CHART THE MADNESS Play-along tourney bracket inside, 8B • Tournament previews inside Sports
The Sanford Herald WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17, 2010
SANFORDHERALD.COM • 50 CENTS
QUICKREAD
LEE COUNTY INDUSTRIES INC.
GIRLS SOCCER
Nonprofit in need Sanford
BUSINESS
joins the push for Google
HILLIARD LIFTS GRACE WITH WINNING GOAL Grace Christian sophomore Taylor Hilliard scored the goahead goal in the 76th minute to put the Lady Crusaders up 2-1 over their county rivals, the Lee Christian Lady Falcons
Chamber entering competitive field for insanely fast Internet service
Full Story, Page 1B
By BILLY LIGGETT bliggett@sanfordherald.com
PGA GOLF
ASHLEY GARNER/The Sanford Herald
William Lannon Jr. helps build custom crates at Lee County Industries Inc. on Tuesday.
TIGER WOODS SAYS HE’S RETURNING FOR MASTERS Tiger Woods said Tuesday he will end more than four months of seclusion and play at Augusta National, the seasons’s first major, in three weeks Full Story, Page 1B
SANFORD CITY ALSO APPROVES FRONTIER INCENTIVES
After the county board approved the incentive proposal for Frontier Spinning Mills Monday night, the Sanford City Council did the same Tuesday Full Story, Page 3A
OUR STATE RUFFIN POOLE ASKS FOR DISMISSAL OF CHARGES The ex-aide to former North Carolina Gov. Mike Easley has asked a judge to dismiss all 51 counts filed against him, citing lawyers failed to prove bribery Full Story, Page 8A
OUR NATION DEMOCRATS DEFEND RECONCILIATION Democrats defended plans to push massive health care legislation through the House without a direct vote and Republicans assailed the strategy Full Story, Page 9A
TO INFORM, CHALLENGE AND CELEBRATE
Vol. 80, No. 62 Serving Lee, Chatham, Harnett and Moore counties in the heart of North Carolina
LCI director asks board of commissioners for double its annual intake to help its budget shortfall By CAITLIN MULLEN cmullen@sanfordherald.com
SANFORD — Without needed funding, Lee County Industries Inc. may have to send clients away. LCI’s Executive Director Meg Moss went before the Lee County Board of Commissioners Monday night to ask for $10,000, instead of the usual $5,000 LCI requests, because the nonprofit is in “dire need” of help from the county. But things are tight on the county’s end, and it’s too soon to tell if the board will be able to give even half of the requested amount, said Board Chairman Richard Hayes. The county typically gives LCI $5,000 each year but was only able to give $4,800 last year. LCI serves 200 people an-
Lee County Industries Inc. is asking for $10,000 from the Lee County Board of Commissioners. nually and 90 percent are Lee County residents, Moss said. There are 30 to 40 people with physical, mental health and addictive disabilities in the facility on a daily basis for about eight hours each day.
LCI primarily places people in competitive employment in the community, doing contract work for companies like Coty or
See LCI, Page 6A
SANFORD — Some cities are changing their names. Others are sending their mayors into frozen lakes. They’re joining hundreds of others — metropolis to farm town — in the race to see who can attract Google’s experimental fiber-optic network, one that promises to be more than 100 times faster than the Internet service they’re used to. And while it’s not promising to be “Google, N.C.” any time soon, Sanford has joined the mix, thanks to an effort led by the Chamber of Commerce and supported by city, county and school officials, as well as a few local business leaders. Sanford has until March 26 to turn in a detailed application and any other supporting materials (such as video) that may catch the Internet giant’s eye. “If we got it, it would be an unbelievable promotional opportunity,” Sanford Area Chamber of Commerce President Bob Joyce said Tuesday. “Google is a brand name on the level of Coca-Cola. It would be worldwide recognition for us if we were chosen. So it’s definitely worth a shot.” A shot, certainly ... but a long shot.
See Google, Page 6A
CENTRAL CAROLINA HOSPITAL
Heart failure care award first in the state American Heart Association’s GOLD award ‘a pretty big deal’ for Sanford facility By CAITLIN MULLEN cmullen@sanfordherald.com
SANFORD — An award given to Central Carolina Hospital for its dedication to heart failure care gives the hospital something to brag about across the state. CCH was presented Tuesday with the GOLD award for Heart
HAPPENING TODAY Operation Medicine Drop in Harnett County allows residents to take their unused and expired medications to a drop-off site where law enforcement can dispose of them properly. CALENDAR, PAGE 2A
Ron Cromartie (left) with the AHA stands with Central Carolina Hospital CEO Doug Doris as CCH is presented with the GOLD award for Heart Failure Care.
Failure Care through Get with the Guidelines by the American Heart Association, making the local hospital the first in North Carolina recognized for the standards it has met. “It’s actually a pretty big deal,” said Ron Cromartie, senior consultant for quality
ASHLEY GARNER/ The Sanford Herald
See Hospital, Page 6A
High: 65 Low: 39
INDEX
More Weather, Page 12A
OBITUARIES
R.V. HIGHT
Sanford: Forrest Baxley, 62; Sandra Edwards, 52; Robert Malone, 81; Annie Smith; Phil Thomas, 83 Cameron: Anthony Leach, 57
R.V. recalls his family’s odd encounters with opossums throughout the years
Page 4A
Abby, Graham, Bridge, Sudoku............................. 7B Classifieds ..................... 12B Comics, Crosswords........ 10B Community calendar .......... 2A Horoscope ........................ 7B Obituaries......................... 5A Opinion ............................ 4A Scoreboard ....................... 5B