RALEIGH – Two new members were recently appointed to the N.C. Pesticide Advisory Committee. Greg Bunn, a farmer from Nash County, was appointed to fill the vacant farmer position, and Manly Wilder of Raleigh was chosen to fill the vacancy reserved for a conservationist. The board also approved the following settlement agreements for cases in Ashe, Lee, Lenoir, Mecklenburg, Northampton, Perquimans and Wake counties. Stevie G. Harrell of Boone’s Farm Supplies in Garysburg agreed to pay $800 for continuing to …
Month: May 2013
Notice of Public Meeting on I-95 Corridor
The North Carolina Department of Transportation will hold two public meetings near House District 7 for the purpose of sharing information about a study of an I-95 improvement program (which included turning the highway into a toll road). The meetings in our area: Monday, May 20, 4-7 p.m. at Robeson Community College (Workforce Development Center-BB&T Conference Room), 5160 N. Fayetteville Road, Lumberton Tuesday, May 21, 4-7 p.m. at Halifax Community College, The Centre (Gallery), 200 College Drive, Weldon. Interstate 95 …
Friday / Weekend Open Lines
The New York Stock Exchange, by signaling business prospects through share prices, has long been a bellwether of the nation’s economic health. The exchange started on this date in 1792, as some two dozen merchants and brokers established an organized approach to their buying and selling. In good weather, they operated under a Buttonwood tree on Wall Street. Otherwise, they moved to the shelter of a nearby coffeehouse to continue their trading. This makeshift setup eventually evolved into an economic …
Got to Be NC Festival celebrates local food, state’s ag heritage May 17-19 at State Fairgrounds
RALEIGH – The Got to Be NC Festival at the State Fairgrounds will continue to feature the family-friendly events that have made it a favorite local spring festival. The event, which takes place May 17-19, will again feature hundreds of antique tractors, a daily tractor parade, lots of local food, classic cars, live music, a carnival and much more. “The Got to Be NC Festival is a celebration of North Carolina food and heritage that the whole family can enjoy,” …
High School Students study Biotech at VGCC Workshop
Vance-Granville Community College held its first-ever Biotech Workshop for local high school students over the course of two Saturdays, April 20 and April 27. VGCC Bioprocess Technology program head Dr. Danny Monroe and Chemistry/Biology instructor Dr. Tara Hamilton conducted the camp with assistance from lab technician Mark Smith of Henderson, a graduate of the college’s Bioprocess program who is preparing to continue his education at North Carolina Central University. The eight participating students hailed from J.F. Webb, Granville Central, Vance …
Butterfield Commends Coast Guard’s Decision to Continue C-130 Maintenance Work and Jobs in Elizabeth City
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) today commended the United States Coast Guard’s decision to continue maintenance, repair, and overhaul work of the Coast Guard’s C-130 aircraft fleet at the Coast Guard’s Aviation Logistics Center in Elizabeth City, North Carolina. Maintenance on the Coast Guard’s C-130 fleet has been performed in Elizabeth City for the past three years and employs around 240 people, making it one of the largest sources of jobs in the area. “I am thrilled …
Ghost Town plans Memorial Day opening
Ghost Town in the Sky amusement park in Maggie Valley is scheduled to open this year, kicking off its 2013 season Memorial Day weekend, thanks to the grit, passionate and determination of its new owner and longtime champion Alaska Pressley, who has slogged ahead with her dream despite hoops and hurdles. Ghost Town had a soft opening last summer where visitors could take a chairlift up the mountain and visit a museum with Ghost Town memorabilia for a discounted ticket …
Butterfield’s Veterans Bill Heads to Senate Hearing
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) today submitted testimony to the U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs in support of the Veterans Education Equity Act of 2013. Butterfield introduced H.R. 595, the House version of the legislation, in February to reward equal educational benefits to veterans whether they choose to attend a private or public institution of higher learning. Today’s hearing is the first Senate hearing on S.262, the companion bill introduced by Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), and …
NCDOT hears from public on I-95 expansion, tolls
The N.C. Dept. of Transportation is holding public meetings in communities along the Interstate 95 corridor for attendees to learn about the results of the I-95 Economic Assessment, as well as the next steps in the process of improving the highway. Attendees will be able to discuss the study one-on-one with NCDOT officials in an informal setting and will also have the opportunity to submit written comments or questions. The hearings will be held next week at the Robeson Community …
Charities are the winners in Masonic Pig Jig Competition and Shriners Fish Fry at the Got to Be NC Festival
RALEIGH — The Masonic Pig Jig Competition will celebrate its ninth year of friendly competition for a cause on Saturday at the Got to Be NC Festival at the State Fairgrounds. The event has become a big draw for pork lovers, Masons and those who want to dine for a good cause. The Amran Shriners Fish Fry will also be raising money for charity Friday through Sunday, with proceeds from the sale of seafood plates benefitting Shriners hospitals and charities. …
North Carolina Weekend
For the week of May 16 on UNC-TV’s North Carolina Weekend, Relax with river cruise aboard the Catawba Queen off Queen’s Landing in Mooresville. Enjoy a stay at the Tapoco Lodge in Robbinsville. Take in a performance by the Carolina Ballet in Raleigh. Challenge your green thumb with Seagrove Orchids in Seagrove. And discover the art of The Creative Center in Greensboro. (Please note: listings are subject to change.) North Carolina Weekend is underwritten by the N.C. Division of Tourism. …
Ammunition Manufacturer to Create 150 Jobs in Robeson County, N.C.
RALEIGH — Governor Pat McCrory and North Carolina Commerce Secretary Sharon Decker announced today that Cape Fear Arsenal Inc. will locate a new manufacturing facility in Robeson County. The company plans to create 150 jobs and invest more than $15.2 million over the next three years in Lumberton. “Our state has a strong manufacturing legacy,” said Governor McCrory. “This new facility advances that legacy with an innovative process that will result in much-needed, well-paying jobs for workers in Robeson County.” Cape Fear …
Bluegrass Reverberates Across North Carolina
RALEIGH, N.C. (May 15, 2013) – The music traditions that led to bluegrass have rung out in the North Carolina mountains for hundreds of years. With Raleigh’s selection as host of the International Bluegrass Music Association’s World of Bluegrass in September, music lovers have more reason than ever to experience this living legacy in cities, towns and tiny communities across the state. Start mapping your journey with this sampling of settings. Find additional stops on VisitNC.com, which lists festivals and …
Amtrak’s Piedmont fastest-growing in U.S.; NCDOT, Amtrak Celebrate National Train Day
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 10.3 percent increase in Piedmont ridership over March 2012, and a 21.7 percent increase in revenue over same period. The Carolinian, which saw a suspension of service for most of March last year for track work, had a 60.8 percent increase in ridership in March over last year, and a 90.1 percent …
Thursday Open Line
Flying became more comfortable — this week in 1930 — when United Airlines made the first flight with an airline stewardess, Ellen Church. She tended passengers on a May 15th flight from Oakland, California to Chicago. The criteria for the job was that she could be no older than 25, no taller than 5 feet, 4 inches, and weigh no more than 115 pounds and be a registered nurse. The idea caught on, and being a stewardess became one of …
VGCC starting three new Computer classes in June
Vance-Granville Community College is currently registering students for three new computer-related courses that start in June on the college’s Main Campus in Vance County. “Accounting Fundamentals” is scheduled for Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6 until 9 p.m., June 4 through June 27. This course is designed to help non-accountants learn about accounting principles, and it offers a foundation for students expecting to take a QuickBooks course. The course is also an excellent option for small business owners and others …
N.C. Forest Service finds laurel wilt disease in New Hanover County
RALEIGH — The N.C. Forest Service has confirmed that laurel wilt, a devastating disease of redbay and other plants in the laurel family, has been identified in New Hanover County in an area near the western edge of Wilmington. The disease has been identified across the Southeast in portions of South Carolina, Georgia and Florida. In North Carolina, it was first discovered in Bladen, Columbus, Pender and Sampson counties in 2011, and in Brunswick County in 2012. In North Carolina, …
N.C. Winery Guides now available
A new N.C. Winery Guide is in print and available free of charge. The winery guide is funded and produced by the N.C. Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services, but it will now be distributed through the N.C. Department of Commerce’s Division of Tourism, Film and Sports Development. The guide can be ordered online or by calling 1-800-VISITNC or 1-877-3NC-WINE. Winery guide orders, whether through VisitNC.com or by phone, are fulfilled at the Division’s Call Center, located at the N.C. …
Butterfield Applauds DOT’s Decision to Keep Kinston and New Bern Airport Towers Open
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) today applauded the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) decision to continue the Federal Aviation Administration Contract Tower (FCT) Program at the Kinston Regional Jetport at Stallings Field (ISO) and Coastal Carolina Regional (EWN) Airport through the remainder of fiscal year 2013, ending the threat of closures and employee furloughs. Butterfield said, “I applaud the DOT’s decision to continue the FAA Contract Tower Program at the Kinston Regional Jetport, the Coastal Carolina Regional …
Wednesday Open Line
This week, we honor those civil servants to whom we owe much, including the peace and safety of our neighborhoods. It’s National Police Week, signed into law in 1962 by President John Kennedy, designating this day as Peace Officers Memorial Day. Nationwide, hundreds of police departments will have held observances during the week leading up to today, when a memorial service is held on the west front of the U.S. Capitol. Each year in the U.S., there are about 1.3 …