President Obama discusses the need to harness American energy in order to reduce our dependence on oil and make the United States a magnet for new jobs. He highlights his all-of-the-above approach to American energy — including a proposal to establish an Energy Security Trust, which invests in research that will help shift our cars and trucks off of oil. This week, the President met with the Sultan of Brunei, his Export Council, Intel Science Fair finalists, and Israel Channel …
Month: March 2013
Monday Open Line
On this date in 1959, President Dwight Eisenhower signed the Hawaii Statehood Bill that passed through Congress the week before. In a plebiscite held in June, Hawaiian voters validated the federal act, opting for statehood by more than 94 percent of the vote. On August 21st, Hawaii became the 50th state, and our current national flag debuted. Hawaii was annexed by the United States in July 1898 and was organized as a territory two years later. In the 1900 Census, …
Reader Submission: Decency in Vance County Schools (Contains Explicit Language)
Editors note: Be warned, this article contains explicit wording. This is a cut and paste from my child’s latest ninth grade reading assignment from “Go Ask Alice”. My child is 14 and is in ninth grade. What about decency? This is not the education that my tax dollars are paying for my child to receive. If my daughter walked into class and proclaimed “Another Day Another blowjob” she would be immediately suspended or expelled. The teacher assigned this book without …
10th Sustainable Energy Conference Offers Informative, Prestigious Lineup
RALEIGH – A Nobel Peace Prize winner, the leader of one of North Carolina’s most dynamic energy product innovators, the sustainability chief of one of the nation’s top craft brewers and the Electric Vehicle Manager with Nissan Leaf in Tennessee, will highlight presentations at the N.C. Dept. of Commerce Energy Office’s 10th annual Sustainable Energy Conference in Raleigh April 15-17. “The state’s clean energy sector has been identified as one of the top national growth trends, vaulting North Carolina into …
Vance County NC Cooperative Extension Updates
If you have ever considered raising produce for the wholesale market, you may have wondered about GAP Certification. In order to provide answers, I have invited Dr. Chris Gunter, NCSU Extension Vegetable Specialist to Warren County on Monday (3/18). He will be at the Warren County Extension office at 1 pm for an informal “Question and Answer” session. If you would like to attend, please contact me to let me know (213-6095 or e-mail). Also, note the following pesticide recertification …
Friday / Weekend Open Line
A number of various causes are recognized in March. Two of these seem to go hand-in-hand — National Nutrition Month and National Frozen Food Month. The goal of the first is make consumers aware of just how easy it is to eat healthy meals. And one of the ways this is possible is because of frozen food. Developed by Clarence Birdseye, the first commercially available frozen food was fish in 1925. Frozen food became increasingly popular as refrigerated freight trains …
Vance County Schools Revisions to Student Assignment Policy
The Vance County Board of Education Monday night approved revisions to its Assignment of Students to Schools Policy stating that the board will no longer approve out-of-county requests for students to attend schools outside of Vance County. The revised policy, unanimously approved by the board, states, “No new out-of-county releases will be processed/approved by the Vance County Board of Education beginning with the 2013-2014 school year and thereafter unless the parent making the request is employed by the school system …
Got to Be NC Festival seeks antique tractors and vendors
RALEIGH — Space is still available for antique tractor and farm equipment hobbyists to display their machines at the Got to Be NC Festival at the State Fairgrounds May 17-19. “The display of more than 1,000 tractors and other antique farm machinery is a highlight of the festival, and we’ve got room for more,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. Tractors in working order can also participate in the daily tractor parade through the fairgrounds. Participation is free, but pre-registration is …
Vance-Granville Community Band presents free Spring Concert
The Vance-Granville Community Band will perform its annual spring concert on Saturday, April 13. The program will begin at 6 p.m. in the Civic Center on VGCC’s Main Campus in Vance County. Admission is free. The program, called “An Evening to Remember,” will include a variety of music, from marches to the overture from the Italian opera “Semiramide” and a Duke Ellington medley. Raynah Adams of Henderson will serve as emcee for the concert and will provide narration for two …
Butterfield Applauds Duke and East Carolina Universities on Receipt of National Science Foundation Grants
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) today applauded Duke University and East Carolina University (ECU) on its receipt of two distinct grants from the National Science Foundation in the amount of $302,103 and $358,656, respectively. Duke University will use the grant award to develop an automated coding system to produce near real-time political indicators on the characteristics and behaviors of world governments for the purpose of constructing information on interstate disputes among nations. This system will significantly reduce …
Louisburg College Taps Six for Athletic Hall of Fame
LOUISBURG, NC – The Louisburg College Department of Athletics is proud to release the names of four former student-athletes and two coaches who will make up the Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2013. Wayne Benton and current Hurricanes Athletic Director Mike Holloman ’83, both of Louisburg, NC, will be honored for their time roaming the sidelines with the men’s and women’s basketball programs, respectively. Don Fish ’60 (Raleigh, NC), Russell Davis ’74 (Greensboro, NC), and Sam Jones ’80 (Raleigh, …
North Carolina Weekend
For the week of March 14 on UNC-TV’s North Carolina Weekend, check out an exhibit at the Gregg Museum of Art & Design at N.C. State University in Raleigh. Celebrate the visual, literary and performing arts during the Palustris Festival in Southern Pines. Enjoy a performance at the Willingham Theatre in Yadkinville. Take in the beauty of the Camellia Show in Charlotte. And the “House Special” samples the fare at Sumela Turkish and Mediterranean Restaurant in High Point. (Please note: …
Regional Wells Fargo Principals of the Year Named
Eight outstanding public school principals have been selected as regional Wells Fargo North Carolina Principals of the Year and will now compete for the state title of 2013 Wells Fargo North Carolina Principal of the Year. The winner will succeed the 2012 Wells Fargo North Carolina Principal of the Year Patrice Faison. Faison is principal of Oak Hill Elementary (Guilford County Schools). The regional principals of the year are: North Central Region: Leondus Farrow, Jr., Rocky Mount High (Nash-Rocky Mount …
Take caution when burning yard debris
RALEIGH – The N.C. Forest Service is urging residents throughout the state to think about safety and exercise caution during the upcoming fire season, which typically lasts statewide mid-March through mid-May. The spring fire season coincides with when many people are getting back into their yards and doing spring cleanup that often includes burning leaves and yard debris. The N.C. Forest Service encourages anyone considering debris burning to contact the local county forest ranger. There are many factors to consider …
Thursday Open Line
One of the most noted crime-fighting tools started because of a conversation at a card game between J. Edgar Hoover of the FBI and a newspaper reporter. The reporter wanted to profile some of the most wanted criminals the FBI was searching for. The resulting article caused a sensation, leading to the publication of the first “Ten Most Wanted” list by the FBI this week in 1950. In the years since, 497 men and women have appeared on the list. …
VGCC Computer classes scheduled at Main Campus in April
Vance-Granville Community College is currently registering students for two popular computer continuing education courses starting in April on the college’s Main Campus in Vance County. The “Beginner’s Guide to Computers & Internet: Windows 7” is scheduled for Tuesday evenings from 6 until 10 p.m., April 2 through May 7. Exploring the Windows 7 operating system, novice students will get an introduction to the common components and many uses of personal computers. Students will also learn effective ways to make the …
VGCC celebrates community college system pioneer
Vance-Granville Community College joined its sister colleges across the state in celebrating the legacy of the late Dr. W. Dallas Herring on March 6, proclaimed “Dr. W. Dallas Herring Day” by the State Board of Community Colleges. During a brief ceremony and reception on the college’s Main Campus, VGCC President Dr. Stelfanie Williams told an assembly of trustees, faculty and staff that Herring established the philosophy of the community college system, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. She also …
Butterfield Seeks to Stop Sequestration at Airports in Kinston and New Bern
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) today sent a letter to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Michael Huerta urging him to do what he can to continue the FAA Contract Tower (FCT) Program at Kinston Regional Jetport at Stallings Field (ISO) and at Coastal Carolina Regional (EWN) Airport. Both the Kingston Regional Jetport and the Coastal Carolina Regional Airport have been notified by the FAA that they are among roughly 200 FCTs being considered for closure due to …
Governor Pat McCrory’s Newsletter
Governor McCrory Makes Largest Job Announcement in State’s Recent History Governor Pat McCrory’s recent announcement that MetLife, Inc. plans to create over 2,600 jobs in Charlotte and Cary is the largest jobs announcement in recent North Carolina history. The company also expects to invest $125.5 million into its new Mecklenburg and Wake County campuses. “We’re proud that a strong corporate partner like MetLife has decided to invest in North Carolina,” said Governor McCrory. “These jobs will complement our financial services sector in Charlotte …
Wednesday Open Line
The first state college for women was created this month in 1884 in Mississippi. Known as the Mississippi Industrial Institute and College, classes opened in the fall of the next year on the campus of a former college in Columbus. Now called the Mississippi University for Women, it has been ranked as one of the top schools in the annual list of “America’s Best Colleges.” Now coed, the school has many of the buildings on its imposing campus on the …