TENNIS, ANYONE? Girls squads at Lee County, Southern Lee see huge turnouts in opening match SPORTS, PAGE 1B Lee County High School’s Alex Ridall returns the ball to Southern Lee High School’s Johanna Lipscomb during women’s singles at Southern Lee High School on Monday afternoon. — photo by Wesley Beeson
The Sanford Herald TUESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2010
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HYBRID VEHICLES
SANFORD
GAS SIPPER
Blood donations down by 13 percent
MARINE FOUND GUILTY FOR KILLING COLLEAGUE
American Red Cross issues urgent call for donations in N.C.
A former Marine was convicted Monday of murder in the death of a pregnant colleague who accused him of rape, an allegation that threatened to derail a military career that had earned him promotions and praise
By ALEXA MILAN amilan@sanfordherald.com
Full Story, Page 3A
EDUCATION
School in running for $5,000 boost
Local automotive dealer’s electric conversion kit gets 763 miles per gallon out of a Prius
WANT TO HELP?
By JENNIFER GENTILE
Vote for J.R. Ingram Elementary in the Windstream Classroom Connections Spirit Awards at http://www.lifetimetour.com/ topvideos.php.
By ALEXA MILAN amilan@sanfordherald.com
SANFORD — One Lee County elementary school could soon be $5,000 richer with a little help from the local community. J.R. Ingram Elementary is one of 30 finalists still in the running for a $5,000 grant from the Windstream Classroom Connections Spirit Awards. The 10 schools that receive the most votes will each receive a grant. “Our goal in applying for the grant was to increase the 1:1 program so other classes could use it,” said Kim Collazo, whose fourth grade class at J.R. Ingram participated in the 1:1 program last year. Voting was initially set to end Aug. 17 but has been extended to Sept. 7. Beginning Aug. 30, the number of votes will be visible on each school’s page so voters can track the school’s progress. Supporters can vote for their school once per day. Collazo said her class has received tremendous sup-
See Ingram, Page 6A
Vol. 80, No. 197 Serving Lee, Chatham, Harnett and Moore counties in the heart of North Carolina
Submitted photo
David Taylor (left), owner and founder of Taylor Automotive in Sanford, has outfitted a 2008 Toyota Prius with an electronic conversion kit that gets it 763 miles per gallon. His car easily took the gas mileage competition in July in Madison, Wis.
jgentile@sanfordherald.com
SANFORD — For a local business owner, getting 763 miles per gallon out of a Toyota Prius was falling short of its capability. “I knew if our system worked as planned, we could probably have gotten better mileage than that,” said David Taylor, owner and founder of Taylor Automotive in Sanford. Taylor’s 2008 Prius, outfitted with a plug-in electric conversion kit, easily took a gas mileage competition in July in Madison, Wis. The challenge was part of the 2010 Green Drive Expo, which drew thousands of
Taylor’s Re-Involt Technologies competed against nearly 30 others in the Wisconsin challenge in July. clean energy enthusiasts to the Midwest. Taylor and his wife, Rita, entered the miles-per-gallon challenge as Re-InVolt Technologies — a division of Taylor Automotive. Their specially-equipped
Prius was one of 25 to 30 competitors in the challenge. The vehicles were subjected to a 25-mile course, which combined interstate, rural and city driving conditions. Last year’s winning mileage, according to Taylor, was 195 miles per gallon. “I felt pretty good going into it that we’d do well,” he said. Taylor’s conversion kit consists of a large additional battery, which is installed in the rear of the Prius. The kit will allow the car to go 52 mph for one hour on electric power. While Taylor and his wife have attended several trade shows, this was their first time
See Prius, Page 6A
MOORE COUNTY
SANFORD — The scorching summer heat has brought on a nationwide blood shortage, according to the American Red Cross. The organization issued an urgent call for blood donors Monday, with the Carolinas Blood Services Region bringing in 13 percent fewer donors this summer than expected. “The Red Cross provides 100 percent of the blood for all local hospitals,” said Abby Cameron, Lee County coordinator for the American Red Cross. “It’s crucial. If anyone needs blood for an emergency or cancer treatments or anything, that blood comes from donors who donate to the Red Cross.” About 25 percent of the Carolinas Region’s blood supply comes from blood drives at high schools and colleges, so it’s typical for donations to decrease in the summer, said Sherry Mitchell, director of biomedical services for the Red Cross Triangle Area Chapter. “With more people traveling this time of year, the need for blood usually increases while the number of donors decreases,” Mitchell said. Cameron said the intense heat this summer has also kept more people indoors and away from blood drives.
See Blood, Page 6A
WEDNESDAY
Settlement reached in charter suit By ALEXA MILAN amilan@sanfordherald.com
VASS — The parties involved in the lawsuit against members of the Sandhills Theatre Arts and Renaissance School board of directors reached a settlement Thursday in Superior Court after a failed attempt at mediation last week.
HAPPENING TODAY The Festival Singers of Lee County will rehearse at 7 p.m. in the choir room of First Presbyterian Church, located at 203 Hawkins Avenue in Sanford. This community group welcomes new and returning members to join and sing in its upcoming Dec. 5 holiday concert. For more information, call 776-3624. CALENDAR, PAGE 2A
The Moore County charter school, its parent teacher organization and three members of its board of directors have been embroiled in the lawsuit against the other five board members since Aug. 6. A judge ordered Aug. 10 that the two sides resolve their issues through mediation, which was ultimately unsuccessful. The plaintiffs accused John
Langley, Al Haltiwanger, Bonnie McPeake, O’Linda Gillis and Larry Graham of remaining on the board beyond the maximum permitted term, holding illegal meetings in violation of the North Carolina Open Meetings Law and ignoring directives from the N.C. Office of Charter Schools.
See Suit, Page 6A
High: 85 Low: 66
ELLMERS TALKS TO THE HERALD Renee Ellmers, the Dunn nurse going up against Democrat Bob Etheridge for U.S. Congress this November, sits down with The Herald to talk about jobs, health care and a certain YouTube video.
INDEX
More Weather, Page 10A
OBITUARIES
MIKE WALDEN
Sanford: Newlin Coffer; Bill Cooper, 83; Roger Cox, 64; Ralph Crump, 66; Gary Newbauer, 50; Dalia Sanchez, 51
Columnist takes a closer look at why unemployment is so high in North Caorlina
Page 4A
Abby, Graham, Bridge, Sudoku............................. 5B Classifieds ....................... 9B Comics, Crosswords....... 6-7B Community calendar .......... 2A Horoscope ........................ 5B Obituaries......................... 5A Opinion ............................ 4A Scoreboard ....................... 4B