November 2006 archives

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Thursday, November 30, 2006

A plan is coming: Bipartisan commission has answers to consider

After months of arguing and talking heads giving their opinions on the best way to move forward in the war in Iraq, in less than a week, a bipartisan commission will be ready to unveil its answer. No one...

Wednesday, November 29, 2006

Christmas spirit: Empty Stocking Fund offers chance to help children

You have to be there to really understand just how special the Empty Stocking Fund party is. There will be hundreds of children lined up outside, waiting with their parents for a chance to come into what they must see...

Tuesday, November 28, 2006

Black is back: Elections Board gives OK, now it is up to leaders

It is shocking enough that a representative so plagued by questions concerning his ethics should be returned to his seat in the N.C. House of Representatives. That fact alone makes Jim Black’s re-election to the House a reason to question...

Monday, November 27, 2006

Share the spirit: There are many seniors who will be forgotten this Christmas

The names on this year’s wish trees at the Berkeley Mall do not just include children. More than 200 seniors citizens are listed there, too. And that might not be a group you would think of when you are deciding...

Sunday, November 26, 2006

Have some fun: United Way blends merriment with the joy of giving

It’s all in fun, the United Way’s newest challenge for its community partners. Bring It On will send a state representative to the pickle plant, the mayor to Starbucks and the sheriff to Krispy Kreme. And then there is the...

Friday, November 24, 2006

Lenoir fiascos: Repeated errors cast doubt on ‘every vote counts’ claim

ne mistake is understandable. A poll worker gets confused and a few voters get the wrong ballot — OK, lesson learned. But when those “mistakes” stretch past that mark — and in the same race — that is an indication...

Wednesday, November 22, 2006

Slow down: A year after accident, drivers should remember

Doug Thomas can’t drive by Greenwood Middle School without thinking about the day a careless driver hit his little boy and his friend as they crossed the street on their way to school. And although his family has been through...

Tuesday, November 21, 2006

Scary story: Think there isn’t a problem with drunken drivers?

It might have made you laugh when you read it — a man who went to court — drunk — to answer for his fourth DWI, allegedly carrying marijuana. And since he is innocent until proven guilty, there is no...

Monday, November 20, 2006

Water is an issue: Stoney Creek Park is a great idea, but flooding does matter

It is hard to speak out against an idea that sounds as good as Stoney Creek Park. A nice, new, calm and beautiful place for families to gather and for the community to focus some positive attention — who could...

Saturday, November 18, 2006

Invest in history: Neighborhood deterioration cannot be tolerated

History just might be an untapped market for Wayne County — if, that is, someone is ready to get tough about protecting the integrity of downtown Goldsboro’s historic neighborhoods. The number of potentially beautiful downtown homes is staggering. Just drive...

Friday, November 17, 2006

Immigration: It is the elephant in the room that it is time to talk about

There are some who might think that the only issue facing the brand new Congress come January is the war in Iraq. Far from it. An incident in Tar Heel today points to an equally important question that could have...

Thursday, November 16, 2006

Shelter is priority: Conditions should keep new shelter project on front burner

When talk begins about putting a new animal shelter in Wayne County, inevitably some of the first words spoken are about how much it will cost. And there is no question that paying for the construction will not be done...

Wednesday, November 15, 2006

Revote? It is surprising there is even a question in Black race

The results are in, kind of, in the race between Speaker of the N.C. House of Representatives Jim Black and his Republican challenger, Hal Jordan. It seems nearly 450 votes were cast that should not have been filed in the...

Tuesday, November 14, 2006

The race begins: Research for 2008 should begin before the primary hype

With the 2008 presidential election only a little less than two years away, the onslaught has begun. Just a couple of months ago, no one wanted to talk on the record about his or her presidential aspirations. Now, several would-be...

Monday, November 13, 2006

Act locally: Taking care of community should be priority, too

The lament is the same — too much to do and too little time to accomplish anything. The phrase is decades old and has become one of the most familiar answers to any question of a commitment outside the normal...

Sunday, November 12, 2006

Take the next step: Proper school facilities essential to learning

At long last, the discussions have started about Wayne County school facilities — what we need and who will pay for them. Meetings began last week — and two of the three committees, educational process and facilities and real estate...

Friday, November 10, 2006

Fly that flag: This is the weekend we thank those who have served

They are a quiet lot, these heroes. In fact, many of those who have done the most and been the most heroic are the last to say anything about their years wearing the uniform. They were just doing their job,...

Thursday, November 9, 2006

No shock here: Change in leadership should not damage mission

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...

Wednesday, November 8, 2006

Change, really? Voters will have to judge whether election mattered

The political tide has changed in the U.S. House of Representatives and could be poised to do the same in the U.S. Senate. So, now that a new party has taken leadership of at least one portion of Congress, there...

Tuesday, November 7, 2006

There’s still time: Even if you just got home, you can still make your vote count

Who hasn’t been there. You intended to vote all day. In fact, you were excited about getting out and punching your card to determine your county and state’s futures. And then your day explodes. Last-minute meetings, a catastrophe at work...

Monday, November 6, 2006

A tragic loss: Stiff penalties should be price for dangerous arson

The man who is accused of setting the blaze that ended in the deaths of five firefighters in California — if he is guilty — probably never intended that anyone would die as a result of his action. He —...

Sunday, November 5, 2006

Whom to choose: Qualified candidates abound, but who should get your vote?

One of the hardest jobs to do in a local election is to determine which candidate is the right one for the job of running your community. They are all your neighbors and they are all putting themselves out there...

Friday, November 3, 2006

Community first: Bill Kemp’s life was spent serving family, Wayne County

The great ones really do not understand just how much they have given. After all, to them, it is just part of their duty to themselves and their community. So, it is probably unlikely Bill Kemp ever really thought he...

Thursday, November 2, 2006

A joke, really? John Kerry’s comment wasn’t funny any way you listened

Those of us who live in military towns or who have family who are serving or have served in the armed forces should not quite be ready to let Democrat John Kerry off the hook for his recent “joke” about...

Wednesday, November 1, 2006

Pick a side, please: For some candidates, principles swing any way polls blow

The winds of change are blowing through the country again — just in time for the mid-term elections. And, as usual, it is not just the voters who are thinking about jettisoning some of the old to make room for...