April 5, 2014 (rain date April 12) Noon – 4:00 pm Crossroads Shopping Center We will be having a bouncy house, speed pitch, basketball, face painting, balloon twisting, train ride and much more. $10.00 attraction card is available for purchase that will be good for 7 attractions of the child’s choice. Hot dogs, cotton candy and baked goods will be available for sale. 98.3 Radio will be broadcasting live during the fundraiser. **The Triangle Run/Walk for …
Attorney General Roy Cooper: Crooks Use Tax Form to Sell Scam
Watch out for scammers using a real tax form to try to trick you out of your money. A North Carolina consumer recently got an email with tax form IRS Form W-2G, which is used to report gambling winnings. The form was already filled out with the consumer’s name and address, and it showed that he had recently won $2.5 million dollars in a lottery. Later, the consumer got a call telling him to be ready to pay $485 in …
Butterfield Announces D.C. Office Staff Changes
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) today announced the following staffing updates: Administrative Department Reggie McCrimmon, who has served as Staff Assistant since July, has been promoted to Special Assistant. As Special Assistant, Reggie will manage all special administrative, communications, legislative, and outreach projects; in addition to serving as the internship coordinator. Reggie is a 2013 graduate of North Carolina Central University, where he served two terms as Student Body President. Previously, Reggie interned in the offices of …
N.C. continues to lose farms, but rate of land loss slows
RALEIGH — The rate of farmland loss in North Carolina slowed over a five-year period even as the number of farms continued to fall, a review of the federal Census of Agriculture shows. The U.S. Department of Agriculture conducts an agricultural census every five years and released preliminary results of the 2012 survey today. North Carolina had 2,700 fewer farms in 2012 than it did in 2007. The state’s 50,210 farms occupy 8.41 million acres of land. In 2007, there …
Chamber Ribbon Cutting – Kerr Lake Country Club
A ribbon cutting ceremony was held on Thursday, January 23rd at 5PM for Kerr Lake Country Club to showcase their business and new Club House/Banquet Hall. The newly remodeled Club House / Banquet Hall is 2500 Square feet of beauty and charm. With warm hues, tres ceilings, and picturesque views, the banquet facility is perfect for class reunions, family reunions, wedding receptions and can accommodate up to 299 guests! Providing tables, chairs, a large fully equipped kitchen, dance floor, restrooms, …
Friday / Weekend Open Line
In the early days of the telephone, knowing who had one and what the number was quickly became a problem. The first telephone directory in the U.S. was published on this date in 1878 in New Haven, Connecticut. It wasn’t a big list — there were only 50 subscribers. A little later, a directory also came out in San Francisco, with about 170 names. Now, there are over 22,000 retail establishments in the U.S. selling landline and cellular phones, with …
Michael Bobbitt: Notes From The Peanut Gallery (Special Called Meeting February 17th, 2014)
I assumed that the special called meeting of the commissioners would last no more than fifteen minutes since the two topics had already been settled in committee meetings. Twenty minutes into the meeting I realized my assumption was grossly incorrect. Sadly, there is no public recording of the meeting because of my assumption. The agreement to sell the house was swiftly approved. The Water Board was one commissioner against the politically connected power base and silent commissioners. Neighborhood Stabilization House …
VGCC Manufacturing training course starts March 3
Vance-Granville Community College is taking another step towards helping displaced workers get back on the job with Certified Production Technician (CPT) training. As part of the North Carolina Back-to-Work program, CPT classes will run March 3 through May 7. Classes will be held Monday-Thursday from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the college’s Main Campus in Vance County. The course is based on the Manufacturing Skill Standards Council (MSSC) curriculum, an industry training system focused on the core technical skills …
American Red Cross Blood Drive February 27th, 2014
The Early High School STEM Program on the campus of Northern Vance High School is sponsoring an American Red Cross Blood Drive on Thursday, February 27, from 1:30 to 6 p.m. in the media center at Northern Vance. All interested persons are urged to participate in this important community event. For additional information or to register for the Blood Drive, go online to redcrossblood.org and search by sponsor code to “STEM” or contact Dana Bowden, STEM Program coordinator, at 252-738-2260 …
Vance County Public Safety Committe Meeting February 24th, 2014
The Vance County’s Public Safety Committee is scheduled to meet Monday, February 24, 2014 at 3:30 p.m. in the County Manager’s Office. Topics to be discussed include volunteer fire department audit reports and the animal shelter.
North Carolina Public Schools Releases Summary Reports on Educator Effectiveness Online
Summary reports of teacher and administrator (principals/assistant principals) performance for the 2010-11, 2011-12, and 2012-13 schools years are available online at www.ncpublicschools.org/effectiveness-model/data. The 2012-13 data also includes ratings for Standard 6 on the teacher evaluation, which uses student growth estimates as a measure of teacher effectiveness. The online data reports are intended to provide a resource that is user-friendly and easily accessible so that parents, educators and other community members can see data reflecting the effectiveness of instruction in their …
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Continuing to Help in Dan River Coal Ash Spill
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is continuing to provide fish and wildlife expertise during the emergency response and remedial phases following the Dan River coal ash spill and will work with others to determine the impacts of the spill, short-term and longer-term, on fish, wildlife, and their habitat. “Biologists and environmental contaminants specialists from our North Carolina and Virginia field offices have initially found layers of coal ash of varying thickness spread out over 70 miles of the Dan …
NC Beer Month Returns in April With Fresh Rewards
RALEIGH, N.C. (February 19, 2014) — North Carolina, one of the nation’s top craft beer states, celebrates the craftsmanship of 100 breweries and destinations that embrace it with the return of NC Beer Month in April 2014. NC Beer Month, co-sponsored by the North Carolina Division of Tourism and the North Carolina Craft Brewers Guild, directs travelers to a rising range of beerscapes, from brewery-rich cities and welcoming towns to unexpected finds in lesser-known places. Major festivals, singular events, special-edition …
Butterfield Congratulates Dr. Victor Dzau on New Position at Institute of Medicine
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) released the following statement regarding Duke University Health System CEO Dr. Victor J. Dzau being named as the next president of the Institute of Medicine: “I congratulate Dr. Victor Dzau on being named the new president of the Institute of Medicine, the health arm of the National Academies. For decades, Dr. Dzau has been recognized as a world-renowned pioneer in scientific and medical research. As Duke University’s Chancellor of Health Affairs, President …
North Carolina Weekend
For the week of Feb. 22, on UNC-TV’s North Carolina Weekend, sit back and enjoy the Murphey School Radio Show in Orange County. “Collecting Carolina” looks at Moravian pottery in Winston-Salem. Take in an exhibit at African American Atelier in Greensboro. Get back to nature at Pee Dee National Wildlife Refuge in Wadesboro. And the “House Special” samples the fare at Saltbox Seafood Joint in Durham. (Please note: listings are subject to change.) North Carolina Weekend is underwritten by the …
Belgian Furniture Company Selects High Point for North American Manufacturing Headquarters
RALEIGH – Governor Pat McCrory and N.C. Commerce Secretary Sharon Decker announced today that BuzziSpace, Inc. will locate its North American manufacturing headquarters in Guilford County. The furniture company plans to create 113 jobs and invest more than $1.75 million during the next five years in High Point. BuzziSpace will operate out of a renovated building that once housed the operations of the Pickett Cotton Mill, which first opened more than 100 years ago. “High Point’s international reputation for manufacturing …
Call Center provides support during recent snows, fielding more than 4,000 calls
During the state’s recent widespread snow events, the Division’s 1-800-VISITNC Call Center fielded calls from citizens and visitors alike seeking current road conditions and other vital information. Calls to the N.C. Dept. of Transportation’s customer service department were transferred to the Call Center, which maintained 24-hour service throughout the storms and their aftermath. During last week’s winter storms, the Call Center handled more than 2,700 weather-related calls; it fielded more than 1,600 weather-related calls during the storm in late January. …
Thursday Open Line
Editors note: Sorry, I switched the Open Line text from today and yesterday. Here is the one that should have been shown yesterday: Wednesday, February 19th. On this date in 1942, some two and a half months after the attack on Pearl Harbor, President Franklin Roosevelt issued an executive order requiring Japanese-Americans living along the Pacific Coast to be relocated inland. This order affected some 77,000 citizens and 43,000 resident aliens. The internment lasted throughout the Second World War, and …
Henderson City Council Retreat February 19th and 20th, 2014
The Henderson City Council will hold it’s annual retreat tonight, Wednesday evening February 19th at the Henderson Country Club and Thursday 20th, 2014 at the Perry Memorial Library. The agenda for both days are attached. The public is invited to attend, however no meals will be provided to the public. Download the agenda here: 20140219_coh_retreat_agenda
Keep safety first when cleaning up storm debris
RALEIGH — Recent winter storms felled trees and branches across North Carolina. The N.C. Forest Service encourages homeowners and others who prune trees or burn yard debris to use caution and follow some basic steps. Although your trees may look severely damaged, restorative pruning and care may increase the chances of them regaining their original health and beauty. If the basic structure of your trees is intact, it may be in your best interest to save the tree. Tree topping …