The Easthom Page

I am completely incensed by the Navy’s desire to build a practice landing strip in eastern North Carolina that will adversely affect the nearby wildlife refuge.  What does the word “refuge” mean?  Loud jets nearby that will flush birds out of their habitat, force them towards the landing strip, and subject them to poisons and gunshots?  This is outrageous.  Here is a brief description from the News and Observer:

“The Navy wants to build an airfield for pilots to practice aircraft-carrier landings about five miles from the refuge, which attracts waterfowl each winter. The Navy likes the site, straddling Washington and Beaufort counties, because it is near both Oceana Naval Air Station in Virginia and Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point in Havelock, where squadrons of Super Hornet fighter jets would be based. Currently, pilots train at a field near Oceana, but development around the airfield has led to noise complaints and conflicts with neighbors. The Navy’s favored site, however, has raised controversy in North Carolina among landowners, environmentalists and wildlife advocates. The site is opposed by Gov. Mike Easley, who has called on Congress to block $10 million in federal funding for that site.”

This is election season for Elizabeth Dole.  Where is she really on this issue?  It appears she won’t be interfering with the Navy’s plans.    

About a year ago I had a problem with the delivery of my Chapel Hill Herald/Heraldsun and I stopped my subscription to wait while “carriers changed” and things straightened out.  I tried to start up the subscription again, but the paper never got delivered and I had to keep calling to get it delivered, having already paid for 13 weeks.  So I stopped it again, because I merely wasn’t receiving the paper, ever, and I was paying for it.

Once again, I tried to start up a subscription.  For the last five days, no delivery in the morning, so I have called up each day and someone drives out and delivers the paper later in the day.  I’ve been told each time that my paper would be there the next morning.  The last time I called I was told they would talk to their “manager” about it, but still no delivery.

What does it take to get a Herald Sun?  The neighbor just a few houses down from me gets his most mornings. 

I guess the Herald doesn’t want my business.  I just can’t keep paying for something I don’t get.  I’m calling today to cancel my subscription yet again.  I give up.

Why bother with the Herald?  Because in times past I’ve enjoyed reading the letters to the editor (which you can’t get online) and I have liked having more local news every morning then I think the N&O has provided.  Yet now I think the N&O does a more thorough local job and I’m going to be satisfied with them now.

   MICHIGAN CITY | The city hopes to lure more business to downtown by setting up free high-speed Internet access in the Franklin Street corridor.“We want to give a leg-up to the businesses that are there and the businesses looking to locate there,” said Kevin Kieft, of the Michigan City Economic Development Corp.City officials reached an agreement with service provider NetNitco to install the equipment in the downtown area, Kieft said.

The Wi-Fi project will make it possible for businesses to communicate with clients and Chicago offices or conduct meetings from vessels docked in the nearby city marina, Mayor Chuck Oberlie said.

“Tourists will be able to surf the Net in between visiting some of our prime attractions and development areas — at no cost to them,” Oberlie said in a prepared statement.

The wireless service will cover the downtown area from 11th Street to Fourth Street with one megabit of bandwidth, and it will cover 90 percent of the area outside as well as most external-wall rooms of buildings, Kieft said.

Equipment will be installed on city infrastructure, including light poles, buildings and traffic signals.

The move is the first step in a Michigan City Chamber of Commerce-led charge for more downtown business development, Kieft said.

Officials hope to create an arts and entertainment center in the Franklin Street area, he said.

“We’re trying to work on getting a few more restaurants and a two- or three-block artist district,” Kieft said.

The Wi-Fi installation, expected to be completed by late next month, was timed to coincide with the opening of summer visitor attractions in the city, including a nearby zoo and city park, as well as Blue Chip casino.