PARADE MAGAZINE SPORTS, 1B INSIDE NEWS, 6A WEATHER INSIDE Showers with TODAY'S highs in the 80s. DAILY Mayfield fails Two earn high JOURNAL HIGH: 81 100% recycled LOW: 59 drug test honors at RCC newsprint DailyRichmond County Journal SUNDAY •May 10, 2009Rockingham, N.C. $1.00 NAACP names ‘Mother of the Year’ Olivia Webb local branch - and the “mothers” that of the Year in 1998. Doctor Fred McQueen, mothers, like who added that today’s progress was Richmond County Daily Journal helped make positive change happen. She noted that some progress all NAACP activists past and present, built upon ancestral struggles. He According to branch Secretary was visible that night at the dinner are “freedom fighters.” And children It was time for philanthropic local was the first person in his family to Tonya Whitt-Harrington, mothers tables of the East Hamlet Community are the future of the organization. graduate from college. The founder of women to shine at the 31st annual from each church choose themselves. Center. “You can’t take your bankroll to Richmond County NAACP “Mother of McQueen Medical Center in Hamlet, They choose to advocate the organi- “Tonight you can look out and see heaven. You can’t take your Mercedes McQueen received both his under- the Year” Banquet Friday night. zation’s mission through fundraising, all different kinds of people - white, to heaven. You can’t take your house The event not only celebrated the graduate and medical degrees from faith and hard work. black, hispanic - all in one room enjoy- to heaven. But you can take your Howard University. 100th anniversary of the National “We are fighting for justice and ing fellowship,” said Whitt-Harrington. child. They are precious. We must “The key was education then, and Association for the Advancement of equality for all mankind, for anyone “That’s something that didn’t happen teach our children so that they have Colored People, but also the 68th who has been mistreated,” said Whitt- 100 years ago.” the skills to survive when challeng- NAACP anniversary of the organization’s Harrington, who was crowned Mother According to keynote speaker es come their way,” said McQueen, CONTINUED ON PAGE 5A Alzheimer’s Juniors, support parents group now available get set for Olivia Webb Richmond County Daily Journal drive to When the time comes for chil- dren to care for their mothers and fathers, having the right support graduate system can make all the differ- ence. After helping start the Philip D. Brown Alzheimer’s unit at Britthaven Richmond County Daily Journal nursing home, Lewellyn Gibson said she was asked to share her As Fredrea Patterson walked into knowledge and experience as Junior Jump Night at the Richmond facilitator of a new Alzheimer’s Senior High Thursday afternoon, caregiver support group at the she felt a bit apprehensive about the Hamlet Senior Center. PETER WILLIAMS/DAILY JOURNAL senior project that will be required of “A lot of people don’t know Randy Stubbs of the her to graduate next year. how to deal with Alzheimer’s peo- East Rockingham Fire “It seems like it’s going to be a lot ple; they get angry with them,” Department (top photo, of work you have to do,” she said as said Gibson. “But they can’t help she walked by the completed displays right) talks with Andru of seniors who did theirs this semes- what’s happened to them. It’s a DeBerry about fire safe- malfunction in the brain.” ter. ty Saturday morning at She is planning to do her project on According to senior center FirstHealth Richmond Director Susan Sellers, the sup- heart defibrillators and pacemakers, Memorial Hospital. The and stopped to ask advice of senior port group will meet on the fourth hospital hosted a three- Wednesday of every month at Brianda Everett. 1:30 p.m. A light luncheon will be hour health event for kids “Would it be better to choose some- included. and adults both inside and thing you want for your career?” “Sometimes caregivers just outside the facility. Also Patterson asked Everett. need someone to vent to. In the pictured are R.J. Bright “Make sure that you do something classes we just sit and talk, and (left) and Teresa Knox. you love, because you’ll be doing it for we ask them if there’s anything Julie Bryant (right photo, like a month,” Everett answered. “You in particular they want to learn left) took the opportunity do have to manage your time, but about that hasn’t been offered to get her blood pressure you’ll get it. Just remember to focus anywhere else,” said Gibson. checked by Christy Land. and don’t procrastinate.” Sometimes talking about the RSHS juniors and their parents disease means learning how to showed up Thursday night to learn talk about it. more about the Senior Project, and “I can’t diagnose or tell people internet-based classes being offered at what to do,” said Gibson. “My job FIRSTHEALTH TEACHES COMMUNITY the high school next year. is to tell them where to go. When Those in attendance were addressed you go see a doctor, you need to by RSHS Principal Cory Satterfield, know what questions to ask.” Graduation Project Coordinator According to her, medical MEMBERS HOW TO STAY SAFE, HEALTHY Sharon Johnson and Richmond County authorities are asking more ques- Schools Technology Coordinator Beth tions about Alzheimer’s every Bryant about these subjects. day. Olivia Webb Richmond Memorial Hospital, floor of the hospital and spilled “In the 21st Century there are going “They keep doing all these Richmond County Daily Journal the event featured a variety of out into the parking lot. Children to be thousands of ways to learn, and kid-friendly activities and presen- we want to offer our students the tests because they don’t really If a happy, healthy child is the could do everything from trying know where it comes from,” said tations designed to teach parents on firefighter gear to seeing the chance to take every class they can, Gibson. “There’s a big chance perfect Mother’s Day present, and children how to stay safe and which is why we’re offering classes Kids’ Day was Richmond County’s inside of their ear on a television through the North Carolina Virtual that it could be hereditary, but it well. screen. also just has to do with brain cells one-stop gift shop Saturday morn- The booths of representatives Public High School,” Satterfield said. ing. from FirstHealth and many other HEALTH SUPPORT Sponsored by FirstHealth local organizations filled the first CONTINUED ON PAGE 3A GRADUATE CONTINUED ON PAGE 3A CONTINUED ON PAGE 3A DSS working to recruit foster parents Philiip D. Brown from bad situations, so don’t treat worker Cielo Poloche, who heads up Richmond County Daily Journal them even worse now that they’re the placement of foster children in A mother is someone who gives of out of it.” the county, explained. “I think that in itself is a qualification for special themselves and loves and cares for a Richmond County Department Social Services recently received needs. Other special needs include child. being part of a sibling group, their Everybody knows Mozella Almon $23,000 to operate special adop- tions. age, if they’re older it’s harder to find as “Mama.” a place for them, or if they belong to Since Almon became a foster par- DSS Adult and Children Services Program Manager Robby Hall an ethnic population.” ent she’s seen more than 100 chil- In 2008, the DSS’s threshold for dren come through her doors, and explained the money is to help place special needs children, and a good funding adoptions was three. Poloche has adopted seven of them to go said they actually set up seven adop- with her seven biological children portion of it will be spent on recruit- ment for new foster care families in tions. and numerous grand and great grand- Already in 2009, there have been children. Richmond County. two successful adoptions, and there PHILIP D. BROWN/DAILY JOURNAL “I’ll tell you just like I tell everybody Currently, many children are being Everybody knows Mozella Almon of Ellerbe as “Mama.” are four cases that are pending as else,” she said at her kitchen table placed through other agencies that they work to meet all the qualifica- She has cared for more than 100 foster children over Friday morning. “You have to love require fees and cost county taxpay- the past 17 years, and adopted seven of them. She is tions they have to complete the adop- these kids just like they’re your own. ers more money. tion. pictured receiving Mother’s Day gifts from two of her Don’t get in it for the money, because “Every child that’s in foster care adopted children, Jamari Everett (right) and Kamilla the money ain’t a lot. You have to be here is adjudicated through the court FOSTER Whitfield. good to these kids. They’re coming as abused or neglected usually,” social CONTINUED ON PAGE 5A Obituaries 5A The Daily Journal is published with Vol. 78, No. 190 Inside today Deaths pride Tuesday through Sunday for the Opinion 4A people of Richmond County, N.C. The ON THE WEB: www.yourdailyjournal.com Doris Manning, 75, Rockingham E-MAIL: [email protected] Calendar 2A Puzzles 3C Wendell Hailey, 25, Hamlet 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. 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