In 2009, President Obama welcomed Neil Armstrong and his Apollo 11 crewmembers Michael Collins and Buzz Aldrin to the White House in honor of the 40th anniversary of the Armstrong’s historic first steps on the lunar surface. Michelle and I were deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Neil Armstrong. Neil was among the greatest of American heroes – not just of his time, but of all time. When he and his fellow crew members lifted off aboard …
Month: August 2012
Tuesday Open Lines
“This program is brought to you by…” Those words or ones close to them, were heard for the first time on this date 90 years ago, as the first commercial was broadcast on the new medium of radio. Station WEAF in New York City carried that first ad — not for soap or automobiles — but for a group of apartment buildings in Queens. The cost was $100 for 10 minutes of programming. At the time, there were just 30 …
Granville Arts Councl Holiday Art Market November 10th, 2012
The Granville Arts Council is pleased to present the Holiday Art Market to be held in Butner at the Butner Armory on November 10th, 2012. This event includes Artisans, Crafters, Live Music, Raffles, and Fun at the Butner Armory from 10am – 3pm. Get your Christmas shopping started early and enjoy some live music. Applications to display and sell your handmade arts and crafts can be found on the Council’s website – www.granvilleartscouncil.org . Questions may be directed to ham@granvilleartscouncil.org or …
Henderson-Vance Crime Stoppers Seeks Banquet Table Sponsors
The Henderson-Vance Crime Stoppers will hold a banquet on October 04, 2012, 6:30 pm at the South Henderson Pentecostal Holiness Church Family Life Center. You or your organization can purchase a table for the Crime Stoppers Banquet for $100.00 dollars. For this amount you’ll receive 8 tickets, a table tent recognizing you or your organization, listing in the program and a verbal acknowledgement at the banquet. To purchase a table you can call Lt. Irvin W. Robinson at 252-431-6061 or …
Butterfield Urges DOT to Reallocate Funds to Goldsboro and Havelock
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) today sent a letter to North Carolina Department of Transportation Secretary Gene Conti urging reallocation of unspent transportation funds to the cities of Goldsboro and Havelock for transportation projects that can strengthen the economy and create jobs. In his letter, Butterfield wrote, “It is my understanding that North Carolina has $703,634 in unspent transportation funds that are eligible to be redirected toward other projects. I urge you to consider reallocating those funds …
Congresswoman Renee Ellmers
According to a recent manufacturing industry report, the economic burden of federal government regulation has risen sharply over the past 20 years and has had far reaching effects — especially on manufacturers. On my blog this week I wrote about this report and what I have been hearing from constituents across the Second District. Below you will find that blog post and a link to video of comments made by one of my constituents regarding the burden of regulation. Please …
White House Weekly Address: Preserving and Strengthening Medicare
President Obama speaks to the American people about the critical need to strengthen and preserve Medicare for our seniors and future generations. This week, The White House held an historic, first-ever Kids’ State Dinner; hosted Americorps, School Improvement Grantees, and Presidential Innovation Fellows. The President held a news conference and spoke with regional reporters about the need for Congress to agree on a balanced deficit reduction plan; and the First Lady made a major veterans hiring announcement in Jacksonville, Florida. …
Monday Open Line
Much is being written and said about the nation’s dependency on foreign oil and the daily need to fuel our cars, trucks, railroad locomotives, ships and jetliners. The U.S. petroleum industry got its start on this date in 1859, when “Uncle” Billy Smith saw a dark film floating on the water of a shaft he was digging near Titusville, Pennsylvania. Soon, the nation’s first commercial oil well was pumping out crude oil. Today, there are 526,000 oil wells in the …
Truck Pull Cancelled for Saturday Night Due To Rain
According to their Facebook posting at the truck pull for tonight at the fair grounds has been cancelled due to rain. https://www.facebook.com/pages/UPOC-UNITED-PULLERS-OF-THE-CAROLINAS/340568470682
Balance is Focus of North Carolina’s New Student Assessments
Under the state’s new READY assessment model, teachers will have new tools to make sure students are on track and have a strong understanding of their coursework. The new model, which goes into effect in the 2012-13 school year, is based on a three-pronged approach to testing that focuses on evaluating students throughout the school year. State Superintendent June Atkinson said a comprehensive balanced assessment system that is aligned to rigorous state content standards is essential for student learning. “Daily …
Cross Creek Outdoor Supplies Event Saturday, Over 25 Vendors Attending
Saturday, August 25th, from 8am to 3pm come to Cross Creek Outdoor Supply at 537 Cross Creek Road, Henderson, NC 27537 for their 20th anniversary blowout sale. Call 252-492-9770 with questions. Closeouts on ’11 MerchandiseFall 2012 Carhartt In Stock & On Sale10%-50% off Boots, Clothing, and Other AccessoriesArchery Sale-Mathews & Mission (Ready to Shoot Setups)Champion & Superior Safe Sale! – Rep on siteSpecial Prices on Select FirearmsMuzzle Loader Sale (CVA & TC)Special Prices on Ammunition and Dove LoadTree Stands on …
Henderson Police Department Asks To Keep Streets Clean
The Henderson Police Department would like to remind citizens that part of making our City an attractive and safe place to live and work includes preventing littering on both public and private property. NC General Statue 14-399 defines littering and makes it a misdemeanor crime to litter. Litter including hazardous materials can be prosecuted as a felony. Currently the cost of a NC General Citation for littering is $180.00 for Cost of Court and a fine of $250.00 making it …
Local Non-Profit to Bring Citizens “Face to Face with Poverty”
Franklin-Vance-Warren Opportunity, Inc., a local non—profit Community Action Agency, is partnering with the NC Community Action Association to host a community-wide poverty simulation at the Vance-Granville Community College Civic Center on September 20th from 1pm to 5pm. Download this printable flyer with more info here: PovertySimulationFVWOPP The event, dubbed the “Face to Face with Poverty Challenge,” is a unique and interactive exercise which allows attendees to experience first-hand the struggles faced by low- and very low income families in the …
Hospira to Expand and Modernize North Carolina Facility in Nash County
RALEIGH – Gov. Bev Perdue today announced that Hospira, a leading provider of injectable medicines and infusion technologies, will modernize and expand the capabilities of its operations in Nash County. The company plans to create 200 additional jobs and make new capital investments for the construction, improvement, upfitting and equipping of existing and new facilities. The capital investment will be at least $85 million over the next three years and could grow to be up to $270 million over the …
Attorney General Roy Cooper: Fake Feds Use Computer-Freezing Pop Ups
Computer users are familiar with pop-up messages, which are usually just a nuisance. But some pop-ups can be dangerous. One pop-up is freezing computers with a message that appears to be from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The pop-up states that you’ve been caught illegally downloading copyrighted music or movies, or viewing child pornography. You’re told to pay a fine, usually $100 to $300 dollars, to unlock your computer and avoid prosecution. The pop-up instructs you to use Green Dot …
New Common Core and Essential Standards Align Teaching and Learning to Career and College Readiness
As North Carolina public school students return to school for the 2012-13 year, teachers are preparing new lessons and new teaching strategies to match new teaching and learning standards in every grade and every subject. This is the first time that North Carolina has implemented a completely revised Standard Course of Study in all areas and grades at once. North Carolina teachers and students in kindergarten through 12th grade will follow Common Core state standards in mathematics and language arts. …
Friday / Weekend Open Line
It may seem like it’s still summer — it’s hot and many people are on vacation. But one of the nation’s largest seasonal events is already under way. It’s back to school time. From nursery school to college, 77 million students are headed to the classroom — that’s more than one-out-of-four of the total U.S. population aged 3 and over. Of the 56 million elementary and high school students enrolled this fall, 11 percent will attend private schools. There are …
NCDA: Farmers should have corn tested for aflatoxin
RALEIGH — Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler is encouraging farmers to have their corn tested for aflatoxin to prevent contamination of feeds and food. Aflatoxin is a byproduct of the mold Aspergillus flavus, and can be harmful to both humans and livestock. “Another hot, humid summer means there is potential for aflatoxin in corn,” Troxler said. “Having your corn tested is a good way to protect feed and food against this mold.” Some farmers may need to have corn samples tested …
Butterfield Applauds Award of USDA Loan Guarantee to Chemtex for Construction of Cellulosic Ethanol Refinery
WASHINGTON, DC — Congressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) today applauded the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack’s announcement of a $99 million loan guarantee to Chemtex International, Inc. for the construction of a cellulosic ethanol refinery in Sampson County, North Carolina. The facility will be the first commercial-scale biorefinery in the United States and will produce an estimated 20 million gallons per year of cellulosic ethanol. “Today’s announcement is great news for eastern North Carolina and the nation …
Class of 2012’s ACT Scores Top National Average for Fifth Consecutive Year
North Carolina students again posted a 21.9 average ACT composite score in 2012, the same average as the Class of 2011 and the Class of 2010, according to the 2012 ACT report released Wednesday. This marks the fifth consecutive year that the state’s average ACT score has been higher than the national average score on this college admission exam. Nationally, 52 percent of students took the ACT and posted an average composite score of 21.1. In North Carolina, 20 percent …