Articles by Category

Editorial: High Point takes time to study volatile issue

dshelton — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 03:00:39 -0500

Bring up the subject of sex offenders, and most elected officials rush to get tough. High Point City Council members deserve credit for slowing down long enough to really think about a complex issue.

The proposal before them was familiar: banning registered sex offenders from public parks and recreation facilities. Greensboro's City Council adopted a similar measure in September. Mecklenburg County has done it. The N.C. Supreme Court ruled that the state's first ordinance of this kind, enacted in the small Buncombe County town of Woodfin, was not unconstitutional.

Change is coming for NASCAR

import — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 03:00:00 -0500

NASCAR Chairman Brian France vowed before this season to "minimize change" in the sport.

Don't expect him to make such a pledge entering next season. Changes loom in the 2010 schedule, which will be finalized next year.

A troubled economy has forced some teams to downsize. Others could disappear. NASCAR will race in the South on Labor Day weekend, but it will be in Atlanta not Darlington.

Don't expect Jimmie Johnson to win a record fourth consecutive championship. Change is coming in a big way.

New PTI ramp system set for opening

mgrossman — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 10:28:57 -0500

GREENSBORO - Starting this weekend, motorists should have a new way of getting to and from Piedmont Triad International Airport, one that eliminates a cumbersome stop light on the airport perimeter.

Construction supervisors are poised to open a new interchange and ramp system from Bryan Boulevard that will be the new gateway for airport visitors, said Ted Johnson, PTI's executive director.

State highway officials are expecting to open the new network on Saturday, but say it still could be delayed by weather or other unforeseen circumstances.

Editorial: Steve Sabock’s final hours

dshelton — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 03:00:04 -0500

You've probably read about the atrocious treatment patient Steve Sabock received at Cherry Hospital, a state mental facility in Goldsboro, last spring. About how he sat in a day room for 22 hours after choking on medication, falling down and hitting his head, with staff mostly ignoring him. About how he went for almost a day without eating or drinking. About how he died shortly after his ordeal from a heart condition that likely was aggravated by the treatment he received.

Driver of van eluding arrest, city police say

Holly Lux — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 03:00:00 -0500

GREENSBORO — Michael Parks, who is wanted on a felony charge connected to a crash that left 12-year-old Drew Gardner seriously injured, is actively avoiding arrest, according to police.

“He knows he’s wanted,” Cpl. L.G. LaBoard said. “He’s avoiding us.”

Police say Parks ran a stop sign on South Lindell Road on Nov. 11, then drove off the road and down a ravine, hitting Drew, who was playing in the ravine with his friend, Taylor Rhynehardt.

Expecting shortfall, city to cut spending

Holly Lux — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 03:00:00 -0500

GREENSBORO — While you were sleeping Tuesday night, City Manager Mitchell Johnson delivered some dismal news.

Greensboro will likely come up $4.5 million short this fiscal year.

The city will delay filling some jobs, freeze salaries starting Jan. 1, slash contracts, eliminate a park reserve fund and make other cuts to make up for the anticipated losses, Johnson told council members late Tuesday night at their meeting. Those savings will create a $4.78 million contingency to help pay for losses caused by the downturn in the economy.

Expect a colder, wetter winter in N.C.

jnewsom — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 13:47:55 -0500

RALEIGH (AP) — Forecasters say winter in North Carolina could be wetter and colder than the past few seasons despite a Southern outlook for drier and warmer conditions.

National Weather Service meteorologist Jeff Orrock said today the state will likely see a decrease in global weather patterns that have made past winters warmer and drier.

Orrock said forecasters examined weather records for past years when conditions were similar to the start of this winter. He said in those years the temperatures were colder and had more precipitation.

Richard Moore: Let's fight to preserve Wachovia

import — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 03:00:00 -0500

Last week's news cycle began with stories about powerful leaders in Washington lining up to support a bailout of our automakers.

The emphasis was on saving good jobs. In this economy, it is hard to imagine a nobler mission. Yet at the same time, our federal government is actually trying to put one of our countries' great employers out of business, one that employs more people than General Motors.

Thomas Sowell: Gays act like marriage is a 'right'

import — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 03:00:31 -0500

Among the many new "rights" being conjured out of thin air, a new one seems to be a "right" to win.

Americans have long had the right to put their candidates and their ideas to a vote. Now there seems to be a sense that your rights have been trampled on if you don't win.

Hillary Clinton's supporters were not merely disappointed, but outraged, when she lost the Democrats' nomination to Barack Obama. Some took it as a sign that, while racial barriers had come down, the "glass ceiling" holding down women was still in place.

Hot-shooting Guilford subdues Greensboro

import — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 03:00:00 -0500

Guilford College hopes to replace Ben Strong with a balanced scoring attack, and it gave a perfect example of the new game plan with a dominating 77-56 win over the Greensboro Pride in the annual matchup of Greensboro's two Division III schools Wednesday night.

Rhett Bonner had a game-high 21 points and was one of three Quakers in double digits as the hosts avenged last season's loss to the Pride.

Bonner shot 9-of-11, including three 3-pointers, as he continually made Greensboro pay when it focused either on big man Tyler Sanborn or shooting guard Clay Henson.

Maureen Dowd: Two Clintons for the price of two

import — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 03:00:42 -0500

Bill Clinton was feeling grumpy toward Barack Obama.

Well, let me rephrase that.

Bill Clinton was feeling grumpier toward Barack Obama.

The ex-president was irritated, friends said, at all the unflattering comparisons between his slow, stumbling transition and Obama's smooth, swift one.

As Karen Tumulty wrote in Time, "Obama has been quicker off the blocks in setting up his government than any of his recent predecessors were, particularly Bill Clinton, who did not announce a single major appointment until mid-December."

Dueling festivals widen rift

Holly Lux — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 03:00:00 -0500

For pottery lovers, the weekend before Thanksgiving has long been a time to go to Seagrove for an annual festival, a time for what might be the country’s most famous pottery community to come together.

But this year, that community has fallen apart like a poorly fired pot.

Instead of one festival, there are two, the fruit of a bitter dispute among area potters that threatens to confuse customers and hurt potters who might see crowds split.

Touching hearts: Three stories of giving

Jay Reddick — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 03:00:00 -0500

A week before Thanksgiving, when the phrase "these uncertain times" has become an unwanted cliche, you end up finding beauty in the simplest details of anyone's story.

Let's look at three.

Two sisters. One Santa. And one music teacher, with an old violin.

Schools to cut $5 million from budget

Jay Reddick — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 03:00:00 -0500

Guilford County Schools officials expect to lose about $5 million in state funding, nearly twice what was expected. The amount represents about 0.8 percent of the $643 million budget approved in August.

School superintendents statewide were notified earlier this week that they would have to revert some state funding — totaling about $58 million — to Raleigh as part of cost-cutting measures. The mandate came from Gov. Mike Easley’s office as state officials prepared for a budget shortfall that could be as high as $1.6 billion.

City settles lawsuit with contractors for $570K

mfuchs — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 05:49:58 -0500

GREENSBORO - The city has agreed to pay nearly $600,000 to contractors involved in the Willow Oaks project, according to a settlement agreement.

The settlement, reached Oct. 31 and announced Tuesday night at the City Council meeting, also includes instructions that Triangle Grading and Paving will be paid an additional $159,775 to complete work at Willow Oaks.

Triangle Grading and Paving of Burlington received $550,000 in the settlement, and Mid-City Urban of Greensboro received $20,000, records show.

Hardin: NFL rules made to be broken, not understood

mfuchs — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 05:52:37 -0500

CHARLOTTE - An uneasiness settled in over NFL camps this weekend, not after the results from Sunday's games started coming in, and not after the crucial midseason standings became clearer, but just after Donovan McNabb opened his mouth and uttered the unutterable.

The quarterback of the Philadelphia Eagles had just engineered a 13-13 overtime tie with the Cincinnati Bengals when he stood before a bank of cameras and said he didn't know that ties counted in the NFL. He assumed the game was going to continue after overtime.

High Point council OKs ban on forceful solicitation

mfuchs — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 05:56:48 -0500

HIGH POINT - You can ask for spare change, but you can't demand it.

That's the difference between panhandling and harassment, said supporters of High Point's new ban on aggressive solicitation. The City Council approved the new ordinance Tuesday.

"It's not aimed at homeless people who are asking for help," said City Councilman Mike Pugh, who proposed the ordinance. "We're talking about people who follow you, who threaten, who are aggressive and won't stop. That's dangerous and that's got to stop."

Board tables vote for incentives program

mfuchs — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 05:59:00 -0500

An experimental program offering incentives to teachers willing to work at low-performing schools got a cool reception from school board members Wednesday.

The federally funded program would pay high-quality teachers an additional $20,000 over two years to teach at low-performing schools.

The program is being conducted by Mathematica, a policy research firm in Washington. Researchers launched a pilot program in Washington last year and want to expand to 10 to 12 school districts across the country.

Suspicious substance sent to Whitsett homeowner

mfuchs — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 06:03:27 -0500

WHITSETT - Authorities are investigating a suspicious substance sent to a Whitsett homeowner Wednesday, the sheriff's office said.

A resident living on Championship Drive found a white powdery substance inside two envelopes Wednesday evening, Col. Randy Powers of the Guilford County Sheriff's Office confirmed.

Hazardous materials crews were called to the scene, donned biochemical suits and removed the powder from the home.

Update: N.C. State student apologizes for Obama graffiti

mfuchs — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 13:13:42 -0500

RALEIGH (AP) — An apology by an N.C. State student for painting racially charged graffiti at the school's free expression tunnel in Raleigh is only the beginning of the healing process, the president of the state NAACP said today.

The student, who remains unidentified, said in a statement on the school's Web site that he regretted the fallout from the disparaging remarks he painted on campus about president-elect Barack Obama in the hours following his historic victory.

Woman uses knife to fend off attacker

jnewsom — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 07:16:14 -0500

GREENSBORO — Police are looking for a man who broke into a house Wednesday night and tried to assault a woman inside.

Shortly after 9 p.m., Greensboro police said 19-year-old Tiffany Michelle Hunt was in a back bedroom in the 4200 block of Harvard Avenue when she heard a noise in the front of the house. When she went to check, a man forced her to the floor and tried to pull off her pants.

But Hunt escaped and ran to the kitchen, where she grabbed a knife. The suspect then ran out the back door.

Photo: Two men rob Greensboro bank

jnewsom — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 10:59:44 -0500

GREENSBORO — Police are looking for two men who robbed a First Citizens Bank on Wednesday morning.

Greensboro police said one of the suspects who came into the bank at 3200 Randleman Road was armed with a handgun. After demanding and getting cash, the two men left in a blue Dodge Stratus that had been car-jacked earlier. Police said they later found the abandoned vehicle nearby.

No one was hurt during the robbery, which happened at 9:32 a.m. Police did not say how much money was taken.

Hospital fires 3 over patient abuse

jnewsom — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 07:56:40 -0500

GOLDSBORO (AP) — North Carolina officials have fired three employees and disciplined others in the death of a patient who was neglected for more than 22 hours at a state-operated mental hospital.

The employees at Cherry Hospital in Goldsboro were fired over the death of Steven H. Sabock, 50, of Roanoke Rapids, who had a bipolar disorder and died April 29 after choking on medication and hitting his head.

Surveillance video shows employees playing cards and watching television and ignoring Sabock as he slumped in a chair.

Man robbed while on porch

jnewsom — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 08:26:11 -0500

GREENSBORO — A 29-year-old man was robbed of cigarettes, a cell phone and money while on his porch Wednesday.

Greensboro police said William Vernell Alston Jr. was on the porch in the 1600 block of Alice Avenue when a man with a gun approached him. Alston was not hurt, and the suspect was last seen running toward Barber Park.

The incident took place at 12:50 p.m. Police did not say how much money was stolen.

'Walk Against Crime' tonight

jnewsom — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 08:59:51 -0500

GREENSBORO — Greensboro will hold a "Walk Against Crime" today starting at 5:30 p.m.

Police officers, local residents and employees from human services areas will start the walk at Grace Church at Lee and Dick streets. The walk will be 1.3 miles.