INSIDE SPORTS, 1B INSIDE NEWS, 6A INSIDE OPINION, 4A WEATHER Intervals of clouds and Lady Raiders Residents spread Imagining a sunshine. open season word of God in world with paid HIGH: 100% recycled 89 LOW: 71 newsprint at home South America sick days DailyRichmond County Journal WEDNESDAY • August 25, 2010 Rockingham, N.C. 50 cents New federal funds may ease blow Philip D. Brown Tuesday’s award of up to $400 shortfall next year without He said about half of the $400 they haven’t decided how it will Richmond County Daily Journal million over the next four years these two sources of income million would stay in Raleigh to be disbursed,” he said. “Now, County schools officials are through the federal grant com- was about $3 billion to $4 bil- be used for reform programs at $400,000 a year for four years is hoping North Carolina’s “Race petition coupled with $300 mil- lion. the state level, while the rest certainly helpful, but (the state to the Top” win Tuesday will lion in emergency funds to save Board of Education Chairman would go directly to local school has) redacted, or taken back make next year’s anticipated teacher jobs recently approved Ken Goodman said the “Race systems. from us, close to $500,000 in post-stimulus education budget by Congress could yield about to the Top” announcement “Race to the Top should give the past couple of months, so crisis a little less cumbersome $700 million for public educa- Tuesday morning was “good us something like $1.6 million to navigate. tion. news on a couple of different over the next four years, though FUNDS The expected state budget levels.” I’m not certain of that because CONTINUED ON PAGE 3A Seniors can get help with taxes, fees Hollie Nivens Richmond County Daily Journal Richmond County senior citizens are able to save money in more ways than one. If you are 65 years of age or older you are eligible to be have a reduction in your landfill fees and your property taxes. Proof of age must be shown. Identification cards and birth certificates are acceptable. “If an individual can benefit from this, they should take advantage of it,” said Butch Greene Richmond County tax administrator. The landfill fee for residents outside of a city is $145 and $105 for those inside a city. The reduction is 50 percent and can HOLLIE NIVENS/DAILY JOURNAL be applied to your account immediately. Jimmy Gillis (left) and Walter Pankey of Pankey and Sons Hauling in Rockingham look down at the The reduced amount for residents debris and depth of the well before it was filled in on Tuesday. The hand dug well was in the backyard outside the city of his home located at 116 April Lane in Rockingham. limits would be “We won’t do any $76.85 and for reimbursements, but those inside city limits the amount once the fee reduction would be $56.70. Backyard hole a big surprise has been applied to According to Tammy Leviner Hollie Nivens the account it stays at the Richmond Richmond County Daily Journal there.” County Tax After living in a home for 33 years, a Butch Greene Office, this infor- Rockingham resident found something mation has been that he never knew was there. Richmond County spread through- Jimmy Gillis, 56 found a hand-dug Tax Administrator out the senior well in the backyard of his home locat- community. ed at 116 April Lane. “We have went “I took something and dropped it to the senior centers to inform them in the well and heard the splash,” he directly,” she said. “We have even handed said. out pamphlets.” Two of his nephews and one niece But one resident says she is just hear- were playing in his back yard and found ing about it for the first time. the grass and tin covered well 22 feet “I found out about it by accident,” said from his home. Lillie Hussey, 74, of Rockingham. “I called “What scared me the most was think- the tax office about another issue and ing what would have happened to the before I got off of the phone they asked kids, if they had fell in,” he said. “One me did I want the discount?” of them came up to me and said, ‘Uncle She went on to say that she wanted to Jimmy you have a hole in your back- According to Holly Haire of the Richmond County Health Department see if they would reimburse her for the yard.’ Just think if the hole had given the well found in Jimmy Gillis’ backyard located at 116 April Lane in amounts that she has paid in the past. way.” Rockingham was anywhere from 15 to 18 feet but with the debris But Greene said that this is not an Gillis called Pankey and Sons Hauling no exact depth is known. option. in Rockingham on Friday and described “We won’t do any reimbursements, but “From the surface of the well to the filled, so that no one would be injured. once the fee reduction has been applied the situation to them. “I came on Monday and flagged it “After I spoke with the owner, Walter depth of where the tin layer was, was to the account it stays there,” he said. approximately 48 inches,” said Holly and put tape around it for caution and There is also a tax break for those Pankey, he called the Richmond County safety purposes,” Haire said. Health Department and they told me it Haire of the Richmond County Health who qualify that would reduce property looks like it might have been a well,” Department. Gillis covered the hole before it was HOLE he said. CONTINUED ON PAGE 3A SENIORS CONTINUED ON PAGE 3A Thousands return to school today Dental van helps Philip D. Brown Richmond County Daily Journal kids smile again When students reach a certain age Philip D. Brown they advance to another school, but Richmond County Daily Journal realignment means a larger percentage The Friendly Neighborhood Dental Van made its of Richmond County students will have a way to town Tuesday afternoon, seeing patients at new school and new routine this year. Falling Creek Park. “The first week of school is an excit- Today, the dental van will be seeing people 20 and ing time for everyone,” said Richmond under on Cauthen Street in Rockingham from 2 to 8 County Schools Public Information p.m. Officer Ashley Simmons. “Our princi- Dental van founder Dr. Greg Abrams said the pro- pals and school staffs do an amazing gram has visited this area regularly since 2004, and job of preparing students and parents there is a great need for dental services throughout for the first day of school, especially the southeast corridor of the state. during their open house and orientation “Really, from Anson County to Lumberton we see events. We look forward to welcoming that there just aren’t enough providers to meet the nearly 7,600 students across our district PHILIP D. BROWN/DAILY JOURNAL Dr. Greg Abrams sees a Hamlet resident on Tuesday DENTAL SCHOOL afternoon. CONTINUED ON PAGE 6A CONTINUED ON PAGE 5A Obituaries 5A Deaths The Daily Journal is published with Vol. 79, No. 168 Inside today Opinion 4A pride five days a week for the people of ON THE WEB: www.yourdailyjournal.com Willie McLendon, 72, Hamlet Richmond County, N.C. The Daily Journal E-MAIL: [email protected] Calendar 2A Puzzles 5B David McRae, 57, Hamlet Obituaries can be found on Page 5A. is committed to editorial integrity and Material inside this edition is Classified 6B Sports 1B excellence. © Richmond County Daily Journal. If you spot an error, please contact us at Reproduction without expressed consent of the Comics 5B TV Listings 3B (910) 997-3111, ext. 18. Richmond County Daily Journal is prohibited. Page2ARichmondCountyDailyJournal,Rockingham,N.C.Wednesday,August25,2010www.yourdailyjournal.com LOCAL COMMUNITY CALENDAR Aug. 25 Hospice David Lee will Information call 582-0867. animal shelter, 529 RICHMOND RED present the program “Five Hwy. 74 Business West, HATS will have lunch at Wishes” at 2 p.m. Sept. 13 Rockingham. Household Pat’s Kitchen at noon. EAST ROCKINGHAM items, books, baby items, Sept. 4 MEN’S CLUB will office supplies and animal Aug. 27 - 28 CHARITY BIKE AND meet 7 p.m.. Monday supplies. HSRC accept- RICHMOND SENIOR CAR SHOW, Rockingham September 13, at The ing donations. No clothes HIGH SCHOOL. CLASS Dragway, Call 582-3400 East Rockingham Fire please. Call 895-0335 for OF 1980 will have their 30 for more information. Department. Visitors wel- information. year reunion. For more SPRING HILL come. information call 895-5019 WESLEYAN CHURCH Sept. 30 or 860-794-6404. will host a country break- Sept. 16 REPUBLICAN MEN’S fast on Sept. 4 from 7 SALAD BUFFET at First CLUB will hold its month- Aug. 28 a.m. - 10 a.m. for an all- United Methodist Church ly meeting at the Little SEAFOOD SALE, 11 you-can-eat buffet. Cost is in Rockingham from 11 Bo Steakhouse. Dinner a.m. to 5 p.m., New Life $4. Carry out plates are a.m. until 2 p.m. Cost is from 6-7 p.m., meeting Churches of Deliverance, available. For more infor- $7. Eat in or take out. starts at 7 p.m. Special 410 Third St., Hamlet. mation call 582-5150 guest is Dr. Timothy HUMANE SOCIETY Sept. 21 Johnson, vice-chair of the $57 - $77 Spay Neuter Sept. 11 DIABETIC FOOT NC Republican Party and Program for dogs/cats four REMEMBERING 9/11 HEALTH program 6-8 founder of the Frederick months plus.