WASHINGTON, DC — Congressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01), a veteran of the U.S. Army, today sent a letter to Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel urging him to reinstate the tuition assistance programs for members of the U.S. Army, the U.S. Air Force, and the U.S. Marine Corps. Earlier this month, these service branches announced the suspension of their tuition assistance programs as a result of sequester cuts, which will affect more than 250,000 servicemembers. In his letter, Butterfield wrote, “Our all-volunteer …
Month: March 2013
Friday / Weekend Open Lines
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibited discrimination on the basis of sex as well as race in hiring, promoting, and firing. While this act is a famous landmark in the national effort to assure equality of treatment, its ban on sex discrimination was not in the forefront of the effort. On this date in 1872, the state of Illinois enacted the first such ban on discrimination. It came about through the lobbying of America’s first female law school graduate, …
Study shows VGCC education pays off for students and for local economy
Vance-Granville Community College students see a healthy return on their investment in education, and the region benefits from the education provided by the college to the tune of $271.3 million per year. Those are among the key findings of a new report by Idaho-based Economic Modeling Specialists Intl. (EMSI) on VGCC’s contributions to individual students, taxpayers and the regional economy. The report was presented to the VGCC Board of Trustees at its March 18 meeting. EMSI has conducted 900 such …
VGCC offers course on Editing audio, video, pictures
Vance-Granville Community College is currently registering students for a new course that introduces tools that anyone can use to digitally edit videos, sound files and photographs, adding a layer of quality to the electronic files that record our lives. “Audio, Video & Picture Editing” is scheduled to be held on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 5:30 until 8:30 p.m., April 16 through June 6, in room 7306 on the college’s Main Campus in Vance County. Mike Leonard, a computer services …
VGCC to hold Dinner Theater Event
As the North Carolina Community College System marks its 50th anniversary, Vance-Granville Community College is preparing a special event that will showcase the work of talented students and celebrate the VGCC community. The college’s first-ever Dinner Theater will be held on the evenings of April 25 and April 26, 2013 in the Civic Center on VGCC’s Main Campus in Vance County. Students in the VGCC Culinary Arts program will serve dinner starting at 6 p.m. each night, which will be …
VGCC Board Holds Meeting
The Vance-Granville Community College (VGCC) Board of Trustees held its bimonthly meeting on Monday, March 18 at the college’s Henderson campus. At that meeting, upon recommendation by the Budget Committee, the Board voted to adopt the 2013-2014 County Current and Capital Outlay Budgets as presented, contingent upon approval by appropriate county commissioners in the four-county area. The total amounts requested from each county are: Vance County, $1,239,054, plus a special one-time capital outlay request of $934,010 for roof and chiller …
Henderson City Council Public Hearings – April 8, 2013
Notice is hereby given that a public hearing will be held by the Henderson City Council on Monday, April 8, 2013 at 6:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers in City Hall located at 134 Rose Avenue in Henderson, North Carolina. The purpose of the hearing is to receive public comment on: Public Hearing: Recommendation to rezone properties from R20 (Low Density Residential) to R6 (High Density Residential) zoning districts in the Julia Avenue/Francis Avenue area. Public Hearing: Recommendation to …
Gov. McCrory declares state of emergency for N.C. 12
Gov. Pat McCrory has declared a state of emergency for N.C. 12 in Dare County that will help the N.C. Dept. of Transportation move ahead with a short-term solution to protect the critical coastal highway from frequent ocean overwash caused by high winds and strong surf. A series of storms, including Hurricane Sandy last fall, resulted in severe beach erosion along N.C. 12 at the S-Curves. NCDOT has already executed an agreement with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to …
NCDOT invites public comments on first draft of Walk Bike NC Plan
The N.C. Dept. of Transportation has released the first draft of the Walk Bike NC statewide pedestrian and bicycle plan, which will guide future investments to walking and bicycling in North Carolina. The public is invited to review the plan online and submit comments until April 30. The plan was prepared through a unique partnership between NCDOT, the state departments of Natural Resources, Commerce and Health and Human Services, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina, the Federal Highways …
Welcome Centers plan activities for National Tourism Week May 4-12
The first full week of May, May 4-May 12 this year, is annually recognized as National Travel and Tourism Week, a tradition first celebrated in 1984 as cities, states and travel businesses nationwide hold localized events to champion the power of travel. The U.S. Travel Association’s new advocacy and awareness campaign – Travel Effect – is the theme the 2013 celebration. North Carolina’s nine Welcome Centers celebrate National Travel and Tourism week by inviting travel partners to help thank North …
North Carolina Weekend
For the week of March 21 on UNC-TV’s North Carolina Weekend, take in the Art in Clay exhibit at the N.C. Museum of History in Raleigh. Step back in time at the D.E. Turner Hardware store in Mooresville. Whet your appetite at Caprice Bistro in Wilmington. Enjoy the great outdoors at the Pee Dee National Wildlife Refuge in Wadesboro. And enjoy art in a different light during Art in the Evening at the N.C. Museum of Art in Raleigh. (Please …
Fox TV pilot to film in Salisbury
The villain from “Sleepy Hollow” will haunt Salisbury and ride through parts of downtown as early as next week when crews descend on the city to film the pilot for 20th Century Fox’s new supernatural thriller. Confirmed filming locations include St. Luke’s Episcopal Church and the Confederate Monument, with several other spots under consideration. Salisbury’s getting another taste of 20th Century Fox’s love affair with North Carolina. The studio’s hit show “Homeland,” filmed in Charlotte, shot several scenes here last …
Lumber Producer to Create 40 Jobs in Weldon, N.C.
RALEIGH – Governor Pat McCrory and N.C. Commerce Secretary Sharon Decker announced that Meherrin River Forest Products, a lumber processor, will locate its operations in Halifax County. The company plans to create 40 jobs and invest more than $1.8 million over the next three years in Weldon. “Our state has abundant natural resources and this project is a great opportunity for us to use those assets to create jobs,” said Governor McCrory. “We welcome Meherrin River Forest Products to Halifax …
The Ultimate Life ends production in the Triad
It’s a wrap for the Triad’s latest starring role. The Ultimate Life finished production Tuesday, with the Manor House bed and breakfast in Tanglewood Park filling in for a 1960s hotel. The film is scheduled for a theatrical release in September. Winston-Salem has featured prominently in the production, with filming locations including the Chamber of Commerce, a corporate boardroom in Winston Tower and Brookstown Avenue, which was transformed into a 1960s street scene complete with vintage cars. For The Ultimate …
The Short Game wins best doc feature at SXSW
The Short Game, a documentary filmed in Pinehurst and several other locations around the world, won the Documentary Feature competition during last week’s SXSW festival in Austin, Texas. The film profiles eight seven-year-olds who aren’t just prodigies; they’re entertaining characters in their own right, some of whom just might wind up on the pro tour in a decade or so. The documentary follows the players as they prepare for the U.S. Kids Golf World Championship, held in Pinehurst in August. …
Statement by NC Schools State Superintendent June Atkinson Regarding Governor’s Budget
Governor McCrory faced many economic challenges in developing a budget in the political and economic climate today. The needs of public education are great and well documented, including the need for increased teacher pay and digital and technology tools for teachers and students not to mention the need for textbooks, supplies and basic support for school operations to enable teachers to focus on their most important task – instruction. In the budget presented today, the Governor tried to focus resources …
Grove Park Inn getting $25 million facelift
The Grove Park Inn, the grand dame of mountain hotels in Asheville, is in the midst of a $25 million makeover that aims to turn the clock back on her look. “The new owners are on the right track toward walking that thin, delicate line between historic preservation and providing guests with modern conveniences that all dovetail neatly together,” said Bruce Johnson, director of the annual National Arts and Crafts Conference at the Grove Park Inn. “They’re sensitive to the …
Concord aquarium construction to start in July
Construction begins in July on a $10 million Sea Life aquarium that will open in spring 2014 at Concord Mills in Concord. The aquarium is expected to draw as many as 350,000 additional visitors to the area each year. Concord Mills already reports 17 million to 18 million visits per year. Initial plans call for more than 30 displays of diverse marine life – everything from shrimp and starfish to seahorses, sharks and rays. In keeping with other Sea Life …
Thursday Open Line
Today marks the birthday in 1910 of one of the major figures of the American wine industry — Julio Gallo. When Prohibition ended, he and his brother Ernest started making wine in humble surroundings — a rented California warehouse, with equipment bought on credit. Over years of hard work saw their winery became the largest in the U.S., and their creative marketing techniques helped shape the nation’s drinking tastes. Now, the Gallo establishment is joined by some 1,950 other wineries …
Guardian ad Litem Program Announces 11 new Advocates
As the district administrator for the Guardian ad Litem Program of Vance, Granville, Warren and Franklin Counties, I am pleased to announce that 11 citizens have completed training and taken their oaths to be Guardian ad Litem advocates. Along with a GAL attorney, these individuals will serve children who are victims of abuse or neglect to assure that their best interest interests are protected in court and that they are in safe, permanent homes as soon as possible. New classes …