OLYMPICS: U.S. hockey team takes down Swiss team, 2-0 • Page 1B
The Sanford Herald THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2010
QUICKREAD
SANFORDHERALD.COM • 50 CENTS
DOGS OF VALOR AWARDS
DAVIS MURDER
Shaniya’s mother released from jail
TOYOTA RECALL
CEO APOLOGIZES FOR COMPANY’S TROUBLES
Woman accused of selling daughter as prostitute posts bail
Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda apologized personally and repeatedly Wednesday to the United States and millions of American Toyota owners for safety lapses that have led to deaths and widespread recalls. Unimpressed lawmakers blistered the world’s largest automaker with accusations of greed and insensitivity
From wire reports
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JOBS BILL
SENATE BILL GIVES TAX BREAKS FOR NEW HIRES Senate Democrats delivered the first of several promised election-year jobs bills Wednesday, passing a measure blending tax breaks for companies that hire unemployed workers with highway funding eagerly sought by the states Page 8A
NATION WHALE KILLS TRAINER WHILE CROWD WATCHES A killer whale drowned a trainer in front of a horrified audience Wednesday at a SeaWorld show, with at least one witness saying the animal leaped from the water, dragged the woman under and thrashed her around violently Page 10A
WASHINGTON FISHERMEN DEMAND CATCH LIMIT CHANGES Fishermen and charter boat captains from Maine to Louisiana rallied outside the Capitol Wednesday to demand changes to federal fishing limits they say are putting them out of business
ASHLEY GARNER/The Sanford Herald
Barbara Berman gives “Prozac” a hug at their home in Carolina Trace on Wednesday. Prozac is a top finalist for the Humane Society’s third annual Dogs of Valor Awards for saving the lives of three people.
Fluffy Hero A poodle-mix named ‘Prozac’ is a finalist for national Dogs of Valor awards By CAITLIN MULLEN cmullen@sanfordherald.com
SANFORD — A tiny metal tag hangs from Prozac’s neck that reads “HERO DOG.” “Prozie,” as his owners Barbara and Fred Berman call him, is a 4-year-old Bichon Frise/poodle mix dog that’s become famous. Prozac is a top 10 finalist for the Humane Society’s third annual Dogs of Valor Awards. The fluffy white pup was chosen as a finalist from 100
ONLINE Read more about all the finalists for the Humane Society of the United States’ third annual “Dogs of Valor” awards by visiting humanesociety. org or by searching “Dogs of Valor” at google.com
dogs across the country. The Humane Society chooses dogs that “have performed an extraordinary act of courage by heroically helping a person
PERDUE: GIVE N.C. BUSINESSES PREFERENCE In a guest column, Gov. Perdue explains her recent executive order on contracts Page 7A
TO INFORM, CHALLENGE AND CELEBRATE
n Ten percent of all purchases at Viva Villa Mexican Restaurant, located in Spring Lane Shopping Center in Sanford, will be donated to the Stevens Center. No coupon required. For more information call the Stevens Center at 776-4048 or visit stevenscenter.org.
THE ARTS
Temple’s youth set to perform Shakespeare WANT TO GO? Shows are at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 2 p.m. Sunday at Temple Theatre; also, at 7 p.m. March 5 and 6 and 2 p.m. March 7. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for children age 12 and younger.
cmullen@sanfordherald.com
ASHLEY GARNER/The Sanford Herald
HAPPENING TODAY
See Shaniya, Page 6A
By CAITLIN MULLEN Lisa Chalmers cheers on her nephew, Ace Chalmers, during Wednesday night’s second round boys basketball playoff game between Southern Lee and Eastern Alamance. The Cavs won 54-47 and will likely play Round 3 on Friday.
STATE
Serving Lee, Chatham, Harnett and Moore counties in the heart of North Carolina
See Valor, Page 6A
SOUTHERN LEE ADVANCES
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Vol. 80, No. 45
in need,” according to the organization’s Web site. Berman said Prozac was nominated because he has saved the lives of three people by alerting them of trouble. About a year ago, while the Bermans were staying with relatives, Prozac laid with Fred’s Aunt Dorothy while she napped. When the dog began barking loudly, family rushed into the room and found
FAYETTEVILLE — The Fayetteville woman charged with human trafficking in the disappearance of the 5-yearold girl whose body was found in Sanford is out of jail. Cumberland County Sheriff spokeswoman Debbie Tanna said on Wednesday that Antoinette Davis, 25, the mother of Shaniya Davis, was released A. Davis Sunday night on a $51,000 bond. Davis has been charged with filing a false police report, trafficking her daughter and child abuse involving prostitution. Shaniya Davis was found dead several days after her disappearance in November. Her body was discovered in a kudzu patch on rural highway near the Carolina Trace com-
High: 44 Low: 27
SANFORD — Temple Theatre’s Winter Youth Conservatory production of “Romeo and Juliet” is a classic William Shakespeare tale that will be performed by teens similar in age to the story’s characters. Marketing Director Kelly Wright said the show features a cast of about 23 teens from upper middle school and high school. “It’s kind of our older kids,” Wright said. The teens hail
See Temple, Page 6A
INDEX
More Weather, Page 12A
OBITUARIES
MICHAEL GERSON
Sanford: Josie Baldwin; David Key, 50; Catherine Leonard, 93; Eleanor McLean, 42; Joseph Plouffe, 77; Mary Schurer, 71; Teresa Shapter
President Obama and the Democrats’ health care plan can be called ‘delusional’
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Abby, Graham, Bridge, Sudoku............................. 8B Classifieds ..................... 10B Comics, Crosswords.......... 9B Community calendar .......... 2A Horoscope ........................ 8B Obituaries......................... 5A Opinion ............................ 4A Scoreboard ....................... 4B