September 2008 archives

View Archive

Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Stay calm: Most important job right now? Don't overreact.

Easier said than done, right? The Dow Industrial Average drops a record 777 points and you actually dared to take a look at your 401(k). It would be easy to justify a run to the bank. But although Monday's drop...

Monday, September 29, 2008

Trust not earned: Why is it that most don't get the 'no confidence' vote?

Somehow we should all feel better that the bailout plan seems to be on its way toward passage and the financial markets might actually simmer down. And there is no question that many Americans will breathe easier knowing that something...

Saturday, September 27, 2008

Keys to the jail: Until root factors are addressed, we all end up paying

The Wayne County Jail is full. In fact, it is overflowing. Big news, right? Like this is the first time we have heard this lament. So why this time is it more important than ever to pay closer attention? The...

Friday, September 26, 2008

Diversion: National troubles keep radar off local, state contenders

Is anyone really listening to the bickering and mudslinging in the U.S. Senate and North Carolina governor's races? And while the Wayne County commission and school board battles are finally heating up -- as are some of the legislative contests...

Thursday, September 25, 2008

Despicable: No one should have to deal with threats in dog case

There is a part of the Mount Olive dog shooting case that has not been heard yet -- and it is one that should result in immediate action if the perpetrators can be traced. Colby Mangum, the young woman whose...

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

It's a trust thing: Reality is Americans not sure who to trust with economy

Want to know why the presidential polls are bouncing around and most Americans aren't sure what to think about the recent financial crisis and what to do next? The answer is simple really. We don't trust anybody. To think that...

Tuesday, September 23, 2008

A badge and gun: With great power comes great responsibility

This community has always supported law enforcement officers and their efforts to keep this county safe. There is no disputing that. But with that support comes a trust -- an understanding that these are men and women who not only...

Monday, September 22, 2008

Bad judgment: Training is minimum that needs to happen in town

Durham should have been in his pen. And had he been there, the sad story from Mount Olive would not have happened at all. To honestly address Thursday's shooting death of the beloved family pet, that is the first thing...

Saturday, September 20, 2008

Politically putrid: The deeper it gets, the more campaigns' garbage smells

Have you noticed that nothing in politics is ever anyone's fault? No matter what the problem, there is always someone else to blame. And this extends all the way from local government up to the highest levels in Washington, D.C....

Friday, September 19, 2008

Don't panic: It is easy to say, but it is critical in handling economy

Watching the Dow Industrial Average jump up and down like a yo-yo can't be easy -- especially if you are close to retirement or have a family member who depends on stock income to survive. And knowing that your house...

Thursday, September 18, 2008

Still time to care: Days of Caring offers chance to do good -- with little effort

There are lots of ways Wayne County residents contribute to making their community a better place to live every day. They volunteer. They donate. They take time out to look after their neighbors, their neighborhoods and their families. And their...

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Good first step: City officials make smart decision on South John Street

What do you do when an area of your community has an image problem and people are starting to doubt the good work that is being accomplished there? First, you try to find out why they feel that way --...

Saturday, September 13, 2008

Distracted again: War of the words doesn't help schools

The debate over school funding in Duplin County is not really over. The $4.8 million verdict in the case brought by the school district against the county commission is only one step in a continuing battle over how much money...

Friday, September 12, 2008

Gas inquiry: Voters will need information to make energy decision

There might be a good reason -- a logical explanation for why gas prices are jumping around more than a cat on a hot tin roof. And as the candidates continue to talk about the future of energy policy in...

Thursday, September 11, 2008

Don't ever forget: Services might stop some day, but we need to remember

On Sept. 11, 2001, this nation took a deep breath and decided that it would not let terrorists steal its pride, its unity and its way of life. We are stronger than that, we said. We also vowed we would...

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Mute button: Silence should be golden for some campaigns

Don't you sometimes wish you had a mute button that would allow you to only listen to relevant and pertinent comments from those who have been put in charge of managing presidential campaigns? That would mean that some of the...

Tuesday, September 9, 2008

A hero's farewell: Col. Steve Kwast was a part of this community, too

There is a reason the Seymour Johnson Air Force Base community will be so sorry to see Col. Steve Kwast go -- even though they will be proud of where is going. The mark of a true leader is a...

Monday, September 8, 2008

Don't let your girls ... grow up to be Britney Spears or any other pop teen idol

As beneficial as a black president would be for young black youths to look up to, so, too, would a female vice president. Why? Look around. America's young girls are still obsessed with celebrity -- and now, Britney Spears is...

Saturday, September 6, 2008

Speak now, or ... : With redistricting on the table, public should have its say

Uh oh. It's back. You can almost see the bickering waiting to explode again -- or at least another round of back and forth comments on who really knows what is right for the county's schools. And it was going...

Friday, September 5, 2008

Take it seriously: Don't panic, but don't be stupid this weekend either

Let's face it, everybody thinks he or she is a weather forecaster. And as the news keeps changing about Hanna and Ike, many people will dismiss warnings because they "have a feeling it isn't going to be that bad." And...

Thursday, September 4, 2008

Real economy: Sometimes hype more of a danger than the facts

Many national experts have said that half the problem with the economy is the people who are commenting on it and those who are listening. And while there are economic indicators that suggest that there is reason to be concerned...

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Country first: Too many people have forgotten that mantra

The idea of putting your country first was not actually coined by the Republican Party -- even though it is the Republicans' campaign theme this year. Many great leaders throughout the decades -- including John F. Kennedy -- have come...

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

A little brave, too: Take a look at Sarah Palin's daughter from a different view

It wasn't like anyone really thought it wasn't going to come out at some point. Gov. Sarah Palin's 17-year-old daughter had to know when her mother started being asked about the possibility of becoming vice president that her pregnancy would...