BUSINESS: Food processing plants expanding in N.C. • Page 9B
The Sunday Herald SUNDAY, MARCH 7, 2010
SANFORDHERALD.COM • $1.50
SANFORD
LEE COUNTY SCHOOLS
Boy hit by car in serious condition
District’s dropout rate rises
Sister said 10-year-old is able to speak and may be receiving therapy By CAITLIN MULLEN cmullen@sanfordherald.com
SANFORD — A 10-year-old boy who was hit by a car Friday afternoon on Tramway Road is in critical condition at UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill. According to witnesses, Gabino Figueroa, 10, ran into the road at about 5:30 p.m. Friday near Dreamland mobile home park, between Southern Lee High School and downtown Jonesboro, and was hit by a car. Figueroa’s older sister Alvina, 20, said her brother is able to speak and may be receiving therapy at the hospital. Alvina was inside the family home at the time of the accident, but heard that her brother “crossed the ditch to get somebody to play soccer” when he ran into the road. The driver — a woman whose name was not released — was not at fault for the accident, said Trooper W.M. Johnson with the North Carolina Highway Patrol. After talking with witnesses at the scene, Johnson said he determined there
Both the state’s rate and 84 percent of districts fell in 2008-09 By CAITLIN MULLEN cmullen@sanfordherald.com
SANFORD — State data released Thursday points out that though the state’s overall high school dropout rate decreased in 2008-09, Lee County Schools’ rate saw a slight increase. In a report released Thurs-
day by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, Lee County’s rate increased from 4.98 in 2007-08 to 5.61 percent last year while the state dropout rate decreased to 4.27 percent from 4.97 percent in the prior year. Eighty-four percent of all school districts demonstrated a decrease in dropout rates. A
total of 19,184 high school students dropped out in 2008-09. “I’m not satisfied with it and I’m not going to be satisfied until we have a 100 percent graduation rate,” said Superintendent Jeff Moss. In the 2005-06 schoolyear, LCS had the third highest
See Dropouts, Page 3A
PAST RATES In the 2005-06 school year, LCS had the third highest dropout rate in the state, at 7.8 percent. In 2006-07, it dropped to 5.83 percent. And in 2007-08, it dropped again, to 4.97 percent.
SUNDAY SPOTLIGHT: CCCC CONTINUING EDUCATION PROGRAM
A newfound love of learning
See Boy, Page 3A
Mon found dead in creek By BILLY LIGGETT bliggett@sanfordherald.com
SANFORD — A person described as a “man in his 60s” by neighbors was found dead in a creek near a neighborhood just off of U.S. 1 and Horner Boulevard late Saturday. No details were released by the Sanford Police Department as of press time Saturday. But residents gathered as emergency crews and detectives worked the scene, the yard behind a home located
ASHLEY GARNER/The Sanford Herald
Larry Jordan (right) shares a laugh with Teacher Assistant Denise Stroud on Friday at Central Carolina Community College Jonesboro Center.
Local resident, 71, finds new lease on life in classroom
See Drowning, Page 3A EDITOR’S NOTE
SUNDAYQUICKREAD POLITIC S THINK CONGRESS IS PARTISAN NOW? YOU AIN’T SEEN NOTHING The current partisan divide is as stark and nasty as any in recent history and on almost every issue — from health care to energy independence to reviving the economy — there’s little or no effort to find common ground. today’s hostile environment is particularly intense, it’s downright genteel compared to many battles of the past. Page 7B
This is the second in an occasional series on Larry Jordan, who’s going back to school to learn to read in retirement.
By CAITLIN MULLEN cmullen@sanfordherald.com
MORE AND MORE HOME SCHOOL TEXTS DO NOT INCLUDE DARWIN Christian-based materials dominate a growing home-school education market that encompasses more than 1.5 million students in the U.S., but most do not include lessons on Darwin’s theories or evolution
Serving Lee, Chatham, Harnett and Moore counties in the heart of North Carolina
somed. It’s clear the simple pleasure of interacting with others while learning has made Jordan happy. “I feel more energetic. I feel like doing things more,” he said. “And my two teachers that I’ve got are very good. I enjoy them.”
See Reading, Page 5A
‘Hurt Locker’ the favorite to win it all By NEIL MORRIS
W
hen the 82nd Annual Academy Awards are announced this evening, the only spontaneity might be at what weight co-host Alec Baldwin will tip the scales. No Oscars in recent memory has seemed so preordained. The only major category with any
HAPPENING TODAY n Temple Theatre’s Winter Youth Conservatory’s production of “Romeo and Juliet” will begin at 2 p.m. at the theater. Ticket information can be found online at templeshows.com or by calling the box office at (919) 774-4155. CALENDAR, PAGE 2A
Jeremy Renner is shown in a scene from, “The Hurt Locker,” Morris’s pick to win Best Picture tonight at the 82nd annual Academy Awards.
NOELLE WATCH Watch for Sanford dancer Noelle Marsh in the opening number when the Oscars air tonight at 8 p.m. on ABC.
lingering intrigue is the biggest, Best Picture, which this year expands to a line-up of ten nominees. Yet, only
See Oscar, Page 4A
Page 11A
Vol. 80, No. 54
transported to class Monday through Friday to study beginner’s reading and writing. “So far, so good. (My instructor) gave me a test, I think on spelling. I got a 95 on it,” he said with a milewide grin. Jordan’s instructor Clara Hickey said he has blos-
82ND ACADEMY AWARDS PREDICTIONS
Herald Film Critic
NATION
G
oing back to school has Larry Jordan feeling like a new man. Jordan, 71, is learning to read and write at Central Carolina Community College’s Jonesboro Center for Continuing Education. He lives at Sanford Health and Rehabilitation and is
AP photo
High: 63 Low: 34
INDEX
More Weather, Page 14A
OBITUARIES
BILLY LIGGETT
Sanford: Mark Anthony “Tony” Sizemore; James Brantley Allen, 51; Pauline L. Dorsett, 88; Isaac B. McDougald, 68 Staley: Barry Dean Lindley, 53
Dress codes are one thing, but most school uniform policies are unnecessary
Page 6A
Abby, Graham, Bridge, Sudoku............................. 6B Business .......................... 9B Classifieds ..................... 11B Sunday Crossword ............ 7C Community calendar .......... 2A Horoscope ........................ 6B Obituaries......................... 5A Opinion ..........................6-7A Scoreboard ....................... 4B