The Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with Vance-Granville Community College’s Small Business Center, will present a “Lunch Break to Educate” seminar, called “Tourism: What’s on Your Mind?” on Wednesday, Feb. 26, from Noon until 1 p.m. in Room 7107 (Building 7) on VGCC’s Main Campus in Vance County. Nancy Wilson, Director of Vance County Tourism, will lead an interactive discussion on tourism in Vance County. She will offer suggestions on how tourism boosts the local economy and draws customers …
Month: February 2014
Louisburg College to Host DOT Forum This Wednesday on 401 Widening
LOUISBURG, N.C.—Louisburg College will host a forum with N.C. Department of Transportation Secretary Tony Tata on Wednesday, February 19, from 10am to 12pm. The main topic of discussion will be future plans to four-lane Highway 401 to Louisburg. (The Rolesville Bypass is scheduled for completion in late summer 2014; there is no date projected for the next leg of construction.) Members of the community are encouraged to come to assert the priority of completing this project. The forum will be held in …
Tuesday Open Line
Every time we use a phone, drive a car, watch TV, turn on our computers, or do any myriad of everyday activities, we are benefitting from the accumulated work of a most important, broad profession — engineering. To note its contribution to our way of life, this is National Engineers Week. During this time, engineering societies and corporations will reach out to schoolchildren and stage events across the country to call attention to the achievements of the profession. From iPods …
Greg’s Garden (February 17th, 2014)
Written by Greg and Mari Miller How Does Our Garden Grow? Well, the plots were rototilled and then raked thoroughly to make the soil very aerated . Some lime or fertilizer can be added to the soil prior to the 4 x 4 foot block being placed around the soil. Greg raises rabbits and uses a mix of water and rabbit droppings to fertilize but 10-10-10 general fertilizer available at the Lowes in Henderson would work the same. After the …
Legislative Update from Senator Richard Burr
Last week’s legislative activity in the Senate was cut short by the same storm that wreaked havoc across North Carolina. On Wednesday, the Senate voted on a one year suspension of the debt limit, which passed 55-43. I voted against the legislation. As I have said many times, Washington must curb its out of control spending, and it must do so before we are in an even worse situation than we are today. We are limiting the opportunities of our …
Butterfield’s District Work Period to Focus on Economic Development and Black History Month
WASHINGTON, DC – During next week’s District Work Period, Congressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) will crisscross the district to highlight tax season, economic development, and Black History Month. On Tuesday, Congressman Butterfield will be joined by federal and state officials at events in Greenville and Louisburg to promote awareness of a Free File tax program North Carolinians can access to prepare and file their taxes for free. The Free File program is a partnership between the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) …
Congresswoman Renee Ellmers: Voting to Restore Veterans’ Retirement, Against Raising the Debt Limit
A winter storm brought many parts of the East Coast to a standstill this week, but we were still able to get some important work done in the House. On Tuesday, I voted against a debt limit increase that failed to cut spending. Currently our federal government has accrued a 17.3 trillion dollar debt, and raising our debt limit to pay for out-of-control spending only perpetuates our nation’s spending problem. We need to get our priorities straight by making decisions that …
White House Weekly Address: Calling on Congress to Raise the Minimum Wage
This week, President Obama took action to lift more workers’ wages by requiring that federal contractors pay their employees a fair wage of at least $10.10 an hour. In this week’s address, he highlights that executive action and calls on Congress to pass a bill to raise the federal minimum wage for all workers. This week, the President hosted the first state visit for the French President in 20 years, signed the farm bill, and raised the minimum wage for …
Monday Open Line
This month — and some sources cite this date — is the anniversary of the 1766 birth of Thomas Malthus in Dorking, England. Given that birthplace, he perhaps naturally became an economist, demographer and statistician. He’s remembered for “The Principle of Population,” a 1798 essay foretelling widespread famine caused by population growth far outstripping the food supply. While the forecast remains unrealized, his theory of demand-supply mismatches was a precursor to later theories about the Great Depression. When Malthus wrote …
Friday / Weekend Open Lines
While today may not be an official holiday, Valentine’s Day is one of the most popular in the year’s calendar. Its origins are a mix of legends involving two Christian martyrs, a Roman fertility rite, and the old notion that this is the time of year when the birds choose their mates. What is sure is that Esther Howland of Massachusetts began selling the first mass-produced valentines in the 1840s. Today’s occasion falls in the heart of February, which is …
Vance Area Schools Closings
Due to the winter weather, the following schools announced closures for Friday February 14th, 2014: Crossroads Academy Henderson Collegiate will be closed from Fri., Feb. 14th, through Mon., Feb. 17th, for winter break. Normal school hours will resume on Tues., Feb. 18th. Kerr Vance Academy Vance Charter Schools Vance County Public Schools Vance Granville Community College Victory Christian School This list was up to date as of writing at 9:00pm Wednesday, please see the full listing at: www.wral.com/weather/closings/?category=all
NCDOT Contending with Round 2 of this Week’s Winter Weather
Raleigh—NC Department of Transportation crews in Division 5 have made significant progress on clearing snow and ice from the area interstates and primary roads since Wednesday’s winter weather began, and even were able to start clearing some secondary roads. However, with forecasts of anywhere from 1 to 3 inches of snow expected in the southern part of the Division (Wake and Durham counties), and more than double that in the northern sections (Franklin, Granville, Person, Vance and Warren counties), workers …
Removing Abandoned Cars From Travel Lanes
RALEIGH – For the safety of the traveling public and to ensure that plow and salt and sand trucks can effectively work to clear roads, NCDOT is working closely with the N.C. State Highway Patrol and local law enforcement to identify and move abandoned vehicles that are blocking travel lanes or posing an immediate safety hazard. Under the current state of emergency and North Carolina’s Quick Clearance Law, NCDOT’s IMAP (Incident Management Assistance Patrol) trucks are moving cars to the shoulder where possible. In other cases, the Highway Patrol …
Vance County Democrats Precinct meetings Saturday, March 8th, 2014
On Saturday, March 8th at the County Commissioners’ Meeting Room at the Vance County Courthouse the Vance County Democrats will hold their Precinct meetings. These will begin at 9:30 a.m. Following the Precinct meetings the County Convention will be held. The Precinct meetings will be followed immediately by the County Convention in the same place and same day. Precinct meetings elect delegates to the County Convention. County Convention elects delegates to the District and State Convention. 2014 is a very …
AAA: Prepare for higher gas prices
AAA said last Thursday that the price of gas will be on the way up as refineries start to shut down for winter maintenance, which reduces supply. Refineries also gradually switch to more expensive summer blends of gasoline during the coming weeks. This rise in price happens nearly every spring. This year, AAA predicts the nationwide average price will peak between $3.55 and $3.75 per gallon, lower than last year’s high of $3.79, reached on Feb. 27. For all of …
N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services offers information hotline for farmers affected by winter storm
RALEIGH — The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has activated its toll-free hotline to help farmers affected by the winter storm to connect with resources that can assist with recovery. Farmers who have an agricultural emergency can call 1-866-506-6222. The hotline will be staffed 24 hours a day through Friday, Feb. 14. Operating hours will be re-evaluated at that time. “This storm is bringing a potentially nasty mix of snow and ice,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “Possible …
Vance County Board of Commissioners Special Called Meeting Monday, February 17th, 2014
This memorandum will serve as notice that Chairperson Deborah F. Brown has called a special meeting for Monday, February 17 at 12:00 noon in the Commissioners’ Conference Room, Vance County Administration Building, 122 Young Street, Henderson, NC. The purpose of the special meeting is to: 1. Enter into closed session to discuss a property matter.2. Convene as the Water District Board to discuss a water matter.3. Other matters as necessary.
North Carolina Weekend
For the week of Feb. 13, on UNC-TV’s North Carolina Weekend, take in a N.C. Theatre performance of “Les Miserables” in Raleigh. Enjoy exploring the Earl Scruggs Center in Shelby. Get up and move at The Barn Dance in Julian. Relax at Darlings by the Sea hotel in Kure Beach. And tempt your taste buds at French Broad Chocolate Lounge in Asheville. (Please note: listings are subject to change.) North Carolina Weekend is underwritten by the N.C. Division of Tourism. …
Watch out for tree removal scammers after the storm
Snow and ice expected to fall on much of North Carolina today and tomorrow could be followed by scammers seeking to take advantage of consumers who need help removing trees brought down by the storm. To avoid problems when hiring a tree removal service: Don’t pay upfront. Be very wary of any request to pay deposits or other fees for tree work in advance. Out-of-state tree cutters have been known to collect deposits from entire neighborhoods and then disappear without …
Thursday Open Line
This date marks the anniversary in 1635 of the idea of America’s first public school — the Boston Latin School — long before there was a United States. Established in April that year, among its later students were Benjamin Franklin and Samuel Adams. And this month in 1897, Phoebe Hearst and Alice Birney founded what is today known as the Parent Teacher Association, or PTA. Originally called the National Congress of Mothers, the organization now encourages both mothers and fathers …