- On Jan. 18, 1778, English explorer Captain James Cook becomes the first European to discover the Hawaiian Islands when he sails past the island of Oahu. He named the island group the Sandwich Islands, in honor of John Montague, who the earl of Sandwich.

- On Jan. 21, 1789, "The Power of Sympathy: Or, the Triumph of Nature. Founded in Truth" is printed in Boston. The book was the first novel by an American writer to be published in America. The first editions of the book did not carry the author's name, but it was later attributed to William Hill Brown.

By Jay Schalin
Carolina Journal


RALEIGH — As the economic downturn grows longer and more severe, it’s hard to find any proposals to cut costs that can be taken completely off the table. Programs that were recently considered untouchable have now been placed under the budgetary microscope.

In a couple of states — Mississippi and Georgia — government officials have even started questioning the status of public HBCUs — historically black colleges and universities. By doing so, however, those officials might only be speeding up a process of HBCUs becoming mainstream that is complete in West Virginia and is well under way in North Carolina.

Randy Johnson looked so awkward on the mound early in his career, that shaggy hair dangling down his neck as he fired a blazing fastball in every direction but the strike zone.

Now, after 22 major league seasons, The Big Unit is walking away from baseball as one of the game's greatest pitchers.

The 6-foot-10 Johnson announced his retirement on a conference call Tuesday, a decision that had been expected from the overpowering left-hander who reached 300 wins last June.

By David Uffington

There are probably more people using the Internet to find a job than there are going to employment agencies. From there, it's not a giant step from seeking "regular" employment to looking for ways to make money fast and easy on the Internet.

Even if you've been on the Internet a long time, there's something about the possibility of "fast money" that can make even the most cautious person take risks.

Stock index futures pointed to a lower open on Wall Street Wednesday as investors refrain from any major moves while they await a stream of economic data.

Traders will receive a handful of economic data from December in the morning, including the ADP National Employment Report on private companies and the Institute for Supply Management's index of service industry activity. The Federal Reserve will also release the minutes from its December meeting later in the day.

Profile America -- Wednesday, January 6th. This is the time of year when people in many parts of the country are growing weary of winter and longing to be out on the water in warmer weather in their boats. These dreams are fed by many boat shows across the nation showing the latest in power and sail boats, equipment, accessories, and vacation property. The annual New Orleans Boat Show is under way, and the show in Providence, Rhode Island, will open tomorrow. Next week, boaters in Milwaukee will troop through the snow to see the latest in summer fun. Boating is a major hobby in the U.S. -- we own nearly 17 million boats and spend more than $37 billion a year on new and used boats.

LINCOLNTON - River View Baptist Church will be offering “DivorceCare” sessions beginning Monday, January 11, 2010 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. for 13 weeks.

DivorceCare is a support ministry to help individuals who are going through separation or divorce. There will be a brief video by experts each week on issues facing the group followed by a time of discussion. There is a one-time registration fee of $15/person to cover materials and you may participate in future sessions at no additional cost.

By Jim Stegall
Carolina Journal

RALEIGH — Would you bet $400 million that North Carolina’s education laws and policies are among the most innovative and reform-oriented in the country? That’s how much the state stands to win as it competes against at least 37 other states for a share of the Obama administration’s $4.35 billion “Race to the Top” education grant competition.

But while other states scramble to drop restrictions on charter schools, toughen standards, and adopt new measures of teacher and principal effectiveness to improve their chances of winning a share of the pot, North Carolina’s top education leaders are content to stand pat with the hand the state now holds.

STAFF REPORTS

LINCOLNTON / RALEIGH - Gov. Bev Perdue announced today that 34 contracts totaling more than $107 million have been awarded for highway and bridge projects across North Carolina, including 13 projects funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The contracts were awarded by the N.C. Department of Transportation to the lowest bidders, as required by state law.

“In the new year, recovery dollars will continue to help us improve our transportation infrastructure while providing jobs to North Carolinians,” Perdue said.

ARIES (March 21 to April 19) Use that Arian charm to help make a difficult workplace transition easier for everyone. News about a long-awaited decision can be confusing. Don't jump to conclusions.

TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) Although you might well be tempted to be more extravagant than you should be at this time, I'm betting you'll let your sensible Bovine instinct guide you toward moderation.

By Rich Lowry

Janet Napolitano is impressed with Janet Napolitano's work. In an instantly notorious statement on CNN, the Homeland Security secretary said "the system worked" when a man boarded a Christmas Day flight from Amsterdam to Detroit with explosives in his underwear that he couldn't quite manage to ignite.

Does "the system" count on all explosive devices smuggled onto international flights not detonating? When Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab set himself on fire while trying to blow up the plane and kill its 278 passengers, a Dutch filmmaker leapt on him, ripped a smoldering object from near his crotch and put it out with his bare hands. Or as Napolitano put it, "Everybody played an important role here."

Iran said Tuesday it welcomes Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton's comments that there is no hard-and-fast deadline for starting nuclear dialogue.

On Monday, Clinton said the Obama administration remained open to negotiating with Iran over its nuclear program, though it will move toward tougher sanctions if Iran does not respond positively. She stressed there was no hard-and-fast deadline for Iran.

Responding Tuesday, Iran's foreign ministry welcomed the comments.

The Washington Redskins moved quickly in their pursuit of Mike Shanahan on Monday, flying in the former Denver Broncos coach on the same day the team fired Jim Zorn.

Shanahan and wife Peggy landed at Dulles International Airport near Redskins Park in mid-afternoon and were driven away in a limousine to meet with owner Dan Snyder and general manager Bruce Allen. Snyder planned for Shanahan to stay overnight at the owner's house in Maryland, and a formal hiring announcement could come as early as Tuesday.

House and Senate Democrats intend to bypass traditional procedures when they negotiate a final compromise on health care legislation, officials said Monday, a move that will exclude Republican lawmakers and reduce their ability to delay or force politically troubling votes in both houses.

The unofficial timetable calls for final passage of the measure to remake the nation's health care system by the time President Barack Obama delivers his State of the Union address, probably in early February.

In new book, GOP chairman criticizes post-Reagan Republicans who compromised on principles

Republican Party Chairman Michael Steele offers a simple explanation for why the GOP all too often lost touch with typical Americans since the Ronald Reagan era: "We screwed up," he claims in a new book offering a blueprint for the party's resurgence.

That "we" includes the last two Republican presidents and the most recent Republican candidate for president.

Ninth-ranked North Carolina squandered an 11-point lead down the stretch and lost, 82-79, in overtime to the College of Charleston Monday night. Charleston's Andrew Goudelock scored 24 points in the big upset.

Monday's College Basketball

EAST
Brown 72, Wagner 71, OT
Cabrini 93, Keystone 85
Canisius 77, Iona 65
Clarkson 66, Rochester 63
Colgate 64, Cent. Connecticut St. 45

Arctic winds chill the South, threaten Fla. strawberry, tomato crops; blanket East in snow

Bitter cold and snow sweeping into the eastern U.S were leaving part of New England under record snowfall and hitting Southerners with subfreezing temperatures that farmers fear could destroy crops.

The deep freeze was expected to last for at least the rest of the week. The National Weather Service said the mercury could fall below zero in St. Louis later this week for the first time since 1999.

Profile America -- Tuesday, January 5th. The first federal penitentiary was completed this month in 1902 in Atlanta. The facility at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, was authorized earlier, but was not finished until 1906. Until these facilities opened, federal prisoners were housed in state prisons. The first federal prison for women was opened in 1927 in Alderson, West Virginia. Perhaps the most famous federal prison, Alcatraz, on an island in San Francisco Bay, opened in 1933. Now, there are more than 193,000 men and women in federal prisons, and nearly 1.4 million in state facilities.

By Kevin Starr
County Extension Director
NC Cooperative Extension Service


LINCOLN COUNTY - There will be a “New Growers Institute” for new and prospective vegetable farmers on Thursday, January 28 at the Burke County Extension Center. This program is being conducted by Extension agents involved in the “Foothills Fresh” effort to help meet the increasing demand for vegetable vendors at area farmers martkets. While we are seeing new growers at the markets, the supply of vendors has not kept up with the increase in the number of farmers markets.

The program will begin at 9:30 a.m. with registration and refreshments. Speakers will cover three topics before lunch including the “What to Grow” ,“Economics of Vegetable Production”, and “Scheduling Vegetable Crops”. Following lunch, there will be presentations on “Post-Harvest Handling”, “Marketing Grassroots Style”, and “Selling at Farmers Markets”. The program will conclude at 3:00 p.m.

STAFF REPORTS

LINCOLNTON - The following listing represents incident and arrest reports from the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office.

This listing does not necessarily mean anyone at the listed address was accused of any crime, only that a report was made at that location. Also, it is advisable to understand that many people may have the same or similar names.

Local law enforcement asks that anyone with information about any of these incidents or to report a crime call CrimeStoppers at (704) 736-8909. CrimeStoppers allows you to remain anonymous and pays up to $1,000 for information that leads to an arrest.

Incident reports are brought to you by Helms Security, Inc. in Lincolnton. Follow update “tweets” on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/helmssecurity .

INCIDENTS
2009-08585
Embezzlement
Assigned: Detective Alvarado
Location: 6610 Denver Industrial Park Rd.
Victim: Carolina Comfort Systems
Employee converting funds for personal use
Date Reported: December 22, 2009
District C

STAFF REPORTS

LINCOLN COUNTY - The Arts Council of Lincoln County is once again sponsoring its annual Amateur Photography Competition. Entries will be accepted 1pm to 4pm January 6 and January 8 at the Lincoln Cultural Center, 403 E. Main St. Lincolnton. For additional arrangements, please call (704) 735-9044. Tindalls Professional Photography is the sponsor of this event.

All entrants must be 18 years or older and must engage in photography for pleasure rather than financial benefit or professional reasons. Entrants must not hold a photographer's license or make their living at photography. Photo entries should be original photographs that have not been reproduced for public sale and have not been exhibited in any Arts Council of Lincoln County's events in the past. For a $20 entry fee, each participant may enter up to 3 photographs with a limit of two entry fees per participant.

By Marti Hill
District Governor, Lions Club

Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) recently received the highest ranking possible from Charity Navigator, demonstrating LCIF’s commitment to being a leading foundation.

An updated review from the independent charity evaluator awarded LCIF four stars. The top ranking means that LCIF exceeds industry standards and outperforms most charities in its cause. More than 5, 400 of America’s largest charities are ranked on the Web site. Rankings are based on a number of factors related to organization, efficiency and capacity.

The foundation has a history of recognition for its effectiveness and efficiency in order to maximize humanitarian service to those in need. In 2007 LCIF was named the number one non-governmental organization (NGO) worldwide with which to partner. The foundation came in first for its accountability, program execution, communications, program adaptability and partnerships among 100 international organizations in the independent review.

A man who caused a security breach at Newark Liberty International Airport, causing major delays and grounding flights for six hours, left about 20 minutes after he walked the wrong way through a security checkpoint, the Transportation Security Administration said Monday.

Someone picking up a passenger told an officer guarding the exit that he thought he saw a man enter through the doors Sunday, TSA spokeswoman Ann Davis said. TSA reviewed surveillance video before sweeping the airport, she said.

The video confirmed the man had entered through the exit, and officials made passengers leave the terminal and be rescreened.

More than two years’ income on his Raleigh home was never reported as required

By Don Carrington
Carolina Journal

RALEIGH — Former Gov. Mike Easley failed to list income from the rental of his Raleigh home on at least three consecutive annual economic interest statements — a violation of state ethics laws.

The home on East Lake Drive was rented for $1,500 a month for three years while Easley served as governor. Concealing income or failing to fully disclose it on a Statement of Economic Interest is a misdemeanor. Providing false information is a felony.

KAPALUA, Hawaii (Reuters) - For the second year in a row, Tiger Woods will be a notable absentee from the early part of the PGA Tour schedule but this time it is entirely due to self-inflicted wounds by the world number one.

After becoming engulfed in a media storm following a bizarre early morning car crash that took place outside his Florida home on November 27, Woods finally admitted he had cheated on his Swedish wife, Elin Nordegren.

A Republican senator who is blocking confirmation of President Barack Obama's choice to head the Transportation Security Administration is accusing Democrats of trying to install Erroll Southers without debate.

Interviewed on NBC's "Today" show, Sen. Jim DeMint brushed off accusations by Democrats that he's unnecessarily delaying Southers' confirmation at a time of increasing terrorist threats and a leadership vacuum at the agency.

RALEIGH – The beginning of 1865 marked the end of the Civil War in North Carolina and the nation as the bloody conflict that took more American lives than any military operation before or since concluded. N.C. State Historic Sites (www.nchistoricsites.org) will commemorate the 145th anniversary of the end of the country’s deadliest war starting in January and continuing through the spring. In coming weeks, battle re-enactments, programs on daily life and tales of occupation involving the Confederate and Union Armies, including U.S. Colored Troops, will come alive.