VOLUME 111, ISSUE 70 Crow is county’s Ist W. Nile case HURRICANE’S RAIN WILL UP RISK OF HUMAN INFECTION BV SHANNAN BOWEN STAFF WRITER Health officials confirmed Wednesday the first case of West Nile virus in Orange County this year, and they warned that Hurricane Isabel could increase the potential for human infection. A black crow found in Hillsborough on the 3300 block of N.C. 54 was sent to a national test r T j* I#'! 1 #'! \| i l ' n ' ' , >s 4 DTH/GARRETT HALL Brad Allen, a resident of Surf City, is pulled through the sand by his kite Wednesday afternoon. Allen, unfazed by the approaching hurricane, brought his kite out to play in the wind. ON THE BRINK THE UPDATE ON ISABEL Isabels speeding toward die North Carolina coast as a Category 2 hurricane. The northern coast df the state is expected to take the brunt ot the storm When the hurricane hits at midday | 0 .250 | miles | SOURCE: http://WWW.NHC.NOAA.GOV DTH/ELUSON UNC planning normal schedule Some parking adjusted for flooding BY TORRYE JONES STAFF WRITER As Hurricane Isabel strikes the East Coast this morning, the University plans to operate on a normal schedule. With no indication of flooding in Chapel Hill today, classes will be held as usual, said Derek Poarch, director of the University’s Department of Public Safety. Some areas of the University already have been affected. Parking in the S-7 Ehringhaus Field lot was closed at 5 p.m. Wednesday because of the poten ONLINE Hurricane updates periodically on dailytarheel.com Speakers advocate for gay rights on death row Check for more stories online Serving the students and the University community since 1893 ®lip Satin alar Hrrl ing lab Sept. It was returned Tuesday after testing positive for West Nile. State and county environmental officials said heavy rainfall from the anticipated arrival of Isabel will increase the threat of the virus spreading to local residents. West Nile virus is a potentially fatal disease transferred primarily through infected mosquitoes, BY CLEVE WOOTSON, MICHELLE JARBOE AND MATT HANSON SENIOR WRITERS SURF CITY The vulnerable Outer Banks emptied Wednesday, and residents along much of the North Carolina coastline hunkered down. But hurricane veterans on this southern strip of beach said they aren’t concerned about Hurricane Isabel and its 105 mph winds. They even capitalized on the hefty breezes and sizable waves —as tall as an uncommon 10 feet that announced Isabel’s impending landfall. Brad Allen, a Marine who lives in Surf City, was operat ing his stunt kites high above the beach while dozens of spectators watched. Nearby in the water, at least a dozen surfers caught waves SEE ISABEL, PAGE 5 tial for minor flooding in the area. Alternative parking for S-7 permit holders can be found in the S-ll Manning lot until the threat of flooding subsides. Chapel Hill Transit plans to operate under normal conditions today and will give residents a two hour notice if it decides to halt its services. Orange County Public Transportation will operate only essential medical transportation. Bruce Runberg, associate vice chancellor for facilities planning, said that at construction sites INSIDE LAB! THEATRE Lab! tries something new, a workshop experiment PAGE 13 | www.dailytarheel.com | which breed in water. The virus interferes with the human central nervous system and causes inflam mation of brain tissue. John Sauls, director of the Orange County Animal Control Center, said he is not surprised that the virus made its way to Orange County. “West Nile is in all counties around Orange County,” he said. “It would be very foolish to think we wouldn’t have West Nile in this county.” West Nile virus has been con firmed in North Carolina this year in 14 humans, 54 horses and 120 HURRICANE ISABEL around campus, he has advised contractors to store and secure any loose materials so the sites will be “weather tight.” Special consideration was given to buildings without walls and windows, such as Memorial Hall, where tarps will be placed over holes, Runberg said. Although the University will be holding classes, other area school systems have decided to cancel classes for the day. Officials for Chapel Hill- Carrboro City Schools canceled school along with after-school pro grams and events. SEE EMERGENCY, PAGE 5 birds, according to state officials. These figures reflect records that are current as of Saturday. Barry Engber, a medical ento mologist at the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources, said autumn is the most active season for mosquitoes because of the cool weather and damp ground. Hurricane season in particular provides a breeding ground for virus-spreading mosquitoes. Because of a likely increase in the SEE MOSQUITO. PAGE 5 \ m i \ DTH/BRIAN CASSELLA James Ingram stands Wednesday at the site of his home, destroyed in 1999 by Hurricane Floyd. He visits the site regularly. Isabel’s fury elicits memories of Floyd BY KATHRYN GRIM, MATT HANSON AND JENNIFER IMMEL SENIOR WRITERS KINSTON Rising, shoul der-high waters drove James Ingram, 78, from his home in Kinston when Hurricane Floyd hit the North Carolina coast in 1999. Even as Hurricane Isabel loomed off the coast Wednesday, Ingram went to visit his cat, Tabby, at the site where his home used to stand. Ingram has returned to this piece of land, located on University Street in the former Lincoln City neighborhood, almost every day for the last four years. Though he has tried to relocate Tabby to his new SPORTS EARLY DOMINATION North Carolina women’s soccer blows out Guilford 9-0 by second half's start PAGE 14 THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2003 HUMAN CASES OF WEST NILE VIRUS IN NORTH CAROLINA Twelve counties in North Carolina have reported human cases of the West Nile virus during the last year. As of Wednesday, a bird in Orange County was diagnosed officially with the virus, which makes a human case more likely to occur. The first 13 human cases are listed in chronological order. • Vance County _JK£4MNMOf • Watauga County *—