VOLLEYBALL: Athens Drive tops Lee County • Page 1B
The Sanford Herald WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2010
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LEE COUNTY SCHOOLS
Plan could fill honors classes Moss: AP students chosen by formula instead of teacher judgment
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By ALEXA MILAN
When I looked at the data this spring and compared it to the probability of students that would have been successful in those classes, there was a huge disconnect.”
amilan@sanfordherald.com
OBAMA ON IRAQ: ‘TURN THE PAGE’
SANFORD — If Lee County Schools has its way, high school honors and AP classrooms are about to get a lot fuller. The county’s three middle schools have implemented a new initiative for the 2010-2011 year that Superintendent of Lee County Schools Jeff Moss describes as “a game-changer.” Rather than relying on teacher judgment to determine which
Moss
— Lee County Superintendent Jeff Moss —
eighth-grade students should be placed in Algebra I, the schools will use a formula for determining the probability of student success. The same approach will
also be used to place eighth graders in high school level English I. “When I looked at the data this spring and compared it to the probability of students that
‘GODFATHER’ CAR IN SANFORD
would have been successful in those classes, there was a huge disconnect,” Moss said. Lee County Schools uses the Education Value-Added Assessment System from the SAS Institute to examine the effectiveness of students’ schooling experiences. The software details performance patterns and predicts the probability of student success.
See Honors, Page 6A
GOVERNMENT
EDC: Local economy currently in a lull
Declaring no victory after seven years of bloodshed, President Barack Obama on Tuesday ended the U.S. combat mission in Iraq, telling millions who were divided over the war in his country and around the world: “It is time to turn the page.” Full Story, Page 9A
Commissioner suggests audit in first of four joint meetings with EDC
BROADWAY
By BILLY BALL bball@sanfordherald.com
tracking down the Volvo and taking a Sanford man into custody. The driver of the Volvo, 45-year-old Tony Lee Swann of 2904 Airport Road, was allegedly feuding with the Broadway Road resident, 34-year-old Jason Craig
SANFORD — Lee County economic recruiters presented a sobering but brightening outlook on the county’s economic situation to local government leaders Tuesday. Lee Economic Development Corporation Director Bob Heuts told officials from Sanford, Broadway and Lee County governments that 2010 business activity remained in a lull compared to two years ago, but recent events indicate the tide may be turning. “It seems to be picking up at the state and the regional level,” Heuts said. Heuts’ comments came during the first of four yearly meetings between the county’s economic recruiter and its government stakeholders. The meetings emerged from months of deliberation on how to reform the EDC and improve communication. Heuts and members of the EDC’s steering board pointing out that two years ago the nonprofit agency would have counted as many as 70 meetand-greet visits or exchanges with corporate entities seeking to expand or settle locally, but that number dwindled to 55 in 2009 and is on track for a similar finish in 2010. But Heuts touted recent successes, including construction giant Caterpillar’s move to expand its Sanford plant and add 325 new jobs, as evidence that the agency’s often-controversial tax incentives for companies are working. “Learn forward on every proj-
See Shootout, Page 6A
See EDC, Page 6A
WESLEY BEESON/The Sanford Herald
Jimmie Bullis of Speakeazy Billiards has the car riddled with bullet holes from James Caan’s famous death scene in “The Godfather.”
SOAP MAKER BEGINS BUSINESS FROM HOME Gini Farnham, the proprietor of Farnham Soaps, runs her family-owned business out of her home. When she began her soap-making enterprise six years ago, she was looking for a remedy to a common problem. “I had just turned 40, and needless to say, that’s getting close to the change of life,” said the mother of two daughters. “Your skin isn’t what it used to be.” Full Story, Page 3A
EARL UPDATE OUTER BANKS BRACES FOR HIT FROM STORM A powerful Hurricane Earl threatened to sideswipe much of the East Coast just ahead of Labor Day, worrying countless vacationers who planned to spend the traditional last week of summer at the beach. The Federal Emergency Management Agency warned people along the Eastern Seaboard to prepare for possible evacuations. Full Story, Page 8A
TO INFORM, CHALLENGE AND CELEBRATE
Vol. 80, No. 204 Serving Lee, Chatham, Harnett and Moore counties in the heart of North Carolina
AN OFFER HE COULDN’T REFUSE Sanford car collector has a piece of movie history By ALEXA MILAN amilan@sanfordherald.com
I
t’s one of the scenes in “The Godfather” that movie enthusiasts remember most. James Caan’s Sonny Corleone rolls up to a toll booth in a black 1941 Lincoln Continental. But before he can make it past the gate, members of a rival family gun him down. He stumbles out of the car, screaming in anguish, before collapsing to th ground, both him and the car left riddled with bullets. Now, local “Godfather”
James Caan is shot up in front of Bullis’ car in a scene from the 1972 classic, ‘The Godfather.’ fans only have to drive down the street to see the iconic car in person. Jimmie Bullis of Speakeazy Billiards acquired the car in
July, and it is now on display at the pool hall, surrounded by posters and memorabilia from Francis Ford Coppola’s 1972 classic. “The guy who owned the car is a collector who’s a very good friend of mine,” Bullis said. “He’s had it since 1981. I’ve been asking him about it for years, and he finally decided to part with it.” Bullis is a car collector himself, with a room full of old cars next to Speakeazy Billiards.
See Godfather, Page 6A
CRIME
Men arrested for shootout over woman By BILLY BALL bball@sanfordherald.com
SANFORD — Lee County investigators have arrested two men believed to have exchanged gunshots in east Sanford early Monday following a dispute over a woman.
HAPPENING TODAY Sanford Jobseekers will meet at First Baptist Church from 8:30 to 10:45 a.m. This week’s program focus: Cindy Casler will speak on Workforce Development and how it can assist in finding jobs. All who are looking for employment are welcome. CALENDAR, PAGE 2A
Deputies made the arrests after motorists reported a man firing a gun from a black Volvo into a residence at 2000 Broadway Road. The shooting was reported at approximately 8 a.m. Monday, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office said, with investigators later
High: 94 Low: 65
INDEX
More Weather, Page 12A
OBITUARIES
R.V. HIGHT
Sanford: Arthur Gibbs, 83; Wilma Womack, 92 Cameron: Jonathon Grice, 27
R.V. Hight goes through some papers from the 40s and shares his findings
Page 4A
Abby, Graham, Bridge, Sudoku............................. 8B Classifieds ..................... 10B Comics, Crosswords.......... 7B Community calendar .......... 2A Horoscope ........................ 6B Obituaries......................... 5A Opinion ............................ 4A Scoreboard ....................... 4B