ENTERTAINMENT: Started planning your ‘Lost’ party yet? • Page 11A
The Sanford Herald FRIDAY, MAY 14, 2010
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SANFORDHERALD.COM • 50 CENTS
CENTRAL CAROLINA COMMUNITY COLLEGE
FUNDRAISER
Relay for Life starts tonight at fairgrounds
SPORTS
Annual walk hopes to raise more than $180k for cancer research By JONATHAN OWENS
LEE COUNTY SHOCKS MILLBROOK WITH ROUT
owens@sanfordherald.com
The Yellow Jackets thrashed top-seeded Millbrook on the road with a convincing 14-4 win in the first round of the NCHSAA 4-A state baseball playoffs Thursday night Page 1B
NATION
KATHERINE McDONALD/Special to The Herald
Jeremy Rushlow (right) of Chatham County receives his associate in applied science degree in alternative energy technology (biofuels) from Central Carolina Community College President Bud Marchant during the college’s spring commencement Thursday at the Dennis A. Wicker Civic Center.
BANNER DAY Graduates fill two packed ceremonies at Thursday’s college’s spring commencement
IS COLLEGE OVERRATED? SOME EXPERTS SAY YES
The notion that a four-year degree is essential for real success is being challenged by a growing number of economists, policy analysts and academics. They say more Americans should consider other options such as technical training or two-year schools, which have been embraced in Europe for decades. Page 12A
GULF OIL SPILL BP TO TRY SMALL TUBES TO PLUG HOLE IN PIPE BP officials said Thursday they would thread a small tube into a jagged pipe on the seafloor to suck oil to the surface before it can spew into the Gulf and add to a disaster apparently set in motion by a long list of equipment failures Page 10A
STATE TRAIN DERAILMENT HURTS 13 IN MEBANE An Amtrak-operated commuter train with 36 passengers on board derailed Thursday after striking a tractor-trailer that was stuck on the tracks, injuring at least 13 people Page 8A
TIGHTER RACE TEST IN DEATH CASES SOUGHT Republican legislators argued Thursday for restricting a new law that made North Carolina the second state to allow death-penalty defendants to claim data indicates racial bias Page 9A
Vol. 80, No. 112 Serving Lee, Chatham, Harnett and Moore counties in the heart of North Carolina
By KATHERINE McDONALD Special to The Herald
SANFORD — Excitement, joy and enthusiasm filled the Dennis A. Wicker Civic Center Thursday as Central Carolina Community College celebrated its 47th spring commencement. “This is the most exciting day on the academic calendar,” CCCC President Bud Marchant told the graduates. “This is the day you celebrate all of your accomplishments with your friends and family.” A total of 222 associate in applied science, 73 associate in arts and seven associate in science degrees; 110 diplomas
See Graduation, Page 7A
ELECTION 2010
CCCC graduates Emily Needham (left) of Chatham County and Tanya Haislip of Lee County are all smiles following the college’s graduation ceremony Thursday. Both received their associate in applied science in accounting. While students, Needham served as a student ambassador and Haislip was SGA president.
SANFORD — Local cancer survivors and their friends and family will walk the night away again tonight to raise funds and awareness for the American Cancer Society. Lee County’s version of Relay for Life will be held for the 15th year tonight and Saturday. The annual event consists of a continual walk around the midway at the Lee County Fairgrounds by participants from 5:30 p.m. until 10 a.m. Saturday. Along the way, each “team” participating will have booths where they sell everything from food to raffle tickets. The event will kick off at 5:30 with a prayer and welcome, then the survivors walk, featuring more than 200 cancer survivors, will commence at 7 p.m. At 9 p.m., Lloyd Johnson, brother of Scott Johnson, a dispatcher with the Sanford Police Department and a training officer with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, who died of cancer in September 2009, will walk the track playing bagpipes in honor of his brother. So far, 50 teams have signed up for this year’s event, and more than $85,000 has been raised before the first steps have been taken at the fairgrounds, according to event chairman Shirley Crissman. The teams range in size from 60 participants down to one. Prior to tonight’s start, a
See Relay, Page 6A
MOORE COUNTY
Primary Call him ‘Author’ Fonzarelli ‘Happy turnout Legendary Days’ star reads from his books for was 14% teens at O’Neal By BILLY BALL
By KATELYN HOLSHOUSER
bball@sanfordherald.com
Special to The Herald
SANFORD — It’s official. Lee County election officials have certified the results of last week’s primary elections, in which voters cast a pair of fresh faces and a pair of veteran local politicians to the forefront in contested battles for the Lee County Board of Commissioners and the Board of Education. Board of Elections Director Nancy Kimble said her office wrapped up canvassing to certify the results Tuesday,
SOUTHERN PINES — “The Fonz” dropped back into school Thursday. Henry Winkler, best known for his role as The Fonz on the popular TV series “Happy Days,” spoke Thursday to an audience at The O’Neal School while promoting the release of the final book in his popular children’s book series “Hank Zipzer: The World’s Greatest Underachiever.” Winkler, the actor turned
See Primary, Page 6A
HAPPENING TODAY n The award-winning North Carolina Boys Choir kicks off its 2010 spring concert tour at 7 p.m. at Jonesboro United Methodist Church, 407 W. Main Street, Sanford. There is no charge for the event and reservations are not required. CALENDAR, PAGE 2A
See Fonz, Page 6A
ASHLEY GARNER/The Sanford Herald
Henry Winkler, best known for his role as “The Fonz” on the popular TV series “Happy Days,” spoke Thursday to an audience at The O’Neal School while promoting the release of the final book in his popular children’s book series.
High: 92 Low: 69
INDEX
More Weather, Page 12A
OBITUARIES
SCOTT MOONEYHAM
Sanford: Margaret Adams, 82; Jeff Hickman, 28; Alice Holder, 93; Raymond Hooker; Benjamin Johnson; Charlotte Lutton, 81; Brenda McLean, 45
Local governments were not happy with talk of privatizing state alcohol sales
Page 4A
Abby, Graham, Bridge, Sudoku............................. 5B Classifieds ....................... 9B Comics, Crosswords.......... 7B Community calendar ...........XA Horoscope ........................ 5B Obituaries......................... 5A Opinion ............................ 4A Scoreboard ....................... 4B