Well, they do share a ZIP code
Ray Paradowski, a resident of Neel Estates and neighbor of Arnold Chamberlain, got a special sort of introduction Monday night when he stood to oppose Salisbury’s planned annexation of the N.C. 150 west area.
“People who are professionals get us confused,” said Cham-berlain, chairman of the board of commissioners, drawing a laugh from Paradowski and many in the crowd.
Chamberlain’s reference was to the county’s investigation to find the writer of hundreds of anonymous letters, signed by “Common Sense,” over a nearly 10-year period. Private investigators, hired by the county manager without the approval or knowledge of the majority of the Board of Commissioners, followed or conducted surveillance on a dozen or more people.
The investigators had mixed results following Chamberlain. After the investigator’s reports were released, it became evident that on some days they followed Paradowski ó not Chamberlain.
The crowd that turned out for the annexation issue was the largest since Aug. 1, 2005, when commissioners fired County Manager Tim Russell for the Common Sense investigation.
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In the loop: An item in the county manager’s report caught Commissioner Jim Sides’ attention Monday night.
The report cited a new DriveCam installed in the Rowan Transit System vans. The report went on to note that when a “G-force” event occurs, such as hard braking or acceleration, or collisions, the camera will record 15 seconds before and 15 seconds after the event.
Sides, a non-gambler, noted that a camera with the apparent ability to have prior knowledge of an upcoming event could offer a big payoff.
“I could win the lottery,” Sides joked.
In reality, the camera doesn’t know when a G-force event is about to occur and begin taping then. It continually records on a digital loop that can hold 30 seconds of video and audio. When a “G” event occurs, the camera retains that loop.
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All aboard: Rail fans who also enjoy public television are getting an offer they can’t refuse: a chance to travel to scenic Spencer and the North Carolina Transportation Museum with a pledge.
UNC-TV is showing Great Scenic Railway Journeys: Celebrating North America’s Steam Railways as part of its fundraising efforts called Festival 2008. Grammy-winning musician and storyteller David Holt joined program producer and director Rob VanCamp with a live update in the UNC-TV studio Monday for the premiere of the show.
People who pledge at the $225 or $365 level get tickets to the Spencer Shops.
Special train ticket packages are also offered for the Great Smokey Mountain Railroad. Choose from a Dillsboro departure (4 hours, 34-mile round trip) on the Tuckasegee River Excursion or a departure from Bryson City (4.5 hours, 44-mile round trip) on the Nantahala Gorge Excursion. 
You can pledge online at www.unctv.org or call 1-800-984-9090.