ENTERTAINMENT: ‘24’ finale to compete with ‘Lost’ on Sunday • Page 11A
The Sanford Herald SATURDAY, MAY 22, 2010
SANFORDHERALD.COM • 50 CENTS
QUICKREAD
THE HOUSING MARKET
FORT BRAGG
Local home sales on upswing Real estate agents report a slight increase in sales so far this year By JONATHAN OWENS owens@sanfordherald.com
MAKEOVER TO MAKE ROOM ON MEMORIAL
Nine years after the invasion of Afghanistan, the US Army Special Operations Command has revamped its memorial, adding granite panels for the names of the fallen and providing room for expansion for at least 20 years Page 6A
NATION
SANFORD — At least in a business sense, 2009 will not be one that most real estate agents look back on with fondness. But many national indicators suggest that there may be light at the end of the tunnel for the housing market, however dim it may be at the moment. New home construction rose a whopping 41 percent in April nationwide, according to U.S. Department of Commerce,
INSIDE The numbers don’t lie. Local home sales have improved dramatically already this year over 2009 Page 5A
while sales and prices are also on the rise. Good times are here again, right? Not so fast. While things are improving all over the nation, the recovery isn’t complete
See Homes, Page 5A
ASHLEY GARNER/The Sanford Herald
A home for sale at 1516 Westfall Circle in West Sanford. After a abysmal 2009, local real estate agents are reporting that sales are improving in the first half of 2010.
STATE HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL PLAYOFFS
JACKETS MOVE ON
Take with
5
Judy Jenkins
Sanford BPW
Group fights for equality for women in work place
CARTOON IS POSTER CHILD FOR IMMIGRATION
In her police mug shot, the doe-eyed cartoon heroine with the bowl haircut has a black eye, battered lip and bloody nose. Dora the Explorer’s alleged crime? “Illegal Border Crossing Resisting Arrest.”
T
his week, we Take 5 with Judy Jenkins, the president of Sanford Business and Professional Women about the organization’s work on a local and national level. Jenkins and her husband, David, who have two grown daughters, moved to Sanford in 2000 when David (now retired) became pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church. She works as Jenkins sales manager for a local phone directory and enjoys family, traveling, water activities, Facebook and music.
Page 9A
POLITICS
GOP SEEKS TO HELP, AND TAME, RAND PAUL Even as national Republican officials seek ways to limit damage from Rand Paul’s unorthodox remarks, the Kentucky Senate nominee raised more eyebrows Friday by defending the oil company blamed for the Gulf oil spill Page 8B
GULF OIL SPILL PUBLIC BEACH CLOSED AS OIL MAKES LANDFALL
Officials closed the public beach here Friday as thick gobs of oil resembling melted chocolate washed up, a very visible reminder of the blownout well that has been spewing crude into the Gulf of Mexico for a month Page 8A
TO INFORM, CHALLENGE AND CELEBRATE
Vol. 80, No. 119 Serving Lee, Chatham, Harnett and Moore counties in the heart of North Carolina
Lee County’s Chris Thompson slides into third base during Friday’s game against Broughton High School in Raleigh. At left, Lee County’s Pat Oldham (right) waits for the ball to be thrown to first base. ASHLEY GARNER/ The Sanford Herald
The Lee County Yellow Jackets are on their way to the fourth round of the NCHSAA 4-A state baseball tournament after defeating the Broughton Capitals 6-3 on Friday afternoon in Raleigh to advance to the tournament’s final eight. The Yellow Jackets will play a familiar opponent in either Apex or Holly Springs on Tuesday night. FOR COMPLETE COVERAGE, SEE PAGE 1B
OUR STATE
Jobless rate drops again in April By EMERY P. DALESIO AP Business Writer
RALEIGH — North Carolina’s jobless are having more success looking for work as the unemployment rate dropped for the second straight month in April to 10.8 percent. The state’s Employment Security Commission reported
HAPPENING TODAY n Local farmers will sell their fresh products from 9 a.m. to noon at Deport Park in downtown Sanford as part of the weekly Sanford Farmer’s Market. To learn more, e-mail David Montgomery at david.montgomery@ sanfordnc.net. CALENDAR, PAGE 2A
Friday that the jobless rate fell from 11.1 percent in March and 11.2 percent in February, the worst since the current calculation method started in 1976. The improvement pushed North Carolina out of the top 10 states with the worst unemployment. Thirty-four states and the District of Columbia reported lower jobless
rates in April, the U.S. Labor Department said Friday. There were 16,500 fewer people on North Carolina unemployment rolls in April than the previous month. The number of non-farm jobs increased by 7,500 in April. And evidence continued that
See Jobless, Page 5A
High: 81 Low: 61
Q
: What is BPW?
Business and Professional Women is a national professional organization for women. The Sanford group was formed in 1945 as a way to advocate equity and provide support and encouragement for local women to recognize and reach their full potential in the workplace. We have members from all areas of the professional world including; education, finance, law, non-profit, real estate, healthcare and small business. The Sanford chapter supports the N.C. BPW legislative platform. North Carolina is one of only 15 states which has not ratified the Equal Rights
See Take 5, Page 12A
INDEX
More Weather, Page 12A
OBITUARIES
D.G. MARTIN
Sanford: Anne Morgan, 95; Juan Perez, 70 Salisbury: Martha Dickens, 100 Walterboro, S.C.: Stuart Verch, 89
What is the best way to learn all about the history of North Carolina?
Page 4A
Abby, Graham, Bridge, Sudoku............................. 7B Classifieds ....................... 9B Comics, Crosswords.......... 6B Community calendar .......... 2A Horoscope ........................ 7B Obituaries......................... 5A Opinion ............................ 4A Scoreboard ....................... 4B