CRUNCH TIME
Two-a-days begin for the Southern Lee (pictured) and Lee County High School football programs Monday
Full Story, Page 1B
The Sanford Herald TUESDAY, AUGUST 3, 2010
SANFORDHERALD.COM • 50 CENTS
NATIONAL NIGHT OUT: See where your community is gathering • Page 3A
QUICKREAD
SAN-LEE PARK
IRAQ WAR
Upgrade for 83-year-old dam
OBAMA HAILS PLANNED PULLOUT AS SUCCESS President Barack Obama on Monday hailed this month’s planned withdrawal of all U.S. combat troops — “as promised and on schedule” — as a major success despite deep doubts about the Iraqis’ ability to police and govern their country Page 10A
GULF OIL SPILL GULF SEAFOOD SAFE; FISHERMEN HAVE DOUBTS Seafood from some parts of the oil-fouled Gulf of Mexico has been declared safe to eat by the government, based in part on human smell tests Page 9A
WESLEY BEESON/The Sanford Herald
Construction workers continue work on rebar for the fourth spillway at San Lee Park on Monday afternoon. When the work is done, the once easily flooded lake at the park will be able to sustain 100- to 300-year flood events, according to officials.
Work will allow easily flooded park to sustain biggest of storms
STATE TAX HOLIDAY GOOD FOR STORES, BAD FOR STATE
By ALEXA MILAN
The News & Observer of Raleigh reported Sunday that last year’s tax holiday cost the state an estimated $12.3 million — money that this year could help fill an $800 million budget deficit
SANFORD — Park Ranger Steve Godfrey used to open each drain valve at San-Lee Park every time it rained. When Hurricane Fran hit in 1996, water spilled over the top of the dam wall even though the drains were open. But the park’s struggles with the dam are about to come to an end now that major renovations
Page 7A
GOV. PERDUE PLANS TO SIGN ETHICS BILL Gov. Beverly Perdue boasted Monday that she and legislators beefed up state laws to improve public trust in state government, hoping to counter perceptions that Democrats were beset by scandal Page 8A
TO INFORM, CHALLENGE AND CELEBRATE
Vol. 80, No. 181 Serving Lee, Chatham, Harnett and Moore counties in the heart of North Carolina
amilan@sanfordherald.com
are underway. The new design will place a weir box in the park’s lower pond, creating extra space for water to flow through. The water will then filter through the renovated spillway, which should now be able to sustain 100- to 300-year flood events. The new system will increase the dam’s capacity and flow rate and will keep the lake at a constant level. “It’s been there since 1927,
and it just wore out,” Godfrey said. “With this new system, there will be a whole lot less worry and it will be a lot safer.” The dam creates two ponds used for fishing and boating at San-Lee Park. Fishing and boating are still available while the dam is constructed but are limited to the upper pond. Between the damage from Hurricane Fran
See Dam, Page 6A
ONLINE San-Lee Park’s pond is out of order, but the park itself is still open for business this summer. Learn more about its nature center, walking trails, mountain bike trails and more at its website, http:// www.leecountync.gov/ Departments/SanLeePark. aspx
PUBLIC POLICY LUNCHEON
Nonprofit plays matchmaker for Army, businesses ONLINE Learn more about the Partnership for Defense Innovation and how your business can vie for defense contracts at www.ncpdi.com
HAPPENING TODAY n The National Weather Service will present a Severe Weather Spotter Training Class (Skywarn for Amateur Radio Operators) at 7 p.m. at the McSwain Center at 2410 Tramway Road.
CALENDAR, PAGE 2A
By BILLY LIGGETT bliggett@sanfordherald.com
SANFORD — Even milliondollar ideas are useless without the means of putting those ideas in motion. And when it comes to ideas
that could benefit the U.S. Armed Forces, the red tape involved can seem daunting to many. There’s where a Fayetteville nonprofit comes in, says Gary Mitchell with the Partnership for Defense Innova-
High: 94 Low: 72
tion. Mitchell spoke for the organization Monday during the Sanford Area Chamber of Commerce’s monthly Public Policy luncheon. PDI’s mission is to “promote economic devel-
See Defense, Page 3A
INDEX
More Weather, Page 10A
OBITUARIES
SCOTT MOONEYHAM
Sanford: Elijah Caddick, 5; Mollie Duncan, 49; Maybelle Ellis, 91; Oscar Kelly, 78; Carol Mann, 85; Robert Sanderlin, 73; Kathy Yates, 54
The upcoming election will decide who gets to draw redistricting lines
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Abby, Graham, Bridge, Sudoku............................. 5B Classifieds ....................... 8B Comics, Crosswords.......... 7B Community calendar .......... 2A Horoscope ........................ 5B Obituaries......................... 5A Opinion ............................ 4A Scoreboard ....................... 4B