PARADE MAGAZINE INSIDE SPORTS, 1B INSIDE NEWS, 5A WEATHER INSIDE Mainly sunny TODAY'S skies with a slight DAILY Atlanta cruises Belk to help local breeze. JOURNAL HIGH: 89 100% recycled LOW: 58 past Cincinnati organizations newsprint DailyRichmond County Journal SUNDAY •April 26, 2009Rockingham, N.C. $1.00 Family praises ‘Angels’ Philip D. Brown able,” he said. “But they gave her loved ones,” she said. “We also Richmond County Daily Journal excellent care, and she didn’t want support those primary caregivers for anything. It’s a wonderful place to make sure they meet their own When Laura Maie Thomas fell in for people who are sick.” doctor’s appointments, and take 2007, the caregivers of Richmond Richmond County Hospice care of their own needs, as well County Hospice came into her hus- Development and Volunteer as, taking care of their loved ones’ band John A. Thomas Jr.’s life, and Coordinator Lisa Ledford explained needs, because that is so impor- made quite an impression on him. the hospice has dual goals while tant. They can not wear themselves “I gave the hospice workers and assisting terminally ill patients and down, then they won’t be able to the rescue squad and everyone who their families. help their loved ones.” helped my wife and I the name “Our main goal is establishing “I would recommend the hospice ‘God’s Angels of Mercy on Earth,’” pain management and symptom to anyone who has a loved one who Thomas said. “That’s what they control within 48 hours of someone is in great need,” said Deborah were to us.” coming into our facility, and typi- Thomas, the daughter of John and For months, hospice workers cally we are able to do that in much Laura. “When mama got sick, we helped her stay at home by visit- less than 48 hours,” she said. “Once all had work and our own lives, and ing with her and John, but towards these are established, a person is Daddy was out here all by himself the end it became apparent to all PHILIP D. BROWN/DAILY JOURNAL able to have a much better quality of with her. There is no way they involved she would have to live at life for however long they live.” could have made it as long as they The Thomas family recall their memories of Laura Maie the Haven. Thomas who passed away while under the care of Richmond The alternate goal deals with the did without this help.” She was there three weeks before families of those who are ill. She recalled the staff members County Hospice. Pictured, from left, are her grandson Chris passing away in March 2008. Galliher, her daughter Betsy Galliher holding Thomas’s grand- “And also, once they have these “She didn’t want to go, and nei- things under control, they are able daughter Ashley Galliher, her husband John A. Thomas Jr. and ther would I, she wanted to stay to have better interactions with ANGELS her daughter Deborah Thomas. at home and that was understand- CONTINUED ON PAGE 3A Tribute Author planned for fallen sheds officers light Tom MacCallum Richmond County Daily Journal A public Peace Officers Memorial Day Observance will be held 11 a.m. May 6 on icon at Richmond County Tom MacCallum Courthouse Richmond County Daily Journal in Aunt Jemima was a real person play- Rockingham. ing a character role. Sheriff “And she really was famous for Dale Furr cooking pancakes,” said John Troy said law McQueen, author of a newly illustrat- enforcement ed book on the woman who had roots agencies in Furr in Richmond County. Richmond Before dying at County and surviving fam- PETER WILLIAMS/DAILY JOURNAL Brenda Grubbs of Plant age 57, she had accu- ily members will remember mulated wealth and peace officers who have died City, Fla., (top photo) leaps off the line in her fame, he said. in the line of duty in a solemn When he learned ceremony. 1969 Chevy Camaro about her local roots, “The Peace Officers Saturday during quali- McQueen set out to Memorial Day observance fying at Rockingham uncover them as local pays special tribute to those Dragway. Meanwhile history contributing officers who made the ulti- children pose in front to a larger history of mate sacrifice during the past of Grave Digger, a McQueen her life. years,” Furr said. monster truck. Racing The Aunt Jemima that Anna Short The day was created on Oct. action continues today Harrington had become was most pop- 1,1961, when Congress asked at 9 a.m. and the finals ular in the mid-1900s as she traveled President John F. Kennedy to are scheduled to start about the country to promote pan- designate May 15 to honor at 4 p.m. For more, cakes for the Quaker Oats Company. the officers. please see page 1B. Her travels from the historic Pegues In 2002, President George For more pictures, visit Plantation in Marlboro County, S.C., W. Bush said for the obser- www.yourdailyjournal. across the state lane on U.S. 1 south vance that in addition to hon- com. to Everetts Mill in Richmond County oring officers, that it “reminds is told in McQueen’s 2009 illustrated us of the ongoing need to be AUTHOR TRIBUTE CONTINUED ON PAGE 5A CONTINUED ON PAGE 3A Billboards target drunken driving Sandhills Health Fair Tom MacCallum Richmond County Daily Journal draws an early crowd Citizens of Richmond for Staff report In addition to testing, the welcome Responsible Living is placing bill- Everyone came early Saturday bags could be used to accumulate all boards at heavily traveled highways morning for the Sandhills Regional kinds of information regarding per- in the county to address the prob- Medical Center Spring Health Fair. sonal health. lems associated with driving while “By 9 a.m. we had run out of the Screening included checking ear impaired. 400 welcome bags I prepared,” said drum pressure, bone density, carot- The billboards are yet another Kimberly Harrington, director of id/peripheral, colon/rectal cancer, way the group is reaching out to marketing, as she went back to pre- glaucoma, glucose, skin, visual acu- people in the county who may drink pare more. ity, stress, physical endurance and alcoholic beverages and drive. Vehicles were parked all the way blood pressure and pulse. Richmond County along with around the building followed by EKGs were also offered free. Hoke County received a state incen- lines at several different health sta- Body fat was analyzed, advice tive grant through Sandhills Mental tions inside the first floor of the given on living wills, women and Health administered by Alcohol and hospital. men health issues information Drug Services to design a campaign Doctors and their staff members, given, information offered on nutri- to deliver a message of responsibil- hospital employees and community tion, wounds checked and lower ity to the communities because they extremity health assessed. TOM MACCALLUM/DAILY JOURNAL volunteers provided medical checks are high on a list of alcohol-related and information. More than just a health fair, the Sophia Williams and Barbara Reynolds of The Sandhills event offered many a thorough Medical Group register visitors for gift bags to be given While minimal fees were charged BILLBOARDS for blood profiles and specific blood checkup on their current health, away during the Spring Health Fair Saturday at Sandhills free except for blood work. CONTINUED ON PAGE 3A Regional Medical Center in Hamlet. testing, all other work was free. Obituaries 5A The Daily Journal is published with Vol. 78, No. 178 Inside today Deaths pride Tuesday through Sunday for the Opinion 4A people of Richmond County, N.C. The ON THE WEB: www.yourdailyjournal.com Boyce Honeycutt, 75, Cordova E-MAIL: [email protected] Calendar 2A Puzzles 3C Lizzie Quick, 86, Monroe Daily Journal is committed to editorial integrity and excellence. Material inside this edition is Classified 4B Sports 1B Obituaries can be found on Page 5A. If you spot an error, please contact us at © Richmond County Daily Journal. (910) 997-3111, ext. 18. Reproduction without expressed consent of the Comics insert Stocks 3B Richmond County Daily Journal is prohibited. C M Y K Page 2A Richmond County Daily Journal, Rockingham, N.C. Sunday, April 26, 2009 www.yourdailyjournal.com LOCAL COMMUNITY CALENDAR Founded in 1931 APRIL 26 Hamlet, 5 to 8 p.m. May 1. son. For more information, REEVES REUNION: Entertainment by the McNeil contact Michelle Stumbo, 4- PO Box 1888 Family and friends bring cov- Family. H Extension Agent, 910-997- Rockingham, NC 28380 ered dishes for a reunion at 1 FISH FRY: Emmanuel 8255. (USPS 465-220 ISSN 1050-7639) p.m. on Sunday, April 26, at Ministries Church having a The Richmond County Daily Journal is the East Rockingham Senior Fish Fry Plate Sale on Friday, MAY 7 published with pride for the people of Citizens Center. May 1, from 11 a.m. until RABIES VACCINATION: Richmond County by Heartland 6 p.m. Eat in or take out. N.C. State Law requires all Publications, LLC, 1 West Main Street, APRIL 27 Plates $6 each. Five or more dogs and cats four months Clinton, CT 06413. Published daily except CHHS-MAHS: J.W. Mask plates delivered for lunch, of age and over to be vac- Mondays by the Richmond County Daily Journal, 105 E. Washington Street, Jr. Alumni Chapter meets call 205-0740. cinated against rabies each Rockingham, NC 28379. Periodicals April 27 at 6 p.m. at NAACP year. All dogs and cats found postage paid at Rockingham. Building, Hamlet. MAY 1-2 without current rabies vac- DEMOCRATIC WOMEN: INDOOR YARD SALE: cination tags on collars will POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Richmond County Daily Journal Meeting Monday, April 27, at First United Methodist be subject to impoundment PO Box 1888 6 p.m.