November 2005 archives

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Wednesday, November 30, 2005

A comfort: Accident victims’ classmates provide lesson in compassion

Teenagers are not known for their sensitivity. And teenage boys, especially, don’t usually allow themselves to show their softer side. And that is part of the reason what Greenwood Middle School students Conner Childers, Justin Bucher and Drake Pieper did...

Tuesday, November 29, 2005

Wrist-slapping: Law should put the victims first

There’s an old adage about a culprit being out of jail before his victims are out of the hospital. That must have occurred to many citizens upon reading the article about the maximum punishment the driver might face should he...

Monday, November 28, 2005

A suggestion: For those Johnston County protesters

According to The Associated Press, some 60 protesters showed up at Johnston County Airport recently to demonstrate their disapproval of Aero Contractors’ operations there. Aero Contractors is a private firm that has been leasing eight acres of airport property there...

Saturday, November 26, 2005

Empty Stocking Fund a holiday wonder

It is that time of year again. The Goldsboro News-Argus has kicked off its 2005 Empty Stocking Fund. And as you probably noted in the Thanksgiving edition, we are already off to a great start because of the generosity of...

Friday, November 25, 2005

Your turn, Judge: Enforcement officers have done their jobs

Wayne Sheriff Carey Winders, his deputies and area police officers are to be congratulated for impressive crackdowns on drug operations and a recent epidemic of felonious break-ins. These include arrests of a number of people accused of dealing in hard...

Wednesday, November 23, 2005

Community has much for which to give thanks

Being thankful doesn’t take a lot of work, especially if you open your eyes and look around you. In Wayne County, there are a multitude of reasons to be thankful today — and every day. This is a good community...

Gradually better: Ever so slowly, consumers see improvement in gasoline prices

Prices are coming down at the pumps. And just in time for the Thanksgiving holiday, too. After what has seemed like months of high prices, local residents are finally getting a bit of a break at the pumps. And how...

Tuesday, November 22, 2005

Home of the brave: Goldsboro native’s dedication brings a Bronze Star

Reading Christopher Plummer’s story, it is easy to see why someone thought he should receive the Bronze Star. The 40-year-old Goldsboro native hesitated only a moment before rushing out to see if he could help his four fellow soldiers whose...

Monday, November 21, 2005

How we drive: Bad habits behind the wheel endanger innocent people

The heartbreaking thing about the accident that put two Wayne County teenagers in the hospital this past week is that it did not have to happen at all. And the tragic aspect of the story is that it could have...

Saturday, November 19, 2005

Along with new shelter, owner responsibility is needed

The process is beginning again on plans for the construction of a new Wayne County Animal Shelter. Last week, representatives from local humane societies and concerned citizens met with members of the county’s Animal Control Advisory Committee to look at...

Friday, November 18, 2005

Clean it up now: Lottery officials must establish trust before games begin

It’s another day and a few more questions in what is becoming the daily ethics update on the North Carolina Lottery. This time, the questions are continuing regarding former lottery commissioner Kevin Geddings, who has been criticized for not completely...

Thursday, November 17, 2005

Obligation: Freedom requires vigilance against injustice

It was not easy to listen to Gizella Abramson’s description of her life and the horrors she witnessed as a young girl during the Holocaust. She described cruelty and inhumanity that seem so out of place, so hard to imagine,...

Wednesday, November 16, 2005

Your tax money: Much of it goes into ‘rat holes’

It happens all too often — almost daily, it seems. News stories tell of individuals in responsible positions in public agencies misappropriating hundreds of thousands, even millions, of dollars. Often the money goes into the pockets of relatives or friends...

Tuesday, November 15, 2005

Help at home: United Way still needs dollars for annual campaign

There isn’t much more time left to be a part of changing lives right here in Wayne County. The county’s United Way chapter is only a couple of weeks away from wrapping up its 2005 fundraising campaign. The money raised...

Monday, November 14, 2005

Squeaky wheels: Want change? Make sure you take a stand.

Forget for the moment whether or not the county commission should address the issue of conditions at the Wayne County Animal Shelter. That question is for another day. Today, think about how to effect change in this community. It should...

Saturday, November 12, 2005

Valor's legacy: With gratitude to veterans, a nation cherishes its freedom

History is filled with heroes who have risked their lives for people they did not even know and for a country and a flag. Some of them were simple people from modest lives who answered the call when their country...

Friday, November 11, 2005

If crisis comes: Let San Francisco look after itself

Citizens of one of the nation’s largest cities have banned ownership of handguns. They also have “urged” their city’s high schools and colleges to keep military recruiters off their campuses. Which city? San Francisco — no great surprise. Fifty-eight percent...

Thursday, November 10, 2005

Safe housing: Violations of code are a serious matter

There was a lot of handshaking going on after the Goldsboro City Council decided to grant property owners Mike Pate and Calvin Hodgin 90 more days to get a local apartment building up to code. Mayor Al King said Pate...

Wednesday, November 9, 2005

Killer walks out: Door left ‘ajar’ on death row?

There was a lot of handshaking going on after the Goldsboro City Council decided to grant property owners Mike Pate and Calvin Hodgin 90 more days to get a local apartment building up to code. Mayor Al King said Pate...

Tuesday, November 8, 2005

The Eureka way: We all could benefit from gentler campaigns

Eureka might just be able to teach the rest of the country how to run an election. There were no expensive campaigns and no speeches or baby-kissing. In fact, no one actually filed for any of the offices. The election...

Monday, November 7, 2005

Opportunity: For kids wanting to go fishing! It’s a great idea!

Someone has suggested including a pond in plans for the future of Stoney Creek Park. Over the years, the park has not been among the most popular of the city’s attractions. One reason, perhaps, has been its flood prone propensity....

Saturday, November 5, 2005

High-flying feat: Air base, community revel in shared endeavors

There is something about the sound of a jet flying overhead that makes hearts in Wayne County beat just a little faster. While watching so many arrive and practice for this weekend’s Wings Over Wayne show, it was hard not...

Friday, November 4, 2005

War and politics: Questions seem aimed at angling for advantage

With all the squabbling over Vice President Dick Cheney’s chief of staff and what he did and didn’t know and whom he told what he did, the CIA operative scandal has promoted more questions about the Bush administration’s handling of...

Thursday, November 3, 2005

Heroes among us: Rosa Parks’ sacrifice an example of how to change a nation’s heart

She wasn’t anyone special, at least that’s what Rosa Parks told those who asked her about her decision that day so many years ago not to give up her seat on a public bus. She was a woman who was...

Wednesday, November 2, 2005

Record profits: Big oil gorges while we suffer

It should not be a surprise to anyone that some big oil companies have reported record profits. ExxonMobil’s profits for the third quarters jumped a whopping 75 percent from last year. That was a profit of $9.92 billion for the...

Tuesday, November 1, 2005

Tax consequences: Keeping an eye on rates will brighten state’s future

No one likes to pay taxes; and North Carolina residents are no exception. The recent concern over the increase in local tax rates has left many Wayne County homeowners wondering how they are going to absorb the extra cost, and...