8B Comics, Crosswords.......... 7B Community calendar .......... 2A Horoscope ........................ 6B Obituaries......................... 5A Opinion ............................ 4A Scoreboard ....................... 4B