Laurels to the Rowan County officials who are ready to dig in to help East Spencer dig out of the financial mess that has brought it to the verge of state intervention.

As the Local Government Commission considers options for East Spencer, Rowan County Manager Tim Russell offered assurances that the county is ready to help with law enforcement, fire protection and administrative functions. Commissioners should be ready to expedite any other help that they can render to the town, which also may get some assistance from the city of Salisbury. The commission has set an Oct. 19th deadline for the town to resolve its problems, which include a $300,000 deficit and no current budget.

While East Spencer residents are the ones most directly affected by its fiscal woes, it would be to everyone’s benefit to help preserve the town as a separate — and solvent — municipality.

Dart to Sheriff George Wilhelm for refusing to give county officials information about a wreck and a speeding incident in which one of his deputies was involved. The sheriff may be in the right technically when he cites state statutes giving him the exclusive authority to discipline his employees. But in this case, the incidents involve a public servant involved in an accident that stands to cost county taxpayers at least $20,000. Rather than a justifiable stand on principle, the sheriff’s refusal to provide information about the incidents looks more like a petty power play.

n n n

Laurels to the federal grants that will provide bicycle helmets and safety instructions to youngsters around the state.

Federal funds totalling $280,000 will be distributed to law enforcement agencies to help promote the state’s new child bicycle helmet statute. Beginning Oct. 1, the Child Bicycle Safety Act requires every child under 16 to wear an approved safety helmet while riding a bike. The Legislature approved the requirement and Gov. Mike Easley signed it into law in the summer.

The grants funneled through the Governor’s Highway Safety Program will go to 222 local police and sheriff’s departments statewide. They will be used to purchase helmets for children and organize education events about the new law. Under the law, parents who knowingly allow their kids to ride without a bicycle would be guilty of an infraction and be fined up to $10.

n n n

Dart to the approaching flu season and potential delays in getting vaccine. The Centers for Disease Control has asked doctors to wait until at least November to give flu shots to healthy people because of delays in manufacturing the vaccine. The good news is that those most at risk should get their shots on time, and this year’s vaccine appears to be well-matched to the strains of the virus circling the globe.

Because flu strains are unpredictable, different vaccines must be cooked up each year. The recommendation to limit early shots comes during the second straight year of delays by the three private companies that make the vaccine as they struggle to expand. The CDC had warned of the delay earlier this summer.

The agency wants vaccine that arrives in September and October to be reserved for health care workers and people at high risk for flu, such as those with chronic diseases.