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NEWS FROM RALEIGH… I always welcome your comments, project updates, suggestions, and visits. My office door and electronic door are always open to you! You are also invited to attend any and all Sessions and Committees. Visit the website for Session and Committee meeting times. As always, thank you for your support! WE SALUTE OUR VETS! HAPPY VETERANS DAY. WE APPRECIATE YOU.
NEWSLETTER NEWS:
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SIDE NOTE: Senator Bryant’s Primary Sponsored Bills: · S39 – State Minimum Wage/Inflation Increases · S50 – Wilson County Occupancy Tax Modification. (Passed Senate; Passed House; In Conference Committee to resolve differences) · S103 – Notice to Vote Absentee Ballot W/Out Photo ID (Included in HB 836 – Passed) · S260 – Permit Align School/Comm. College Calendar · S305 – NCEMPA Asset Sale (Passed) · S339 – Healthy Families & Workplaces/Paid Sick Days · S347 – Up Minimum Wage With COLA/Const. Amendment · S354 – North Carolina Healthcare Jobs Initiative · S570 – Expunction/Boat Violation (Passed Senate; In House) · S571 – Expand Uses of 911 Fee · S613 – Prohibit Discriminatory Profiling · S626 – Amend Expunction Laws · S711 – Presumption of Shared Parenting (In SB 519 Passed; Ch.SL 2015-278 |
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EVENTS AROUND THE DISTRICT AND MORE:
· LGA & John 3:16 Center’s 2015 Toy Drive, will begin November 1 and conclude at the December 2 LGA monthly meeting at the Lake Gaston Baptist Church where toy collection boxes will be available between 9:30 a.m. and noon. For more information, call the LGA Office at (252) 586-6577, or The John 3:16 Center at (252) 586-1800. · Free Enrollment Assistance for the Affordable Care Act Health Insurance, Wednesday, Nov. 11, 1pm-4pm – OIC CHEC, 1060 Pinehurst Dr. Rocky Mount. Call Outreach and Enrollment Coordinators at the OIC Family Medical Center at Happy Hill at 252-210-9858. · Walking in the Footsteps of Freedom: Saturday, November 14, 9:00am-3:00pm, Roanoke Canal Museum. For information call, 252) 537-276. · Monthly Community Education Series: “End of Life: A Positive Approach”: Wednesday, November 18th from 2:00pm-3:00pm at The Fountains at The Albermarle, 200 Trade Street, Tarboro, NC. For more information, contact Kim Hickerson at (252) 407-2426 or email at khickerson@eastpointe.net · Grand Opening of Save A Youth (S.A.Y) Center: Wednesday, November 18th at 4:00pm at 639 Walnut Street, Wilson, NC (formerly the Adams Learning Center). For more information and to RSVP, email sjcdcwilson@gmail.com or call (252) 265-9764. · Institute for Emerging Issues, Friday, November 6, 2015, 9:00am-3:00pm. IEI is hosting an extraordinary, first-of-its-kind youth engagement event for North Carolinians who are passionate about intentionally fostering successful engagement among youth (ages 16-24). Simultaneous convening in Asheville, Raleigh, and Greenville, linked by active livestreaming. Pick the venue of your choice! Click for INFORMATION and REGISTRATION. · Volunteer opportunity to help with Club Days at William R. Davie Middle School, The schedule for Club Days is Nov. 20, Dec. 11, Jan. 29, Feb. 26, Mar. 18, April 22, and May 20. If you are interested in volunteering to help with a club, your support will be greatly appreciated by both the school and the students. If you are interested in helping with a club, please e-mail the LGA Education Committee at education@lakegastonassoc.com. · A Downtown Christmas 2015: Tuesday, December 1st-Saturday, December 5th. Multiple events and times. For more information, visit www.HistoricDowntownWilson.com · Breakfast With Santa!: Saturday, December 5th at 9am OR 10am. 500 Sylvan Heights Park Way, Scotland Neck, NC 27874. For more information and to pre-register, call (252) 826-3186 or email education@shwpark.com. Synergy 2016, March 21-23, Raleigh Marriott City Center, Meet over 500 afterschool and expanded learning stakeholders. Visit www.nccap.net/synergy/synergy-2016/ for more information. · Crisis Intervention Team Training, December 7 – 11, 2015, Lenoir Community College-LaGrange Campus, 112 E. Railroad Street, LaGrange. Contact Paula Mauney at 910-272-1239. · NC State University and Upper Coastal Plain Learning Council Youth Mental Health First Aid Workshop, Friday, Dec. 11th 8-5pm. Gateway Technology Center, NC Wesleyan Campus, Rocky Mount. Contact Betty N. Jones at 252-813-8934 for details.
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THE MORE YOU KNOW, YOU’RE SURE TO GROW:
North Carolina Military Business Center
Simple Steps to Starting Your Business (Nov 17, Charlotte). SCORE hosts this free introductory to starting a business. This is the first in a 5 part series. This introductory workshop focuses on the basics of testing your business idea and identifying the key factors that influence start-up success. Start-up Basics provides you with an overview of the skills and tools you need when deciding to start a business. In this session, you learn about: the advantages and disadvantages of owning a business, the most profitable form for your business, and the fundamentals of formation, organization, marketing, cash flow and funding sources. For more information, click here. Finding Contracts on the Internet (Nov 17, Cary). This session supports businesses completing the above sessions and registered in SAM in obtaining a deeper level of understanding how to effectively navigate Intellectual Property Issues for Small Business” (Nov 19, Greensboro). The series is designed to inform entrepreneurs about legal matters involved with creating startups and growing small businesses. The series is open to the public, offered at no cost and no RSVP is required. For more information contact Elon Law Professor John Flynn at jflynn4@elon.edu. Food Industry Summit (Nov 20, Colfax – near Greensboro). In recognition of Global Entrepreneur Week, Guilford Tech SBC and area resource partners are hosting their first Food Industry Summit. This will be an all-day event covering the many aspects of the food industry. Interested in starting a business in the food industry? Want to sell your baked goods? How about open a restaurant or food truck? Catering? The 1st annual Piedmont Triad Food Summit is the place you need to be to learn from the experts all the rules, regulations and best practices. For more information, click here. SBA 8(a) Business Development and Government Contracting Webinar (Nov 24, Webinar). Did you know that the Federal Government is the world’s largest buyer of goods and services, spending over $600 billion dollars every year? Would you like to find out how your business can access the federal marketplace? Attend an SBA webinar on SBA Procurement Programs, Tools and Resources hosted by the North Carolina District Office. If you are interested in discovering programs designed to enhance federal and non-federal procurement opportunities for your small business, you can learn how SBA can help. For more information, click here.
Contact NCMBC The NCMBC looks forward to assisting you. For full contact information, visit: http://www.ncmbc.us/contact-us/NCMBC_Staff.php
Why I Teach:
Statistically, they say you will change careers by the age of 35. I am a statistic! :) After a decade and a half of typing recipes for Welch’s, Inc., I swapped shuffling papers for spending my life with children. Nothing comes close to the joy of building relationships with students! When that light bulb goes off, and the excitement shows across their faces knowing that they got it, my day is complete. I teach so that the children in my care will learn content, character and compassion. It is imperative to me that every child I teach knows they are loved, valued and that they matter. I am completely confident that I am exactly where God intends for me to be – Wells Elementary…Where we EMPOWER and LEAD!
Michelle Newton, Second Grade teacher at Wells Elementary in Wilson
Student Gov’t. Officers Receiving Scrolls from Teacher, Rhonda Lucas
Purpose of the day: Students had a “We Vote for Reading” themed Induction Ceremony for their Student Council. Thirteen 4th and 5th graders were sworn in as their parents sat in the audience to watch.
The students completed a voter registration card and names were pulled by Senator Bryant in advance for a small backpack distribution, which was sponsored by the National Foundation for Women Legislature, (NFWL) and the Office Depot Foundation. They partnered once again for their National Backpack Program!
Senator Bryant also spoke briefly to the students about the importance of student leaders and how she got her start with running for office in the 4th grade as a student government officer.
Sen. Bryant (pictured on the left), Delivers Backpacks to 4th and 5th Graders at L.B. Yancey Elementary of Henderson, NC
NC Get Covered Launches New WebsiteACA enrollment is open from November 1 – January 31, 2016
NC Get Covered is happy to unveil its new and improved website (www.ncgetcovered.org) just in time for Open Enrollment Three! Thanks to sustained funding from the Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust, we’ve been able to create a website that clearly describes the work of our coalition and how more organizations can get involved. A few key features include:
If you have any questions or concerns, email wstallings@caresharehealth.org.
Media line: 24-Hour: 800.559.3853 Oct. 28, 2015 Duke Energy ramps up efforts to protect customers from utility scammers CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Duke Energy is ramping up efforts to protect customers from the long-running scam targeting customers of utility service providers across the country.
The company has launched a new multi-week social media campaign with content focused on identifying the tricks scammers use to get money from customers, and how customers can protect themselves. The company encourages the public to share these messages to help guard against scam activity.
Under this scam, a customer receives an unsolicited phone call from an individual who falsely claims to be a Duke Energy representative. The scammer warns that Duke Energy will disconnect the customer’s electric service if the customer fails to make a payment – usually within a short timeframe.
Scammers have even duplicated the Duke Energy upfront Interactive Voice Response system, so when customers call back phone numbers provided by the scammer, it sounds like a legitimate Duke Energy phone number. Some of these criminals also use caller ID spoofing to replicate Duke Energy’s customer service number. Red flags for scam activity § The thief becomes angry and tells the customer his or her account is past due and service will be disconnected if a large payment isn’t made – usually within less than an hour. § The thief instructs the customer to purchase a pre-paid debit or credit card – widely available at retail stores – then call him or her back to supposedly make a payment to Duke Energy. § The scammer asks the customer for the prepaid card’s receipt number and PIN number, which grants instant access to the card’s funds. How to protect yourself § Duke Energy never asks or requires a customer with a delinquent account to purchase a prepaid debit card to avoid disconnection. § Customers can make payments online, by phone, automatic bank draft, mail or in person. § Customers with delinquent accounts receive an advance disconnection notification with the regular monthly billing – never a single notification one hour before disconnection. § If you suspect someone is trying to scam you, hang up and call the local police then Duke Energy. Never dial the phone number the scammers provide.
Customers who suspect or experience fraud or feel threatened during contact with one of these thieves should contact local authorities and then the Duke Energy phone number listed on their bill.
For more information visit www.duke-energy.com/StopScams or follow Duke Energy on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn to learn more.
***************************************************************************** IN THE NEWS: November 6, 2015 Wilson Times 1. Senior Grace Sullivan wrapped up an outstanding, albeit brief, Beddingfield High girls tennis career last week, making her this week’s Thomas Law Attorneys Student-Athlete of the Week. The Lady Bruins lost in the second round of the state 2-A playoffs Thursday and, on Friday, Grace and doubles partner Haley Beamon were eliminated in the second round of the North Carolina High School Athletic Association 2-A championships. Despite learning to play tennis only last year, Grace went 17-3 in singles and 22-4 in doubles with Beamon this season. http://www.wilsontimes.com/News/Feature/Story/38993984—Thomas-Law-Attorneys-Student-Athlete-of-the-Week–Grace-Sullivan–Beddingfield 2. Councilman Derrick Creech will have an informational meeting with District 7 residents Thursday night.
Henderson Daily Dispatch 1. The Warren County Board of Commissioners began its meeting on Monday evening by recognizing County Manager Linda Worth, who was selected the 2016 Woman of the Year in the Business and Economic Development category by Spectacular Magazine. On the recommendation of Tax Administrator Starlin Beatty, the board also voted to accept the proposal by Pearson’s Appraisal Services to conduct field work for the 2017 revaluation at a cost of about $420,000. http://www.hendersondispatch.com/news/warren-county-manager-receives-special-recognition/article_a619f36c-83f2-11e5-8687-6fb6f0b98c8f.html 2. The first Boys and Girls Club opened in Warren County last month — nearly 10 years after the creation of the north central North Carolina branch, which includes Vance, Granville, Warren and Franklin counties. Mariam Boyd Elementary School is the site of the Boys and Girls Club, but local program director Terrell Alston said he wants to see the operation expand. http://www.hendersondispatch.com/news/warren-county-gains-boys-and-girls-club/article_d9146508-840c-11e5-88d1-1326355a1415.html Rocky Mount Telegram 1. The Delta Kappa Gamma Society International’s Mu Chapter of Rocky Mount has awarded a scholarship to Malinda Pennington to help her pursue her doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction. Pennington is studying special education at N.C. State University. Her interests include the development of effective undergraduate teacher education programs so that general and special educators are prepared to meet the needs of students with autism. https://www.rockymounttelegram.com/community/roll-call/sorority-chapter-aids-local-student-3031751 2. Sydney Meeks of Rocky Mount has been awarded a scholarship from MetLife through the N.C. Independent Colleges & Universities. Meeks will receive a cash award of $2,000 for her sophomore year at Bennett College, where she is majoring in Computer Science and has a 3.5 grade point average. She is a member of the Math and Computer Science club and participates in the Spirit of David Dance Ministry. The MetLife Scholarship is awarded to students pursuing majors in computer science, information technology, information systems, computer engineering and math majors as well as business administration majors with a technical minor. A minimum GPA of 3.2 is required as well as campus involvement, work experience or community experience. http://www.rockymounttelegram.com/community/roll-call/local-student-receives-scholarship-3027749 Warren Record – Nov. 4, 2015 1. Warren County Manager Linda Worth has been named Spectacular Magazine of Durham’s 2016 Woman of the Year in the Business and Economic Development category. During Worth’s 30 years of service in local and federal government, she has served as clerk to the Warren County Board of Commissioners, congressional aid to U.S. Rep. Eva M. Clayton and Warren County tax assessor before being appointed Warren County manager in 2005. http://www.warrenrecord.com/news/article_5926d144-82f6-11e5-9761-f7b38053fddb.html 2. Partnership Ministries, which helps Warren County residents buy wood and fuel oil, pay utility bills and purchase medications, is in desperate need of replenishing funds. As the weather gets cooler, more people need assistance, and with winter approaching, needs will only grow. To make a donation, write checks to Loaves & Fishes Ministries (which handles Partnership Ministries), and write Partnership Ministries in the memo line. Mail to: Loaves & Fishes, 538 W. Ridgeway St., Warrenton, NC 27589. http://www.warrenrecord.com/news/article_54cd767c-8303-11e5-90c0-0fc051d76430.html 3. The election in Norlina ended with an upset Tuesday night as unofficial tallies revealed that Claude O’Hagan had unseated incumbent Lou Stultz by 13 votes. http://www.warrenrecord.com/news/article_b095d8de-82f7-11e5-adcb-372ce196110a.html
Wilson Times 1. The Nash County Sheriff’s Office is seeking a grant through the N.C. Governor’s Crime Commission that, if approved, will be used to fund a leadership position in a gang/drug task force for the Seventh Judicial District. Nash County commissioners signed off on the grant at their Monday meeting. The sheriff’s office has already applied as is awaiting word as the process moves forward. The position will be an employee of the Nash County Sheriff’s Office and would participate in a task force that could include Tarboro Police, Nashville Police, Wilson Police, N.C. Probation/Parole and SBI representatives. http://www.wilsontimes.com/News/Local/Story/38913295—Nash-sheriff-seeks-grant–task-force-for-7th-judicial-district 2. The Wilson County commissioners decided Monday to consider an additional funding request of $75,000 for Wilson Opportunities Industrialization Center. Howard Jones, OIC executive director, requested the funding for the nonprofit, which has lost about 35 percent of the funding it had a couple years ago. He said the county funding would help him to reinstate health insurance for OIC employees. OIC is one of the nonprofits funded through the Wilson County budget, which provided the nonprofit with $75,000 in July. http://www.wilsontimes.com/News/Local/Story/38982294—OIC-seeks-additional-funding-from-county 3. Wilson voters picked a new member of Wilson City Council and re-elected its longest serving mayor on Tuesday. Mayor Bruce Rose captured the majority of voters in the city with 3,384 votes and beat challenger M.K. Smith. Smith received 1,601 votes. Rose, elected to his eighth term in office, captured 67 percent of the vote. Voters picked Bell to serve in District 2 on the Wilson City Council. Bell unseated Burton, one of the council’s longest serving members. Burton was elected in 1983 and has served 32 consecutive years on the council. Councilman James Johnson III won the Tuesday race with an overwhelming majority. Johnson took in 787 votes and beat challenger Davonta Ferguson who received 148 votes. Councilman A.P. Coleman was the only member of the Wilson City Council unopposed in Tuesday’s election race. Coleman received 402 votes. http://www.wilsontimes.com/News/Feature/Story/38994147—DECISIVE-WIN
Henderson Daily Dispatch 1. Warrenton will have new faces on its town board after Tuesday’s election. Four of seven slots on the Warrenton Town Commission are up in the 2015 municipal election Tuesday — and only one incumbent, Margaret Britt, is running for reelection. Britt is the commissioner for beautification and the museum. The other candidates are John Blalock, Michael Coffman, Frank Holt and Deborah Speer. Al Fleming, commissioner for human resources and information technology; Woody King, mayor pro tem and commissioner for revitalization and historical; and John Mooring, commissioner for planning, zoning and cemetery, are not seeking reelection. http://www.hendersondispatch.com/news/seeking-slots-on-warrenton-town-board/article_28f8ef1c-801b-11e5-add9-df2834d31016.html 2. Three Middleburg Town Council members are running unopposed for reelection Tuesday, and incumbent Middleburg Mayor Ray Bullock will face off against challenger Dean Dickerson. Dickerson, who has lived in Middleburg for eight years, is running against Bullock for the second time. Bullock, who is seeking his sixth term, served on the Town Council since 1988 until he became mayor in 2005. He defeated Dickerson in the November 2013 election and collected 37 of 38 votes cast. Incumbent candidates for Middleburg Town Council are Ruth Nance, Gary Plummer and Annie Fudge. If re-elected, Nance would be serving her ninth year on the council. http://www.hendersondispatch.com/news/middleburg-mayoral-race-contested/article_91a2d7ec-800e-11e5-a53c-e38630963c88.html 3. Two Kittrell town commissioners are running unopposed for reelection Tuesday, and Kittrell incumbent mayor Jerry Joyner is also running unopposed. Incumbent candidates for Kittrell town commissioner are Betsy Simpson and Susan Pulley, who declined to comment.Simpson and Pulley are both seeking their third term on the council. http://www.hendersondispatch.com/news/kittrell-candidates-run-unopposed/article_56b176c0-800e-11e5-a2bc-8b35c6c6fea4.html
********************************************************************************** AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS: A HEARTY WELCOME TO… Dr. Anitra D. Wells, Superintendent for Weldon City Schools Dr. Wells comes to Weldon from Guildford County School System. She joined Weldon City Schools as the new Superintendents on July 20, 2015. ________________________________________________________________________________ KEEP THE VOTES GOING… Let’s Support Rev. Richard Joyner and Conetoe Baptist Church
Rev. Richard Joyner was recently featured on CNN as one of their 10 HEROES of 2015. Follow this link to vote for Rev. Joyner as our #1 Hero, as the highest vote-getter receives $100,000 for their organization.
If you have difficulty with this link, go to CNN.com and look for CNN HEROES.
VOTE AS MANY TIMES AS YOU CAN BETWEEN 10/8/15 AND 11/16/15. FORWARD THIS EMAIL TO ALL YOUR FRIENDS AND ASK THEM TO VOTE.
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U.S. SUPREME COURT AND CONGRESSIONAL UPDATE:
Butterfield’s Two Highway Bills Pass House
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed two bills authored by Congressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) to designate several highways in eastern North Carolina as “future interstates.” The Route to Opportunity and Development (ROAD) Act (H.R. 2211) and Military Corridor Transportation Improvement Act (H.R. 1844) were passed as part of the six-year surface transportation bill by a vote of 363-64. The House-passed surface transportation bill will now go to conference with the Senate and, if approved, both of Butterfield’s transportation bills will be signed into law by President Obama.
“These bills are key elements of my vision to support the future of transportation in our region, and will, among other things reduce traffic congestion, improve access, and pave the way for job creation and further economic development in eastern North Carolina and Virginia,” said Butterfield.
The ROAD Act would designate portions of U.S. Highways 17 and 64 through Rocky Mount, Williamston, and Elizabeth City, North Carolina as a “future interstate.” Specifically, H.R. 2211 guarantees that the corridor connecting Raleigh and Norfolk is built to interstate standards, that the route travels through eastern North Carolina, and that U.S. Highways 17 and 64 are prioritized when allocating funding for federal highways.
The Military Corridor Transportation Improvement Act would designate portions of U.S. Highways 70 and 117 as high priority corridors and as “future interstates” to better connect Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, the North Carolina Global TransPark, Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, and the Port of Morehead City with the rest of North Carolina and the eastern seaboard.
“Improving our transportation infrastructure, spurring economic development, and improving travel for eastern North Carolinians is vital to the long-term growth of our region,” said Butterfield. “The passage of the ROAD Act and the Military Corridor Transportation Improvement Act will help better connect many communities across eastern North Carolina with Raleigh, the Port of Virginia, and the Port of Morehead City.”
The Federal Highway Administration estimates that $1 billion in transportation funding can support approximately 30,000 jobs which would be critical to economic development in eastern North Carolina. Passing legislation to designate the highways as a future interstate can lead to modernization and investment in the region’s highway infrastructure.
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