'Get Patriotic in Person' The Courier Times Weather Outlook TODAY: Hi 75 Lo 55 THURSDAY; Hi 74 Lo 58 See page A3 for info FRIDAY; Hi 75 Lo 63 WEDNESDAY, Mayii,2on Serving All of Person County Since 1881 Copyright The Courier-Times inc. 2011 All Rights Reserved 75c Our 129th Year — No. 38 Roxboro, North Carolina Three Sections — 22 Pages www.personcountylife.com City postpones decision on privilege license fees EDC Chairman )im Stovall voices opposition to proposed increases at Tuesday night meeting By PHYLISS BOATWRIGHT C-T Staff Writer pboatwright@roxboro-courier.com Roxboro business owners will not have an answer on whether their privi lege license fees will increase until next week. Should the fees increase, however, businesses will not have to open their books or show their tax returns to the city, and manufacturers and wholesalers will be exempt from gross receipts. Roxboro City Council held a public hearing on possible increases in busi ness privilege license fees during its May regular meeting last night, and several business owners, along with the chair men of the Chamber of Commerce board and the county Economic Development Commission, spoke in opposition. After hearing comments, members of the council said they needed more time to consider the points made during the public hearing, and to begin work on the city’s budget for fiscal year 2011- 12 before making a decision on how to charge for business privilege licenses in the future. Under the current structure, busi nesses in the city pay a flat fee to oper ate in Roxboro, regardless of their size or sales. The changes council is considering would have some businesses charged the $50 minimum fee while others would be charged the $50 fee for gross receipts up to $5 million and 50 cents for every $1,000 over $5 million. Interim City Manager Tommy War ren has said the city had collected $78,000 in privilege licenses this year. The change to a gross receipts collection method would increase that revenue to about $125,000 per year, he said. Dennis Canter, chairman of the Rox boro Area Chamber of Commerce board, said the Chamber was opposed to the proposed ordinance “as written.” He said many Chamber members felt that council had merely taken the matter of increasing business privilege license fees “off the shelf and dusted it off to quiet the masses,” who opposed the proposal when it was first presented last year. In July 2010, council members heard a presentation from a consultant, who See CITY back page SKYWARD BOUND Phyliss Boatwright / C-T READY TO FLY — Henry Newell (left) climbs into Claude Burkehead's 1940s-era Ercoupe for a flight around the Person County Airport during last weekend's fly-in of the Vintage Aircraft Association Chapter 3. More photos and information of the event can be found on page B1 of today's edition. House resolution honors life of Gordon P. Allen By PHYLISS BOATWRIGHT C-T Staff Writer pboatwright@roxboro-courier.com The North Carolina House of Repre sentatives passed a resolution last week honoring the life of Personian Gordon P. Allen Jr. Rep. W.A. (Winkle) Wilkins intro duced House Resolution 667, along with co-sponsors Jim Crawford of Granville County, Harold Brubaker of Randolph County and Paul Luebke of Durham County. On May 2, the House recognized the contributions Allen made during his life, as a member of the state Senate and House, as well as his service in the Army during the Korean War and later as a commanding officer in the N.C. National Guard. The resolution also honors Allen for his contributions to the state and county as a partner in the Thompson-Alien Insurance agency and as director of the Independent Insurance Agents of North Carolina. The resolution notes that Allen also Gordon P. Allen The Courier=Times BOE to consider new mentor standards, staff development plan Thursday This Week’s Question; Will the escalating gas prices cause you lo alter your summer vacation plans this year? iYes, will have to "“^alter plans By GREY PENTECOST C-T Staff Writer greypentecost@roxboro-courier.com The Person County Board of Educa tion will address several items on the action agenda at its regular monthly meeting, to be held on Thursday, May 12 at 6:30 p.m. in the boardroom at 304 S. Morgan St. in Roxboro. Person County Schools Licensure and Teacher Services Coordinator Lori Stacey will present a revision to the “li censure policy exhibit,” which includes new mentor standards. Mentors are faculty who serve the needs of other teachers who are in their first three years of their teaching careers. “Another new aspect of the revised policy exhibit,” said Stacey, “includes a peer review process for the Beginning Teacher Support Program. Under this new supportive approach, LEAs will support one another by reviewing plans and sharing best practices.” Also up for vote is a proposed new PCS graduation requirement, which would mandate that, beginning with the freshman class of fall 2011, all stu dents successfully complete at least one online course prior to graduation from high school. In other business. Program Special ist Paula Chandler will present a 2011- 12 professional development plan to the board for approval. The plan was brought before the board for discus sion at the March meeting. According to Chandler, the plan will make profes sional development consistent across the district, as well as help schools pre pare for the “common core standards” to be implemented by the state. The plan incorporates the use of Max Thompson’s Learning-Focused Schools Model. The proposal will also include a budget, with a large amount of the funding coming from PCS’ Race to the Top grant, said Chandler. Schools Supt. Dr. Larry W. Cartner will present a resolution, as suggested by the North Carolina School Boards As sociation, opposing House Bill 344: Tax Credit for Children with Disabilities. Tbe bill, said Cartner would provide tax credits for parents who would en roll their children in private or home schools, resulting in only the most severely disabled students left enrolled in public schools. The board will also make an appoint ment to Piedmont Community College’s Board of Trustees at tomorrow’s meet ing. A finance report and 2011-12 Head Start budget will be submitted for ap proval as well. lYes, will have to cancel plans JNo, will not change plans served in many civic roles, including as president of the Roxboro Area Chamber of Commerce and the Roxboro Kiwanis Club, as well as chairman of the Person County Economic Development Com mission and co-chair of the Person Memorial Hospital Building Project. Wilkins spoke to the House following a reading of the resolution last week, telling his fellow legislators that Allen’s service in the General Assembly was “probably unparalleled.” Allen served in the state Senate from 1969 to 1975, serving as president pro-tempore in 1971 and 1973. He was a member of the House of Representa tives from 1997 to 2005, serving as chair of the Finance Committee. He was a lobbyist for the North Caro lina Bankers Association for 20 years, and the group named its annual service award for Allen. Wilkins said he knew Allen well from the time Wilkins was a small child and Jl am not sure yet See HOUSE back page Cast Your Vote On-Line At www.roxboro-courier.com INSIDE Wednesday Results of our latest poll: Should Roxboro City Council approve privilege license fees for businesses in the city as proposed? Yes, as proposed - 15% No - 627o Yes, but at an altered rate - 8% It does not matter to me - 15% Agenda Classified Do You Know... Entertainment. Legal Notices... Looking Back.. Mini-Page Obituaries TV Listings A2 Chandler .. C section Commentary A3 Editorial.. B2 Extension Notes.. C3 Lifestyle.. A3 Military Notes B6 Movies.... A9 Sports B3 A2 A5 A4 B7 ..B4-5 A3 A3 A6-8 4879 08696 Person County Schools' lead nurse Shannon Pointer named School Health Champion for May by NCDPl Shannon Pointer Person County Schools’ Lead Nurse Shannon Pointer was recently named the School Health Champion for the month of May by the North Carolina Depart ment of Public Instruction (NCDPl). The School Health Champion of the Month is awarded to a healthy role model who demonstrates outstanding leader ship in advancing school-based policies and programs improving the health of students and/or staff Pointer will receive two tickets to the UNC/UVA baseball game to be held May 20, where she will be awarded a plaque and $500 for use in the schools she serves to advance a variety of health-related efforts. Pointer has been a school nurse for seven years, and is currently the lead nurse for PCS, serving Helena, North End, Oak Lane and Woodland elemen tary schools. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing, and a national cer tification in school nursing, as well as a graduate certificate in nursing education. Pointer is currently enrolled at the University of North Carolina at Char lotte, where she is pursuing a master’s degree in community and public health nursing. One of the goals of the State Board of Education, said Pointer, is to have healthy and responsible students. She believes that unhealthy students aren’t able to learn and unhealthy staff mem bers aren’t able to teach effectively. Pointer said she considers it an “honor” to have a job where each day she can help teachers do their best at work, and help students learn and achieve at their highest potential. Pointer commented that she would like to use some of her award money to purchase new education materials for teaching CPR, since the American Heart Association has implemented new requirements for CPR educators, followed by a new curriculum. Pointer was nominated for the award hy the School Health Advisory Council (SHAC), an organization required in all North Carolina public school systems, in accordance with state board of educa tion policy. Tbe council’s responsibility is to “support and guide school health practices, programs and policies.” “Shannon has been a member of SHAC for most of the eight years she has worked with the Person County Schools,” said SHAC Chair and PCS Child Nutrition Director Lyn Holt. “Her main focus has always been supporting and improving the health environment for students and staff. As a member of SHAC, she has been instrumental in forwarding wellness initiatives. Obvi ously she models good health for the students with her own lifestyle.” Pointer is now in the running for the North Carolina School Health Cham pion of the Year award to be given in December. Schools Supt. Dr. Larry W. Cartner said PCS was “very proud” of Pointer, deeming her receipt of the award “a well-deserved honor.” The School Health Champion of the Month/Year award is the result of a partnership between NCDPl, the North Carolina State Board of Education, local Subway franchises and Tar Heel Sports Properties.