A note attached to a letter in a file at the state Department of Transportation offers a startling instruction: Shred this after reading, the note says.

The letter is dated Nov. 29, 2007, and was sent to then-Gov. Mike Easley from his friend, then-Southport Mayor Norman Holden. At the time, Holden had an unusual, $19,800-a-year contract as a liaison for DOT and he was winding down his duties as mayor in Easley's hometown. The letter was sent on city of Southport stationery.

The advice to shred came from the top public information officer at DOT, Ernie Seneca. He's now in charge of public information for the state Highway Patrol; Alcohol Law Enforcement; the state Capitol Police; and other crime control and public safety agencies.

Seneca's advice wasn't followed.

A former Southport mayor and a former top aide to former Gov. Mike Easley paid visits to the federal building today, where a grand jury was meeting. Records indicate the grand jury is investigating numerous activities within the Easley administration, but the jury's work is secret and so its focus is unclear.

Norman Holden, the former mayor of Southport and a friend of former Gov. Mike Easley, arrived at about 10 a.m., left for lunch, then returned before exiting at 3 p.m., J. Andrew Curliss reports. Holden did not have a lawyer with him and declined to comment.

Holden had an unusual arrangement with the N.C. Department of Transportation that paid him roughly $20,000 a year as a regional liaison. A federal subpoena indicates authorities are interested in that arrangement.

Another person who visited the federal building today is Susan Rabon, a former top aide to Easley. She and her attorney, Stephen Petersen of Raleigh's Smith Moore Leatherwood firm, left just before 5 p.m. and also declined comment. Rabon had appeared at the federal building at least once before when the grand jury was meeting.

These are the work reports provided by DOT for Norman Holden, who had a contract as a liaison between the department and 11 southeastern counties.

Federal prosecutors are interested in his contract.