Tobacco free has a cost?

The Johnston County Board of Education ponders serious issues regarding education at every meeting it holds. And a few issues cause board members to be at odds with each other on occasion.
One issue in particular looms on the horizon holds explosive potential. It is a proposal to revise the county school’s tobacco policy to reduce the tolerance of tobacco on school grounds. This policy would create a tobacco-free campus, for both students and adults.
The policy is strict. It would include students, teachers, administrators and staff, and even visitors to campus for any reason. And it would prohibit smoking and smokeless tobacco products at any time.
Board member Donna White tried to have a reading of the policy removed from the agenda at the January meeting, a move that was supported by board member Larry Strickland. But board chairman Fred Bartholomew, citing procedure, refused to do it. When the policy was read, Ms. White explained that she believes the ban on tobacco on campus could have far-reaching repercussions. The policy could even anger the public at a time when public support will be needed for another school bond referendum.
She said the policy, as written, would prohibit construction crews from smoking while building a school, since the site was considered school property.
Mr. Strickland said the policy discriminated against dedicated school volunteers who devote time and energy to various school projects because they would not be able to step away and smoke. Parents and supporters who go to basketball games — and are already delegated to go outside into the cold to smoke — would not even be allowed to do that. Teachers who have to stay on campus for several hours a day would have no place to smoke on their breaks.
Mr. Strickland also spoke of receiving a letter of concern which indicated how the policy would put the school at odds with hard-working tobacco farmers who have brought millions upon millions of dollars to Johnston County, paid their taxes and made donations to community causes, such as schools.
The other side of the argument was presented by Kay Carroll, who simply stated that tobacco was a dangerous, unhealthy addiction and to ban it from school property was a positive response that would further provide positive evidence to students that tobacco is not something with which they should get involved. Mr. Carroll cited numerous health reasons for the ban, and said it was a simple matter of keeping the campuses healthy for the students.
Board member Jack O’Hale provided perhaps the best commentary on the issue. He said it boiled down to individual rights versus protecting public health.
“Tobacco is a legal product if you are over 18,” he said. “Drinking alcohol is legal if you are over 21. Owning a gun is legal if you are over a certain age. But we don’t allow drinking on school property and we don’t allow guns on school property.”
I am big on individual rights. I agree with Mr. O’Hale that as long as a person is of legal age, they should be allowed to do what they please.
But Ben Franklin once said that another person’s rights end at the tip of my nose. When your cigarette smoke comes into my nostrils, I am being denied the right to breathe air that is not clogged with carcinogens. Most responsible smokers are mindful of this and try not to offend anyone who does not want to enjoy the smoke with them.
I grew up with cigarettes in my life. My mom and dad both smoked, for decades, and I guess my brothers and sisters and I were fortunate that second-hand smoke did not affect our health. They both gave up smoking later in life. Nowadays my mom has several grandchildren and great-grandchildren — and at least one daughter-in-law — that come over, some of which are sensitive to smoke. So she has banned the smokers of the family to the front porch – not to be punitive, but to be protective.
Usually, cigarette smoke does not bother me. But as a non-smoker, I have the right to go into any business that I wish to patronize. And I do not go into stores or restaurants that allow smokers to light up, because I do not want to smell the emanations. It would be wrong of me to go in there and insist that everyone in there put out the cigarettes. So I choose to not go in there, or leave when I realize I am in that situation.
Some tobacco users may feel singled out and discriminated against by this policy, and in one regard, they are. But the policy is a good step to providing the most healthful learning environment possible, and no one can argue that as being anything but good. The current policy as enforced is a double standard — while students are prohibited from using tobacco, teachers are frequently outside on their breaks smoking. On several occasions I have seen coaches going through their duties with smokeless tobacco or dips in their mouths.
On a personal note, there is nothing nastier to me than a cup or can that has been used as a spittoon. Give me a choice, and I will take an overflowing ashtray any day.
To eliminate tobacco from the campuses is a drastic step, but a positive one. If enacting the policy makes one current smoker even consider kicking the habit, then it will be worthwhile.
Smokers have rights. But they have no more rights than non-smokers.

Welcome to 2007

I am usually not all that psyched up to watch the ball come down in Times Square. I left my party animal days far behind me years ago, so I was not squealing with delight as the acorn fell in Raleigh, or giving a big hip-hooray as the pickle dropped on Mount Olive once again.
But a new year’s dawning is a chance to turn a page, start a new direction and begin a new chapter of life. And I, for one, am ready to get this puppy started.
The new year will mean a lot to me personally, and to the paper professionally.
We are poised on the edge of a new era of reporting for our readers. We are in a new building in Princeton and a newly remodeled building in Fremont. We are working with some of the newest computer programs, equipment and software we have ever had. We have new reporters in place to provide you with all the news that is happening in your communities. We are on the world wide web, and can strike while a story is hot to get the facts to you as soon as possible.
We are taking better photos, writing better stories and giving the readers something other area newspapers cannot – we can let you know what is going on in your neck of the woods. We are not trying to do what other papers do. We are trying to be the best paper there is, and serve our readers in an outstanding fashion.
Sometimes, we do that one mistake at a time. It is the most frustrating thing in the world to work a story for days, get it written, proofed and publish it only to find a mistake or inaccuracy once it is on the pages. It is the kind of gaffe that makes me want to take a lap around the block trying to kick myself in the rear – which might make an interesting photo, now that I think about it.
We do try very hard to keep mistakes and inaccuracies out of the paper. We have instituted more controls to get more eyes scanning the paper before it goes out to make sure fewer and fewer goof-ups make it to the press.
So while I do not do New Year’s resolutions, I do pledge right here and now to make sure the paper is more accurate - not only because we need to, but also because you deserve it as our readers.
Sometime during this upcoming year, our part-time reporter will earn her wings and go full-time. Sarah Wise is nearly through with her studies at Peace College and will be ready to step into the reporter’s role in Princeton full-time with her graduation. We have been very pleased with Sarah’s work, and many of you have stopped by or e-mailed us to let us know that you feel the same. So having more time with Sarah at her desk and on her beat is a good thing for all of us.
Davis Fisher is getting well situated in Fremont and has become a strong reporter in a new environment. Davis is putting in some long hours to work his beat and speak to all the people involved in it. He will become even better-known to the people of northern Wayne and southern Wilson Counties in the coming months.
My own duties as editor are becoming more clear and direct. A lot of that is the result of a difficult process for our publisher, Barry Merrill. Barry has been the chief cook and bottle washer for both papers since he purchased them, and for many years, his duties included pretty much everything that went on. He is in the publisher’s role full-time now, and he has to disentangle himself from some duties in order to focus more successfully on other duties. That can be tougher to do than it sounds. So while you will surely still see him with a notebook at a meeting or with a camera at a sporting event, Barry is now more focused on guiding both newspapers’ growth and development into the future. It’s a big role, and he handles it well.
The new year brings a new face to the Princeton office as Lucy Brower becomes our office manager. She has flung herself into the job, and has already impacted the paper positively by helping to proof the paper and to relieve Barry and me of other daily responsibilities. Many of you will get to know Lucy as you drop by with renewals, ads and notices for publication.
Rosie Colvin is still the rock of our Fremont operation, and she needs no introduction to anyone who has been in the area for more than ten minutes. I will tip my hat to her, however, and acknowledge that most of us around here could not pour our morning coffee without her.
The advertising staff has just completed an awesome year. Debra Malarchik and Jeanette Pigford have done a difficult job (I can’t do it) very well for many months, and it should be noted that we are around putting out a paper in 2007 because they have worked so successfully in 2006. They have established a high standard for the coming year.
And of course, there are many others who insert the paper, distribute it to the racks and newspaper stands, and to the post office. I salute their efforts and recognize their important contributions to the team.
But our most important link - our most vital link – the one we thank most – is you, the customer. We are not here without you. We appreciate the time and effort you put into buying the paper or subscribing to it, and reading it. We have said many times, we cannot do what we do without you. The readers are our lifeblood, and we cannot ever forget that.
I hope in 2007, I can count on more of your comments and suggestions. We take them all seriously.
Among those suggestions, I want each of you to think about a person in your community who deserves recognition for the good works they do, the sunshine they bring to others’ lives, the service they provide to their fellow man. We would like to tell everyone about that person, with our weekly “Just Up The Road” feature. Just call or e-mail us with the person’s name and why you think they should be a featured person in the News Leader.
If your church, school group or civic group is having an event, let us help get the word out. If your professional organization recognized you, we can let everyone know about your accomplishment.
Do you restore cars, old homes, or furniture? They could all have stories attached to them that we would like to tell. Is your neighbor back from a church mission trip or a journey to help someone far away? They might like to tell us of their adventure.
Do you like movies? Would you like to review movies for us, and see a movie for free? Do you have an award-winning recipe you would like to share? Are you getting married or about to celebrate an addition to the family? We want to let all your friends and neighbors know.
We want to spend 2007 doing a good job telling you all about you all. Point us in the right direction, and let us go. We promise you will not be disappointed.
Here’s hoping we can look back this time next year, and say, “2007 – now that was a good year.”

Time for some serious stuff

In my time as a columnist, I have tried to be down-home, folksy and gently good-humored for the readers. I have worked hard to give you all a little smile — a smirk, perhaps — to take with you through your life’s travails.
Bu I am the editor of the paper, after all. It is incumbent upon me to use this column as a bullypulpit, to provide insight to those needing a new point of view, or to stand up for the little man.
So I will set Mark Twain aside for now, and step towards being Edward R. Murrow (kids, ask your grandparents who he is, they might know). It’s time to discuss the hard-hitting issues that grasp the good citizens who read our chronicled endeavor each week.
Time for some serious stuff, folks.
What are the issues? What deeply gripping quandaries do we as a society find ourselves grappling with?
Let’s start with the basics. Everyone fed? Clothed? Warm and dry? Staying someplace that will keep the rain off your head?
No, we are not all in that state. But nearly all of us are, and those that are not have agencies and opportunities to remedy that, at least for the short term.
OK, now what? How about the government? Is the government getting into your wallets and pocketbooks too much? Are you paying all kinds of taxes that go up and up?
Well, some taxes are a bit high. But in general, most of what the government gets, they put to some good use somewhere. We all need roads, schools, police departments, people who pick up our trash and send our sewer stuff away and bring good, clean water in. We have to look after our elderly, our sick, those who are without and those who are on hard times.
Need a job? According to statistics, only one in 20 working folks are not working in these parts. The papers are full of help wanted ads, and while some jobs are not ideal, it is not a difficult thing to find something to do and get a paycheck for in today’s economy. Jobs that require specific training are out there, too, but the college and technical schools nearby are offering classes every day to retrain folks who want a job like that.
Not happy with the war? Who is? Young men and women die every day in a foreign land. But no one out there is holding up signs that proclaim, “Yay, War!” No one likes seeing soldiers fight and die. And it is not as though we can bring them home tomorrow — not even President Bush can end the war in a snap of his fingers. So we keep on praying for their safe return and hope we can get our people out of harm’s way soon.
How about here in the state? There’s a lot to get riled up about within our own borders. Do you like the lottery? How about that Dan Black guy? What’s his deal? And who is running for governor next election? Can we grow any crop under the sun now that we don’t grow all that much tobacco? Since when did every farmer east of I-95 decide to start his own winery?
Why does this column now sound like a Jerry Seinfield stand-up act?
Schools — there’s a biggie. Someone, somewhere is always going on an on about getting something done about the schools. We need new buildings. We need new curriculum. We need new leadership.
OK, Let’s see. New buildings — Wayne County is finally working on it after trying to talk it to death for the last 10 years. Johnston County is brewing up another bond referendum — the fourth in about 10 years — and this one will get a Princeton Elementary School, with doors open for the 2008 school year, we are told.
New curriculum — both Johnston County and Wayne County are being innovative and trying to address their ABC’s of Education and No Child Left Behind issues. A lot of new programs are out there to increase graduation rate and make our kids better prepared for the world past school.
New leadership? Five guys ran for four seats on the Wayne County Board of Education during the last election, and the voters put in just one new one. If you wanted new leadership, more people would have challenged three incumbents who ran unopposed. In Johnston County, several people ran for three seats, and two of the three that won were incumbents.
Wayne County’s board has elected a chairman and vice-chairman who are African-American women — and eminently qualified to lead. And the Wayne County Board of Commissioners has a new chairman, another African-American. I’d say there is new leadership busting out all over —and if no one was run out of office, it appears folks wanted it that way.
In general, I think that there are thorny issues out there, but most folks are not letting it become a sore under their saddle blankets. Everyone is reasonably happy with the way things are going — Not everything, but most things.
And as we get into the annual Christmas holiday season — the season of good feeling and happiness — that is not a bad state of mind to be in.
I might as well hang out the washing on my bullypulpit for now. And maybe I can get back to writing about those Mark-Twain kinds of things again.

Judgment House behind the scenes

For the past several years, one of the local events of the fall for many of us is Judgment House. Every fall, the First Pentecostal Holiness Church of Goldsboro put on the production, and it has become a staple of fall events for the folks all over Wayne County and the surrounding area.
This year, it got a newcomer to the staff. I dusted off my creaky old acting credentials and took part in the production, which actually began in the late summer.
The play, for those of you who have never been to Judgment House, is a play in nine brief acts. Instead of the traditional version of plays where an audience sits and the play is brought to them, this play requires the audience to move from scene to scene. The crowd, usually in groups of 50 to 70, moves through the scenes and learns the plot of the play, which changes from year to year. It usually follows the story of a person or persons living a challenged life, and how their decisions affect their lives after their earthly existence is over.
The preparations began with the actors getting their lines for each scene. We got our lines and our roles early on, but in some cases did not get scripts for the last few scenes until very late in the process — in one case, mere days before the play opened. The most massive undertaking was the sets and construction. The crew, all volunteer church members, built a five-scene complex inside the church’s Ministerial Training Center, complete with air conditioning, lighting, doors and all the special effects necessary.
What was involved? These folks had to build an airplane that would crash on command and break apart — literally — over and over again; they had to create three different hospital scenes, one of which portrayed a scene of Rapture; a “party” scene with smoke, lights, music and sound effects; a hospital scene that actually gave the crowd the sensation of ‘feeling” a train wreck and its effects; and a dramatic ledge scene in which the actors were 15 feet off the floor.
That was not all. The two biggest construction challenges were building an elaborate “Heaven” scene in the church balcony, and the play’s most legendary scene — the “Hell” scene. That scene features flames, smoke, rumbling thunder, loud explosions, a pit of fire, and of course, the Devil himself.
It is a nightmare of engineering — just taking it down took nearly a week.
The acting crew was massive. Because groups go through the scenes quickly — sometimes a group would have to wait to go into a scene to allow another group to leave — each character had three to six actors trained to play the role. Four others, as well as myself, portrayed my character. Many times we performed scenes with many different actors in the other parts.
I got to laugh a lot. Each actor brings to the role they do a little different flavor and spice, and with the rapid-fire approach we got to scripts, we tended to lean on ad-libs. As the play went on from days to weeks, the ad-libbing became the norm, as long as we got the gist of the line out. Eventually we would throw in a line to try and get a smile from a fellow actor, and if we could get a grin that didn’t disrupt the scene, we considered it mission accomplished. Then we would go back to the actor’s waiting room and swap stories of who tried to trip up whom.
The support crew’s undertaking was equally daunting. From the “door openers” who shepherded groups into and out of the scenes in the dark, to the organizers who arranged booking times and set groups up to go through, to the folks who prepared food for the cast and crew members, to the folks who built the sets and took them down again, to the people who arranged for the loan of props and equipment we needed, to the folks in the prayer rooms who counseled those affected by the play, the effort was monumental.
I found myself becoming closer to the others involved in the play, and gaining a greater degree of friendship and camaraderie with them. At times, we would stay well into the evening as the crowds got bigger and the groups more numerous. On Saturday nights we had to stay long after the last group had gone through to clean up the church for services on Sunday — sometimes well past 1 a.m.
I was struck by the singleness of purpose for all those involved in the production. Much effort was put into this from many different angles — time, money, effort, and sweat equity. Many people put their own lives on hold to put their focus on the efforts they were putting into Judgment House. And their reward for this effort was a production that would honor God and create a tool for His service. Judgment House was a mission, and everyone involved in it gave all the credit and glory back to God.
The results? Well, over 15,000 people went through Judgment House. And a surprising percentage of those people — some of them completely unchurched — either discovered Jesus Christ or rededicated themselves to Christ after going through the play.
Personally, the experience affected me, as well. I saw some powerful reactions to the scenes — tears, sobs, gasps of surprise, and applause when a character accepted Christ. You could tell what you were doing was having an impact on the audience. A person seldom gets a personal glimpse into how powerfully he is being used in God’s plan.
It was a blessing — tiring, time-consuming, and a little nerve-wracking, to be sure, but a blessing in my life. When I had first heard of Judgment House many years ago, I looked down my nose at it. I had misjudged its purpose badly back then, and I was very glad to get the chance to support this mission, and to help make a positive impact on the Christian lives of others.

Rules according to men

It happens in every field of endeavor — someone does something that everyone else wishes they had done.
I see it in journalism a lot. I will read a column or article from one of my fellow writers, or look at a really good photo, or notice an eye-catching layout on the pages of another paper, and think, “gee, I wish I had done that.”
Sometimes, I even try to do something in my own manner and style, and while I would have been pleased with those results, I will see the same thing done by someone else, and think, “boy, I wish mine had come out more like that.”
I offer this little bit of whimsy, found through the e-mail and sent by a relative, as an example. I have always wanted to present this side of the battle of the sexes, but after reading this I realized I just could not present it any better. So here you go.

We always hear "the rules" from the female side. Now here are the rules from the male side. These are our rules — Man laws! Please note these are all numbered "1” on purpose.
1. Men are not mind readers.
1. Learn to work the toilet seat. You're a big girl. If it's up, put it down. We need it up, you need it down. You don't hear us complaining about you leaving it down.
1. Sunday sports. It's like the full moon or the changing of the tides. Let it be.
1. Shopping is not a sport. And no, we are never going to think of it that way.
1. Crying is blackmail.
1. Ask for what you want. Let us be clear on this one. Subtle hints do not work! Strong hints do not work! Obvious hints do not work! Just say it!
1. Yes and No are perfectly acceptable answers to almost every question.
1. Come to us with a problem only if you want help solving it. That's what we do. Sympathy is what your girlfriends are for.
1. Anything we said six months ago is inadmissible in an argument. In fact, all comments become null and void after seven days.
1. If you won't dress like the Victoria's Secret girls, don't expect us to act like soap opera guys.
1. If you think you're fat, you probably are. Don't ask us.
1. If something we said can be interpreted two ways, and one of the ways makes you sad or angry, we meant the other one.
1. You can either ask us to do something or tell us how you want it done. Not both. If you already know best how to do it, just do it yourself.
1. Whenever possible, please say whatever you have to say during commercials.
1. Christopher Columbus did not need directions, and neither do we.
1. All men see in only 16 colors, like Windows default settings. Peach, for example, is a fruit, not a color. Pumpkin is also a fruit. We have no idea what mauve is.
1. If it itches, it will be scratched. We do that.
1. If we ask what is wrong and you say "nothing," we will act like nothing is wrong. We know you are lying, but it is just not worth the hassle.
1. If you ask a question you don't want an answer to, expect an answer you don't want to hear.
1. When we have to go somewhere, absolutely anything you wear is fine —really.
1. Don't ask us what we're thinking about unless you are prepared to discuss such topics as baseball, the shotgun formation, or golf.
1. You have enough clothes.
1. You have too many shoes.
1. I am in shape. Round is a shape.
1. Thank you for reading this. Yes, I know, I have to sleep on the couch tonight, but did you know men really don't mind that? It's like camping.

Now, how could anyone improve on that?

Southern football

I know there are several football fans out there. No matter which team you support, you have a fierce loyalty and love for your beloved team. And that devotion is fierce and firm.
So please bear with me when I tell you this. ACC football fans, you are not the most fervent football fans in the world.
You work hard at it, yes. You tailgate, you party, you cheer and you yell and scream. But the thing that separates the fans from the die-hards — for the most part, I just do not see it.
You do very well compared to some parts of the country. But I guess I see a bad comparison considering the part of the country from whence I hail.
Southern Alabama is where my roots began. And that is Southeastern Conference football country.
Down there, shortly after you’re born, your daddy has the responsibility of placing in your bassinette a football, either painted red and white for Alabama or orange and blue for Auburn. It’s similar to what goes on here with basketball, Carolina, Duke and State. The proud papa can sit out in front of the nursery with his friends, who all look at him with colored filters in their eyes, saying, “Well? Which is he?”
If the baby is a boy, he will be watched carefully to see how quickly he can throw, catch or kick that football — in the bassinette — before he approaches the first birthday. If he is not showing talent by that first year, he ain’t gonna be a player. He’s gonna be a fan.
When State plays Carolina in football, the fans are interested. They may even go. They may shout things at each other. Then they play the game and go home.
When Alabama plays Auburn, it is war. The fans bases start ribbing each other before the season starts. The coaches’ television shows are ranked no. 1 and 2 in viewers every week. The very restaurants you eat in are based on how they are decorated.
And woe betide the fan base on the losing end. They will hear about it through to next season — and beyond. Cries of “Punt, Bama, punt,” “Pat Ties,” and other catch-phrases spawned from games of decades ago still are heard today — and real fans know the stories behind each one.
The passion of SEC football goes way beyond these ACC rivalries. But you all do have on thing going for you – you follow southern football. And southern football is vastly different from northern football.
A recent e-mail from a relative offers me a chance to share those differences with you.
Planning for the fall football season in the South is radically different than up North. Here are some helpful hints.
Women's Accessories — North: Chap Stick in back pocket and a $20 bill in the front pocket. South: Louis Vuitton duffel with two lipsticks, waterproof mascara, and a fifth of bourbon. Money is not necessary — that's what dates are for.
Stadium Size — North: College football stadiums hold 20,000 people. South: High school football stadiums hold 20,000 people.
Fathers — North: Expect their daughters to understand Sylvia Plath.
South: Expect their daughters to understand pass interference.
Campus décor — North: Statues of founding fathers. South: Statues of Heisman trophy winners.
Homecoming Queen — North: Also a physics major. South: Also Miss America.
Heroes — North: Rudy Gulliani. South: Archie, Eli and Peyton Manning.
Getting Tickets — North: Five days before the game, you walk into the ticket office on campus and purchase tickets. South: Five months before the game, you walk into the ticket office on campus and put name on waiting list for tickets.
Friday Classes After a Thursday Night Game — North: Students and teachers not sure they're going to the game, because they have classes on Friday. South: Teachers cancel Friday classes because they don't want to see the few hung over students that might actually make it to class.
Parking — North: An hour before game time, the university opens the campus for game parking. South: RVs sporting their school flags begin arriving on Wednesday for the weekend festivities. The really faithful arrive on Tuesday.
Game Day — North: A few students party in the dorm and watch ESPN on TV. South: Every student wakes up, has a beer for breakfast, and rushes over to where ESPN is broadcasting "Game Day Live" to get on camera and wave to the idiots up north who wonder why "Game Day Live" is never broadcast from their campus.
Tailgating — North: Raw meat on a grill, beer with lime in it, listening to local radio station with truck tailgate down. South: 30-foot custom pig-shaped smoker fires up at dawn. Cooking accompanied by live performance by "Dave Matthews' Band," who comes over during breaks and asks for a hit off bottle of bourbon.
Getting to the Stadium — North: You ask, "where's the stadium?" When you find it, you walk right in. South: When you're near it, you'll hear it. On game day it becomes the state's third largest city.
Concessions — North: Drinks served in a paper cup, filled to the top with soda. South: Drinks served in a plastic cup, with the home team's mascot on it, filled less than half way with soda, to ensure enough room for bourbon.
When National Anthem is played — North: Stands are less than half full, and less than half of them stand up. South: 100,000 fans, all standing, sing along in perfect four-part harmony.
The Smell in the Air after the First Score — North: Nothing changes. South: Fireworks, with a touch of bourbon.
Commentary (Male) — North: "Nice play." South: "Dammit, you slow sumbitch — tackle him and break his legs. "
Commentary (Female) — North: "My, this certainly is a violent sport." South: "Dammit, you slow sumbitch — tackle him and break his legs. "
Announcers — North: Neutral and paid. South: Announcer harmonizes with the crowd in the fight song, with a tear in his eye because he is so proud of his team.
After the Game — North: The stadium is empty way before the game ends. South: Another rack of ribs goes on the smoker, while somebody goes to the nearest package store for more bourbon, and planning begins for next week's game.

Response to Peralta on Charis Prep Article

A recent letter to the editor from Mr. Carlos Peralta, the minister associated with Heart of David Ministries in Eureka, leveled several accusations at me personally, and at others, regarding our story in the Wayne-Wilson edition two weeks ago.
One of our reporters showed the story in its entirety to Mr. Peralta two days before it was published, and asked for his comments. Mr. Peralta told the reporter he was not going to comment to him any further, because the reporter is associated with me.
Mr. Peralta apparently believes I have some sort of vendetta against him and his school. That is not the case. I do have a history with Mr. Peralta that began when I was sports editor of the Goldsboro News-Argus and he was coaching basketball at Wayne Country Day School.
Mr. Peralta attempted to open Charis Prep two years ago, when he was the minister at Abundant Life Church in Goldsboro. I wrote two investigative pieces and one column on the school, all of which can be viewed on the Internet by searching the name Charis Prep.
I have not seen or heard from Mr. Peralta between that time and two months ago, when our reporter told me a minister named Carlos Peralta was going to open a private school in the old Eureka School building.
I still have not seen or spoken to Mr. Peralta, but our reporter has had a few conversations with him and the folks at Heart of David Ministries.
In checking background information on the Charis Prep story, we uncovered information on the school from its former location at Summit Christian Academy, and we ran that story. Again, we offered Mr. Peralta the opportunity to comment on it before it printed, and he declined.
Mr. Peralta wrote in his letter to the editor that I was terminated from the News-Argus. I have no idea how Mr. Peralta managed to read my confidential personnel file from the News-Argus, but if he did, he did not read it well. I left the News-Argus of my own volition in order to pursue a journalism career outside sports writing. The News-Argus will attest to that fact.
Mr. Peralta also said that the state of North Carolina recognizes Charis Prep as an organization owned and operated by Carlos Peralta. If that is the case, could Mr. Peralta please explain why no state organization that we can find can attest to that fact? Would Mr. Peralta please identify the state organization that has recognized Charis Prep as belonging to him?
The only state department that even knows the name “Charis Prep” is the Department of Administration, who oversees non-public instruction. That organization recognizes “Summit Christian Academy/Charis Prep” as the legal name of the school operated by First Assembly of God in Goldsboro.
Rev. Ralph Painter, the senior pastor of First Assembly, has documentation that shows Mr. Peralta’s school was merged into Summit Christian Academy and remains there to this day, operating under First Assembly’s non-profit ID number.
And to repeat the question I asked two years ago — would Mr. Peralta please show us the school’s accreditation by a sanctioned educational accreditation group? Every school in the country must be accredited for a college to accept a student’s transcript from that school, By our countm there are 11 basketball players that were on collegiate rosters as of last season that claim to have attended Charis Prep. Yet Mr. Peralta has never shown documentation that his school was approved by an accrediting authority — to anyone.
Mr. Peralta claims he never said he was the pastor of Heart of David Ministries. In doing an interview with Mr. Peralta for our story of July 27, News Leader reporter Reggie Ponder heard Mr. Peralta identify himself as the minister of Heart of David Ministries. Mr. Ponder, incidentally, is a Methodist minister.
If Mr. Peralta has another take on this story, we would love to hear it, and would be glad to publish it, just as we did his letter to the editor.
In the meantime, this may not the last investigative piece we run on Charis Prep. We would welcome Mr. Peralta’s input and cooperation as we prepare these stories

Beacon to the Community

I was working on a story a short time ago. After pulling up a new document on the computer to write on, I did what I usually do to begin — typed in my name and title. You have seen it a hundred times. It usually starts almost every article in a newspaper — the author’s name and title.
So I typed in, “By David Williams.”
Then I typed in, “NL Staff Writer.” Up to now, that was just fine. But this occasion I found myself backspacing and typing in, “NL Editor.”
I had to smile a little bit.
I am deeply honored and humbled that Barry has entrusted the responsibility of editor to me. These papers have been his extended children for many, many years, and handing off a piece of their growth and development to a guy off the street — admittedly, one who ha been around journalism for a few years — is both a sobering and frightening proposition.
I am now the News Leader’s only editor in 24 years that does not have the last name of Merrill.
I have come to know Barry as a man who deeply cares for the communities he lives in and the people who live there. He believes firmly in the responsibility he has as the owner of the Princeton and Fremont papers.
And he has placed a lot of faith in me that not only will I maintain the relationship he has worked to build with the communities he serves, but I will also expand and strengthen that relationship.
That’s an awesome responsibility. And I do not take it lightly.
I have been fortunate to have as many years in this field as I do without ever having to change addresses. So as I accept the role of editor, I do not have to relearn the area or its people. I know the issues that drive the politics of the area. I understand what traditions this area has held, and what challenges in the future will try and coexist with those traditions.
It is my wish that the paper continue its role as the beacon of the communities it serves. That will happen only as our relationship deepens and grows. Good journalism comes through a mutual trust and reliance on each other — for you to give me good leads on stories and me to earn your trust by reporting on stories with fairness, accuracy and an eye on how it impacts the community.
We are not always going to agree. You did not always agree with Barry 100 percent of the time, and I do not possess any supernatural powers that will change that. Individual perception is as unique as a fingerprint, so what you think will not ever be a carbon copy of what I think.
But the communication lines work best when a free exchange of ideas is completed. I would like to see more letters to the editor in the paper, which will reflect the thoughts and feelings of all of you. And there is no rule that says you can’t call me up and take me to task on any particular issue, although I would prefer you do that on paper.
Our paper is a reflection of you, and we strive to ensure that with every edition.
There are some challenges in personnel to address, and like every small paper in America, the editor will never stop writing stories, covering news, taking photos — or making the coffee and taking out the trash. But these papers have grown exponentially while I have been here, and hopefully that growth can continue and blossom even more.
I have been performing editorial tasks in the last few months, and little about what I am doing will change with the adoption of the formal title. But the responsibility I accept with this position should give me a daily reminder of what I need to be doing and who I answer to, in addition to Barry.

See the humor in living

I told Barry that I needed to start writing columns with more social relevance. He grunted, and I assume that meant he agreed.
So look for that kind of column soon.
But don’t look for it today.
I can remember some of my more philosophical friends from college having a heated discussion one afternoon as they were sitting around the student union. Usually, when four friends in our group were sitting at the student union, there was a game of Spades going on, but apparently no one had thought to bring a deck. In the absence of what we considered true entertainment, they unleashed their brains and put a spin on their collective moral compasses, and locked mental horns on the subject of God.
Specifically, the question was - Does God have a sense of humor?
Understand, we were a bunch of know-it-all kids just out of our teens. We figured the best way to gain respect was to show off our ability to grapple with complex issues involving deeply held beliefs.
If any of us had the slightest chance at hooking up with a cheerleader, we would have decidedly taken a different track to climb the social ladder.
Anyway, the schools of thought on the subject were, naturally, pro and con.
The antagonists in the issue felt that God was such a serious entity and dealt with such decidedly sobering issues of life, he had no time to entertain such mundane distractions as a sense of humor.
The pro-humorists believed that since we were all God’s creatures, and a sense of humor is all such an important part of what we are as human beings, God must surely possess such an entity.
This went on for about an hour, and worked its way through several pots of coffee. For that day, the issue was decided by a disinterested young rebel who was sitting in the student union, thoroughly enjoying watch this group of pseudo-intellectuals waste their afternoon.
He walked over to the tables we were sitting at, leaned in, and said, “You know, guys, God does have a sense of humor. Just look around you.”
It made sense. Why would the Almighty provide us with a sense of humor and not enjoy one himself? And since His world is so full of humorous things, surely he would get at least a little chuckle out of the many entities he puts before us.
Another person later in my life amplified on the issue. He said, “God has a sense of humor … and some days, he’s rolling around heaven, holding his sides.”
It’s really critical in this day and time to be able to use all of your gifts, including the sense of humor given to you by God. One of the things that keeps me grounded in my trevails of daily life is that I can see so much humor in my life, and usually in very mundane and ordinary things.
If you can spot these things, you can provide yourself a little chuckle. Tell yourself a little joke and be the only one to get it. That can be very satisfying. Or share it with a few people who you know will get it.
For example …
I was having dinner with my family at one of those Mom-and-Pop restaurants that frequent the small town my mother lives in. When we got our menus, I noticed that an inserted card held the daily specials. But the card had so many glaring spelling errors, I started to chuckle at the pure ridiculousness of it.
I pointed it out - quietly - to my sister, and soon she was giggling and pointing to the menu for the benefit of another sister. Mom was about to send us away from the table.
Now mom and the sisters have spent plenty of time eating at that particular restaurant. They never noticed that little card, or its predecessors. But seeing it from a different perspective - mine - allowed them to appreciate the little laugh it provided.
There are several of those little things around. Just look and see what you see. Things like:
- Someone walking around wearing a jacket with shorts.
- People eating two double cheese burgers, a super-sized order of fries, and a small diet coke.
- Someone sweeping the sidewalk in front of their house on a windy day.
- A small boy riding his older brother’s bicycle.
- The face a person makes when they are drinking a milkshake with those bits of real fruit in it, and a piece of fruit blocks the straw off.
- A shopper walking around with a garment from a bargain bin, and person following them around, hoping the person abandons it so they can scoop it up.
- People sitting in church trying to stay awake. (That doesn’t happen at my church, in case my ministers are reading this.) Better yet, watch the spouses or parents of the nodders, trying to subtly awaken their companions.

This is by no means an exhaustive list of what’s funny out there, and there are a lot bigger belly laughs in the universe. But these are but a sample of the little laugh that sustains us all.
Those little laughs can really pick a person up when life is dealing out tough times. Things like that can make you laugh when the day has been making you try and cry. That’s the pressure valve working, easing the stress of your day. If you can’t see one of these moments, think of the last one you did see.
When you are ready to pop, think about the last time you saw a woman coming out of the restroom, wearing a dress with the hem caught in the top of her pantyhose or dragging a bit of toilet paper from her shoe.
Those are the real precious memories. And they are not all that hard to find … if you just look for them.