TheSunNews.com: Local

A challenge to find the Challenger of youth

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 23:33 EST

Buddy Whittington's search for the 1971 Dodge Challenger that was stolen from his grandfather nearly 28 years ago came to an end last week.

But the Surfside Beach resident's reunion with the rare muscle car has raised questions about the national network of collectors who think nothing of spending six figures for the car of their dreams - and the lengths some people will go to sell them that car.

It's a world where documents can be falsified, car titles muddied, original parts switched for fakes and the car you think you're getting isn't really the one you get.

Atlantic Beach election protest to linger

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 23:33 EST

The Atlantic Beach elections commission voted Saturday to put off a hearing on a protest by Town Council incumbents ousted last week by two write-in candidates because the commission's attorney could not attend the hearing.

Two of the three commission members voted to postpone the hearing until Wednesday, Veterans Day, at 10 a.m. The third commissioner, Nicole Kenion, abstained from the vote. Kenion wrote a letter to the commission Friday saying she believed that only one of the three filed protests from challenger Paul Curry had arrived by the 7 p.m. deadline Thursday. Kenion alleged that the board had not followed a uniform set of rules regarding the candidates.

Write-in candidates Windy Price and Carolyn Cole, whom the commission declared winners of the election Thursday after approving a number of challenged ballots, stayed behind Saturday morning to protest that they were ready for a hearing. They said state law requires a hearing within 48 hours of the finished vote count, so Cole said postponing it violates election law. State elections officials could not be reached Saturday morning to confirm whether the continuance was within the law.

Jury selection to start Monday in Stanko trial

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 23:36 EST

Convicted killer Stephen Stanko will face an Horry County jury this week on charges he fatally shot a 74-year-old Conway man during a deadly rampage that sparked a nationwide manhunt and earned him a death sentence.

Jury selection is set to begin Monday and opening statements could begin Wednesday after a jury is seated in Stanko's second death penalty trial.

Stanko is charged with murder and armed robbery related to the shooting of Henry Lee Turner, who was found in his home dead from a gunshot wound. Turner met Stanko through Stanko's girlfriend, Laura Ling, who he was convicted in 2006 of killing and sentenced to die.

Graham crosses lines for change

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 23:33 EST

When it comes to combating global warming, Sen. Lindsey Graham is right where he loves to be -- ahead of the curve, in the mix on a major issue, at the table for high-level, bipartisan talks behind closed doors.

Graham, an S.C. Republican, is working with Democratic Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts and independent Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut to craft a climate change bill.

They face the dual challenge of overcoming widespread GOP opposition and withstanding relentless attacks by Big Oil and allied energy interests.

Sanford's stubborn recklessness

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 23:33 EST

We were staring into an economic abyss.

Wall Street was teetering; trillions of dollars of 401(k) value vanished.

Millions lost jobs, topping out at about 700,000 in a single month.

Police | Fire at home of former councilwoman

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 23:33 EST

Police

Surfside Beach

Fire at home of former councilwoman

Horry to show spending records

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 23:33 EST

Horry County will be making its spending records a little more accessible to citizens starting Friday.

The county will be joining the ranks of more than a dozen communities across the state in their move for accountability by posting its check register online. Horry County Council Chairwoman Liz Gilland said the county's administration has agreed to make the move and will be figuring out a system to post the records weekly on the county's Web site. Currently the register is available to anyone who wants to see it, but they have to be viewed in person at the county's administration building in Conway.

"There is a big push toward openness in government and transparency. I've always been in favor of that. I'm the one that cut out the regular lengthy executive sessions from our council meetings," Gilland said. "We write 13,000 checks a year, so it won't be a small thing. The online statements will come directly from our checkbooks from every department. It will all go online and should be pretty easy to read."

Broadway gets ready for holidays

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 22:12 EST

Little River couple lived to help others

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 23:34 EST

On Sept. 1, Gerry Poinsett died in Little River. Less than five weeks later, her husband, Larry Poinsett, died too.

For those that knew the couple, the stories of generosity abound.

Their life goals in Little River were to relax and golf. But after decades of public service in New Jersey to high school students, they just couldn't stop helping others.

Sanford impeachment impetus may be imperiled

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 23:34 EST

It's becoming less and less likely that embattled Gov. Mark Sanford will be impeached.

The reason?

The longer legislators wait to begin an impeachment investigation, the more political factors are aligning in favor of Sanford, lawmakers and observers say.

Health reform passes House

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 23:17 EST

With a personal push from President Obama, the House of Representatives on Saturday passed historic health care legislation that would guarantee virtually all Americans access to care.

Two key votes pointed to its passage: one, 242 to 192, authorized the bill to be debated, a key test of Democratic strength, and a second one that banned government subsidized health insurance from covering elective abortions.

That vote was 240 to 194, with most Democrats opposing what opponents of the abortion limits calling them the greatest restriction on health care imposed on women in a generation. Republicans, however, overwhelmingly backed the amendment.

Riding on a dream

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 23:17 EST

Boeing site draws botanist's eyes

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 23:34 EST

Long before the Boeing Co.'s decision last week to build its second Dreamliner factory near the Charleston International Airport, before Vought Aircraft Industries Inc. and Global Aeronautica opened their fuselage plant nearby and even before that whole area fell under post-Sept. 11 security restrictions -- a College of Charleston botanist traipsed through the woods back there and photographed a flower.

As Jean Everett focused her Nikon D70 on the violet-petaled aster that fall day, she noticed in the background something unexpected.

"I looked up, and there's a southern sugar maple," she remembered. "The only place they grow is on salt mounds, but there is this maple. ... And I freaked."

Tribal culture on display

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 20:42 EST

Psych patients stuck in emergency rooms

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 20:17 EST

Across North Carolina, mental patients are routinely languishing for days in emergency rooms ill-equipped to care for them, waiting for a bed to open at one of four state-run psychiatric hospitals.

Often, they pass the time handcuffed or sedated. Law-enforcement officers assigned to guard patients whose illness makes them prone to violent outbursts have occasionally resorted to using Tasers to shock them into submission.

Lanier Cansler, the state's secretary of health and human services, plans to ease the strain by paying private hospitals with taxpayer money to admit and treat more mental patients, especially those who don't qualify for Medicaid.

Fort Mill honors 105 soldiers sent off to war

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 19:23 EST

"Daddy," Dakota Seaford said Saturday.

The 2-year-old beauty from the York County town of Clover snuggled next to her father during a departure ceremony at the American Legion post in Rock Hill. She smiled and ate.

Spc. Scott Seaford wore an Army uniform. He is a National Guardsman from the Fort Mill unit, and he is going to Afghanistan. Again. Seaford tried to smile, but he succeeded it seemed only when his daughter and wife were next to him.

The Carolinas

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 20:37 EST

South Carolina

PICKENS

Mother, daughter killed after car flips

Embattled N.C. judge resigns

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 22:07 EST

A North Carolina judge facing misconduct charges and possible removal from the bench has resigned.

The Charlotte Observer reported Mecklenburg District Judge Bill Belk gave no reason for his decision in a brief resignation letter submitted Friday to a judge's assistant.

"I am resigning my judgeship effective this afternoon, Friday, Nov. 6, 2009. I have enjoyed my friendship with you and my clerks, sheriffs, D.A.'s, attorneys and my fellow judges. Best of luck to all of you.

N.C. woman, 108, 'had a good time all my life'

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 19:27 EST

When Trudie Martin was born, the Wright brothers were still two years away from making their historic flight at Kitty Hawk.

Martin, who was born Oct. 19, 1901, is pleasantly surprised to have made it to 108.

"You live until the Lord calls you home," she said. "I had a good time all my life."

Goodbye, gum gunk in Myrtle Beach

Sat, 07 Nov 2009 06:33 EST

Don't call Todd Cunningham "The Gum Ball Guy" or "Gum Man" or "Gumby."

He's big and he's carrying a steam-cleaning wand full of 340-degree water and chemical solvent.

In fact, if you're down on Ocean Boulevard on any weekday, you should thank him.