WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) took to the House floor today to voice his strong opposition to the Republican-led “Making College More Expensive Act” that would change the interest rates for all new federal student loans made on or after July 1, 2013, from a fixed interest rate to a variable market-based interest rate. Presently, the interest rate for subsidized loans is 3.4 percent, however, the rate is scheduled to double to 6.8 percent after July 1 …
Month: May 2013
Vance County Board of Education Called Meeting Thursday, May 30th
NOTICE VANCE COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION Called Meeting Thursday, May 30, 2013 5:30 p.m. Administrative Services Center, Superintendent’s Conference Room, 1724 Graham Avenue, Henderson, N. C. 27536 A G E N D AI. Call to Order* II. Approval of Meeting Agenda* III. Executive Session* IV. Personnel Recommendations* V. Adjournment* Requires Board Action
Friday / Weekend Open Line
This holiday weekend will see the great seasonal migration begin to decks, balconies and backyards to fire up our gas or charcoal grills. May is not only National Barbecue Month but also National Hamburger Month. While cooking food outside has occurred throughout history — and prehistory — grilling became a popular recreation in the U.S. in the 1920s. The first charcoal briquettes sold for the purpose were produced by Henry Ford, using scrap wood left over from making Model Ts. …
N.C. Special Olympics Law-Enforcement Torch Run Wednesday, May 29, 2013
The N.C. Special Olympics Law-Enforcement Torch Run will be held Wednesday, May 29, 2013 at 9:00 A.M. The run will start at the Henderson Police Department located at 200 Breckenridge Street. Officers from the Henderson Police Department, Vance County Sheriff’s Office, the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, and the District Attorney’s Office, will be participating in the event. The Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics is an international series of relays by law enforcement officers to raise money for …
Events Across NC Tap Memorial Day Spirit
RALEIGH, N.C. (May 22, 2013) — North Carolina destinations are ready to welcome visitors for Memorial Day weekend, the unofficial start of the summer travel season. Special events feed the urge to travel, lodging packages make the trip more enticing, and lower pump prices sweeten the deal. “The three-day weekend makes Memorial Day irresistible,” said Wit Tuttell, marketing director in the North Carolina Department of Commerce’s Division of Tourism. “With the extra day, you can see more, do more, relax more …
Kerr Lake Art Show winners named
Entries in the 47th Annual Kerr Lake Art Show, co-sponsored by Vance-Granville Community College and the Kerr Lake Art Society, were judged and put on display for the public on the second floor of Building 7 on the college’s Main Campus in Vance County, May 20-31. This year’s competition saw 21 visual artists from throughout the region submit a total of approximately 60 works in a variety of two-dimensional media, according to Lelia Brigham of Henderson, the Kerr Lake Art …
VGCC Board Reviews Plans to Create a Police Presence on Campus
The Vance-Granville Community College Board of Trustees held its bimonthly meeting on Monday, May 20 at the college’s Henderson campus. During that meeting, VGCC Vice President of Employee and Public Relations Stacey Carter-Coley detailed plans for bringing a police force to Main Campus as a way to expand the present campus security and foster partnerships with local law enforcement agencies in the four counties that Vance-Granville serves. The College will keep its current campus security force in place and add …
Nags Head beach project recognized with national award
Nags Head’s beach replenishment project, the first of its kind on the Outer Banks, was named among the best in the nation by the American Shore and Beach Preservation Association. The ASBPA chose Nags Head because it is a survivor – figuratively and literally. The first of its kind on North Carolina’s Outer Banks, even before construction began the Nags Head’s project had to overcome hurdles such as the perception that beach nourishment was not a feasible alternative for the …
Troxler advises farmers to prepare for hurricane season
RALEIGH – As another hurricane season nears, Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler reminds farmers that basic emergency planning can go a long way in lessening a crisis situation. “Thinking through your emergency plan can help whether a hurricane, tornado or other emergency strikes,” Troxler said. “I hope all farmers will review their plans and get ready for hurricane season. A produce operation has very different needs than a dairy farm. Determining what your most pressing needs will be if you should …
World comes to Cabarrus for May race weeks
NASCAR came to Concord last week for a red-white-and-blue showcase for the sport, culminating with the running of the Coca-Cola 600 on May 26. “In the next two weeks, hundreds of thousands of fans will attend race events at the speedway, enjoy Food Lion Speed Street and visit area race shops and the NASCAR Hall of Fame,” said Charlotte Motor Speedway’s Marcus Smith. To kick off the May races, the I-77 South Welcome Center held a “Pit Stop” last Friday …
High Point ramps up for USA Cycling national championship
High Point is poised to play host to a USA Cycling National Championship this July, an event expected to draw more than 8,000 cyclists and supporters to the Triad. The city was selected in 2011 from more than 40 contenders, including Sacramento, Calif., and Austin, Texas, to host the Pro Criterium championship this year and next. Criterium road races are team-based competitions that feature a shorter course of less than 3 miles with repeated laps that can last several hours. …
North Carolina Weekend
For the week of May 23 on UNC-TV’s North Carolina Weekend, thrill to the new sport of bellyaking on the French Broad River in Asheville. Experience the wonders of nature at Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Park in Scotland Neck. Take in a show or enjoy any other of the activities at the Theater of the American South Festival in Wilson. Step way back in time at the Aurora Fossil Museum in Aurora. And the “House Special” samples the fare at The …
Thursday Open Line
There are few bonds in nature to rival that between pets and their owners. Most pets are rewarded for their loyalty and devotion with shelter, food, and welcome attention. Though less welcome, they are also rewarded with medical care. Pets commonly make several visits a year to the veterinarian for annual shots and a checkup. Of course, they also go to the vet if they get sick or hurt. The first veterinary school in the U.S. opened on this date …
Henderson-Vance Community Watch Association Meeting Thursday, May 23rd 7pm
The Henderson-Vance Community Watch Association would like to discuss the importance of safety at home and on the road. Vacation season is fast approaching and travel plans are being made. What can you do to ensure the safety of yourself and your personal property? This will be the topic for the General Membership meeting May 23, 2013 @ 7PM at Maria Parham Hospital Auditorium. We will recognize Officer Lt. Irvin Robinson, of the Henderson Police Department and Deputy Lt. Lloyd …
Henderson City Council Budget Work Session #1, May 23rd
Henderson City Council Budget Work Session # 1 Tuesday, 23 May 2013 6:00 PM City Hall Council Chambers, 134 Rose Ave., Henderson, NC 27536 Download the full agenda packet here: 20130523_coh_agenda_packet
VGCC to host Screening of Documentary Film
Vance-Granville Community College will host a screening of “Las Abuelas De Plaza De Mayo and the Search for Identity,” a documentary film, on Wednesday, June 5 at 1 p.m. in the conference room in Building 8 on the college’s Main Campus in Vance County. The public is invited to attend the presentation, which is offered free of charge. The VGCC Global Awareness Committee is sponsoring the event. Dr. Charlie Tuggle, Reese Felts Distinguished Professor at the UNC-Chapel Hill School of …
Raleigh is Forbes #2 Next Biggest Boom Town In The U.S.
From Forbes: Raleigh has experienced the second-highest overall population increase and the third-highest job growth over the past two decades in the U.S. It also ranked among those regions seeing the biggest jump in new immigrants and is the No. 1 city for families with young children. The area is a magnet for technology companies fleeing the more expensive, congested and highly regulated northeast corridor. Affordable housing and short commute times are no doubt highly attractive to recent college graduates …
Lagarris Alexander Peace Arrested on Heroin Charges
On Tuesday, May 21, 2013, officers with the Henderson Police Department arrested Lagarris Alexander Peace. Peace was charged with one count of trafficking heroin by possession and one count of trafficking heroin by transportation after a Vance County Grand Jury returned true bills of indictment for the alleged offenses. Peace was already out on bond charged with one count of trafficking heroin by sale. All charges stem from an incident occurring on October 19, 2012. Peace was placed in the …
Amtrak’s Piedmont fastest-growing in U.S.
Amtrak’s Piedmont train service was number one in the nation in growth within the Amtrak system during fiscal year 2012. According to Amtrak reports, March 2013 saw a 10 percent increase in Piedmont ridership over March 2012, and a 21 percent increase in revenue over the same period. The Carolinian, which saw a suspension of service for most of March last year for track work, had a 61 percent increase in ridership in March over last year, and a 90 …
Early-planted corn is showing problems
RALEIGH — Corn planted early in the year often yields better than late-planted corn, but it can also be hindered by unfavorable weather. This year, cool and wet conditions early in the season have stressed plants and slowed root growth. As a result, the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services reports that many fields now show evidence of nutrient deficiency, especially of phosphorus and sulfur. Corn plants that are purple because of phosphorus deficiency are showing up even in …