Local
The Sanford Herald / Wednesday, January 6, 2010 / 3A
CARTHAGE
AROUND OUR AREA
Delay sought in Haddock murder case
CHATHAM COUNTY
Goldston elected officials sworn in GOLDSTON — Goldston’s recently elected officials were sworn into office Monday before the town’s first public meeting of the new year. Pictured (from left to right) being sworn in are Lynn Gaines, Mayor Tim Cunnup, Wayne Woody, Barry Gaines and Town Clerk Annie Kay King-Gaines. — submitted photo
CARTHAGE (MCT) — A lawyer for one of the men accused of killing 12-yearold Emily Haddock in 2007 is seeking a delay in the trial. The trial for Michael Graham Currie is scheduled to begin Feb. 1 in Moore County Superior Court. His lawyer, Tony Buzzard, has asked for a continuance. A hearing on the request is scheduled for Thursday, according to District Attorney Maureen Krueger. Investigators have said several men entered Emily’s home near Vass on Sept. 21, 2007, with the intention of robbing
it. Emily was home with strep throat. When they found her, one of the men shot her, deputies have said. Currie is one of five men charged. The others are: Sherrod Nicholas Harrison, who was 19 at the time; Van Roger Smith Jr., who was 16; Perry Ross Schiro, who was 19; and Ryan Jermar White, who was 18. They also are charged with breaking and entering. The state is seeking the death penalty for Currie and Harrison. Currie’s trial was scheduled to begin this week, but it was continued until Feb. 1 at the
request of his lawyer. Buzzard asked for a continuance because of health issues involving a witness. Buzzard said Monday he is seeking another continuance because of the ongoing health concerns of a witness. He said he would like the trial put off for 60 to 90 days. Buzzard said he also is waiting on discovery information from investigators regarding hair testing. Buzzard said he has not been told whether the state plans to prosecute the five men separately or as a group. All five are on the trial calendar together, Krueger said.
Buzzard also said the issue of the Racial Justice Act must be addressed by the court. The law prohibits seeking or imposing a death sentence on the basis of race. Schiro, White and Smith will not face the death penalty if convicted. Smith is too young to qualify for the death penalty, and prosecutors have said they won’t seek it for White. Deputies have said White was not present when Emily was killed. The state told a Superior Court judge in February 2008 that it would not try Schiro capitally.
Bypass
final section will run from U.S. 1 to U.S. 421 near Cumnock Road. Bob Bridwell, the community development director for Sanford and Lee County, said the news is extremely good. “We’ve all been waiting on this forever. And now, it’s ahead of schedule and we’re all delighted,� he said. For Bridwell, the portion of the bypass in question is “the most strategic piece� which will “attract the most economic development.�
“It’s not like the other end of the bypass isn’t important, but this first section will link the whole surrounding area up for all the retail development we’ve talked about,� he said. The bypass, which is designed to relieve truck traffic on Horner Boulevard by routing it around town, will also help business throughout Sanford, Bridwell said. “Now the bypass will really begin to serve its true purpose,� he said, explaining that business on the city’s main retail
corridor should increase even with less traffic. “The reality is that roads like (the bypass) have allowed a softer, gentler development to take place in urban corridors like Horner Boulevard. As traffic slows down on the main roads, it’s actually more conducive to retail development.� The other 12 recovery-funded projects are located in Alamance, Bertie, Buncombe, Franklin, Granville, Guilford, Nash, Person, Rockingham, Stanly, Wake, and Wilson counties.
suspect after interviewing customers and employees at the bank. “We got a real good description of the suspect and the vehicle,� Smith said. “Later that night, our detectives saw a vehicle matching the description and stopped the driver. That resulted in the arrest.� Smith said officers were able to recover
about two-thirds of the money Bullard is alleged to have taken after searching his vehicle and home. Police didn’t disclose the amount of money taken from the bank. Smith also said police weren’t able to find a weapon but that that wouldn’t change the charge Bullard faces. “(Bullard) said he was
sticking with statement that he handed the clerk a note saying he had a gun,� Smith said. “He’ll still be charged with armed robbery. He put the fear in the clerk as if he had a weapon so it doesn’t make a difference.� Bullard was placed in the Lee County Jail under $50,000 secured bond.
increase.� Williams was the only council member who voted against the tax to speak against its repeal. He pointed to future expenses such as police salaries currently being paid for with federal stimulus funds and fire fighter salaries at a possible fourth fire station as reasons to keep the tax. “Down the road we’re going to have to assume these salaries if we’re going to keep them on board,� he said. “You prepare for war in times of peace. That money is going to have to come from somewhere. The big box stores are going to use our services, and they tend to need a few more services than the average small business.� Stone pointed out that the state’s legislation
which allows cities to levy a business privilege tax was written in the 1930s. “We all know how backwards things were in the 1930s,� he said. “It’s easy to put a new tax on. You can see how hard it is to remove one.�
Continued from Page 1A
LEE COUNTY
CCCC begins spring registration SANFORD — The Dennis A. Wicker Civic Center was a busy place Tuesday as Central Carolina Community College students signed up for their spring semester classes during open registration. University transfer student Will Bridges (right), of Sanford, discusses taking some of his classes via the Internet with Bianka Stumpf, CCCC director of Distance Education. Bridges plans to get his degree and then transfer to N.C. State University to major in meteorology. For more information about programs or registration, visit the college’s Web site, www.cccc.edu, or call one of the campuses: Pittsboro, (919) 542-6495; Lillington, (910) 893-9101; or Sanford, (919) 775-5401.
JOHNSTON COUNTY
CHATHAM COUNTY
N.C. auto dealer Deacon Jones dies
Council on Aging offers healthy living sessions
PRINCETON (MCT) — Bobby Kenneth “Deacon� Jones, a longtime Princeton resident and the successful auto dealership owner behind the “Speakin’ Deacon� catchphrase, died in Florida Saturday, eight days after being stricken by a heart attack. He was 69. James Eddins, who ran Jones’ Buick Pontiac dealership in Smithfield for six years, said Jones traveled to Florida late on Christmas Day and suffered a heart attack at the airport. Jones was taken to an Orlando hospital for surgery, Eddins said. He was stable until his condition deteriorated Saturday. Jones built Deacon Jones Automotive Group into a family-run business of 12 dealerships in Smithfield, Goldsboro, Kinston, Fayetteville, Princeton and Selma. The Princeton High graduate also served on the Johnston County Board of Education for 20 years. In 2002, the Johnston County Education Foundation established a scholarship in Jones’ name for two Princeton High School students. He was named a “Living Legend of Johnston County� in 2005. Jones was a proponent for building schools while on the county school board and also donated money to Johnston County schools and other charities.
PITTSBORO — Living healthy information sessions for people with chronic illnesses will be offered at Fearrington Village in Chatham County from 1:30 to 4 p.m. Tuesdays from Jan. 19 to Feb. 23. Leaders are Dr. Judith Barrett and Jane Armstrong, professionals trained in using evidencebased information developed through Stanford University. Topics covered in the series are techniques to deal with problems such as frustration, fatigue, pain and isolation, appropriate use of medications, communicating effectively with friends, family, and health care providers, appropriate exercise, nutrition, and making informed treatment decisions. The registration deadline is January 15. For more information or to register, contact e-mail jarmstrong@ tjcog.org or call (919) 5589341.
D.H Griffin Infrastructure of Greensboro received the contract. The project can begin as early as Feb. 1 and is scheduled to finish by Nov. 15, 2012. The project will complete one of two remaining sections of the Sanford Bypass. Two sections of the bypass, starting at Broadway Road and ending at U.S. 1, are already complete and open to traffic. The
Robber Continued from Page 1A
traffic stop around 8:30 p.m. Monday near the intersection of Chatham and Wicker streets in downtown Sanford. Capt. David Smith of the Sanford Police Department said officers developed Bullard as a
Tax Continued from Page 1A
vote that there’s plenty of room in the city’s budget to do away with the tax, which brought in roughly $250,000 annually. He pointed to general revenue, investment income, and property tax collections being above projections while expenses are below projections. He also noted the city’s $11 million in available fund balance. “With unemployment in Lee County above 14 percent, it is not the time to build surplus through taxation,� Gaskins said. Mayor Cornelia Olive also pointed out that a repeal “does not mean an automatic property tax
— from staff reports
— Fayetteville Observer
Cash for Internet clunkers SERVING SANFORD
Unlimited Hours, No Contracts!
$
9.95
N Credit o Requir Card ed!
/mo.
• FREE 24/7 Technical Support • Instant Messaging - keep your buddy list! • 10 e-mail addesses with Webmail! • Custom Start Page - news, weather & more! Surf up to
Cash on the spot for old jewelry. No limit on age, year, or wearability. Trade in for brand new models, and get even more.
“SELL TO SOMEONE YOU TRUST.� VOTED BEST JEWELRY STORE IN LEE COUNTY FOR THE LAST 7 YEARS!
6X faster! just $3 more
Sign Up Online!
www.LocalNet.com Call Today & Save!
919-774-1255 Reliable Internet Access Since 1994
119 WICKER ST. DOWNTOWN SANFORD 919 774-4855 WE PAY MORE brendasjewelersnc.com
30 years of keeping Lee County & surrounding areas, Healthy and Fit.
+ - 7ICKER $R s
— Raleigh News & Observer
Huh? If you said this over the holidays, call us! Don’t go through another year of pretending to hear.
(919) 774-3277
www.BrightAudiology.com #ARBONTON 2OAD s 3ANFORD
s #HILD CARE )NSTRUCTORS 'ROUP %XERCISE 0OOL AND MUCH MORE s #OME BY AND 4RY US OUT ./ SIGN UP &EE
Be a 10 in 2010 And get ďŹ t Call 774-4532 or 775-6060 13 for the price of 12 enroll now get one month free
You can also Stop at SNR Fitness Center Behind Golden Coral Dr. Angela Bright Pearson Audiologist
“I’ve worn hearing aids for over 25 years and became an audiologist to help others.�
SNR 2629 Dalrymple Street 775-6060
Be Strong