WEDNESDAY
July 13,2011
Roxboro,
North Carolina
www.personcountylife.com
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Serving all of Person County since 1881
Couricr-®mejr
CRUZ-IN:
Friends in classic
cars hanging out
and having fun. B1
iHllI
w
CLOSING UP:
What s going onF
Local Blockbuster
store shutting doors
at end of business
day tonight. A8
CHAMPS:
Roxboro squad
rallies with 5
straight wim to
claim another
distrim title. A6
WHArS HOT:
Grey Pentecost
rev iews 'Beastly, ”
which puts an
intriguing spin on
a classic to tell a
modern day love
story. B2
-]|
DEATHS
i[-
Coy Odell Briggs, 83
Graham
Frances Chambers, 73
Timberlake
Frank Edward Gray, 74
Prospect Hill
Patsy Thomas Langley, 68
Roxboro
Frankie Roger Reaves, 61
Roxboro
Wayne Wilson, 61
Durham
See page All
-inMaE-
AGENDA
A3
BOAT WRITES
A2
CLASSIFIED
C SECTION
COMMENTARY
AS
DO YOU KNOW
A2
ENTERTAINMENT
B2
EXTENSION NOTES
C4
LEGAL NOTICES
C3
LIFESTYLE
B5
LOOKING BACK
A2
MINI-PAGE
B7
MOVIES
A2
OBITUARIES
All
OPINION
A4
SPORTS
A6-7
TV LISTINGS
B3
WHAT'S GOING ON?
A8
Our
129th year
Number 56
Three sections
24 pages
Copyright
2011
The Courier-Times Inc.
3 incumbents announce new bids for city council
Filing deadline could be extended if all
five openings are not filled by Friday
BY TIM CHANDLER
COURIER-TIMES EDITOR
tchnn(ller@roxboto-cou[le[.com
“I have never known that to
happen before.”
Brenda Whitlow, director of
the Person County Board of Elec
tions, spoke those words this
week when discussing the possi
bility that a sufficient number of
candidates would not file for the
five-person Roxboro City Coun
cil.
The filing period for the City
of Roxboro’s non-partisan elec
tion for city council and mayor
began on Friday, July 1, and is
set to end Friday, July 15, at noon.
The municipal election is sched
uled for Tuesday, Oct. 11.
As of Tuesday afternoon, only
three candidates had filed for city
council — current Councilmen
Henry Daniel, Sandy Stigall and
Ralph Clark.
Daniel will be seeking a fifth
two-year term on council and Sti-
SeelMfnOm, Page 12
Ralph Clark
Henry Daniel
Sandy Stigall
•'-’i ~
- lA fc. ^..'
SUBMITTED
Chris Pearce got time off to visit the Acropolis and other historical sites while in Greece, volunteering
with the Special Olympics World Games.
Fulfilling &
rewarding
Chris Pearce volunteered to assist with
Special Olymoics World Games in Greece
BY PHYLISS BOATWRIGHT
COURIER-TIMES STAFF WRITER
pboatwright@roxboto-courlet.com
third World Games, which also
marked the first time he’d ever
smelled tear gas.
Pearce went to Athens, Greece
Chris Pearce has volunteered two weeks ago as a volunteer plat-
with Special Olympics for 20 form manager in the powerlifting
years and just returned from his competition. He said that, while
All rights reserved
SUBMITTED
Chris Pearce, far right, is shown with fellow Special Olympics World
Games officials Jim Hollis and Eli Frazier in Greece.
walking around in Athens one
day during some free time, he and
a couple other officials detecfed
an odd odor and fheir eyes and
noses began to burn.
There were protests taking
place during the World Games
against the socialist govern
ment’s proposed budget cuts, tax
increases and privatizations to
make the 230-billion-euro Greek
economy more competitive, and
stave off default. Political opposi
tion and street violence resulted,
including protests and the use of
force by Greek riot police.
Pearce said, while he was
there, he saw protestors and some
skirmishes, but the problem did
not seem to be nearly as bad as it
had been portrayed by television
news shows.
He said the worst problem he
and his fellow World Games offi
cials encountered was the Athens
traffic when a strike by public
transportation workers caused
traffic tie-ups.
When he asked a Greek official
what was going on, Pearce said
the man shrugged and answered.
See FULFILLING, Page 12
GRAHAM MAN DROWNS
SATURDAY AT HYCO
BY TIM CHANDLER
COURIER-TIMES EDITOR
fcbon(ller@roxboto-courlet.com
A Graham man drowned
Saturday evening at Hyco
Lake.
Daniel Hopkins, 29, of Gra
ham was reportedly in the
water with an inflatable tube
shortly before he began strug
gling in the water, witnesses
told Person County Sheriff’s
Office officials.
Emergency crews were
called to 205 Pointer Dr. at
around 6:30 p.m. Saturday Ac
cording to a sheriff’s office in
cident report, Hopkins, along
with his wife, daughter and
other friends, had arrived at
that location at approximately
2 p.m. Saturday.
Hopkins reportedly fell off
the tube he was riding and
began struggling in the water.
Witnesses told sheriff’s depu
ties they were unable to swim
to Hopkins’ aid in time to res
cue him.
Emergency crews recovered
Hopkins’ body from the lake at
approximately 2:30 a.m. Sun
day, according to Person Coun
ty Sheriff Dewey Jones.
Jones added that alcohol
might have been a factor in the
drowning.
Rougemont residents
eontinue to speak out
against ineorporation
BY PHYLISS BOAIWRIGHT
COURIER-TIMES STAFF WRITER
pbootwrlght@toxboro-cou[ler.com
Rougemont may or may not
become an incorporated town
after a vote by its citizens in
November, but already three
men and two women have filed
for a seat on the five-member
town council.
Jason Howe was the first to
file on July 1, and Wallace W
O’Briant filed on July 8, fol
lowing an information meet
ing held at Rougemont United
Methodist Church on July 7.
Layton S. Oakley paid the $5
filing fee and put his name in
the hat on July 11, and Patricia
P. Russell Denise A. Smith filed
yesterday.
A second informational
meeting was held at New Red
Mountain Baptist Church Mon
day evening.
Large crowds at both infor
mational meetings were told by
members of the Rougemont In
corporation Steering Commit
tee that about 900 residents in
a 2.66 square mile area would
be affected by the proposed in
corporation. At both meetings,
several residents spoke against
the incorporation, citing the
fear of additional taxes, bu
reaucracy and loss of the rural
lifestyle they currently enjoy.
The steering committee said.
See ROUGEMONT,Page 12
Summer learning...
GREY PENTECOST I COURIER-TIMES
Person County Schools employees listen as Executive Direc
tor of the Public School Forum of North Carolina Jo Ann Norris
presents on “Shifting Politics and Demographics of North Caro
lina” during the annual PCS Summer Leadership Conference
Tuesday afternoon. The conference began Tuesday and will run
through Thursday, featuring guest speakers during each day’s
noon session.