The leaders of the Embassy Square Foundation sounded an ominous warning this week: If people don’t stop questioning the Embassy project, the whole thing might fall apart. What we need instead, foundation Chairman Sam Watkins suggested, is a city full of cheerleaders.
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Vance hunting bill clears Senate
The General Assembly’s Vance County hunting legislation, House Bill 982, passed the state Senate on Thursday and now is a gubernatorial signature from becoming law. Under the legislation, as of Oct. 1 hunting will not be allowed in, from or across the right of way for any public road, and high-powered rifles may not be fired in those positions. The penalty will be a $250 fine or 30 days in jail. The bill also will increase the possible fine for …
Opinion: Raemac deserves small-business award
The Henderson-Vance County Chamber of Commerce named Raemac Transportation its Small Business of the Year at a luncheon at Henderson Country Club on Thursday, and we can’t think of a more worthy winner.
VOICE being heard in high places
The Vance Organization to Implement Community Excellence made its first move toward a formal structure Wednesday morning, but VOICE already is having some positive effects.
Four businesses grow into special-use permits
Lighthouse Entertainment’s new complex for children was just one of four businesses to win special-use permits from the Henderson Zoning Board of Adjustment on Tuesday afternoon.
Embassy leaders breeze through finance meeting
The Henderson City Council turned to the Embassy Square Foundation for help Tuesday night and wound up all but apologizing for any bad public relations the Embassy project has suffered.
Library funding under pressure
Now that the Embassy Square Foundation has appeared before the Henderson City Council’s finance committee, the H. Leslie Perry Memorial Library is next.
Opinion: End the phony hiring freeze
When is a hiring freeze not a hiring freeze? When it’s operated by the Vance County government.
City planning director resigns for job in Durham
Henderson Planning Director Grace Smith submitted her resignation Monday, effective May 20.
Housing rehab, job vacancies top county agenda
Monday’s regular meeting of the Vance County Board of Commissioners could easily be mistaken for a special joint session with the Kerr-Tar Regional Council of Governments.
National Day of Prayer comes to courthouse
Vance County residents can participate in the National Day of Prayer next Thursday by gathering on the plaza of the county courthouse at noon to pray for the community.
3 additions to the Bookshelf
We’ve added reviews of three more books to the Bookshelf, the place to visit if you love books and reading. The newcomers share an atomic theme, thanks to a clever editor at USA TODAY: “American Prometheus,” an epic biography of J. Robert Oppenheimer; “The Bomb: A Life,” a seriously funny biography of the weapon that changed the world; and “The Worlds of Herman Kahn,” a befuddling look at the life and times of a man who dared to dream of …
Butterfield moves to help small tobacco farmers
Rep. G.K. Butterfield introduced legislation Tuesday to help tobacco farmers and quota holders keep more buyout money.
Rollins student wins national writing award
Yousef Saleh, a fifth-grader at E.M. Rollins Elementary, accepts a certificate Friday recognizing him as a national finalist in a writing contest run by Nationwide Learning of Topeka, Kan. Academically and Intellectually Gifted teacher Inez Bostic presents the award during a ceremony recognizing more than 120 fourth- and fifth-graders at Rollins who published their own books through a Nationwide program this year. Flanking Yousef are Assistant Principal Willie Fuller and Principal William Bowers. Bostic said she has participated in the …
Opinion: We hope the
The City Council had a short night by its recent standards Monday, adjourning at 9:25 p.m., one hour and 55 minutes after beginning.
Privilege licenses defy enforcement
Privilege licenses are the latest hot topic for the Henderson City Council.
Etheridge honored for helping hometown heroes
Rep. Bob Etheridge, D-Lillington, who represents southern Vance County in Congress, receives the National Fire Protection Association’s Legislator of the Year Award from John Biechman, the group’s vice president of government affairs, in a photo released by Etheridge’s office Wednesday. Etheridge was honored for his work in sponsoring and passing the Hometown Heroes Survivor Benefits Act, which extends federal survivor benefits to the families of firefighters, police officers and emergency workers who die of heart attack or stroke while in …
Dr. Bill Dennis has provided thoughtful responses to our editorial on the city’s recycling program, “Opinion: Recycling program must change,” so we felt honor-bound to respond to his question about a state law banning the disposal of recyclable goods in landfills. As is usually the case, even with beach music, the good doctor is correct (we can only guess that the repealed sections applied to former Gov. Jim Hunt).
Henderson plans for higher water, sewer rates
The Henderson City Council’s first look at revenues for the upcoming budget showed that department heads shouldn’t hold out hope for any requested spending increases and that city residents can expect to pay more starting July 1.