The five counties of the northern region of the Research Triangle Regional Partnership are hosting an Economic Development Summit at Vance-Granville Community College in partnership with the Triangle Business Journal on Thursday March 24th, 2016 from 7:30am to 9:30am. This event will feature a panel made up of the five Economic Development Directors from Franklin, Granville, Person, Vance and Warren. Also, joining this panel will be Charles Hayes and will be moderated by Mandy Hoyle with Triangle Business Journal. Additionally, …
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Vance County Pre-K and Kindergarten Registration
Parents of children who will be entering pre-kindergarten and kindergarten for the 2016-2017 school year may now register their children for enrollment at any Vance County Schools elementary school. Children who will be four years old on or before August 31, should apply for pre-kindergarten and children who will be five years old on or before August 31, should register for kindergarten. Applications for pre-kindergarten for the upcoming school year are now available at any elementary school or by going …
Congressman G.K. Butterfield: Heard It First: March 14-18
Sadly, we are three months into the 114th Congress’ Second Session and it is business as usual for Congressional Republicans. Over the past few months, I have been fighting Senate Republicans’ attempts to block President Obama’s Supreme Court nomination and their aggressive plans to reduce government and scale back support for Americans who need it the most. While Republicans have been engaged in petty intra-party politics, the priorities of hard-working American families continue to go ignored. I …
VGCC Franklin Campus hosts free small business accounting seminars
The Franklin County Campus of Vance-Granville Community College will soon host a pair of free Small Business Center seminars focused on accounting. “Introduction to QuickBooks Software” will be held on Wednesday, April 20, from 9 until 11 a.m. “Clueless About Accounting” will follow on that same day, from 6 until 8 p.m. The first is scheduled to meet in Room F4101 (the multipurpose room) and the second in room F1208 of the campus, located just outside Louisburg on N.C. 56. …
Tuesday Open Line
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibited discrimination based on sex as well as race in hiring, promoting, and firing. While this act is a famous landmark in the national effort to assure equality of treatment, its ban on sex discrimination was not in the forefront of the effort. On this date in 1872, the state of Illinois enacted the first such ban on discrimination. It came about through the lobbying of Alta Hulett, who had been kept from sitting …
Butterfield: Deportation Halted Until Appeal Can Be Heard
Congressman G. K. Butterfield Sunday released the following statement regarding Wildin Acosta’s detainment by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement: “Through the night, I continued my efforts to persuade ICE Director Sarah Saldaña to reconsider her decision to not intervene in the deportation of Wildin Acosta. I was joined in this effort during the night by Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren (D-California) who is the Ranking Democrat on the Sub-Committee?on on Immigration and Border Security. This morning, ICE Director Sarah Saldaña issued an order preventing the deportation of Wildin …
Congresswoman Renee Ellmers: Celebrating Women’s History Month, Talking National Security
Photo of the Week It was great to speak with close to 150 women from the National Federation of Republican Women this week. These women hailed from across the country and took time visiting with members on Capitol Hill. During my time with them, I answered questions from the audience and spoke about Congressional efforts with Medicare reform, anti-human trafficking efforts, and the ways we are working to create a 21st century military. Weekly Update In honor of …
Senator Richard Burr: Veterans Deserve Good Health Care
The VA scandal of 2014 exposed some deeply troubling facts about how our government cares for veterans. The slow wait times at the VA continue today, even in North Carolina, making it clear that the VA cannot take care of these vets as quickly as it should. I was serving as ranking member on the Veterans’ Affairs Committee at the time and I fought hard to hold the VA accountable and make sure that vets get the care they need. …
Vance County Board of Commissioners and Board of Education Hold Meeting March 22nd, 2016
Vance County Board of Commissioners and the Vance County Board of Education will engage in dinner and conversation on Tuesday, March 22, 2016 at 6:00 p.m. at Ribeyes Steakhouse in Henderson.
Monday Open Line
Today marks the birthday in 1910 of one of the major figures of the American wine industry — Julio Gallo. When Prohibition ended, he and his brother Ernest started making wine in humble surroundings — a rented California warehouse with equipment bought on credit. Years of hard work saw their winery became the largest in the U.S., and their creative marketing techniques helped shape the nation’s drinking tastes. When the Gallos began their business in 1934, Americans on average drank …
4th Annual Tour de Vance April 30th, 2016
From novice to well-seasoned, we have rides for all riders! The 10-mile Family Fun Ride is great for beginners and families. A 20-mile course awaits cyclists ready for a bit more. The 30-miler rolls through forest and farmland; 60-mile ride spurs off the 30 to visit Kerr Lake. Ride, have fun, and raise money for United Way of Vance County’s “United We Read, United We Succeed” program, which works to improve reading ability in all 3rd graders in the county. Every 3rd …
Henderson-Vance County Chamber of Commerce Seeking Nominations for 2015 Small Business of the Year
The Henderson-Vance County Chamber of Commerce is now seeking nominations for the 2015 Small Business of the Year. This award honors a local small business, which provides a critical product or service, fills a void in the business community or has a unique approach to the delivery of goods and services. To be considered for this award, the nominee must be a member of the Henderson-Vance Chamber and located in Vance County. The business must employ a maximum of 50 …
Friday / Weekend Open Lines
Friday, March 18th. This is National Peanut Month — celebrating one of the nation’s favorite foods, and absolutely America’s favorite snack nut. They are enjoyed in many ways — roasted in the shell, used in salads and stir-fry recipes, in cookies and, of course, ground into peanut butter. The idea of honoring the peanut has been a monthlong observance since 1974. Americans eat an average of more than six pounds of shelled peanuts a year, about half in the form …
VGCC Agricultural project receives $25,000 grant
Vance-Granville Community College has been awarded a $25,000 grant through the Rural Community College Agricultural Cooperative Initiative, with funding provided by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The grant is for a project entitled “Cultivating and Connecting Agricultural Communities” that seeks to strengthen agricultural cooperative partnerships in Franklin, Granville, Vance, and Warren counties. A different component of the same project received grant funding from the N.C. Tobacco Trust Fund Commission. As part of the new grant, VGCC will be …
AT&T sponsors new VGCC Summer Bridge program
AT&T North Carolina has made a $10,000 contribution to Vance-Granville Community College to support a new student success initiative. For the first time, the college will offer a “Summer Bridge” program this year for incoming first-year students. With AT&T’s sponsorship, the program will be available at no cost to participating students. “Thanks to the strong support of AT&T North Carolina, in a few months, our faculty and staff will be able to offer some extra help to students to prepare …
NCDA&CS promoting N.C. livestock with new tag program
The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has launched a tag program to promote livestock born and raised in North Carolina. The new Got to Be NC tag program uses special ear tags to identify N.C.-born-and-bred cattle, swine, sheep and goats. The voluntary program is a collaboration between the department’s Got to Be NC marketing program, Livestock Marketing Section and Veterinary Division. “Livestock production generates over $3.6 billion in farm income in North Carolina,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. …
Butterfield: Senators Burr and Tillis Must Demand Senate Majority Leader McConnell Give Supreme Court Nominee a Vote
Congressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) today released the following statement on President Obama’s nomination of federal appeals court judge Merrick Garland. “The President has done his job in nominating a highly qualified judge to the Supreme Court. Now, it is time for Senators Burr and Tillis to demand that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell gives a fair hearing and timely vote on the President’s nominee. Senator Tillis sits on the committee responsible for the hearings on Judge Garland’s nomination. I …
North Carolina Weekend
For the week of March 17 on North Carolina Weekend, step back to a simpler time at R.A. Fountain General Store in Fountain. Consider judging a book by its cover at Scuppernong Books in Greensboro. Go airborne at Defy Gravity Trampoline Park in Durham. Enjoy the great outdoors at William B Umstead State Park in Raleigh. And the “House Special” samples the fare at Sam Jones BBQ in Winterville, which ought to be of particular interest to those who attended the …
Stephanie Alston Named as New Principal at E.M. Rollins Elementary
Stephanie Alston, an educator for over 17 years and an elementary school principal most recently in Edgecombe County, has been named as the new principal at E.M. Rollins Elementary School. She replaces Dean Thomas, who has been named as Vance County Schools’ new coordinator of the Transportation Department. Alston will assume her new duties at E.M. Rollins as soon as possible. During her career in education, she was a teacher for eight years and an administrator for the past nine …
White House: Get to know the President’s nominee
Wednesday, President Obama announced his nominee for the Supreme Court: Chief Judge Merrick Garland. Read why President Obama chose him for the job, then watch the video to learn more: Learn more about his background and experience. After the announcement, Chief Judge Garland gave remarks reflecting on his career as a dedicated public servant — and they’re definitely worth a read: JUDGE GARLAND: Thank you, Mr. President. This is the greatest honor of my life — other than Lynn agreeing …