Three people from the Cary Area EMS travelled with a Pennsylvania organization.

They spent a day giving medical treatment at a Dominican Republic orphanage before going into Haiti, where they were still giving triage care more than three weeks after the quake hit.

"We were about 45 minutes outside of Port-au-Prince," Chief Steve Cohen said. "It was in another orphanage that was turned into a field hospital. I mean a true field hospital. OR's were made out of tents. Just like the TV show M*A*S*H."

The group got back Monday; Chief Cohen said if given the opportunity, he'd go back again.

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Sandra and Luis Volcan have lived in the U.S. for 10 years, and say they believed they had moved here legally.

They say they were duped by a Miami-based scam artist, who never filed proper paperwork on their behalf -- even though he told the Volcans everything was fine.

They say that man has since been tried and convicted of duping hundreds of people.

The Volcans' lawyer says the couple is the opposite of the negative stereotypes of illegal immigrants.

"Since they got their work permits in 2001, they've filed their taxes and paid their taxes every single year," said Gerard Chapman. "They've never taken any government assistance. They are no burden on our educational system."

Luis Volcan is an associate pastor at Grace Bible Fellowship Church in Cary.  Sandra Volcan is the church administrator there.

The couple admits to having been here illegally once before -- in the early 1990s -- but says they believed they did everything by the book this time.

The Volcans have a hearing before Immigration Court on March 3; they're asking immigration officials for deferred action, a rarely-used tactic which would allow the couple to stay in the United States.

If they're deported or offer to voluntarily leave, the Volcans could be looking at a decade or more before having another opportunity to re-enter the United States.

Immigration officials said they could not comment at the moment.

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The North Carolina Court of Appeals issued a stay on Tuesday without giving a reason. Former Edwards loyalist Andrew Young had appealed a judge's order that required a security official accompany Young to collect the video from a safety deposit box in Atlanta.

Superior Court Judge Abraham Penn Jones has ordered that Young's copies of the tape be turned over so they can be placed under seal. Jones has threatened Young with penalties if he doesn't.

Young's attorneys have argued that requiring an escort was tantamount to an unreasonable search and seizure.

Congressman Bob Etheridge (D - 2nd district) was among the first in line with grandson in tow.

Among his top priorities is getting his Hiring Act Bill of 2010 passed in Congress.

"Congress is going to be working on jobs, creating opportunities for people and working hard to fix the financial situation.  We've still got a lot of work to do," said Etheridge.

Etheridge serves on the House Ways and Means Committee which oversees health care, Social Security and unemployment benefits to name a few.

He is also a member of the House Budget Committee.

Republican leadership in the state is eyeing Etheridge's seat.

The economy's slow rebound, high unemployment in the state, health care reform mandates and the federal bailout programs have upset some voters making for a challenging political climate.

"Anytime you run an election, youo better be prepared,  We always prepare to run a full campaign and we'll do it this year during the appropriate campaign season," said Etheridge.

So far, one Libertarian candidate, Tom Rose, has filed to run against Etheridge. According to the North Carolina Libertarian Party Web site, Rose, of Hope Mills, previously ran for a seat in the General Assembly.

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee heavily courted Ethteridge to run against Senator Richard Burr.

Political analysts were not surprised Etheridge declined choosing a safer, more familiar route to re-election.

The candidate filing period ends Feb. 26.

The garden, called the Coaches' Corner, will eventually honor several coaches who have built championship teams at NC State. But Yow, who died last January after a long and public battle with cancer, was the students' choice to be the first honoree.

The garden, just outside the doors of storied Reynolds Coliseum (on the Talley Student Center side), will include a bust of Yow, created by Greensboro sculptor James Barnhill. The student-led initiative includes plans for a neatly landscaped entrance and enough room to honor multiple individuals.

Jeffrey Johnson, the chair of the Kay Yow Memorial Committee, said Yow was chosen because of the deep personal connection the students had with the beloved coach, who won more than 700 games during her 34-year career with the Wolfpack.

"She is still very much on everyone's minds here, as far as the students," Johnson said. "We were out on the Brickyard [Wednesday] selling T-shirts and we raised about $500. Just about everybody stopped by and said how glad they were to see this happen."

Johnson and other students have been raising money by selling pink Nike Kay Yow T-shirts at women's basketball games and on campus. But the bulk of the funds raised so far came from private donations, through the Kay Yow Memorial Fund set up through NC State's University Development.

"We're students - we're broke," Johnson said. "So we are looking to alumni to help us fund the project."

To view detailed drawings about the project or to make an on-line donation, go to http://coachescorner.ncsu.edu. All funds raised above the $85,000 goal will be split between the WBCA/Kay Yow Cancer Fund through the V Foundation for Cancer Research and the Wolfpack Club's Kay Yow Memorial Fund.

Landscaping and construction on the project have begun, Johnson said, and should be completed by April. The garden will include two flowering trees in the entranceway, a sitting area surrounded by shrubbery and the bust of Yow.

Johnson said future classes will begin raising money to continue the project.

"It is intended to be the Coaches Corner, to honor all the coaches who lived up to her standards of performance on and off the court for the university and the community as a whole," Johnson said. "We all know we have several coaches who have lived up to that. The next step is to decide which one goes next.

"They will set up the fund for that and get the ball rolling."

"We encourage everyone to take a moment to review this video and photo and share with us anything they may know, no matter how small or insignificant the detail may seem," said Captain Mike Williams, Criminal Investigations with the Town of Cary. "To help prevent these types of crimes, remember to be alert and report any suspicious activity."

Crime Stoppers pays up to $2,500 for the arrest or indictment of those responsible for committing certain types of crimes. If you have information, contact Crime Stoppers at 226-CRIM(E) or contact Sgt. Randy Byrd at (919) 380-2133; you may also visit www.carycrimestoppers.net. All calls will be kept CONFIDENTIAL at caller's request.

The North Carolina Innocence Inquiry Commission meets Tuesday in Raleigh to hear the case of Greg Taylor, The Cary man has spent more than 16 years in prison for the stabbing and beating death of 26-year-old Jacquetta Thomas, whose body was found on a Raleigh street in September 1991.

Another man, Craig Taylor, has confessed to the crime.

The commission found enough evidence to warrant a review of the case. But Wake County District Attorney Colon Willoughby has said that he's skeptical of Craig Taylor's confession, partly because he's confessed to almost 70 other crimes.

North Carolina is the only state with a government agency dedicated to verifying claims of innocence.

"Applebee's is a strong supporter of the Troops' efforts overseas," said Michael Olander, President and CEO of Apple Gold Group. "We are thrilled to use our Flapjack Fundraiser program as a way to assist the organization's efforts to aid the military."

The Blue Star Mothers of North Carolina Flapjack Fundraiser will be hosted by the Applebee's restaurant located at 501 East Six Forks Rd., Raleigh, NC, starting at 7:30 am. Tickets for the Flapjack Fundraiser are $7 and can be purchased by calling Patty Sawyer at (919) 220-9094. Breakfast includes a short stack of pancakes, sausage, milk, juice and coffee.

Applebee's is proud to partner with any local non-profit organization as a way to raise money for their cause. From ticket sales to event-day staff, the breakfasts are managed by the non-profit organization with the assistance of Applebee's employee volunteers. Breakfasts can be held on any Saturday or Sunday morning, and cost the organization around $2 a meal. The Applebee's Flapjack Fundraisers represent the restaurant chain's latest efforts to remain active within its local neighborhood. To request a Flapjack Fundraiser to benefit your non-profit organization, please visit www.AGGrestaurants.com.

About Apple Gold Group

Apple Gold, Inc., one of the original five Applebee's Franchisees, was founded in 1984 to develop and operate Applebee's restaurants in North Carolina, opening its first Neighborhood Grill and Bar in North Carolina in 1985. A decade later, the company expanded its territory to include Oklahoma and then Arkansas, and currently operates 72 restaurants in those three states. The Apple Gold Group strives to be a recognized leader in both the casual dining industry and in local charitable fundraising. For more information on Apple Gold Group, please visit www.AGGrestaurants.com.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact:

Mike Gauss

919.232.5008

mike@articulon.com

Exchange West at Meadowmont Earns ENERGY STAR for Superior Energy Efficiency

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (February 9, 2010) - Exchange West at Meadowmont, a Class A office building owned by Exchange at Meadowmont LLC, has earned the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency’s ENERGY STAR certification. ENERGY STAR is the national symbol for superior energy efficiency and environmental protection. This signifies that the building’s energy performance rates in the top 25 percent of facilities nationwide, while meeting specific standards for thermal comfort and indoor air quality.

Exchange West at Meadowmont was originally developed in 2001 by Capital Associates (www.casso.com), which also manages this 142,000 sq. ft. facility. The original design included several energy efficient features such as low-emissive glass, R-18 roof insulation and an automated energy management system to provide real-time monitoring of HVAC equipment. In addition to the emphasis on energy conservation, the site includes eight acres of restored meadow.

“We are pleased to accept the EPA’s ENERGY STAR certification in recognition of our commitment to pursuing energy efficiency across our portfolio,” says Harry Bowles, Capital Associates’ project manager for Chapel Hill. “By lowering energy costs without sacrificing comfort or air quality, we are providing a tangible benefit to our tenants and the environment.”

The EPA introduced ENERGY STAR in 1992 as a voluntary program to assess how efficiently a building uses energy relative to similar buildings nationwide. Based on a performance rating scale from 1-100, a building must score a rating of 75 or higher to be eligible for the ENERGY STAR.

Commercial buildings that achieve the ENERGY STAR certification use an average of 35 percent less energy and release 35 percent less carbon dioxide into the atmosphere than typical buildings. Exchange West at Meadowmont joins a distinguished group of 60 office buildings within the state of North Carolina that have earned the ENERGY STAR designation. About Capital Associates:

Capital Associates is a full-service commercial real estate development company located in Cary, North Carolina. The firm operates throughout the Triangle in commercial brokerage, leasing, fee management and land sales, as well as the development and marketing of office buildings, business and industrial parks, retail centers, and multi-family communities. Capital Associates’ projects and services reflect the highest standard of quality and attention to detail. The firm is convinced that an attractive and comfortable work environment of the highest quality translates into a more productive work force. To learn more about Capital Associates and leasing spaces available, visit www.casso.com.

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"Applebee's continues to strive to be an active member in the community, dedicating itself to assisting local programs and groups," said Michael Olander, President and CEO of Apple Gold Group. "The Apple Gold Group is proud to host a Flapjack Fundraiser for American Love and help contribute towards the organization's mission and goals.

The American Love Flapjack Fundraiser will be hosted by the Applebee's restaurant located at 8701 Brier Creek Parkway, Raleigh, NC, starting at 8 am. Tickets for the Flapjack Fundraiser are $7 and can be purchased by calling Kimberly Yao at (919) 771-6096. Breakfast includes a short stack of pancakes, sausage, milk, juice and coffee.

Applebee's is proud to partner with any local non-profit organization as a way to raise money for their cause. From ticket sales to event-day staff, the breakfasts are managed by the non-profit organization with the assistance of Applebee's employee volunteers. Breakfasts can be held on any Saturday or Sunday morning, and cost the organization around $2 a meal. The Applebee's Flapjack Fundraisers represent the restaurant chain's latest efforts to remain active within its local neighborhood. To request a Flapjack Fundraiser to benefit your non-profit organization, please visit www.AGGrestaurants.com.

About Apple Gold Group

Apple Gold, Inc., one of the original five Applebee's Franchisees, was founded in 1984 to develop and operate Applebee's restaurants in North Carolina, opening its first Neighborhood Grill and Bar in North Carolina in 1985. A decade later, the company expanded its territory to include Oklahoma and then Arkansas, and currently operates 72 restaurants in those three states. The Apple Gold Group strives to be a recognized leader in both the casual dining industry and in local charitable fundraising. For more information on Apple Gold Group, please visit www.AGGrestaurants.com.

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According to redhandday.org, "The goal of Red Hand Day is to raise global awareness of the plight of child soldiers through public protests, demonstrations and other activities. The Red Hand symbol has been used all over the world by the Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers and many civil society organizations to say no to the recruitment and use of child soldiers." The official Red Hand Day date is Friday, February 12th.

"We have been reading ‘A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier,' by Ishmael Baeh," said Michael Van Bramer, Hopewell Academy Junior. "Ishmael was a young man who was forced to become a soldier in the Sierra Leone Civil War when he was only 13 years old.

"The book really hit home with my English class, and we wanted to bring awareness to the worldwide child soldier situation. When we found out about Red Hand Day, there was no doubt we wanted to get involved," said Van Bramer.

Organized by the junior class, Hopewell Academy students, faculty and parents covered the school with red hand prints and messages showing their support for the campaign. Red Hand Day t-shirts were also sold with all proceeds benefiting UNICEF, the United Nations Children's Fund.

"I am so proud of my students for demonstrating such ambition and compassion toward the plight of children around the world," said Melissa Teets, Hopewell Academy high school English teacher. "This is the type of authentic learning that really changes lives."

To learn more about Red Hand Day and how to get involved, visit www.redhandday.org.

Hopewell Academy provides a challenging and supportive environment for students in grades 4—12 with diverse learning styles. Small classes and personalized attention help our students become confident and responsible learners to achieve academic success in a college preparatory environment. For more information, visit www.hopewellacademy.org or call 919.607.6339.

State officials suspended the license to operate for Vagap Health, a group home for adults with mental illness in Holly Springs.

In a ruling, the state said the facility "neglected to provide services to assure the health, safety and welfare of the clients."

On Saturday, police said a resident of the home, Gregory McClain, 22, stabbed another resident, who was later treated and released from the hospital.

McClain remained in the Wake County Jail late Monday facing a charge of attempted murder.

Even before the stabbing, the state had been investigating the home after complaints.

The Holly Springs Police Department had been separately moving to file a court order to shut down the home.

Chief John Herring said the main issue was that it appeared residents weren't being properly supervised.

"We saw that early on and we, of course, contacted the state and made them aware of this," he said.

Police said in the six weeks since the home opened, officers have responded to almost 20 complaints there.

Neighbors said they also wanted to see the home shut down, and worried about the residents who were living there.

Police said one resident was a sex offender, and state records show McClain had recently been in prison for ten months after an assault conviction.

"It makes us all in the neighborhood very, very nervous," said neighbor Susan Giffune.

The home's administrator, Obi Achumba, has said the residents are always supervised and he looks into criminal backgrounds of residents before they move in.

After the state's ruling late Monday, Achumba said concerns about the home were not warranted.

"It's sad our system is broken where facilities taking on cases like this get penalized," he said.

Achumba said he will appeal the decision. "I'm going to fight," he said.

The U.S. Attorney's Office and the lawyer for Ruffin Poole have traded motions over the schedule leading up to his potential trial. District Judge Terrence Boyle wrote Monday he'll hear arguments on Wednesday in Raleigh.

A 51-count indictment last month accused Poole of accepting trips and profiting from investments in coastal developments he helped expedite through regulatory hurdles.

Prosecutors suggested a trial begin on May 17. Poole lawyer Joe Zeszotarski said there's potentially thousands of pages of e-mail evidence from the government and with other cilent duties asked that the trial start on Aug. 9.

Raleigh, N.C.—What makes a restaurant an All-American Icon? According to Nation's Restaurant News, the news leader of the foodservice industry, it's an establishment that has survived and thrived in good times and bad, and has captured and held the attention of diners everywhere. In its Jan. 26 issue, Nation's Restaurant News included Raleigh's Angus Barn (www.angusbarn.com) on its prestigious "NRN 50" list of All-American Icon restaurants.

Still going strong 50 years after its founding by Thad Eure Jr. and Charles Winston, the Angus Barn has survived a devastating fire, numerous fluctuations in the economy, and competition from other high-end dining establishments. The self-proclaimed "Beefeaters Haven" has thrived over the years by expanding its menu to include seafood and other dishes, adding a popular bar and lounge, maintaining an award-winning wine selection, offering special themed dinners, and more recently, opening a 500-seat year-round lakeside pavilion (www.thepavilionsattheangusbarn.com) for special events. The Angus Barn also opened two elegant dining rooms accommodating 30-plus guests each in its renowned wine cellar, along with a special teaching kitchen.

What hasn't changed over the years is the exemplary customer service exhibited by the Angus Barn and its staff of 250 employees. "We're known for the way we make people feel from the minute they drive onto the property," said Van Eure, daughter of the late Thad Eure Jr. and current owner. "If they're hungry, they can eat anywhere. But they come here for the experience, whether it's a birthday, anniversary or marriage proposal."

Indeed, the Angus Barn has "become synonymous with hospitality and service excellence" according to Nation's Restaurant News. That's one of the primary reasons why the establishment made the NRN 50. The Angus Barn is the only North Carolina restaurant on the list, and joins such noted dining institutions as Commander's Palace in New Orleans, St. Elmo Steak House in Indianapolis and The Four Seasons in New York City.

In the same article, Paul Stone, president and chief executive of the North Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association, attributes the Angus Barn's long-term success to three things: commitment, family and service. "All the team members of the Angus Barn treat each customer like a king or queen," said Stone, "and that never goes out of style."

To find out more about the Angus Barn, visit www.angusbarn.com.

Democratic Governor Bev Perdue is standing by her cabinet appointees and chalked up the GOP's remarks as "partisan politics at its worst. "

Republican Chairman Tom Fetzer called for Young to resign for failing to investigate claims that former Governor Mike Easley ordered the deletion of emails to prevent them from becoming public.

At the time, Young was Easley's chief legal counsel.

Fetzer also charged that Young failed to question former Easley aide Ruffin Poole about his travel.

Poole has since been indicted on 51-counts of corruption. He is accused of accepting trips from Easley supporters and profiting from investments in coastal developments he helped expedite through regulatory hurdles.

Now Young serves as the current governor's Crime Control boss.

"She can't be a reformer and she can't be all about transparency and ethics if she continues to let business go as usual," Fetzer said.

Governor Perdue said Fetzer needs more than "empty words."

"If somebody can give me something to show he did something wrong in another administration -- all my secretaries know there is zero tolerance," Perdue said.

Fetzer also wants Secretary of Correction Alvin Keller to resign citing poor performance in his hiring of probation officers. 

As of Feb. 8, 2010, the DOC reports there are 117 vacancies.

The problem is not with hiring officers, but retaining the workers, DOC spokesman Keith Acree said.

The salary for a trainee is $31,246 but applicants must have a four-year degree.

Those with a college degree as well as two years experience in social work, law enforcement or probation receive a salary of $35,337.

The governor vouched for her appointee: "Secretary Keller, in my mind, has taken an agency that was very, very troubled and turned it around. It is on the right direction," Perdue said. 

With weather like the Triangle saw last week, moisture seeps into asphalt, and then expands -- cracking the pavement.

Snow plows and car tires can take small problems and make them a lot bigger in a hurry.

"If there were no other cars on the road at the time, you could probably avoid it," Cary resident Mike Violette said. "But if you're going with the flow of traffic, you're going to hit the potholes."

A 50-foot long one on Maynard Road in Cary isn't deep enough to do much damage, but people who run into some of the worse ones could get in trouble.

"When they strike that pothole, it doesn't take much," TJ Pittman, manager of Discount Tire in Cary, said. "The tire will blow, it may separate, creating a huge bubble inside of the tire, and sometimes the wheels may even bend or crack themselves."

"I hit one today that I'm just about sure knocked my car out of alignment, it was so deep," Pittsboro resident Debbie Litsey said.

In Cary, they've tried to fix potholes as they find them, but crews have had a tough time keeping up.

"We hit a bunch one day, and seem to hear about a bunch more the following," said Public Works Director Scott Hecht. "It's hard to tell how many are out there."

And unfortunately, they won't have any sort of permanent fix until the weather warms up.

"It's more of a patch," Hecht said. "We're having a tough time getting hot asphalt right now, so we're using what's called a cold patch, and it's clearly a temporary fix."

So for the time being, drivers will have to try to avoid them, which is easier said than done.

If you see any in Cary that need to be addressed, you can report them through email at potholes@townofcary.org.

_______
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If students don't want to attend their assigned base school, they must fill out the online application.

The Wake County Board of Education has passed a resolution to make every effort to honor a family's calendar choice. That came after a failed attempt to eliminate mandatory year round schools.

If a student applies for both a calendar and magnet assignment, the magnet application will be considered first.

On March 18, families will be able to check their school assignment online.

Click here for more information and the application.

The award-winning Super Bowl commercial depicts a stingy dog owner who won't share his Doritos with his pet. The result, producer Joshua Svoboda said, is inspired by childhood experience.

"We were just hanging out and remember back in the day when we used to take our dogs training collar and run through the invisible fence seeing who could endure the most pain," Svoboda said.

That idea turned into a commercial that aired for millions of people during the big game, earning Five Point Productions more than $600,000 and second place in the USA Today's Ad Meter.

But they didn't know if they won or even if their commercial would air until they actually saw it on TV.

Brian Oliver, who portrayed the Doritos hoarder, watched the video with his family in Raleigh.

"When the ad first came on ... the place just erupted. We didn't actually get a chance to watch it," Oliver said.

Svobada saw it at the Super Bowl with other Doritos commercial contestants.

"I see our ad and 10 seconds of my life is gone. I totally blacked out." Svoboda said.

Oliver said the dog, Rosie, was the starlet of the commercial; but he admits he does have a rare talent that may have coaxed a win.

"My scream -- I was trying to channel Marv from ‘Home Alone,'" Oliver explained. "That's my favorite film ... Marv was my inspiration."

Oliver's wife Hannah said she is proud of her husband and the entire production company. She said now it's time to plan how to spend the money.

"I think new tires, a new TV, maybe put some away for a new house," Hannah Oliver said.

The group hopes with the exposure and the cash, they can complete some of the film projects they have in the works including other commercials and independent films.

Five Point Productions also entered another commercial that came in sixth place, which earned the company anther $50,000 from Frito-Lay.

Gold Medal Citizen: Katy Allen of Cary Academy