From George Washington to Barack Obama, U.S. presidents have slept, studied and taken their first steps in North Carolina. They’ve vacationed here, played golf and visited sites on tourists’ must-see lists. As the state awaits a new moment in history with the 2012 Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, political junkies of all persuasions can dig into our presidents’ pasts at places across North Carolina. James K. Polk The history: Our 11th president was born on a 150-acre farm south of …
John Edwards’ Public Statement
I wanted to say, first, thank you for the jurors and their incredibly hard work and their diligence. They took their job very, very seriously as we saw both during the trial – the attention they paid to the evidence during the trial, the presentations of the lawyers – and the fact they’ve now spent nine – almost nine – full days deliberating, trying to reach a fair and just result under the evidence and the law. All I can …
Vance County Proposed Budget 2012
You may download the Vance County proposed budget for 2012 here: 20120531_vance_county_nc_proposed_budget
Representative Michael H. Wray’s Raleigh Report
The House of Representatives approved a budget this week that fails to meet many of the needs of our state, particularly in the area of education. I did not support this plan because it fails to reverse the deep, damaging and unnecessary cuts made to our budget last year. This budget does not replace any of the 3,000 classroom educators fired last year. It does not put any more textbooks into our schools or give a single pencil more to …
Friday / Weekend Open Line
What is now routine for millions of Americans each day — checking an all-news cable television channel for the latest events around the world — began on this day in 1980. That’s when CNN — the Cable News Network — started its service. At the time, some critics questioned whether the public would be interested in a channel that carried nothing but news 24 hours a day. Now, there are not only a number of such news channels, but others …
Meet Me In The Street in Downtown Henderson Tonight
2012’s second of three free “Meet Me in the Street” concerts is scheduled for Thursday, May 31st. Featured band will be The Entertainers. The free concert will take place on Breckenridge Street from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. The next concert in the series is September 13 (featuring The Castaways). Each of the events are brought to Henderson by presenting sponsor Harris Incorporated of Henderson and the Budweiser True Music Concert Series. The concert is coordinated by the Henderson-Vance County Chamber …
House Budget Released: Impact on NC Children
The proposed House budget restores some funding for key child programs that were cut last year, though not nearly to the level of the Governor’s proposed budget, which focused heavily on public education investments. There are also, however, some concerning cuts to children’s programs in the House budget, and places where badly needed funds cut last year were not restored. The proposed House budget increases total funding for state government by about 1.6 percent over the budget approved last year. …
NC Receives NCLB Waiver Approval
North Carolina is one of eight states receiving flexibility waivers from key provisions of No Child Left Behind in exchange for state-developed plans to prepare all students for college and career, focus aid on the neediest students, and support effective teaching and leadership. US Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announced the new round of waiver approvals on Tuesday. To date, 19 states have received waiver approval, and another 18 waiver plans are under review. This decision comes after several months …
Henderson City Council Budget Work Sessions Cancelled
All Henderson City Council Budget Work Sessions scheduled between May 29, 2012 and the Public Hearing on June 11, 2012 at 6:00 p.m. have been canceled.
Butterfield Cheers North Carolina’s Waiver to No Child Left Behind
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) today cheered the U.S. Department of Education for granting North Carolina flexibility from key provisions of No Child Left Behind (NCLB) due to its commitment to prepare all students for college and career, and support effective teaching. “This waiver will allow North Carolina educators increased autonomy to implement a more tailored, need specific approach to education,” said Butterfield. “I commend the state for its continued dedication to academic achievement, and its valiant …
Thursday Open Line
One of the worst disasters to hit the U.S. happened on this day in 1889 — the Johnstown, Pennsylvania flood. Heavy rains burst a nearby dam forming a lake for a fishing and hunting retreat. When the dam broke, it unleashed 20 million tons of water in a giant wave that roared through Johnstown, killing more than 2,300 men, women and children, and destroying the homes of thousands more. The flood remains one of the nation’s most costly, single weather-related …
VGCC Logistics Program Has New Leader
Steven J. Woodworth of Wake Forest recently finished his first semester as the head of the Global Logistics Technology program at Vance-Granville Community College. Woodworth is not new to VGCC, where he has taught Business and Office Administration courses on a full-time basis since 2007. He also taught part-time at the college from 2002 through 2004. Woodworth has also been a career/technical education teacher at Millbrook and Wakefield high schools in Raleigh. Woodworth brings to his position a wealth of …
Vance County Budget and Committe Meetings
Notice was sent to me Tuesday morning about that day’s budget work session being cancelled, but I didn’t see it until too late. Read the note below, and also check the upcoming budget work sessions. Also, I have a copy of the proposed budget in a nice bound notebook, it’s huge, and will take some time for me to disassemble it all and get it scanned in, but I will certainly do so. If you want to come by and …
Safe Kids Henderson-Vance Bike Rodeo June 13th
Safe Kids Henderson-Vance Bike Rodeo Wednesday, June 13th, 2:00 P.M. at Henderson Family YMCA Open to the public 14 years and younger Bicycles and Helmets are required Come out and test your skills with different bike courses set up by the Henderson Police Department 3 Bicycles and helmets will be given away Thank you to our sponsors for making this event possible: safe kids henderson-vance, optimist club, henderson family ymca, vance county 4-h & the henderson police department You may …
North Carolina Schools Gots No Child Left Behind Waiver
North Carolina is one of eight states gaining flexibility from the Bush-era No Child Left Behind law, U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan said Tuesday. The Education Department has approved waivers for Connecticut, Delaware, Louisiana, Maryland, New York, North Carolina, Ohio and Rhode Island. Eighteen other states and Washington, D.C., also applied for a waiver and could receive approval in coming weeks. President Barack Obama’s administration is granting waivers in exchange for promises from states to improve how they prepare and …
White House: Fifty Years After Vietnam
In his speech at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C., President Obama did more than just mark Memorial Day; he began the 50th commemoration of that conflict and those who served in one of America’s longest wars. Fifty years ago, American forces stepped up operations in Vietnam. During the conflict, more than three million Americans served in the Vietnam war, and more than 58,000 American patriots gave their lives. And when U.S. forces returned home, too many never received …
Wednesday Open Line
The first recorded automobile accident involving two vehicles occurred on this date in 1896 in New York City. Henry Wells of Springfield, Massachusetts, was driving a new Duryea Motor Wagon, the first automobile to be made and sold in the U.S. Unfortunately, he collided with Evelyn Thomas of New York, riding a bicycle. Thomas went to the hospital with a broken leg, and Wells spent the night in jail. Now, there are close to 11 million motor vehicle accidents a …
Franklin County Schools to Discuss Prayer Issue
The American Civil Liberties Union said it sent a letter last week to voice a complaint that there was prayer at a recent awards ceremony at Franklinton High School for graduating seniors, and that prayer was planned for the upcoming commencement. Read more at http://www2.nbc17.com/news/2012/may/29/franklin-co-schools-discuss-prayer-issue-ar-2316525/
FaceBook Friends for a Cure Relay for Life Fundraiser at Wimpy’s June 9
FaceBook Friends for a Cure Relay For Life Team is holding a fundraiser at Wimpy’s Restaurant on Raleigh Road – June 9 – lunch and dinner. Team members will be waiting tables for tips and the team will also sell tickets for the Holland Grill and other neat items they are raffling off.
VGCC Golf Tournament raises Record-High Amount for Scholarships
Vance-Granville Community College’s 28th annual Endowment Fund Benefit Golf Tournament generated approximately $33,250 from entry fees and from sponsors to help fund scholarships for deserving students at the college. That result set a new record as the highest-grossing golf tournament in VGCC history. A total of 120 players formed 30 teams to play in either the morning or the afternoon round on May 8, 2012 at Henderson Country Club. “We greatly appreciate the support of all the golfers and business …