Friday Local News And Sports

Newly released data shows that almost 15 percent of North Carolina residents live in poverty. The U.S. Census Bureau released data from 2005 that shows the highest was in Robeson County with 32-percent. The lowest rate was in Dare County at 8.3 percent, followed by Camden at 8.7. Currituck was fourth lowest in the state at 10-percent. Tyrrell County had the 3rd highest percentage in the state and highest in the 12-county area at 28-percent.

The data also shows Bertie County has the lowest median income in North Carolina at just over 26-thousand dollars. Currituck at between 48- and 49-thousand dollars has the region’s highest and the 6th highest in the state just behind counties in the Charlotte and Raleigh areas. Dare and Camden are 7th and 8th highest respectively.


Elizabeth City Police and a Marine explosives team from Cherry Point were called to a vacant home on North Road Street near the YMCA yesterday, after an anonymous tip that an unexploded military shell was inside. The explosives team says they were not a threat to explode. The owner of the home died of natural causes New Years Day, and was an avid diver and firearms dealer who also collected military items.

Authorities are scaling back their search for a Virginia boater missing since Sunday on the Currituck Sound. John Martins apparently fell of his sailboat somewhere between Coinjock and the Knotts Island ferry channel, where his boat collided with another vessel. The sheriffs department and game wardens plan to continue the search as long as the weather allows.

An Edenton police officer has pled no contest to a lesser charge after being accused of evidence tampering but will not serve jail time. Michael Davidson was given a suspended sentence, probation, and a fine. Davidson must also resign his job and give up his law enforcement certification in North Carolina permanently. Davidson was accused of changing the denominations reported from cash seized in an Edenton drug case, which led to the third investigation of Davidson by the SBI during his career no evidence tampering including in Tyrrell and Lenoir counties. No charges were filed in the two earlier cases.

The state Transportation Board has approved funding to widen four miles of US 17 south of Chocowinity. The work can begin as soon as next month and is expected to take just over two years. A bypass around the city of Washington is already under construction, and the bypass around Windsor is nearing completion.

The N.C. Marine Fisheries Commission has revised its deadline to January 23rd for receipt of applications for a charter or head boat captain to serve as an adviser in developing priorities for project funding for the new Coastal Recreational Fishing License. Individuals interested in serving as an adviser must hold a blanket Coastal Recreational Fishing License and should be willing to attend meetings at least twice a year. Advisers will be reimbursed for travel and other expenses incurred in relation to their official duties.

Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory will make an announcement Tuesday in Guilford County, the local sheriff said, another sign that McCrory soon could be in the Republican race for governor. Sheriff BJ Barnes said McCrory told him Thursday that he planned a 1 p.m. announcement at the public library in Jamestown, NC, where the seven-term Republican mayor went to high school.

A study by a nationwide moving company says Americans are still moving to North Carolina at a higher rate than any other state in the country. North Carolina had the highest inbound moving rate for the second straight year. Michigan had the highest number of people moving away.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL
All quiet in the ACC until Saturday, when the league begins full conference play.

N.C. State guard Courtney Fells is considered questionable for the Pack's ACC opener Saturday at North Carolina after further evaluation Thursday of his ankle injury. Fells was hurt late in the first half of State's 54-29 win over N.C. Central on Wednesday night. He was taken to the locker room for X-rays and was on crutches after the game. Tip off is 12 noon for the Heels and Pack, airtime on Mix 96 11am.

Also Saturday…
Georgia Tech at Miami *RLF 2:00
Maryland at Virginia Tech *RLF 2:00
Elizabeth City State at Virginia State 2:00
Wake Forest at Boston College RSN 4:00
Florida State at Clemson 7:00
Old Dominion at Delaware 7:00

Sunday
Virginia at Duke FSN 8:00

Thursday
In a game that will be remembered for Saint Louis recording the fewest points in modern Division I history, the George Washington Colonials upended the Billikens 49-20 in Atlantic 10 play. This was the first game in almost two weeks for both teams and it showed throughout. At one point in the contest, Saint Louis missed 23 consecutive shots, breaking the shot-clock era record of 21 points set by Georgia Southern in 1997.

(4) Washington State and (5) UCLA both won last night, setting up their a match-up in Westwood tomorrow between the top two teams in the Pac-10.

NFL – Divisional Playoffs
Saturday
NFC: Seattle at Green Bay, 4:30p
AFC: Jacksonville at New England, 8:00p

Sunday
AFC: San Deigo at Indianapolis, 1:00p
NFC: NY Giants at Dallas, 4:30p

GOLF
K.J. Choi is the leader in the first round of the PGA's Sony Open at Honolulu.
Choi closed with a birdie for a 6-under-par 64 that leaves him one shot ahead of Jimmy Walker, Heath Slocum and Stephen Marino.

TENNIS
Not wanting to vary from routine, the Australian Open has seeded the top 32 players in the men's and women's draws according to their world ranking. That puts Roger Federer and Justine Henin (EH'-nihn) at Number-1. Federer is aiming to become the first man in the Open era to win three consecutive Australian Open singles titles.