Dr. Hal Hyde will receive the Cornerstone Award Thursday at a banquet at Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club.

The Cornerstone is the highest honor awarded by the United Way of Moore County. The banquet begins at 6 p.m. with a reception.

Hyde, now retired, served as pastor of Brownson Memorial Presbyterian Church in Southern Pines for more than 20 years. United Way Executive Director Linda Pearson describes him as "a staple of the nonprofit community in Moore County." His service extends beyond innumerable church activities and the United Way to encompass a broad variety of nonprofit programs, ranging from administrative to those involving manual labor.

The United Way presents the award annually to an individual "who has demonstrated extraordinary commitment, creativity, leadership, volunteerism, inspiration and sustained service with broad scope of impact on the quality of life in the community."

A native of Atlanta, Hyde attended The Citadel, earned a Master's degree at Union Theological Seminary in Richmond, Va., and his doctorate of ministry at McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago. He and his wife, Betsy, live in Southern Pines.

SIXTH -- Hyde will be the sixth recipient of the Cornerstone Award.

He will join Sandhills Community College President Dr. John Dempsey, Pine Needles owner and women's golf legend Peggy Kirk Bell, businessman and entrepreneur Felton Capel, FirstHealth of the Carolinas CEO Charles Frock, and David Woronoff, publisher of The Pilot.

The dinner will again follow the "toast-and-roast" format and will begin at 6 p.m. with a reception. Anyone needing additional information about tickets can call the United Way office at 692-2413.

TOURISM -- Tourism is affected by the recessive economy along with all other aspects of the community, but Caleb Miles, president and CEO of the area Convention and Visitors Bureau, sees a few bright spots.

For one thing, lower gas prices represent "a shining light" when it comes to interest in traveling, Miles told the Moore County Board of Commissioners at a planning retreat this month.

Miles called golf "flat" right now but said "we have stuff in the pipeline," such as the Little River development, Pinehurst Resort and Stonehill Pines at Foxfire.

To make up for the current downturn, Miles said the tourism bureau is emphasizing the business that can be pushed. He said the county has much to look forward to, such as the U.S. Open returning in 2014 and the growth of the U.S. Kids Golf World Championship, the latter an event that had a $3.9 million impact in 2008.

"They spent a phenomenal amount of money, and some stayed here two weeks," Miles said of the Kids Golf event.

Also mentioned were new amateur sporting events and a countywide festival proposed for 2010. In addition, the bureau is playing a role in evolving product development in preparation for the BRAC (Base Realignment Commission) impact in the region.

"Tough times require proactive and pragmatic solutions," Miles said.

HOUSE VOTES -- Congressman Howard Coble voted against a bill that would expand the State Children's Health Insurance Program coverage from 6.6 million children to about 11 million.

However, the bill passed the Democratic-dominated House 289-139 last week. The bill renewing SCHIP for five years carries a $60 billion price tag, to be funded by a hike in the federal cigarette tax from 39 cents to $1 per pack.

The 6th District congressman joined fellow Republicans in voting for a GOP version that would have prevented states from expanding coverage until they first cover at least 90 percent of children from families with annual incomes under $40,000. This bill did not contain a cigarette tax hike and scaled back eligibility to families of four with income no higher than $63,600, compared to $80,000 under the other bill. This bill failed 179-247.

Coble and Congressman Walter Jones Jr. of the 3rd District broke with other North Carolina Republicans by voting against a bailout oversight bill designed to block federal access to boardrooms of companies receiving funding from the $700 billion Troubled Assets Relief Program. The bill lost 151-274. It was an amendment to another bill.

Contact Florence Gilkeson at 947-4962 or by e-mail at florence@thepilot.com.