The Southern Pines Pilot

These deaths had been reported as of 2 p.m. Saturday. There are accompanying obituaries for some but not all. For later notices, see thepilot.com. Lola Theressa Maness Allmond, 86, of Robbins, died Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2009, at FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital, Pinehurst. Simon Funeral Home, Southern Pines. Full Story »

Lyubov Shearin, a kindergarten through second-grade English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher at Robbins Elementary School, was recently awarded a grant from the Public Education Foundation of Moore County to purchase bi-lingual books for her students to take home and read on weekends. "This program will involve parents in reading to and with a child, as well as literacy activities they can do ... Full Story »

The village of Pinehurst Parks and Recreation Department is moving ahead with master plans for Cannon Park and the department as a whole. The village held its third public input meeting for both plans Thursday at Village Hall. About 25 residents, young and old, attended the session. After brief presentations on both plans, residents divided into small groups and discussed what they felt are the ... Full Story »

Honor Roll: Elise Middle School The principal of Elise Middle School announces the Distinguished List and Honor Roll for the first nine-week grading period. Full Story »

A new law that went into effect Nov. 6 extends the first-time homebuyer credit five months and expands the eligibility requirements for purchasers. The Worker, Homeownership and Business Assistance Act of 2009 extends the deadline for qualifying home purchases from Nov. 30, 2009 to April 30, 2010. Additionally, if a buyer enters into a binding contract by April 30, 2010, the buyer has until June ... Full Story »

The 32nd annual Episcopal Day School Candlelight Tour of Homes will be held Sunday, Dec. 6, from 1 to 6 p.m. This year's tour features homes in Pinehurst and Southern Pines, each uniquely decorated for the holiday season. Talented local musicians will be entertaining in the residences. Ticket sales from the Candlelight Tour directly fund the technology and media needs, educational materials and ... Full Story »

Four Carthage homes, an inn and the Carthage Museum will be on display Sunday, Dec. 6, during the annual Christmas Tour of Homes. Sponsored by the Carthage Historic Committee, the tour of homes will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. Full Story »

The Christmas spirit is in full swing in Whispering Pines. Five homeowners are opening their homes to share their Christmas decorations and memories Sunday, Dec. 6, from noon to 4 p.m. Featured are the homes of Lou and Gene Gentry, Raymond and Jane Thompson, Michael and Sally Tile, Pam and George Venet and Arlene Jenkins. Full Story »

First, I want to say a few words to all the readers who have been lying awake nights, worrying about the wallet that I reported lost in my last column. Rest easy; I found it. I'm not going to go into any detail about where it was, because I want to save myself from as much embarrassment as possible. Let's just say that it would have taken either of my two little granddaughters about five minutes ... Full Story »

14:40 pm Full Story »

Nancy's Game Nancy's Game meets at 1 p.m. Mondays at the Southern Pines Civic Club, 105 S. Ashe St. The game is open, ACBL-sanctioned and nonsmoking, with computer scoring and refreshments. All games are Charity Club Championship games and pay triple points. Call Nancy at (910) 295-8871 or e-mail nancy@dressing.org for information or partners. Reservations are required. Full Story »

At the North Carolina Zoo, as in other animal facilities across the nation, modern medical technology is enabling veterinarians to treat animals in ways never before imagined. In today's world of medical specialists and their vast array of medicines and equipment, perhaps no doctor has a more diverse or challenging roll than the zoo veterinarian. While human doctors deal with only one species ... Full Story »

Members of the Sandhills chapter of The Compassionate Friends (TCF), a national self-help support organization for families grieving the death of a child, will light candles Sunday, Dec. 6, in an act of symbolic remembrance. This is the 13th annual Worldwide Candle Lighting, an event believed to be the largest mass candle lighting in the world. Full Story »

Ashley Baker, of Aberdeen, was appointed as the North Carolina state chair for the Sons and Daughters of Pearl Harbor Survivors Association. Her term begins Dec. 7. Baker says she is honored to serve in this position and is excited about introducing new chapters in the state, starting right here in Moore County. Full Story »

Jerry Mack Williamson, 56, of Carthage, died Thursday, Dec. 3, 2009, at FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital, in Pinehurst. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6, at Summer Hill Baptist Church, conducted by Pastor Craig Dodson. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Full Story »

Jennie Joy walked toward the Pinecrest locker room after Thursday's 62-56 victory at Southern Lee, a very tired point guard. After twice building as much as a 13-point lead, the Patriots (3-2) forced the action offensively in the fourth period like a team that was trailing instead of winning. With four minutes left in the game, the Cavaliers had taken advantage of enough quick shots and ... Full Story »

The Pinecrest boys take a 5-0 record into tonight's basketball game at Western Harnett after rolling to an 81-56 victory at Southern Lee on Thursday. Julian Brewer led another strong all-around effort by the Patriots with 17 points, seven rebounds and four assists. Fellow seniors Daquan Towns and Rakeen McLaughlin chipped in with 11 and 10 points, respectively. Junior Antonio Jones also ... Full Story »

President Obama's new plan for Afghanistan is a complex strategy for a complicated war, in the view of one retired general who lives in Southern Pines. Retired Major Gen. Sid Shachnow said Thursday that he gives it a grade of 65 percent. Full Story »

If any law makes sense, it is certainly the statute prohibiting driving while texting. More specifically, the new North Carolina law makes it "unlawful to use a mobile telephone for e-mail or text messaging while operating a vehicle on a public street or highway or public vehicular area." Full Story »

Not only must drivers avoid the sin of commission involved in behind-the-wheel texting, but now there's a sin of omission to worry about too. If you are guilty of having neglected to take a look at your license plate since another new state law went into effect Tuesday, you should do so now. Why? Simply to make sure that the words "North Carolina" are fully visible at the bottom. Full Story »

These words spill onto the page in the middle of the night, not long after the calendar clicked onto another birthday. Birthdays are naturally fun and special, but when you're on the cusp of "the youth of old age," birthdays bring thoughts of time spent and time left, of time that moves faster today than at any time in your past. Full Story »

Recently, a writer accused the Republicans of refusing to participate in a bipartisan approach to health-care reform. Obviously, his information comes from the mainstream media, which, collectively, have failed to do due diligence in their reporting of this inept and radical administration and of the hard-left socialists in Congress. Republicans have offered a number of bills that would improve ... Full Story »

It is estimated that from 20 percent to 40 percent of all medical doctors will retire, change careers or move to Costa Rica, Panama or Argentina after the health-care bill becomes law. It is believed that the untreated 10 percent of this society will also show up, with their pre-existing conditions, for "free" treatment. Canadians will no longer come to the United States for treatment as our ... Full Story »

I was honored as the 2009 Moore County Medallion winner for volunteer services for my work with Moore Alliance Nourishing Neighbors, Amen! (MANNA!). Full Story »

Recent events have given me a new idea for an entertaining retirement pastime, especially since golf becomes less entertaining every time I play. I'm thinking about taking up party-crashing as an avocation. I'm planning to start out small. I'm sure there are some wonderful birthday parties in kindergartens around here. I could just saunter in with a cupcake in hand and sing "Happy Birthday" with ... Full Story »