Governor Pat McCrory and North Carolina Commerce Secretary Sharon Decker announced today (June 18) that IOMAX USA, Inc. will be expanding its aircraft and integration operation in Iredell County. The company plans to create 35 new jobs and invest more than $1.75 million over the next three years in Mooresville. “This is an important expansion for us as we work to strengthen our role as a leader in the aviation sector,” said Governor McCrory. “We are also encouraged by the …
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North Carolina showcases growing aerospace industry at air show
As part of the N.C. Department of Commerce’s ongoing program to market the state to aviation and aerospace decision makers, the Department is leading the state’s presence this week at the Paris Air Show at Le Bourget, France. The Paris Air Show is known as the world’s largest aerospace trade show, and more than 151,000 aerospace executives representing global aerospace and defense manufacturers are expected to attend. Lt. Governor Dan Forest and Commerce officials have already held several high-level meetings …
Wednesday Open Line
As radio broadcasting matured, the Federal Communications Commission was established on this date in 1934 to regulate use of the airwaves in the public interest. The agency’s job has grown much larger and more complex in the years since, and includes all non-federal government use of the frequency spectrum. Current issues include obscenity on the air, and the blurring of distinctions between telephone companies and cable television. Among the firms the FCC monitors are almost 1,800 television stations, about 6,200 …
Michael Bobbitt: Notes From The Peanut Gallery (VC BOC June 17th, 2013)
Following a brief interruption for a Special Called meeting our commissioners resumed their collective public review of the proposed budget for the coming fiscal year. On Tuesday June 18th at 3pm, the commissioners will be getting down to the hard part of the budget review, compromising. Chairman Hester opened last night’s work session asking for discussion on the three budget add-ons. These are three requests for taxpayers’ money not included in the initial proposed budget. First of the budget add …
First detection of the emerald ash borer made in the state; quarantine established for Granville, Person and Vance counties
RALEIGH — Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler signed an emergency quarantine order today restricting the movement of hardwood firewood, ash nursery stock and other ash materials from Granville, Person and Vance counties following the confirmation of the emerald ash borer in trees there. This marks the first time emerald ash borer has been found in the state. North Carolina is the 20th state in the country to confirm the presence of the destructive pest, following the discovery of an adult beetle …
Oxford Preparatory High School Begins Construction
Work has begun at the new home of Oxford Preparatory High School on 6041 Landis Road in Oxford. Site work is underway, including grading, paving, and water and sewer connections. The modular campus is scheduled to be installed mid- July. Construction is happening quickly in preparation for teachers to begin work in the mid-August and the first day for students on August 26th. Oxford Preparatory High School entered into a partnership with American Charter Development (ACD) to provide a charter …
GE Aviation Pursuing Expansion in North Carolina
RALEIGH – Governor Pat McCrory and North Carolina Commerce Secretary Sharon Decker announced today that GE Aviation, a global leader in jet engine and aircraft system production, is pursuing a major advanced manufacturing expansion at four facilities in North Carolina. The project would create 242 new jobs and bring a capital investment of $195 million over the next five years. GE Aviation would produce engine components made of advanced ceramic matrix composite (CMC) materials at a new facility located next …
NC Schools State Superintendent Calls for Exempting Public School Teachers from Personal State Income Taxes
State Superintendent June Atkinson today asked North Carolina lawmakers to increase the state’s competitiveness in teacher pay and recruitment by exempting public school teachers from having to pay any personal state income taxes. “Much has been said about the need for North Carolina to become more competitive with our surrounding states when it comes to corporate income taxes,” said Atkinson. “Those supporting a cut in corporate income taxes say that the reduction will attract more corporations and then we will …
VGCC Libraries see Increased Use of Expanded Resources
Library services have never been more accessible at Vance-Granville Community College than they are today, and students and instructors are taking advantage of a wide variety of resources. Usage of VGCC libraries, or Learning Resources Centers, is on the rise, according to Dave Trudeau, the college’s Director of Library Services. Total circulation in the LRC on VGCC’s Main Campus was 40% higher in 2012 than it had been in 2010, while use of the library’s computers was up 74%. In …
Tuesday Open Line
Most little boys at the age of 6 are content to play with toy trucks without thinking about how they could be improved. This was not the case for Robert Patch. He designed a truck that could be assembled and disassembled easily by a youngster — and changed into different types of truck each time, such as a dump truck or a closed van. Patch submitted his application and drawings in 1962, and in June a year later, he was …
Butterfield Original Cosponsor of Bipartisan Legislation to Expand Seniors’ Hearing Services
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Gus M. Bilirakis (R-FL) introduced H.R. 2330, the bi-partisan Medicare Audiology Services Enhancement Act, which clarifies current Medicare rules to expand access to audiology services for seniors who are hearing impaired. Congressman Butterfield (D-NC), Congressman Guthrie (R-KY), Congressman Gerlach (R-PA), Congressman Huizenga (R-MI), Congresswoman Capps (D-CA), Congressman McKinley (R-WV), Congressman Meehan (R-PA) and Congressman Michaud (D-ME) joined Bilirakis as original co-sponsors. “This important piece of legislation fixes an inequity that punishes both seniors and audiologists,” said …
Congresswoman Renee Ellmers: A Running Start
I would like to send my warmest regards to you and your family this Father’s Day. Now more than ever, we look to these role models to strengthen our community and provide strong, positive examples for our children. In this week’s newsletter you will find more news from the Second District and information about Running Start – a bipartisan political summit that helps teach leadership skills to young women interested in public service. In addition, you will find the latest …
Senator Richard Burr Newsletter
This week, the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) held a markup to consider the K-12 education legislation currently being pushed by Senate Democrats, which would lead to more micromanagement of North Carolina’s schools, require transfers of teachers and principals based on test scores, create a national school board that requires reporting of everything from student pregnancies to the amount of local dollars spent on school athletics and coaches, and a mandate on firing at least 35% …
Monday Open Line
Many of us as children loved sleeping on our front porch or balcony, pretending to be camping out in some remote wilderness. In many families, camping out is a cherished form of recreation and family bonding around the campfire. The urge to nestle in nature is widely shared, and with the weather now at its best, this is National Camping Month. Camping equipment today is far better in quality and lighter in weight than that of years ago, and allows …
White House Weekly Address: Celebrating Father’s Day Weekend
President Obama discusses Father’s Day and notes that nothing substitutes for the love and support of the presence of a parent in a child’s life. President Obama hosts a Father’s Day luncheon in the State Dining Room to celebrate the importance of strong families and mentorship. June 14, 2013. This week, the President hosted the new President of China at a two-day informal summit in California, spoke on the importance of supporting the implementation of the Affordable Care Act and …
Every Turtle Counts on the North Carolina Coast
RALEIGH, N.C. (June 13, 2013) — Hundreds of sea turtles come ashore in North Carolina each summer on a journey mapped before they were born. These loggerheads, leatherbacks, ridleys and green sea turtles lay eggs by the hundred, then return to the sea. Thousands of hatchlings emerge and follow their instincts across the ocean miles — and possibly back to the same beach to lay eggs of their own. The odds are against them. Animal and human raiders target the eggs in …
Piedmont Triad Farmers Market to host Crawfish Day June 22
COLFAX — You can find a variety of local produce, meats and cheeses at the Piedmont Triad Farmers Market throughout the year, but Crawfish Day is the best chance to get locally raised crawfish. The annual event, sponsored by the N.C. Crawfish Growers Association, will take place Saturday, June 22. N.C. crawfish are raised in earthen ponds from the Piedmont to the coast, and the season runs from the end of May to mid-July. Last year, crawfish growers raised about …
Friday / Weekend Open Line
This is Flag Day — marking the date in 1777 when John Adams proposed the stars and stripes as the official flag of the United States. By the War of 1812, the national flag had accumulated 15 stars and 15 red and white stripes. It was the sight of that flag still flying — o’er the ramparts of Fort McHenry in Baltimore — after an overnight bombardment that inspired Francis Scott Key to write a poem, which became the words …
Vance County Board of Commissioners Special Called Meeting – June 17, 2013
This memorandum will serve as notice that Chairman Thomas S. Hester, Jr. has called a special meeting for Monday, June 17 at 6:00 p.m. in the Commissioners’Conference Room, Vance County Administration Building, 122 Young Street, Henderson, NC. The purpose of the special meeting is to address the following: 1. Southern Vance High School Chiller Replacement2. Other items as needed Download the full agenda here: 20130617_vcboc_agenda_packet
Gov. McCrory proclaims June N.C. Wine & Grape Month
Gov. Pat McCrory has proclaimed June North Carolina Wine & Grape Month. North Carolina currently has 118 wineries with 400 commercial grape growers, creating an industry economic impact of $1.28 billion. Read the proclamation here.