December 2006 archives

View Archive

Sunday, December 31, 2006

A steady hand: Ford led with an everyman’s dedication to doing the right thing

He wasn’t what you would call an imposing figure — at least not in most history books. President Gerald Ford was best remembered as a regular guy — the kind of guy next door who tripped, bumbled and made his...

Friday, December 29, 2006

Finally, action: There is an ethics issue to investigate in Duke case

Thursday’s announcement that the N.C. bar is going to look at the conduct of Durham County District Attorney Mike Nifong in connection with the Duke lacrosse rape case is not just good news — it is long-overdue good news for...

Thursday, December 28, 2006

A prelude: In politics, 2007 will be all about 2008

It is almost 2007 and that could only mean one thing — the presidential prognosticating has begun. With 2008 only a year away, the corners are already heating up with discussions of who is the frontrunner and who doesn’t stand...

Wednesday, December 27, 2006

Falling apart: Case against lacrosse players weaker by the day

Almost everyone except District Attorney Mike Nifong seemed to know that what happened last week in the Duke lacrosse team rape case was coming. After months of defending his decision to move forward, Nifong announced Friday that he would be...

Tuesday, December 26, 2006

Just a gesture: Small projects make a big impression on community

For Mason Bland, $50 was a lot of money. So, for the 10-year-old to decide to give it all to the United Way — that’s something special. His reason? He wanted to help others, particularly children. And he is not...

Saturday, December 23, 2006

Season of giving: This community has put a priority on caring this year

If you want to feel good about Wayne County — and focus a bit more on the true spirit of Christmas — just open up the Spirit of the Season section in today’s newspaper. Inside, you will find dozens of...

Friday, December 22, 2006

Enough bickering: Forget about forgiving, just get celebrities to be quiet

Role models seem to be in short supply these days. Just take a look at the recent furor over Miss USA Tara Conner and her escapades and the resulting pardon from billionaire Donald Trump, who now owns the Miss Universe...

Thursday, December 21, 2006

Lottery results: Money is in, but will it be used responsibly? We will see

At long last, the official numbers are in — $63 million has been distributed by the North Carolina Education Lottery from the schools’ percentage of the more than $229 million spent on gaming during the first months of the lottery’s...

Wednesday, December 20, 2006

Stand firm now: Remember the mission should be call along with new caution

Most of what President George W. Bush said this morning in his end-of-year press conference was right on — and not all that new. Anyone who has been following the war in Iraq knows that the difference between a quick...

Tuesday, December 19, 2006

Long-term plan: Looking forward best way to prevent facilities repeat

The Facilities Master Plan Education Process Focus Committee has turned in its recommendations for the next step for school facilities in Wayne County. And chief among its findings is that we need to do it right this time, so 10-20...

Monday, December 18, 2006

Thanks to all: Empty Stocking Fund party was a touching success

There are many people to thank for making this year’s Empty Stocking Fund party a success. First, there was the Elks Lodge and the Braswell family who spent hours purchasing materials for and assembling stockings for the more than 660...

Saturday, December 16, 2006

Getting serious: Boards’ cooperation will lead to better schools, county

After months of inactivity and some rancor, the Wayne County Board of Commissioners and the Wayne County Board of Education finally seem to be making progress toward working together to solve the county school facilities issue. For the first time...

Friday, December 15, 2006

Lottery next: As new year dawns, it will be time to look at plans, progress

With some time having passed since the passage and introduction of the new North Carolina Education Lottery, it is time to talk about something other than Speaker of the House Jim Black and his connection to the lobbyists involved with...

Thursday, December 14, 2006

A special gift: There’s still time to help make a child’s Christmas

It isn’t easy to think about someone else when you have 17 items left to track down to complete your Christmas list and a whole slew of other holiday chores to accomplish before the big day. And everywhere you go...

Wednesday, December 13, 2006

More to the story: Wilmington shooting was a preventable tragedy

It is easy to feel sorry for the parents of Peyton Strickland. Their 18-year-old son is dead because a sheriff’s deputy made an error. Any story that ends in the death of a young man who has not yet seen...

Tuesday, December 12, 2006

A new, clean wind: New representative takes a stand for what’s right

It might seem hard to believe, but Greene, Lenoir and Wayne counties just might have elected themselves a politician who says he stands for something — and means it. Democrat Van Braxton, fresh off his win in the controversial District...

Monday, December 11, 2006

No pity, just outrage: This is not Raleigh mother’s first abandoned baby incident

Maybe she was ashamed or maybe Michelle Dawn Richardson of Wendell just didn’t want anybody to know that she had given birth to a child out of wedlock. No matter what the reason, the 27-year-old decided to take her newborn...

Saturday, December 9, 2006

Called to courage: Today as in 1941, we have much to defend

Retired U.S. Army Sgt. Maj. Luther Saylors can still describe vividly the day Pearl Harbor was hit by Japanese bombers. He remembered thinking that the action that took the lives of so many and shocked a nation meant war. And...

Friday, December 8, 2006

Action is coming: County commissioners say schools are a priority

The Wayne County Board of Commissioners has a new chairman and a new determination that this year there will be a few more checkmarks on the board’s “to-do” list. John Bell will take the gavel from outgoing chairman Atlas Price...

Thursday, December 7, 2006

He will serve: Goldsboro mayor is latest to keep promise to United Way

If you dive through Starbucks on Berkeley Boulevard tomorrow morning, you just might see a familiar face behind the coffee pot. Goldsboro Mayor Al King will be on hand from 8 to 9 a.m. as part of fulfilling his commitment...

Wednesday, December 6, 2006

Tough, focused: New chairman of the school board has hard work ahead

Wayne County Board of Education chairman Shirley Sims has inherited a tough job. The newly elected leader of the school board — along with her vice chairman, Thelma Smith — will have a lot to deal with in the coming...

Tuesday, December 5, 2006

Look out Mayor: City’s chief is trying to stay very, very quiet this week

The one attribute you can’t possibly assign to Mayor Al King is shy and retiring. So, you might wonder why over the past couple of days he has been nice to everyone — even the members of the Goldsboro City...

Teacher’s legacy: Clifton Britton’s memory still inspires his students

When the last time you spoke to most of your students was more than 50 years ago, you must have been doing something right if your words still have the same impact they had all those decades ago. And that...

Sunday, December 3, 2006

A light dims: Shelter for abuse victims closes until finances can be restored

The closing of The Lighthouse of Wayne County — even temporarily — is sad news. The shelter has been taking care of victims of domestic violence for years — and to lose it now is a blow to those efforts...

Friday, December 1, 2006

Openness works: School officials made mistake by holding report of weapon

Wayne County School District officials made a tactical error this week when they decided to wait three days rather than sending a letter out immediately to parents to let them know that a gun was found on a student at...