Citizens opposing sectarian prayers at meetings of the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners say that a federal court should ban the prayers in line with the recommendations of a magistrate judge.
Magistrate Judge Trevor Sharp issued a recommendation against the county's prayer policy on Nov. 9, finding that it unconstitutionally aligned the county government with Christianity. The county filed an objection to Sharp's recommendation on Nov. 27.
In their response filed yesterday, plaintiffs argued through their attorney that there's no evidence that any prayer-giver ever mentioned a deity other than Jesus and that the frequency of sectarian prayer has actually increased since the county adopted its prayer policy. The policy allows clergy members to give any prayer on a first-come, first-served basis. Plaintiffs filed suit against the county in 2007.
The plaintiffs' response notes that no non-Christian prayer-giver has offered to give a prayer since the policy went into effect.
Documents filed by the plaintiffs are available here (click to view):
Forsyth County's objection to judge's recommendation
Plaintiff's response to objection
Transcript of the Oct. 14th court hearing
All of N.C. is now out of drought for the first time in three years
RALEIGH -- No county in North Carolina is experiencing drought or abnormally dry conditions for the first time in nearly three years, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.
The last time all of North Carolina experienced normal conditions was Jan. 30, 2007.
The counties moving from abnormally dry conditions to normal conditions this week are in the Sandhills region, where the groundwater table reflected recent rainfall in that region, said Woody Younts, the chairman of the N.C. Management Advisory Council.
The state experienced its worst drought on record in the summer, fall and winter of 2007.
North Carolina has seen improvements since then as above average rainfall helped replenish streams, rivers and reservoirs to normal and above-normal levels.
November has been unusually wet across the state.
Wreaths Across America tribute to be at Coliseum Memorial Wall
Joel Coliseum will be one of 400 locations nationwide that will participate today in National Wreaths Across America to honor veterans.
The Winston-Salem Component Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol sponsors the local ceremony, which will begin at 11:55 a.m. in the West Promenade Memorials.
The wreath-laying ceremony will begin with a moment of silence to commemorate all fallen soldiers. Taps played on bugles and "Amazing Grace" on bagpipes will follow. There will be a short ceremony presenting the wreaths.
At the completion of the ceremony, the Civil Air Patrol will place the seven wreaths -- signifying each branch of military service plus one for POWs -- in front of the Memorial Wall in the atrium lobby of the coliseum.
Charlotte candidate withdraws, endorses Marshall in Senate run
CHARLOTTE -- A CHARLOTTE dry-cleaning operator and real-estate developer who got into North Carolina's U.S. Senate race this fall is ending his bid and endorsing fellow Democrat Elaine Marshall.
Frank Deaton II said yesterday that he was withdrawing from the Democratic primary. He said that an expensive primary race could hurt Democrats' chances to defeat Republican incumbent Richard Burr.
Deaton is now backing Marshall, who has been N.C. secretary of state since 1997. Other Democrats in the May primary include Cal Cunningham of Lexington and Kenneth Lewis of Chapel Hill.
Sewer-line failure causes spill at Pilot Mountain State Park
PILOT MOUNTAIN -- Pilot Mountain State Park had a wastewater spill of about 39,000 gallons this week, including 1,656 gallons of sewage.
The initial spill occurred about 2 p.m. Wednesday, pushing effluent onto undeveloped land near U.S. 52 and into Grassy Creek and a tributary, the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation said yesterday.
The spill happened after tree roots damaged a sewer line, officials said.
Heavy rainfall diluted the raw sewage, state recreation officials said. Park employees contained part of the spill.
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