February 2006 archives

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Tuesday, February 28, 2006

Think, then rebuild: Plans to bring New Orleans back should be made cautiously

Mardi Gras is back in New Orleans. Although the numbers are down significantly from past years, the rebirth of the city’s annual celebration is a sign that there might be a little hope down in Louisiana. So, while there will...

Monday, February 27, 2006

They are finished: Olympics ends with a whimper

More than 26 years ago, Americans stopped what they were doing to sit by the television and watch the Olympic Miracle on Ice in the hockey arena when a group of upstart Americans took on the world ... and won....

Saturday, February 25, 2006

After the exam: Facilities study should lead to definitive plan for schools

Today and tomorrow, you will read the Wayne County Commission’s response to some of the questions that have continued to swirl about the school facilities funding question. Last week, you read how the Wayne County Board of Education sees the...

Friday, February 24, 2006

A little kindness: Just a thought

There will be plenty of time for talk of school budgets, fund balances, animal shelters, the Paramount, traffic problems and all the other stress and strife that are occupying the minds of Wayne County residents these days. But, for now,...

Thursday, February 23, 2006

Place of honor: Historic temple a landmark worth cherishing

There is a project Saturday that you might not have heard too much about until now, but that could be a significant contribution to preserving a bit of the community’s history. Members of the Wayne County Reads Committee, other volunteers...

Wednesday, February 22, 2006

Seeing clearly: Comprehensive eye exam law is nothing but a waste

Eleven county school districts and the state’s School Boards Association are challenging a new law that would require all state schoolchildren to complete a comprehensive eye exam within six months of enrolling in kindergarten. The lawsuit, which was filed this...

Tuesday, February 21, 2006

On the farm: County should remember its roots are in the land

You do not often think about the agricultural economy when you are headed to the grocery store. After all, most of us don’t really like to think about how the meat gets onto those styrofoam trays with the plastic wrap...

Monday, February 20, 2006

Setting priorities: Goldsboro city officials contemplate the future

Goldsboro City Council, Mayor Al King and City Manager Joe Huffman gathered late last week to talk about the future of the city — and where, in the coming months and years, money should be focused to present the best...

Saturday, February 18, 2006

Inspiration: Against daunting obstacles, students demonstrate courage

You might not know the names of the five students chosen by the Wayne County Counselors Association as examples of courage and determination. You might not know, for example, the story of Morris Stocks, the 7-year-old Brodgen Primary School student...

Friday, February 17, 2006

Olympic mold? Are we maybe just a little too used to seeing gold?

OK, so maybe the Olympics haven’t been all they have been hyped up to be this year. Maybe there are more than a few sports where the favored Americans have turned in performances that were a little less than stellar...

Thursday, February 16, 2006

Cheney furor: Might there be a few more important issues to discuss?

It is rather surprising that the story about Vice President Dick Cheney and his hunting accident in Texas is still one of the top bulletins on the national news each evening. And it is pretty reasonable to expect that the...

Wednesday, February 15, 2006

A sad goodbye: Baby’s plight poignant reminder of real problem

It probably will be a while before we know the details surrounding the circumstances that brought a newborn baby to the city sewer plant. It is difficult to think about the possibilities — and even the most innocent explanation is...

Tuesday, February 14, 2006

Surprise, surprise: Lottery proceeds won’t just add to education spending

It should really not be too much of a surprise that state officials felt it necessary this week to remind voters and legislators of a fact that they seemed to think we knew about all along. The money that is...

Monday, February 13, 2006

Kwan’s swan song: Skating champion’s goodbye is something to be admired

The announcement that world champion figure skater American Michelle Kwan will not be participating in this year’s Olympic figure skating competition is not earth-shattering news. It won’t change the course of history, and although it is significant in the world...

Saturday, February 11, 2006

No excuses: Unwanted babies deserve a second chance at life

Friday’s news about the baby found at the sewer plant is not the first time in the last few days there has been a sobering news item about a lost child. This one was just so tragic because it happened...

Friday, February 10, 2006

Jim Hiteshew: A brave airman, beloved citizen

Most of them rarely spoke of it when they finally came home. But United States prisoners of war held by North Vietnam were subjected to the most inhumane treatment imaginable at the hands of supposedly civilized people. Colonel Jim Hiteshew,...

Thursday, February 9, 2006

Real talk: Meaningful discussion needed on students’ quality of life

The Wayne County Board of Education is not giving up on its determination that one of the best ways to improve the performance of students who are struggling to meet minimum academic standards in schools is to improve the environments...

Wednesday, February 8, 2006

Real heroism: The concept involves more than mere fame

One of the saddest facts about today’s society is how few people understand the true meaning of the word “hero.” We toss it around like it is a title that can be earned in a moment of fame rather than...

Tuesday, February 7, 2006

Charades: Bickering takes the place of true political backbone

The problem with government these days is that its leaders do not seem to understand that they cannot have it both ways. They want a nation that is protected from terrorists, and goverment officials to know in advance before a...

Monday, February 6, 2006

It’s education, right? As debut gets closer, someone needs to remind legislators

The scramble is on for one of the coveted contracts to sell lottery tickets when the scratch-off games are ready to begin sometime toward the end of next month. Questions also continue to swirl about how it came about and...

Saturday, February 4, 2006

Relay of hope: Volunteers motivated to conquer dreaded disease

Wayne County really does rock. At least when it comes to the Relay for Life. The annual campaign to raise money to fund cancer research officially kicked off last week, with the actual relay planned for mid-May. The goal is...

Friday, February 3, 2006

Risky equation: Multiple DWIs produce exponential dangers

This is not the place to discuss whether the man who was arrested this week for his second DWI in less than five days is guilty or innocent. That is for a judge to decide. And we probably shouldn’t talk...

Thursday, February 2, 2006

From the shadows: Young people gain personal insight on careers

Throughout Wayne County today, professionals from many different fields got to share a little of their expertise with high school students who might be interested someday in following in their footsteps. The Groundhog Day job shadowing program offered young men...

Wednesday, February 1, 2006

Her own legacy: Coretta Scott King’s courage helped keep the dream alive

Coretta Scott King did much of what a wife should do. She supported her husband, stood by his side and raised a family while he spoke around the nation of justice and equality for all races. She was always in...