Lumberton, N.C. Established 1870 www.robesonian.com Heartland Publications, LLC All Rights Reserved Friday December 28, 2012 Volume 143 No. 234 he obesonian Daily T R Sunday 50¢ $1.50 Board of Elections picks interim Will begin search for new director Robeson County Bob Shiles director effective Tuesday, the or how much of an increase she Manager Staff writer first day of the new year. The rec- will make as interim director, was Ricky Harris, LUMBERTON — The Robeson ommendation will be sent imme- not available this morning. left, presents County Board of Elections has diately to the state board, which Harris, Robeson County’s man- a plaque of acted quickly to appoint an inter- must approve the appointment. ager, said that it is the three-mem- appreciation to im director to replace retiring According to Locklear, Bledsoe ber Board of Elections that will Dock Locklear, director Dock Locklear, whose has been an employee of the coun- determine how much the interim the retiring last day on the job is Monday. ty Board of Elections for 14 years. director will make. director of the After meeting Thursday for She currently works as a com- “A county employee who takes county’s Board more than two hours behind puter technician, he said. over as an interim department of Elections. closed doors, the three-member As director of the Board of head gets an increase in salary board unanimously voted to rec- Elections, Locklear was mak- of $600 a month,” he said. “The Contributed ommend to the State Board of ing $48,853 a year, according to Board of Elections is not obligated photo Elections that Tina N. Bledsoe Robeson County Manager Ricky become the department’s interim Harris. Bledsoe’s current salary, See INTERIM | 8A Fire makes family homeless on Christmas Cory Riner Staff writer ROWLAND — While most people were preparing to have a holiday feast and anticipating what gifts they would be receiving Christmas Day, Melissa Grant’s family was shifting through the rubble after a fire destroyed her home. Grant’s home at 301 Main St. caught fire on Monday — Christmas Eve — while she in Cheraw, S.C. Two people called 911 to report the fire, but it was already too late: The blaze destroyed the home and everything inside, including Christmas presents. “When the smoke was seen, people were calling immediately,” Grant said. President Barack Obama, above, “When the fire department got there, is scheduled to meet today with flames were already coming out of the congressional leaders in hopes roof. We lost everything.” of reaching a legislative deal that Grant said the fire has been devastat- will prevent the United States ing to her family. which includes her from falling over the two children, Samantha and Timothy looming fiscal cliff. Griffin, who had come home on Monday to see their home in flames. Associated Press photos Just the day before the fire, Grant and her kids invited a family that couldn’t afford to have a Christmas meal over for dinner. She said she always tries to help those in need — and now she’s the one Obama, Congress scramble who needs help. “When this happened I didn’t know who to go to because everyone comes to me,” said Grant, who has worked to dodge fiscal-cliff plunge for five years as a security officer at The University of North Carolina at John Kuhnhenn as a make-or-break moment it can happen now,” he said. no guarantees of a deal, Pembroke. “Me and my kids were just Associated Press for negotiations to avoid For Obama, the 11th-hour Republicans and Democrats lost. We didn’t have anyone to turn to, WASHINGTON — Amid across-the-board first of the scramble represented a test of said privately that any agree- we’re just lost.” partisan bluster, top members year tax increases and how he would balance ment would likely include an Grant’s family celebrated Christmas of Congress and President deep spending cuts. the strength derived extension of middle-class tax at Atkinson Inn and Suites without Barack Obama were holding Obama called for from his re-election cuts with increased rates at opening presents, but “when Christmas out slim hopes for a limited the meeting as top with his avowed com- upper incomes, an Obama came we were still happy because we fiscal deal before the new lawmakers alternately mitment to compro- priority that was central to had each other.” year. But even as congres- cast blame on each mise. Despite early his re-election campaign. The Grant said that the American Red sional leaders prepared to other while portraying talk of a grand bar- deal would also likely put off convene at the White House, themselves as open to gain between Obama the scheduled spending cuts. See FIRE | 5A there were no signs that a reasonable last-min- and House Speaker Such a year-end bill could legislation palatable to both ute bargain. John Boehner John Boehner that also include an extension of sides was taking shape. Senate Democratic would reduce deficits expiring unemployment ben- Today’s afternoon meeting Leader Harry Reid all but by more than $2 trillion, the efits, a reprieve for doctors Shots fired at among congressional leaders conceded that any effort at expectations were now far who face a cut in Medicare and the president — their this late date was a long shot. less ambitious. ex-detective first since Nov. 16 — stood “I don’t know timewise how Although there were See PLUNGE | 5A Staff report PEMBROKE — Three gunmen fired several shots at a former Robeson County sheriff’s detective early Last 2 finalists picked for Christmas Day after forcing their way into his home, according to sheriff’s Maj. Howard Branch. United Way Car Giveaway The men forced their way into Ricky Thomas Brennan Bladenboro. An employee at Locklear’s home on the 700 block of Staff writer Monach, this is her first year Eddie Road in Pembroke at about 1 FAIR BLUFF — The last of donating to the United a.m., according to Branch. two finalists were selected Way. Branch said Locklear’s mother, who Thursday during a drawing “I saw what good the lives at the home, answered a knock at at Fair Bluff Ford for the United Way was doing at the door and the men forced their way United Way Car Giveaway. Monarch and the Robeson inside. Once inside the men fired sev- The first name to be County Church and eral shots as Locklear and his mother plucked from the cylinder Community Center and I fled, Branch said. No one was injured was Damien Ralston’s of knew I had to get involved,” in the shooting, according to Branch. Lumberton. Ralston, an an said Jackson, who said she Branch said no arrests have been employee at International will keep the car if she wins. made. Paper, could not be reached Sandra Oliver, executive Locklear left the Sheriff’s Office for a comment. director of the United Way of Contributed about 15 years ago and now works as The second name drawn Jeff Prince, owner and manager of Fair Bluff Ford, draws the final two names on an investigator for a Lumberton law was Debra Jackson of See FINALISTS | 8A Thursday for the United Way Car Giveaway. firm. WEATHER INDEX OBITUARIES SPORTS Classifieds . 5B Pamela Rancke, 56, Wilmington Comics . 4B Steamon Hardin, 68, Baltimore. Editorial . 4A Mike Bridgers, 52, Bladenboro Thomas Powers, 84, Bladenboro Prep hoops Nation . 3A Connie Hill, 45, Red Springs Religion . 6A Master Stacey Locklear, Maxton Pirates tip off at West Sports . 1B Gary Adams Jr., 22, Parkton Bladen tourney. Maxcell Black, 97, State . 2A Mary Atkinson, 82, Fairmont World . 5A Page 1B 53/40 Page 8A 2A — The RobesoniAn, FRidAy, decembeR 28, 2012 LOCAL/STATE www.robesonian.com Outgoing Perdue defends how she governed NC RALEIGH (AP) — Outgoing politicized in a campaign. But she ten for at-risk children following a Gov. Beverly Perdue said said Thursday she still believed “I court decision. Thursday she doesn’t regret could have won had I run.” “That kid’s life is going to be declining to seek re-election and Perdue said the additional changed by that opportunity,” she pushing for higher taxes to close taxes she signed into law in 2009 said. budget gaps and restore educa- and 2010 tempered the extrem- She’s pleased that North tion funding. She argued she’s ity of the recession and likely Carolina never lost under her ten- leaving the state in a better posi- prevented the unemployment ure its premium triple-A bond tion compared to four years ago rate to go even higher than the rating. She said she’s also proud and didn’t worry about political 11.2 percent it reached in early of her efforts to depoliticize road- consequences. 2010. Republicans counter that building decisions, overhaul the “I committed myself to do noth- the higher taxes and fiscal irre- state probation and parole system ing that wouldn’t be good for sponsibility by Perdue and other and clean up the Highway Patrol. North Carolina, regardless of the Democrats slowed the state’s “For the most part, state gov- political fallout for me,” she told Associated Press recovery. The unemployment rate ernment is behaving different The Associated Press in an inter- Beverly Perdue entered North Carolina’s gubernatorial office at the height is now 9.1 percent. than when I took office,” she said. view at the old Capitol building. of the Great Recession and says she is leaving the state in a better position.