Reporter – Leigh Hester – Balancing the City of Henderson Budget in any year is tricky business. By law, localities must operate within a balanced budget, and within the confines of an ongoing recession and the costs of fuels and insurance for City employees, this year is especially difficult. Everyone is reeling from the recession that has caused the cost of unleaded gasoline to rise a full dollar over a year ago this time. Additionally, the cost of health insurance …
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Wednesday Open Line
Kudos to the HPD for over 350 felony charges across 12 locals suspected of recent home invasion robberies announced yesterday. 9 people have already been arrested in this investigation. In relation, a bill is sweeping its way through our state house that would make a persons 8th larceny charge and above an automatic felony. In detail, it would make a felony if it has been “committed after the defendant has been convicted in this State or in another jurisdiction for …
NC Ranks in top 10 summer travel destinations
NEW YORK, May 6, 2011 — More Americans are planning to travel this summer despite rising gas prices, according to the latest American Express Spending & Saving Tracker (59 percent in 2011 vs. 51 percent in 2010). Vacationing consumers plan to take an average of two week-long vacations, spending an average of $1,200 per person, and three weekend-getaways with an average spend of $300 per weekend. “Staycations, popularized during the recession, are falling to the wayside as consumers go beachside …
Tuesday Open Line
We’d like to remind all tonight of another city budget work session, starting 6pm. Some comments were made yesterday in regards to a good GOP candidate after Donald Trump has announced he will not run for President. Wikipedia has a listing of formally declared candidates of John Davis, Newt Gingrich, Gary Johnson, Fred Karger, Andy Martin, Jimmy McMillan, Ron Paul, Tim Pawlenty and Jonathon Sharkey. Others are considering, Mitt Romney, for instance, is as an unofficial candidate (by not officially …
Butterfield, CBC Discuss Jobs with Obama
Washington, D.C. – Congressman G. K. Butterfield met with President Barack Obama at the White House this week along with members of the Congressional Black Caucus to discuss job creation and economic growth. “While the economy has added 2.1 million private sector jobs over the past 14 months, including more than 800,000 jobs since the beginning of the year, too many Americans families are still hurting and the unemployment rate is unacceptably high—especially among African Americans,” Butterfield said. Butterfield said …
Monday Open Line
We hope everyone had a great weekend. This week, the city council will hold 3 meetings on the proposed budget with meetings tonight, Tuesday and Thursday nights. We expect details to change drastically between the regular meetings, the next one being May 23rd.
HPD thwarts copper robbery
On Thursday May 12, 2011 at 12:10 A.M. Officer J. Freeman was on patrol on Parham Road in Henderson. Freeman observed a suspicious vehicle at the Scottish Inn Motel parking lot. Freeman conducted a brief interview with the driver and then released him from the scene. Minutes later, Freeman noticed a suspicious male walking in the area of the Waffle and Pancake House on Parham Rd. Freeman conducted a field interview with this individual and found him to be in …
Senator Richard Burr Message
I am honored to announce that I will be joining the Senate Finance Committee, and I thank Senator McConnell and the Republican Conference for allowing me the opportunity to serve on this important committee. There is no aspect of our daily lives that is not touched by the laws and regulations that fall under the committee’s jurisdiction, from the tax code and our nation’s trade laws to health care and retirement security. Regrettably, many of these laws and regulations have …
Governor, cabinet launch ‘Education Works’ tour
Gov. Perdue and her cabinet secretaries will spend the next seven days showing how “Education Works” – visiting classrooms in public schools and community colleges around the state and talking to teachers, students and local leaders about the importance of education in our economic recovery. The new focus follows the governor’s Jobs Tour of April, during which she announced 4,700 new and retained jobs and a quarter billion dollars in new investment from businesses. It also comes on the heels …
Public Comment Requested on School Improvement Grant issue
PUBLIC COMMENT ACCEPTED THROUGH MAY 16 REGARDING NC DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION’S REQUEST FOR WAIVERS TO TITLE I, PART A SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT GRANTS 1003(G) The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction’s Program Monitoring (federal programs) division is submitting a request for a waiver to requirements of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) as related to the state’s funding for School Improvement Grants 1003(g). This waiver would allow any local educational agency (LEA) in the state that receives a School …
Butterfield: GOP Medicare Cuts Would Cost Retirees $182,000
Washington, D.C. – Congressman G. K. Butterfield warns that under the House Republican’s plan to cut and privatize Medicare future retirees will need to save an additional $182,000 to cover their increased health care costs. According to a detailed analysis by the Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR), it’s estimated that under the House Republican Medicare plan, individuals born in 1957 would need an additional $182,000 by the time they retire at 65 to pay the additional costs if …
Senator Douglas Berger Message
Attack on Rural North Carolina The budget recently passed by the House includes deep cuts to many departments and services, but the bill also completely abolishes both the Health & Wellness Trust Fund (HWTF) and the Tobacco Trust Fund, and intercepts Golden LEAF’s funding for at least the next two years and possibly longer. The plundering of these much-needed programs represents an assault on rural community development and public health in our state. These three funds were created by the …
Thursday Open Line
This evening, Rep. Michael Wray and Senator Douglas Berger will hold a public forum on the proposed House budget and its impact on four key areas of our district. The forum is slated for 7-9 p.m. Thursday, May 12, at the old courthouse in Henderson, 122 Young St. You may view more information about it on the event page on our calendar here. Wednesday I had lunch at Don Lorenzo’s downtown and Velma immediately gave me a great report of …
Person shot at hospital following altercation with officer – updated
Press Release: May 11th, 2011 On May 11, 2011 at 12:55 PM a Henderson Police Officer, William “Will” Aiken was guarding a male at Maria Parham Medical Center in regards to an affidavit and petition for Involuntary Commitment. The male became irate and combative. The officer attempted to use verbal instruction to calm the male down. This was ineffective. The situation escalated when the male physically attacked the officer, striking the officer in the knee. As the officer continued to …
School Board Called Meeting May 18th
Vance County Board of Education will have a Called meeting on Wednesday, May 18 , 2011 at 5:30 pm. Meeting will be held in the Administrative Services Center, 1724 Graham Avenue in Henderson, North Carolina. AGENDA I. Call to Order * II. Approval of Meeting Agenda * III. Executive Session – Personnel * IV. Adjournment * Requires Board Action
Wednesday Open Line
On the governors desk this week is a bill that would establish a college fund for students that would be employed by the state. If the student meets criteria in regards to GPA and graduates within a particular program, then works for the state for a minimum specified number of years, their college loan would be paid for. The details are not set in the bill, they would be determined later, but the bill is for the creation of the …
Henderson City Manager Unveils Budget Shortfalls
May 9, 2011 – Reporter: Leigh Hester Due to decreasing revenues and rising city costs in fuels and employee health insurance, the City Manager is preparing a proposed budget for the City Council’s review. This “Survival Budget,” as he called it, would potentially raise water rates by 5% and corresponding sewer rates by 5% as well. Currently, sewer rates for customers outside of city limits are significantly higher than in nearby Oxford, and in Warren and Franklin Counties. Sanitation fees …
May 10 declared N.C. Travel and Tourism Day
Calling the travel and tourism industry in North Carolina “vital to our economic stability and growth,” Governor Bev Perdue has proclaimed today (May 10) as N.C. Travel and Tourism Day, in conjunction with National Travel and Tourism Week, a collective effort to promote the power of travel through customized events in communities nationwide. The goal is to create better awareness of the industry’s contribution to the state’s economy and to recognize the cultural and social benefits created by travel and …
State Board Endorses Perdue’s Career and College Promise
STATE BOARD ENDORSES GOV. PERDUE’S CAREER AND COLLEGE PROMISE; ALSO APPROVES RESOLUTION SUPPORTING GLOBAL SCHOOLS The State Board of Education last week formally endorsed Gov. Bev Perdue’s Career and College Promise (CCP) Initiative, which will enable more students to get a head start on career training or a college degree while they are still in high school. “The Career and College Promise works in direct alignment with the Board’s mission to ensure that every public school student in North Carolina …