NIT: Akeem Richmond and Rhode Island set up date with UNC in NYC • Page 1B
The Sanford Herald THURSDAY, MARCH 25, 2010
SANFORDHERALD.COM • 50 CENTS
QUICKREAD
SANFORD: HAWKINS AVENUE
SPORTS
Street wants ‘historic’ status Hawkins residents to hold community meetings for creation of local district By CAITLIN MULLEN cmullen@sanfordherald.com
JACKETS SHUT OUT BY PANTHER CREEK
After earning its first Tri-9 Conference win in five seasons, the Lee County girls’ soccer team was shut out by Panther Creek 4-0 on Wednesday night Page 1B
SANFORD — A group of Hawkins Avenue residents interested in creating a local historic district for the area plans to hold community meetings to gauge interest in the idea. Liz Whitmore, the city’s Historic Preservation Commission planner, said the Hawkins Avenue area is already on the National Register of Historic Places,
but a local district would bring security in the neighborhood’s appearance. It can provide state tax credits, as well. Before homeowners make changes to their homes, they would have to go before the Historic Preservation Commission for feedback. “For routine maintenance, they don’t need any approval,”
ASHLEY GARNER/The Sanford Herald
See Hawkins, Page 6A
Creating a local historic district along Hawkins Avenue could provide state tax credits, but may give homeowners less freedom as well.
SANFORD SOLDIER HONORED
HEALTH CARE
Insurance costs go up for state employees
ECONOMY
HOUSING’S RECOVERY MAY BE SHORT-LIVED
Smokers won’t have the option to change plan to 80/20
The recovery in the housing market is at risk of collapsing. Home sales are sliding, prices are stalling and foreclosures are rising Page 9A
By CAITLIN MULLEN cmullen@sanfordherald.com
STATE ETHERIDGE HELPS SHAW SECURE FEDERAL LOAN A $31 million U.S. Education Department loan, secured with help from U.S. Rep. Bob Etheridge, D-N.C., allows Shaw University to shift millions in debt that it owes to Charlottebased Bank of America Page 8A
NATION OBAMA SIGNS ORDER ON ABORTION UNDER RADAR Anything but jubilant, President Barack Obama awkwardly kept a promise Wednesday he made to ensure passage of historic health care legislation, pledging the administration would not allow federal funds to pay for elective abortions covered by private insurance Page 10A
WORLD U.S., RUSSIA AGREE ON HISTORIC NUKE PACT After long and trying negotiations, the U.S. and Russia have reached agreements for a historic new treaty to reduce the nuclear arsenals of former Cold War rivals, officials said Wednesday Page 12A
TO INFORM, CHALLENGE AND CELEBRATE
Vol. 80, No. 69 Serving Lee, Chatham, Harnett and Moore counties in the heart of North Carolina
Sanford native Jay Calendine was awarded the Purple Heart medal this month while serving in Afghanistan. Calendine is the son of Joseph and Shirley Calendine, and the father of Cadi and Ian Calendine, all of Sanford. His family said they could not give many details about the honor because of where Calendine is stationed, but he is scheduled to return to the states in May. Submitted photos
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
Author to sign books in Sanford From staff reports SANFORD — Bestselling Christian author Beverly Lewis will sign copies of her newest book at The Carpenter’s Shop in Sanford on next month. The Sanford shop, scheduled to start at 7 p.m.,
HAPPENING TODAY n Temple Theatre’s production of Jason Petty’s “El Paso” begins at 7 p.m. For tickets, call the Temple box office at (919) 774-4155, e-mail boxoffice@templeshows.com or visit www. templeshows.com. CALENDAR, PAGE 2A
is part of a 21-stop, nine day tour almost exclusively in North Carolina, Lewis is promoting “The Telling,” the conclusion to her “Seasons of Grace” novel series. The Carpenter’s Shop is located at 2431 S. Jefferson
Author Beverly Lewis (left) will sign copies of her new book, “The Telling,” on April 9 at The Carpener’s Shop in Sanford.
See Author, Page 5A
SANFORD — Health insurance premiums for state employees will increase drastically beginning July 1. Beginning July 1, state employees, including Lee County Schools educators and administrators, will be moved to a 70/30 plan, said Tammy Howington, chief finance officer for Lee County Schools, meaning the state will pay 70 percent of an employee’s health care costs and the employee will pay 30 percent. The same applies for the 80/20 plan. “Basically, they’ve moved everybody to a 70/30 plan. If you want to go to an 80/20 plan, you have to go in and change it,” she said. Employees have until April 9 to change their plan. And in an effort to see employees make healthier choices, the state is requiring smokers stay with the 70/30 plan. The North Carolina State Health Plan information given to employees states that they can choose the 80/20 plan if “you and your covered family members do not use tobacco products, or you and/or your covered family member(s) are participating in a tobacco cessation program.” When employees try to make the change from 70/30 to 80/20, they will be asked to answer questions like, “Does anyone in my household smoke, including my dependents?” Those participating in a cessation program must obtain a physician certification
See Insurance, Page 6A
High: 74 Low: 56
INDEX
More Weather, Page 12A
OBITUARIES
SCOTT MOONEYHAM
Sanford: Vanessa Cotton, 47; Marie Evans, 77; Robert Stroud, 71; Wolfgang Wessling Bear Creek: Annie Beaver, 92 Broadway: Frances Buchanan, 72
Consumer groups are largely absent in the polarized, fractured political world
Page 4A
Abby, Graham, Bridge, Sudoku............................. 6B Classifieds ..................... 10B Comics, Crosswords.......... 7B Community calendar .......... 2A Horoscope ........................ 6B Obituaries......................... 5A Opinion ............................ 4A Scoreboard ....................... 4B