daily courier february 11 2010

Edwards’ sex tapes given to court — Page 3 Sports A proper tribute North Carolina retired Tyler Hansbrough’s No. 50 jersey during Wednesday night’s game with Duke

Page 7

Thursday, February 11, 2010, Forest City, N.C.

50¢

Victim testifies in trial

NATION

By LARRY DALE Daily Courier Staff Writer

More snow hits Mid-Atlantic region Page 10

SPORTS

A DOT employee fights the wind while directing traffic around a bridge construction sight in Lake Lure Wednesday afternoon.

Jean Gordon/ Daily Courier

Clemson takes down Florida State Wednesday Page 8

GAS PRICES

Low: High: Avg.:

$2.47 $2.71 $2.59

DEATHS

Winds fell trees, power lines

By JEAN GORDON Daily Courier Staff Writer

FOREST CITY — Downed trees and power lines put nearly 1,000 people in Rutherford County without power Wednesday. Late in the afternoon, Duke Energy crews were still working to erect new lines and poles to restore power to residences and businesses in west Rutherford County. Rutherford Electric Membership Corp. reported 95 power outages at about 3:45 p.m. and Duke Energy had more than 840 customers without power at the same time.

Rutherford Hospital lost its electricity for more than 2 1/2 hours and switched to auxiliary power. Surgeries were being performed when the power Please see Winds, Page 6

Please see Trial, Page 2

Tea Party locals skip convention Jean Gordon/Daily Courier

Wind gusts up to 60 miles per hour in areas of the county sent power lines, transformers and trees to the ground Wednesday morning. This transformer and lines came down with a tree on Maple Creek Road fell near the N. Washington Street intersection in Rutherfordton.

Forest City

Teri Seay Laura Baxter Dwight Nations Page 5

WEATHER

High

Jack Keller was inside his home off U.S. 64/74 Wednesday afternoon when this large tree fell onto his car and the front of his home. He was not injured.

Low

45 24 Today, sunny.

Tonight, partly cloudy.

Complete forecast, Page 10

INSIDE Classifieds . . . 14-15 Sports . . . . . . . . 7-9 County scene . . . . 6 Opinion . . . . . . . . 4 Vol. 42, No. 36

RUTHERFORDTON — A 911 caller on May 28, 2005, identified Jack Martin, the defendant in a murder trial under way in Superior Court, as the assailant in a Chimney Rock shooting case.

Phillip Chiasson, a witness Wednesday in the trial, told the 911 operator that Martin was the one who had attacked two men at an apartment complex, and when he was asked how, Chiasson replied, “he shot ’em.”

The tape of Chiasson’s call to 911 was played for jurors Wednesday.

Martin is charged with second-degree murder and two counts of attempted firstdegree murder in the trial.

Jonathan Lehi Moore died at the scene, and Philip Salks and Chiasson were wounded.

Martin was convicted on those charges in 2007, but a retrial was ordered because the North Carolina Court of Appeals found an error in the first trial.

Chiasson also told the 911 operator, “This guy killed two people,” and, “he argued with them and he started shooting.” Salks was wounded in the shootings, but did not die.

Before the jury was allowed to hear the tape, it was played for Martin and his defense attorney, Kent Brown. The lawyer asked to hear it because “it may

Jean Gordon/ Daily Courier

By SCOTT BAUGHMAN Daily Courier Staff Writer

FOREST CITY — The National Tea Party Convention in Nashville was held Feb. 4 through 6, but none of the local members of the R9.12 group attended the meeting.

Keynote speaker, former Alaskan Gov. Sarah Palin said, “America is ready for another revolution” during her speech.

And while the local tea party might agree, they heard about the speech after the fact.

“In general, as a strong proponent for freedom of assembly and speech, I am happy that the event this past weekend was organized and well attended, at least from what I was able to read about it,” said local tea party organizer Zoran Naskov.

“I have no concerns that conventions like the one this past weekend will do any harm, as they do provide a place for likeminded conservatives to gather, encourage each other and share ideas on how to best get back Please see Skip, Page 6

Toyota recall is having an impact locally See related story, Page 16

By SCOTT BAUGHMAN Daily Courier Staff Writer

FOREST CITY — With more than 300,000 Toyota vehicles being recalled worldwide, the Japanese auto maker has seen an impact on sales with a 16 percent decline in January. But local dealers aren’t too worried about the effect.

Now on the Web: www.thedigitalcourier.com

“We occasionally have some Toyotas and I’ve got a couple right now in our used cars,” said Paul Deck, owner of the McCurry-Deck family of dealerships. “It is on people’s mind about the recall.”

Rutherford County doesn’t have a Toyota dealership, but models show up at used car lots occasionally.

“Thus far, it hasn’t seemed to have any effect on us,” said Shawn Moore of

Moore’s Auto Sales in Forest City. “The main thing is it is effecting Toyota directly. At this point in time, we don’t have anything on our lot that would fall within those issues. Anytime you get any negative publicity it doesn’t help.”

The most recent recall is a voluntary safety recall on approximately 133,000 Please see Toyota, Page 6

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Daily Courier, Forest City, NC, Thursday, February 11, 2010

Local

Trial Continued from Page 1

be prejudicial to the jury.”

After hearing the tape, he objected to the jury hearing it, but Judge Mark Powell overruled the objection.

Jurors also saw a videotaped Chiasson walkthrough of the crime scene with Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office Detective, Jeff Hamrick, days after the shooting.

Chiasson testified Wednesday about his recollections of the shooting.

Chiasson said he moved to North Carolina from Maine, and had been living at 919 Main St. in Chimney Rock for four or five months prior to the shooting incident. He said he is in construction, doing carpentry work.

Chiasson, Salks and Moore had all worked together at one job site, and Salks and Chiasson were longtime friends.

Martin joined the three men on that Labor Day weekend at Chiasson’s apartment to play cards and drink, something they frequently did.

When District Attorney Brad Greenway asked Chiasson about his relationship with Martin, Chiasson said, “We had our moments.”

When asked what he meant by that, Chiasson said they had argued and Martin had once punched him.

On the evening of May 27, the four men played cards for a while. The girlfriend of Chiasson, Samantha Carr, had gone to bed.

At some time during the evening, Chiasson testified, he and Salks left the room for a few minutes. Chiasson said shortly after he went into the bathroom at the apartment, he heard Moore and Martin yelling at each other. When he returned to the room, he said, they were “wrestling around.” During the altercation, the men fell into a television and broke a fish tank.

At some time during the evening, Chiasson testified, he and Salks left the room for a few minutes. Chiasson said shortly after he went into the bathroom at the apartment, he heard Moore and Martin yelling at each other. When he returned to the room, he said, they were “wrestling around.” During the altercation, the men fell into a television and broke a fish tank.

Salks returned to the room, Chiasson said, and together they pulled the combatants apart.

Martin reportedly was told to leave the apartment, and he did. Salks and Chiasson began cleaning up the apartment, Chiasson said, and Moore sat down on a couch.

With Salks outside the apartment and Moore still sitting on the couch, the witness continued, he heard three or four shots and ducked behind a nearby couch as a bullet grazed his shoulder and the back of his head.

Chiasson said he then saw Martin standing there with a gun and jumped over the couch to try to take the gun away from Martin.

Chiasson said the two men ended up on the floor wrestling for the gun. At that time, Chiasson testified, Martin was saying to him, “It’s over Phillip. It’s over.” He said he did not know what Martin meant.

Chiasson said he was able to take the gun away from Martin. He said he stood up, kicked Martin in the head, ran out the door and dumped the gun in an empty trash can, and called 911.

He testified that Martin got in his vehicle and left the scene, but returned shortly thereafter. Chiasson said because he did not know if Martin had another weapon, he jumped into the nearby river to wait for the police to arrive.

Chiasson also testified that

he didn’t own a gun while he lived at 919 Main St., and he did not believe Salks owned a gun.

He said he showed officers where he had thrown the gun used in the shooting.

Chiasson said the only time he had touched the gun was when he took it from Martin and when he threw it in the trash can. He added that the officers at the scene did not test his hands for gunpowder residue.

Brown began his crossexamination of Chiasson shortly before the trial day ended Wednesday.

Brown asked Chiasson about the spelling of his name. When Chiasson spelled it, Brown said there were also N.C. driver’s licenses that show the spelling as Chaisson and as Chasson, the spelling he gave the 911 operator. Chiasson said he had never had a North Carolina driver’s license.

Brown also asked Chiasson about time in Vermont in 2001. Chiasson said he was on probation for distribution of LSD. And when Brown asked about various times that Chiasson had gone back and forth between North Carolina and places in the North. Chiasson said, “I’m trying to remember the best I can,” and at another time, “I guess. You know better than I do.”

Brown also pointed out that Chiasson knew Officer Robert Owens, one of the first officers to arrive on the crime scene. Owens, who

was working with the Lake Lure Police Department in 2005, had arrested Chiasson on a driving while impaired charge in April 2005.

Brown asked Chiasson about a written statement that said he heard three shots and later statements, including in testimony Wednesday, that Chiasson heard three or four shots.

Chiasson said he has always contended he heard three or four shots.

Under questioning by Brown, Chiasson said he did not see Martin shoot anybody, and he did not see Martin enter the room where the two struggled.

In earlier testimony Wednesday, Lori Morris, a crime scene investigator with the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office in 2005, said she arrived on the crime scene at about 4 a.m. May 28.

She said the RCSO had the responsibility of making photos, collecting physical evidence and making sketches, while the State Bureau of Investigation, which had been called in to help, was to prepare the written crime scene report.

Morris said as she helped RCSO Sgt. Bruce Greene and two SBI agents search Martin’s apartment, she found a box of .38-caliber ammunition in a Ziploc plastic bag under a bathroom sink. She said the ammunition was located when she reached into a hole in the Sheetrock near a water heater under the sink. No gun was found, she added.

She also said she conducted fingerprint dusting on the cartridge box, but found no fingerprints.

The plastic bag in which the ammunition was offered as evidence Wednesday apparently was not the same baggie in which the ammunition was shown in an earlier picture. After jurors had left for lunch, the plastic bag was taped to show where there had been a hole in the bag.

After the lunch break,

a Ziploc bag was brought to the courtroom that had been dusted for prints. But because neither the plastic bag nor the brown paper bag in which it was brought in contained any identifying information, the plastic bag was not admitted into evidence.

The court day began with a motion by the defense to suppress the evidence found at Martin’s apartment using a search warrant obtained

by Cpl. Mark Duncan of the RCSO on May 28, 2005. The motion was heard outside the presence of the jury.

Defense attorney Brown said it was a “vague, ambiguous search warrant” and therefore was not a valid search warrant. He said details on where the search would be conducted were lacking, and he said there was no probable cause to search Martin’s apartment.

He cited a U.S. Supreme Court decision and a North Carolina Court of Appeals decision in asking to have the evidence suppressed.

But DA Greenway offered two Court of Appeals cases which said “reasonable certainty” about a location to be searched was all that is required. And he added that there was probable cause because Chiasson had identified Martin as the shooter.

Judge Powell denied the motion to suppress.

The trial resumes today at 9:30 a.m.

Contact Dale via e-mail at ldale@thedigitalcourier.com

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The Daily Courier, Forest City, NC, Thursday, February 11, 2010 — 3

state

Expert questions whether SBI agent’s case work was complete RALEIGH (AP) — Attorneys told The Associated Press that listed in his name. for a convicted murderer seeking the agent’s work should be quesAlso Wednesday, Gregg freedom sought Wednesday to tioned.

McCrary, a crime scene expert show that a state expert omitted “Deaver is really a loose canand former FBI agent, testified crucial test results that helped non. He should not be testifythat investigators exhibited “tununfairly sentence the man to life ing,” said Diane Savage, a criminel vision and a rush to judgin prison. nal defense attorney who reprement” in the case.

Tom Bevel, a blood spatter sented former death row inmate McCrary also said he doubted expert, told a three-judge panel George Goode and successful that Taylor could have commithearing the case of Greg Taylor had his sentence vacated. “He ted the crime without getting that the evidence used to convict says whatever he wants to say.” blood on his clothes or in his car.

Taylor in 1993 was incomplete.

In a federal court order issued Earlier in the day, Taylor took He said the first tests of sublast year in the Goode case, a the stand for day two of crossstances on parts of Taylor’s sport federal judge said Deaver’s tesexamination by Wake County utility vehicle tested positive for timony was faulty because he Assistant District Attorney Tom blood. But second tests used to led a 1993 jury to believe that he Ford , who prosecuted him at confirm initial results came back found blood, when he had only trial. Ford questioned differnegative and were not made conducted a preliminary test ences between Taylor’s current Associated Press public, said Bevel, an associate that indicated the possibility it testimony and his previous stateVideotapes purportedly showing two-time Democratic professor at the University of was present. ments to police and attorneys. presidential candidate John Edwards engaged in Central Oklahoma who analyzed “A reasonable consideration Discrepancies included how extramarital sex are turned over to the court during the lab notes of Duane Deaver, of the record demonstrates the much money Taylor had with a court hearing at the Orange County Courthouse in a State Bureau of Investigation State, through Agent Deaver, him and what sort of tattoo a Hillsborough Wednesday, agent. presented misleading evidence woman had. Taylor, who says “You report what the results about the testing done on petihe used to be addicted to crack, are, positive or negative,” Bevel tioner’s boots being conclusive admitted his memory difsaid. “If you get a negative, you for the presence of blood,” U.S. fered, but insisted he didn’t kill cannot say you have blood.”

District Judge Malcolm Howard Jacquetta Thomas, a prostitute The testimony on the second wrote in his order, which vacatwhose body was found on a day of a sometimes emotional ed Goode’s sentence because of deserted cul-de-sac in 1991. hearing during which the judgineffective counsel at trial.

Ford has argued that Taylor es are being asked to consider Noelle Talley, a spokeswoman and a friend, Johnny Beck, for the state Attorney General’s picked up Thomas that night HILLSBOROUGH (AP) — A former aide to John whether to exonerate Taylor, who was sentenced to life for the office that oversees the SBI, and then killed her when she Edwards turned over the now infamous sex tape murder of a prostitute in Raleigh declined to comment on Deaver’s refused to perform a sex act. to a judge Wednesday, then faced tough questions and has always insisted he is work, citing the pending Taylor On Wednesday, Ford insisted from attorneys for the ex-presidential candidate’s innocent. The panel is meetcase. She said he no longer works Thomas was in the backseat of mistress who were frustrated with his changing ing at the behest of the North as an SBI blood spatter expert Taylor’s white Nissan Pathfinder story about where the tapes had been kept.

Carolina Innocence Inquiry and now has the title of criminal that night and they went to the On top of that, Andrew Young said Elizabeth Commission, a state-run agency specialist in the investigation cul-de-sac because they didn’t Edwards has threatened to sue him for contributthat believes his claim has merit. and training support division. want to take her home. ing to the downfall of their marriage.

Meanwhile Wednesday, a lawDeaver did not immediately “That woman nor anybody Young’s attorneys turned over several items to yer who argued against Deaver’s return a phone message left else was in the backseat,” Taylor be placed under seal, including an original videoWednesday night at a number replied. tape marked “special” that purportedly shows John testimony in a different case Edwards in a sexual encounter with mistress Rielle Hunter. Young also turned over a copy of the tape.

The former Edwards confidant struggled to answer why he said last week that the only copies of the sex tape he had access to were in an Atlanta lockbox. He testified Wednesday that he also had a copy of the tape elsewhere and that he recently showed the video to ABC News in preparation for an interview.

“That is disturbing to me, and it’s not a comfort to our client,” said Alan Duncan, an attorney for Hunter, who has said Young invaded her privacy by keeping the video and photographs of her.

Young conceded he had made some errors in his sworn statement but said he has tried his best to detail the location of items Hunter is seeking.

“I answered as honestly as I could,” he testified.

Young said after the hearing that Elizabeth Edwards has threatened an “alienation of affection” lawsuit against him.

North Carolina is among about a half-dozen states that allows a person to sue a third party for contributing to the breakup of a marriage. Jilted spouses typically use the remedy to seek money from their partner’s lover.

“We have some very powerful people coming after us,” Young said. “Are we scared? Absolutely.”

A spokeswoman and an attorney for Elizabeth Edwards declined to comment. Young said he’s going to fight to prove that he and his family are not liars.

Young initially claimed to be the father of Hunter’s child and helped hide her from media and Elizabeth Edwards during the 2008 White House campaign. He detailed in his book the rise and Power lines spark and burn along Hobbs Road while a Greensboro firefighter talks with a Greensboro police fall of his former boss and the lengths Edwards blocking traffic after high winds caused a tree to fall on the lines in Greensboro on Wednesday, Powerful went to to hide his affair and the child he had with officer winds buffeting North Carolina has closed schools early and forced boats to tie up at dock. The National Hunter.

Weather Service on Wednesday issued a blizzard warning for mountain counties in western North Carolina, leadYoung said he found the sex tape in a home he ing school districts to close early. Forecasters predicted snowfall of up to 10 inches in some mountain communirented for Hunter and that he kept it to corroboties, along with wind chills dropping to below zero. rate his story.

Court now has alleged sex tape

Trial date is set for Easley aide RALEIGH (AP) — A federal judge set a tentative April start date Wednesday for the corruption trial of an exaide to former North Carolina Gov. Mike Easley, saying prompt resolution was in the best interests of Ruffin Poole and the government.

District Judge Terrence Boyle laid out a schedule for the trial to begin the week of April 26 during a hearing attended by Poole, his defense attorney and lawyers for the government.

Earlier this week, Poole defense attorney Joe Zeszotarski wrote in a motion that he would prefer an August start date because of the mountain of government evidence he has to go through, combined with responsibilities for other clients. But Boyle sought to pace the case more quickly than even the U.S. Attorney’s Office, which had suggested a May 17 start.

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Your weekly guide to what’s coming up in Rutherford County!

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— The

Daily Courier, Forest City, NC, Thursday, February 11, 2010

■ A daily forum for opinion, commentary and editorials on the news that affects us all.

Jodi V. Brookshire/ publisher Steven E. Parham/ executive editor 601 Oak Street, P.O. Box 1149, Forest City, N.C. 28043 Phone: 245-6431 Fax: 248-2790

E-mail: dailycourier@thedigitalcourier.com

Our Views Airport board may be on track

R

utherford County’s Airport Authority has been at the center of several controversies ­­— some real and some not ­— over the past couple of years, Along the way, the Authority’s members have not helped their case with the way they have handled some situations.

If Monday’s meeting is any indication, perhaps the Authority has learned from its mistakes and is stepping up to handle its business in a professional manner.

The first good sign was when they awarded a contract to deal with tree issues to a local company which has committed to working with property owners to make the tree cutting as painless as possible and to keep the cutting to a minimum.

The second good move was the agreement to begin negotiations with an established, successful company — one with area connections — to take over as the airports fixed-base operator.

During the months of controversy and debate surrounding the airport, some pushed the idea that the airport was an extravagance the county did not need. Nothing could be further from the truth. A viable, thriving airport is important to the county’s future.

What has been lacking is good communication between the Authority and the public. We hope that has changed.

Our readers’ views Asks why the rush to judgment now?

To the editor: It’s beyond me how anyone, be it Independent, Liberal, Republican or Democrat could ever dream that a new commander in chief, be it a Democrat who believes in change, or a Republican who wants to stay the course even is the course has not worked in eight years, could get America out of this eight-year mess in one year, is unbelievable.

I lost my job five years ago. I didn’t give our commander in chief at that time a year to create me a job. I gave him four years.

Yes, we stayed the course. And yes, we Americans lost even more jobs.

America, do we want to still stay the course with the Republican Party — which does not want to work with the Democratic Party, has (from what I’ve seen) no idea what to do and has had no idea what to do for eight years, except to follow the Republican leader.

America, don’t fear change, but cherish it, because it is well past due.

Zale Coffey Ellenboro

Says court deserves slams for ruling

Court, having disallowed historic restraints, has made carte blanche the buying of political candidates by special or moneyed interests.

Constituents have been increasingly under the impression that campaign financing has been vital to campaign success.

Now the Supreme Court, by rendering a decision allowing wholesale financing of campaign advertising, will have made this impression a virtual certitude.

This writer is contemplating the notion of showing up at his poll to vote only for candidates of whatever party whose candidacy he is convinced is unsalable. He henceforth will refrain from voting essentially — though indirectly — for capitalistic plutocrats.

Sam Ayers Rutherfordton

is at all about the employment rate. It is about providing service for folks who do not have it now.

Every dentist in the county may accept medicaid patients, but I know of only three.

Says dental clinic not about jobs, but service

I can vouch that there is nothing wrong with dental care. I am looked after well, and treated so much better than I deserve. But I am not speaking for everyone in the county.

To the editor: After reading the letter from Mr Jason Ward, I had to remind myself that it was about a dental clinic.

It dealt more with the loss or gain of a dozen jobs than it did with the dental clinic.

I do not believe the dental clinic

I do know there are many children and adults in the county why need dental care, and have no insurance, no job and no money.

We need someone to take care of medicaid patients. Some dentist may loose a patient or two, but the dental clinic is all about providing dental care for medicaid patients; it is not supposed to be about the improvement or hurting the economy.

Mr. Ward’s letter reminds me a bit of Rush Limbaugh’s comment after going to a hospital in Fla. He said he could now vouch that there is nothing wrong with medical care in this country.

Why so many people object to medical and dental care for people who can not help themselves is beyond my comprehension.

Ray Crawford Rutherfordton

To the editor: Even if he was presumed to have violated protocol when he chastised the Supreme Court during his State of the Union address, President Obama deserves accolades from his constituents.

Even if it were at a dinner party, Americans of any political persuasion should condemn the court for putting our elections on the auction block.

Politicians have always been susceptible to the seductions of lobbyists both during their election campaigns and while serving in the offices to which they have been elected. But the Supreme

Love takes a lot of work, but it is worth the effort Have you had love on the brain this week? It’s hard not to, especially if you’ve been in any grocery store, pharmacy or other retailer.

The holiday that celebrates all things romantic is just around the corner now, and on Sunday, you’ll be able to read some remarkable love stories of people right here in Rutherford County.

When I solicited love stories a few weeks back through Facebook, I immediately got a response from an old friend. She told me of a couple who’d met in high school and fallen in love, gotten married and started their lives together.

And then her mother died, and the girl’s world was shat-

Total Mom Sense Allison Flynn

tered. But her man stood by her side, taking in her younger sister without question or hesitation.

As the couple and sister created a different kind of family, the girl learned she was pregnant, adding a baby to the mix.

Now, five years later, and through many tears, the couple are preparing for younger sis to graduate from college and for baby boy – in

just another year – to start kindergarten.

As I read this story, I realized she was describing my own life, and my eyes filled up with tears.

As a ‘tween and teen, I thought “love” meant finding the perfect guy, falling in love and living happily ever after. And truthfully, that is what love should be about.

But I never considered the bumps in the road and all the details between falling in love and sustaining in love.

When my grandfather died in October, the preacher at his funeral talked of how you couldn’t separate the names Mal and Nell (my grandmother’s name). They were married for 60 years

and when you are with someone that long, well, you really become one.

I’ve never asked my grandmother, but I’m sure if I did, she’d say that although she loved my grandpa, that their lives weren’t always easy.

Both worked very hard for many years, raising four children and dealing with the day to day details of life. But no matter how hard it got, they survived. And I have no doubt that they loved each other as much in those final days together as they did in the very beginning of their love story.

Love takes a lot of work. A whole lot of work. Stephen and I joked many times that surviving our first year of

marriage was a remarkable milestone. Maybe it is for any couple.

Love isn’t easy and often it isn’t pretty. But when you find the one who will stand by your side when your world is falling apart, who will be there during those midnight feedings of a newborn, who will listen to you rant and rave about mundane details and still find you attractive even when you’ve been sick or just given birth .... that’s love worth keeping.

I leave you with this: Love is patient, love is kind. And love is always worth the risk.

Contact Flynn via e-mail at aflynn@thedigitalcourier.com.

The Daily Courier, Forest City, NC, Thursday, February 11, 2010

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local/obituaries/state

Obituaries

ON THE JOB

Teri Seay Teri Joan Seay, 47, of Forest City, died Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2010 at Carolina Specialty Hospital in Charlotte.

She is survived by her parents, Dean R. Stacey and Joan Cooksey Stacey; one stepbrother, Perry Stacey, and one stepsister, Rhonda Lynch, all of Rutherfordton.

Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Friday at Long Branch Baptist Church in Rutherfordton. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. The Rev. Jerry Ruppe will officiate.

Interment will follow in the Sunset Memorial Park, Spartanburg, S.C. Crowe’s Mortuary and Crematory is in charge of arrangements.

Toboggan-clad Randy Brown hammers through concrete for the installation of a new Wachovia ATM machine at the Tri-City Mall off Oak Street in Forest City. Brown of Jacksonville, Fla. said routinely he would have the new ATM machine operating in just a day or so but because of three feet of concrete, the installation process will be more time consuming.

Wachovia is also replacing its ATM machine at its branch off W. Main Street in Forest City and that job should be completed soon.

Online condolences www. crowemortuary.com.

Laura Baxter Laura Ann Wingo Baxter, 55, of Forest City, died Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2010 at Rutherford Hospital.

Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced

by Ulysses D. Miller Funeral Service.

Dwight Nations The funeral service for Dwight D. Nations of Forest City, has been changed to 2 p.m. Thursday in the chapel of Crisp Funeral Home, 669 Hwy. 19 south, Bryson City, due to inclement weather.

Jean Gordon/ Daily Courier

Realtors object to fee disclosure CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The heads of Realtor associations in North Carolina’s three largest metropolitan areas want to change a rule requiring buyer’s agents to disclose compensation they might receive when a home is sold.

The Charlotte Observer reported the groups in

Charlotte, Greensboro and Raleigh will ask the North Carolina Real Estate Commission on Wednesday to drop the disclosure rule.

Real Estate Commission legal services director Tom Miller says the proposed change could again leave some home buyers in the

dark about hidden bonuses that could lead agents to show one home over another.

The disclosure rule being challenged involves telling the home buyer not only what the buyer’s agent would receive if the property is sold, but the total compensation the real estate company would collect.

Police Notes Two brothers hurt in auto accident

E-911 calls Tuesday.

FOREST CITY — Two brothers were transported to Rutherford Hospital Wednesday after they were in a truck crash off Union Road, Rutherfordton. Scott McPherson, 18, was enroute to R-S Central High School driving a 1985 Nissan pickup truck when he ran off the right side of the road over corrected, traveled off the left side of the road, and flipped over. The truck came to a rest on its top.

His brother Alan McPherson was a passenger and was pinned in for about 45 minutes.

Both were taken to the hospital where they were treated for injuries and released.

North Carolina Highway Patrolman D.R. Walker investigated the accident.

He charged McPherson with exceeding a safe speed for conditions.

n The Lake Lure Police Department responded to three E-911 calls Tuesday.

Sheriff’s Department n The Rutherford County Sheriff’s Department responded to 115 E-911 calls Tuesday. n Sarah Ruth Epley reported a larceny from a motor vehicle and aggravated assault. Items stolen included Epley’s driver’s license, wallet, checkbook and debit card and Hollister perfume. Items stolen were valued at $80. n Anthony Donald Tavernia reported criminal damage to property/vandalism to a mailbox. Damage to the mailbox was valued at $30.

Rutherfordton n The Rutherfordton Police Department responded to 42 E-911 calls Tuesday.

Spindale n The Spindale Police Department responded to 27

Lake Lure

Forest City n The Forest City Police Department responded to 68 E-911 calls Tuesday. n An employee of Rivercrest Reality reported an incident of breaking and entering and damage to property. The incident occurred at Plaza Drive. n An employee of Farmers Furniture reported an incident of breaking and entering into a motor vehicle and damage to property. n Brad Jenkins, of Ellenboro, reported an incident of damage to property. n Heather Fortune, of Forest City, reported an incident of damage to property. n Hardin’s Drugstore and Sherry Dotson reported an incident of obtaining property by false pretense and larceny of medication. n Shelba Splawn of Forest City reported an incident of vandalism to a mailbox. n Sandra White of Rutherfordton reported an incident of vandalism to two mailboxes.

Arrests n Mathew McGinnis, 26, of McDade Road in Forest City was arrested for driving while impaired, driving while license revoked and resist, obstruct and/or delay an officer. He received a $4,000 secured bond. (FCPD) n Jameson Christopher Lancaster, 25, of 333 Tryon Rd., Rutherfordton, was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, open container after consuming alcohol and a violation of a local ordinance for littering

a beer or wine container and released on $3,000 bond.

(RPD) n Thomas Delaney Duncan, 25, of 985 Water St., Bostic, was charged with felony probation violation, trafficking opium or heroin and resisting a public officer and released on a $6,000 bond. (RCSD) n Davis Michael Cassidy, 24, of 246 Tryon Rd., Rutherfordton, was charged with manufacturing marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, assault on a female and communicating threats and was released after a 48 hour hold. (RPD) n Regina Cheryl Thompson, 43, of 181 Wagon Trail, Rutherfordton, was charged with violating the conditions of release and released on a $5,000 bond.

(RCSD) n Dustin Vernon Lawter, 27, of 161 Jonestown Rd., Forest City, was charged with driving while license revoked and released on a $1,000 bond. (RCSD) n Landon Dillard Boone, 50, of 376 Old WAGY Rd., Forest City, was charged with assault and battery and released on a $1,000 bond.

(RCSD)

EMS/Rescue n The Rutherford County EMS responded to 29 E-911 calls Tuesday. n The Volunteer Life Saving and Rescue, Hickory Nut Gorge EMS and Rutherford County Rescue responded to two E-911 call Tuesday.

Fire Calls n Forest City firefighters responded to a motor vehicle accident. n Rutherfordton firefighters responded to a gas leak. n Spindale firefighters responded to a motor vehicle accident.

Deaths Mark Rosenthal LOS ANGELES (AP) — Mark Rosenthal, a sports lawyer who represented the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Angels, the Atlanta Braves, the Texas Rangers and other sports teams in arbitration, has died. He was 61.

Rosenthal worked with the firm of Jeffer, Mangels, Butler and Marmaro for 24 years and chaired its National Sports Law Group.

Rosenthal represented the Dodgers in a successful arbitration with pitcher Eric Gagne and a 2008 arbitration for the Angels against Francisco Rodriguez.

Rosenthal, who collected baseball cards as a child, was a graduate of the University of Michigan law school.

Charlie Wilson DALLAS (AP) — Charlie Wilson, the former congressman from Texas whose funding of Afghanistan’s resistance to the Soviet Union was chronicled in the movie and book “Charlie Wilson’s War,” died Wednesday. He was 76.

Wilson died at Memorial Medical Center-Lufkin after he started having difficulty breathing while attending a meeting in the eastern Texas town where he lived, said hospital spokeswoman Yana Ogletree.

Wilson represented the 2nd District in east Texas in the U.S. House from 1973 to 1996 and was known in Washington as “Good Time Charlie” for his reputation as THE DAILY COURIER Published Tuesday through Sunday mornings by Paxton Media Group LLC dba The Daily Courier USPS 204-920 Periodical Postage paid in Forest City, NC. Company Address: 601 Oak St., P.O. Box 1149, Forest City, NC 28043.

Phone: (828) 245-6431 Fax: (828) 248-2790 Subscription rates: Single copy, daily 50¢ / Sunday $1.50. Home delivery $11.75 per month, $35.25 for three months, $70.50 for six months, $129 per year. In county rates by mail payable in advance are: $13.38 for one month, $40.14 for three months, $80.27 for six months, $160.54 per year. Outside county: $14.55 for one month, $43.64 for three months, $87.28 for six months, $174.56 per year. College students for school year subscription, $75.

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a hard-drinking womanizer.

He once called former congresswoman Pat Schroeder “Babycakes,” and tried to take a beauty queen with him on a government trip to Afghanistan.

Actor Tom Hanks portrayed Wilson in the 2007 movie about Wilson’s efforts to arm Afghan mujahedeen during Afghanistan’s war against the Soviet Union in the 1980s. Wilson, a member of the House Appropriations Committee, helped secure money for weapons, plunging the U.S. into a risky venture against the world’s other superpower.

In an interview with The Associated Press after the book was published in 2003, he said he wasn’t worried about details of his wild side being portrayed.

“I would remind you that I was not married at the time.

I’m in a different place than I was in at the time and I don’t apologize about that,” Wilson said.

In 2007, Wilson had a heart transplant at a Houston hospital. Doctors had told Wilson, who suffered from cardiomyopathy, a disease that causes an enlarged and weakened heart, that he would likely die without a transplant.

Wilson, a Democrat, was considered a progressive but also a defense hawk. He had acknowledged some responsibility for Afghanistan becoming a safe haven for al-Qaida after the Soviets retreated and the U.S. withdrew its support.

The Soviets spent a decade battling the determined and generously financed mujahedeen before pulling the Red Army from Afghanistan in 1989.

Mike Vickers, who as a CIA agent in 1984 played a key role in the clandestine effort to arm the Afghan rebels, said Wilson played a part in the Soviet Union’s collapse, which happened just two years after its withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Carl Braun NEW YORK (AP) — Carl Braun, who was chosen for five consecutive All-Star games as a member of the New York Knicks, died Wednesday of natural causes.

He was 82.

Braun died in Florida, the team said. He is the second former Knicks star to die in a week. Hall of Famer Dick McGuire, Braun’s teammate, passed away last Wednesday.

Braun was an All-Star from 1953-57 — he missed the 1956 game because of injury — and retired as the team’s career scoring leader with 10,449 points. He’s still in fifth place on the career list behind Patrick Ewing, Walt Frazier, Willis Reed and Allan Houston.

Born on Sept. 25, 1927, in Brooklyn, Braun also spent two seasons as the Knicks’ player/coach before ending his career in 1961-62 with the NBA champion Boston Celtics.

Shirley Bradley Hardin

Mrs. Shirley Bradley Hardin, 75, of Cherry Mountain Street, Forest City, died Monday, Feb. 8, 2010 at Hospice House, Forest City.

She was the widow of George Hardin, and daughter of the late Barney and Rulleen Ray Bradley.

She is survived by three sons, Michael Hardin and his wife, Brenda of Ellenboro, Randy Hardin and his wife, Wilma of Harris, and Barry Hardin and his wife, Kim of Rutherfordton; a companion, Robert Frank Branch of Forest City; a brother, James Bradley of Ellenboro; thirteen grandchildren and ten great grandchildren.

The funeral service will be held at 2:00 PM Friday, Feb. 12, 2010 at Oak Grove United Methodist Church. Rev. David Hawkins will officiate. Burial wil follow in the church cemetery.

Visitation will be from 7 PM until 9 PM Thursday at Washburn & Dorsey Funeral Home.

Friends may sign the online guest book at: www.washburndorsey.com.

Paid obit.

6

— The

Daily Courier, Forest City, NC, Thursday, February 11, 2010

Calendar/Local Toyota Continued from Page 1

Red Cross Blood drives schedule: Feb. 16 — Chase Middle School, 2 to 7 p.m., contact Trudy Jackson at 247-1043 for an appointment; Feb. 19 — Campfield Baptist Church, Ellenboro community, 4 to 8:30 p.m., all 245-5878 for an appointment; Feb. 22 — Red Cross Chapter House, 838 Oakland Road, Forest City, 2 to 6:30 p.m., call 287-5917 for an appointment; All presenting donors (in February) will be entered in a drawing for a chance to win a $1, 000 gift card.

For more information call 1-800448-3543 or visit RedCrossBlood. org.

Schools/students Open house: East Rutherford High School; Thursday, Feb. 11, 5 to 7:30 p.m.; an opportunity for parents to meet teachers; information sessions for parents of ROPE eligible students in the commons area at 5:30 p.m., and 6:30 p.m.; information on new online course; CTE will showcase student work in various areas celebrating Career Technical Education Month.

Information Night: Chase High School will hold a Registration Information Night on Thursday, Feb. 18; Elective Fair from 6 to 7 p.m., featuring various course and club offerings; beginning at 7 in the auditorium, speakers will explain graduation requirements, online course offerings, ICC Concurrent Enrollment and Huskins courses, graduation project requirements, the McNair Program and more; all rising 9th - 12th graders and their parents encouraged to attend; registration is the week of March 1.

Health/education Aging seminar: “Dealing with the Most Troublesome Dementia Symptoms”; Tuesday, Feb. 16, 5:30 to 7 p.m., at the Life Enrichment Center Adult Day Care, 103 T.R. Harris Dr., Shelby; free sitter service for those who care for a person with dementia, reservation required; call 704-484-0405 for information.

Meetings/other Annual meeting: Sunday, Feb. 14, 2 p.m., Sandy Mush Volunteer Fire Department.

Annual membership meeting: Saturday, Feb. 20, 3:30 p.m., Union Mills Learning Center, 6495 Hudlow Road, Union Mills; all UMLC members and prospective members welcome; call 287-2191 for information.

Miscellaneous Low-cost rabies clinic: Saturday, Feb. 13, noon to 1 p.m.; Thunder Road Animal Hospital; $10 cash, one-year rabies; $12 cash, threeyear rabies; other discounted vaccines available; call 286-0033.

RCT auditions: Rutherford Community Theatre will hold auditions for the musical “Smoke on the Mountain Homecoming,” Feb. 15 and 17, 7 p.m., at Union Mills Learning Center auditorium; roles for 4 males and 3 females; Les Beale, director; anyone interested in any aspect of live theater is welcome; for more information call 287-4809 or visit website www. rutherfordcommunitytheatre.org.

Play/supper: Saturday, Feb. 20, Union Mills Learning Center auditorium; “Stand for Freedom,” a play on the American Revolutionary War, begins at 6 p.m.; cast of approximately 50 homeschool children ages 5-16; spaghetti supper 4:30 to 6 p.m.; adults $6; children under 12, $4; all you can eat.

Fundraisers March of Dimes: The Birth Place at Rutherford Hospital will sell orange twists and donut holes from Davis Donut House on Thursday, Feb. 18; $2.50 per dozen (delivered); to place an order call 286-7260; order by Tuesday, Feb. 16.

Yard sale: Feb. 11-13, begins at 8 a.m., each day at Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church, Forest City; baked goods will also be sold; proceeds go toward mission projects.

Country ham supper: Saturday, Feb. 13, from 4 to 8 p.m., at Duncan’s Creek Presbyterian Church, 1658 Duncan’s Creek Road, Ellenboro.

Barbecue supper: Saturday, Feb. 13, begins at 4 p.m., Bethel Baptist Church, Ellenboro; adult paltes $9; ages 6-12, $4; under 6 free; take outs available; proceeds for international missions.

Religion Revival: Feb. 14-17, with Jason Camp and family; Fellowship Holiness Church, 405 Deviney St., Spindale; Sunday services 11 a.m., and 6 p.m.; MTW 7 nightly.

Special service: Sunday, Feb. 14, 3 p.m., Union Hill AME Zion Church, 461 Ferguson Ridge Road, Union Mills; program entitled, “THE SEVEN UPS”; seven speakers; topics include Caught-Up, StandUp, Look-Up, Speak-Up, Pray-Up, Grow-Up, and Take-Up.

Jean Gordon/Daily Courier

Duke Energy’s Mike Blakey works from the bucket, restoring power to Rutherfordton residents late Wednesday.

Winds Continued from Page 1

went out and were completed using the generators. Other surgeries scheduled for later Wednesday were delayed until power was restored, said one person waiting for surgery.

The annual Rutherford Hospital Auxiliary jewelry sale proceeded as planned and those attending the sale early used flashlights to shop.

The jewelry sale continues today and Friday.

Wind gusts up an estimated 60 MPH were reported in Rutherfordton and in the Hickory Nut Gorge community. At the Broad River Water Plant off Union Road, Rutherfordton, winds were estimated to be 20-30 MPH, said Brad Boris, plant superintendent.

“Our flag sure is getting a workout,” Boris said.

Roger Hollifield, emergency management coordinator said most of the downed power lines and trees occurred in the western area of the county Wednesday morning, but by late Wednesday, trees and power lines were falling in other areas including, Forest City, Caroleen and Shiloh.

Howling winds through the Hickory Nut Gorge created an eerie sound

Skip Continued from Page 1

on the road the U.S. is intended to be on.”

Naskov and his wife, Jennifer, helped set up the tea parties on the lawn in front of Rutherford County Courthouse last year.

“I think it is a mistake to take what happened last year during the Tea Party rallies, and convert it into an organized political party,” Jennifer said. “It will only dilute the pace of the conservative movement, and thus make the return of the country to its founding principles somewhat more complicated.”

A mother of two, Jennifer and her children helped make protest signs and even took some of their handiwork to national tea parties in Washington last year. But she said that perspective also helped her decide not to attend the national convention — which drew criticism from some tea party organizers for being just too expensive to attend.

“Considering the financial strain

down Main Street, Chimney Rock. A few Chimney Rock firefighters were called to assist with a power line fire created as Duke Energy employees were actually trimming trees.

Traffic controllers at the site of new bridge construction on US 64-74 at Lake Lure had a difficult time controlling traffic flags and the stop signs.

The Village was vacant of shoppers as most stores remained closed because of the high winds and cold temperatures.

Chimney Rock Park was also closed due to the weather.

A large tree at Jack Keller’s home off U.S. 64/74 fell across his yard and hit the front of his home causing damage to his home and a car parked in the front yard. Keller was at home when the tree fell and said he thought the noise was of a tree falling in a yard across the road. He was surprised it was his own tree. He was not injured.

Keller has lived in the house 78 years and said there have been worse wind gusts than Wednesday.

Fire departments, traffic and crime control volunteers responded to weather related situations all day.

Contact Gordon via e-mail at jgordon@thedigitalcourier.com.

families are in, I believe a $500 attendance fee would be better used in a local election, supporting conservative candidates who will be the first step in returning fiscal and constitutional sanity back to our governments,” Jennifer said.

Admission was $549 for access to the entire three-day gathering or $349 just to hear Palin’s speech after a dinner of lobster and steak at the sprawling Gaylord Opryland resort.

The cost led to criticism from even some activists that it runs counter to the coalition’s image and could preclude people from attending.

“I don’t see Jennifer, myself or the Rutherford 9.12 group being a part of any national tea party, group, organization or any other entity,” Zoran added. “The movement ignited at the local level all over the country, and trying to consolidate it into a national movement with centralized organization and leadership is a failure and a complete misinterpretation of the people who attended the Tea Parties last year.”

Contact Baughman via e-mail at sbaughman@thedigitalcourier.com.

2010 Model Year Prius vehicles and 14,500 Lexus Division 2010 HS 250h vehicles to update software in the vehicle’s anti-lock brake system (ABS). No other Toyota, Lexus or Scion vehicles are involved in this recall, but in January the company announced a recall of several other models to fix a problem with the gas pedal getting stuck under the driver’s floormat.

“The Pontiac Vibe is a car that was made for GM by Toyota and it was affected by (the accelerator recall),” Deck said. “We’ve not seen any of the conditions that have been talked about with the Vibe, but it is included with the recall. As soon as there is a campaign that is out for us to get the cars in and check them, we will do so.

It is something every manufacturer goes through and it looks like Toyota has not really realized the seriousness of this until now. We will make an announcement as to when people can bring in their Pontiac Vibes.”

The Prius recall is related only to the ABS and a software glitch that will delay braking pressure for up to one second. At 65 miles per hour, the Prius can travel 88 feet in that one second it takes the brakes to kick in.

“We’re committed to doing everything we can – as fast as we can – to restore consumer trust in Toyota, and these recalls are part of this effort,” said Jim Lentz, president and chief operating officer, Toyota Motor Sales, on Toyota’s Web site.

Toyota has responded to owner concerns with a running production change for 2010 Prius that was introduced last month, improving the ABS system’s response time, as well as the system’s overall sensitivity to tire slippage. The production change for the HS 250h is planned for later this month.

“It will probably help GM, Nissan, Honda and the others,” Moore added.

“It probably will affect the resale value of Toyotas for a short period of time but I think Toyota will do the right thing and come back on top. We only have about two or three Toyotas on the lot.”

Moore’s analysis is in line with January sales numbers for Ford and GM. Ford saw an uptick of 25 percent, General Motors was up by 14 percent and Nissan’s sales rose by 16 percent.

The recall will allow Toyota dealers to perform the software update on 2010 Prius vehicles sold prior to this running production change.

Only Prius vehicles produced since May 2009 and all HS 250h vehicles are subject to this recall. First- and second-generation Prius vehicles use a different ABS system and are not involved in this campaign.

“As part of the quality improvement program announced by Toyota President Akio Toyoda last week, our company is undertaking a top to bottom review to ensure that our vehicles meet our own high standards of safety and reliability, now and for the future,” Lentz added. “We are taking steps to implement more stringent quality control across the company, to investigate customer complaints more aggressively and to respond more quickly to any safety issues we identify.”

Toyota Models affected by the accelerator recall: 2005-2010 Avalon; 2009-2010 RAV4; 2007-2010 Camry; 2008-2010 Sequoia; 2009-2010 Corolla; 2005-2010 Tacoma; 20082010 Highlander; 2007-2010 Tundra; 2009-2010 Matrix; 2009-2010 VENZA; 2004-2009 Prius.

The braking recall affects only the 2010 Prius and the Lexus HS 250h.

Contact Baughman via e-mail at sbaughman@thedigitalcourier.com.

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Scott Bowers, sports editor . . . . . . . . . . . . .213 Jean Gordon, features editor . . . . . . . . . . . . 211 Abbe Byers, lifestyles editor . . . . . . . . . . . . .215 Allison Flynn, editor/reporter . . . . . . . . . . . .218 Garrett Byers, photography . . . . . . . . . . . . .212 Scott Baughman, reporter . . . . . . . . . . . . . .216 Larry Dale, reporter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .217 Bobbie Greene, typesetting . . . . . . . . . . . . .220 Virginia Rucker, contributing editor

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If you did not receive your paper today please call 245-6431 and ask for circulation.

If you call by 9 a.m. on Monday through Friday, a paper will be brought to your home. If you call after 9 a.m., we will make sure your carrier brings you the missed paper in the morning with that day’s edition.

If you do not receive your paper on either Saturday or Sunday and call by 8 a.m., a customer service representative will bring you a paper.

If you call after 8 a.m. on Saturday or Sunday, the missed paper will be brought out on Monday morning.

Our carriers are instructed to deliver your paper by 6 a.m. Tuesday through Friday, by 6:30 a.m. on Saturday and 7 a.m. on Sunday.

Remember, call 245-6431 for circulation customer service.

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E-mail: dailycourier@thedigitalcourier .com

The Daily Courier, Forest City, NC, Thursday, February 11, 2010 — 7

Inside Scoreboard . . . . . . . . . . . Page 8 Clemson . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 8 NASCAR . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 9

Two Shades Of Blue GWU returns home for key VMI game BOILING SPRINGS — Gardner-Webb, coming off its hottest shooting performance of the season, will look to create some space in the league standings on Thursday night when it hosts VMI at 7 p.m., in Paul Porter Arena.

The Runnin’ Bulldogs (7-16, 4-9 Big South) hold a onegame lead over the Keydets (8-15, 3-10 Big South) in the league standings for the eighth and final spot in the upcoming Advance Auto Parts Big South Conference Tournament.

A win by Gardner-Webb would give the Runnin’ Bulldogs a season sweep of VMI — which GWU defeated 92-84 earlier this year in Lexington, Va. — and create a two-game cushion for the ‘Dogs in the race for the Big South Tournament.

North Carolina coach Roy Williams, right, talks with former player Tyler Hansbrough, left, before North Carolina’s NCAA college basketball game against Duke in Chapel Hill, Wednesday. North Carolina was to retire Hansbrough’s number in a halftime ceremony.

Associated Press

Rutgers suspends Stringer for a game NEW YORK (AP) — Rutgers suspended Hall of Fame women’s basketball coach C. Vivian Stringer on Tuesday for one game for misusing practice players.

Stringer will miss the Scarlet Knights’ game against Seton Hall on Wednesday. She is third among women’s coaches on the all-time victories list with 838 wins and was enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame last September.

Stringer violated an NCAA bylaw which states that managers may not participate as practice players with the institution’s team if they are not eligible student-athletes.

Bobcats’ Raymond Felton out MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Charlotte Bobcats point guard Raymond Felton missed the game Wednesday night against the Minnesota Timberwolves with a sprained right ankle.

Felton, who hit the gamewinning shot Tuesday night against the Washington Wizards, was first injured in practice on Monday.

Felton received treatment on Wednesday, but never took the floor to shoot around and was ruled out an hour before tipoff.

The fifth-year guard has started every game for the Bobcats this season and has shot a career-best 45.3 percent.

Felton’s 8.6 assists per contest against Minnesota is his highest average against any team.

Local Sports BASKETBALL 5 p.m. TJCA at Victory Christian

On TV 11:30 a.m. (ESPN2) NASCAR Racing Nationwide Series: Camping World 300, Final Practice.

7 p.m. (ESPN) (ESPN2) College Basketball Teams TBA. 7 p.m. (FSS) Women’s College Basketball Georgia at Kentucky.

8 p.m. (TNT) NBA Basketball Orlando Magic at Cleveland Cavaliers.

9 p.m. (ESPN) (ESPN2) College Basketball Teams TBA. 10:30 p.m. (FSS) College Basketball Oregon at Arizona.

10:30 p.m. (TNT) NBA Basketball San Antonio Spurs at Denver Nuggets.

11 p.m. (ESPN2) College Basketball St. Mary’s at Gonzaga.

Duke’s Jon Scheyer (30) shoots over North Carolina’s Marcus Ginyard (1) during the first half in an NCAA college basketball game in Chapel Hill, Wednesday Associated Press

Associated Press

Duke’s Mile Plumlee (21) grabs a rebound over North Carolina’s Marcus Gunyard during the first half in an NCAA college basketball game in Chapel Hill, Wednesday.

n The Duke-North Carolina game was not final at press time. Please visit: www.thedigitalcourier. com for game story.

All good things to those who wait Back in early 2006, I walked into Coach Brad LeVine’s office at East Rutherford, following another disastrous loss, and found the boy’s basketball coach staring at the ceiling with his hands behind his head.

“We’re not very good, are we?” said LeVine. I was positive the query was rhetorical, so I didn’t bother with a response.

The Cavaliers once-proud basketball program had fallen on very hard times, following a June 2005 graduation that seemingly took every ablebodied basketball player with it.

Now, almost four years to the day, I walked into the gym at East Rutherford to find a packed house, a real sense of enthusiasm and optimism, and, yes, a very fine basketball team.

It has been said that basketball teams need four things — size, speed, smarts and hearts. East has three of those, and the missing ingredient — size — can be compensated for.

“Sure, it bothers me,” said LeVine, on Wednesday, less than 24 hours after dispatching Shelby for the second time in the 2009-10 season. “As we get on

Off The Wall Scott Bowers

down the road it is one of those things that you know you will encounter.

“We tried to see more size — that was the reason I wanted that matchup with Veritas at the MLK tournament.

But, if we stay out of foul trouble and continue to rebound, like we are capable of, well, we can overcome some of that.”

The Cavs sit at 19-1, the lone blemish a 65-60 loss in Lawndale to Burns, and with a win Friday at Chase they will hold the top spot in the South Mountain Conference. This will be very important for playoff seeding and possible home games (as many as three to four).

The big question: How far can they go?

This remains a young team with just

three seniors and, of those, only center Ricky Wilkerson is a starter. But, Mikhail Baxter and Ramone Snow, the remaining East seniors, are pivotal role players that make nightly impacts.

LeVine told me on Wednesday that he has spoken to his charges about the team’s 2009 playoff loss at Madison.

LeVine hopes the pain, the tears, and the finality of that loss are still fresh in the minds of his young players.

He doesn’t need to remind them about 2006. He is still trying to forget. So am I. Sainted: I know only one real Saints’ fan — Dan Bearden, of Rutherfordton. Dan, congrats, your team earned it and they deserve it.

Now, about Randy Tucker.

Longtime Saints fan Tucker, reportedly fresh from surgery to repair a back he injured while cheering on his Saints, called a friend of mine and reported that he was very relieved that New Orleans had won the big game.

In all seriousness, get well soon Randy. I’m going to have to buy you a “Who Dat,” t-shirt.

8

— The

Daily Courier, Forest City, NC, Thursday, February 11, 2010

sports

Scoreboard San Antonio at Denver, 10:30 p.m.

BASKETBALL National Basketball Association

Associated Press

New York Yankees’ Johnny Damon follows through on his two-run RBI single during the fourth inning of Game 6 of the American League Championship baseball series in New York in this Oct. 25, 2009, file photo.

Damon headed to the Braves?

By CHARLES ODUM AP Sports Writer

ATLANTA — The Atlanta Braves appear interested in adding Johnny Damon to the top of their lineup.

The Braves have made an offer to the free-agent outfielder, according to a person familiar with the negotiations. The person spoke Wednesday on condition of anonymity because no agreement had been reached.

Atlanta’s offer is believed to be for one year and include deferred money. Damon’s agent, Scott Boras, has said he is seeking at least a two-year deal.

The 36-year-old Damon hit .286 with 24 homers for the New York Yankees last season and likely would bat leadoff for the Braves.

Atlanta added another former Yankees outfielder in December when it acquired Melky Cabrera in a five-player deal that sent right-hander Javier Vazquez to the World Series champions.

Nate McLouth is set as Atlanta’s starter in center field, and is the probable leadoff hitter if the team does not add Damon or another outfielder. Matt Diaz is expected to get most of the playing time at one corner outfield spot.

Braves manager Bobby Cox said last week he envisions Cabrera playing all three outfield spots and possibly sharing a position with Diaz.

Cox said the team is prepared to give 20-year-old outfield prospect Jason Heyward a chance to win a starting job in right field. Heyward made only a brief appearance at Triple-A last season and has fewer than 200 at-bats above Class A. “Well, there’s no reason not to give him a crack at making it,” Cox said. “If he is too young, that’s fine, too. He can spend some time in Triple-A. But if we think he’s ready and he can help us, then let’s go.”

Heyward (6-foot-4, 225 pounds) has the power potential the Braves need in their outfield. He was voted baseball’s top prospect by Baseball America after hitting .323 with 17 homers and 63 RBIs at three minor league stops in 2009.

“If he makes the team, he’s playing — lefties, righties, everybody,” Cox said.

The Braves’ willingness to give Heyward an opportunity could keep them from engaging in a bidding war for Damon. According to reports, Detroit and Tampa Bay also have interest.

Boras did not return a call to The Associated Press on Wednesday. Braves general manager Frank Wren had no comment on Damon.

EASTERN CONFERENCE East Division

W L Pct Boston 32 17 .653 Toronto 28 23 .549 Philadelphia 20 31 .392 New York 19 32 .373 New Jersey 4 47 .078 Southeast Division

W L Pct Orlando 35 17 .673 Atlanta 33 17 .660 Charlotte 25 25 .500 Miami 25 27 .481 Washington 17 33 .340 Central Division

W L Pct Cleveland 42 11 .792 Chicago 25 25 .500 Milwaukee 23 27 .460 Detroit 18 32 .360 Indiana 18 34 .346 WESTERN CONFERENCE Southwest Division

W L Pct Dallas 32 20 .615 San Antonio 29 21 .580 Houston 27 24 .529 New Orleans 27 25 .519 Memphis 26 25 .510 Northwest Division

W L Pct Denver 35 17 .673 Utah 32 18 .640 Oklahoma City 30 21 .588 Portland 30 24 .556 Minnesota 13 39 .250 Pacific Division

W L Pct L.A. Lakers 40 13 .755 Phoenix 31 21 .596 L.A. Clippers 21 30 .412 Sacramento 17 34 .333 Golden State 13 37 .260 Tuesday’s Games Charlotte 94, Washington 92 Chicago 109, Indiana 101 Cleveland 104, New Jersey 97 Philadelphia 119, Minnesota 97 Miami 99, Houston 66 Sacramento 118, New York 114, OT Detroit 93, Milwaukee 81 Atlanta 108, Memphis 94 Denver 127, Dallas 91 Oklahoma City 89, Portland 77 Utah 109, L.A. Clippers 99 Wednesday’s Games Miami 94, Atlanta 76 Toronto 104, Philadelphia 93 Sacramento at Detroit, late Milwaukee at New Jersey, late Orlando at Chicago, late Charlotte at Minnesota, late Boston at New Orleans, late L.A. Lakers at Utah, late Portland at Phoenix, late L.A. Clippers at Golden State, late Thursday’s Games Orlando at Cleveland, 8 p.m.

GB — 5 13 14 29 GB — 1 9 10 17 GB — 15½ 17½ 22½ 23½ GB — 2 4½ 5 5½ GB — 2 4½ 6 22 GB — 8½ 18 22 25½

Ottawa 3, Calgary 2 Tampa Bay 3, Vancouver 1 Wednesday’s Games Philadelphia 3, New Jersey 2 Nashville 2, N.Y. Rangers 1 Columbus 3, San Jose 0 Washington at Montreal, late N.Y. Islanders at Pittsburgh, late Phoenix at Minnesota, late Atlanta at Colorado, late Edmonton at Anaheim, late Thursday’s Games Washington at Ottawa, 7 p.m.

Buffalo at Carolina, 7 p.m.

Boston at Tampa Bay, 7:30 p.m.

Vancouver at Florida, 7:30 p.m.

San Jose at Detroit, 7:30 p.m.

Dallas at Calgary, 9:30 p.m.

Edmonton at Los Angeles, 10:30 p.m.

Atlantic Coast Conferne (prior to Wednesday’s games)

Conf All Duke (8) 7-2 19-4 Maryland 6-2 16-6 Wake Forest 7-3 17-5 Virginia Tech 5-3 18-4 Virginia 5-3 14-7 Georgia Tech (20) 5-4 17-6 Florida St. 5-4 17-6 Clemson 4-5 16-7 Boston Coll.

3-7 12-12 North Carolina 2-6 13-10 Miami (FL) 2-7 16-7 N.C. State 2-7 14-10

HOCKEY

TRANSACTIONS

National Hockey League EASTERN CONFERENCE East Division

GP W L OT Pts GF New Jersey 58 36 20 2 74 153 Pittsburgh 59 35 22 2 72 187 Philadelphia 57 29 25 3 61 167 N.Y. Rangers 59 26 26 7 59 152 N.Y. Islanders 59 24 27 8 56 150 Northeast Division

GP W L OT Pts GF Ottawa 60 34 22 4 72 167 Buffalo 58 32 18 8 72 160 Montreal 60 28 26 6 62 154 Boston 58 25 22 11 61 141 Toronto 60 19 30 11 49 162 Southeast Division

GP W L OT Pts GF Washington 59 41 12 6 88 234 Tampa Bay 58 26 21 11 63 150 Atlanta 57 25 24 8 58 172 Florida 59 24 26 9 57 153 Carolina 59 22 30 7 51 159 WESTERN CONFERENCE Central Division

GP W L OT Pts GF Chicago 59 39 15 5 83 189 Nashville 58 31 22 5 67 162 Detroit 59 27 21 11 65 153 St. Louis 60 26 25 9 61 155 Columbus 60 24 27 9 57 156 Northwest Division

GP W L OT Pts GF Vancouver 58 35 21 2 72 185 Colorado 58 33 19 6 72 172 Calgary 60 29 22 9 67 152 Minnesota 58 29 25 4 62 161 Edmonton 58 18 34 6 42 145 Pacific Division

GP W L OT Pts GF San Jose 59 39 11 9 87 200 Phoenix 60 36 19 5 77 163 Los Angeles 59 36 20 3 75 180 Dallas 59 26 21 12 64 169 Anaheim 59 28 24 7 63 166

Wednesday’s Sports Transactions GA 134 171 154 163 183 GA 167 147 162 148 204 GA 161 167 183 171 189 GA 138 164 160 169 194 GA 143 151 152 170 199 GA 145 151 163 185 181

Tuesday’s Games Boston 3, Buffalo 2, SO N.Y. Islanders 4, Nashville 3, SO St. Louis 4, Detroit 3, SO Chicago 4, Dallas 3, SO Carolina 4, Florida 1

BASEBALL American League BOSTON RED SOX—Claimed RHP Gaby Hernandez off waivers from Seattle.

SEATTLE MARINERS—Agreed to terms with RHP Jesus Colome on a minor league contract.

Assigned RHP Yusmeiro Petit outright to Tacoma (PCL).

National League SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS—Agreed to terms with RHP Todd Wellemeyer on a minor league contract.

American Association EL PASO DIABLOS—Signed LHP Israel Chirino.

SIOUX FALLS CANARIES—Signed C Joe Dempsey, INF Tim Hutting and INF Brandon Sing.

SHREVEPORT-BOSSIER CAPTAINS—Signed RHP Jason Herman and OF Bryan Sabatella.

FOOTBALL National Football League BUFFALO BILLS—Named Doug Whaley assistant general manager/director of pro personnel.

HOUSTON TEXANS—Signed coach Gary Kubiak to a contract extension through the 2012 season.

HOCKEY National Hockey League CAROLINA HURRICANES—Announced they have purchased the Albany River Rats (AHL) and will move them to Charlotte next season.

NEW YORK RANGERS—Recalled D Corey Potter from Hartford (AHL).

American Hockey League SAN ANTONIO RAMPAGE—Recalled C Justin Bernhardt and F Andrew Orpik from Las Vegas (ECHL).

SOCCER Major League Soccer TORONTO FC—Acquired D Ty Harden from Colorado for a 2011 third-round draft pick.

COLLEGE FLORIDA SOUTHERN—Named Brian Imperiale womens assistant volleyball coach.

GREAT FALLS—Named Dick Lyman rodeo coach.

SOUTHERN ILLINOIS—Announced C Nick Evans has left the men’s basketball team.

SYRACUSE—Named Tyrone Wheatley running backs coach.

Pebble offers sneak preview of US Open DOUG FERGUSON AP Golf Writer

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. — Just taking a scenic stroll around Pebble Beach makes it obvious the U.S. Open will be here this summer.

Not because of who’s here, but what’s not.

The rock is gone.

While not the most famous landmark in golf, the white, knee-high rock has been part of the eighth fairway at Pebble Beach for years. Because the tee shot is uphill to a blind fairway, it was positioned at the top of the hill to serve as a target.

Associated Press

Clemson’s Jerai Grant dunks during the first half of an NCAA men’s college basketball game against Florida State at Littlejohn Coliseum in Clemson, S.C., on Wednesday.

Career highs lead Paul says Hornets could Clemson past Noles

But with the U.S. Open four months away, the target has changed.

“It’s not really in a good line anymore,” Adam Scott said Wednesday. He hasn’t been to Pebble Beach since 1999 when he lost in the first round of the U.S. Amateur, and Scott noticed it was missing right away.

The fairway used to be plenty wide, stretching from inside the cart path on the left to the water hazard — also known as the Pacific Ocean — to the right. The USGA already is defining the fairway widths, so the rough now juts in some 25 yards from the left.

Tim Petrovic found that out the hard way. He hit what appeared to be a suitable drive on the eighth hole, only to climb the hill and see his ball in the CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) — David Potter and rough.

Andre Young each had career highs of 19 points “The fairway used to be all the way to that fence,” he said, pointing to an enclosed concession area.

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Chris Paul says his left as Clemson ended a four-game losing streak to “Yeah, this is different.” knee injury could be a “blessing in disguise” for the Florida State with a 77-67 victory Wednesday night.

That’s not the only change this week.

New Orleans Hornets.

The Tigers (17-7, 5-5 Atlantic Coast Conference) The AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am gets Paul says the injury happened at a fortuitous time because the All-Star break falls during his rehabil- had come in having lost four of five this season, the under way on Thursday with a different rotation of itation. In the meantime, Paul says key role players one-time ACC contenders in danger of falling even courses and some new faces. further out of the muddled league chase.

Several players decided to sign up this year to get will get more action and develop better chemistry Instead, Potter and Young’s outside shooting acquainted with a U.S. Open course, such as Scott, until he comes back for the stretch run. proved the difference against the taller, stronger Luke Donald and Sergio Garcia, who last played Paul had surgery to repair a meniscus tear last front line of Florida State (17-7, 5-5). The two com- Pebble in 2001 with his sister as his amateur partweek. He says he expects to be out three to five bined for seven of Clemson’s eight 3-pointers. ner. more weeks.

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The Daily Courier, Forest City, NC, Thursday, February 11, 2010 — 9

sports

Waltrip not ready to call it quits DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP)—Michael Waltrip says the Daytona 500 may not be his last race, after all.

Waltrip says he is close to lining up a sponsorship deal to run April’s race at Talladega Superspeedway. He is stepping away from full-time racing to concentrate on being a team owner, but was hoping to still compete in some events.

When sponsorship didn’t materialize, Waltrip came to Speedweeks believing Sunday’s season-opening Daytona 500 would be his last race.

Waltrip has three wins at Daytona—two in the 500—and one at Talladega.

He must first earn a spot in the Dayton 500 field in one of Thursday’s qualifying races.

Patrick will debut in Daytona race

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP)—Danica Patrick has taken Lindsey Vonn reacts after skiing off the course, during the next step in her stock car the first run of a Women’s World Cup Giant slalom ski racing education, staying out of race, in Are, Sweden in this Dec. 12, 2009, file photo. trouble and learning as much as she can in her first NASCAR Nationwide series practice at Daytona International Speedway.

Patrick’s crew chief, Tony Eury Jr., says she was comfortable VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Lindsey in the car Wednesday and did Associated Press a good job handling the jump Vonn is worried a badly bruised right shin will NASCAR driver Michael Waltrip walks to his garage at the beginning of keep her out of the Vancouver Olympics, a startling from ARCA to Nationwide. auto racing practice at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, After finishing sixth in announcement so close to the start of an event Fla., Wednesday. the Daytona ARCA race on shaping up as a showcase for the U.S. skiing star.

Saturday, Patrick is preparing to Vonn revealed Wednesday that she was injured NASCAR already was conin a slalom training run Feb. 2 during pre-Olympic make her Nationwide race debut isn’t used to being the attentionSaturday. starved kid turning back flips in cerned with a recent decline in practice in Austria. It was her first trip down the Patrick finished 26th on the the corner and yelling, “Look at at-track attendance and sagging slopes of what was supposed to be three days of speed chart. Eury said practice me!” television ratings, and took steps practice. speeds aren’t particularly imporThis year, they might want to to add excitement this season.

“I’m sitting here today questioning whether, you tant at Daytona because they have Carl Edwards on call.

They’ve authorized a bigger know, I’ll be even able to ski,” Vonn said at a news don’t indicate how fast the car With mainstream sports fans restrictor plate to add horsepowconference. “I have to play it by ear.” still talking about the New er at Daytona and done away As a two-time reigning overall World Cup cham- will be in the race.

Orleans Saints’ Super Bowl with regulations on aggressive, pion, the 25-year-old who lives and trains in Vail, win and the Winter Olympics bumper-banging “bump draftColo., has been considered a contender to win mul- NASCAR fighting for kicking off on Friday, there’s a ing.” tiple medals. chance Sunday’s race could be And when it comes to governAsked whether she could be forced to sit out alto- television viewers overlooked by the casual fans ing drivers’ behavior, NASCAR DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. gether, Vonn replied: “Yeah, that’s a possibility.” officials claim they have a new (AP)—As NASCAR’s biggest race NASCAR typically hopes to She hasn’t skied since getting hurt and said it’s draw to its big event. attitude: Have at it, boys. of the year, the Daytona 500 even been painful to simply put on a pair of ski boots in her hotel room to test the leg. Vonn said the bruising covers about a 6-inch swath of her lower right leg — starting from where the top of a boot rests against her body — but she refused to get any X-rays to check whether she broke a bone because she didn’t want to know.

“It’s probably the worst place that you can have an injury, because you’re constantly pushing against your boot, and there’s no way around it,” Defending Sprint Cup Vonn said. champion Jimmie Johnson She described her mindset as “very emotional, races through Turn 1 durvery scared. Not the positive way you want to be ing auto racing practice starting the Olympics.” at Daytona International The first women’s Alpine race is the super-comSpeedway in Daytona bined on Sunday. Vonn said she figures she will Beach, Fla., Friday, Feb. know a lot more about her status for the Olympics 5, 2010. once she takes a run down the slope at Whistler Mountain. The first official training run for womAssociated Press en is Thursday.

Vonn is slated to compete in all five women’s Alpine events and has been widely seen as the favorite to win gold medals in the speed events: downhill and super-G. She is no stranger to injuries — or to ignoring DAYTONA BEACH, Joey Logano also Clint Bowyer started in the second session. them on the slopes.

Fla. (AP) — Jimmie got caught up in the a three-car accident Waltrip spun and drove “I’ve dealt with a lot of injuries in the past, and Johnson’s quest for a accident during the in the first session through the infield I’ve always been able to persevere,” Vonn said fifth straight NASCAR second practice at when he cut a tire, hit grass, but managed Wednesday. “I hope I’m able to push through the championship will Daytona International the wall and collected to not hit anything. pain and I’m able to still ski OK. I won’t really Speedway. Mike Bliss David Reutimann and Earnhardt got a little know until tomorrow, when I actually get on skis.” begin in a backup car.

Johnson was triggered it when he 1990 Daytona 500 sideways after getting involved in the latlost control of his car champion Derrick bumped from behind est wreck at Daytona coming out of a turn.

Cope. Bowyer and

by Denny Hamlin, International Speedway Bliss turned sideways, Reutimann went to but Junior got the car on Wednesday, doing seemingly got tapped by backup cars. straightened out at 190 enough damage that Derrick Cope, then shot Two-time Daytona mph. crew chief Chad Knaus across the track and 500 winner Michael Earnhardt said over decided to scrap rammed into Logano.

Waltrip and fan favorite his radio that Hamlin the primary car for Logano also was Dale Earnhardt Jr. nar- “doesn’t know how to MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — While Brett Favre is Sunday’s season-openforced into a backup rowly avoided wrecks bump draft.” mulling his decision about next season, fans in ing race. car.

Kyle Busch weaved Minnesota are using a unique form of persuasion.

“I was just riding through the wreckage Two different messages of appreciation and hope along and thought and avoided any damthat Favre will return to the Minnesota Vikings in everything was fine, age.

2010 have been posted on billboards near his home and the next thing you The two practice sesin Hattiesburg, Miss. know, I was in the mid- sions had several other Some fans started a Facebook group that has harrowing moments. grown to more than 120,000 people. Group creator dle of it,” Johnson said.

Jay Tappe says the idea was to give Favre a proper send-off after his first season in Minnesota, since the Vikings played their last game on the road.

Twin Cities sports radio station KFAN put up the other billboard in Hattiesburg.

Associated Press

Vonn questions whether she will race at Olympics

Johnson wrecks during Daytona practice

Vikings fans use billboard for Favre

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OSTEOPOROSIS DRUGS MAY CUT BREAST CANCER RISK

According to a recent analysis of data from the Women’s Health Initiative, the class of osteoporosis drugs known as bisphosphonates may significantly reduce the risk of developing breast cancer. In fact, a study of generally healthy post-menopausal women shows that those taking bisphosphonates such as alcndronate sodium (Fosamax), ibandronate sodium (Boniva), and risedronate (Actonel) experienced 32 percent fewer cases of invasive breast cancer than women who did not use the drugs.

This beneficial effect is thought to stem from the fact that bisphosphonates reduce the flow of blood and nutrients to the tumor, as well as stimulate immune cells for tumor cell surveillance as potential mediators. While more research is necessary to confirm these initial findings, the news is certainly noteworthy.

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10

— The

Daily Courier, Forest City, NC, Thursday, February 11, 2010

Weather/Nation Weather The Daily Courier Weather Today

Tonight

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Monday

Sunny

Partly Cloudy

Partly Cloudy

Partly Cloudy

Mostly Sunny

Mostly Sunny

Precip Chance: 0%

Precip Chance: 10%

Precip Chance: 10%

Precip Chance: 10%

Precip Chance: 5%

Precip Chance: 5%

45º

24º

45º 28º

43º 23º

42º 25º

43º 22º

Almanac

Local UV Index

Around Our State Today

Statistics provided by Broad River Water Authority through 7 a.m. yesterday.

0 - 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11+

Temperatures

0-2: Low, 3-5: Moderate, 6-7: High, 8-10: Very High, 11+: Extreme Exposure

High . . . . . .

Low . . . . . . .

Normal High Normal Low .

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.43 .24 .53 .27

Precipitation 24 hrs through 7 a.m. yest. .0.00" Month to date . . . . . . . . .3.15" Year to date . . . . . . . . .10.06"

Barometric Pressure

City

Sun and Moon Sunrise today .

Sunset tonight .

Moonrise today Moonset today .

. . . .

. . . .

. . . .

.7:18 .6:06 .5:48 .4:05

a.m. p.m. a.m. p.m.

Moon Phases

High yesterday . . . . . . .30.06"

Relative Humidity

New 2/13

High yesterday . . . . . . . .100%

Asheville . . . . . . .37/20 Cape Hatteras . . .43/29 Charlotte . . . . . . .46/25 Fayetteville . . . . .47/25 Greensboro . . . . .42/21 Greenville . . . . . .43/23 Hickory . . . . . . . . . .43/23 Jacksonville . . . .45/23 Kitty Hawk . . . . . .40/28 New Bern . . . . . .44/24 Raleigh . . . . . . . .45/23 Southern Pines . .46/25 Wilmington . . . . .46/25 Winston-Salem . .41/21

s s s s s s s s s s s s s s

40/25 42/35 47/28 45/27 42/25 42/28 45/27 45/28 40/34 43/28 43/26 45/27 48/29 41/25

pc s s s s s s s s s s s s s

Weather (Wx): cl/cloudy; pc/partly cloudy; ra/rain; rs/rain & snow; s/sunny; sh/showers; sn/snow; t/thunderstorms; w/windy

Last 3/7

Full 2/28

First 2/21

Friday

Hi/Lo Wx Hi/Lo Wx

North Carolina Forecast

Greensboro 42/21

Asheville 37/20

Forest City 45/24 Charlotte 46/25

Today

Kinston 44/24

Associated Press

A man uses a snow shovel to shield snow from his face while walking down a normally busy street in Baltimore during a winter storm Wednesday.

Wilmington 46/25

Today’s National Map

Friday

City

Hi/Lo Wx Hi/Lo Wx

Atlanta . . . . . . . .

Baltimore . . . . . .

Chicago . . . . . . .

Detroit . . . . . . . .

Indianapolis . . .

Los Angeles . . .

Miami . . . . . . . . .

New York . . . . . .

Philadelphia . . .

Sacramento . . . .

San Francisco . .

Seattle . . . . . . . .

Tampa . . . . . . . .

Washington, DC

.51/30 .33/22 .21/12 .28/18 .26/10 .66/48 .66/51 .37/23 .33/21 .58/46 .58/49 .54/46 .58/40 .34/20

s pc s mc s s s pc pc mc pc ra s s

Greenville 43/23

Raleigh 45/23

Fayetteville 47/25

Shown is today’s weather.

Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.

Across Our Nation

Elizabeth City 43/23

Durham 44/22

Winston-Salem 41/21

45/30 34/22 25/17 28/18 29/13 70/48 73/58 33/24 33/20 56/43 59/48 52/46 58/41 35/21

mc s cl s mc s sh pc pc sh sh ra sh s

20s

20s

40s

L

30s

H

50s

30s

H

40s 60s

30s 40s 50s

50s This map shows high temperatures, type of precipitation expected and location of frontal systems at noon.

Cold Front

Stationary Front

Warm Front

60s

60s

L

Low Pressure

H

High Pressure

Nation Today Man held hostages OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Police arrested a man suspected of holding hostages at gunpoint in a southcentral Nebraska bank Wednesday and a local television station said he was a former employee who was recently fired for making threats against the station.

No shots or injuries were reported during the nearly three-hour standoff at the Wells Fargo bank branch in downtown Kearney. Police said they recovered a shotgun and machete from the scene.

Two principals shot KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — An elementary school teacher is accused of shooting and wounding the principal and assistant principal at his school Wednesday about an hour after the children were dismissed because of snow.

Police charged Mark Stephen Foster, 48, of Clinton, with two

counts of attempted first-degree murder after the shooting at Inskip Elementary School. The school Web site identifies Foster as a fourthgrade teacher.

University of Tennessee Medical Center officials said Principal Elisa Luna was in critical condition and Assistant Principal Amy Brace was in stable condition Wednesday afternoon.

Guards watched beating SEATTLE (AP) — Three unarmed security guards stood by and watched last month as a 15-yearold girl was punched, knocked to the ground, kicked in the head and robbed in a downtown Seattle bus tunnel.

The guards’ actions during the brutal attack — captured on surveillance video — have prompted a review of the policy that unarmed, civilian guards call police and not try to stop fights or crimes.

Blagojevich pleads not guilty CHICAGO (AP) — Ousted Gov. Rod Blagojevich pleaded not guilty Wednesday to revised federal corruption charges and challenged prosecutors to allow jurors to hear all of the FBI’s recordings of his telephone conversations.

Sounding unusually combative after the hearing, Blagojevich told reporters he would not ask Judge James B. Zagel to prevent jurors from hearing FBI wiretaps in which prosecutors say he schemed to sell or trade President Obama’s former Senate seat.

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Snow easily breaks Mid-Atlantic records WASHINGTON (AP) — Worst winter ever? The second blizzard in less than a week buried the most populous stretch of the East Coast under nearly a foot of snow Wednesday, breaking records for the snowiest winter and demoralizing millions of people still trying to dig out from the previous storm.

Conditions in the nation’s capital were so bad that even plows were advised to get off the roads, and forecasters were eyeing a third storm that could be brewing for next week.

For many families, the first storm was a fun weekend diversion. People even went skiing past Washington’s monuments. But Wednesday’s blizzard quickly became a serious safety concern. The Pennsylvania governor shut down some highways and warned that people who drove were risking their lives.

Old-timers talk about a storm that blew through Washington in 1922, collapsing the roof on the Knickerbocker theater and killing more than 90 people. Their greatgreat-grandchildren will be able to describe the back-to-back blizzards of 2010, which were not nearly as deadly but set records for the snowiest winters ever in Washington, Baltimore and Philadelphia.

Up to 16 inches fell in parts of western Maryland. Reagan National Airport outside Washington had nearly 10 inches by 2 p.m., and Baltimore got nearly a foot. That was on top of totals up to 3 feet in some places from the weekend storm.

“I have never in my lifetime seen or heard anything quite like this,” said D.C. Fire Chief Dennis L. Rubin, who was born and raised in the District.

The previous records for snowiest winters were 62.5 inches in Baltimore in 1995-96; 54.4 inches in Washington in 1898-99; and 65.5 inches in Philadelphia in 1995-96.

On Wednesday, Baltimore had 72.3 inches so far this winter, the Washington area had 54.9 inches and Philadelphia had 70.3 inches.

Heavy snow also fell in New York and New Jersey. Airlines canceled hundreds of flights, and New York City’s 1.1 million schoolchildren enjoyed only their third snow day in six years. The Washington area’s two airports had no flights coming or

going Wednesday.

The streets of downtown Philadelphia, which was close to setting its own snow record, were nearly vacant as people heeded the mayor’s advice to stay home.

Entrance ramps to closed highways were blockaded, and the Pennsylvania National Guard had Humvees stocked with food and blankets ready to help anyone who got stuck. Earlier in the day, about 25 vehicles were involved in two separate pileups on snowy Interstate 80 in central Pennsylvania. One man was killed and 18 people injured.

Two other people were killed when their snowmobile struck a moving vehicle at an intersection in Lancaster, Pa. Michigan authorities said the storm contributed to at least four traffic deaths there.

In Virginia, where some areas had snow totals exceeding 30 inches from the two storms, winds were howling at 50 mph and temperatures were plunging. Gov. Bob McDonnell urged people to stay indoors.

Utility customers in western Pennsylvania said about 30,000 people were without power. Some never got it back after the last storm.

Glenn Harvey, 59, who has a lung problem and needs oxygen, had been staying at a Red Cross shelter in Bentleyville, Pa., since Saturday.

Firefighters brought him there after the storm knocked out power to his house Friday night. His wife stayed home with their dog, where she’s using a kerosene heater to keep warm.

In Washington, officials announced that federal agencies would stay closed for a fourth straight day Thursday. The longest weather-related government shutdown ever was in 1996, when employees did not have to go to work for a full week.

A Caribou Coffee shop in the capital was standing-room-only. Most people pecked away at laptop computers as snow fell steadily outside.

“Can’t get to the office, but the work still needs to get done,” said attorney Christopher Erckert.

Driving conditions got so bad that officials in Washington and some nearby suburbs pulled plows off the roads.

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The Daily Courier, Forest City, NC, Thursday, February 11, 2010 — 11

business/finance

THE MARKET IN REVIEW

STOCK EXCHANGE HIGHLIGHTS

d

NYSE

6,819.12 -16.04

GAINERS ($2 OR MORE)

Name Last Heckmn un 9.00 NatFnPrt 10.81 AIntlGp rs 26.92 E-TrcEngy 15.46 L-1 Ident 8.15 FurnBrds 4.55 K-Sea 9.55 SantFn pfC26.42 AffilMgrs 67.52 GaylrdEnt 21.20

Chg +1.92 +1.94 +3.78 +1.61 +.78 +.41 +.75 +2.02 +5.07 +1.50

%Chg +27.1 +21.9 +16.3 +11.6 +10.6 +9.9 +8.5 +8.3 +8.1 +7.6

LOSERS ($2 OR MORE)

Name Last MS DJ11 10.37 DeanFds 15.19 WausauPap 8.08 AccoBrds 6.48 NY Times 10.62 KV PhmA lf 2.76 DoralFncl 3.16 SprintNex 3.36 PennVaGP 15.44 ScrippsNet 40.58

Chg %Chg -1.73 -14.3 -2.45 -13.9 -.84 -9.4 -.66 -9.2 -1.05 -9.0 -.27 -8.9 -.29 -8.4 -.29 -7.9 -1.26 -7.5 -3.18 -7.3

MOST ACTIVE ($1 OR MORE) Name Vol (00) Last Chg SprintNex 2433224 3.36 -.29 Citigrp 2278543 3.20 +.02 S&P500ETF2200074107.01 -.21 BkofAm 1729265 14.67 +.20 SPDR Fncl 1245078 13.91 +.11 iShEMkts 823194 37.93 -.10 DirFBear rs 794085 20.80 -.47 FordM 720076 10.94 -.21 GenElec 679189 15.69 +.09 Pfizer 588831 17.74 -.14 Advanced Declined Unchanged Total issues New Highs New Lows Volume

DIARY

1,536 1,515 117 3,168 49 10 4,315,151,572

d

AMEX

1,786.24 -7.13

GAINERS ($2 OR MORE)

Name Last WinnerM n 6.89 Neuralstem 2.14 MexcoEn 9.19 TriValley 2.00 PionDrill 8.40 TelInstEl 7.60 LGL Grp 4.30 NthnO&G 12.07 SwGA Fn 13.38 Contango 50.45

Chg +.78 +.23 +.90 +.17 +.55 +.50 +.25 +.63 +.70 +2.60

%Chg +12.8 +12.2 +10.9 +9.3 +7.0 +7.0 +6.2 +5.5 +5.5 +5.4

LOSERS ($2 OR MORE)

Name Last PacAsiaP n 3.87 ReadyMix 2.11 ImpacM n 4.01 CmtyBT un 3.16 SinoHub n 3.87 MastechH 3.99 SuprmInd 2.81 EngySvc un 3.10 AdcareH wt 2.05 OrienPap n10.19

Chg %Chg -.58 -13.0 -.17 -7.5 -.30 -7.0 -.22 -6.5 -.26 -6.3 -.26 -6.2 -.19 -6.2 -.20 -6.1 -.10 -4.7 -.47 -4.4

MOST ACTIVE ($1 OR MORE) Name Vol (00) Last Chg Rentech 59172 1.01 -.17 PacAsiaP n 30702 3.87 -.58 NthgtM g 28875 2.69 +.02 AtlasAcq 25271 9.85 +.30 NovaGld g 25271 5.73 -.17 Taseko 21743 4.15 -.06 GoldStr g 20262 3.03 -.01 BPW Acq 17582 10.02 +.02 NwGold g 13951 4.33 -.02 NA Pall g 13579 3.67 -.03 DIARY

Advanced Declined Unchanged Total issues New Highs New Lows Volume

237 247 44 528 9 4 103,208,347

d

DAILY DOW JONES

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10,320

NASDAQ 2,147.87 -3.00

GAINERS ($2 OR MORE)

Name Last OpenTabl n30.66 Biocryst 7.39 drugstre 3.20 OvrldStr rs 2.23 MetaFincl 21.00 Athersys 3.29 Aware 2.75 Deltek 7.85 Lionbrdg 2.99 DJSP wt 3.64

Chg +5.67 +1.14 +.45 +.31 +2.81 +.41 +.34 +.95 +.35 +.42

%Chg +22.7 +18.2 +16.4 +16.1 +15.4 +14.2 +14.1 +13.8 +13.3 +13.0

LOSERS ($2 OR MORE)

Name Amtech Isis ParkBcp DNB Fncl AtlSthnF SecNtl lf CelsiusH Golfsmith SevenArt lf AlliancB

Last 8.15 8.98 5.42 4.69 2.92 3.07 3.80 2.43 2.16 2.36

Chg -2.03 -2.06 -1.08 -.82 -.45 -.38 -.44 -.28 -.24 -.25

%Chg -19.9 -18.7 -16.6 -14.9 -13.4 -11.0 -10.4 -10.3 -10.0 -9.7

MOST ACTIVE ($1 OR MORE)

Name Vol (00) PwShs QQQ809220 MicronT 649306 Intel 555383 Cisco 497783 Microsoft 473576 ETrade 439441 Oracle 398272 BrcdeCm 370693 Yahoo 362333 ActivsBliz 360670

Advanced Declined Unchanged Total issues New Highs New Lows Volume

Last Chg 43.02 -.09 8.54 -.54 19.69 +.04 23.76 -.13 27.99 -.02 1.45 -.05 23.11 -.40 6.60 +.31 14.80 -.27 10.10 +.05

DIARY

1,284 1,312 159 2,755 30 26 1,983,206,143

52-Week High Low

Dow JonesINSURANCE industrials LIFE LATELY? Close: 10,038.38

10,729.89 4,265.61 408.57 7,471.31 1,908.81 2,326.28 1,150.45 755.91 11,941.95 649.15

10,060

Change: -20.26 (-0.2%)

9,800

10,800

10 DAYS

10,400 10,000

6,469.95 2,134.21 288.66 4,181.75 1,234.81 1,265.52 666.79 397.97 6,772.29 342.59

STOCK MARKET INDEXES Name

Last

Dow Industrials 10,038.38 Dow Transportation 3,856.14 Dow Utilities 367.44 NYSE Composite 6,819.12 Amex Market Value 1,786.24 Nasdaq Composite 2,147.87 S&P 500 1,068.13 S&P MidCap 700.59 Wilshire 5000 11,084.29 Russell 2000 595.82

9,600

YTD %Chg %Chg

-20.26 -13.74 -2.05 -16.04 -7.13 -3.00 -2.39 -.45 -23.59 +.66

-.20 -.35 -.55 -.23 -.40 -.14 -.22 -.06 -.21 +.11

-3.74 -5.94 -7.68 -5.09 -2.12 -5.34 -4.21 -3.59 -4.02 -4.73

12-mo %Chg

+26.44 +28.24 -.54 +29.82 +27.30 +40.34 +28.11 +38.21 +31.33 +33.01

MUTUAL FUNDS

9,200 8,800

Net Chg

A

S

O

N

D

J

F

Total Assets Obj ($Mlns) NAV

Name

PIMCO TotRetIs American Funds GrthAmA m Vanguard TotStIdx American Funds CapIncBuA m TOCKS OF OCAL NTEREST Fidelity Contra American Funds CpWldGrIA m YTD YTD American Funds IncAmerA m Name Div Yld PE Last Chg%Chg Name Div Yld PE Last Chg %Chg American Funds InvCoAmA m AT&T Inc 1.68 6.7 12 25.12 -.14 -10.4 LeggPlat 1.04 5.6 25 18.51 -.15 -9.3 Vanguard 500Inv Vanguard InstIdx Amazon ... ... 58 117.36 -.67 -12.8 Lowes .36 1.7 18 21.80 -.04 -6.8 Dodge & Cox Stock ArvMerit ... ... ... 9.40 -.28 -15.9 Microsoft .52 1.9 15 27.99 -.02 -8.2 American Funds EurPacGrA m American Funds WAMutInvA m BB&T Cp .60 2.2 23 27.37 +.17 +7.9 PPG 2.16 3.6 21 59.75 +.59 +2.1 Dodge & Cox IntlStk BkofAm .04 .3 ... 14.67 +.20 -2.6 ParkerHan 1.00 1.8 32 55.55 -.20 +3.1 American Funds NewPerspA m BerkHa A ... ... 34111550.00-150.00 +12.4 PIMCO TotRetAdm b Cisco ... ... 23 23.76 -.13 -.8 ProgrssEn 2.48 6.5 13 37.93 -.26 -7.5 Fidelity DivrIntl d ... ... 66 27.19 -.22 -12.0 American Funds FnInvA m Delhaize 2.01 2.6 ... 76.74 -.09 ... RedHat Dell Inc ... ... 19 13.75 +.20 -4.2 RoyalBk g 2.00 ... ... 51.48 +1.04 -3.9 FrankTemp-Franklin Income A m DukeEngy .96 5.9 14 16.22 -.10 -5.8 SaraLee .44 3.4 11 12.93 +.28 +6.2 American Funds BalA m Vanguard Welltn ExxonMbl 1.68 2.6 16 64.85 -.35 -4.9 SonicAut ... ... ... 9.32 +.06 -10.3 American Funds BondA m FamilyDlr .62 2.0 15 31.37 -.23 +12.7 SonocoP 1.08 3.8 20 28.48 +1.26 -2.6 Vanguard 500Adml Vanguard TotStIAdm FifthThird .04 .3 16 11.69 +.22 +19.9 SpectraEn 1.00 4.8 16 20.64 -.13 +.6 Fidelity GrowCo FCtzBA 1.20 .7 16 171.87 +1.87 +4.8 SpeedM .36 2.2 ... 16.44 -.06 -6.7 Vanguard TotIntl d GenElec .40 2.5 15 15.69 +.09 +3.7 .36 1.5 ... 23.70 -.17 ... PIMCO TotRetA m GoldmanS 1.40 .9 7 153.63 +1.14 -9.0 Timken Vanguard InstPlus 1.88 3.3 26 57.07 -.34 -.5 T Rowe Price EqtyInc Google ... ... 26 534.45 -2.00 -13.8 UPS B KrispKrm ... ... ... 3.00 -.03 +1.7 WalMart 1.09 2.0 15 53.24 -.01 -.4 Hartford CapAprA m Pioneer PioneerA m Goldman Sachs ShDuGovA m Stock Footnotes: g = Dividends and earnings in Canadian dollars. h = Does not meet continued-listing standards. lf = Late filing with SEC. n = New in past 52 weeks. pf = Preferred. rs = Stock has undergone a reverse stock split of at least 50 Alliance Bernstein GrowIncA m percent within the past year. rt = Right to buy security at a specified price. s = Stock has split by at least 20 percent within the DWS-Scudder REstA m Hartford GrowthL m last year. un = Units. vj = In bankruptcy or receivership. wd = When distributed. wi = When issued. wt = Warrants.

S

L

I

Mutual Fund Footnotes: b = Fee covering market costs is paid from fund assets. d = Deferred sales charge, or redemption fee. f = front load (sales charges). m = Multiple fees are charged. NA = not available. p = previous day’s net asset value. s = fund split shares during the week. x = fund paid a distribution during the week.Gainers and Losers must be worth at least $2 to be listed in tables at left. Most Actives must be worth at least $1. Volume in hundreds of shares. Source: The Associated Press.

Sales figures are unofficial.

CI 120,690 LG 62,872 LB 57,210 IH 56,411 LG 54,252 WS 53,325 MA 48,112 LB 46,864 LB 46,604 LB 43,152 LV 39,228 FB 38,266 LV 37,278 FV 35,646 WS 31,178 CI 31,078 FG 29,974 LB 29,675 CA 29,617 MA 29,215 MA 27,900 CI 27,514 LB 27,342 LB 27,014 LG 26,376 FB 25,013 CI 24,642 LB 24,167 LV 15,084 LB 9,451 LB 4,142 GS 1,487 LV 1,193 SR 408 LG 176

10.92 25.99 26.37 46.03 55.29 31.69 15.01 24.75 98.53 97.88 93.22 35.59 23.73 29.98 24.14 10.92 26.00 31.15 1.99 15.95 28.08 11.91 98.54 26.37 65.47 13.44 10.92 97.89 20.21 29.39 34.23 10.37 2.85 12.80 14.23

Total Return/Rank Pct Min Init 4-wk 12-mo 5-year Load Invt

+0.5 +13.9/C -7.5 +32.9/C -6.6 +34.1/B -5.3 +23.8/C -6.6 +30.0/D -9.4 +35.6/C -4.5 +29.1/B -7.0 +29.8/D -6.6 +32.2/C -6.6 +32.3/C -6.2 +41.9/A -9.9 +39.9/B -5.4 +26.1/D -9.0 +56.1/A -8.0 +37.8/C +0.5 +13.6/C -9.6 +36.1/D -7.5 +34.4/B -5.1 +33.4/A -3.6 +25.6/C -4.6 +24.8/C +0.4 +15.9/B -6.6 +32.3/C -6.7 +34.2/B -7.5 +36.2/B -10.0 +43.6/A +0.5 +13.4/C -6.6 +32.3/C -7.0 +38.3/A -7.4 +46.4/A -6.7 +28.9/D +0.3 +3.9/B -5.3 +21.7/E -7.6 +49.7/C -8.6 +29.6/D

+7.0/A +2.2/B +0.4/B +3.0/C +3.7/A +4.6/A +2.2/B +0.9/B -0.3/C -0.2/C -1.1/C +6.3/A -0.4/C +4.1/A +4.9/A +6.7/A +2.4/D +3.2/A +3.2/B +1.8/C +4.2/A +2.5/E -0.2/C +0.5/B +4.3/A +3.9/B +6.5/A -0.1/C 0.0/B +2.9/A +0.5/B +4.8/A -2.5/E -0.4/B -0.3/D

NL 5,000,000 5.75 250 NL 3,000 5.75 250 NL 2,500 5.75 250 5.75 250 5.75 250 NL 3,000 NL 5,000,000 NL 2,500 5.75 250 5.75 250 NL 2,500 5.75 250 NL 5,000,000 NL 2,500 5.75 250 4.25 1,000 5.75 250 NL 10,000 3.75 250 NL 100,000 NL 100,000 NL 2,500 NL 3,000 3.75 1,000 NL200,000,000 NL 2,500 5.50 1,000 5.75 1,000 1.50 1,000 4.25 2,500 5.75 1,000 4.75 0

CA -Conservative Allocation, CI -Intermediate-Term Bond, ES -Europe Stock, FB -Foreign Large Blend, FG -Foreign LargeGrowth, FV -Foreign Large Value, IH -World Allocation, LB -Large Blend, LG -Large Growth, LV -Large Value, MA -Moderate Allocation, MB -Mid-Cap Blend, MV Mid-Cap Value, SH -Specialty-heath, WS -World Stock, Total Return: Chng in NAV with dividends reinvested. Rank: How fund performed vs. others with same objective: A is in top 20%, E in bottom 20%. Min Init Invt: Minimum $ needed to invest in fund. Source: Morningstar.

Consumers slowed down spending pace NEW YORK (AP) — Americans backed off from their holiday spending pace in January, but retail sales rose for a third month in a row compared with a year earlier, largely because of higher gas prices, according to figures released Wednesday.

Analysts expect the modest spending pace to improve in coming months, though it will be far from robust as high unemployment and tight credit show little sign of disappearing.

Including goods from food to clothing to gasoline — but excluding cars — U.S. retail sales rose 3.6 percent from January 2009, according to MasterCard Advisor’s SpendingPulse, which estimates spending in all forms including cash.

That increase followed a 4.8 percent gain in December and a 2.1 percent gain in November, according to SpendingPulse.

Excluding both gas and auto sales, retail sales rose 0.3 percent in January, 2.1 percent in December and 0.2 percent in November compared with a year earlier. The year-over-year figures are not seasonally adjusted.

“Consumers are not going back to their caves, but they are not spending aggressively, either,” said Kamalesh Rao, director of economic research for MasterCard Advisors’ SpendingPulse.

With consumer spending — including major items like health care — accounting for 70 percent of U.S. economic activity, according to the government, economists watch it closely for clues on what lies ahead.

There have been some positive signs.

The Commerce Department said Wednesday that U.S. trade deficit soared to a larger-than-expected $40.18 billion in December, the biggest imbalance in 12 months. The wider deficit reflected a rebounding economy that is pushing up demand for oil and other imports.

Friday’s report from the Federal Reserve on consumer borrowing showed that Americans borrowed less for an 11th consecutive month in December, paying off credit cards while increasing borrowing for cars and other big-ticket items such as education.

That mixed picture fuels some hope that Americans may start spending more, a key element for economic recovery. But the record 11-month decline in borrowing shows consumers are still cautious about or unable to get credit.

“We are starting to see consumers buying a wider variety of products. This is positive,” said Richard D. Hastings, a consumer strategist with Global Hunter Securities, citing such products as appliances — small and big — clothing and footwear.

Those had been hit hard in the recession.

He noted that shoppers’ move to cut their debt is bolstering their net worth and will eventually mean a pickup in spending, which he believes will happen by summer.

SpendingPulse’s month-to-month figures — which are seasonally adjusted and include gasoline but exclude autos — show January’s sales rising 2.8 percent from December’s, which fell 1.9 percent from November’s. November’s sales rose 1.1 percent from October.

Associated Press

Vice President Joe Biden, far left, takes his seat in the Cabinet Room of the White House in Washington, Tuesday before the start of a meeting between President Barack Obama and bipartisan House and Senate leaders to discuss the economy and jobs. From left are, Biden, House Minority Leader of John Boehner of Ohio, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of Calif.ornia the president, and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada.

Jobs bill will not cure all ills Editor’s note: An occasional look at the promises of government officials and how well they are kept.

By STEPHEN OHLEMACHER Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON — It sounds great: A big jobs bill that would hand President Barack Obama a badly needed victory and please Republicans with tax cuts at the same time. But there’s a problem: It won’t create many jobs.

Even the Obama administration acknowledges the legislation’s centerpiece — a tax cut for businesses that hire unemployed workers — would work only on the margins.

As for the bill’s effectiveness, tax experts and business leaders said companies are unlikely to hire workers just to receive a tax break. Before businesses start hiring, they need increased demand for their products, more work for their employees and more revenue to pay those workers.

“We’re skeptical that it’s going to be a big job creator,” said Bill Rys, tax counsel for the National Federation of Independent Business. “There’s certainly nothing wrong with giving a tax break to a business that’s hired a new worker, especially in these tough times. But in terms of being an incentive to hire a lot of workers, we’re skeptical.”

Rick Klahsen, a tax expert at the accounting firm RSM McGladrey, said his clients need to see business pick up before they can hire more workers.

“If demand were increased,

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they are saying it will take care of itself because I will then have the motivation to go out and hire new employees,” Klahsen said.

The bipartisan Senate plan would absolve companies of having to pay a 6.2 percent Social Security tax on the wages tax for the balance of 2010 for any workers they hire who had been unemployed for at least 60 days.

A company could save a maximum of $6,621 if it hired an unemployed worker after the bill is enacted and paid that worker at least $106,800 — the maximum amount of wages subject to Social Security taxes — by the end of the year. The company could get an additional $1,000 on its 2011 tax return if it kept the new worker for at least a full year.

The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office recently concluded that reducing Social Security taxes for companies that add workers would be among the most efficient ways for the government to create jobs. However, in showing how difficult it is to create jobs through tax policy, CBO estimates that such a tax break would generate only eight to 18 full-time jobs per $1 million in tax breaks.

The Senate proposal is estimated to cost about $10 billion, which would add 80,000 to 180,000 jobs over the course of a year, a tiny fraction of the 8.4 million jobs the U.S. economy has lost since the beginning of the recession in 2007.

Nonetheless, supporters say it is cheaper, simpler and less vul-

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nerable to abuse than Obama’s plan, which would give a $5,000 tax credit for each new worker that employers hire and cost $33 billion.

Either way, Obama and lawmakers in both parties still could claim tangible accomplishments in addressing high joblessness and the inability of Republicans and Democrats to work together so solve problems, both top issues among voters early in 2010 midterm election season.

Democratic leaders had originally hoped to pass the bill this week, before record snowfalls effectively shut down Congress and much of the rest of the federal government in the nation’s capital. Final action now may not come until March.

In addition to a tax break for hiring workers, the Senate package would extend unemployment payments for people without jobs for more than six months as well as subsidies to help the jobless continue paying premiums for health insurance they had been getting through their former employers.

It also would extend through 2010 about $33 billion in popular tax breaks that expired at the end of 2009, including an income tax deduction for sales and property taxes and a business tax credit for research and development.

Those tax cuts make Republicans willing participants in the bill, despite skepticism in both parties that it will produce an abundance of jobs.

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— The

Daily Courier, Forest City, NC, Thursday, February 11, 2010

Nation/world

Scientists seek better way to do climate report

By SETH BORENSTEIN AP Science Writer

WASHINGTON — A steady drip of unsettling errors is exposing what scientists are calling “the weaker link” in the Nobel Peace Prize-winning series of international reports on global warming.

The flaws — and the erosion they’ve caused in public confidence — have some scientists calling for drastic changes in how future United Nations climate reports are done. A push for reform being published in Thursday’s issue of a prestigious scientific journal comes on top of a growing clamor for the resignation of the chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

The work of the climate change panel, or IPCC, is often portrayed as one massive tome. But it really is four separate reports on different aspects of global warming, written months apart by distinct groups of scientists.

No errors have surfaced in the first and most wellknown of the reports, which said the physics of a warming atmosphere and rising seas is man-made and incontrovertible. So far, four mistakes have been discovered in the second report, which attempts to translate what global warming might mean to daily lives around the world.

“A lot of stuff in there was just not very good,” said Kevin Trenberth, head of climate analysis at the National Center for Atmospheric Research and a lead author of the first report. “A chronic problem is that on the whole area of impacts, getting into the realm of social science, it is a softer science. The facts are not as good.”

It’s been a dismal winter for climate scientists after the high point of winning the 2007 Nobel, along with former Vice President Al Gore, for championing efforts to curb global warming and documenting its effects. n In November, stolen private e-mails from a British

Associated Press

The U.N.’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) head Rajendra Pachauri, left, and Thirteenth Finance Commission Chairman Vijay Kelkar look on at a press conference in New Delhi, India, Thursday, Jan. 21.

university climate center embarrassed a number of scientists for their efforts to stonewall climate skeptics.

The researchers were found to have violated Britain’s Freedom of Information laws. n In December, the much anticipated climate summit of world leaders in Copenhagen failed to produce a meaningful mandatory agreement to curb greenhouse gases. n Climate legislation in the United States, considered key to any significant progress in slowing global warming, is stalled. n Some Republican U.S. senators, climate skeptics and British newspapers have called for Rajendra Pachauri, chairman of the IPCC, to resign. They contend he has financial conflicts of interest involving his role with the climate panel and a greenenergy foundation he set up. n And in recent weeks, a batch of mistakes have been uncovered in the second of the four climate research reports produced in 2007.

That second report — which examines current effects of global warming and forecasts future ones on people, plants, animals and society — at times relied on government reports or even advocacy group reports instead of peer-reviewed

research. Scientists say that’s because there is less hard data on global warming’s effects.

Nine different experts told The Associated Press that the second report — because of the nature of what it examines — doesn’t rely on standards as high or literature as deep as the more quoted first report. And they say cite communication problems between lead authors of different reports so it is harder to spot errors.

The end result is that the document on the effects of climate change promotes the worst of nightmares and engages in purposeful hyping, said longtime skeptic John Christy of the University of Alabama, Huntsville.

David King, Britain’s former chief scientific adviser who once lectured at the University of East Anglia, home to the climate center where scientist e-mails were hacked said that scandal laid bare the weaknesses in the IPCC. In a telephone interview, he said those who challenged the IPCC’s assessment “are seen to be rocking the boat, and this in my view is extremely unfortunate.”

Scientists — including top U.S. government officials — argue that the bulk of the reports are sound.

The problems found in the

IPCC 2007 reports so far are mostly embarrassing: n In the Asian chapter, five errors in a single entry on glaciers in Himalayas say those glaciers would disappear by 2035 — hundreds of years earlier than other information suggests — with no research backing it up. It used an advocacy group as a source. It also erroneously said the Himalayan glaciers were melting faster than other glaciers. n A sentence in the chapter on Europe says 55 percent of the Netherlands is below sea level, when it’s really about half that amount. n A section in the Africa chapter that talks about northern African agriculture says climate change and normal variability could reduce crop yields. But it gets oversimplified in later summaries so that lower projected crop yields are blamed solely on climate change. n There’s been a longstanding dispute about weather extremes and economics. The second report says that there are more weather disasters than before because of climate change and that it is costing more. The debate continues over whether it is fair to say increased disaster costs are due to global warming or other societal factors such as increased development in hurricane prone areas.

Scientists say the nature of the science and the demands of governments for a localized tally of climate change effects and projections of future ones make the second report a bit more prone to mistakes than the first report. Regional research is more often done by governments or environmental groups; using that work is allowed by IPCC rules even if it is seen as less rigorous than traditional peerreviewed research, said Martin Parry, chairman in charge of the report on climate effects.

The second report includes chapters on each region, which governments want to be mostly written by local experts, some of whom may not have the science credentials of other report authors.

That’s where at least three of the errors were found.

In Thursday’s issue of the journal Nature, four IPCC authors call for reform, including Christy, who suggests the outright dumping of the panel itself in favor of an effort modeled after Wikipedia, the online encyclopedia. A fifth author, writing in Nature, argues the IPCC rules are fine but need to be better enforced.

In response, Chris Field of Stanford University, the new head of the second report team, said that he welcomes the scrutiny and vows stricter enforcement of rules to check sources to eliminate errors in future reports; those are to be produced by the IPCC starting in 2013.

Many IPCC scientists say it’s impressive that so far only four errors have been found in 986 pages of the second report, with the overwhelming majority of the findings correct and wellsupported.

However, former IPCC Chairman Bob Watson said, “We cannot take that attitude. Any mistakes do allow skeptics to have a field day and to use it to undermine public confidence, private sector confidence, government confidence in the IPCC.”

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The Daily Courier, Forest City, NC, Thursday, February 11, 2010 — 13 SHOE by Chris Cassat and Gary Brookins

THE GRIZZWELLS by Bill Schoor

BROOM-HILDA by Russell Myers

DILBERT by Scott Adams

GIL THORP by Jerry Jenkins, Ray Burns and Frank McLaughlin

THE BORN LOSER by Art and Chip Sansom

ARLO AND JANIS by Jimmy Johnson

FRANK AND ERNEST by Bob Thaves

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Man prefers to host instead of guest Dear Abby: My husband, “Kent,” and I enjoy entertaining. We often throw birthday parties for friends, as well as holiday parties and dinners and barbecues during the summer.

The problem is, whenever we receive an invitation to attend a gathering at someone else’s home, Kent responds with, “Ask them to come here.” I think this is rude because our friends are just reciprocating.

This issue came up twice last week.

When I asked Kent why he doesn’t like to go to our friends’ homes, he says he prefers to entertain in his own house. I don’t think it is good manners to ask a host to move the party to our home.

Incidentally, when we do go, Kent always enjoys himself, so it’s not social anxiety, and he’s definitely not shy. Would you tell me if I’m making too much of this? — Embarrassed Dear Embarrassed: I don’t think so. While your husband’s impulse to host the party might seem generous the first few times the offer is extended — after a while the burden of gratitude can hang heavy and destroy friendships. That’s why it is important for people to be able to reciprocate — and for others to allow them to.

Dear Abby: I have been dating a man for four years. I told him I am ready to end our relationship if he isn’t ready to get married within the

Dear Abby Abigail van Buren

next year.

Two months ago, he gave me a beautiful 2 1/2-carat diamond ring and announced to family and friends that we are engaged. He has not discussed any wedding plans, but he says the wedding will be within the time frame I am asking for.

I went to a jeweler today to have the band on my ring enlarged a bit and was told that my stone is not a real diamond. Abby, this man owns his own business and is wealthy! He spends thousands on golf trips every year and just spent a great deal of money on high-end house furnishings.

My head is spinning. I am embarrassed to tell anyone of this fraud.

What is your take on this? Do I confront him? Am I fooling myself thinking that this man truly wants to marry me? — Dumbfounded Dear Dumbfounded: My “take” on this is that your fiance was trying to pull a fast one. If he would behave this way about your engagement ring, what else would he be less than honest about in the future?

Gott enters the 21st century Dear Dr. Gott: Do you have an archive online or otherwise of past columns? In the past month or two, I think you had a column entry that discussed the condition known as trigger finger. In the past two weeks, my husband has had a flare-up of this condition. He is 47, and his 78-year-old mother also suffers with trigger finger.

Any advice or experience from you or my fellow readers/writers would be welcomed. Thank you.

Dear Reader: As you are aware, trigger finger is a condition in which a finger joint catches in a bent position. The joint appears as though the person has pulled the trigger of a gun. When the finger unlocks, it pops back suddenly, as if releasing that trigger, thus the name.

Accompanying pain can often be controlled by icing and splinting or over-the-counter Advil, Aleve, Motrin and similar products. When OTCs fail to provide satisfactory

PUZZLE

Ask Dr. Gott Dr. Peter M. Gott

results, it’s time to consult a physician to determine the next step, which might be a cortisone injection or surgical release under local anesthesia. Now, for the second part of your inquiry. I have been holding on to your letter for a number of months, awaiting my entry into the 21st century. I must confess yet again that I’ve been rather proud all these years to be a member of the Lead Pencil Club and a technophobe. Medicine is my field of expertise, not machinery. After what has seemed like an excessively long period of preparation, I am pleased to announce that my column is now available at AskDrGottMD.com.

IN THE STARS

Your Birthday, Feb. 11;

You could establish a huge objective that is completely different from anything you’ve tried before.

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — If an endeavor isn’t paying off as expected, re-examine things.

PISCES (Feb. 20-March 20) — Should a persistent thought continue to bombard your brain, examine it.

ARIES (March 21-April 19) — Examine your thinking and your goals before moving forward to see if they’re appropriate.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) — If you’re looking to advance your position at work, talk to the powersthat-be.

GEMINI (May 21-June 20) — Some good old-fashioned logical thinking can be used to discover whether you’re productive.

CANCER (June 21-July 22) — You know how to use past experiences to your advantage.

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) — Most people will find you an enjoyable companion, mostly because you know how to get them to talk.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept.

22) — Because you demand so much of yourself, you’re likely to be productive.

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) — If you are merry and equitable in all social involvements, your good sportsmanship will make a lasting impression.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) — Being mindful of small details will be extremely significant.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) — You enjoy reciting innocent tales to the delight of everyone’s fancy.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) — Your ability to come up with fertile ideas that can produce big bucks is impressive. It won’t take much to dream up something big, especially when challenged.

14 — The Daily Courier, Forest City, NC, Thursday, February 11, 2010 14 — The Daily Courier, Forest City, NC, THURSDAY, February 11, 2010

nation/world

Haiti mission leader often fell short of promises BOISE, Idaho (AP) — In the days after the Haiti earthquake, Laura Silsby made a series of calls around the country to mobilize a trip to rescue orphaned children from the disaster.

She enlisted members of her Baptist church and told them she had all the necessary paperwork. She even found a Kentucky couple, Richard and Malinda Pickett, who had been trying to adopt three siblings from Haiti and told them she could get the children out.

The Picketts say they politely declined, figuring the youngsters were safe and would soon be evacuated to their new home.

“My wife told her that under no conditions should she try to move the kids — that would just interfere with our plans. But she called two more times, and the last time she called, on the 25th, she said she was getting on a flight and would like to pick up our kids,” Richard Pickett said. “My wife, for the third time, told her no way — stay away from them.”

A few days later, Silsby and nine other Americans were charged in Haiti with kidnapping for trying to take 33 children out of the country without proper documentation. The 10 defendants remain in jail in Haiti.

The Haitian and U.S. governments are investigating Silsby and her group, trying to determine why they were rounding up children, many of whom were not orphans.

Silsby and her supporters

Associated Press

In this Feb. 8 file photo, Laura Silsby, one of the 10 Americans arrested while trying to bus children out of Haiti, exits a police car outside the court building in Port-au-Prince.

say they just wanted to save youngsters from the chaos, disease and uncertainty of quake-ravaged Haiti. Others, like the Picketts, aren’t convinced.

A closer look at Silsby shows that the adoption fiasco followed a certain pattern seen in her life. The 40-year-old businesswoman and mother of three has been known to make big promises and big plans that often give way to questionable behavior and legal action.

Court records show she has a habit of failing to pay employees, creditors and taxes. In the last year alone she saw her home go into foreclosure and watched a number of legal proceedings against her and her business wend their way through Idaho’s courts.

All of this happened as she became highly passion-

ate about helping kids in the Dominican Republic, according to those who know her.

Silsby showed her knack for achievement early, earning a high school diploma at 15, according to an old news release from her company.

She went on to study business administration and accounting at Washington State University, graduating summa cum laude in 1991.

She took a job with Hewlett Packard in Boise, working for six years in financing and Internet marketing positions.

In 2000, Silsby and a man named James Hammons patented a method for creating and operating a personalized Internet store. She used the method to found a company that would do business under the name Avenue Me. The goal, Silsby told associates, was to create an online

personalized shopping experience for those too busy to dig through several stores or Web sites.

She hired Boise multimedia marketing company Wirestone to build her Web site, but soon stopped paying the bills, said Mark Salow, a former Wirestone manager.

Wirestone ultimately sued after Silsby fell tens of thousands of dollars behind in paying for the work, Salow said.

“She was always telling us, ’We had this great meeting, and you’ll be paid soon,”’ Salow said. “There was always some investor that was going to come in and save the day.”

Those promises didn’t sway a judge, who ruled in Wirestone’s favor.

In 2004, Silsby filed for divorce from her husband, Terry Silsby. The divorce became final in 2007, but the two sides are still fighting in court.

In 2008, she bought a newly built five-bedroom home on a half-acre lot in Meridian — which the bank foreclosed on last December.

At the same time, several employees of her company — now called Personal Shopper after a trademark dispute — were filing claims against Silsby over unpaid wages.

One former employee, Robin Oliver, said she was hired for $110,000 a year and sued after Silsby fell five paychecks behind.

Oliver said Silsby kept telling her that new investors had agreed to fund the

company, but the cash never showed up. Oliver’s attorney said Silsby claimed at various times that potential investors included NBC, a private equity firm and a high-powered public relations expert.

Silsby contended that Oliver drastically cut her own hours and was working ineffectively and had to be fired.

It is not clear if her money problems were related in any way to the adoption effort in Haiti, but the financial aspects of the trip will clearly be scrutinized during the investigation.

The Picketts said they were immediately suspicious of Silsby. The Kentucky couple didn’t need her help — the government had already given them permission to go pick up the children. But Silsby persisted, they said.

She showed up at the Compassion for All orphanage in Haiti, asking to collect the Picketts’ three adopted children and claiming to be Malinda Pickett’s friend, according to Richard Pickett.

When the orphanage told her the children had been moved, Silsby went on to ask for any other kids she could have, Richard Pickett said.

She paid a worker to take her to other orphanages in the region and translate for her.

“She asked for kids at each of the orphanages, and at the end of the day when no one would give her any, she cried,” Richard Pickett said.

“Why would you cry after you see these kids are being taken care of?”

CLASSIFIEDS Contact Erika Meyer to place your ad!

Call: 828-245-6431 Fax: 828-248-2790 Email: emeyer@thedigitalcourier.com In person: 601 Oak St., Forest City DEADLINES: New Ads, Cancellations & Changes Tuesday Edition.............Monday, 12pm Wednesday Edition......Tuesday, 2pm Thursday Edition......Wednesday, 2pm Friday Edition...............Thursday, 2pm Saturday Edition................Friday, 2pm Sunday Edition......................Friday, 2pm

Please check your ad on the first day that it runs. Call us before the deadline for the next edition with corrections.

We will rerun the ad or credit your account for no more than one day.

*4 line minimum on all ads Apartments

Apartments

Apartments

3BR/2BA single level town home, with attached garage, great neighborhood, conveniently located inside Rfdtn city limits.

Extremely nice newly remodeled 1BR APT. in Rfdtn. $300/mo. w/ small dep. Water incld.

Call 704-297-1099 and ask for Angela

Richmond Hill Senior Apts. in Rfdtn 1BR Units w/handicap accessible units avail.

Sec 8 assistance avail.

287-2578 Hours: Mon., Tues., & Thurs.

7-3. TDD Relay 1-800-735-2962 Equal Housing Opportunity.

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NOTICE TO CREDITORS Having qualified as Ancillary Executor of the estate of BETTY JO NELSON RADFORD of Rutherford County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons having claims against the estate of the said BETTY JO NELSON RADFORD to present them to the undersigned on or before the 11th day of May, 2010 or the same will be pleaded in bar of their recovery.

All persons indebted to said estate will please make immediate payment.

This is the 11th day of February, 2010.

Tommy S. Radford, Ancillary Executor 25 Alta Vista Circle Travelers Rest, SC 29690

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING LAKE STRUCTURE APPEALS BOARD Town of Lake Lure The Lake Lure Lake Structure Appeals Board will hold its monthly meeting at the Town of Lake Lure Municipal Center, 2948 Memorial Highway, Lake Lure, North Carolina on Tuesday, February 23, 2010 at 1:00 p.m., or shortly thereafter, to consider the following: (1) LSA-2010001, a request from Lynn Price and Oakman Brothers, Inc., for a variance to allow reconstruction of a lake structure to encroach over a projected property line as restricted by section 94.06 (C)(4) of the Lake Structure Regulations. The properties (Tax PIN 230907 & 220610) are located at 327 & 321 North Shore Drive, Lake Lure, North Carolina.

1 & 2BR in Rfdtn, FC and Bostic. Refrig., stove, total electric, water incld. $300 $385/mo. 429-3100 2 Bedroom Close to downtown Rfdtn. D/w, stove, refrig., w/d hook up. No pets! 287-0733

1 WEEK SPECIAL

Run ad 6 consecutive days and only pay for 5 days*

2 WEEK SPECIAL

Run ad 12 consecutive days and only pay for 9 days*

3 DAY WEEKEND SPECIAL

YARD SALE SPECIAL

Run a 20 word yard sale ad Thurs., Fri., & Sat. for ONLY $20.

Additional words are only 75¢ each. Deadline: Wed. at 2 p.m.

*Private party customers only! This special must be mentioned at the time of ad placement.

Valid 2/8/10 - 2/12/10

Homes

Mobile Homes

Mobile Homes

Mobile Homes

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For Sale

For Sale

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3BR/2BA Brick Home Natural gas heat & central air $79,900 Call 828-229-0308

Homes For Rent 3 Bedroom/1.5 Bath Brick Ranch Cowan St. in Spindale Call 540-562-2371 Cliffside, near Duke Power: 3BR/1BA $500/mo. + utilities.

Nonsmoker. Ref’s. & dep. req. 287-0637 or 828-381-0091

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Do you have a subscription to The Daily Courier? If not, call today and get started!

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT Town of Lake Lure The Lake Lure Board of Adjustment will hold its monthly meeting at the Town of Lake Lure Municipal Center, 2948 Memorial Highway, Lake Lure, North Carolina on Tuesday, February 23, 2010 at 1:00 p.m., or shortly thereafter, to consider the following: (1) ZV-2010002, a request from Rob and Mary Ann Peffer for a variance from the minimum lot area, minimum shoreline length, and the minimum side yard setback as required by Section 92.040 of the Lake Lure Zoning Regulations. The property (Tax PIN 1628824) is located at 180/184 Ridge Road, Lake Lure, NC 28746.

(2) ZV-2010003, a request by Jayne Mann for a variance from the minimum lake front yard setback by Section 92.040 of the Lake Lure Zoning Regulations. The property (Tax PIN 1643268) is located at 114 Hummingbird Cove Road, Lake Lure, NC 28746.

THREE SINGLE WIDES

Under $29,995 Delivered & set

704-484-1677 Homes R Us

Single Wides, Double Wides and Modulars.

We’ve Got you covered!

Plus Receive $6,500 - $8,000 for purchasing a home.

Call 828-433-8455

3BR/2BA Mobile Home for sale or rent in park in Gilkey Call 429-6670

For Sale 2 Burial Plots Sunset Memorial Park, Mem. Garden 1, Lot 322.

Call 336-407-0468 Ruth. Mem. Cemetery 2 spaces in eternity sec. $1,050 ea. + deed transfer 803-581-6846

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TRADE YOUR HOME! BRAND

I PAY CASH FOR DIABETIC TEST STRIPS Up to $10 per 100 ct. Call Bob 828-577-4197

Tax incentives up to $6500

WILL BUY YOUR JUNK

NEW HOMES

704-484-1640 Mobile Homes For Rent 2BR/2BA New paint, stove, refrig., electric heat $290/mo. + $100 dep. Call 657-6282 2 Bedroom/2 Bath in Ellenboro. Cent. heat & air. $80/wk + $200 dep. 453-8250

Cars & Trucks

Pick up at your convenience!

Call 223-0277

Pets Chihuahua puppies $100 each Parents on site Call 288-9894 or 828-458-9847 Free to good home 3 Male Boxadors Half boxer/half black lab. 6 weeks old. Call 245-0123 or 245-5369

Pets Needs home ASAP FREE female hound mix Call 245-1871

Lost Male Gray & white cat with black stripes. Lost 1/26 on Brooks Rd. in Sunshine area. Family misses him! 429-0803

Have you lost or found a pet?

Are you giving something away for free? Place an ad at no cost to you!

Yard Sales

HUGE INDOOR 3 FAMILY 621 Long Branch Rd. (off Poors Ford) Sat. 7A-until Kids, adult, teen name brand clothes, toys, household & lots more!

INDOOR MOVING SALE Rfdtn: 121 West 7th St. Sat. 7A-until Furniture, hunting, twin beds, toys, washer/dryer, clothes, household and more!

Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church Feb 11th-12th 8AM-until.

Big variety and bake sale items. 397 Mt. Pleasant Ch. Rd., FC Rain/shine

The Daily Courier, Forest City, NC, THURSDAY, February 11, 2010 — 15

WEB DIRECTORY Visit the advertisers below by entering their Web address

AUTO DEALERSHIPS

HEALTH CARE

NEWSPAPER

REAL ESTATE

(828) 245-0095 www.hospiceofrutherford.org

(828) 245-6431 www.thedigitalcourier.com

(828) 286-1311 www.keeverrealestate.com

HUNNICUTT FORD (828) 245-1626 www.hunnicuttfordmercury.com

BUSINESS&SERVICE DIRECTORY To List Your Website In This Directory, Contact The Daily Courier Classified Department at (828) 245-6431 Erika Meyer, Ext. 205

AIR CONDITIONING & HEATING

CONSTRUCTION

GRADING & HAULING

Hutchins Remodeling

NC License 6757 • SC License 4299 FAST RELIABLE SERVICE ON ALL BRANDS Free Estimates • Best Warranties All Work Guaranteed Service • Installation • Duct Cleaning • IAQ Gas / Oil / Heat Pumps / Geothermal / Boilers Residential & Commercial 24 Hour Emergency Service

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Repairs on Hydraulic and Pneumatic Cylinders, New and Reconditioned Pumps and Valves, Parker hose Assemblies, Fittings and Adaptors.All types of Welding Available: Steel, Aluminum and Stainless Steel

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A TO Z, IT’S IN THE

CLASSIFIEDS!

16

— The

Daily Courier, Forest City, NC, Thursday, February 11, 2010

Nation/world

Government’s role in health care is already significant An AP News Analysis

By WALTER R. MEARS AP Special Correspondent

Associated Press

Toyota Motor Corp. President Akio Toyoda, speaks to reporters after meeting with Japan’s Transport Minister Seiji Maehara at he ministry in Tokyo, Japan, Tuesday.

Solon wants Toyota president to testify WASHINGTON (AP) — A top Republican on a House panel investigating Toyota’s massive recalls called Wednesday for the company’s president to testify before Congress later this month, seeking an “open exchange” before the American public.

Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., said Toyota president Akio Toyoda should meet with lawmakers and testify before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee on Feb. 24. The automaker’s top executive and grandson of the company’s founder has said he plans to travel to the United States soon to meet with American workers and dealers.

“There certainly is widespread interest from Capitol Hill and the American people to hear directly from him,” Issa said. He said he would ask Chairman Edolphus Towns, D-N.Y.,

who leads the committee, to invite Toyoda to participate in the hearing.

The hearing was scheduled for Wednesday but postponed because of a snowstorm that blanketed the capital. Issa says the delayed hearing would give the committee an opportunity to “provide a forum for both Mr. Toyoda and lawmakers to have an open exchange in front of the American people.”

Toyota has recalled nearly 8.5 million vehicles since November around the globe for problems that include floor mats that can entangle the gas pedal and gas pedals that can stick, causing sudden acceleration. The recalls have drawn interest in Congress, where lawmakers are looking into how the company handled the recalls and whether the government properly investigated numerous complaints.

CHAPEL HILL — In the long, loud argument about President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul, opponents contend it would point toward a government takeover of the system. Democrats deny that. Now there’s evidence that it’s already happening, inexorably, whatever the outcome on the stalled health care bill.

For the first time, government programs will account for more than half of U.S. health care spending by 2012, and that share will keep creeping upward, according to federal actuaries.

Federal and state government programs now cover an estimated 42 percent of health care costs. The number jumps significantly in the first part of the decade, exceeding 50 percent by 2012, and then rises slowly toward the end of the decade, when it’s likely to reach 52 percent.

So after all the months of wrangling about the public option for health care coverage, it turns out not to be optional in the current system.

“I don’t know if anybody noticed that, for the first time this year, you saw more people getting health care from government than you did from the private sector; not because of anything we did, but because more and more people are losing their health care from their employers. It’s becoming unaffordable,” Obama told reporters Tuesday — with a bit of hyperbole.

The numbers make a compelling case for change and Obama is making another push for it. He’s called Republican and Democratic leaders to discuss health care with him on Feb. 25, all on

television. It amounts to a compromise offer built into a challenge to the Republicans, who held the party line against his health care bill with unanimous opposition in the Senate and only one GOP vote in the House.

Obama said he wants to “look at the Republican ideas that are out there.” But he is not offering to do what GOP leaders demand, as they have all along — scrap the current bill and start from scratch.

The White House said he wants “comprehensive reform similar to the bills passed by the House and the Senate.”

That was at hand before the Democrats lost their filibuster-blocking 60th Senate vote in a special election upset in Massachusetts. Now they’ve got to find another way if health care changes are to pass.

Hence the president’s call for a conference with both sides plus health care experts to compare “their ideas, our ideas ... in a methodical way so the American people can see and compare.”

They also can see and compare the cost of doing nothing in the projections published this month by the journal Health Affairs, covering the increasing share of government spending on health care. That’s based on the impact of the recession and unemployment, Medicaid spending and the aging baby boomers who will turn 65 and become eligible for Medicare.

The report estimated national health care spending at $2.5 trillion in 2009, or 17.3 percent of the economy after the sharpest one-year increase in 50 years.

By 2020, health spending is expected to reach $4.5 trillion a year and account for about 20 percent of the economy.

Add to that the biggest tax

break the government offers, $155 billion in taxes spared on employer-paid health insurance premiums. That exemption benefits 162 million Americans, and even a hint of changing that stirs a political firestorm, as it has in the current debate about limiting the deduction so as to tax part of the premium on the highest-cost, so-called Cadillac health insurance plans.

Overall, those trends point to higher health care expenses than any national budget can afford. But the case for change collides with the hard political lines already drawn on the issue.

Obama’s effort to bend them “and arrive at some agreements” to get bipartisan action on health care is a long shot. He told supporters that he never underestimated the problems and political risks of pushing health care reform.

“I knew this was hard,” he said. “You don’t think I got warnings?”

President Bill Clinton tried it, and paid. He couldn’t even get a vote on his bill, in a Democratic Congress. And the failed drive for universal health care hurt Democrats in the 1994 midterm elections in which Republicans won control of Congress.

Anything approaching a replay in the 2010 elections would push the issue off the table, despite the need for change to ward off unsustainable costs. About 30 years ago, House Speaker Thomas P. “Tip” O’Neill pronounced Social Security to be “the third rail of American politics” — perilous to touch.

Eventually it was changed to control costs but only when the alternative was crisis.

Short of some kind of action this time, health care could become the new third rail.

Iraq bars Blackwater linked guards

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BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraq has ordered hundreds of private security guards linked to Blackwater Worldwide to leave the country within seven days or face possible arrest on visa violations, the interior minister said Wednesday.

The order comes in the wake of a U.S. judge’s dismissal of criminal charges against five Blackwater guards who were accused in the September 2007 shooting deaths of 17 Iraqis.

It applies to about 250 security contractors who worked for Blackwater in Iraq.

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