03/15/07 - "COUNTY 101" PROVES A VALUABLE TOOL!
Getting the public involved is a proven idea that has worked well for both Moore County and the Southern Pines Police Department. The County is even offering a diploma to those who complete eleven of its in-depth 14-part course on the functions of local government. The second “County 101” class convenes tonight at 6:30 at the Register of Deeds office in Carthage. And public participation is the inspiration behind the Southern Pines Citizens Police Academy which is offering its eighth session starting April 12th through May 31st. The intent of the academy is to give participants an up-close-and –personal look at how the police department operates. Highlights of the innovative program include demonstrations by the k-9 unit and special teams as well as face-to-face contact with the officers involved. Applications can be picked up at the southern Pines Police Department or downloaded from the internet by logging on to southernpines.net.
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03/14/07 - OFFICER NAMED TAYLORTOWN INTERIM CHIEF!
Taylortown police officer Damon Williams is the new chief until a permanent replacement for Timothy Blakely is found. Blakely was fired after four years, blamed for refusing to take orders from the town council. In a resolution The Board of Councilmen accused Blakely of communicating poorly, acting unprofessionally and not taking steps to, “deter crime.” Mayor Ulysses Barrett, who orchestrated the firing of his Police Chief, has been charged by the State Bureau of Investigation with corruption and fraud while acting as the town’s manager. Blakely is expected to be a material witness in the state’s criminal case against the mayor. The 27-year-old Williams, Blakely’s temporary replacement, has been Taylortown’s only full-time police officer for about 24 months and is paid 30-thousand dollars a year. “Chief Blakely did a lot of good work,” he says, “And we are going to continue that path.”
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02/28/07 - SENIOR ENRICHMENT CENTER TO OPEN!
Ten months and one-point-six million dollars later the much anticipated Moore County Senior Enrichment Center is almost ready for its unveiling. County officials have announced a Monday, March 5th noontime dedication of the 13-thousand square foot center, A renovated two-level steel and brick showplace on 15-501 two miles north of the Pinehurst traffic circle. Designed by West End architect Jake Kanoy with a welcoming entrance canopy, renovations include an elevator, exercise room assembly hall and dining area. The Department of Aging and support facilities will also have office space in the building. The center, Years in the planning, was made possible through the efforts of Former House Speaker Pro-Tem Richard Morgan who arranged for a million dollar state grant. The grand opening celebration and ribbon cutting will be broadcast Monday over this radio station. W-I-O-Z, five-fifty on you’re a-m dial, starting at 11 o’clock.
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02/26/07 - PLENTY FOR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS TO CONSIDER!
Presented with a menu of appetizing revenue choices, Moore County Commissioners yesterday promised to order carefully before letting taxpayers pick up the tab. Faced with new spending demands in the tens of millions of dollars, Lawmakers convened a special session Monday to consider a number of alternative sources of income including real estate transfer taxes, sales taxes and so-called impact taxes. Although Commissioners passed two resolutions supporting legislative initiatives to grant counties taxing authority, Lawmakers promised no tax would be enacted without voter approval in the form of a county-wide referendum. Of the various choices, the real estate transfer tax met with the most resistance. Broker James Thomas called it “A Quick Fix” That would impact local residents disproportionately. Another broker Bill Parker, Labeled it “unfair and regressive.” Nevertheless, the argument that a one-percent real estate transfer tax would generate eight-point-four million dollars a year for capital needs proved persuasive and the motion carried four-to-one. A similar resolution in favor of seeking General Assembly approval for even broader taxing authority carried by the same margin.
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02/26/07 - PINECREST FINDS FOOTBALL COACH!
Pinecrest High school’s new football coach, a married 35-year-old father of three, says he was drawn to the area because of its reputation as a family-friendly place to live. Chris Metzger leaves the gulf coast of Florida to take over a struggling program where he hopes to repeat the success he enjoyed in Naples. While there he coached Lely High School to the State Playoffs three times in four years. Metzger, whose hiring by the board of education is anticipated tonight, will have his work cut out for him. Pinecrest is winless in its last 19 starts. Principal Jeol County says Metzger was one of 75 candidates for the vacant Patriot Coaching Position.
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02/26/07 - TAXES THE TALK OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS!
Moore County Commissioners convene in a special session today and most of the talk is expected to be about taxes. Facing what is likely to be its first budget shortfall in years, the county has prepared a resolution asking the General Assembly to include Moore in any authorization to levy a Real Estate Transfer Tax. Six counties have already granted that authority and County officials argue that any revenue source that is made available to One County should be made available to all 100 counties. The local Association Of Realtors is on record as strongly opposing a real estate transfer tax. Newly elected Moore County House Representative Joe Boylan has made known his own reservations and is considered unlikely to support such legislation.
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02/23/07 - PINECREST COACHING SEARCH CONTINUES!
Pinecrest High School’s Football Team could face another rough season if a new coach isn’t found soon. That’s the opinion of Steve Craven, a local businessman with a background in weight training who’s organized an off-season conditioning program for Patriot Gridders. “if you’ve lost three months of winter training,” he says, “You’ve lost a lot.” Pinecrest fired its coach after a zero-eleven record last year and is having trouble finding a replacement. Pinecrest Principal Joel County says he’s looking for the best man for the job. “We’re moving forward as quickly as we can, But this is a complex task.” Pinecrest, which has lost 19 straight, suffered a keen disappointment when Bob Paroli, a legendary Fayetteville Coach who had expressed an interest in the Patriot’s job, withdrew his application.
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02/23/07 - TAYLORTOWN MAYOR ARRESTED!
Taylortown Mayor Ulysses Barrett was arrested yesterday by agents from The State Bureau of Investigation and charged with benefiting from a public contract while acting as the town’s manager. This month S-B-I Agents, armed with a warrant, conducted a search of Barrett’s Douglas street home and carted away documents that might help determine to what extent Barrett personally profited from work contracts with the town. Another agent collected minutes of Council meetings and other written communications between the Mayor and Council Members. The fact that Barrett had entered into private contracts with the town eventually caught the attention of the State Treasurer’s office and an investigation was launched last summer.
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02/20/07 - NEW COMISSIONERS REVERSE ANNEXATION RULING!
Commissioners, three of them newly elected, on Monday rescinded a previously adopted resolution declaring the county’s opposition to forced annexation. In correspondence addressed to the Boards Chairman, Colin McKenzie, Mayors of four of the county’s municipalities argued that the county has no place interfering with existing state statutes that clearly support the right of forced annexation. That issue is at the center of a dramatic confrontation between the village of Pinehurst and the gated community of Pinewild. Pinehurst has started annexation procedures over the objections of some Pinewild residents and in the face of newly introduced legislation that could slow down the process statewide. Moore County Representative Joe Boylan, living up to a campaign promise, wants forced annexation put to a vote if ten-percent of the residents in a targeted area oppose the action.
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02/20/07 - POWERED PARACHUTE IS UP A TREE!
Some of the fabric from a powered parachute remains in the twisted arms of its final resting place today, 50-feet off the ground. The fragile craft was being piloted by 58-year-old Justin Schilling of Vass when strong winds yesterday afternoon blew it into the bare limbs of a tall tree where the wreckage and Schilling remained until firemen arrived and lowered him to the ground. Schilling was airlifted from the scene the intersection of routes 24-27 and Cranes Creek Road and taken to U-N-C Hospitals in Raleigh where he was treated for a fractured left leg. The glider-like craft was destroyed. The bizarre accident was widely reported by several cable networks, including C-N-N.
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02/19/07 - WEST PINES WINS MATHCOUNTS!
Kelly Crisp crossed her fingers and closed her eyes moments before the winning team was announced in the regional “Mathcounts” competition in Fayetteville over the weekend. And it must have worked. Moments later the team she coach’s, Moore County’s West Pine Middle School was declared the winner and will advance to the state finals in Durham next month. Top winners there will head to the nationals in May. West Pine eighth-grader Jordan Strunk, who confesses that math is always on his mind, was the first-place individual winner. “I see the world kind of through math,” he says. “Mathcounts” is a national program created by scientists, engineers and corporations to encourage learning in math and science.
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02/16/07 - FirstHealth discourages visitors!
Moore Regional has joined a growing list of hospitals asking people with stomach-flu symptoms not to visit. Firsthealth, the parent company of Moore Regional, is asking people not to visit if they have had Nausea, Diarrhea or Vomiting in the last three days. The warning is intended for visitors, not for people needing medical attention. Moore Regional says it has admitted an increased number of emergency-room patients with flu-like symptoms. Spokeswoman Gretchen Kelly says the hospital is awaiting test results to confirm whether the illnesses are caused by the Norovirus. Four hospitals in Greensboro, Durham and Tarboro where outbreaks occurred have urged the public not to come unless absolutely necessary. Officials say several of the outbreaks have been caused by Noroviruses, but Viral Gastroenteritis, also known as “stomach-flu can be caused by other germs.
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02/15/07 - PINEWILD TO BE ANNEXED!
The village of Pinehurst is going ahead with plans to annex the gated golf community of Pinewild despite a bill before the legislature that could block such a move. Moore County Representative Joe Boylan, living up to a campaign promise, submitted the legislation this month. It would block involuntary annexations throughout the state if 10-percent of the voters in a targeted area sign a petition opposing the action. That would trigger a referendum permitting a majority vote to decide the question. Notwithstanding that possibility the village has scheduled three public informational meetings on March the second and a public hearing on March the 27th. The village says that participants will get an in-depth look at plans to extend municipal services to the annexed areas.
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02/15/07 - PHONY PRESCRIPTION LANDS PINEHURST MEN IN JAIL!
Two Pinehurst men have pleaded guilty to federal felony charges stemming from a scheme to sell counterfeit prescription drugs over the internet. Authorities say David Brady and David Johnson marketed the drugs as Canadian through unsolicited e-mails, but the pills actually were made in Belize. Investigators say many of the drugs marketed by Hi-Tech Pharmaceuticals had little or no Medicinal value, and that those behind the scam netted more than 19-million dollars.
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02/14/07 - CARTHAGE COPS AWAIT NEW FACILITIES!
There’s no timetable to build a new public safety complex, but for members of the Moore County Sheriff’s department larger working quarters in Carthage are almost as big a priority as catching crooks. Offices double as storage closets, filing cabinets are stacked on top of each other and Sheriff Lane carter estimates that instead of 85-hundre square feet of office space, 43-thousand square feet is actually needed. This month county commissioners addressed the problem by authorizing the Public Works Director to negotiate a design contract for a sprawling new government and public safety complex covering roughly 70-thousand square feet. A separate jail is being considered if the site that’s selected is large enough. Board Chairman Colin Mckenzie says that jail overcrowding, and the recent appointment of a judge and district attorney to new prosecutorial districts are clear evidence that the county’s explosive growth is straining existing facilities.
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02/08/07 - SEWAGE SPILL CAUSING PROBLEMS!
A troublesome sewer spill on the edge of Lake Pinehurst has defied efforts to contain it. According to the Moore County Department of Public Utilities, Operations Manager Ben Vaughn Says heavy equipment was brought in Wednesday in an effort to control water from the lake that has impeded repair efforts by flooding the site. In the meantime, wastewater is being pumped from the site of the spill and hauled away, limiting damaged to the environment. Vaughn says a contractor was conducting a video inspection of the sewer main near the marinas part of a rehabilitation project. The spill occurred when a root-encrusted section was being untangled. Vaughn said a report on the extent of the spill will be released by the state as figures are assembled.
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02/07/07 - CAR CHASE CAPTURES ROBBER
“Wild and Woolly.” That’s how one officer described a 20-mile car chase that sent two deputies to the hospital with minor injuries and a holdup man to jail. Issac Clifton Wilson was apprehended and charged with armed robbery of the Cameron Short Shop on lightly traveled U-S1. The 25-year-old Cameron resident, who left the scene with police hot on his trail, led pursers for roughly 20-miles along streets and roads through the Cameron, Vass and Carthage areas of Northern Moore County. During the chase Wilson banged into and damaged four patrol cars, one belonging ot the Cameron Police Department, the others driven by deputies. Finally, spike sticks were deployed to flatten the tires of Wilson’s careening vehicle and he was captured in woods off Joel Road. Wilson is being held on 150-thousand dollars bond. His first court appearance is scheduled for February 22nd.
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02/02/07 - SCHOOL SYSTEM OVERHAUL WILL COST MORE THAN PROJECTED
Moore County Commissioners learned this week that cost estimates for new school construction, already in the tens of millions of dollars, are headed upward even before the first brick is laid. Representatives of the 22-campus public school system and Sandhills Community College delivered that sobering assessment during a two-day retreat at Little River Resort for Commissioners and County Officials. Schools Superintendent Susan Purser said the 144-million dollars needed to finance a 12-year master plan is an evolving figure. “That Number,” she promised “is going to change because prices have increased.” A temporary modular classroom has already been constructed at Pinecrest High School. S-C-C president John Dempsey told Commissioners that the needs of his school cannot be met even with an infusion of 15-point-five million dollars. “These are not the college’s needs for the next 12 years,” said Dempsey, “These are probably the college’s needs for the next five years.” The conventional way to provide local funding for booth the public school system and community college is through a bond issue amortized out of taxes.
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02/02/07 - UNEMPLOYMENT IN MOORE COUNTY STAYS STEADY IN 06
The Moore County unemployment rate remains steady at just below the state average of four-point-even percent. The Employment Security Commission reports that the county’s jobless rate in both November and December was four-point-six percent, although the number of counties statewide with rates above five percent increased. Neighboring counties Lee, Hoke and Montgomery fell into that category, while Harnett matched the state average for the number of jobless. Overall, according to E-S-C Chairman Harry Payne Junior, North Carolina is near record employment, adding 129-thousand jobs during 2006.
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01/26/07 - DELTA TO ADJUST FLIGHT SCHEDULE IN MARCH!
Delta has been persuaded to revise its flight schedule to make Pinehurst a more desirable destination for travelers when it resumes operations in March. Now some other changes are in the planning stage. According to The Convention and Visitors Bureau some of the plans being worked on to increase traffic include an in-flight video featuring area attractions, n E-Coupon program for area hotels and resorts offering discounted rates, and co-branded promotional deals. In addition, Moore County will be featured in an extensive editorial community profile in “Sky”, Delta’s in-flight magazine. The 26-page section will be read by three-point-four million passengers traveling to 461 destinations in 96 countries during the month of April.
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01/25/07 - AERIAL MAPPING PROJECT SET TO START!
Aerial mapping of Moore County’s buildings will start next month. Updated raw data will be supplied to the county’s financial division within ten days of completion, the final product four months later. Kucera International will be paid 116-thousand-six hundred dollars to complete the month-long project. Financial Services Director Lisa Hughes notes that the County has applied for a cost-sharing grant from the state for the mapping project which has come in under budget. Aerial Mapping is expected to yield highly-detailed digital photographs of building footprints already in the data-base and approximately 15-hundred new structures. The mapping, helpful to Planners and Tax authorities, is a collaborative effort with neighboring Hoke County. .
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01/24/07 - FIREMEN SAVE BABY IN ABERDEEN!
Quick-acting Aberdeen firemen are credited with possibly saving the life of a six-month-old infant left inside a burning house. Alerted to a kitchen fire in the Aberdeen subdivision of Berkley, Firefighters were at the scene at 112 Starview Street within minutes and quickly extinguished the blaze with the help of the Southern Pines and Crestline departments. Although damage was pretty much confined to the kitchen, firemen were surprised to learn that a baby boy was unaccounted for and still inside the house. The child was immediately located on the floor of a fume-filled back bedroom suffering from serious smoke inhalation but otherwise unharmed. The owner of the home, 25-year-old Leslie Zicko, had removed two older children but unaccountably failed to rescue the baby, whose prognosis is good at U-N-C Hospitals in Chapel Hill..
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01/22/07 - LOCAL LAWYER GETS STATE APPOINTMENT!
A Moore County Attorney in private practice with the Carthage law firm of Rowland and Yauger has been appointed to the prosecutorial bench by Governor Easley. Don “Skipper” Creed Junior will have jurisdiction over district 19-B which encompasses Moore, Montgomery and Randolph counties. The District Court position was created by the General Assembly last year. Creed worked as an Assistant District Attorney for almost three years in Hoke and Scotland counties. Since his departure as a Prosecutor, He has worked at two different Moore County law firms. Earlier this month Easley appointed Maureen Krueger to serve as District Attorney for Moore County in newly created District 19-D. Krueger had experience working as Assistant District Attorney in Moore and Randolph Counties. Since 2002 she has been in private practice specializing in Criminal, Juvenile and Family Law with an office in Carthage.
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01/19/07 - MANUFACTURER TO GET BONUS FOR CREATING JOBS!
A company that has already exceeded its local hiring goals will get 20-thousand dollars in county assistance for moving manufacturing operations here from Maryland. The town of Southern Pines will match the sum one Pace Incorporated moves into a new 37-thousand square-foot building in Corporate Park now under development on the edge of town. An international manufacturer of industrial soldering equipment, Pace set up shop in Aberdeen but was forced to seek more space as business picked up. Pace, which started with 35 workers, expects its labor force to hit one-hundred eventually. Ray Ogden, Executive Director of the Economic Development Agency Partners in Progress, with the town of Aberdeen is matching a five-thousand dollar County Grant to Thermal Metal Treating for moving a newly Acquired company from Sante Fe, New Mexico, to Aberdeen where it has conducted operations for more than 20 years. It is, says Ogden, also essential to recognize the importance of establishing firms to the regional economy.
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01/19/07 - OSCAR WINNING ACTRESS COMING FOR US OPEN!
Actress Sally Field, The Academy-Award Winning Actress film star of “Norma Rae” and “Places in The Heart,” will be the celebrity guest at a U-S Women’s Open charity fund-raiser this summer. The announcement comes from Ricky Lasky, Director of Sales and Client Services for the important golf Event. Field’s appearance was arranged with the cooperation of North Carolina-based Glaxo Smith-Kline. A representative of the Pharmaceutical giant is on the executive council of the Women’s Open. Field appears in television commercials as a spokesperson for Glaxo’s osteoporosis drug “Boniva.” She is currently in the A-B-C T-V series “Brothers And Sisters.& Pine Needles resort will host the Women’s Open starting June 25th.
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01/18/07 - RECCOMENDATION DEADLINE SET FOR MOORE COUNTY COMMUNITIES!
Moore County municipalities which, short of annexation, want to extend jurisdiction beyond present boundaries, must submit its ideas to the planning department for formal review. Authorization was granted this week by County Commissioners. Municipalities with approved applications may exercise powers over ordinances and codes, Historic districts and Community development for a distance up to two miles in some cases. The power to tax is not included. Until now E-T-J’s as the zones are called, came into existence without regard to written policies or extensive documentation. all that is about to change. Once the formal application is submitted to County Planners, it will be examined for its effect on the watershed, utility infrastructure, neighborhoods and property values. Pinehurst Village Manager Andy Wilkison found the new approach reasonable. The planning board has 30 days at the conclusion of the public review process to transmit its recommendation to the Board of Commissioners who will call for a public hearing before acting on the application
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01/17/07 - PRESCRIPTION DRUG BUST IN SOUTHERN PINES!
Authorities this week seized a virtual shopping list of illegally obtained prescription drugs from an apartment in Southern Pines. Arrested was 46-year-old Gary Ray Chavis and charged him with trafficking in a controlled substance. Chavis was jailed on 100-thousand dollars secured bond and awaits a court appearance. At the conclusion of a two-month undercover investigation a search of Chavis apartment at 980 Ridge Street yielded quantities of Percocet, Methadone, Enducet, lorcet and Lortab with an estimated street value of 23-hundred dollars.
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01/16/07 - ROBBINS SEARCHING FOR NEW IDENTITY!
Robbins, The northern Moore County town that produced an Astronaut and a Vice Presidential candidate, is searching for its identity. With the help of a 20-thousand dollar planning grant, Robbins hopes to transform itself from a former mill town into something else. That “Something Else” will likely be determined by the results of a survey currently sampling the opinions of a broad cross-section of the community, from civic clubs to business owners. Robbins faces sagging debt and declining revenues, plus an unassimilated number of Hispanics who comprise almost half the town’s population of 12-hundred residents. Navy astronaut, the late Doctor Charles brady, was a Robbins native, and democrat presidential candidate John Edwards grew up there. But Robbins knows it will take more than the reflected glory of hometown heroes. “it’s up to us to chart our own future”, says Theron Bell, a town commissioner. “if we don’t we will have no future.”
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01/15/07 - DELTA SERVICE TO RETURN IN MARCH
Delta Airlines is set to resume Daily service from Atlanta to the Moore County Airport this March. The current contract between Delta and the airport includes a flight to and from Atlanta five days a week. The service is suspended every November and then resumes in March. Airport Manager Ron Maness says the market is not limited to vacationing golfers. He sees local Businessmen and retirees as important travelers, and hopes to soon get service seven days a week three-hundred-sixty-five days a year. In a travel world defined by long lines and frequent delays, Maness believes that the Moore County Airport’s best attractions include free parking and short lines.
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01/11/07 - MONET ON THE MOVE IN PINEHURST & RALEIGH
Some people will go to any lengths to see the “Monet In Normandy” exhibit at the North Carolina Museum Of Art. Parishoners of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Pinehurst had only to go to the parking lot in front of Lowe’s Food Store. Wednesday morning a busload of Sacred Hear art-lovers paying 40-dollars each spent the day marveling at the brush-strokes of the Impressionist Painter whose priceless works are on display at the sold-out Raleigh exhibit. Monet is the toughest ticket these days, more valuable than tickets to see the Number-1 ranked Tar Heels or reigning N-H-L champion Hurricanes. Robin Parrish of Raleigh traded two 75-dollar tickets to a Hurricanes game for a pair of 15-dollar tickets to the Monet exhibit. Which next heads to Cleveland.
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01/11/07 - PINEHURST PLANE CRASHES IN OHIO
A 56-year-old private pilot flying from Pinehurst to Ohio actually reached his destination on foot. Robert Carpenter walked away from a crash after his single-engine plane ran out of fuel in Northeast Ohio. The plane clipped trees and crashed south of Ravenna about 10 miles from the Portage County airport whre he was headed. Carpenter walked to a nearby house and was taken to Robinson Memorial Hospital where he was treated for cuts and bruises.
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01/10/07 - DESTINATION GUIDE GOES DIGITAL
The Moore County Convention And Visitors Bureau has completely redesigned its aptly titled destination guide and for the first time is making it available on line in an interactive and downloadable version. This latest technology allows visitors to view the book in its entirety, Page by Page, with links to points of interest and advertisers. Visitors can print the book in whole or in part depending on their preference. The award-winning visitors guide, with a circulation of 165-thousand, has been completely redesigned for 2007-2008. Its Internet Address is home-of-golf.com.
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01/09/07 - SUSPECTS IN ATM ROBBERIES/KIDNAPPINGS ARRESTED
Southern Pines Police have arrested suspects in an armed robbery and kidnapping, separate incidents that occurred just days apart. Evidence left at the scene of the second robbery led police to 19-year-old Mario Wiltshire Junior of Hoffman and 19-year-old Anthony Smith of Hamlet. Both are accused of threatening physical force against a frightened victim who withdrew an undisclosed amount of money from a Wachovia bank a-t-m on Broad Street before being released unharmed. The two teenagers are also suspects in an armed robbery and abduction from a parking lot on 15-501. In this case the victim was forced to drive to an a-t-m and withdraw cash before being released an hour later at a gas station in Richmond County.
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01/09/07 - NO PINECREST FOR PAROLI
Three years ago Bob Paroli was itching to get the Football Coaching job at Pinecrest High School. Instead Larry Adams got it. This month, eager to reverse its gridiron fortunes, Pinecrest seriously considered Paroli for the vacancy. This time it was Paroli who said no thanks. Paroli, a coaching legend in neighboring Cumberland County, cited his Fayetteville roots as the reason for asking that his name be withdrawn from consideration. Paroli, who spent 25 years as head football coach at Douglas Byrd High School, moved to Seventy-First two years ago. He has a lifetime record of 361-168 in 48 years of coaching. Adams was fired after going winless in his last season.
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01/06/07 - HUGE RISE IN HISPANIC POPULATION
Moore County’s Hispanic population grew 500 percent during the 1990’s, and some experts believe that that growth has accelerated during the last six years. With all of that growth, the need for English as a second language education is also growing. Maria Campbell directs the English as a second Language program at Sandhills Community College. She says learning English is the best way for Hispanic immigrants to assimilate.
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01/01/07 - NEW ANIMAL CLINIC NEEDS DONATIONS
Despite a hefty 50-thousand dollar gift from a Los Angles-based foundation, Companion Animal Clinic Of The Sandhills needs a flood of donations before it can open for business. Deborah Wilson, President of Companion Animal Clinic, says donations and its own fund-raising efforts have realized slightly more than half the 595-thousand dollars needed to begin its low-cost spay-neuter operation. The largest gift came from the D-J-And-T foundation which was established in 1995 by television personality Bob Barker. The foundation targets medium and large dogs, the most frequent residents of animal control facilities. But before even that phase of its pet over-population can get started, more donations are needed. Wilson says the Companion Animal Clinic will serve a nine-county region, including Moore and Neighbors like Harnett, Hoke, Lee, Cumberland and Montgomery. Contributions can be addressed to P-O box 148, Southern Pines.
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01/01/07 - LATINO SUCCESS STORY IN ABERDEEN
With Moore County’s Hispanic population growing faster than the state average, the area is home to several impressive Latino success stories. Christina Bello moved from Puebla, Mexico to Pasadena, Texas when she was 15-years old. She later moved to Candor, North Carolina where she and her husband worked in the tobacco fields for 6 years. In 1995, she noticed that while more and more Mexicans were moving to the area there was nowhere in the aea for them to buy products that they were Familiar with. So she and her Husband opened La Poblanita, a Mexican store in Aberdeen. They are now American citizens and proud business owners. She says she always votes because she wants her voice heard, and says that she is an example of a Latino who was given an opportunity and was able to achieve the American dream.
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12/29/06 - NEW COUNTY LEADERS COULD MEAN NEW TAXES
The changing face of government in Moore County could bring other changes as well, including the first property tax increase in years. County Officeholders, many of them temporary, will be forced to grapple with a reported multi-million dollar budget deficit. Cast as moderates in the mold of house representative Richard Morgan, newly elected commissioners Larry Caddel, Jimmy Melton, and Cindy Morgan are expected to be less resistant to new taxes than the fiscally conservative majority they replaced. Nevertheless, the number of untested interim appointees filling key supporting roles in county government could mean a bumpy ride for any new initiative. Among important positions being filled by temporary workers is that of Tax administrator, County Attorney, Director of Social Services and County Manger.
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12/29/06 - MOORE COUNTY SCHOOLS TECH CHIEF RAISING THE BAR
An important success story that has gone largely unnoticed during the past year is the emergence of The Moore County Public School System as a statewide leader in technology training. As recently as four years ago reaching such a lofty position was unthinkable. That’s when James Tagliareni took over as Chief Technology Officer, and that’s when things began to happen. Starting with a report issued by a Blue-Ribbon panel that it could take an extra 18-million dollars to modernize the Technology program, Tagliareni instead elevated the school system’s statewide ranking without spending a penny that wasn’y already allocated. Instead, by inspiring teachers to take an interest he succeeded in cutting the technology budget 17-percent. Instead of paying 12-Hundred dollars for classroom computers, Tagliareni got the price down to 400-dollars. Today, Every classroom in the county has high-speed internet access and the cost per student to install, operate and maintain computers is a third of the national average. Today, statewide rankings place Moore County eighth among 115 school systems. Four years ago it had sunk to fourth from the bottom. That is some kind of success story.
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12/28/06 - TROOPS GET MEDICAL CARE BEFORE DEPLOYMENT.
Free civilian dental care is available to reservists who might soon be heading to the war-torn Middle East. The waiting room at Doctor David Kuhn’s dental practice in Aberdeen sometimes overflows with men wearing army-issue camouflage uniforms. It’s part of a program called The Federal Strategic Health Alliance, and it helps soldiers get civilian medical care, especially right before a deployment. One of Doctor Kuhn’s office staff got the ball rolling and now a complement of Dentist’s, Hygienists and Clerical workers volunteer their time looking for signs of trouble in the mouths of grateful soldiers. One recent Saturday 32 soldiers from a National Guard company based in Hamlet had registered for exams and x-rays. Necessary dental treatment is provided during scheduled follow-up visits. Office Administrator Renee Yow says her fellow volunteers feel waving flags and wearing pins is sometimes just not enough.
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12/28/06 - LOCAL LAWYER PUZZLED BY DUKE LACROSSE CASE.
When the Duke Lacrosse case first emerged last spring, Durham District Attorney Mike Nifong was given a lot of credit for supporting the rights of the defendant. As more facts of the case emerged, Nifong is now seen by many as the person most guilty of wrongdoing in the case. James Van Camp of Pinehurst has been a practicing defense lawyer for 41 years, and says that no other D.A.’s that he has ever worked with would ever begin to prosecute the case with such little evidence. Although Van Camp is outraged at the actions of the District Attorney he does not believe that Nifong will be disbarred, but thinks that Durham voters should simply Impeach him.
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12/27/06 - CHRISTMAS SALES UP THIS YEAR.
Mastercard is reporting a three-percent increase in retail sales for the Christmas season. That gain was both smaller than last year and smaller than the expected gain for this year. Consumer electronics represented one of the stronger retail sectors with Flat-Screen Televisions being a popular gift item. Online spending was up 26-percent from last year. Apparel retailers were disappointed however, saying that warmer fall weather has hurt winter clothes sales figures. Another thing to keep in mind is that gift card sales were way up this year and those sales cannot be recorded until the cards are actually redeemed. So retailers will be offering sales to try to get those gift cards redeemed in time to record the sales before the end of the quarter. So online shopping was way up but overall the retail sales were a little disappointing.
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12/22/06 - MORGAN TESTIFIES FOR FEDERAL INVESTIGATION
Moore County Representative Richard Morgan says he testified this week before a federal grand jury about his 2003 power-sharing arrangement with controversial house speaker Jim Black. As he left the Federal Courthouse, Morgan says he discussed former representative Michael Tucker’s decision to switch political parties before Black and Morgan were elected co-speakers of the house. The move helped Black reach a power-sharing deal with Morgan to lead the house. Morgan, a seven-term Republican, says he knew, “Very Little” about the party switch but answered all the jurors’ questions. A grand jury in Raleigh is believed to have spent a year examining Black’s legislative and fundraising activities, among other things. Black, A Democrat from Mecklenburg, served four terms as Speaker but announced he wouldn’t seek a fifth, Morgan was defeated for re-election in November.
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12/22/06 - TREE MAN ROLLS IN FROM FLORIDA
For Andy Bureau, Moore County is not only a great place for a second home, but also a great place to sell Christmas trees. Mr. Bureau splits time between Carthage and Baker County, Florida, Where he owns a used car dealership. Every Christmas he brings down anywhere from 700-1500 Christmas trees from Allegheny County, North Carolina and sells them to Moore County residents. Just don’t ask him about artificial Christmas trees.
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12/20/06 - MORGAN IN RALEIGH TO "ANSWER QUESTIONS".
Moore County Representative Richard Morgan was at the Federal Courthouse in Raleigh yesterday. That’s where a grand jury is believed to be investigating Democrat House Speaker Jim Black’s legislative and fundraising activities. Morgan was a Co-Speaker of the house with Black. The Seven-term Lawmaker arrived with his lawyer, saying only that He came to answer questions. Attorney Stephen Smith says if necessary, Morgan will also provide records and testify. A federal subpoena given to Morgan in November sought information about a small cigarette manufacturer that financed a political group Morgan created in 2004 to help him and his breakaway legislative allies win re-election. The subpoena also showed that federal authorities were interested in Morgan’s connections to Black, who’s the subject of a number of ongoing investigations over alleged legal and ethical improprieties. Morgan was defeated for re-election in November.
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12/20/06 - LEGENDARY COACHED INTERESTED IN PINECREST?
It’s considered a long shot but a legendary coach from Cumberland County could be called on to reverse the fortunes of Pinecrest High School’s winless football team. On the heels of yesterday’s announcement that Patriots head football coach Larry Adams had been fired after a second disappointing season, rumors began to circulate that Bob Paroli might be interested. Paroli coached Fayetteville’s Douglas Byrd to numerous titles in the super-tough 4-A Mid-Southeastern conference before moving to Seventy-First two years ago where he enjoyed continued success. “I haven’t had any contact with them of a formal nature at this point,” said Paroli Tuesday, while confessing that in his words “Two year ago I was very interested in going to Pinecrest. I thought then and I think now it could be an excellent situation. I think a program can be built there.” this season Seventy-First defeated Pinecrest 39-9 with Paroli mostly resting his starters. So popular was Paroli as head coach at Douglas Byrd that the football stadium was named in his honor.
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12/20/06 - POLICE ENHANCE HOLIDAY PRESENCE!
Local police are making their presence felt as the holidays approach. Their making public service announcements reminding citizens about crime prevention during the holidays, Lieutenant Rodney Hardy with the Southern Pines Police Department says that keeping a high police profile helps. He reminds citizens that despite Moore County’s reputation as a safe area, crime still happens.
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12/19/06 - TRAFFIC CHECKPOINT NABS OFFENDERS!
A traffic checkpoint organized by the Southern Pines Police Department had a busy four hours recently. Conducted at the intersection of Highway 1 and Wisconsin Avenue, a task force of officers from several departments recorded 68 violations ranging from drug possession to registration and equipment violations. The idea was to enforce the law as well as create awareness of the dangers of drinking and driving. That was a painful lesson learned by five motorists who were cited for driving while impaired or in possession of open containers of booze. Eight drivers were taken into custody for narcotics violations, while eighteen were discovered driving without a license. Thirty-two motorists were cited for registration and equipment violations, four were found not in compliance with child seat regulations and one person was driving without insurance.
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12/19/06 - MANNA BRINGS LUNCH TO THOUSANDS!
As people across the Sandhills gather for holiday meals, many in the area still struggle just to put food on the table. An organization called MANNA has been helping feed the more than eight-thousand people in Moore County who live below the poverty line. MANNA serves one lunch every Tuesday in Taylortown and one every Wednesday in West Southern Pines. Don Barcus, is MANNA’S president and says that even two meals a week can help make some difference for some. He says that while many in Moore County enjoy great wealth, others struggle on a daily basis.
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12/15/06 - SERIAL BANK ROBBER BUSTED IN HOPE MILLS!
A serial robbery suspect wanted in at least three state is behind bars today after his getaway car, a 1995 Oldsmobile, overturned during a high-speed chase in neighboring Cumberland County. Wearing the clothes that identified him as the slender, middle-aged white man who was photographed robbing first bank in Pinebluff Monday, 48-year-old Terry Ira Nichols of Proctorville, Ohio, appeared before a magistrate yesterday. His hands still bore traces of ink from two exploding dye packs that marked him as the bandit who made off with booby-trapped bags of money from the Pinebluff bank and from a bank in Raeford that Nichols robbed a couple of hours later. On Wednesday Nichols, who was wanted for a total of five robberies in North Carolina, Ohio and West Virginia, was spotted by police fleeing from his latest bank job in Hope Mills. Only slightly injured, Nichols was treated and kept overnight at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center before making his first court appearance Thursday.
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12/15/06 - LOCAL WOMAN SUPPORTS TROOPS WITH BOOKS!
Helen Kingsolover of Southern Pines has been doing her part to support the troops in Iraq. She has linked up with a national organization called “Operation Paperback,” which sends used books to American troops stationed abroad. Ms. Kingsolver puts 12-15 donated books into a box and pays the four dollar postage herself to send the books to Iraq. She says she just wants to do her part.
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12/14/06 - SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS SPEAKS TO AREA KIDS!
Felix Sabates spoke yesterday at the 5th Annual Luncheon to Benefit the Boys and Girls Club of the Sandhills. Sabates came to the United States as a refugee during the Cuban revolution without practically anything. He started washing cars at the Charlotte Airport and has made himself into one of the state's most successful businessmen. He rode a helicopter from his home in Charlotte to the Moore County Airport, gave a short speech at the luncheon, and then wrote a check for 2500 dollars to the Boy's and Girl's Club of the Sandhills.
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12/13/06 - PINEBLUFF BANK ROBBED!
Authorities believe the lunchtime robber who relieved a Pinebluff Bank of an undisclosed amount of cash this week, stopped off in Raeford a couple of hours later for a repeat performance. Described as a six-foot tall slender white male between 45 and 50, the bandit passed a note to a Pinebluff teller stating he was armed and demanding money, according to police. He fled on foot with the note and money, although police speculate a car was hidden nearby, possibly with a confederate behind the wheel. Two-and-a-half hours later the bandit turned up in Raeford, wearing the same jeans, denim jacket and green ball cap. Because his image was captured by a surveillance camera in the Pinebluff Bank, authorities were hoping for quick identification, but so far he has gone unrecognized. The same modus operandi was used to rob the Pinebluff Bank in July, only that time police say the robber, who is still at large, was a black man.
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12/13/06 - DOUBLE HOMICIDE IN SOUTHERN PINES!
Southern Pines Police are investigating the mysterious death of two people, both from gunshot wounds. Evidence is being examined to determine whether authorities are dealing with a murder-suicide or a double murder, according to Police Lieutenant Rodney Hardy. Found dead at his residence, a house on West Iowa Avenue was 42-year-old Herbert Reece McNeill Junior. He had been shot once. Officers found 34-year-oold Phaedra McCrimmon of Cameron on the porch, wounded but alive. She had been shot twice. McCrimmon was airlifted to UNC hospitals where she died of her injuries. Police say they responded to a report of aggravated assault Sunday, although authorities believe the shootings could have occurred Saturday.
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12/12/06 - "MOORE FRIENDS" HELPS MISSISSIPPI!
A lunchtime bandit yesterday made off with an undisclosed amount of cash from First Bank in Pinebluff. The Moore County Sheriff's office says the suspect made his escape on foot but not before his somewhat indistinct image was captured by a bank camera. He's described as a six-foot tall slender white male, between 45 and 50, who was wearing jeans, a denim jacket and white tennis shoes at the time of the robbery. The Moore County Sheriff's office hopes the complete description and the fact that the robber was wearing a green ball cap with yellow writing will aid in his quick identification and apprehension. Anyone with information is asked to call the Pinebluff Police Department or the Sheriff’s office.
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12/12/06 - "MOORE FRIENDS" HELPS MISSISSIPPI!
After Hurricane Katrina devastated the gulf coast in 2005, Moore County civic leaders formed a group called Moore Friends for Mississippi. The group has since raised over two-hundred-thousand dollars for the town of Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. The contributions have helped provide the town with electrical supplies, power tools, medical supplies, and housing materials. One of the group’s biggest projects has been the reconstruction of a public park and playground. Leaders of the group will meet later this month to decide how to distribute the rest of the money that has been raised. Southern pines Mayor Frank Quis, is the chairman of the groups board. He says that despite many challenges, some progress has been made.
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12/11/06 - GOVERNOR TO APPOINT NEW D.A.!
Assistant District Attorney Warren McSweeney says he's actively campaigning for the job of Chief Moore County Prosecutor when Governor Easley makes the appointment. Presently Moore shares district 19-b with Montgomery County, the new appointee will serve as the District Attorney until the 2008 election and then will be eligible to run for the office. Moore county representative Richard Morgan pushed for money in the state budget to create the single-prosecutorial district. McSweeney said the move, effective January 15th, will permit a fifth prosecutor to help the office handle the court system caseload. “This is something that’s long overdue,” says Mcsweeney, “the people of Moore County deserve to be in a single district.
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12/08/06 - FORMER STATE FIRST LADY PAASES AWAY!
The wife of former North Carolina Governor Jim Holshouser has died at her home in Southern Pines. Pat Holshouser was 67 and had been suffering from cancer. Linda Daves, chairman of the state Republican party, said she was deeply saddened at the loss of one whom she praised as a faithful friend of the G-O-P. Pat Holshouser became first lady at the age of 33 after her husband upset Democrat Hargrove "Skipper" Bowles in 1972. He was the state's first Republican Governor of the 20th century. During her husband's term, Pat Holshouser managed the restoration of the executive mansion and accompanied him on a European trade mission. She also used that time to attend college to earn a nursing degree. The family were receiving friends from 5 to 7 Saturday at Brownson Memorial Presbyterian Church. A memorial service was held at two in the church.
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12/08/06 - DRUG ARREST SOLVES LOCAL CRIME!
By arresting the alleged perpetrator of one crime, Moore County Sheriff's investigators took into custody the man they believe stole 78-hundred prescription pills from the Prescription Shoppe Pharmacy in West End a year ago. In addition to recovering the pills, deputies seized 1229 grams of liquid ozycodone, 147 grams of marijuana, some cocaine, a 380-caliber handgun and almost two-thousand dollars in cash. Deputies discovered the drugs in the Juniper Lake Road home of 26-year-old West End resident Bobby Joseph Passer when they went to arrest him on a federal warrant of distributing crack cocaine. The total estimated street value of all the seized drugs is 140-thousand dollars. Passer was transported to Greensboro and placed in the custody of the US Marshal’s service.
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12/05/06 - NEW CHAIRMAN SWORN IN!
Colin McKenzie is the new chairman of the Moore County Board of Commissioners. The selection of the 79-year-old McKenzie is seen as a reward for his election support of the three new members who joined the board yesterday. During the run-up to the May primary, McKenzie, in mass-mailings to constituents, urged the republican nomination of challengers Larry Caddell, Jimmy Melton and Cindy Morgan. All three were sworn in Monday as county commissioners before a standing-room only crowd of enthusiastic well-wishers. It was the votes of Caddell, Melton and Morgan that made the choice of McKenzie unanimous. In past practice, following the lead of assertive fellow Commissioner Tim Lea, McKenzie customarily found himself voting in the majority against the formidable lineup of Michael Holden, Virginia Saunders and Chairman David Cummings. Last may Saunders and Cummings were voted out of office. Holden chose not to run again. Yesterday a new majority was formed and for a change McKenzie is part of it.
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12/04/06 - SCHOOL DIVERSITY NOT A CONCERN IN MOORE COUNTY
Moore County’s Hispanic population grew 500 percent during the 1990's, and some experts believe that that growth has accelerated during the last six years. Robbins elementary school is 52-percent Hispanic, and while some fear that such growth is causing overcrowding, superintendent of Moore county schools, Susan Purser says that the diversity is good for the students. Tim Lussier, also with Moore County Schools says that most Hispanic parents do a good job of staying involved.
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12/04/06 - COURT FEES COVERED FOR MORGAN
House speaker Pro-Tempore Richard Morgan will get public money to pay legal fees while responding to a subpoena issued by a federal grand jury. The grand jury is believed to be investigating democrat speaker Jim black's campaign fundraising and legislative activities. Black won reelection despite the cloud of suspicion hanging over his head. Federal prosecutors want Morgan to appear before a grand jury and turn over documents related to 37 individuals and groups. The information includes details about black and a cigarette company that gave money to a political group backing Morgan and some of his breakaway GOP allies. A senate official says the public dollars will cover only fees related to Morgan’s official duties and those of his staff, not any personal actions. Morgan and Black served together as co-speakers for a year. Morgan represents Moore County in the state house. The seven term incumbent was defeated for reelection by Joe Boylan, a Pinehurst businessman.
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12/01/06 - CORPORATE PARK BREAKS GROUND
Southern Pines Mayor, Frank Quis helped break ground yesterday at the future site of the Southern Pines Corporate Park. The site is located near highway US 1 just north of the Midland Road exit. The 1050-acre subdivision will feature 18 lots available for release or purchase. Town leaders say that it could create as many as 800 new jobs for the area. Robert Baille of investors has put up a lot of money to help create the corporate park. He believes it will be something for the town to take pride in.
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11/30/06 - VETERANS MEMORIAL IS OPEN IN CARTHAGE
A new night-time attraction for motorists on US 15-501 outside Carthage is the recently dedicated Veteran's Memorial on land donated by the county. The dramatically illuminated tableau includes patriotic symbols and granite slabs with the engraved names of 21-hundred veterans. Moore county veterans service officer George Hunt says the memorial is in his word "especially striking at night and is a continuing project as more names are added." the tablets are inscribed with the names of veterans who were either born in Moore county, inducted into the service here, or live here now. “We felt like we really needed to honor all the veterans in one place..” Says Hunt, “especially those who were killed in action.” The memorial was unveiled this month after about four years of planning. The memorial committee so far has raised more than 75-thousand dollars. If you would like to donate call the veterans office at 947-3257.
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11/30/06 - LOCAL REAL-ESTATE MARKET STAYS STEADY
As formerly red-hot real estate markets in San Francisco and Washington DC have recently seen prices flatten and in some cases depreciate, people across the country are keeping a watchful eye on the real estate market, many fearing that their local market will also tank. Here in the Sandhills, statistics provided by the Pinehurst-Southern Pines Association of Realtors indicates that the local residential market has not missed a beat. So far this year 1,214 single family residential homes have been sold by member realtors in Moore County. That is only a few percentage points lower than this time last year. The average price of such homes has increased from about 250,000 dollars to over 270,000 dollars so far this year. Local broker Martha Gentry has noticed a slight slow-down, but is not overly concerned. She believes that the market will only continue to grow.
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11/29/06 - FORMER POLICE CHIEF HONORED FOR SERVICE
The former police chief of Pinebluff has been posthumously awarded a medal for civilians after he was killed while working as a security contractor in Iraq. Brian Wagoner went to work as a private contractor and was guarding an explosives demolition team when he was killed by a roadside bomb in March 2005. Wagoner’s widow, Melissa, was giver her husband’s defense of freedom medal, which was created in 2001 by secretary of defense Donald Rumsfeld to honor civilian contractors killed or hurt in combat. Melissa Wagoner says her 30-year-ood husband sacrificed his life for his country and she worked to get the medal for him. The ceremony was held this week at Fort Bragg.
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11/29/06 - PINCREST ATHLETICS A HOT TOPIC
A group of over 60 parents, coaches, student athletes, and Pinecrest supporters met Monday night in an effort to voice their concerns and suggestions about how to improve athletics at Pinecrest High School. Though the meeting was not intended to address varsity football specifically, the status of the football program quickly dominated the discussion. One suggestio0n was for Pinecrest to hire and pay a full-time fundraiser for the athletic department. Another suggestion was for Pinecrest to encourage its best athletes to play multiple sports, and to limit off-season practices that make it harder for athletes to focus on whichever sport is in season at the time. By far the most common suggestion was for the county to give Pinecrest more money for athletics. Pinecrest‘s athletic budget is currently only 86 thousand dollars a year, which includes coaches salaries, insurance, security, transportation costs, and athletic equipment. The suggestions will be taken to a building-level committee, which is part of a district-wide effort to improve athletics throughout the more county school district. The committee will submit its proposals to the Moore county school board by early next year, so that if any budgetary changes need to be made, they can be included in next years budget.
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11/28/06 - SUCCESSFUL SOCIAL SERVICE DIRECTOR LEAVING HER POST
Moore County will be looking for a new Social Services Director after Friday. That's the last day on the job for 49-year-old Beth Duncan, who is leaving to take a similar position in Randolph County where her four brothers live. Under Duncan’s celebrated leadership the department was recognized for its success in moving record numbers of welfare recipients in to the work force. In 2003 Moore County received the national adoption award for efforts to place handicapped children in good adoptive homes. During her 13 years as director, Duncan consolidated several spread out office locations into a single headquarters outside Carthage, the site is the former Carriage Oaks Shopping Center.
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11/28/06 - HOLIDAY EVENTS HIT THE SANDHILLS
As December quickly approaches, residents of the Sandhills will turn their focus away from Thanksgiving and towards Christmas. Local holiday events begin this weekend. The village of Pinehurst business guild will hold its annual Christmas tree lighting this Friday, December 1st. Santa Claus will visit the BBT Garden Room from 4:00 to 5:30. The tree lighting program will begin at 5:30 with holiday music and caroling at the Village Center. The Southern Pines Christmas tree lighting will be this Saturday, December 2nd. Part of North West Broad Street will be closed off for the ceremony, which will begin at five o'clock. Music will be provided by the Emmanuel Episcopal Church choir and the Golf Capital chorus. The Southern Pines Christmas parade will be held Saturday December 2nd in downtown Southern Pines. Prizes will be awarded to the top three entries.
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11/27/06 - CORPORATE PARK BREAKS GROUND
Golden shovels will be moving earth at the site of the Southern Pines Corporate Park during an official ground breaking ceremony Thursday just off US 1. The project is described by Partners in Progress as "distinctive" and "unlike anything between here and the triangle." already leasing one of the 18 lots in the 105-acre subdivision is pace worldwide, the first and only certified manufacturer of soldering irons used in fabricating electronic circuit boards. The 30-thousand square foot building is scheduled for completion by summer 2007.
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11/27/06 - STARBUCKS COMES TO SOUTHERN PINES
With a new Starbucks opening soon on Highway 15-501 in Southern Pines, smaller, locally owned coffee shops will soon find out how loyal their customers really are. Flynne Mears runs Flynne's Coffee House in downtown Southern Pines. She says that she is not scared to compete with the larger chains. She adds that Starbucks may actually strengthen the local coffee market.
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11/22/06 - EMS RESOLUTION PASSES
Three departing Moore county commissioners this week were joined in defeating substitute legislation that would have delayed a major expansion of the department of emergency medical services, or E-M-S. At stake were the proposed quarter-million dollar purchase of two new ambulances and the addition of nine full-time positions. Including pay upgrades for another six current employees, Public Safety Director Scot Brooks calculated the startup cost at roughly 750-thousand dollars. Commissioners Tim Lea and Colin McKenzie sought to delay action on the enabling resolution, offering a doomed substitute motion that would have moved the program forward in phases. As they have some many times during the last two years, Commissioners Michael Holden, David Cummings and Virginia Saunders cast the deciding votes and the enabling resolution passed. It was the last official meeting for the three before the board reorganizes next month with new faces. Cummings and Saunders both lost in the May primary. Holden chose not to seek reelection.
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11/22/06 - EXPECT BUSY ROADS THIS HOLIDAY
Triple-A is predicting that there will be a record 30.4 million Americans traveling over 100 miles this thanksgiving holiday. Bargain airfares and stable gas prices are two causes for the increase in holiday travel. For those who are flying, recently-added laws prohibiting large containers of liquid to be carried on can cause security lines to stretch as those travelers who are unaware of the new restrictions cause delays. With gas prices holding steady at around 2 dollars and 20 cents throughout North Carolina, the roads will also be busy. Triple a recommends leaving early and planning for traffic delays.
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11/21/06 - GARBAGE DELAY FOR THE HOLIDAYS
The town of Southern Pines has announced that regular garbage pickup will be delayed a day during the upcoming seasonal holidays. For instance, this week Thursday collections will take place on Friday. Friday collections will take place on Saturday. Likewise, during the two-week period including Christmas and New Year’s Day, all garbage services will be delayed one day to allow for the Monday holidays. Questions should be directed to the town business office, 692-3016, or waste management, 692-5800.
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11/21/06 - FLU SHOWS UP IN WESTERN CAROLINA
Although early December usually marks the beginning of the flu season, some of North Carolina’s Western counties have already had cases of the virus. Here in the Sandhills, experts are hoping that a ready supply of flu shots will help keep the virus in check this winter. Jayne Lee of Firsthealth of the Carolinas says it takes two weeks for the flu shots to kick in. She believes the early people can get the shots, the better. Lee recommends contacting any local clinic for more information.
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11/17/06 - BIG BEER BUST IN SOUTHERN PINES
It just goes to show that it’s hard to make eleven kegs of beer look like anything else. Southern Pines Police arrested Jared Powers and Meredith Daugherty after a vehicle with them in it pulled up to the corner of Ashe Street and New Hampshire Avenue where the beer, and the cops, waited. Although there was an attempt to conceal the kegs with underbrush, a tip led authorities to the location. With their arrest, police believe they have cracked a series of restaurant burglaries. A search of the vehicle yielded evidence that powers and Daugherty should be considered suspects in a series of larcenies at various restaurants in southern pines and Pinehurst. Charges include felonious larceny, possession of stolen goods, and possession of drug paraphernalia. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for November 22nd in Moore county district court.
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11/17/06 - UNITED WAY GEARING UP
With only two and a half months left until the end of their 2006 campaign, the United Way of Moore County is gearing up for a late push. The goal for the year is to raise six-hundred-twenty-five thousand dollars, and as of this week they have raised a little over sixty-percent of that goal. That is just about where they were at this point last year and director Linda Pearson is targeting local businesses and their employees contributions. The money raised by the united way is distributed to a bundle of local non-profits.
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11/16/06 - GRAND JURY INVESTIGATING BLACK CONTINUES WORK
House speaker Jim Black's administrative assistant is the latest person among dozens of people who have appeared at the courthouse in Raleigh in the past few months where a federal grand jury is meeting. Meredith Swindell testified earlier this year at a state board of elections hearing into campaign fundraising by Black. Earlier this week, federal prosecutors asked House Speaker Pro Tem Richard Morgan to turn over documents related to 37 individuals or groups, including Black. He was also asked to hand over some tax records and information regarding a cigarette company that gave money to a political group backing Morgan. The seven-term lawmaker, who represents Moore County in the state house, was ordered to appear this week before a federal grand jury in Raleigh. His attorney, Stephen Smith, said Monday that a scheduling conflict will prevent his client from appearing until next month at the earliest. Morgan is involved in calving operations at his cattle farm in Eagle Springs.
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11/16/06 - MOORE COUNTY SCHOOLS OVERCROWDED
Of the twenty-two schools in the Moore County School District, nearly half of them are over capacity. Superintendent Susan Purser says that overcrowding is the single biggest challenge facing the local school system. The expansion of US 1 has made Moore County more attractive to commuters working in Raleigh and the expansion of Fort Bragg is expected to bring even more growth. While mobile units are being added to help with the problem, school officials say new schools need to be built. Plans have been made to add a new elementary school and a new middle school by 2010, as well as a new high school by 2014.
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11/15/06 - THE CVB HOPING FOR BETTER GOLF MARKETING
Convention and Visitors Bureau is hoping to convince the state to use the scarce resources to market Moore County golf more effectively. The bureau is working with two trade associations to allocate a portion of new funds in a golf branding campaign. The tourism alliance wants to assure that the money is earmarked specifically for golf marketing that will effectively differentiate our golf product from competitive states. C-V-B President Caleb Miles says golf continues to drive significant new tourism dollars into the state, improve the quality of life, and serves as a catalyst for a wide range of economic development. Moore County leads the eight-county Sandhills region in tourism growth. It also leads in total direct employment and taxes generated by tourism spending.
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11/14/06 - MOORE COUNTY AIMS TO IMPROVE ATHLETICS
Pinecrest High School has put together a committee to examine and evaluate ways to improve its athletic department. The 30-person committee includes student athletes, coaches, and parents, as part of a district-wide effort to improve Moore County Public School Athletics. One of the major goals will be to improve the Pinecrest Football program whose varsity team finished the season with an 0-11 record. All area middle schools and high schools will give suggestions and recommendations to the district wide committee about how to strengthen athletics throughout the Moore County School System.
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11/14/06 - MORGAN TO APPEAR IN FRONT OF GRAND JURY
Federal prosecutors want House Speaker Pro Tem Richard Morgan to turn over documents about 37 individuals or groups. Morgan's office yesterday released the contents of a subpoena that orders him to appear before a grand jury in Raleigh Wednesday and Thursday. Morgan's attorney, Stephen Smith, says although his client has nothing to hide, a scheduling conflict will prevent him from appearing before the jurors until next month at the earliest. Over the past few months the grand jury has heard from dozens of witnesses associated with embattled Speaker Jim Black. Republican Morgan and Democrat Black shared the Speaker-ship during the 2003-2004 legislative session. In a prepared statement, Morgan said he was surprised to get the subpoena but that we will cooperate. Federal prosecutors have asked Morgan to provide documents dating back to the year 2000. They include several entities related to the video poker and lottery industries, as well as former representative Michael Decker, who pleaded guilty to a federal conspiracy charge. Morgan, a seven-term incumbent representing Moore County in the State House, was defeated for his party’s nomination in the May primary by Joe Boylan who went on to win the seat in the general election last week.
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11/13/06 - FORMER MOORE COUNTY CFO CONSIDERS LAWSUIT
Michael Griffin says he's quote "considering all options" after an appeals court rejected a libel claim against Moore County Commissioner Michael Holden. Griffin, who was fired from his job as Moore County's Chief Financial Officer and Assistant County Manager, accused Holden of libeling him in remarks to newspapers. At the time Holden was Chairman of the Board of Commissioners who found serious fault with Griffin 's job performance in public statements. Griffin recieved partial vindication last June when the North Carolina Employment Commission issued a ruling in his favor. Michael Warren , an appeals referee for the Commission, awarded Griffin unemployment benefits after finding he was fired without just cause. Warren said he could find in his words “no substantial fault or misconduct connected with Griffin ’s work.”
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11/13/06 - PINEHURST HIRES FIRM FOR WESTERN CONNECTOR
The Village of Pinehurst has hired a private consulting firm to work on plans for a new road referred to as the Western Connector. The idea is to build a new road connecting Highway 211 west of Pinehurst and US 1 in Southern Aberdeen . The goal of the project is to reduce traffic on Highways 211 and US 5, roads that regularly see traffic delays. In 2003 and 2004, there were 197 accidents reported on that stretch of Highway 5. That crash rate is one-and-a-half times that of the state average for similar roads. Kimberly, Horn and Associates of Cary , North Carolina the firm hired to work on the plan, is looking for input from the community and hopes to have several proposals ready as early as next month.
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11/10/06 - LOCAL ATTORNEY GARNERS NC AWARD
Former Governor Jim Holshouser, a Southern Pines attorney, was among those honored this week with "North Carolina Awards." the awards are the highest civilian honor bestowed by the state and recognize individuals for their contributions to the arts, public service and science.
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11/10/06 - VETERANS HONORED IN DOUBLE SALUTE
Moore County Veterans will recieve a double salute Saturday with the dedication of the Veterans Memorial at Carriage Oaks Plaza in Carthage, followed by the annual Veterans Day program in Pinehurst. George Hunt, Director of Veterans Services, says the 10 o'clock dedication is open to the public. The 11 o'clock observance in Pinehurst's Canon Park, featuring a special guest speaker and a demonstration by the Fort Bragg Green Beret Parachute Team, will pay tribute to the nearly 11-thousand veterans who live in Moore County.
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11/09/06 - ELECTION RESULTS
After being elected to a 12th term in the U-S House of Rrepresentatives, Republican Howard Coble could only watch as the Democrats gained a majority in the house. He reflected on the 2006 mid-term elections with a mix of disappointment and optimism. Coble easily degeated Democratic challenger Rory Blake for the house seat in the sixth district of North Carolina.
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11/08/06 - ELECTION RESULTS
In the most closely watched race Tuesday night, endorsed Moore County Republican candidate Joe Boylan repulsed two challengers making a three-way race for the State House seat currently occupied by Speaker Pro-Tem Richard Morgan. Unofficial totals give Boylan 43-percent of the vote. Unaffilated candidates Gerald Galloway and Bud Shaver trailed with 36-percent and 21-percent respectively. In other unofficial returns yesterday, State Senator Harris Blake easly beat back a challenge by Lee County Physician Abraham Ouden. Blake got 67-percent of the vote. Winning at-large seats to the Moore County School Board were Dale Frye, Pamela Thompson and Sue Black. Frye captured 24-percent of the vote, while Thompson and Sue Black barely edged out James Koch (coke), Judy Borden and Bobby Allen for the two remaining spots. The Moore County Board of Commissioners will see three new Republican faces with the election of Larry Caddell, Cindy Morgan and Jimmy Melton. Only Melton faced opposition in the person of Democrat Teresa Marquez whom he easily vanquished with 64-percent of the vote. Leaving the board after losing in the May primary are Virginia Saunders and chairman David Cummings. Former Chairman Michael holden chose not to seek reelection. Republican Howard Coble, As expected, disposed of his democrat challenger, Doubling Rorry Blake’s vote total in unofficial returns. Coble represents Moore County in the U-S House of Representatives. All returns are unofficial until certified by the Moore County Board of Elections.
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11/07/06 - POSSIBLE ELECTION OUTCOMES
Will Moore County Republicans with a 30-percent advantage in party registration end up sending a Democrat to Raleigh? That's considered the likely outcome of the battle between endorsed party candidate Joe Boylan and challenger Bud Shaver for the State House. The disaffected Republican from Seven Lakes says he's running as unaffiliated to avenge the defeat of Richard Morgan in the primary. Morgan lost to the untested Boylan with the help of party regulars who accuse the seven term incumbent of helping Democrats advance their legislative agenda in the general assembly Morgan, they say, was appointed Speaker Pro-Tem as a reward. Like Shaver, Democrat Geral Galloway seeks election to the state house as an unaffiliated candidate, making it a three-way race a week before the filing deadline. After weeks of divisive campaigning between two Republicans, it could be the Democrat Galloway who is left standing when the polls close tonight.
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11/06/06 - COULD ELECTION BE RICHARD'S REVENGE
If Bud Shaver succeeds in his role as spoiler, Tuesday's election to the State House of Representatives may come to be known as Richard Morgan's revenge. Shaver is a disaffected republican who nurses a grudge against the party for supporting Pinehurst businessman Joe Boylan aganist Morgan in the primary. Like Gerald Galloway, a Democrat, Shaver shed his party label in order to get on the November ballot as unaffilated. Boylan has the endorsement of both the state and Moore County Republican Party. His Campaign Manager is former G-O-P Governor Jim Holshouser. Shaver claims he has the edge in experience, but an October surprise on his behalf by Pinehurst Republican Joan Thurman could turn-off some voters. Thurman, a shaver supporter, complained to the board of elections that two of Boylan’s campaign workers who voted in the may primary weren’t permanent residents. Boylan describes it as “a mean-spirited, last minute political attack.” The two girls, he says, “didn’t do anything wrong.” Boylan could also be helped by some questions surrounding Morgan’s campaign funds. Campaign documents show that the house speaker pro-tem transferred more than a half-million dollars from his campaign fund before a new law barring the conversion of campaign money for personal use took effect. Polls will be open until 7:30 tomorrow..
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10/26/06 - ADULTS WORKING TO HELP SCHOOL ATHLETIC PROGRAMS
School administrators and concerned adults seem to be working hard to find common ground and understanding as the status of athletic programs are on the table. Administration provided meeting space for the gathering, where Tom Van Camp, the parent-appointed liaison to the District, updated attendees on his recent conversation with school administrators. Parents agree the status of athletics at all schools and all levels should be the focus, rather than pinpointing Pinecrest's football program. Parents and boosters embrace the need to supplement athletics with fund-raisers. The administration is hearing requests for facility improvements. What’s at stake? Safety of students, a bottom line that is black rather than red, an educational experience that takes place on a field in addition to a traditional classroom. A study group comprised of concerned adults, school administrators and retired coaches will evaluate athletic programs and report back to the school board the end of February.
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10/25/06 - COUNTY TO HONOR EWING WITH FLAG SALUTE
County flags will fly at half-staff until Saturday in honor of Bob Ewing, who died yesterday at Moore Regional Hospital of complications following heart surgery. Interim County Manager Cary McSwain ordered the tribute to the much admired 86-year old Ewing, who served as a County Commissioner on two seperate occasions for a total of 27 years. In between stints in county government Ewing served with distinction in the administration of three republican North Carolina Governors Holshouser, Sanford and Martin. Rather tall and erect, Ewing was a familiar figure in county parades, especially those with a patriotic theme. He was awarded the bronze star while serving as a naval intelligence officer in the pacific during World War II. As a Commissioner Ewing prized his reputation as an unwavering friend of education. After attending schools in England and Switzerland, he graduated from Princeton University in 1941. Ewing is servived by his wife of 32 years, Katherine, and six children from a first marriage. A memorial service will be held Saturday at 1 p-m in Brownson Memorial Presbyterial Church, Southern Pines.
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10/23/06 - 5 FARM SCAVENGER HUNT HAPPENS THIS WEEK!
Geocaching is a sophisticated form of hide and seek where enthusiasts use G-P-S systems to find treasures planted literally around the world. In similar fashion, but on a smaller scale. Moore County Extension Service office is putting out a public challenge for a rather elaborate scavenger hunt that will require teams to navigate through 5 different farms across the county. In place of a G-P-S, teams will find clues based upon their answers to questions about each location. The hunt will expose teams to life on an alpaca farm, a corn farm, a plant nursery and other settings. Maps will steer each group through two and a half hours of entertainment which includes the hunt itself, and lunch for only five-dollars per team. Scheduled for October 28th, the challenge is appropriate for all ages, but the extension office says families and groups wishing to enter must register soon by calling their office at 947-3188.
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10/20/06 - CUMBERLAND LEADS MOORE IN TOURISM SPENDING
When it comes to attracting tourism dollars to the Sandhills, Moore County is a close second only to its much larger neighbor to the east, Cumberland County. Tourists spent almost 608-million dollars in the eight-county Sandhills region during 2005. Moore County reported the strongest growth a very respectable 7-point-5 percent. With total visitor spending at 326-million, Moore trailed Cumberland County, the home of Fort Bragg and Pope Air Force Base, by less than one-percent. Other Sandhill’s counties are Richmond, Scotland, Lee, Hoke, Harnett and Robeson.
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10/20/06 - LOCAL COMPANY LAND BIG MILITARY CONTRACT
An Aberdeen company's strategy to tap into the huge government procurement market is paying off. O'Connor Construction has been awarded a three-point-two million dollar contract to build a 70-thousand square foot shooting range on Fort Bragg for special operations forces. O'Connor President Chris Jorden says his company has been positioning itself to do business with the military for 18 months by adding staff with military contracting backgrounds. An estimated 8-million dollars in military contracts have already been awarded to other Moore County firms in 2006. The county economic development agency Partners in Progress invites local companies wanting a piece of the action to contact its office or Linn Owen at Sandhills Community College.
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10/16/06 - ANSWERS COMING SLOWLY FOR DAM PROBLEM.
Answers are neither quick nor easy if you live around Cardinal Lake in Whispering Pines. On Wednesday evening, the Village Council decided not to pay for a study which would determine the cost of repairing a dam that feeds into Cardinal Lake. In March the dam safety officer identified owners of the dam of needed repairs. Now that the owners say they cannot afford the repairs, Whispering Pines residents are waiting to see what the state does next. What's at stake is the water level of the lake.
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10/09/06 - PLANNED PROJECT STILL BEING PLANNED.
A projected 580-acre planned-unit development west of Highway 1 is still in its planning stages. It's being spearheaded by Kelly Miller who is President and C-E-O of Pine Needles and Mid-Pines Golf Resorts. Miller says the retail component that would be built within the Pud would not be competitive with downtown Southern Pines or Pinehurst. The first task on their "to-do" list is assist the council and planning board in creating a P-U-D zoning classifications. Miller says this would be a vehicle that allows the town of Southern Pines to have ultimate control over what the developer would propose in large-scale projects.
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10/06/06 - PROGRESS ENERGY WARNS PINEHURST ABOUT CHANGES.
Progress Energy wants Pinehurst to be aware of an electrical conversion that will affect a good portion of the Village this Sunday and Monday. On Sunday from 7-11 am, Murdocksville and the hospital will experience a power outage. On Sunday from 1-5 pm, Amnor Care, Rattlesnake Road and the Pinehurst Village District will undergo the conversion. St. Andrews road and portions of Linden Road will convert on Monday from 7-11 am, then Donald Ross, Barrett and areas surrounding the Carolina hotel are scheduled to be without power on Monday from 1-5 pm.
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10/05/06 - 2ND "LIFE AFTER PINECREST" HAPPENS NEXT WEEK.
Moore County students with an eye on college will have an up-close-and personal look at some of the best in North Carolina next week. The Pinecrest P-T-S-A is bringing representatives from eight of the state's best colleges and universities to the high school auditorium Tuesday, October 10th at 7 p-m for its second "Life after Pinecrest" event of the year. The meeting will provide an overview of the campuses as well as an opportunity to become personally familiar with the college process. The P-T-S-A says it has commitments from Appalchian State University, Campbell University, East Carolina Univeristy, Elon University, St. Andrews Presbyterian College, Sandhills Community College, UNC Pembroke and UNC Wilmington. Linda Kropp is P-T-S-A President. She notes that the meeting is not just for juniors and seniors but “for all parents and students in any grade at any school in the area.”
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10/04/06 - HOBBLING 911 GETS RESCUED BY COMMISIONERS.
Talk about timing. Director of Public Safety Scott Brooks faced some tough questioning this week as he sought to convince commissioners that the county's 9-1-1 system is on its last legs. Barely four hours after completing his summary of the ills that plague the eight-year-old system, 9-1-1 phone lines went down for about an hour. Shift Supervisor Benjamin Nelson said operators switched emergency calls to the administration line and no calls were missed. Brooks didn’t really need the timely reminder to make his case. By then commissioners had already voted to permit brooks and his department to spend 470-thousand dollars on new radio and telephone equipment.
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10/04/06 - DAMAGED DAM UP FOR DISCUSSION.
Tonight at seven the Village Council in Whispering Pines will be meeting. The council has placed Cardinal Lake on the agenda as a discussion point, and they expect public comment about the lake's viability will be shared. Martin Way Dam indirectly feeds Cardinal Lake. Owners of the dam, Whispering Woods Golf Club, are asking financial assistance from the Village for a hefty repair that has temporarily been remedied with a plug. Jim Hart, one of the golf club's owners and general manager, says their only recourse should funds from the village be withheld is to reduce the dam's water flow and ultimately drain the lake. The Village contends they are free of liability citing a recorded deed that specifies the golf club’s responsibility. Hart and other club owners will be attending tonight’s meeting.
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