RALEIGH – County governments and nonprofit groups pursuing farmland preservation projects have until Dec. 16 to apply for funding assistance from the N.C. Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund. About $1.7 million is available through monies appropriated for the 2014-15 budget year by the General Assembly. “We have 86 county voluntary agricultural districts across the state and 50 county-wide farmland protection programs. We want to encourage more preservation efforts through the trust fund,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. The …
Henderson Police Department to Receive Accredition Assesment, Public Comments Wanted
A team of Assessors from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA) will arrive on December 8, 2013 to examine all aspects of the Henderson Police Department’s policy and procedures, management, operations and support services. Verification by the team that the Henderson Police Department meets the Commission’s state-of-the-art standards is part of a voluntary process to gain accreditation – a highly prized recognition of law enforcement professional excellence. As part of the on-site assessment, agency employees and …
Friday / Weekend Open Lines
November is National Diabetes Month; the goal is to make the public more aware of the serious nature of the disease and how to detect and control it. When our bodies are unable to maintain a normal blood sugar level, many complications may follow, including kidney failure. The disease is also the leading cause of new cases of blindness. Some 26 million Americans suffer from diabetes and another 79 million adults have prediabetes, a condition that increases their chances of …
Henderson Trick or Treat is Tonight
Downtown Henderson will hold its annual Trick or Treat event on Garnett Street on Thursday, October 31, 2013 between the hours of 4:00 pm and 5:30 pm. This event is for children 12 and under (leaflets went out to all elementary schools). Participating stores will have an orange sign in the window. There are over 40 merchants in downtown participating this year, please come visit your local downtown and check out your local businesses! Halloween (Trick or Treat) night for …
Vance County Water System Activated and Ready for Connections
The Vance County Water System has been activated within Phase 1A which is the Sandy Creek Township. Residents that have signed up for county water are able to make connection in those areas where waterlines have been installed. To begin the process of connecting, residents should contact Envirolink, Inc. which is the company that will be handling the County’s operation and maintenance of the system. Envirolink can be contacted at 252-235-4900. Once contacting Envirolink and setting up a water account, …
Louisburg College Presents Play ‘Tuesdays With Morrie’ November 9th and 10th
LOUISBURG, N.C.—Louisburg College announces a limited engagement presentation of Mitch Albom’s and Jeffery Hatcher’s play, Tuesdays With Morrie, November 9 and 10 in the Norris Theatre. Performances both days will begin at 2:00 PM. Tuesdays With Morrie is the autobiographical memoir of Mitch Albom, an accomplished sports writer driven by his career, and Morrie Schwartz, his former college professor. Years after graduation, Mitch learns the professor is battling Lou Gehrig’s Disease, and the two reunite. What starts as a simple visit …
6 NC Destinations for Holiday Wonders
RALEIGH, N.C. (October 30. 2013) — Lively cities and charming towns across North Carolina weave magic through the holiday season. Below are some of our favorites from the mountains to the coast. ASHEVILLE Itinerary toppers: From America’s fanciest holiday home to the season’s best comedy on wheels, Asheville invites travelers to celebrate any way they like. Christmas at Biltmore adds 56 ornamented trees to the décor inside America’s largest house with nearly 60 more on the vast estate. On the …
NC Division of Tourisam annual report available online for 2012 year
The Division has published its 2012 Annual Report as required by statute. The report notes that North Carolina’s tourism industry outpaced the national growth rate and achieved record performance in 2012, with visitor spending increasing in each of the state’s 100 counties and resulting in an all-time high $19.4 billion in direct spending. Spending by travelers directly supported 193,610 jobs with a payroll of $4.39 billion and generated $1.549 billion in state and local tax revenues for reinvestment in communities …
N.C.-filmed Bad Grandpa takes weekend box office
Paramount’s Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa, which filmed in North Carolina, topped the weekend box office with $32 million, according to studio estimates Sunday. The hidden camera feature shot in North Carolina in 2012 and created 150 job opportunities while having an estimated direct in-state spend in excess of $5 million during its production. The movie filmed in and around Belmont, Charlotte, Gastonia, Raleigh, and Selma. Bad Grandpa is the third Tar Heel State-shot production this year to win its opening …
Commerce Finalizes Agreement to Transfer Rural Center Grants
RALEIGH, N.C. — Secretary Sharon Decker signed an agreement today that transfers $100 million in state funds from the N.C. Rural Economic Development Center to the N.C. Department of Commerce, which will assume the management and oversight of 421 existing grants totaling in excess of $69 million. The grants provide assistance with building reuse and restoration, water and sewer infrastructure, and economic innovation in rural communities. “I want to thank Rural Center staff and board members for their spirit of …
Quinton Talley Charged with First Degree Kidnapping
On October 29, 2013 members of the Henderson Police Department Criminal Investigations Division with the assistance of the Warren County Sheriff’s Office arrested and charged Quinton Talley, 26, of 142 Parrier Street, Henderson with first degree kidnapping. Mr. Talley was charged with a domestic violence protection order violation by the Vance County Sheriff’s Office. The victim was also located with Mr. Talley and was taken by EMS to an area hospital for treatment. Mr. Talley received a $150,000 secured bond …
Wilmington on track to become first World War II City in U.S.
The U.S. House passed a bill Monday to recognize Wilmington as the first American World War II City, which puts the measure on track to be considered by the U.S. Senate. The House vote marks the end of a two-year effort to secure legislative approval for the World War II honor. Proclaiming Wilmington as an American World War II City was the brainchild of Wilbur Jones, a Wilmington native and military historian. In a city that draws outsiders, college students …
VGCC introduces Computer Technology Integration program
Vance-Granville Community College will offer a new, more flexible format for preparing students for information technology careers when the spring 2014 semester begins on Jan. 13. A new program called Computer Technology Integration serves as an umbrella that includes three degree tracks. Students will choose from the CTI – IT Support track, which will prepare them for job placement in technical support, help desk, and administrative positions, with a focus on office software applications; the CTI – Networking and Security …
VGCC Student Government Officers Elected
Vance-Granville Community College’s Student Government Association has elected a slate of officers to serve during the 2013-2014 year. The new leaders include President Theresa Chiplis of Norlina, a student in the Global Logistics Technology, Accounting, and Business Administration programs; Vice President David Henry of Macon, a College Transfer student; Secretary Brandon Doughty of Louisburg, a Franklin County Early College High School student; Treasurer Matthew Lewis of Louisburg, also a Franklin County Early College High School student; Parliamentarian Joe Ahrens of …
North Carolina Weekend
For the week of Oct. 31 on UNC-TV’s North Carolina Weekend, enjoy the food and the music jam at the Cook Shack in Union Grove. Take in the great outdoors at Carolina Beach State Park in Carolina Beach. Visit bygone eras at Bennett Classics Antique Auto in Forest City. Be amazed at the artistry at Tattoo Archive in Winston-Salem. And tempt your taste buds at the Mecca Restaurant in Raleigh. (Please note: listings are subject to change.) North Carolina Weekend …
Attorney General Roy Cooper: Watch out for phony IRS calls
North Carolinians are getting phone messages from people who pretend to be with the Internal Revenue Service. The callers claim that you owe back taxes and urge you or your lawyer to return the call immediately. When you do, they suggest that you pay what they claim you owe using your credit card—and of course they’re happy to take your payment right over the phone. The scammers often call again and again, hoping you’ll eventually call back. They may use …
Thursdy Open Line
There’s an excellent chance that today is an occasion deeply revered by young children and the nation’s candy makers. According to ancient Celtic tradition, Halloween — the evening before All Saints Day — is a time of haunting by ghosts. Halloween has come a long way from pagan practices to “trick or treat!” Today’s prank and costume-filled observance goes back about a century in the U.K., and giving the disguised young visitors to the doorstep some candies has been a …
TNHF Foundation Golf Tournament Benefits Local Boys & Girls Clubs
The North Central N.C. Boys & Girls Clubs was designated as the beneficiary of Triangle North Healthcare Foundation’s second annual Golf Tournament, held last month at Henderson Country Club. Based in Henderson and currently led by Acting Director April Scott, the Boys & Girls Clubs received $8,000 from the Foundation’s Chairman Eddie Ferguson and Executive Director Val Short during a presentation on Tuesday. “We had tremendous support of the local businesses and golfers for this tournament and we are pleased …
NC Cooperative Extension Updates
FARM CITY BREAKFAST, 11/13 You’re invited! November 13, 1st Presbyterian Church in Henderson. Our speaker is NC Commissioner of Agriculture Steve Troxler! All the details here: http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/farmcityinvite2013.pdf PESTICIDE DISPOSAL DAY, 11/14, WARRENTON Do you have any home, garden or farm pesticides that are more than three years old? Would you like to get them off your hands? They may have already lost activity, and are a storage liability. Bring them to our collection event on Thu, Nov 14, 10 am …
Newton sworn in as first VGCC Police Chief
Sean G. Newton took the oath of office on Oct. 28 as the first Chief of Police for the new campus police department at Vance-Granville Community College. The ceremonial swearing-in, administered by North Carolina District Court Judge Randolph Baskerville, was held in the Civic Center on VGCC’s Main Campus in Vance County. Newton, a resident of Wake Forest, has served as VGCC’s Director of Public Safety since 2008 and officially became Chief of Police as well in late July, following …