A large crowd turned out Thursday night, Jan. 22, for the weekly meeting of the Sanford Lions Club at the Lee County Fairgrounds. Members dug into a delicious country meal of pork, collards, blackeyed peas with onions, cornbread, biscuits and apple cobbler prepared by the club’s food committee.
President John Walden, Jr. called upon Roy Jernigan for the opening prayer and Billy Miller led the Pledge of Allegiance. Ticket sales for a Jan. 31 pancake breakfast fundraiser were discussed emphasizing the need to sell as many as possible. Proceeds will go to the charitable works supported by the Lions. The breakfast will take place at Andy’s restaurant in the Super-Walmart Shopping Center on Saturday, Jan. 31 from 7 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Andy’s of Sanford is providing all supplies, thus all proceeds go to charity.
Lion Richard Holshouser introduced guest speaker Donnie Oldham, president of Sanford Contractors, Inc., who delivered an interesting program on transportation issues facing North Carolina. A major highway contracting firm, Sanford Contractors and others are experiencing the impact of the nation’s economic crisis, Oldham said.
Declining tax revenues and the overall state budget deficit has brought the N.C. Department of Transportation to a practical standstill in terms of letting bids on new highway projects. Many projects have completed the planning and design phases, but can’t move forward with actual construction. The Sanford U.S. 421 by-pass delay is an example of that. “The money ran out before the work did,” Oldham said.
Oldham showed a slide presentation with charts and graphs indicating the problems and proposed spending if the new federal economic stimulus package passes in Congress. While the program was promoted as an infrastructure and public works plan to create jobs, much of the proposed funding would go to non-construction programs, the contractor said.
Oldham said the economic crisis is most unfortunate for both the construction industry and state highway officials who generally do a good job in managing North Carolina’s roadways—the second largest highway system in the nation. While the DOT gets a lot of bad publicity for mistakes that are made, it must be said that most of what they do is done properly and professionally and we don’t see the good things played up in the media. One of their biggest problems is poor public relations, Oldham said.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Monday, January 19, 2009
2008 Lee Fair Takes Top Awards
The Lee Regional Fair, sponsored by the Sanford Lions Club, for the second straight year has taken top honors from the N.C. Association of Fairs for its 2008 event.
It is judged in the association’s division two which includes fairs up to 40,000 attendance.
Fair Director Ronnie Turner displayed four plaques at the club’s weekly dinner meeting Thursday, Jan.15 that were presented at the association’s annual meeting in Raleigh Jan. 7-9. “We cleaned house on awards,” Turner declared with a broad smile.
One was the Image Award which judges present to the fair that best represents all aspects of what an excellent agriculture fair should be—agriculture exhibits, entertainment, food, community participation, and all round appearance and cleanliness.
Turner said winning this award two years in a row means that other fairs across the state are now “gunning for us.” “But that’s okay, we’re just going to get bigger, meaner and better. We must keep moving up,” Turner said.
The local fair took the Agriculture Award meaning it incorporated more agriculture related exhibits than any other fair in its division. In addition, the Lee Regional Fair captured the Commissioner of Agriculture Award presented by Steve Troxler for being the best at showcasing farm products in North Carolina.
The fourth honor brought to Sanford was the Youth Award for being the best fair in terms of youth participation. Much of this is made possible by the partnership with the N.C. Cooperative Extension’s Lee County office headed by Susan C. Condlin. It entire staff and network of volunteers through 4-H and various area farm committees make up a vital part of the Lee Regional Fair.
At the statewide fair meeting, Turner was selected to serve on the board of directors of the N.C. Association of Agricultural Fairs. He said planning for the 2009 Lee Regional Fair is already underway by the Lions Fair Steering Committee. Many improvements at the fairgrounds in Sanford are being considered, but availability of funding will determine what gets done by the next fair.
Turner emphasized that even with the overall economic downturn, local fairs are considered affordable and convenient family entertainment for citizens. And the Lee Regional Fair will return this year with its best ever line-up of exhibits, shows, and rides.
President John Walden, Jr. presided and Bob Hughes delivered the invocation. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Glenn Stubits.
It is judged in the association’s division two which includes fairs up to 40,000 attendance.
Fair Director Ronnie Turner displayed four plaques at the club’s weekly dinner meeting Thursday, Jan.15 that were presented at the association’s annual meeting in Raleigh Jan. 7-9. “We cleaned house on awards,” Turner declared with a broad smile.
One was the Image Award which judges present to the fair that best represents all aspects of what an excellent agriculture fair should be—agriculture exhibits, entertainment, food, community participation, and all round appearance and cleanliness.
Turner said winning this award two years in a row means that other fairs across the state are now “gunning for us.” “But that’s okay, we’re just going to get bigger, meaner and better. We must keep moving up,” Turner said.
The local fair took the Agriculture Award meaning it incorporated more agriculture related exhibits than any other fair in its division. In addition, the Lee Regional Fair captured the Commissioner of Agriculture Award presented by Steve Troxler for being the best at showcasing farm products in North Carolina.
The fourth honor brought to Sanford was the Youth Award for being the best fair in terms of youth participation. Much of this is made possible by the partnership with the N.C. Cooperative Extension’s Lee County office headed by Susan C. Condlin. It entire staff and network of volunteers through 4-H and various area farm committees make up a vital part of the Lee Regional Fair.
At the statewide fair meeting, Turner was selected to serve on the board of directors of the N.C. Association of Agricultural Fairs. He said planning for the 2009 Lee Regional Fair is already underway by the Lions Fair Steering Committee. Many improvements at the fairgrounds in Sanford are being considered, but availability of funding will determine what gets done by the next fair.
Turner emphasized that even with the overall economic downturn, local fairs are considered affordable and convenient family entertainment for citizens. And the Lee Regional Fair will return this year with its best ever line-up of exhibits, shows, and rides.
President John Walden, Jr. presided and Bob Hughes delivered the invocation. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Glenn Stubits.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Dr. Hall Addresses Club
The Sanford Lions Club held its first weekly meeting Jan. 8 since the holiday season with a large group in attendance. President John Walden, Jr. presided and Avron Upchurch delivered the invocation prior to a delicious meal served by the club’s food committee led by Andy Childress. Bill Whiteman led the club in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Several Lions or their family members who are sick were remembered and thoughts and prayers were extended to Darlene Turner who underwent surgery this week at Central Carolina Hospital. The club extended a warm welcome back to Don Dollar who has been out recovering from illness. Guest John Poindexter, who is associated with Habitat for Humanity, was recognized.
It was announced that the Lions will hold a fundraiser Pancake Breakfast on Saturday, Jan. 31, from 7 to 9 a.m. It will be held at Andy’s Restaurant in the Wal-Mart Shopping Center on South Horner Blvd. Advance tickets are $5 and $6 at the door. All proceeds will go toward the charitable works supported by Lions and the public is asked to support this cause, according to Theresa Dew, one of the organizers.
The night’s guest speaker was presented by Lion Dave Godwin. Dr. Bill Hall presented a very informative program on diabetes from both the viewpoints of a physician and as a 44-year survivor of this serious medical condition. The rapid rise in diabetes in America is alarming and also disturbing is the fact that many people have grown accustomed to the side-effects of mid-level blood sugar increases, thus diminishing their fear and concern of a potentially worsening condition.
He urges that people strive to meet the nationally recognized level of between 90-120 blood sugar before meals. Those with verified higher levels should seek medical assistance and follow a plan of diet control and medication if needed. Dr. Hall traced the history of medical advances in treating diabetes from the discovery of insulin and what it does in the body to development of shorter acting insulin and diet controls.
He said much research continues in an attempt to discover more convenient means of introducing insulin into the body. He pointed to the new glucose monitoring
devices and insulin pump implants that continually control glucose levels. Dr. Hall introduced Anah Kim, a Duke University physician’s assistant student, serving temporarily in his local medical office.
Several Lions or their family members who are sick were remembered and thoughts and prayers were extended to Darlene Turner who underwent surgery this week at Central Carolina Hospital. The club extended a warm welcome back to Don Dollar who has been out recovering from illness. Guest John Poindexter, who is associated with Habitat for Humanity, was recognized.
It was announced that the Lions will hold a fundraiser Pancake Breakfast on Saturday, Jan. 31, from 7 to 9 a.m. It will be held at Andy’s Restaurant in the Wal-Mart Shopping Center on South Horner Blvd. Advance tickets are $5 and $6 at the door. All proceeds will go toward the charitable works supported by Lions and the public is asked to support this cause, according to Theresa Dew, one of the organizers.
The night’s guest speaker was presented by Lion Dave Godwin. Dr. Bill Hall presented a very informative program on diabetes from both the viewpoints of a physician and as a 44-year survivor of this serious medical condition. The rapid rise in diabetes in America is alarming and also disturbing is the fact that many people have grown accustomed to the side-effects of mid-level blood sugar increases, thus diminishing their fear and concern of a potentially worsening condition.
He urges that people strive to meet the nationally recognized level of between 90-120 blood sugar before meals. Those with verified higher levels should seek medical assistance and follow a plan of diet control and medication if needed. Dr. Hall traced the history of medical advances in treating diabetes from the discovery of insulin and what it does in the body to development of shorter acting insulin and diet controls.
He said much research continues in an attempt to discover more convenient means of introducing insulin into the body. He pointed to the new glucose monitoring
devices and insulin pump implants that continually control glucose levels. Dr. Hall introduced Anah Kim, a Duke University physician’s assistant student, serving temporarily in his local medical office.
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