Anthony Ray Finney has always had a soft spot for children. That’s why when he heard the news Dylan Moore died over the weekend he wanted to do something.

He simply started a group page on Facebook, a social networking Web site, called RoRap Citizens in Favor of a Dylan Moore Day.

Since Finney first announced the group on Monday, its membership has swelled to 656 members as of this morning.

“I knew the support would be there, but it is always amazing to watch people come together for a common goal or purpose,” he said in e-mail correspondence with The Spin. “Especially one like this. People adored Dylan and they admired his strength and his courage. So it wasn't surprising, in a way, to see the numbers on the Facebook page skyrocket off from hour one.”

It was pictures of the young Moore on collection jars around town which inspired Finney, an ex-Marine, who was dealing with the loss of his grandmother. “He was battling for his life, and he was smiling,” he said.  “I realized then that I had quit living and started surviving. I walked with my head down, hoping no one would take notice, and praying I didn't have to speak to anyone. I turned the TV up when it started thundering so I could watch my show. I ate my food, or paid for my gas, and I left without a simple thank you to those who had served me.”

Said Finney: “I vowed to change that as the days went by. Now I face those I see in public with a smile and a hello. I cannot go into the store I stop in regularly without joking with the associates behind the counter, and I just spent a little time the other night on the porch watching the rainstorms passing by. And all because while I was so devastated by the way my life had gone, a little cowboy by the name of Dylan Moore was fighting for his very life with the biggest smile on his face.”

When Finney learned Dylan died over the weekend from a rare blood disease he wanted to do something. “It pains me to see or hear of a child in pain of any kind. Even when my own children are sick it upsets me that I cannot take the sickness on myself so that they can be healthy and run and play.

“But I cannot imagine the pain and heartache the Moores had to endure. To honor Dylan is to forever remind him and his family and friends that his courage wasn't the norm, but it is the example of extraordinary. It is honoring the sacrifice that even his family had to make and the courage they had to have just to make it through this.”

Finney has spoken to the city and was informed the group only has to produce some information about Dylan and his life and his struggle and present it to the mayor, “The Mayor has the power and authority to sign a proclamation granting the City of Roanoke Rapids, and Dylan Moore and his family an annual day of recognition. I would like to think that they would not hesitate to sign this into existence, but I am not aware of how politics and government work completely.”

Mayor Drewery Beale told The Spin this morning he had no problem doing that and would put the matter on council’s August agenda.

Finney is waiting to talk to Dylan’s family before continuing the effort. “I haven't had a chance to meet with them or speak to them directly. I do not want this to be something to remind them of the loss, but I want it to be something that they too can have to remember Dylan by. A way for them to see how Dylan affected those around him. I am also still trying to get some information on Dylan and his life since his diagnosis with Fanconi Anemia”

Finney said he would love to hear the stories from others about how the boy influenced and inspired them. “I would also like to hear stories from those that were with him and his family through these times. This is information I think could really move the hearts of our local government to grant this day.”

For Finney, Dylan’s story is real. “So many times in life we are taught it is always about winning. Being the best you can be, and that is acceptable as long as your best makes you number one,” he said. “Dylan's life wasn't about winning or losing. His is the long lost story of living each day as if it were your last. He lived, he loved, he laughed, and he did so with no thought of what tomorrow may hold because he was never promised a tomorrow.

“And none of us are. But we forget that as adults caught in our daily routine. We forget to look up at those around us and smile; never knowing if our smile could change their whole day for the better. The way Dylan’s pictures, and his story has done for so many. I have yet to see a picture of him not smiling from ear to ear. It’s amazing. I frown when I have to work longer than I planned. He smiled through a disease that was threatening his life.”

Four people, including one previously reported in The Spin, were arrested in three thefts over the weekend, according to the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office.

On July 25, Deputy Chris High and Detective Tyree Davis investigated a report of a breaking and entering and larceny of several firearms in the Coyote Drive area of Enfield. The suspects were found at the location of the incident claiming to have heard it was broken into  before it was ever reported to law enforcement.

Through further investigation by Deputy High and Detective Davis, Eric Lynch, 43, and Charles Carter, both of the Enfield area, were arrested and charged with one count of  second-degree burglary and larceny of a firearm.

Both men were held in the Halifax County Jail on $4,000 secured bonds with Aug. 4 court dates.

Also included in the roundup was a crime which The Spin first reported yesterday where a 31-year-old Roanoke Rapids man was charged Sunday in a breaking, entering and larceny in the Colonial Drive area of Roanoke Rapids.

Deputy Joe Sealey charged James Michael Doughten with breaking and entering, larceny after breaking and entering, two counts of possession of stolen goods, larceny of a firearm, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and injury to real property,

Doughten was jailed on $25,000 bond and has a Sept. 30 court date.

This case was solved because of neighbors looking out for one another, the sheriff’s office said yesterday.

In another report the sheriff’s office said in the early morning hours of July 25,  Deputy G.H. Teal responded to a call on N.C. Highway 481 where the victim reported he was robbed.

Teal determined an undisclosed amount of money was taken from the victim’s pocket by force, damaging the pants pocket.

After further investigation, Deputy Teal obtained warrants and Deputy B. C. Griffin later charged Angela Adkins Mitchell with one count of common law robbery, one count of simple assault and one count of injury to real property. She was held in the Halifax County Jail under a $500 secured bond with a Sept. 9 court date.

“The swift and determined investigation of Deputies Sealey, High, Griffin and Teal led to all the offenders being taken into custody quickly and some of the property being returned to the owners,” Detective Jonathan Merritt said in a press release.

Gov. Bev Perdue’s visit this afternoon to Roanoke Rapids was brief, but upbeat, this after a morning session with administrators from the Halifax County school system.

“I’m real surprised anybody likes me,” Perdue told a group of the county’s elected officials and business people at the Kirkwood Adams Community Center, referring to the state’s deficit, state employee cuts and and a high unemployment rate. “I’ve been here six months. I took over at a time unparalleled in history.”

Perdue spoke of the state’s $4.7 billion deficit, one of the highest unemployment rates in the country, a state where only California, New Jersey and New York have lost more jobs.

“Every single county in North Carolina has lost jobs,” the governor said.

The governor said, however, “I sleep well at night because I have made tough decisions.”

In calling for citizens to get behind Raleigh’s efforts to create more jobs, the governor said, “This is North Carolina. We can stand up to anything. We can do anything.”

Despite bleak economic news, Perdue said there were early signs of an upturn in the state’s economy. An Outer Banks realtor sold seven condos, she said. “The unemployment rate did not go up (this month). This is the first month I’ve felt confident about paying (the state’s) bills. This is the first month I’ve had a car dealer say, ‘Bev, it ain’t all bad.’”

Perdue asked for statewide support of military bases and the Main Street program, which Roanoke Rapids is applying for membership. She called for adults in the community to stand up for students.

In a brief question and answer session before going in to meet with elected and other officials, Perdue said the only way she saw getting on equal footing with China in the global marketplace was for the state and country to concentrate on specialty manufacturing.

Honestly, the governor said, “In my time I don’t think you will see a level playing field.”

She explained only a demand by China’s people for democracy and increased wages could help.

Asked if she supported the president’s health care initiative, Perdue said she didn’t want something which would end up costing and penalizing states. “It has to be the right care, right place, right time.”