-
-
5,000 pot plants found in Harnett, NC
BROADWAY - Since a drug-spotting plane from the state Highway Patrol found 35,000 marijuana plants growing in the Harnett County woods last month, Sheriff Larry Rollins has been wondering: How much more is out there?
At least another 5,000 plants, it turned out, found by a commercial pilot Rollins hired to fly over the county in search of the clandestine crop. The pilot found the operation in a remote, heavily forested area near the community of Broadway. Investigators raided the site Monday after watching it for a week.
"If they keep planting it, we're going to find it," Rollins said, standing in front of a plot of bright green marijuana plants 7 feet tall.
The site raided Monday was about three miles from the plots found last month, he said.
No arrests have been made in either case, though the sheriff has offered a reward of $5,000 for information that leads to the growers, who he suspects came from outside the area after scouting for land where they could work undetected.
Rollins said it appeared six to eight people had been living in the woods in nylon tents and tending at least 11 separate plots on about 5 acres. They had a kitchen area under the trees with a makeshift propane stove for cooking and a stash of food that included tortillas, beans, instant coffee and dozens of eggs stacked in cardboard trays on the ground in the July heat. A chair fashioned from cut saplings with a seat of twine sat near the stove.
Rainwater stood in a stock pot and puddled in a griddle, indicating it had been days since anyone had been there. Investigators think those tending the site realized immediately they had been discovered, and left without returning. Where they had been doing laundry in shallow Daniels Creek, socks, shirts and pants still hung over tree limbs to dry.
Workers had cleared sections of the forest by hand, cutting down young undergrowth in what has been managed loosely for pine timber. Rollins said officers had no reason to think that either of the landowners on whose property the plants were growing knew of the operation.
Each plot, it appeared, was being individually tended, with different workers using different techniques. Some of the plants were taller and more robust than others. Some were staked, and some were supported by strings. Some were enclosed by low stockade fences made of green sticks that had been sharpened to a point and put into the ground, presumably to keep out deer or other wildlife.
Members of the N.C. National Guard's anti-drug task force helped with the raid, along with the State Bureau of Investigation. The SBI says that a mature marijuana plant will yield about a pound of dried leaves with a street value of $2,400.
martha.quillin@newsobserver.com or (919) 829-8989 BROADWAY - Since a drug-spotting plane from the state Highway Patrol found 35,000 marijuana plants growing in the Harnett County woods... more -
He quit rather than lower flag for Helms
RALEIGH - L.F. Eason III gave up the only job he'd ever had rather than lower a flag to honor former U.S. Sen. Jesse Helms.
Eason, a 29-year veteran of the state Department of Agriculture, instructed his staff at a small Raleigh lab not to fly the U.S. or North Carolina flags at half-staff Monday, as called for in a directive to all state agencies by Gov. Mike Easley.
When a superior ordered the lab to follow the directive, Eason decided to retire rather than pay tribute to Helms. After several hours' delay, one of Eason's employees hung the flags at half-staff.
The brouhaha began late Sunday night, when Eason e-mailed eight of his employees in the state standards lab, which calibrates measuring equipment used on things as widely varied as gasoline and hamburgers.
"Regardless of any executive proclamation, I do not want the flags at the North Carolina Standards Laboratory flown at half staff to honor Jesse Helms any time this week," Eason wrote just after midnight, according to e-mail messages released in response to a public records request.
He told his staff that he did not think it was appropriate to honor Helms because of his "doctrine of negativity, hate, and prejudice" and his opposition to civil rights bills and the federal Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.
Eason said in an interview Tuesday that he did not typically lower the flag himself, but that, as head of the lab, he supervised the technician who did. He also trained new employees on proper flag etiquette, including a one-person folding technique he learned in Boy Scouts.
When the lab opened Monday morning, the flags were not out at all. An employee called Eason's boss, Stephen Benjamin, who worked in another building in Raleigh. About 10:45 a.m., Benjamin told one of Eason's co-workers to put the flags at half-staff.
Another of Eason's superiors later drove by the lab to make sure the flags were up properly.
No one in the Governor's Office was aware of any time in recent memory when a state employee refused to lower a flag. Brian Long, a spokesman for the Agriculture Department, said Eason's refusal was unexpected.
"We've never had any conversations like that," he said.
An ultimatum
In a string of e-mail messages with his superiors, Eason was told he could either lower the flags or retire effective immediately.
Though he's only 51, Eason chose to retire, although he pleaded several times to be allowed to stay at the lab. Eason, who had worked for the Agriculture Department since graduating from college, was paid $65,235 a year as the laboratory manager.
Several people, including his wife, argued to Eason that the flags belonged to the state, as did the lab. But Eason said he felt a strong sense of ownership.
Eason and a previous boss had sketched out the building's rough design on a napkin at the Atlanta airport in 1984 after attending a national conference on weights and measures.
He then worked to get funding for it in the state budget, and he recently helped snag state money to study building another lab.
"I designed and built that lab," he said. "Even though technically the bricks and mortar belong to the state of North Carolina, I feel very strongly that everything that comes out of there is my responsibility."
It was not the first time Eason felt uneasy about lowering the flag.
A registered Democrat who frequently votes a split ticket, he said he had no problems lowering the flag for former Sen. Terry Sanford or President Reagan. But he remembers wondering whether he would be willing to lower the flag after President Nixon's death.
He never had to make that decision, since it rained both days.
Monday was sunny. And Eason was out of a job. RALEIGH - L.F. Eason III gave up the only job he'd ever had rather than lower a flag to honor former U.S. Sen. Jesse Helms. ... more -
Richard Bacchus & The Luckiest Girls, Terrible Love
The budget for this video was seven fifty, $7.50 that is. a group of artists and performers put this video together on a Sunday.
Richard Bacchus and the Luckiest Girls are Rock band based out of Raleigh North Carolina. Their not being your typical Southeastern Rock and Roll may have something to do with Richard spending his formative years in NYC's Alphabet City playing with members of The Ramones, Helmet and being in the Glam Punk band D Generation with Jesse Malin. The budget for this video was seven fifty, $7.50 that is. a group of artists and performers put this video together on a Sunday. ... more -
WTF, North Carolina?
"North Carolina drivers whose license plates have the potentially offensive 'WTF' letter combination can replace the tags for free."
Wait, WTF? At least it isn't mandatory.
"DMV officials said they try to keep up with the latest acronyms, and that anyone who has an issue with their plate can contact their local DMV office to request a new one." "North Carolina drivers whose license plates have the potentially offensive 'WTF' letter combination can replace the tags for free." ... more -
Not So Friendly Skys
Mom and autistic toddler kicked off airliner in Raleigh-Durham, N.C.
-
Harvesting Wind: North Carolina's Alternative Progress
15-minute documentary about the need for industrial wind turbines in North Carolina.
-
Two shot dead at beverage bottling factory.
CONCORD, N.C. (AP) — Two people were shot and killed Friday morning during an apparent robbery at a soda bottling plant north of Charlotte, authorities said.
Concord deputy police chief Guy Smith said authorities were using a helicopter and police dogs to hunt for the shooter, who was seen running away from the Sun-drop Bottling Co. carrying a box. He remained at large late Friday afternoon.
"We have 25 to 30 investigators who are following every lead," Smith said. "When someone is carrying a box from the scene, you want to talk to them."
Smith said the shooter walked into the plant's office around 10 a.m. during what they believe was a robbery. He identified the victims as Donna Barnhardt, 59, and Darrell Noles, 44.
Two employees working at the facility who did not hear the gunfire later found the bodies and called 911, he said.
Smith said Barnhardt had worked at the company for 18 years.
"She liked her job. She was just one of these people who was happy-go-lucky," said Charles Messina, whose brother-in-law is married to Barnhardt's daughter. "She was just bubbly all the time ... It's just amazing that something so senseless could happen."
Family members said Noles was not an employee at the plant, but was visiting the office to apply for a part-time job.
Smith said police don't know the shooter's identity or if there was a relationship between the shooter and the victims.
The Rev. Donnie Tomlin of the Wil-Mar Park Baptist Church in Concord said his family is trying to come to terms with Noles' death. Noles was his wife's uncle.
"He was a great guy. Just a good family man. This is so tough for everyone," he said.
Sun-drop Bottling manufactures soft drinks and spring water at the plant about 25 miles north of Charlotte. The company, founded in 1954, has about 30 employees and produces 1,800 to 5,000 cases of soda a day.
Telephone messages left for company president John King at his home were not returned Friday.
Outside the one-story brick bottling plant, workers talked quietly in groups. A few had tears as they hugged their fellow employees. They were reluctant to talk to the media.
Barnhardt, the mother of three, spent most of her spare time doting on her five grandchildren, family members said.
"She loved them," Messina said. "She was supposed to take two of her granddaughters to a dance recital rehearsal after work. What are we going to tell them?"
Family members recalled how much Barnhardt loved the holidays, especially Easter. Every year she would invite family members and friends for an easter egg hunt in her backyard. She gave away hundreds of dollars in presents at the hunt, including hammocks, barbecue grills and $100 gift certificates.
"She loved to watch the adults scramble for eggs with the kids," Messina said. CONCORD, N.C. (AP) — Two people were shot and killed Friday morning during an apparent robbery at a soda bottling plant north of Charl... more -
20 megawatt solar power project in North Carolina
850 sites include homes, schools, stores, and factories. All kinds of places that have large unused roofs. People who agree to have solar panels installed on their buildings will get rewards based on the size of the installation and the amount of clean electricity it produces. 850 sites include homes, schools, stores, and factories. All kinds of places that have large unused roofs. People who agree to have so... more
-
Democrat in the running for NC Senate Race
Incumbent Elizabeth Dole has dropped a double digit lead to open the possibility of Democrat Kay Hagan representing North Carolina in Congress. Incumbent Elizabeth Dole has dropped a double digit lead to open the possibility of Democrat Kay Hagan representing North Carolina in ... more
-
Ailing fugitive headed back to Md. years after prison escape - Yahoo! News
RALEIGH, N.C. - An ailing 81-year-old North Carolina man who escaped from a Maryland prison 43 years ago was taken into custody Friday to face extradition, a move his attorneys decried as a waste of time because he is ill and aging.
Willie Parker, who suffers from several health problems, only served about a quarter of his sentence for robbery with a deadly weapon before escaping in 1965. He was tracked down in February as part of a Maryland effort to clear outstanding warrants. RALEIGH, N.C. - An ailing 81-year-old North Carolina man who escaped from a Maryland prison 43 years ago was taken into custody Friday... more -
Rare Formula
Rare Formula is a group based in Chapel Hill, NC.
Group members include UNC students Simz and Simone along with Seku who hails from Brooklyn.
They got an amazing sound that draws from Old School, Funk, Motown, Euro-pop, J-pop, Disco, R&B, Hip-hop and Jazz. If you like M-flo, Lupe, Pharrell or Kanye, you'll probably enjoy what Rare Formula has to offer!
Check it out!
More links provided below along with the link to the FREE EP download! Rare Formula is a group based in Chapel Hill, NC. ... more -
Obama’s win: A huge, decisive step toward his nomination
Barack Obama won a resounding 14-point victory over Clinton in North Carolina on Tuesday, while losing by less than 2-points in Indiana. "We now know who the Democratic nominee is going to be...it's Obama," NBC's Tim Russert declared on television late last night.
The article includes a number of wonderful photographs, videos of Barack Obama's North Carolina victory speech and of Tim Russert's television report, music audio and an amazing photo-gallery. Barack Obama won a resounding 14-point victory over Clinton in North Carolina on Tuesday, while losing by less than 2-points in Indian... more -
Obama makes last minute stop at local bar
RALEIGH - Sen. Barack Obama made a last-minute, surprise appearance at a downtown bar this afternoon, ordering a Pabst Blue Ribbon (beer of the working man) and spending half an hour greeting voters.
“Everyone voted?” he hollered, walking up Martin Street as he headed into the Raleigh Times bar about 5:30 p.m.
He went inside, ordered a draft and tipped bartender Jay Winfrey $18.
“I think he forgot his change,” Winfrey joked.
Obama hoisted his beer, took a sip and asked again if everyone had voted. “You’ve only got two hours!” he said.
Outside, Obama spent 15 minutes moving down the sidewalk and greeting more voters, signing autographs and getting his picture taken as police officers, sheriff’s deputies and Secret Service agents kept onlookers at bay and a helicopter hovered overhead.
Michelle Obama followed, greeting more voters.
About 6:15 p.m., Obama waved to the crowd and left. RALEIGH - Sen. Barack Obama made a last-minute, surprise appearance at a downtown bar this afternoon, ordering a Pabst Blue Ribbon (be... more -
Obama wins NC, Clinton wins Indiana
The race keeps getting better and better. Hilary Clinton and Obama are battling for two states this time--Indiana and North Carolina. Voters in both states turned out in record numbers. The race keeps getting better and better. Hilary Clinton and Obama are battling for two states this time--Indiana and North Carolina. ... more
-
$500,000 worth of alcohol stolen
Clayton police are looking for a half-million dollars worth of stolen booze.
Whether the thieves intentionally stole it, however, remains a mystery for now.
A tractor-trailer rig was reported stolen from a lot behind Bojangle’s Restaurant off Shotwell Road last week, according to Clayton police. The truck’s cargo: assorted hard liquor valued at $500,000.
Police said the driver of the truck, a local man whom Allen declined to identify, parked the truck behind Bojangle’s on Thursday night. When he returned Friday, it was gone.
The truck was destined for Raleigh.
“Someone joked, just go to the biggest post-election party tonight and you will find where it was directed to,” Allen said. Clayton police are looking for a half-million dollars worth of stolen booze. ... more -
Students forced Year-Round School
Raleigh, NC
The state Court of Appeals today ruled in favor of the Wake school system in its effort to assign students to year-round schools regardless of whether parents consent.
A three-judge panel concluded that the school system does not need parental permission to send children to year-round schools. The decision reversed a Superior Court judge's order that required the schools to get the consent of parents to send students to year-round schools.
"If plaintiffs disagree with mandatory assignments to year-round schools, their remedy lies with the electoral process or through communications with the legislative and executive branches of government," the court said in its ruling.
Parent Amy Leinfelder, who began homeschooling her daughter after her school was converted to a year-round calendar, said she was disappointed in today's ruling.
"I feel so badly for all those kids who will be forced to go to year-round when it doesn't work for their families," Leinfelder said. Raleigh, NC ... more -
Campaign Update 05/05/08
Clinton eschews economists, political winds shift, and Guam blows your mind.
-
PA Governor Ed Rendell Praises Louis Farrakhan
Gov. Ed Rendell of PA, a Hillary Clinton supporter, is seen in this video to be praising controversial Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan. Shouldn't the media be asking Mrs. Clinton about the merits of Rendell's support in light of this? Perhaps she should consider renouncing and rejecting Rendell and his support.
Why do they only talk about Rev. Wright's admiration of Farrakhan but NOT Rendell's? Could they be showing their bias? Gov. Ed Rendell of PA, a Hillary Clinton supporter, is seen in this video to be praising controversial Nation of Islam leader Louis Fa... more -
Eyes On Obama: Help Petition Superdelegates in Your Area
EyesonObama.com needs your help to petition the remaining uncommitted superdelegates to endorse Senator Obama. Please visit their site and sign the petition. They have a list of uncommitted superdelegates they'd like to send signed petitions to. We just need another 290 delegates to pledge for Senator Obama and make him the Democratic Nominee. If you're like me, you're sick of this primary campaign. Senator Obama is ahead in pledged delegates and most analysts agree, it is near impossible for Hillary Clinton to catch up. I think we all know that if the circumstances were reversed, Obama would have been asked to drop out of this race after losing 11 states in a row. Please help put an end to this madness be petitioning the remaining uncommitted superdelegates to come out and endorse Senator Obama as the Democratic Nominee so we can get on with the business of preparing for the general election and take on Senator McCain on the issues. Spread the word. Thank you! EyesonObama.com needs your help to petition the remaining uncommitted superdelegates to endorse Senator Obama. Please visit their site... more
-
Wright Won't Go Away: Political Lunch 04-24-08
A controversial ad comes out in North Carolina. Does John McCain really want it stopped, or is he boosting its distribution? Local becomes national on this episode of Political Lunch. A controversial ad comes out in North Carolina. Does John McCain really want it stopped, or is he boosting its distribution? Local bec... more
-
related topics
North Carolina
Contributors (220)
North Carolina
