Vance County Schools will be hosting bus driver training sessions from July 29 through August 1, in the Drama Room at Southern Vance High School. The sessions will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on each of the four days. Participants must attend all four sessions to be certified as a bus driver. Interested persons are asked to call the school system’s Transportation Department at 438-5012 by Tuesday, July 23, to pre-register for the training sessions.
Butterfield Offers Amendment to Protect Communities from Natural Disasters
WASHINGTON, DC — On Wednesday, Congressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) offered an amendment to H.R. 2609, the Fiscal Year 2014 Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, to prioritize disaster relief and flood mitigation for Army Corps of Engineers construction projects. The Corps works to improve the safety of communities such as those near the Neuse River in Goldsboro, North Carolina and in Princeville, North Carolina where Hurricane Floyd all but destroyed the town due to rapidly rising …
Butterfield Applauds USDA Grants to Warrenton and Wilson for Economic Development
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) praised the U. S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) decisions to award Rural Business Enterprise Grants to the cities of Warrenton and Wilson, North Carolina. The grant for Warrenton will be used to assist the town with a streetscape beautification project to encourage tourism and increase traffic to the downtown area. Several businesses have expressed interest in moving to the downtown district, but requested that Warrenton first improve its landscaping and install …
Butterfield and CBC Leads Protest of Farm Bill on House Floor
WASHINGTON, DC – Thursday, Congressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01), Vice Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), and members of the CBC protested removing the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) from the Farm Bill during rule debate on the House Floor. CBC Members, Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer and Members of the Democratic Caucus stood together in opposition to separating nutrition programs and farm subsidies from the Farm Bill as an effort to pass legislation without regard to the impact …
Butterfield Blasts House Republicans for Passing Farm Bill without Funding Food Stamps and Other Nutrition Programs
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) blasted the Republican leadership of the U.S. House of Representatives for passing a revised Farm Bill without funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps. The revised bill excluded the nutrition title that authorizes SNAP and other vital nutrition-related programs that benefit millions of Americans. Butterfield said, “House Republicans showed the American people that they don’t care about those most in need–about the single mother with …
Friday / Weekend Open Line
A romantic period of American history that still intrigues us ended, semiofficially, on this date in 1893. That’s when historian Frederick Jackson Turner delivered an academic paper in Chicago declaring the American Frontier had closed. Based on 1890 Census data, Turner said that migration from the East, the building of railroads and hundreds of new towns had combined to forge a single nation from coast-to-coast. The most recent census showed that the West is still a magnet for growth. Between …
Free Mammogram Service Sponsored by Belk and Charlotte Radiology Mobile Mammogram July 12th and 13th
Belk of Henderson is partnering with Charlotte Radiology Mobile Mammogram services to offer “FREE” mammogram service to women on Friday July 12th & Saturday July 13th. The individual has to be over 40 and has not had a mammogram within the last 12 months. You must bring in your Dr. name and contact information. Results will only be sent to your doctor. If you have insurance Belk will pay your co-pay and for those with no insurance Belk will pay …
North Carolina Weekend
For the week of July 11 on UNC-TV’s North Carolina Weekend, lift a glass at Appalachian Mountain Brewery in Boone. Find something unique at Todd Mercantile in Todd. Step back in time during First in Freedom, an outdoor drama in Halifax. Tempt your sweet tooth at Maple View Farms in Hillsborough. And tour Rock Barn Golf & Spa Resort in Hickory. (Please note: listings are subject to change.) North Carolina Weekend is underwritten by the N.C. Division of Tourism. In …
N.C. Forest Service accepting orders for seedlings
RALEIGH — The annual window of opportunity for ordering seedlings from the N.C. Forest Service Nursery Program is open. “The Forest Service produces about 20 million quality seedlings for 54 species of both conifer and hardwoods each year at its nurseries, using solid nursery research and experience,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “The genetically superior Loblolly pine seedlings, for instance, are grown from seeds produced by orchard trees that are proven to give landowners increased growth and are more disease-resistant.” …
Butterfield Cheers EPA’s Approval of Renewable Fuel Source That Will Lead to Job Creation
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) today applauded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for clearing the way for the production of renewable fuel from giant reed (Arundo donax) and napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum). This decision directly affects North Carolina farmers and Chemtex International, a global renewable energy company seeking to create jobs by opening a new renewable energy plant in eastern North Carolina. Butterfield said, “The EPA’s decision to allow production of renewable fuel from Arundo donax …
Butterfield Offers Amendment to Protect and Advance Energy Research
WASHINGTON, DC — Late last night, Congressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) offered a bipartisan amendment to H.R. 2609, the Fiscal Year 2014 Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, that would provide funding for Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) to distribute to critical energy research projects throughout the country. Innovations funded by ARPA-E have spurred millions in economic activity and helps the U.S. economy compete in emerging energy markets. “Our ability to compete in energy innovation is critical …
Attorney General Roy Cooper: Beware of calls offering medic alert
More than 100 consumers have complained to us in the past month about calls pitching a medical alert system. These robocalls (pre-recorded, automatically dialed calls) use what is called an avatar recording, meaning the recording can understand some of what you say and respond with a stock answer. In the recording, “John” promises you a medical alert system and says it’s already been paid for. While this may sound like a good deal, we suspect it’s either a ruse to …
Thursday Open Line
The far-flung reaches of planet Earth came into focus for the average American this week in 1962 with the launching of Telstar. This was the first privately owned satellite and the first to relay live television pictures across the ocean. While a major communications advance and a sensation of the day, Telstar didn’t last long. It failed in December, was restored briefly, and then went dead in February 1963. Today, dozens of communications satellites allow television signals, telephone calls and …
Changes coming to VGCC Electrical program
As part of a statewide initiative to update technical education programs, Vance-Granville Community College is converting the former “Electrical/Electronics Technology” program into the new Electrical Systems Technology program. The change takes effect as of the fall semester, which begins Aug. 19. The program’s subtle makeover comes in the wake of the N.C. Community College System’s “Code Green” Super Curriculum Improvement Project (CIP), which resulted in the redesign of various curriculum programs and courses in five areas: Building, Energy, Engineering, Environment, …
Henderson City Council Boards and Commissions Committee Meetings
Boards and commissions committee The boards and commissions committee of the Henderson city council will meet on Thursday, july 11 at 4:00 p.m. In the large conference room at city hall, 134 rose avenue, Henderson, NC. The purpose of the meeting, among other items, is to consider applications for several boards and committees. The public is welcome to attend. Human resources committee Te Henderson city council human resources committee will meet on Tuesday, july 16, 2013 at 1:00 p.m. In …
North Carolina Tourism Launches New VisitNC.com
RALEIGH, N.C. (July 9, 2013) — For the first time since 2009, the North Carolina Division of Tourism has significantly enhanced its digital presence with a new website for consumer travel planning. VisitNC.com features a fresh look with dynamic content and responsive web design to make travel planning easier and more interactive. In addition to its agile design, the new website aligns with the Division’s key focus of showcasing North Carolina’s beauty and continued growth of downstream referrals to industry …
Three N.C. Communities Named 2013 All-America Cities
The National Civic League last month named the ten winners of the 2013 All-America City Awards, an honor given each year to towns, cities, counties, neighborhoods, and metropolitan regions for outstanding civic achievement. Of the ten winners, three are in North Carolina – Dunn, Garner and Thomasville. Since 1949, the awards program has recognized more than 650 communities for addressing local challenges with innovative, grassroots strategies that promote civic engagement and cooperation between the public, private and nonprofit sectors. Hundreds …
2013 N.C. State Fair features new contest categories
RALEIGH – 2013 marks an important year for the North Carolina State Fair Premium Book, which is in its final print edition. The Premium Book contains the rules, deadlines and entry forms for each competition and explains contest changes and additions for this season. “With nearly 30,000 entries and more than $600,000 awarded in premiums, the N.C. State Fair is an exciting venue for North Carolinians to showcase their talents,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “Participants will find plenty of …
VisitNC.com Sweepstakes Features Vacations of a Lifetime
RALEIGH, N.C. (July 9, 2013) – The North Carolina Division of Tourism celebrates the launch of its revamped travel planning website, VisitNC.com, with the “Beauty Amplified? Photo Sweepstakes,” which offers travelers the opportunity to win one of three unique experiences: a behind-closed-doors tour of Biltmore, a private dinner in the home of renowned Raleigh chef Ashley Christiansen, or a dive on the wreck of Blackbeard’s legendary flagship — a location so secret that the winner will be blindfolded en route. …
Senator Kay Hagan: Students Cannot Afford Congressional Inaction
Yet another deadline has come and gone with Congress failing to act. This time, the fallout from the political paralysis in Washington will land squarely on students and middle class families who rely on federal Stafford loans to afford college. Because Congress did not act, 176,000 North Carolina students and 7.4 million students nationwide will see interest rates on their federal Stafford loans double from 3.4 to 6.8 percent. This effectively sticks our students with nearly $1,000 a year in …