On Thursday, July 3rd, the Advisory Board for the Farmers Market met. They discussed the new signage that will be placed out on Beckford Drive. As soon as all the permits are obtained, it will be permanently placed to direct the public to the entrance of the market. During the Grand Opening on June 28th traffic was an issue. Though no accidents were reported, cars and trucks lined the roadways all along Southpark Drive where the market is located. A …
Category: News
Greg’s Garden – July 7th, 2014
Greg’s Garden July 7th, 2014 By Mari Miller Waiting For Harvest We are at that point in the growing season that the early vegetables are finished and the next crop is about 2-3 weeks from harvest. We watch and water and weed. Nothing exciting except it is nice to see the little green tomatoes and the starts of the ears of corn. There are lots of blooms on the lima beans and some very small green beans hanging from their …
Vance County Board of Commissioners July 7th 2014
Download the full agenda packet here: 20140707_vcboc_agenda_packet Invocation Rev. Mary Anderson, Associate Pastor Shiloh Baptist Church Composite Board to Reappoint Chair and One Member to the Vance County ABC Board 1. Public Hearing 6:10 p.m. Karen Foster, Council of Governments CDBG Scattered Site Closeout #10-C-2131 Other Matters: a. Revised Recapture Provisions b. Award of Bid – 1667 Walnut Street 2. Appointment 6:30 p.m. Tracy Madigan, Farmers Market Update 3. Appointment 6:45 p.m. Porcha Brooks, Tax Administrator Untimely Exemption Application 4. …
VGCC Students Awarded Golden LEAF Scholarships
A group of students from Vance-Granville Community College recently received scholarships through the Golden LEAF Scholars program for the North Carolina Community College System. The scholarship program, designed to help North Carolinians attend the state’s community colleges, is funded through a $750,000 grant from the Golden LEAF Foundation. The scholarship can be used for tuition, books, fees, supplies, transportation and childcare related to attending classes during the 2013-14 academic year, and industry-recognized credential testing expenses that address skill gaps upon …
Peach Day and dessert contest on July 10 at State Farmers Market
RALEIGH — The State Farmers Market is looking for bakers and peach-cobbler makers for the peach dessert contest, which is part of the market’s annual Peach Day, July 10 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The winning recipe will earn $100 in prize money. Second- and third-place recipes will earn $75 and $50, respectively. Winners will be announced during Peach Day at the market’s event area, located between the Farmers Building and the N.C. Seafood Restaurant. Visitors can enjoy free …
N.C. Rural Infrastructure Authority Approves Five Grants
The N.C. Rural Infrastructure Authority (RIA) has approved five grants totaling $1.4 million to companies for projects with the commitment of more than 130 new jobs in North Carolina. The grants include: Community Development Block Grant ($240,000) for the Town of Faison (Duplin County). Funds for the new distribution lines and an elevated water storage tank will allow Southern Produce Distributors to construct a new 90,000-square-foot warehouse that will be used to store sweet potatoes and sweet potato processed products …
N.C. Bioenergy Research Initiative announces 2014 grant recipients
RALEIGH – The N.C. Bioenergy Research Initiative recently awarded $500,000 in grants for six new research projects to boost bioenergy opportunities and production in the state, according to Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “We are excited to have the opportunity to explore bioenergy potential through these grants for North Carolina’s agricultural and forestry industries,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. Below is a list of grant recipients and projects: $35,000 to the Institute of Forest Biotechnology for “Testing Biotech Poplars as a …
N.C. State Fair announces 2014 Dorton Arena lineup
RALEIGH – The 2014 N.C. State Fair Dorton Arena lineup will feature performances by country, gospel, rock and contemporary Christian artists, along with a stand-up comedian. Vanilla Ice will kick off the series on Thursday, Oct. 16, with a “Throwback Thursday” show. The rapper and reality TV show personality became the first hip hop artist to top the Billboard pop singles chart with his hit “Ice Ice Baby” in 1990. Friday, Oct. 18, will feature gospel artist, Tamela Mann. Mann …
Coastal Divisions Prepare for Tropical Storm Arthur
RALEIGH —The N.C. Department of Transportation is keeping a close eye on Tropical Storm Arthur and making preparations to ensure we’re ready to respond if needed. Crews in the coastal divisions are checking equipment to make sure it is working properly, topping off their fuel tanks and staging equipment as necessary prior to the storm’s arrival. Along the Outer Banks, crews are staging front end loaders, motor graders and bulldozers along N.C. 12 in Ocracoke, Rodanthe and Pea Island, south …
NCDOT Awards $7.8 Million Contract for Tryon Road Improvements in Wake County
RALEIGH — N.C. Department of Transportation has awarded a contract to widen and improve Tryon Road in Wake County. The $7.8 million contract was awarded to S. T. Wooten Corp. of Wilson. The project includes realigning part of the current Tryon Road route to go through the Renaissance Park development from U.S. 70/401/N.C. 50, as well as replacing the bridge over Norfolk Southern Railway. That will eliminate two sharp curves just east of the railroad bridge. In addition, both new …
Independence Day Weekend Celebration July 5th, 2014 Kerr Lake
Saturday, July 5, 2014 6:30 – 10:00 pm Satterwhite Point Kerr Lake Fireworks, Live Entertainment, Food Vendors, T-Shirts, Glow Sticks and more. “The Sand Band” will perform Beach and Carolina Shag dance music along with your favorite oldies from 6:30 pm – 10:00 pm Satterwhite Point, Kerr Lake, Henderson, NC No Alcohol Allowed Free and open to the public Sponsored by: Vance County Department of Tourism 252-438-222 or 866-438-4565 www.kerrlake-nc.com
Restraining order sought for victims of sexual extortion in federal housing subsidy program
LAURINBURG, July 1, 2014 – Legal Aid of North Carolina’s Fair Housing Project and Greensboro attorney Craig Hensel are asking a U.S. district court to prevent a nonprofit housing group from retaliating against eight women who say the group’s employees extorted sex in exchange for facilitating their participation in a federal housing subsidy program. Legal Aid and Hensel filed a motion for a temporary restraining order against the group, Four-County Community Services (FCCS), and two of its employees, John Wesley …
VGCC offers CDL-B driver training course
Vance-Granville Community College has scheduled a Class B Commercial Driver License (CDL) course at the college’s Main Campus in Vance County. Classes will be held on Saturdays from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m., Aug. 2 through Oct. 11. This course prepares North Carolina residents for jobs operating a variety of commercial vehicles, such as delivery trucks, dump trucks, cement trucks, passenger buses and utility trucks. The training provides students with the vehicle maneuver skills and background needed to take the …
July is Got to Be NC Agriculture Month
RALEIGH — Farmers across North Carolina are in full swing, bringing their fresh fruits and vegetables to market. Those farmers are part of the state’s $78-billion agriculture industry. In recognition of agriculture’s importance as the state’s top industry, Gov. Pat McCrory has proclaimed July 2014 as Got to Be NC Agriculture Month. “We created the Got to Be NC marketing program almost a decade ago to help consumers identify local products no matter where they shop,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve …
NCDA&CS restaurant week promotion, Dig into Local, runs July 14-23
RALEIGH – Diners in eight Piedmont counties can enjoy special, locally sourced menu items at 42 participating restaurants as part of the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ “Dig into Local” Restaurant Week July 14-23. “The promotion coincides with the peak of North Carolina’s summer harvest season, giving chefs lots of local options to incorporate into their menus,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “With so much culinary talent and creativity in this state, combined with the freshest products, these …
Louisburg College Alumnus Receives Order of the Long Leaf Pine
LOUISBURG, N.C.—A Louisburg College alumnus recently received one of North Carolina’s highest honors. The Order of the Long Leaf Pine was presented to the Honorable James F. Ammons, Jr., ’75, a Cumberland County Chief Superior Court judge. “Every one of you here is guilty of conspiracy,” a surprised Ammons told cronies after receiving the award in the Ammons courtroom on behalf of Governor Pat McCrory. Since its creation in 1963, the Order of the Long Leaf Pine has been presented …
Mari Miller: Farmer’s Market hosts a “Grand Opening”
The Vance County Regional Farmers Market hosted their “Grand Opening” Saturday, June 28th. I attended the first day of the market back on June 11th, visiting 9 vendors with a wide selection of items for attendees. This time the market was fuller with a total of 12 vendors. Six of the vendors that were there I met on my first trip, (Simple Luxuries, Kerr Lake Master Gardeners, JASM Farms, Franklin Brothers Nursery and Greenhouse, LouMag Enterprises, and Backroad Farm and …
Warren County Summer Meals for Kids
The Summer Food Service Program provides free nutritious meals to all kids age 18 and younger at participating sites. Find a site, show up, eat and have fun! June 16 – August 8, 2014 (WCHS) June 19 – July 30, 2014 (WCMS) June 23-August 8, 2014 (F&M Mobile) June 23 – August 7, 2014 (Mary & Howard Place) Places: Warren County Middle and High Schools, F&M Mobile Home Park 105 Queens Street (Warrenton), Mary & Howard Place 305 Warren Plains …
Vance County Board of Education Called Board Meeting Monday June 30, 2014
VANCE COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION Called Meeting Monday, June 30, 2014 5:30 p.m. Administrative Services Center Superintendent’s Conference Room 1724 Graham Avenue Henderson, N. C. 27536 AGENDA I. Call to Order * II. Approval of Meeting Agenda III. Finance: * A. Final 2013-2014 Budget Amendments * B. Adoption of Interim 2014-2015 Budget Resolution * C. Bank Signature Authority Change * D. Child Nutrition’s 2014-2015 Bids IV. Policy: * A. Policy GBCB, …