WWW.YOURDAILYJOURNAL.COM Thursday, February 21, 2013 Rockingham, NC 50 cents Commission hears unhappy public about rate hike Dawn M. Kurry Carolina. a difficult time paying their them are on fixed incomes. Richmond County Daily Journal In this application, the com- “I think that a rate hike at bills,” said Kearns. “I think How can they pay their bills? The North Carolina Utilities pany is requesting authority to this time would be devas- that a rate hike at this time It’s the difference between eat- Commission held a public hear- increase its rates and charges tating ... ,” would be devastating. That ing, paying for medication or ing at the Richmond County to produce additional overall — Rev. J.F. Kearns of Marston being said, I hope the rate hike paying their power bills.” Courthouse Wednesday night annual North Carolina retail helps Progress Energy sleep Charlene Morrow of in Rockingham to hear the pub- base revenues of approximately good tonight.” Rockingham said she was speak- lic’s reaction to a rate hike $387 million, an increase of They were asked not to ask Dobbins Heights Mayor ing on behalf of her neighbors proposed by Progress Energy around 12 percent over cur- questions, and to only give Antonio Blue said he agreed and friends in Rockingham who Carolinas, Inc. rent revenues. The company short statements about the rate with Kearns. were struggling economically. The North Carolina Utilities serves nearly 1.5 million retail hike. “I know it takes a lot of “I’m a customer of Progress Commission received an appli- customers in North and South The first speaker was Rev. money to run those large ener- Energy,” said Morrow. “I’m on J.F. Kearns of Marston, who cation from Carolina Power & Carolina. gy complexes, but in tough eco- a fixed income. I’m 66 years old spoke on behalf of the Marston Light Company, doing business At the meeting, which was nomic times, people can hardly and I worked all my life but I as Progress Energy Carolinas, community. He said among 30 held like a court proceeding, buy food,” said Blue. “We have don’t get retirement from any Inc., requesting authority to several members of the commu- households, nearly 90 percent about 800 people in Dobbins company I ever worked for. All adjust and increase its rates for nity were able to give testimo- were retired. Heights, many of them are retail electric service in North ny to the Utilities Commission. “They are already having retired or disabled. Most of See HIKE | 3A McDonald’s gets a makeover Cassidy Odom ing. is also in the works. Hopes Richmond County Daily Journal “We are remodeling the are to better help customers McDonald’s customers whole place inside and out,” gain access to the compact are currently being greeted said owner, Jerome Davis. MCDONALDS with a construction crew in “It will be more conducive See | 3A the parking lot at its 1304 to what we are trying to do Contributed photo E. Broad Ave. location in here.” Perry Parks of Rockingham was present Rockingham. Remodeling plans include when the Committee on Rules discussed Some may be surprised to an indoor play area for the Medical Cannabis Act and deemed it see the play area missing the kids. It will have unfavorable, killing it. from the front of the build- touchscreen interac- ing. The McDonald’s play- tive games and sitting ground has been a familiar area for their enjoy- Committee on Rules fixture for years, ment. A two-lane but that is chang- drive-thru kills Medical Cannabis Act for second time Dawn M. Kurry Richmond County Daily Journal The North Carolina Medical Cannabis Act was ruled “unfavorable” by the Committee on Rules, Calendar and Operations of the State House on Wednesday, according to the North Carolina General Assembly. The Act, HB 84, was filed with the North Carolina House on Feb. 7, and Cassidy Odom | Daily Journal passed its first reading on Feb. 11, after The local McDonald’s restaurant will not look the same after its upcoming renovation. which it was referred to the Committee on Rules, Calendar and Operations of the House. Wednesday the bill was up for debate, and according to Perry Parks of Rockingham — Vietnam veteran FBI computer virus demands money and president of the North Carolina Cannabis Patients Network, who was in Laura Edington Spam-messages with terror- attendance for the bill he supported — Richmond County Daily Journal ist motives were also sent the room was packed. A computer virus is locking from your computer. This The fact that the bill was referred to up computers in Richmond computer lock is aimed to this committee concerned him, because County and beyond and try- stop your illegal activity. To last year the bill was “killed in this ing to scam people out of unlock the computer you are committee” as well, said Parks. He money. obliged to pay a fine of $200. had hoped the bill would make it to The virus is called the FBI You have 72 hours to pay the House floor for a debate, which he Green Dot MoneyPak Virus the fine, otherwise you will said many lawmakers supported for or the FBI ransomware scam be arrested. You must pay its medical integrity and safeguards and shows itself as a pop-up the fine through MoneyPak: against making cannabis available for screen on the computer. The To pay the fine, you should recreational use. screen completely locks the enter the digits resulting Richmond County’s Democratic computer down and tells the code, which is located on House Representative Ken Goodman user that the computer has the back of your MoneyPak, said, before the bill went to the commit- been locked for violating a in the payment form and tee, that he supports a healthy debate federal law, usually related to press OK (If you have sev- on the content of the bill, which he said child pornography. eral codes, enter them one “has merit.” The virus tries to scare Contributed photo after the other and press “This bill was introduced to the computer users into pay- This screen shot shows what the FBI ransom ware virus looks like. OK). If an error occurs, send House two years ago and killed in ing a fine with a Green Dot the codes to address find@ committee, but since then there has statement with a screen shot vation of liberty for four to fbi.gov,” the virus says. been a good bit of new information on MoneyPak debit card. of what the virus looks like. The Green Dot MoneyPak twelve years.) Following vio- The statement said that medical cannabis,” said Goodman two The virus screen says, card is a prepaid debit card lations are detected: Your Walmart is not associated weeks ago when the bill was filed with that can be reloaded with “This operating system is IP address was used to visit with this scam and advis- the House. “It’s worth taking a serious money as needed. The locked due to the violation websites containing pornog- es victims of the virus to look at since the evidence proves that cards are sold at Walmart, of the federal law of the raphy, child pornography, file a complaint with the it has benefits. Nineteen other states Walgreens, CVS/pharmacy United States of America! zoophilia and child abuse. Internet Crime Complaint have already made the medical use and many other locations. (Article 1, Section 8, Clause Your computer also contains Center, also know as IC3. legal. We ought to take a look at it. I The Walmart corporation 8; Article 202; Article 210 video files with pornograph- “The IC3 is a partnership think we need an opportunity to debate has been notified of this of the Criminal Code of the ic content, elements of vio- between the Federal Bureau it. The problem with the bill is really scam and has released a U.S.A. provides for a depri- lence and child pornography! See VIRUS | 3A See CANNABIS | 3A Friends for a Friend help fight cancer Laura Edington a portion of his liver removed, an oncologist in Laurinburg, effort from Haynes’ fellow at 10:30 a.m. There will be Richmond County Daily Journal a portion of his colon removed, told him he can’t go back to coworkers, with Hinson being two people per team, and it Greg Hinson, of Hamlet, is three sets of chemotherapy and work so he is hoping to receive at the forefront. The group call costs $40 for each team to play. helping his friend and cowork- three sets of radiation since he permanent disability within the themselves and their efforts There will be a cash prize; first er Willard Haynes fight colon was diagnosed. next couple of weeks. Haynes Friends for a Friend. place will get $200, second cancer by holding a corn hole His cancer came out of remis- has been out of work for six Haynes has four children place will get $100 and third tournament on Feb. 23 at the place will get $50. Food and Church of God of Prophecy at sion most recently in June months. ages 31, 30, 16 and 9 and 2012. Haynes, who works for “I felt like I needed to do has been married to Marilou drinks will be available for pur- 139 Flowers St., Rockingham. chase. Haynes was diagnosed with CSX Railroad in Hamlet as a something for him,” said Haynes for 18 years. car inspector, said that the sick Hinson, who has known Haynes Registration for the tourna- colon cancer in 2007 and has Staff Writer Laura Edington can be reached at been in and out of remission benefits he received from CSX for more than two years.