Speak up: Share your thoughts on our local stories by commenting Local&State now at fayobserver.com. * THURSDAY, AUGUST 20, 2009 B Execution restraints Church debate gets heated Some parishioners call for removal don’t go of pastor; facilitator to be named far enough By Michael Futch Earlier this week, St. Pauls Police Staff writer Chief Tommy Hagens said the Robe- Until now, I’ve kept my peace son County District Attorney’s Office RED SPRINGS —There’s dissen- is looking into an allegation made about the Racial Justice Act. sion in the church. against Ospina. The new law gives a judge the Three days after being padlocked Assistant District Attorney Joe ability to overturn a death out of his parish, Father Walter Os- Osman, who is handling the case, said sentence if the defendant can pina returned to give the Wednesday Wednesday it remains “in investiga- prove racial bias. evening Mass at the Iglesia Catolica tive mode.” I don’t have a beef with that San Andres on the outskirts of this ru- ral Robeson County town. Osman declined to discuss par- aspect of the law. North Carolina ticulars involving the case. He said By order of the Bishop of the prosecutors pursue the death no charges have been filed against penalty zealously and don’t Raleigh Diocese, it will be the last Staff photo by Andrew Craft Mass held in the church until a review Ospina, who has denied wrongdo- Church member Alexander Vicent, center, discusses the issue of always wear the blindfold of ing. Lady Justice. A 2001 statewide of any parishioner’s concerns is com- Father Walter Ospina with others at Iglesia Catolica San Andres study found black defendants who plete. See CHURCH, Page 4B in Red Springs. See video from the church at fayobserver.com. killed whites were 3.4 times more likely to get the death BBC CELEBRITIES penalty than those who killed nonwhites. Still, the Myron Racial Justice B. Pitts Act ultimately Brits do The Mash upholds the principle that the state should put people to death. The goal instead should be to eliminate the death penalty altogether. Capital punishment does not deter crime. If so, Texas would be the safest state in the U.S. When states execute inmates, they are only satisfying society’s lust for revenge, nothing more. They are engaging in a practice abandoned long ago by the rest of the Western world and only carried out in places Americans find lacking in human rights: China, Saudi Arabia, Iran, North Korea and others. The Racial Justice Act, by allowing that certain people should not be put to death, implies that other people should. In fact, conservative legislators tried and failed to amend the act to allow the state’s death penalty to kick back into gear after being stalled since 2006. But death penalty opponents sustained a setback when the N.C. Supreme Court ruled in May that doctors could participate in executions. If someone can explain to me how helping to kill an otherwise Staff photo by Stephanie Bruce healthy person is in line with the Josie Lawrence, left, and Shane Richie, stars of the BBC soap opera ‘EastEnders,’ applaud and cheer their fans, who raised $500 for charity Hippocratic oath of “do no on Wednesday evening at The Mash House during the taping of the BBC-produced show ‘Around the World in Eighty Days.’ harm,” I’d like to hear it. I believe the Racial Justice Act could have a positive effect, Fans near and far of the British mostly on the front end of a case. I think it might cause soap opera ‘EastEnders’ come to prosecutors to make double-sure they are pursuing death for the Fayetteville restaurant to see reasons of justice and nothing else. two of the show’s stars. This will affect things such as jury selection: An all-white jury By Brian Dukes ON THE won’t fly anymore when the Staff writer defendant is black. Also, Shane Richie and Josie WEB prosecutors might think a little Lawrence entered The % View * a slide show more about the evidence they Mash House’s patio of the BBC stop at The Mash seek to introduce or block. Wednesday night with an House at fayobserver.com. I don’t believe the State Bar eruption of screams and is filled with prosecutors eager applause. on BBC. It should defy to throw the book at black men The welcome came a bit logic that more than 30 on purely racial grounds. Some unexpectedly. fans of the show, from black folks believe just that. The pair, after all, are three different North Carolina “EastEnders” fan I think a likelier scenario is past (Richie) and present ‘EastEnders’ fans Rosemary Buerger, left, of Fayetteville, and Claire Meyerhoff, (Lawrence) stars of the clubs, would travel from that in high-profile cases —like across the state, and capital cases —lawyers are right, of Raleigh, look at their show memorabilia as they wait for the show’s popular British soap opera swept up in public fervor and do stars to arrive. “EastEnders,”which airs See ‘EASTENDERS,’ Page 4B not always take the deliberate, fair approach justice demands. And the act will not prevent people who want their blood HOKE COUNTY from getting it. The law would BRAC work won’t come probably not apply in cut-and-dry capital cases such as that of Board: 9 subdivisions Kevin and Tilmon Golphin, who easy, ex-commander says were sentenced in 1998 for murdering Highway Patrol exempt from new law ‘Nobody is going to “It’s not going to be easy,” re- Trooper Ed Lowry and ! tired Gen. Dan K. McNeill said. Cumberland County sheriff’s By Jennifer Calhoun divisions would be subject to a dump business in your “Nobody is going to dump busi- Staff writer new subdivision ordinance, which deputy David Hathcock. (Kevin ness in your lap.” Golphin’s sentence was will be considered by the board lap,’ retired Gen. RAEFORD —Nine subdivisions Sept. 2. He spoke to a luncheon audi- commuted to life in prison in Hoke County will not be subject Dan K. McNeill tells a because of a change in federal Along with sidewalks, curbs ence of about 200 at the All to new laws that require side- group during a luncheon. American Defense Business Asso- law banning the execution of walks, curbs and gutters, the and gutters, the ordinance re- people younger than 18 at the quires developers to keep a per- ciation’s general membership county Board of Commissioners meeting at the Crown Center. time of their crime.) said Wednesday. centage of the subdivision for By Henry Cuningham open space or pay money to a fund Military editor The North Carolina native was Death penalty opponents have The new subdivisions are in to build and maintain parks in the cheered the Racial Justice Act. various stages of development, commander of Forces Command county. The arrivalof Forces Com- in 2005, when the decision was fi- But ultimately, the law ratifies, but they either had not received a mand headquarters in two years Developers have argued the nalized to relocate the four-star in part, a practice that is final go-ahead from the board to will bring opportunities, but get- costs of the new provisions are too Army headquarters to Fort fundamentally wrong. build or the final approval had ex- ting government work can be a expensive and would result in Bragg from Atlanta. The head- Columnist Myron B. Pitts can be reached at pired. struggle, a former commander [email protected] or 486-3559. Developers had feared the sub- See SUBDIVISION, Page 4B said Wednesday. See BRAC, Page 4B

inside OBITUARIES 5B • CLASSIFIEDS 6B • WEATHER 10B fayobserver.com NEED YOUR MYRON PITTS FIX? CHECK OUT HIS BLOG DAILY 4B THURSDAY, AUGUST 20, 2009 LOCAL & STATE THE FAYETTEVILLE OBSERVER InBrief Man faces From staff reports 5 charged in robbery molestation A staff report On Tuesday, Marshallrett bins; Ayla Michelle Lindsay, 17, Part of freeway Orlando Ross, 19, of the 2600 of the 100 block of Lindsay CARTHAGE —The Moore block of N.C. 705 in Robbins, Lane in Eagle Springs; and Do- charges County Sheriff’s Office has ar- and Markus Antonio Brower, minique Evette Smith, 16, of closing to traffic rested five people in connection 19, of the 100 block of Owens the 1900 block of N.C. 211 in A staff report with an early August armed rob- Road in Robbins, were each Eagle Springs were each A Bladen County man is ac- The All American Freeway at Morganton bery of a pizza delivery man. charged with robbery with a charged with armed robbery Road will close to traffic this weekend. cused of molesting two children Mark John Iammatteo of dangerous weapon and conspir- and conspiracy to commit in Cumberland County last Jason Salisbury, a resident engineer with Eagle Springs reported Aug. 2 acy to commit armed robbery. armed robbery. the N.C. Department of Transportation, says year. that two people robbed him at Bail was set at $25,000 for workers need to dismantle a temporary Bail was set at $10,000 for Joshua Clark, 19, of the 100 gunpoint, according to a news Brower and $5,000 for Ross. support deck that was installed along the Ayla Lindsay and $40,000 each block of Upton Place in Eliza- release from the Sheriff’s Of- bridge during construction this year. On Wednesday, Brooke Rac- for Smith and Brooke Lindsay. bethtown, is charged with two fice. Iammatteo is a Domino’s counts of com- A contractor replaced the bridge over the quel Lindsay, 19, of the 600 All five people are scheduled pizza delivery man. mittingasex of- freeway with a wider span. The bridge block of Timber Lane in Rob- to appear in court on Monday. fense and one reopened to traffic on schedule July 31, but count each of some work on the project remained. statutory rape Salisbury said part of the freeway under Wednesday that adding open halt the project, he said. and taking inde- Morganton Road will be closed to traffic Subdivision space and curb and guttering to “These are the kinds of things cent liberties starting at 10 p.m. Friday. It is scheduled to a development that has already that will shoot this project out of with achild, ac- open by 6 a.m. Monday, he said. been planned would increase From Page 1B the water,” Kizer said. Clark cording to a news During the closure, motorists will be costs and possibly halt the pro- Commissioners ultimately de- release from the allowed to enter and exit the freeway at higher home prices. ject altogether. cided to allow Bedford and the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Morganton Road. But residents have com- One of the subdivisions under following subdivisions under the Office. The new bridge will have some lane plained about the lack of side- discussion was a 459-lot develop- current ordinance: Durham The victims, both girls, are closures this weekend while the support deck walks in some of the county’s ment called Bedford that Kizer Landing on Chason Road, Dwight 13 and 7, the release said. The is removed, Salisbury said. busier neighborhoods, saying it is developing. He said if Bedford, Sullivan on South Parker Church incidents happened between has become a safety concern. which is on Fayetteville Road, Road, Hendrix Farms II on March and July 2008, and in Maxton meeting today Curbs and gutters can pre- was approved under the new or- Phillipi Church Road, Mariners November and December while vent flooding and road deteri- dinance, the company would ei- Pointe on Camden Road, River- Clark was staying with a friend MAXTON —State Rep. Garland Pierce has oration, which has been another ther have to eliminate some lots brooke on U.S. 401 Business, in the St. Pauls-Hope Mills scheduled a town hall meeting at 6 p.m. concern for residents and coun- to make room for open space or Steeplechase on Aberdeen Road area, said Debbie Tanna, a today to discuss legislative issues, safety and ty officials over the years. pay the county. and Westgate Subdivision on Ad- spokeswoman for the Sheriff’s current laws. Jim Kizer, a developer with Curbs and gutters would cost cox Road. Office. The meeting will be at Townsend Middle Moorman, Kizer & Reitzel Inc. developers an additional $1,500 Staff writer Jennifer Calhoun can be reached Clark’s bail was set at School, 105 Carolina St. in Maxton. Trooper in Fayetteville, told the board to $2,000 per lot, which could at [email protected] or 486-3595. $75,000. Jerome McMillian of the N.C. Highway Patrol will speak about highway safety. Pierce is asking residents, clergy and community leaders in Hoke, Robeson and Church: Raleigh bishop says Ospina ‘remains in good standing,’ has his support Scotland counties, and surrounding areas, to attend the meeting or send a representative. From Page 1B pastor of St. Andrew where he has been as- the Raleigh Diocese, said Ospina will re- signed to serve the Hispanic population of main pastor of the parish during the fact- Refreshments will be served. Temporary locks had been removed Robeson County. gathering process. For more information, contact Sunday from the doors of San Andres, or St. After a subdued, weary-looking Ospina “I’m speechless in the way I think this Commissioner Sallie McLean with the town of Andrew Catholic Church. Four Red Springs delivered Mass, Brockman read from a is an injustice (that) they’re staging here,” Maxton at 587-3388. Police officers stood watch under a large prepared statement issued by Bishop said parishioner Maria Perez, who is 25 oak tree Wednesday evening in case things Michael F. Burbidge of Raleigh. and a 14-year member of St. Andrew. Blaze destroys home got heated as they had during a Sunday He told the congregation of about 250 But Lourdez Salazar was among the morning protest in the parking lot. people that Ospina “remains in good stand- flock who disagreed. Fire destroyed a home in the Cedar Creek Inside, the church was filled to near ca- ing and has my support and confidence,” Salazar, who is 29 and from Lumberton, area Wednesday. pacity with two factions from the Spanish- according to an English translation of the called Ospina a spiritual man who loves the The one-story, wood-frame home was on speaking community: members of the parish statement. Eucharist. Mack Simmons Road, about 14 miles south of and community who are urging the Raleigh But because of the concerns of some “We worked with him,” she said. “He Fayetteville. Diocese to remove Ospina as their priest; and parishioners, celebration of any regularly worked with us. They don’t have what they No one was home when the fire started, another group of about 65, largely from Lum- scheduled Masses at St. Andrew will be want. They want him out. They don’t want according to David Chavis, chief of the berton and St. Pauls, who support the Colom- postponed, Brockman said. A facilitator his service. We do.” Vander Fire Department. bian-born Roman Catholic pastor. will be appointed this week, he said, and Many Hispanic Roman Catholics who The fire started just after noon in an Ospina, who is 33, has been priest of the “will gather together with Father Ospina worship at the Red Springs church are un- outlet where a fan and air conditioner were Red Springs church for nearly 13 months. and the lay leadership to address each of happy with Ospina. He does not, they say, plugged into a strip outlet. He celebrates the Spanish Mass at St. Fran- the concerns in a timely matter.” make time for them, he’s disrespectful and The American Red Cross is assisting the cis De Sales Catholic Church in Lumberton Following the service, three churchgoers a poor communicator. And, they say, he’s three people who lost their home: a 73-year- and the missionary station of St. Andrew in who want Ospina removed from the parish not active in the the Hispanic community old woman, a 19-year-old man and a 15-year- St. Pauls. said Brockman ignored a letter that they re- like his predecessor, Carlos Arce. old girl. Ospina entered the sanctuary Wednes- quested he read to the congregation. “I cannot receive the body of Christ and Firefighters from Beaver Dam and day evening with Monsignor David Brock- “He didn’t pay attention to us,” said 27- the blood of Christ with his dirty hands,” Bethany fire departments assisted. man, former pastor at Saint Patrick year-old Julio Sanchez of Red Springs. said Gabriela Sanchez, who is 22. “I’ll have Catholic Church in Fayetteville, and Carlos Part of that letter reads, “... we do not to go to another parish.” Arce, vicar for Hispanics in the Catholic understand how after so many problems of Fourteen-year-old Ana Martinez dis- Crash into pole kills driver Diocese of Raleigh. communication, mistreat and injustice agreed. It was a show of support from the dio- which are well known by the ‘Dioceses’ of “They’re wrong, man,” she said. “They LUMBERTON —ALumberton woman was cese. Raleigh, the Rev. Ospina continues op- don’t like him.” killed Tuesday when her car hit a utility pole pressing a community.” on Chicken Road and split in half, the The diocese has stated it has no reason Staff writer Michael Futch can be reached at Highway Patrol said. to remove Ospina and that he will remain Frank Morock, who is spokesman for [email protected] or 486-3529. The crash happened at 5:59 p.m. about 1 4 /2 miles west of Lumberton, Sgt. Freddy Johnson said. The show features six pairs of Lawrence hopped into an RV to begin Heather Lynn Locklear, 22, of 1741 Deep ‘EastEnders’ celebrities crisscrossing the world in a their journey in a manner befitting Branch Road, was traveling south on Chicken relay race to circumnavigate the globe Memphis. Road when her 1994 Toyota ran off the right From Page 1B to raise money for the Children in Need “They exchanged the baton while side of the road, Johnson said. 2009 charity. dressed as Elvises,” said Kez Margrie, The car, which was traveling at an beyond, to shower the pair with Richie and Lawrence are the final producer for “Around the World in estimated speed of 75 mph, hit a utility pole, adulation. celebrity pairing, and the final leg of Eighty Days.” breaking the car into two pieces, Johnson said. But logic has little place in the the relay. “It was a riot; so many people “It ripped in half, and the pieces separated hearts of true fans. The pair posed for pictures, signed stopped them wanting to take pictures,” and overturned,” he said. “It was a pretty “It’s a big deal that they’ve come autographs, hugged necks and told Margrie said. severe crash.” stories about life on “EastEnders.” here,” said Victoria Wise, who drove The pair have, until Tuesday, The speed limit on the road is 55 mph, 10 hours from Cleveland to attend the Their adoring fans devoured every Johnson said. Margrie said, had an easy voyage. meet and greet. She used to live in morsel. Locklear was not wearing a seat belt, he Richie even offered a few spoilers — “They were slightly ahead of said. England, where she became hooked on the show in 1989. don’t worry —about the show, which is schedule, but now we’re behind and we “The show deals with real, deep, actually six or seven seasons ahead in may have trouble ahead,” Margrie said. SUPPORT GROUPS meaningful social issues,” Wise said. the UK. “It’s very realistic —unlike a lot of Judging by the awed reactions The pair have a passage booked out THURSDAY American soaps. That’s what makes it from fans, Richie and Lawrence of Wilmington today but have been told might as well have been back “home” they may be delayed because of the % Bereavement Support Group of Cape Fear stand out.” Valley HomeCare & Hospice: 615-6740 or Fans got what they came for. on the show, which is centered on gathering strength of Hurricane Bill. residents of Albert Square in the They have until the end of Aug. 31 to 615-6511. “Hello, everybody!” exclaimed Richie with a smile that brimmed from ear to fictional Walford borough of London’s return to England before the 80 days is % Called 2 Conquer (C2C For Men): 488-3227. ear as he and Lawrence greeted the East End. up. % Families in Recovery Sharing Together: crowd. Richie and Lawrence, however, have And, no, the pair can’t simply book a 309-2587. “Oh, this is brilliant,” said Lawrence, been far from home since Aug. 14, flight. In keeping with the spirit of the % Adult Children of Alcohol/Dysfunction: who American audiences may when they arrived in the U.S. to accept Jules Verne novel that inspired the 850-1126. remember from hilarious stints on the “baton” —acarpetbag containing a show, the travelers have to avoid “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” GPS-enabled phone and satellite tracker airplane travel. % Methadone Anonymous: (800) 810-8423. —from the fifth leg of “Around the The pair, best known to “It’s going to be cutting it close,” % Gamblers Anonymous: 7 p.m., Christ United World in Eighty Days” celebrities John “EastEnders” fans as Alfie Moon and Margrie said. “But if we don’t make it, Methodist Church, 3101 Raeford Road. Barrowman, one of the stars of BBC’s Manda Best, stopped at The Mash we’ve certainly had a lot of fun and “West End,” and TV and radio host % In Christ We Do Recover: Woody, 423-0608 House to meet “EastEnders” fans while met a lot of new friends.” or 424-8800, ext. 272. journeying across the Southeast as part Myleene Klass. Take Off Pounds Sensibly: (800) 932-8677 or of a separate BBC-produced show The baton was exchanged in Staff writer Brian Dukes can be reached at % [email protected] or 486-3523. go to www.tops.org. “Around the World in Eighty Days.” Memphis, Tenn., where Richie and % Alcoholics Anonymous: Hot lines: 678-8733 or 678-8002. ing part-time work as an independent con- probably not.” % AA Book Study: 7:30 p.m., Trinity United BRAC tractor with the government and private McNeill said it was astruggle to set up Methodist Church, 6974 Raeford Road. companies. It’s not easy putting together abusiness relationship with the govern- proposals and getting paid from the gov- % Al-Anon: Help line: (800) 457-3019. From Page 1B ment even after the Army chief of staff ernment, he said. personally invited him to serve as asenior Narcotics Anonymous: (866) 418-9500 or go % quarters move will relocate about 2,800 “There is opportunity coming” also mentor. to www.crna.org. workers, including contractors who work with the arrival of the three-star U.S. “But in the process of getting through % Sexual Assault Women’s Support Group: inside the headquarters. Army Reserve Command, McNeill said. this bureaucratic maze, I’d get so frustrat- “Don’t dismiss that one,” McNeill said. 6-7:30 p.m. 485-7273. The relocation can serve as a catalyst ed” that he almost decided not to do the “They come as a package deal.” % Fayetteville Huntington’s disease: 424-3664. for defense industry jobs in the surround- job. While McNeill was in Atlanta, his com- ing civilian community, said Paul Dordal, A military lawyer suggested McNeill % Female heart bypass: 224-7602. mand had an annual budget of more than executive director of the BRAC Regional hire alawyer to help him arrange employ- % Hepatitis and liver disease: 425-1217 or $21 billion, which was $6 billion more than Task Force, the liaison organization be- ment as a contractor. 484-1786. the state of Georgia, he said. tween the military and local governments. McNeill said he told the person who Happy Hearts Cardiac: 671-5067. Between 11 percent and 12 percent of % McNeill is on the board of directors of gave him the advice, “I will shoot you Coming Together Children’s Support Group: the Forces Command budget might be % the Raleigh-based N.C. Military Founda- spent in Georgia, he said. right in the face before I hire a lawyer to 609-6337. tion, which tries to generate jobs and in- “Are you going to turn up your noses at get this stuff sorted out.” % For Caregivers: Ellouise, 484-0111. vestment in North Carolina from defense the possibility of having access, being able He eventually got everything worked out. % Living with DisabilitiesWounded soldiers: and homeland security companies. to leverage your business into, $1.2 to Military editor Henry Cuningham can be reached at 303-0209 or www.disability.meetup.com/48/ McNeill lives in Fayetteville and is do- $1.8 billion?” McNeill said. “No, I think [email protected] or 486-3585.