Rockingham, NC 50centsTuesday, March 15, 2011

INSIDE NEWS, 5A

World shaken by Japan’s earthquake

INSIDE OPINION, 4A

Foreclosure numbers

unacceptable

WEATHERCloudy skies early. A few showers developing later in day.HIGH: 65LOW: 56

INSIDE SPORTS, 1B

Lady Raiders fighting through rough patch100% recycled

newsprint

DeathsNo obituaries were submitted by

press time.

The Daily Journal is published with pride five days a week for the people of Richmond County, N.C. The Daily Journal is committed to editorial integrity and

excellence. If you spot an error, please contact

us at (910) 997-3111, ext. 13.

Calendar 2AClassified 5BComics 4B

World 5AOpinion 4APuzzles 4BSports 1BTV Listings 3B

Inside today ON THE WEB: www.yourdailyjournal.comE-MAIL: rdjnews@heartlandpublications.com

Vol. 80, No. 52

Material inside this edition is© Richmond County Daily Journal.

Reproduction without expressed consent of the Richmond County Daily Journal is prohibited.

KIDNAPPERCONTINUED ON PAGE 3A

CATFISHCONTINUED ON PAGE 6A

SUMMERCONTINUED ON PAGE 3A

DARCONTINUED ON PAGE 3A

Kelli EasterlingRichmond County Daily Journal

The mist was still rising from Blewett Falls Lake as competitors participating in the catfish tournament sped off across the water - each to his own special, and some-times secret, fishing hole. Boaters zipped across the water as flocks of ducks swooped in formation low overhead.

The contest began at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday. Catches had to be back at the boat landing for weigh-in by 3 p.m. sharp for judging and prizes.

All catfish were kept alive until weigh-in. After the fish were weighed, they were released back into the Lake.

Sponsored by Scotty’s Bait and Tackle, all proceeds from the $50 registration fees were donated to the Backpack Pals for Richmond County program. Almost $200 was raised for the pro-gram, after prize payouts.

The Backpack Pals is a nationally recognized pro-gram designed to meet the needs of hungry children, identified by school staff, KELLI EASTERLING/DAILY JOURNAL

Chad Howlden and T-Bo Dixon weigh in Brian Elan’s catfish at the tournament host-ed by Scotty’s Bait and Tackle on Saturday. Also pictured is Michael Dixon.

Dawn M. KurryRichmond County Daily Journal

The General Henry William Harrington Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) named Richmond Senior High School student Charlie Melvin as Good Citizen.

“Melvin was chosen by the Richmond Senior High School faculty for the dependability, ser-vice, leadership and patriotism that he has displayed at home, at school and throughout his com-munity,” said Mary Bowles. “We are so proud of him. Honoring the DAR Good Citizen is one of the most rewarding things that our DAR does in the com-munity.”

As part of the recognition, Melvin was asked to write an essay on “Our American Heritage and Our Responsibility for Preserving it.” The essay was written in a room with no prompts. RHS Guidance Counselor Jewell Price coordi-nates this program and she was

Dawn M. KurryRichmond County Daily

Journal

A mother’s year-long nightmare has ended with the recovery of her two children. The children were kidnapped from Ellerbe in February of 2010.

On March 9, Police Officer Eric Katzin in

Riverside, Ill., observed a vehicle pass him that did not have a registration sticker. Katzin followed the car which made sev-eral turns to elude the officer and pulled into an alley off the main streets. The Illinois Secretary of State’s computer indicat-ed that the tags on the car were expired.

Katzin approached

the driver, who stated that he did not have a valid driver’s license. Upon checking his Mexican driver’s license and name by using several possible name c o m b i n a t i o n s , Katzin found an arrest warrant for kidnap-ping from North Carolina.

The offender denied he was the wanted suspect but his car con-tained a 3-year-old child not secured in a safety seat who was one of the children that is the subject of the kidnapping

warrant.Photographs as well

as scars and other iden-tifying marks provided from N.C. confirmed the suspect was the person wanted in the warrant. Fingerprint checks made in U.S. databases did not contain copies of the offender’s fingerprints to check against. One other child was located at school and both chil-dren were turned over to

DCFS until their mother is able to arrive to take them home. The children confirmed that they are the ones in the warrant by stating their true names and not those provided by the offender.

Katzin contacted the mother and through a

Dawn M. KurryRichmond County Daily Journal

On Friday, students at Richmond County Transitional School took a crash course in the dangers of driving while texting and driving while under the influence during a special simulated driving experience.

As part of the National Arrive Alive Tour, sponsored by U.N.I.T.E. Inc. of Grand Rapids, Mich., students at RCTS participated in the “Stop-Loss” driving simulation. A special car connected to a computer system created the driving experience.

Once the student took a seat in the car, goggles were placed on their eyes to simulate a drunk-driving experience. In another exercise, with a differ-ent set of goggles, the students were given a cell phone and allowed to text as they drove. They watched their peers’ driving experiences on a TV screen, most of which ended in major accidents.

LeLe Diggs, a junior at

RCTS, was convinced after her test drive of the dangers that come with driving while impaired.

“It’s really hard to drive drunk,” Diggs said after partici-

pating in the simulation. “I’m definitely going to tell all of my friends and family not to drink and drive.”

Kelli EasterlingRichmond County Daily Journal

The time to think about where you’re going to ship the kids off to this summer - for camping fun and adventure - is approaching.

Can throwing your kids to the proverbial wolves in the woods be beneficial to their develop-ment - and your sanity? Some people say yes.

Many parents think of camp as an opportunity for a mini vacation and, more important-ly, an opportunity for junior to develop an appreciation for nature.

Campers have a chance to socialize with people they would never have had the opportunity to meet otherwise. Learning tol-erance and patience is often an unintended side effect of being thrown into a new play group. Campers spend all day with one another, trying to accomplish tasks that sometimes may seem impossible. This forced group cooperation is often a catalyst to kids’ learning how to put aside differences and just get along, a tool they can put to use in virtually any social situation throughout their lives.

Counselors are an invalu-able part of the summer camp experience. They are trained to provide safe, fun activities

CONTRIBUTED

One young participant takes a swing at the ropes course at Big Pine Retreat in Hamlet.

Ellerbe kidnapping suspect arrested in Illinois

Transitional School students see dangers of driving distracted

Parents start planning for summer

Catfish biting at charity tourney

DAR honors good citizen

Sponsored By:

Play our NASCAR Contest online at yourdailyjournal.com & See our NASCAR page

each Friday in the Daily Journal.

Pineda-Munoz

CONTRIBUTED

Richmond County Transitional Students are pictured as they participate in a drunk driving simulation March 11. The visit was part a of a national tour to encour-age high school and college students to practice safe driving. Students signed a pledge against drinking and driving and texting while driving.

STUDENTSCONTINUED ON PAGE 2A