Today marks the 407th anniversary of the founding of the first permanent English settlement in what is now the United States, at Jamestown, Virginia. The name honored King James I of England. Captains John Smith and Christopher Newport were among the leaders of a group of royally chartered settlers, who sailed from Plymouth, England aboard three small ships — the Susan Constant, Godspeed, and Discovery. By 1625, more than 1,200 European colonists lived in Virginia. Today, the state has a …
Congresswoman Renee Ellmers: Working to Help Women and Families
I hope this finds you enjoying a very happy Mother’s Day! House Republicans remain focused on jobs and working to expand economic opportunity and security for America’s middle class. In a guest post on Speaker Boehner’s blog Thursday, I talked about five solutions Republicans are working on to help women and families. (Read the post in full below.) There were many important votes taking places in Congress this week. On Wednesday, we voted to hold former IRS Exempt Organizations Division Director …
Butterfield Mourns Loss of Friend and NCCU Photographer Robert Lawson
WASHINGTON, DC — Congressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) today released the following statement regarding the passing of longtime North Carolina Central University Photographer Robert Lawson: “It is with a heavy heart that I express extreme sadness over the passing of my longtime friend and North Carolina Central University photographer, Mr. Robert Lawson. Robert was known by the entire Durham community for his warm spirit and steadfast commitment to his beloved alma mater, NCCU. For more than 50 years, he captured …
Butterfield Decries Denial of Federal Aid for Storm Ravaged Eastern North Carolina
WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Congressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) expressed disappointment that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) denied Governor Pat McCrory’s request to make emergency federal funds available through a major disaster declaration for North Carolina. These funds were requested to assist residents in Beaufort, Chowan, Pasquotank, and Perquimans counties after they were hit by severe storms for several days in late April. After learning of the denial, Butterfield held an emergency call with FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate. …
Legislative Update from Senator Richard Burr
This week the Senate passed the Kilah Davenport Child Protection Act, which I introduced in December as the Senate companion to Rep. Robert Pittenger’s House legislation (H.R. 3627). This bill will require the Department of Justice to do a study on state child abuse penalties, which will serve as an important resource for determining if penalties are sufficient to protect children. Having passed both the House of Representatives and the Senate, this legislation will now move to the President’s desk …
White House Weekly Address: The First Lady Marks Mother’s Day and Speaks Out on the Tragic Kidnapping in Nigeria
In this week’s address, First Lady Michelle Obama honors all mothers on this upcoming Mother’s Day and offers her thoughts, prayers, and support in the wake of the unconscionable terrorist kidnapping of more than 200 Nigerian girls. This week, the First Lady launched her new Reach Higher education initiative, while the President hosted two bilateral meetings and a press conference, let loose some humor at the White House Correspondents Dinner, and traveled to Arkansas and California.
Monday Open Line
Yesterday honored mothers, but it also was the 160th birthday of a German-American whose name may not be familiar, but whose invention had a profound impact on the reading habits of all Americans, and indeed, the world. His name was Ottmar Mergenthaler. His invention, the linotype — allowed one person to set type for printing by simply pressing keys on a keyboard — bypassing four different operations at much greater speeds. It was first used in 1886 by the New …
City of Henderson City Council Meeting May 12th
The Henderson City Council Regular Meeting will be held Monday, 12 May 2014 at 6:00 PM in the City Hall Council Chambers, 134 Rose Ave., Henderson, NC 27536. Download the full agenda packet here: 20140512_coh_agenda_packet I. CALL TO ORDER II. ROLL CALL III. INVOCATION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE IV. OPENING REMARKSIn order to provide for the highest standards of ethical behavior and Transparency in Governanceas well as provide for good and open government, the City Council has approved Core Valuesregarding …
VGCC and FVW Opportunity to hold Women’s Business Luncheon/Expo
Franklin-Vance-Warren Opportunity, Inc.’s Women’s Economic Equity Council and the Vance-Granville Community College Small Business Center are partnering to host an event that salutes women who are entrepreneurs and leaders in the community. The second annual “Success Becomes Her,” a luncheon and expo presented by BB&T, is scheduled for Thursday, May 29, from noon until 2 p.m. in the Civic Center on VGCC’s Main Campus in Vance County. The doors will open at 11 a.m. The luncheon program will feature a …
Vance County Board of Education Monday, May 12th, 2014
Vance County Board of Education Monday, May 12th, 2014 at 7:00pm in the Administrative Services Center I. Call to Order II. Moment of Silence * III. Approval of Minutes * IV. Approval of Meeting Agenda V. Recognitions/Announcements VI. Comments from the Public (Citizens who would like to address the Board may do so by completing Form BDDH-E, Public Participation at Board Meetings. This request must be made by noon one working day preceding the regular …
Henderson Vance Crime Stoppers Crimes of the Month – Rewards Offered for Info
Armed Robbery Case: On Monday, April 21, 2014 at 12:45 p.m. members of the Henderson Police Department responded to 224 Lincoln Street in response to an armed robbery report. Upon arrival officers talked to Eddie Davis of 126 Elizabeth Street. Mr. Davis stated that four black males with guns wearing dark colored clothing demanded money phone and keys to his vehicle. The Henderson Police Department encourages anyone with information related to this case to contact Henderson – Vance Crime Stoppers …
Rev up engine-powered fun at Got to Be NC Festival May 16-18
RALEIGH — The Got to Be NC Festival promises to be full of engine-powered fun May 16-18 at the State Fairgrounds. The festival features one of the largest antique tractor and farm equipment displays in the Southeast, with organizers expecting about 1,000 pieces this year. Visitors can talk to the owners, peek under the hoods and learn how these machines transformed agriculture in the 20th century. Tractor parades around the fairgrounds will put the display in motion daily at 1 …
Friday / Weekend Open Lines
This is a time to recognize those nonhuman friends who add a special dimension to our lives — it’s Be Kind to Animals Week and National Pet Week. While pets are a source of companionship, many dogs provide protection and act as eyes for the blind, as well as helping other disabled owners. Less is expected of cats, who keep humans as household staff. Dogs are found in well over one-third of U.S. homes, cats in slightly less than one-third. …
Greensboro awarded National Folk Festival for the next 3 years
Greensboro has been chosen to host the National Folk Festival for a three-year stay in 2015, 2016 and 2017. The National Folk Festival is the nation’s longest-running traditional arts event, a three-day, free outdoor multicultural celebration of music, dance and traditional arts which historically draws as many as 150,000 attendees by the third year of its residency, along with an economic impact of $15 to $30 million a year. The traveling festival’s three-year stay is designed to lay the groundwork …
North Carolina Weekend
For the week of May 8 on UNC-TV’s North Carolina Weekend, take yourself out to the ballpark with a baseball game at the Charlotte Knights new stadium. Go exploring along the Carolina Thread Trail, a network of greenways, trails and blueways that reaches 15 counties and 2 states. Tempt your taste buds at Ashe County Cheese in West Jefferson. Enjoy a tour of Southport. And relax with the halotherapy of the Salt Spa in Asheville. (Please note: listings are subject …
NC Tourism Division office lobby promotes Lake Gaston area
The Lake Gaston Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Center is using the lobby of the Division’s Raleigh offices through June 30 to showcase its area’s attractions, activities and festivals. The display features a wakeboard and quilts along with brochures for Medoc Mountain State Park in Hollister, Sylvan Heights Bird Park in Scotland Neck, Riverside Mill in Weldon plus a driving tour of Warren County. Lake Gaston, of course, is also featured, including a brochure looking back at the lake’s 50th …
N.C. celebrates record visitor spending, impact of state’s tourism industry
Gov. Pat McCrory announced Wednesday that the North Carolina tourism industry generated record visitor spending in 2013. The $20.2 billion in domestic visitor spending represents a 4.1 percent increase from 2012. “The growth of our tourism industry gives us a lot to celebrate,” Gov. McCrory said. “We attracted 52.5 million travelers from across the United States last year because of our great tourist destinations. The money they spent while visiting our mountains, beaches, cities, and places in between directly supported …
Horse owners urged to vaccinate animals against mosquito-borne diseases
RALEIGH – It’s the beginning of mosquito season in North Carolina, which means it’s also time for equine owners to talk to their veterinarians about vaccinating animals against mosquito-borne diseases. West Nile Virus and Eastern Equine Encephalomyelitis are endemic across North Carolina and can cause illness or death in equine, but can be prevented with a sequence of two vaccines. Last year, there were two reported cases of WNV and 13 cases of EEE, but veterinarians expect that the actual …
Thursday Open Line
This is National Nurses Week. Yesterday’s National Nurses Day began a week honoring the outstanding efforts of nurses in helping to keep Americans healthy. The observance ends next Monday, the birthday of Florence Nightingale, who established the world’s first nursing school in England in the 19th century. In the U.S., there were some 12,000 registered nurses by 1900. Today, that figure is over 2.6 million, with median annual earnings of about $62,000. As their numbers have grown, so have nurses’ …
Michael Bobbitt: Notes From The Peanut Gallery (Board of Commissioners May 5th, 2014)
Proposed Budget for Fiscal Year 2014 – 2015 Mr. Asycue presented the proposed budget to the Board announcing a $0.033 cent (4.22%) increase in property taxes. Mr. Asycue pointed out that the current $0.782 rate has been in place for the past five years and is not sufficient to meet the minimum of county needs. Last year Mr. Asycue recommended that the Commissioners enact a $0.02 (two cent) tax increase. Instead of heeding Mr. Asycue’s recommendation the Board approved last …