tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24966469694124176532012-01-26T15:50:44.188-05:00Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00345384164752885124noreply@blogger.comBlogger531100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2496646969412417653.post-38742245284507511322012-01-26T11:08:00.001-05:002012-01-26T15:50:44.204-05:00<b><u><span style="color: #990000;">Update</span></u>: According to thorough reporting by Billy Ball of the Sanford Herald, Womack is now blaming the staff for releasing an email that the NC Press Association says is absolutely public information. Chair Linda Shook tried to disavow any responsibility by saying she couldn&#39;t read minds.  A longer video excerpt </b><b>of Womack&#39;s comments </b><b>than the one below can be found by <a href="http://youtu.be/GTbVWgWDh2M" target="_blank">clicking here</a>.  Shook was presiding at the meeting and completely ignored her responsibility as the chair of the meeting to maintain decorum and ethics.  She had every chance to rule Womack out of order--and did not.  But then she never has followed the rules of order.  In the end, Shook and Womack&#39;s other follower, Charlie Parks, end up shrugging off the incident.  Imagine what will happen if they get just one more vote in November.</b><b><br></b><br><br><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0OhoEQM2yPI/TyEar19B_KI/AAAAAAAADqM/KSFl7yRylOs/s1600/Shameless.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0OhoEQM2yPI/TyEar19B_KI/AAAAAAAADqM/KSFl7yRylOs/s200/Shameless.jpg" width="110"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br></td></tr></tbody></table>Jim Womack jumped to the microphone to discount that one of his emails is being shared among members of the public, on blogs, and possible newspaper stories at Wednesday&#39;s reception honoring retiring County Attorney Dick Hoyle for his 50 years of service to Lee County.  He then expressed his respect for the guest of honor for being like him, a believer in the Savior and serving in the military. He then bounded to Mr.Hoyle for a hardy handshake and &quot;shoulder hug.&quot;  Dick Hoyle, ever the gentleman and perhaps the county&#39;s most respected citizen, smiled just as he would for anyone. There is more than a circulating email to document Womack&#39;s lashing out at county staff in an October meeting of the county commission unchecked by his ally, Chair Linda Shook. The video excerpt below documents Womack&#39;s disdainful judgements.<br><a href="http://www.leedispatch.com/2012/01/audacious-arrogance.html#more">Read More&gt;&gt;&gt;</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2496646969412417653-3874224528450751132?l=www.leedispatch.com' alt='' /></div>Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00345384164752885124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2496646969412417653.post-8709574364701882732012-01-25T06:00:00.000-05:002012-01-26T15:49:21.922-05:00<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6iw85_Cbz_M/TpUtxlPdbtI/AAAAAAAADa4/Y8H17uZeD7w/s1600/saferoom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6iw85_Cbz_M/TpUtxlPdbtI/AAAAAAAADa4/Y8H17uZeD7w/s320/saferoom.jpg" width="220" /></a></div><b style="color: #cc0000;">Shook Fails To Restrain Womack</b><br /><span style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="color: black;">The <a href="https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B56m8gHLXsZCMmZiZTVmYjgtZjMwYy00ZjJkLWEzYWEtMzYwZTQzNTYwZDZj" target="_blank">recently discovered email </a>is not Commissioner Jim Womack's first unethical tirade blasting county professional and legal staff--this time in a public forum--the October 10, 2011 commission meeting.&nbsp; By completely</span></span> ignoring established board rules of parliamentary procedure, Chair Linda Shook has allowed Womack to bully his way without restraint in Board of Commissioners meetings.&nbsp; When four commissioners failed to accept Womack's unsustainable legal interpretations and followed the advice of a respected county attorney, he showed the same vengeful behavior evidenced in the email.&nbsp; It is time for Chair Shook to enforce rules of procedure and make commission meetings a no bully zone. Allowing this to continue, is the only reason needed for denying&nbsp; her and Womack an absolute majority of the board in this year's election. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTbVWgWDh2M&amp;feature=youtu.be" target="_blank">See the 2 minute video of Womack's attack at this link.</a><br /><br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2496646969412417653-870957436470188273?l=www.leedispatch.com' alt='' /></div>Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00345384164752885124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2496646969412417653.post-46602510514813530152012-01-24T16:28:00.001-05:002012-01-24T16:28:49.394-05:00<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jWuZUnxN1fI/Tx8OB-MJPoI/AAAAAAAADp8/UL0ONcqkpnc/s1600/best+square+tank.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="161" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jWuZUnxN1fI/Tx8OB-MJPoI/AAAAAAAADp8/UL0ONcqkpnc/s320/best+square+tank.jpg" width="320"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="st"><i>Tienanmen Square</i>-Lone Man Fights For Freedom</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="color: #cc0000; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Womack Email Threatens With Tank Analogy</span></div><div style="color: #cc0000; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div><div style="color: #cc0000; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div><div style="color: #cc0000; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Several people have seen the opening minutes of last night&#39;s county commissioners&#39; meeting and have asked why this picture was presented to them--The answer is more from Jim Womack&#39;s email.  </span></span><br></div><div style="color: #cc0000; text-align: left;"></div><div style="color: #cc0000; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">That Jim Womack would brag to Richard Littiken and Kirk Smith about threatening county officials with being crushed by a tank came as  no surprise.</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span></span></div><div style="color: #cc0000; text-align: left;"><i><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"></span></i><br></div><a href="http://www.leedispatch.com/2012/01/email-womack-looks-for-something-to.html#more">Read More&gt;&gt;&gt;</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2496646969412417653-4660251051481353015?l=www.leedispatch.com' alt='' /></div>Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00345384164752885124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2496646969412417653.post-21186320325028988452012-01-23T14:58:00.000-05:002012-01-24T18:07:24.952-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pxPBttOj3lI/Tx2u_1CcF0I/AAAAAAAADp0/o525bxpXep8/s1600/womack+disagrees.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pxPBttOj3lI/Tx2u_1CcF0I/AAAAAAAADp0/o525bxpXep8/s1600/womack+disagrees.jpg"></a></div>Yes, there is a strongly dissenting view found in a public record on the county mail server.<br><a href="http://tinyurl.com/with1morevote" target="_blank">Click here to read</a>.  The link is necessary to prevent web searches engines from finding the slanderous opinions expressed by the email author.<br><a href="http://www.leedispatch.com/2012/01/what-was-found-in-email.html#more">Read More&gt;&gt;&gt;</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2496646969412417653-2118632032502898845?l=www.leedispatch.com' alt='' /></div>Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00345384164752885124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2496646969412417653.post-85462764018917164882012-01-23T11:16:00.001-05:002012-01-23T15:12:07.288-05:00The Sanford Herald named Richard Hoyle as its 2011 winner of its Lifetime Achievement Award. <a href="http://sanfordherald.com/bookmark/17254301-Hoyle-attributes-success-to-Lee-County-upbringing" target="_blank">Read Article</a>.  The Lee Dispatch hardily agrees with this recognition, and is reprinting its December 8, 2011 post.<br><br><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bRfUHDkr5Ro/TuFa_x4ht-I/AAAAAAAADmc/B0Tjm_XZq84/s1600/dick_hoyle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bRfUHDkr5Ro/TuFa_x4ht-I/AAAAAAAADmc/B0Tjm_XZq84/s200/dick_hoyle.jpg" width="153"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kenneth R. Hoyle, Esquire</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><b> <span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span></b></span><span style="font-size: small;"><b style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">f everyone were clothed with integrity, if every heart were just, frank, kindly, the other virtues would be well-nigh useless.&quot;</span></b>— Moliere<i> Tartuffe</i>, V, i (1622-1673)</span><br><h2 style="font-weight: normal; text-align: left;"> <span style="font-size: small;"></span></h2><br><h2 style="font-weight: normal; text-align: left;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">It is as if Jean-Baptiste Poquelin, known by his stage name Molière, had Kenneth Hoyle in mind thousands of years ago.  And a man like Mr. Hoyle can, indeed, leave a legacy that can influence centuries.<br>Monday night an era will end as the Lee County Commissioners accept the retirement of County Attorney Kenneth R. Hoyle and honor him with a resolution.  Mr. Hoyle has been serving as county attorney for nearly five decades and served as the Town of Broadway&#39;s attorney for 28 years of those years.</span><span class="st"></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">.<br></span></span></h2></div><a href="http://www.leedispatch.com/2012/01/hoyle-gets-accolades-again.html#more">Read More&gt;&gt;&gt;</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2496646969412417653-8546276401891716488?l=www.leedispatch.com' alt='' /></div>Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00345384164752885124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2496646969412417653.post-72507110658909907822012-01-20T13:20:00.001-05:002012-01-20T13:20:14.158-05:00There is an email circulated in the community in which a commissioner attacks the reputation of one of Lee County's most&nbsp; revered and respected public servants, attacks other professionals, and discloses the plan to be implemented in December, if certain candidates are elected.&nbsp; Although this email has been in my possession for some time, its initial availability to the public was not provided by me. After it was clear that it was public, I have shared it with some individuals.&nbsp;<br /><br />What is written on the blog is picked up in search engines.&nbsp; I do not want to put the email here in a way that carries these statements into archives that could be found by potential future employers of some of the unfairly attacked professionals.<br /><br />What this email reveals about a political agenda in Lee County is an important item for Lee County citizens.&nbsp; A process is being reviewed to allow the document to be made available o line with protection against entering openly onto the web.&nbsp;&nbsp; Sign up for email delivery or check back for instructions on obtaining access to the document.&nbsp; <br /><br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2496646969412417653-7250711065890990782?l=www.leedispatch.com' alt='' /></div>Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00345384164752885124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2496646969412417653.post-76448217844862052842012-01-16T21:58:00.000-05:002012-01-17T11:54:09.321-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eyylXuK-g9o/TxR793tytxI/AAAAAAAADpo/Mh_LgQtSNig/s1600/tapedup.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eyylXuK-g9o/TxR793tytxI/AAAAAAAADpo/Mh_LgQtSNig/s1600/tapedup.jpg"></a><br><div style="color: #990000;"><b><br></b></div><div style="color: #990000;"><b>Cautious, careful people . . . never can bring about a reform. Those who are really in earnest must be willing to be anything or nothing in the world&#39;s estimation, and . . . bear the consequences.</b></div><div align="right">- Susan B. Anthony </div><div align="right"><br></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br>It is no small task to respond to the recent letter from Commissioner Richard Hayes.  The first sentence was 59 words long. And it was replete with the grammatical twists and turns similar to his sometimes muddled discussion of issues before the county commission. Having spent hours in commission meetings, here is a reasonable take away from the letter.<br><br></div><a href="http://www.leedispatch.com/2012/01/richard-hayes-paralyzed-by-caution.html#more">Read More&gt;&gt;&gt;</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2496646969412417653-7644821784486205284?l=www.leedispatch.com' alt='' /></div>Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00345384164752885124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2496646969412417653.post-72537611008080341642012-01-15T10:54:00.002-05:002012-01-15T10:54:36.983-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xyw7dHQheOk/TwnGrZtp6GI/AAAAAAAADpA/0oJIBoJtkr8/s1600/sUDNA+COLUMNS.JPC" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xyw7dHQheOk/TwnGrZtp6GI/AAAAAAAADpA/0oJIBoJtkr8/s200/sUDNA+COLUMNS.JPC" width="200" /></a></div><b style="color: #cc0000;">George Will</b><span style="color: #cc0000;"> </span><a href="http://www.thonline.com/news/opinion/article_f36a38a8-811a-5472-a845-a16135400ea9.html" target="_blank">(click here)</a><br />Also,&nbsp; <b>Walter Williams</b> (<a href="http://www2.timesdispatch.com/news/oped/2012/jan/12/tdopin02-williams-in-greed-i-trust-ar-1604523/" target="_blank">click here</a>)<br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica; font-size: x-small;"><b style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="font-size: small;">Ann Coulter </span></b><span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">(<a href="http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=48749" target="_blank">click here</a>)</span></span></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">Added this week<b> Cal Thomas</b> (<a href="http://jewishworldreview.com/cols/thomas011212.php3" target="_blank">click here</a>)</span></span></span> </span><br /><br /><br /><i>Leave a comment and see if we can ad your favorite next Sunday.&nbsp; In this case only you do not need to leave your name.</i><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2496646969412417653-7253761100808034164?l=www.leedispatch.com' alt='' /></div>Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00345384164752885124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2496646969412417653.post-78081013957143305152012-01-11T05:36:00.002-05:002012-01-11T06:17:59.557-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--I8UM9sqz2o/Tw08Ua39FVI/AAAAAAAADpI/I4elXvhdEsQ/s1600/3+points.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="170" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--I8UM9sqz2o/Tw08Ua39FVI/AAAAAAAADpI/I4elXvhdEsQ/s200/3+points.jpg" width="200"></a></div><span style="font-size: large;">Three Key Points About Job Situation</span><br><br>An article in yesterday&#39;s <i>Sanford Herald</i> referenced three points made by  David Clegg, deputy chairman for the Employment Security Commission of North Carolina at a  luncheon sponsored by the Sanford Area Chamber of Commerce on Monday.<br><div style="background-color: white; border: medium none; color: black; overflow: hidden; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">Read more: <a href="http://sanfordherald.com/bookmark/17044287-ESC-s-Clegg-discusses-jobs-recession#ixzz1j8KmEUxD" style="color: #003399;">Sanford Herald - ESC s Clegg discusses jobs recession</a> </div><div style="background-color: white; border: medium none; color: black; overflow: hidden; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"></div><div style="background-color: white; border: medium none; color: black; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"><br></div><div style="background-color: white; border: medium none; color: black; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">The three key points confirm previous posts about the jobless situation in Lee County.</div><div style="background-color: white; border: medium none; color: black; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"><ul><li> The published unemployment rate for Lee County seriously underestimates true number of people unemployed. </li><li>The nature of work is changing.</li><li>&quot;There has to be a significant redefinition of what you do.&quot; </li></ul></div><a href="http://www.leedispatch.com/2012/01/article-not-to-miss-about-lee.html#more">Read More&gt;&gt;&gt;</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2496646969412417653-7808101395714330515?l=www.leedispatch.com' alt='' /></div>Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00345384164752885124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2496646969412417653.post-60398592613062976922012-01-10T03:52:00.000-05:002012-01-10T16:37:48.262-05:00<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Fg_j2sYWIgI/TwNOV538fEI/AAAAAAAADoU/HTQ995UZuHk/s1600/road+block.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Fg_j2sYWIgI/TwNOV538fEI/AAAAAAAADoU/HTQ995UZuHk/s320/road+block.jpg" width="320"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Womack, Shook, Parks Maintain 100% No Votes For Jobs<br>  </td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"><b style="color: red;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"></span></b></span><br><div style="text-align: left;"><br></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b style="color: red;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">&quot;GOP Triumvirate&quot; Tries </span></b></span><span style="font-size: large;"><b style="color: red;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">New Tactic To Block State Grant Additional Jobs &amp; $1.1 M Investment At WST Industries </span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="color: red;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"> <span style="font-size: small;">Sorry, folks.  This is later than promised due to legal developments.</span></span></b></span><br><br><div style="text-align: left;"></div></div><a href="http://www.leedispatch.com/2012/01/so-called-conservatives-playing.html#more">Read More&gt;&gt;&gt;</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2496646969412417653-6039859261306297692?l=www.leedispatch.com' alt='' /></div>Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00345384164752885124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2496646969412417653.post-14553016775600328592012-01-08T11:43:00.000-05:002012-01-15T10:32:27.546-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xyw7dHQheOk/TwnGrZtp6GI/AAAAAAAADpA/0oJIBoJtkr8/s1600/sUDNA+COLUMNS.JPC" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xyw7dHQheOk/TwnGrZtp6GI/AAAAAAAADpA/0oJIBoJtkr8/s200/sUDNA+COLUMNS.JPC" width="200" /></a></div><b style="color: #cc0000;">George Will</b><span style="color: #cc0000;"> </span>The Redistributionist Behemoth <a href="http://www.jewishworldreview.com/cols/will010507.php3" target="_blank">(click here)</a><br />Also,&nbsp; <b>Walter Williams</b> I Love Greed (<a href="http://jewishworldreview.com/cols/williamns010412.php3" target="_blank">click here</a>)<br />Add by request,<b style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica; font-size: x-small;"><b style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Ann Coulter </span></b><span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;">Iowa shows GOPers determined to beat Obama (<a href="http://www.jewishworldreview.com/cols/coulter010512.php3" target="_blank">click here</a>)</span></span></span> </span><br />Leave a comment and see if we can ad your favorite next Sunday.&nbsp; In this case only you do not need to leave your name.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2496646969412417653-1455301677560032859?l=www.leedispatch.com' alt='' /></div>Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00345384164752885124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2496646969412417653.post-79886576031317725942012-01-07T06:01:00.000-05:002012-01-07T06:01:00.745-05:00<br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.918); color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"></span><br><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.cals.ncsu.edu/agcomm/news-center/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/michael-walden-big-e1291141908376-120x120.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.cals.ncsu.edu/agcomm/news-center/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/michael-walden-big-e1291141908376-120x120.jpg"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <span style="font-size: xx-small;">Dr. Mike Walden</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,serif;">North Carolina Cooperative Extension </span></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table><br><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,serif; font-size: 12pt;">&quot;</span><span style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,serif; font-size: 12pt;"></span><span style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.918); color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,serif; font-size: 12pt;">I want to step back and look at the big picture, at four overarching, basic economic themes that are at the root of most of our specific policy discussions and differences. Then, as always, I’ll let you decide what path to follow.&quot;</span></span></b></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.918); color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"></span><br><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0.0001pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.918); color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,serif; font-size: 12pt;">                                         - Mike Walden</span></b></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.918); color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.918); color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,serif; font-size: 12pt;"> My thoughts on this later.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,serif; font-size: 12pt;">                                         <b><span style="color: black;">-The Editor</span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,serif; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div></span><a href="http://www.leedispatch.com/2012/01/you-decide-what-are-big-economic-issues.html#more">Read More&gt;&gt;&gt;</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2496646969412417653-7988657603131772594?l=www.leedispatch.com' alt='' /></div>Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00345384164752885124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2496646969412417653.post-81299996905617218832012-01-05T12:20:00.002-05:002012-01-05T20:42:12.140-05:00<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M7i8yhvcM44/TwXWNkumXBI/AAAAAAAADo4/H3FML4_WAIg/s1600/DSC_0024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-M7i8yhvcM44/TwXWNkumXBI/AAAAAAAADo4/H3FML4_WAIg/s320/DSC_0024.JPG" width="320"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Raleigh NC Temple<br>Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints</td></tr></tbody></table><b><span style="color: blue;">Today I have been inspired by the results in Iowa to confess to being a social conservative, even an evangelical.</span>  </b>Nothing annoys my critics more than to point out I am a conservative.  I am not sure who is in charge of labels, but I am not a &quot;RINO&quot;.  That term is usually applied to &quot;reactionary in name only&quot;. I am not a reactionary.  I believe our children should be taught using things like laptops instead of chalk and erasers.<br><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="en-US"></span></span></span><br><a href="http://www.leedispatch.com/2012/01/confession-i-am-evangelical.html#more">Read More&gt;&gt;&gt;</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2496646969412417653-8129999690561721883?l=www.leedispatch.com' alt='' /></div>Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00345384164752885124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2496646969412417653.post-57435100916364523922012-01-03T13:39:00.000-05:002012-01-03T14:49:29.429-05:00<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Fg_j2sYWIgI/TwNOV538fEI/AAAAAAAADoU/HTQ995UZuHk/s1600/road+block.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="134" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Fg_j2sYWIgI/TwNOV538fEI/AAAAAAAADoU/HTQ995UZuHk/s200/road+block.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Commissioners Shook, Womack, Parks<br />Oppose Deals Like The One That <br />Brought Caterpillar's Here</td></tr></tbody></table><br />&nbsp;Good International publicity for Lee County like that from a recent BBC article <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-15630581" target="_blank">&lt;click here&gt;</a> isn't very common. The article on the role of big business in employment cited the ongoing expansion of Caterpillar here in Sanford.<br /><br />The article also provides some statistics that would call into question an alternative advocated by Commissioner Womack of focusing on small business.&nbsp; In a sidebar the BBC News reports that <span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Arial,Helmet,Freesans,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 16px; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">small businesses (10 people or less) are responsible for only 10% of US jobs.&nbsp; Womack claims to have developed three plans for economic growth of Lee County but has refused to make any of these available in response to a request for public information.</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2496646969412417653-5743510091636452392?l=www.leedispatch.com' alt='' /></div>Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00345384164752885124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2496646969412417653.post-76800399927748401282012-01-03T09:35:00.002-05:002012-01-03T09:35:52.795-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iuvjLaALYNQ/TwIeLuH36RI/AAAAAAAADoI/4iNby0IlwSI/s1600/tweeter+bAR%252B%252B.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iuvjLaALYNQ/TwIeLuH36RI/AAAAAAAADoI/4iNby0IlwSI/s320/tweeter+bAR%252B%252B.JPG" width="107" /></a></div><br />Today some of the best articles that provide informed overviews of how national and state politics may shape up next year. Just click on the link in the Editor's Tweets section of the Lee Dispatch page.<br /><br />Also check out George Will's latest column: <a href="http://www.jewishworldreview.com/cols/will123111.php3" target="_blank">Confident Conservatives.</a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2496646969412417653-7680039992774840128?l=www.leedispatch.com' alt='' /></div>Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00345384164752885124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2496646969412417653.post-79895840122572877862011-12-31T12:46:00.001-05:002011-12-31T23:56:09.621-05:00<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://draft.blogger.com/goog_1015507423" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kjN9g8QNyFs/Tv9B3rIwH5I/AAAAAAAADn8/gQVLbi6lnbw/s320/driverlicense.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.wral.com/news/state/nccapitol/story/10541020/" target="_blank">Click here to see WRAL's account</a></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><b><span class="dateline">&nbsp; </span>Just where do North Carolina citizens need to stand in longer lines? NC legislators seem to think the Driver License Office, based on a new law taking effect New Years Day.</b> Young drivers who apply for learner's permits in North Carolina must turn in logs to prove they have driven 60 hours under their first graduated license and 12 under their second.&nbsp; The teenagers are supposed to keep them and their parents sign them. Yeah?&nbsp; A DMV spokesman says "cheating is not <i>recommended</i>."<br /><br />Here is some news for the supposed conservative legislature.&nbsp; Parents who care about their children will see they get behind the wheel experience; those that don't will let their kids handle the forms.&nbsp; Meanwhile, any citizen will be compelled to spend more time waiting, waiting, and waiting ....<br /><br /><b>Note:</b>&nbsp; If you are wondering, 2 members of the House of Representatives (Bradley; Starnes) and no members of the Senate had the common sense to vote against the bill, which was introduced (to add insult to injury) by a Republican--<a href="mailto:David.Rouzer@ncleg.net" target="_blank">David Rouzer</a>. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2496646969412417653-7989584012257287786?l=www.leedispatch.com' alt='' /></div>Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00345384164752885124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2496646969412417653.post-53495438800255528552011-12-28T20:25:00.000-05:002011-12-28T20:25:50.709-05:00<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Z-RKmPkh0uc/TvvAMT2pipI/AAAAAAAADnw/68ulYbkA1PE/s1600/walden.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Z-RKmPkh0uc/TvvAMT2pipI/AAAAAAAADnw/68ulYbkA1PE/s200/walden.jpg" width="132"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> Dr. Mike Walden | Dec 23, 2011<br>North Carolina Cooperative Extension</td></tr></tbody></table><h2>YOU DECIDE: What explains N.C. economic paradox?</h2>Most people judge the economy by the job market, and certainly the job news in North Carolina during the last few years has been challenging. For 34 straight months beginning in January 2009, our state has had an unemployment rate (seasonally adjusted) above 9 percent, and in 23 of those months the rate was over 10 percent. Today there are more than 300,000 fewer jobs than there were in early 2008, and although there’s been job growth since 2010, the growth rate has been quite low, at 0.6 percent.<br>And what’s more worrisome to many is that the state’s job situation has underperformed the national numbers. In the last three years, North Carolina’s unemployment rate has been higher than the national rate in all but one month. <b>Also, since the beginning of 2010, the nation has added jobs at a rate <em>three</em> times faster than North Carolina (1.8 percent versus 0.6 percent), and even the national growth is sluggish.</b><br><a href="http://www.leedispatch.com/2011/12/lee-dispatch-adds-new-resource-mike.html#more">Read More&gt;&gt;&gt;</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2496646969412417653-5349543880025552855?l=www.leedispatch.com' alt='' /></div>Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00345384164752885124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2496646969412417653.post-1004214145261469092011-12-24T06:00:00.000-05:002011-12-24T06:00:01.107-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YghjZUS_4tY/TvWSkM-yq4I/AAAAAAAADnM/p0dX6oxP2GY/s1600/shepherds-300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YghjZUS_4tY/TvWSkM-yq4I/AAAAAAAADnM/p0dX6oxP2GY/s400/shepherds-300.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://lds.org/bible-videos/videos/shepherds-learn-of-the-birth-of-christ?lang=eng" target="_blank">The Birth of the Savior and the Shepherds&nbsp; </a>2:50</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2496646969412417653-100421414526146909?l=www.leedispatch.com' alt='' /></div>Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00345384164752885124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2496646969412417653.post-54558110184006641862011-12-24T04:14:00.000-05:002011-12-24T05:53:40.069-05:00<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KYTr75uQc_s/TvWXtoTiH5I/AAAAAAAADnY/T13t_FQWQnk/s1600/Peace+on+Earth.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="218" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KYTr75uQc_s/TvWXtoTiH5I/AAAAAAAADnY/T13t_FQWQnk/s400/Peace+on+Earth.JPG" width="400"></a> </div><div style="text-align: left;">This message from the angels to the shepherds has been the cause of some reflection and guided me to fewer posts this Christmas Season.  Unfortunately, the nature of politics is such that it easily takes a course that is at odds with living the Gospel as a follower of Christ. This is why this blog has been less active recently.</div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><a href="http://www.leedispatch.com/2011/12/where-did-all-posts-this-christmas.html#more">Read More&gt;&gt;&gt;</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2496646969412417653-5455811018400664186?l=www.leedispatch.com' alt='' /></div>Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00345384164752885124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2496646969412417653.post-8648637726382816152011-12-13T01:00:00.000-05:002011-12-13T01:00:00.281-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AW8sShwiCuM/TuVnEXyh2pI/AAAAAAAADm0/PYnwbjTgo38/s1600/bb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AW8sShwiCuM/TuVnEXyh2pI/AAAAAAAADm0/PYnwbjTgo38/s1600/bb.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Lee County Deputies To <br />Patrol Moore County</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />Flags are flying at half-staff all over Moore Coounty to honor a Moore County Deputy Sheriff killed in the line of duty. <a href="http://www.thepilot.com/news/2011/dec/08/officer-reportedly-shot/" target="_blank">Read article&gt;&gt;&gt;</a><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">&nbsp;</span></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">During the funeral services today honoring </span></span>Moore County Deputy Sheriff Rick Rhyne, the only officer the history of the department to lose his life in the line of duty, deputies from Lee County will be patrolling the neighboring county.&nbsp; This will allow more of&nbsp; Rhyne's colleagues to attend funeral services at 1:00 at Owens Auditorium at Sandhills Community College. Also, as a measure of respect, and so that others can attend services, judges will adjourn Moore County courts at 11:15 a.m. Monday. According to Lee County Sheriff Tracy Carter, the assistance will be provided under an existing mutual assistance agreement. Carter said, "It is something that all of us wanted to do because this is like loosing a family member to those of us in law enforcement."&nbsp; </div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AW8sShwiCuM/TuVnEXyh2pI/AAAAAAAADm0/PYnwbjTgo38/s1600/bb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></a></div><span id="goog_534199594"></span><span id="goog_534199595"></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2496646969412417653-864863772638281615?l=www.leedispatch.com' alt='' /></div>Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00345384164752885124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2496646969412417653.post-28164875092785767242011-12-08T19:49:00.001-05:002011-12-09T08:35:15.725-05:00<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bRfUHDkr5Ro/TuFa_x4ht-I/AAAAAAAADmc/B0Tjm_XZq84/s1600/dick_hoyle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bRfUHDkr5Ro/TuFa_x4ht-I/AAAAAAAADmc/B0Tjm_XZq84/s200/dick_hoyle.jpg" width="153"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kenneth R. Hoyle, Esquire</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><b> <span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span></b></span><span style="font-size: small;"><b style="color: #cc0000;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">f everyone were clothed with integrity, if every heart were just, frank, kindly, the other virtues would be well-nigh useless.&quot;</span></b>— Moliere<i> Tartuffe</i>, V, i (1622-1673)</span><br><h2 style="font-weight: normal; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></h2><br><h2 style="font-weight: normal; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">It is as if Jean-Baptiste Poquelin, known by his stage name Molière, had Kenneth Hoyle in mind thousands of years ago.  And a man like Mr. Hoyle can, indeed, leave a legacy that can influence centuries.<br>Monday night an era will end as the Lee County Commissioners accept the retirement of County Attorney Kenneth R. Hoyle and honor him with a resolution.  Mr. Hoyle has been serving as county attorney for nearly five decades and served as the Town of Broadway&#39;s attorney for 28 years of those years.</span><span class="st"></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">.<br></span></span></h2></div><a href="http://www.leedispatch.com/2011/12/pillar-of-lee-county-government-retires.html#more">Read More&gt;&gt;&gt;</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2496646969412417653-2816487509278576724?l=www.leedispatch.com' alt='' /></div>Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00345384164752885124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2496646969412417653.post-3108981191710736992011-12-07T08:45:00.001-05:002011-12-07T09:24:49.060-05:00<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Cc0hGS7fnNo/Tt9uFHLx5uI/AAAAAAAADmU/sm-lRQEAeSs/s1600/toy11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Cc0hGS7fnNo/Tt9uFHLx5uI/AAAAAAAADmU/sm-lRQEAeSs/s1600/toy11.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.wired.com/geekdad/2011/01/the-5-best-toys-of-all-time/all/1" target="_blank">Click Here</a> <br />Scroll down to post a comment.<br />(anonymous comments accepted)</td></tr></tbody></table>PS Get frequent updates for the Lee Dispatch.&nbsp; Sign up for email delivery.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp; <br /><br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2496646969412417653-310898119171073699?l=www.leedispatch.com' alt='' /></div>Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00345384164752885124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2496646969412417653.post-91459117513186209222011-12-05T10:19:00.001-05:002011-12-05T17:44:06.881-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_k3WL4NgoGM/TtzflRdLjyI/AAAAAAAADmM/Y36lgjJjyxc/s1600/new+news.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="96" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_k3WL4NgoGM/TtzflRdLjyI/AAAAAAAADmM/Y36lgjJjyxc/s200/new+news.jpg" width="200"></a></div>Linda Shook was re-elected to  post as chair of the Lee County Commissioners. In a vote by ballot, Shook received 4 votes, while Larry &quot;Doc&quot; Oldham 3. In reality, the swing vote was from Commissioner Robert Reives. He was the lone Democrat to support Shook.  Shook ally Charlie Parks was elected to the Vice Chair replacing Larry &quot;Doc&quot; Oldham.  Oldham has not always supported the Shook agenda and Womack&#39;s tactics; they miss not opportunity to punish those who are not 100% of their agenda.  Parks presiding over a meeting will be a site to see.  A life-long bureaucrat has no experience with that kind of thing.<br><a href="http://www.leedispatch.com/2011/12/shook-keeps-commission-chair.html#more">Read More&gt;&gt;&gt;</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2496646969412417653-9145911751318620922?l=www.leedispatch.com' alt='' /></div>Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00345384164752885124noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2496646969412417653.post-89351692992530598362011-12-03T17:12:00.001-05:002011-12-05T09:16:19.203-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9sumP8h62P8/TtqT_5lkUrI/AAAAAAAADl4/Lua4BP6cAzs/s1600/decider.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9sumP8h62P8/TtqT_5lkUrI/AAAAAAAADl4/Lua4BP6cAzs/s1600/decider.jpg"></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b> Monday Veteran Commissioner Robert Reives&#39; Swing Vote Will Determine Two Key Decisions</b></i></div><br>For more than three decades Robert Reives has been a driving force among the Lee County Commissioners. Monday he is likely to cast the swing vote on two actions. The most significant is the future path for the local economy.  The other could alter the face and style of the county&#39;s governing body and next year&#39;s election.<br><br><a href="http://www.leedispatch.com/2011/12/monday-its-up-reives-big-day.html#more">Read More&gt;&gt;&gt;</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2496646969412417653-8935169299253059836?l=www.leedispatch.com' alt='' /></div>Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00345384164752885124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2496646969412417653.post-28825613754693182372011-11-30T13:31:00.001-05:002011-12-04T13:55:13.167-05:00<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-avhGva7T_ss/TtaMqce3gtI/AAAAAAAADlo/kznqoqaLuDk/s1600/portrait%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-avhGva7T_ss/TtaMqce3gtI/AAAAAAAADlo/kznqoqaLuDk/s200/portrait%25281%2529.JPG" width="132"></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: &#39;Times New Roman&#39;,serif; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> </span><br><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><a href="http://www.ellmers.house.gov/" target="_blank">Congresswoman Renee Ellmers</a> (R-NC) will again be focusing on threats to small business, the engine of our economy.  This time her focus</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> is</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> the growing threats of cybercrime to small business.  The threat can go beyond financial losses to the very survival of the business.</span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><br></span></div><div style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">The </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">House Small Business Healthcare and Technology Subcommittee, chaired by Ellmers, will hold a subcommittee hearing to examine the issues faced by small businesses in combating cyber security threats, including the role of the federal government and best practice solutions. <a href="http://smbiz.house.gov/Calendar/EventSingle.aspx?EventID=270278" target="_blank">The hearing</a>, titled <i>Cyber Security: Protecting Your Small Business</i>, will be held on Thursday, December 1, 2011, at 1:00 P.M. in Room 2360 of the Rayburn House Office Building.</span><br></div><a href="http://www.leedispatch.com/2011/11/reprenee-ellmers-tackles-cypercrime.html#more">Read More&gt;&gt;&gt;</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2496646969412417653-2882561375469318237?l=www.leedispatch.com' alt='' /></div>Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00345384164752885124noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2496646969412417653.post-15656491675116077802011-11-21T23:20:00.001-05:002011-12-04T08:32:04.475-05:00<br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_dLQx4NeyjM/TsslViHysII/AAAAAAAADlQ/reSx2Jidxrk/s1600/cords.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="127" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_dLQx4NeyjM/TsslViHysII/AAAAAAAADlQ/reSx2Jidxrk/s200/cords.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Womack Threatened to Hold Information</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Efforts to increase charges for public records, orchestrated by Commissioner Jim Womack through &nbsp;the Lee County Commissioners over a county attorney's warning are not legal according to an article (<a href="http://www.fayobserver.com/articles/2011/11/19/1137958?sac=Local" target="_blank">click to read it&gt;&gt;&gt;</a>) published by The Fayetteville Observer on Saturday.<br />&nbsp;"I think the provision that deals with separating confidential from nonconfidential information trumps the provision that deals with excessive costs," she said. "The bottom line is, if they're trying to charge for the sorting out, I think that's an illegal charge."<br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;---Lawyer Amanda Martin (Source: <a href="http://www.fayobserver.com/" target="_blank">Fayetteville Observer</a>)<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2496646969412417653-1565649167511607780?l=www.leedispatch.com' alt='' /></div>Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00345384164752885124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2496646969412417653.post-41509333662779864052011-11-18T04:05:00.000-05:002011-12-04T13:57:51.832-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YOVjUmwnujg/TsTZ63gHpmI/AAAAAAAADk0/Htbxb_HDOm0/s1600/4legs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YOVjUmwnujg/TsTZ63gHpmI/AAAAAAAADk0/Htbxb_HDOm0/s1600/4legs.jpg"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dog does trick-gets bone.<br>Consultant does trick-gets our tax $$$.</td></tr></tbody></table><b><span style="color: #b45f06; font-size: large;">&quot;How many legs does a dog have if you call the tail a leg? Four. Calling a tail a leg doesn&#39;t make it a leg.&quot; <span style="font-size: x-small;">- Abraham Lincoln</span></span></b><br><br><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> For months on end, some commissioners and the small but faithful chorus of their supporters extolled the virtue of a document called the &quot;Beaufort County Audit&quot; referring to a<i> performance audit</i> of the schools in that county under the leadership of Dr. Jeff Moss. </span><br></div><a href="http://www.leedispatch.com/2011/11/commissioners-resort-to-double-speak-on.html#more">Read More&gt;&gt;&gt;</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2496646969412417653-4150933366277986405?l=www.leedispatch.com' alt='' /></div>Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00345384164752885124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2496646969412417653.post-59699385865063882492011-11-17T23:30:00.000-05:002011-12-04T13:58:14.856-05:00<div style="text-align: right;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Shook: Nay on Business Incentives; Aye on Ribbon Cuttings</span><br><b></b><br><div class="" style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Y_DNlLcVffs/TsZFPIYzIiI/AAAAAAAADk8/mzFyVmPeIVg/s1600/shook-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="207" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Y_DNlLcVffs/TsZFPIYzIiI/AAAAAAAADk8/mzFyVmPeIVg/s320/shook-1.jpg" width="320"></a></div><br> Commission Chair Linda Shook showed up smiling, clapping, and cutting at the dedication of the new Chamber Of Commerce Office in the Bankport Building on Steele Street.<br></div></div><a href="http://www.leedispatch.com/2011/11/business-leaders-snicker-at-shook.html#more">Read More&gt;&gt;&gt;</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2496646969412417653-5969938586506388249?l=www.leedispatch.com' alt='' /></div>Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00345384164752885124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2496646969412417653.post-52257726367493015412011-11-16T03:34:00.001-05:002011-11-16T03:59:24.246-05:00<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--42tJgQpcZQ/TsNyi42ZaKI/AAAAAAAADj4/VnyIGz5IA9A/s1600/sign+of+the+times.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="196" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--42tJgQpcZQ/TsNyi42ZaKI/AAAAAAAADj4/VnyIGz5IA9A/s200/sign+of+the+times.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">County Information Policy</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Do not ever say that the desire to “do good” by force is a good motive. Neither power-lust nor stupidity are good motives.--Ayn Rand</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Sign up for email delivery.&nbsp; You will not want to miss what is coming--editor.<br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span> </span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2496646969412417653-5225772636749301541?l=www.leedispatch.com' alt='' /></div>Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00345384164752885124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2496646969412417653.post-66028279576134731172011-11-11T00:30:00.000-05:002011-11-11T11:22:58.265-05:00<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Lee Dispatch recognizes all who have served, are now serving, <br />and will yet serve in defense of our freedom and our families.</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/1qRULy7eOqE?rel=0" width="420"></iframe><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2496646969412417653-6602827957613473117?l=www.leedispatch.com' alt='' /></div>Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00345384164752885124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2496646969412417653.post-2735702903049656632011-11-09T07:47:00.002-05:002011-11-11T18:31:19.573-05:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kydF0YTqQRo/TrpoKlJlIxI/AAAAAAAADjo/Zo-M6p8-XV8/s1600/mtun124h.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="248" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kydF0YTqQRo/TrpoKlJlIxI/AAAAAAAADjo/Zo-M6p8-XV8/s320/mtun124h.jpg" width="320"></a></div><br><div style="color: #cc0000; text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="color: #cc0000; text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="color: #cc0000; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">No Shows <br>Dominate Election (Again)</span></b></div><div style="color: #cc0000; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://results.enr.clarityelections.com/NC/Lee/33088/49711/en/scrolling.html?sr=10&amp;shm=false&amp;shmr=false&amp;rnd=0.584798016235582" target="_blank">Click Here for Election Results </a></span> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></span></b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></div><div style="color: #cc0000; text-align: left;"><br></div><div style="color: #cc0000; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">In the some time ago best seller, <i>The One Minute Manager</i></span></span></span><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">, </span></span></span></b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">it was suggested to start counseling sessions with the negatives and finish on the positive. </span></span></span></div><div style="color: #cc0000; text-align: left;"><br></div><a href="http://www.leedispatch.com/2011/11/ugly-bad-and-good.html#more">Read More&gt;&gt;&gt;</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2496646969412417653-273570290304965663?l=www.leedispatch.com' alt='' /></div>Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00345384164752885124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2496646969412417653.post-87436325531767524312011-11-09T06:40:00.001-05:002011-11-18T07:50:20.840-05:00<span id="goog_130745387"></span><span id="goog_130745388"></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2496646969412417653-8743632553176752431?l=www.leedispatch.com' alt='' /></div>Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00345384164752885124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2496646969412417653.post-88464631567073023312011-11-08T22:22:00.001-05:002011-11-18T07:50:20.852-05:00<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2496646969412417653-8846463156707302331?l=www.leedispatch.com' alt='' /></div>Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00345384164752885124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2496646969412417653.post-15678328644077541442011-11-08T02:00:00.000-05:002011-11-08T07:34:33.254-05:00<br><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HAkDyVtcNf4/TrhOlzzfn7I/AAAAAAAADjY/L_dYfQ3XWoY/s1600/rpt+gavel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HAkDyVtcNf4/TrhOlzzfn7I/AAAAAAAADjY/L_dYfQ3XWoY/s320/rpt+gavel.jpg" width="244"></a><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">Governor&#39;s Action Based on Recommendation by Evergreen Solutions Struck Down By Court</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Evergreen Solutions, LLC was selected by Lee County Commissioners to be the consulting firm to carry out a financial review and controversial &quot;performance audit&quot; of the Lee County Schools. They were apparently unaware that a Superior Court judge had ruled that an attempt by the Governor to implement an Evergreen recommendation was unconstitutional. </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;">This is ironic in that the the authority of the Commissioners to contract for a &quot;performance audit&#39; has been called in to question by members of the Lee County Board of Education and others. Calls for the commissioners to site the legal authority for the &quot;performance audit&quot; have gone unanswered. </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"> The president of Evergreen Solutions, </span></span></span>Dr. Linda Recio<span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"> will be answering questions about the local audit at the Board of Education meeting tonight at 6:00 PM in the Commissioners&#39; Meeting Room.  The meeting will be recorded and available later on the Lee County Schools web site.</span></span></span></div><a href="http://www.leedispatch.com/2011/11/commissioners-consultant-gets-f.html#more">Read More&gt;&gt;&gt;</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2496646969412417653-1567832864407754144?l=www.leedispatch.com' alt='' /></div>Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00345384164752885124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2496646969412417653.post-55632974367823407572011-11-05T18:21:00.000-04:002011-11-07T17:42:49.953-05:00<table border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width: 450px;"><tbody><tr><td valign="top" width="225"><span style="font-family: Arial Black;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br>Renee Ellmers<br>Congresswoman<br>2nd District NC</span><br><br><b>Answers Questions <br>from the Lee Dispatch</b></span></td><td valign="top" width="225"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Pkiz8nYUpTA/TrW0fMi-0cI/AAAAAAAADjI/9bsrWsvmktg/s1600/renee+background%2560.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Pkiz8nYUpTA/TrW0fMi-0cI/AAAAAAAADjI/9bsrWsvmktg/s320/renee+background%2560.jpg" width="320"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2011/11/02/us/02incumbent1_cnd/02incumbent1_cnd-articleInline.jpg" target="_blank">Philip Scott Andrews/The New York Times</a></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.918); color: #222222; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"></span><br><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">Question: How well do your committee assignments meet the needs and interests of the 2nd district?</span> </i></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0px;"><br></div><a href="http://www.leedispatch.com/2011/11/congresswoman-ellmers-talks-committees.html#more">Read More&gt;&gt;&gt;</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2496646969412417653-5563297436782340757?l=www.leedispatch.com' alt='' /></div>Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00345384164752885124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2496646969412417653.post-21741372811343161782011-11-01T19:52:00.001-04:002011-11-01T19:52:20.645-04:00<span style="font-size: large;">It seems like the candidates themselves are the biggest factor in this year&#39;s city council race.</span><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_58GK6g1FXo/TrBhM-azntI/AAAAAAAADeg/Am-1-wDTjKg/s1600/candidatesflavor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="521" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_58GK6g1FXo/TrBhM-azntI/AAAAAAAADeg/Am-1-wDTjKg/s640/candidatesflavor.jpg" width="640"></a></div><br><a href="http://www.leedispatch.com/2011/11/candidates-come-in-different-flavors.html#more">Read More&gt;&gt;&gt;</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2496646969412417653-2174137281134316178?l=www.leedispatch.com' alt='' /></div>Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00345384164752885124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2496646969412417653.post-73961355723648103442011-10-31T09:20:00.000-04:002011-10-31T09:20:25.220-04:00<div style="text-align: right;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BaY8FCQvVng/Tq6LhrgZR-I/AAAAAAAADeQ/8cKoVdIOk40/s1600/new+unemployed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="147" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BaY8FCQvVng/Tq6LhrgZR-I/AAAAAAAADeQ/8cKoVdIOk40/s200/new+unemployed.jpg" width="200"></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">True US unemployment=population of Texas</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">In a nation moving from high levels of unemployment to chronic joblessness, the government keeps feeding the public meaningless numbers.</span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The Employment Security Commission of North Carolina reported Lee County&#39;s unemployment rate edged downward from 12.9% in August to 12.1% in September. The number of counted unemployed was 3,207  That means 197 people left the unemployment rolls in September  . </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Did they find jobs?  We don&#39;t really know</b>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br></div> If they just quit looking,  they drop off the rolls. In September, 2010, 2852 were unemployed. <b>That means that 355 more people were unemployed this September that last September. So what is really going on?</b><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"></div><a href="http://www.leedispatch.com/2011/10/unemployment-rates-are-misleading.html#more">Read More&gt;&gt;&gt;</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2496646969412417653-7396135572364810344?l=www.leedispatch.com' alt='' /></div>Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00345384164752885124noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2496646969412417653.post-21060574320897865292011-10-31T08:27:00.001-04:002011-11-18T07:50:20.620-05:00In a report published by <a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.ml.com/" rel="homepage" title="Merrill Lynch">Merrill Lynch</a> titled <a href="http://wealthmanagement.ml.com/publish/mkt/campaigns/Great-Global-Shift_Webcast/pdfs/great-global-shift-whitepaper.pdf" target="_blank"><i>New World, New Rules</i></a>, authors Ian Brehmmer and Lisa Shalett suggest the outlook for full-time jobs is not great.&nbsp; They note that <span class="itxtrst itxtrstspan itxthookspan" id="itxthook2w0" style="background-attachment: scroll; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: repeat repeat; color: black; font-size: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">businesses</span> are increasingly relying on part-time workers, largely because they're cheaper to lay off during tough times. As the graph below shows, this shift in <a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labour_economics" rel="wikipedia" title="Labour economics">labor market</a> dynamics has become clear in the last few years.<br /><br /><br /><br />The number of long-term unemployed (those jobless for 27 weeks and over) was 6.2 million in<br />September. These individuals accounted for 44.6 percent of the unemployed<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;Indeed, history suggests that it is perhaps society’s most noxious ill. The worst effects of pervasive joblessness—on family, politics, society—take time to incubate, and they show themselves only slowly. But ultimately, they leave deep marks that endure long after boom times have returned. Some of these marks are just now becoming visible, and even if the economy magically and fully recovers tomorrow, new ones will continue to appear. The longer our&nbsp;<a class="zem_slink" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recession" rel="wikipedia" title="Recession">economic slump</a>&nbsp;lasts, the deeper they’ll be.If it persists much longer, this era of high joblessness will likely change the life course and character of a generation of young adults—and quite possibly those of the children behind them as well. It will leave an indelible imprint on many blue-collar white men—and on white culture. It could change the nature of modern marriage, and also cripple marriage as an institution in many communities. It may already be plunging many inner cities into a kind of despair and dysfunction not seen for decades. Ultimately, it is likely to warp our politics, our culture, and the character of our society for years.&nbsp;<a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2010/03/how-a-new-jobless-era-will-transform-america/7919/" target="_blank">Source</a><br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uT-bS4-dVgg/TqwRJt4jF-I/AAAAAAAADd8/10ubCbOibl8/s1600/jobrenters.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="205" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uT-bS4-dVgg/TqwRJt4jF-I/AAAAAAAADd8/10ubCbOibl8/s320/jobrenters.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">As this trend continues, work will be done on a project instead of a job providing work</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2496646969412417653-2106057432089786529?l=www.leedispatch.com' alt='' /></div>Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00345384164752885124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2496646969412417653.post-64018581234848026852011-10-31T07:22:00.001-04:002011-11-18T07:50:20.727-05:00The Employment Security Commission of North Carolina&nbsp;reported&nbsp;Lee County's unemployment rate edged downward &nbsp;from 12.9 in August to 12.1 in September &nbsp;to&nbsp;3,207&nbsp;&nbsp;counted&nbsp;unemployed. That means 197 people left the unemployment rolls in September. Did they find jobs? &nbsp;We don't really know because if they just quit looking they drop off the rolls. In September, 2010, 2852 were&nbsp;unemployed. <b>That means that 355 more people were unemployed this September that last September. &nbsp;</b>In a nation moving from high levels of&nbsp;unemployment to chronic joblessness, the government keeps feeding the public meaning less numbers.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2496646969412417653-6401858123484802685?l=www.leedispatch.com' alt='' /></div>Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00345384164752885124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2496646969412417653.post-88307238442133955462011-10-28T22:45:00.002-04:002011-10-30T17:48:32.491-04:00<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:large"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"></span><b><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia,&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif; font-size: x-large;">Direct From Capitol Hill</span></b></span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ellmers.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=169&amp;sectiontree=5,169" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d4x43MmVGOA/Tqtkrep53jI/AAAAAAAADd0/7Fcjq-Lx8vo/s1600/TrackerButton_73_SQ.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Click The Button</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">From the day I took office, my first priority has been to promote job creation whenever and wherever possible.&nbsp; I have worked with my colleagues in the House to pass pro-growth, pro-jobs legislation to create an environment to allow small businesses, in particular, to flourish.</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: small;">W</span>e have passed fifteen pro-growth, pro-jobs bills in the House since January and none of them have been able to get even a vote due to Senator Reid's roadblock. The American people deserve a government that does its job, just as we have been doing since day one in the House of Representatives. Now is the time to act on removing the barriers to prosperity and getting our economy back on track. This week, I joined Speaker Boehner, Leader Cantor, Majority Whip McCarthy, Congressman Frank Guinta (R-NH), Congressman Bill Flores (R-TX), and Congressman Tom Reed (R-NY) to speak to reporters about the fifteen jobs bills awaiting action by the Senate. &lt;<a href="http://youtu.be/JgqzmdkhfPE" target="_blank">watch the video</a>&gt;</span></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u3NDr82yyyA/TqthAXs_pRI/AAAAAAAADds/UJ4qbsmTRoo/s1600/re15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="78" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u3NDr82yyyA/TqthAXs_pRI/AAAAAAAADds/UJ4qbsmTRoo/s200/re15.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Congresswoman Renee Ellmers</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2496646969412417653-8830723844213395546?l=www.leedispatch.com' alt='' /></div>Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00345384164752885124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2496646969412417653.post-17676446360751558342011-10-27T01:02:00.001-04:002011-10-27T05:25:26.413-04:00<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Resolution Is Viable Solution </b></span><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UNxcX9m1t1k/TqjZZdzhFmI/AAAAAAAADcQ/qxbBpgS2Jgk/s1600/deal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" id=":current_picnik_image" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aBlDS5a6Oq0/TqjkynAkM0I/AAAAAAAADcc/j1gT0uVa1f0/s1600/17019058628_QjwWH.jpg"></a></div>&lt;<a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1F5_VBa6WXtIh0r-rWvfx45eKrhoZ6guhM3VQT0U8iq4/edit">click here to read the resolution</a>&gt;<br>Billy Ball did another good job in boiling down a complex issue into a good news article--<br><blockquote class="tr_bq"> <a href="http://sanfordherald.com/bookmark/16187142/article-City+leaders+mull+EDC+resolution#.TqjUXq4dHGc.blogger">City leaders mull EDC resolution</a>:<i> City leaders got their first look Wednesday at a resolution intended to bridge differences between local leaders and the industrial recruiting Lee Economic Development Corporation.</i></blockquote>It was Commissioner Robert Reives who joined Chair Linda Shook, Jim Womack, and Charlie Parks to provide the deciding vote by the commissioners to end participation in the LEDC. (Shook and her two allies really don&#39;t believe in a government role in economic development.) But talk of a flip-flop by Reives misses the point.<br><a href="http://www.leedispatch.com/2011/10/herald-article-hints-something-is-up.html#more">Read More&gt;&gt;&gt;</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2496646969412417653-1767644636075155834?l=www.leedispatch.com' alt='' /></div>Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00345384164752885124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2496646969412417653.post-52252760374595600302011-10-25T15:32:00.000-04:002011-10-25T15:32:25.063-04:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XQ1t3x3AF4M/TqbmBUC3LSI/AAAAAAAADcI/sDYZahAmtx0/s1600/think+bad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="148" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XQ1t3x3AF4M/TqbmBUC3LSI/AAAAAAAADcI/sDYZahAmtx0/s200/think+bad.jpg" width="200"></a></div><b></b><br><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Fourth Ward Council Candidate Could &quot;Gut&quot; Economic Growth</span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Every  plan for economic growth that will bring jobs to Lee County includes having a vibrant and attractive downtown area.  Ed Page thinks that he knows better than the property owners in downtown Sanford how to best improve Downtown Sanford.  He opposes the downtown tax district that funds<a href="http://www.downtownsanford.com/#"> Downtown Sanford, Inc.</a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></span></span><b style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></b></span><span style="font-family: Lucida Fax;"> <span style="color: black;"> </span></span><br><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/CHUyKUmWnpQ?hl=en&amp;fs=1" width="425"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><br></div><a href="http://www.leedispatch.com/2011/10/ed-page-thinks-downtown-sanford-inc.html#more">Read More&gt;&gt;&gt;</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2496646969412417653-5225276037459560030?l=www.leedispatch.com' alt='' /></div>Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00345384164752885124noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2496646969412417653.post-49943784971520021932011-10-21T17:43:00.003-04:002011-10-23T21:29:42.923-04:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-icQm5us_BRs/TqHkyIPlJyI/AAAAAAAADb4/coIjGUTSeuk/s1600/youtube.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="92" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-icQm5us_BRs/TqHkyIPlJyI/AAAAAAAADb4/coIjGUTSeuk/s320/youtube.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Lee Dispatch has uploaded video of the C.E AD and Sanford Herald Forums for Sanford City Council Candidates. The links are posted above. Courtesy of 4CCC.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Watch for excerpts coming later this week.</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2496646969412417653-4994378497152002193?l=www.leedispatch.com' alt='' /></div>Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00345384164752885124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2496646969412417653.post-89275192766416123942011-10-20T15:16:00.003-04:002011-10-20T15:24:59.274-04:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gRDmOo8qcPI/TqBs8Cgp9dI/AAAAAAAADbk/ZDyUDgp6wnA/s1600/me+thinks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" id=":current_picnik_image" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9XZ8mqWjqPg/TqBw5xsOTjI/AAAAAAAADbw/B4XPNbJPhcA/s1600/16915128518_JwpMM.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">City Council Hears "Reality"</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The Sanford City Council heard this editor's assessment of the state of the Lee County economy.&nbsp; &lt;</span><a href="http://www.leedispatch.com/2011/10/sanford-has-dramatic-fall-in-economic.html" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">click here for post on failing economy</a><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">&gt;.&nbsp; Beginning this summer, a faction of the Lee County Commissioners has unilaterally attempted to dismantle the LEDC without p</span>articipation of the governing bodies of Sanford and Broadway.</div><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/5OcqkBHbR7Q?rel=0" width="420"></iframe><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2496646969412417653-8927519276641612394?l=www.leedispatch.com' alt='' /></div>Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00345384164752885124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2496646969412417653.post-44253722211776640132011-10-20T09:35:00.001-04:002011-10-20T14:35:56.335-04:00<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-W2SFScxn6vE/Tp_Ou2SGXSI/AAAAAAAADbc/cqcLZDrCzsw/s1600/lcef.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="149" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-W2SFScxn6vE/Tp_Ou2SGXSI/AAAAAAAADbc/cqcLZDrCzsw/s200/lcef.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Everyone Celebrates Better Schools </span></td></tr></tbody></table>The significant progress of Lee County's public schools is reviewed in a statement emailed to a wide range of community leaders by Kirk Bradley, chair of the <a href="http://www.leecef.com/">Lee County Education Foundation</a>. <br /><br /><a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&amp;pid=explorer&amp;chrome=true&amp;srcid=0B56m8gHLXsZCMjkxMWMzYjgtNTI1My00ODk4LTljY2EtZmJlYzBlODg3MjUx&amp;hl=en">Click here</a> to read the one page summary of achievements of our county's most important economic resource.<br /><br />Kirk Bradley is Chairman, President &amp; CEO of <a href="http://www.lmoc.net/">Lee-Moore Capital Company</a>.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2496646969412417653-4425372221177664013?l=www.leedispatch.com' alt='' /></div>Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00345384164752885124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2496646969412417653.post-16746950409313959212011-10-20T02:10:00.001-04:002011-10-20T02:10:32.472-04:00<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The Fayetteville Observer reported today that a $38,000 state match for an incentive approved by Lee County Commissioners&nbsp;<a href="http://fayobserver.com/articles/2011/10/19/1131319?sac=Bus">&lt;read entire story&gt;</a>&nbsp;by a 4-3 vote. &nbsp;Consideration of the grant set of a&nbsp;tirade&nbsp;against&nbsp;the county manager and county attorneys by Commissioner Jim Womack &lt;<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTbVWgWDh2M&amp;feature=player_embedded">see video clip</a>&gt;</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The grants are an attempt to persuade <a href="http://www.zurn.com/">Zurn </a>to expand its workforce in Lee County which has a 12.4% unemployment rate.</span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2496646969412417653-1674695040931395921?l=www.leedispatch.com' alt='' /></div>Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00345384164752885124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2496646969412417653.post-64719360405240242352011-10-19T00:00:00.000-04:002011-10-19T00:00:06.751-04:00<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BwHRWIm8J3Y/Tp2YMC368GI/AAAAAAAADbQ/Nok5zxAxOWg/s1600/OPPS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BwHRWIm8J3Y/Tp2YMC368GI/AAAAAAAADbQ/Nok5zxAxOWg/s1600/OPPS.jpg"></a><br><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica; font-size: x-small;"><br></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica; font-size: x-small;"><b>SANFORD RANK DROPS 50 PLACES  IN ECONOMIC STRENGTH </b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica; font-size: x-small;"><b>AMONG U.S. &quot;MICROPOLITAN&quot; AREAS </b></span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">This year&#39;s position places Sanford among the top 22% percent down from 14% of the nation&#39;s &quot;micropolitan&quot; areas, defined by the federal Office of Management and Budget as having a city of at least 10,000 but fewer than 50,000 residents.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">Sanford ranks now ranks 134th in economic strength, down from 84th last year, among 576 small cities in the United States. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;">Sanford position is falling rapidly, following a slight drop in 2010. Sanford, until this year, generally fluctuated in the 40s. Its highest ranking was 34th in 2008.</span></span><br><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica; font-size: x-small;"></span></span><br><a href="http://www.leedispatch.com/2011/10/sanford-has-dramatic-fall-in-economic.html#more">Read More&gt;&gt;&gt;</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2496646969412417653-6471936040524024235?l=www.leedispatch.com' alt='' /></div>Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00345384164752885124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2496646969412417653.post-43034376940570352592011-10-18T09:23:00.000-04:002011-10-18T16:08:30.966-04:00<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;">Commisioners brushed off a letter from the mayors of Sanford and Broadway agreeing to specific demands from the county and wishing to discusss others. &nbsp;The commissioners brushed off the letter noting that the county put forth most of the money for LEDC operations and provided the most in incentives.&nbsp;</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #fff9e7;">&nbsp;&lt;<a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&amp;pid=explorer&amp;chrome=true&amp;srcid=0B56m8gHLXsZCYTY1YzY0YTAtNjAxMy00NTQ5LWJmMGQtYTQyMDUxODg0OGIw&amp;hl=en">click here to see the letter</a>&gt;</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; line-height: 15px;">&nbsp;For more on this part of the meeting click <a href="http://t.co/6JF4Cl14">here</a>.</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"></span></span></span><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;">As the Lee Dispatch reported would happen, Lee County&nbsp;Commissioners&nbsp;did delay action on the&nbsp;</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #fff9e7; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">&nbsp;</span>County Manager proposed Economic Development policy.&nbsp;</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #fff9e7; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">&lt;<a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&amp;pid=explorer&amp;chrome=true&amp;srcid=0B56m8gHLXsZCM2Y4NGE5NmMtNzU1OC00MDZjLTgyODAtMWIwOTMzNGM0ZmQy&amp;hl=en_US">click here to see document</a>&gt;.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #fff9e7; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">&nbsp;</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #fff9e7; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Dale Talbert, a staff attorney for the county, presented another option for consideration.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #fff9e7; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">&nbsp;&lt;<a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&amp;pid=explorer&amp;chrome=true&amp;srcid=0B56m8gHLXsZCNTcyOTNiZjEtOTY5My00MzEzLWE5MjUtYjlmMGM5YjkwZTBk&amp;hl=en_US">click here to see document.</a>&gt;&nbsp;</span><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Commissioners will discuss the topic again at their meeting next month.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #fff9e7; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2496646969412417653-4303437694057035259?l=www.leedispatch.com' alt='' /></div>Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00345384164752885124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2496646969412417653.post-70315326380459084692011-10-17T12:53:00.003-04:002011-10-18T08:33:09.235-04:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-47EFJcP5EJg/TpxdYR8NR2I/AAAAAAAADzA/5sUu9PpLqcc/s1600/prince.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="139" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-47EFJcP5EJg/TpxdYR8NR2I/AAAAAAAADzA/5sUu9PpLqcc/s200/prince.jpg" width="200"></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span">A reliable source predicts that no decision on a draft economic development policy will be made tonight.  The delay will allow public input and review by the City of Sanford. Broadway, and the current EDC.</span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"></span><br></div><a href="http://www.leedispatch.com/2011/10/commissioners-will-delay-deal-killing.html#more">Read More&gt;&gt;&gt;</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2496646969412417653-7031532638045908469?l=www.leedispatch.com' alt='' /></div>Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00345384164752885124noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2496646969412417653.post-19894482077783866452011-10-12T04:12:00.000-04:002011-10-20T14:39:01.810-04:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-09jkYpr-v9k/TpU7J7SqidI/AAAAAAAADbA/JmSjynOmyrs/s1600/smallsign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-09jkYpr-v9k/TpU7J7SqidI/AAAAAAAADbA/JmSjynOmyrs/s200/smallsign.jpg" width="138"></a></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Based on the expectations of two opposing candidates at the Sanford Herald Forum last night, a video clip (<i>included below</i>) from Monday&#39;s meeting of Lee County Commissioners will leave all but a small faction of our citizens to conclude there is a problem. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">After a 4-3 approval of a procedural motion to allow a motion to approve $36,000 in cash incentives for a plaint expansion did not go Jim Womack&#39;s way, the commissioner lashed out making serious charges about the board and its attorneys and the county manager.<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">It was just the climax of a &quot;my way or the highway&quot; attitude for which has become Womack&#39;s hallmark. </span></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;"></span></div><a href="http://www.leedispatch.com/2011/10/ego-explosion-at-commissioners-meeting.html#more">Read More&gt;&gt;&gt;</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2496646969412417653-1989448207778386645?l=www.leedispatch.com' alt='' /></div>Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00345384164752885124noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2496646969412417653.post-23829072804053224392011-10-11T00:55:00.000-04:002011-10-12T01:05:17.824-04:00<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1an83aPAPwk/TpUaT_BCkHI/AAAAAAAADac/ppq0gc_heWs/s1600/in+the+box.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" id=":current_picnik_image" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lJPg2RjWPl4/TpUa9LY5qxI/AAAAAAAADao/dNAfS1Ce4Mg/s1600/16785116891_5Mkpj.jpg" width="162"></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b> </b></span></span><br><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>From </b></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i style="color: black;">Job Shift: Part Of Unemployment Challenge</i></span> </span><br><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">Solving employment will not happen until reality forces a paradigm shift</span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">.  </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A paradigm shift means to have a sudden change in perception, a sudden change in point of view, of how you see things.  </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">It is not just new rules of the game? It is a totally new game. Those who recognize it the paradigm shift early and work on its assumptions emerge as leaders.  What is happening now is a &quot;job shift&quot;.</span><br><br><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"></span><br><a href="http://www.leedispatch.com/2011/10/our-jobless-recovery-just-like-our-post.html#more">Read More&gt;&gt;&gt;</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2496646969412417653-2382907280405322439?l=www.leedispatch.com' alt='' /></div>Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00345384164752885124noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2496646969412417653.post-71571080883530647972011-10-07T03:22:00.003-04:002011-10-07T03:41:06.975-04:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hYSboRy3dPI/To6k2VXYQRI/AAAAAAAADaQ/RVLLQVdM27Y/s1600/leemeet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hYSboRy3dPI/To6k2VXYQRI/AAAAAAAADaQ/RVLLQVdM27Y/s1600/leemeet.jpg"></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> Exploring Gas Shale May Be The Future of Local Economy</span></span></span></div><div style="color: #444444; text-align: center;"><br></div><div style="color: #444444; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #e69138; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #666666;">Tuesday Night</span></span></span></b><br><br><b><span style="color: #e69138; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #666666;">Oct. 10 from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m</span>. </span></span></b><b style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br>McSwain Extension Center</span></b><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #f1c232; text-align: center;"><br></div>The N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources has scheduled a public meeting for Oct. 10 in Sanford as the department prepares to spend the coming months studying the potential environmental and economic impacts of shale gas exploration and development in North Carolina<br><a href="http://www.leedispatch.com/2011/10/public-meeting-to-discuss-oil-shale.html#more">Read More&gt;&gt;&gt;</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2496646969412417653-7157108088353064797?l=www.leedispatch.com' alt='' /></div>Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00345384164752885124noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2496646969412417653.post-66706881063970170512011-10-04T19:58:00.002-04:002011-10-05T17:30:01.659-04:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-njq9XJ_ammA/ToubvNx9KLI/AAAAAAAADZY/nFDY7XrdH4o/s1600/newlee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-njq9XJ_ammA/ToubvNx9KLI/AAAAAAAADZY/nFDY7XrdH4o/s1600/newlee.jpg" /></a></div>The Lee Dispatch is coming back with a new web address (the old one will work too),<br />the latest in blogging technology, and research results that provide the insight in what is happening in Lee County. &nbsp;Go ahead and sign up for delivery by email and stay up to date on the progress. &nbsp;You will not want to miss a thing.<br />You will notice that the blog will include a live twitter feed so it can provide the latest in what is happening even if you don't use twitter. &nbsp;Stay tuned!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2496646969412417653-6670688106397017051?l=www.leedispatch.com' alt='' /></div>Editorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00345384164752885124noreply@blogger.com0