The VA scandal of 2014 exposed some deeply troubling facts about how our government cares for veterans. The slow wait times at the VA continue today, even in North Carolina, making it clear that the VA cannot take care of these vets as quickly as it should. I was serving as ranking member on the Veterans’ Affairs Committee at the time and I fought hard to hold the VA accountable and make sure that vets get the care they need. …
Vance County Board of Commissioners and Board of Education Hold Meeting March 22nd, 2016
Vance County Board of Commissioners and the Vance County Board of Education will engage in dinner and conversation on Tuesday, March 22, 2016 at 6:00 p.m. at Ribeyes Steakhouse in Henderson.
Monday Open Line
Today marks the birthday in 1910 of one of the major figures of the American wine industry — Julio Gallo. When Prohibition ended, he and his brother Ernest started making wine in humble surroundings — a rented California warehouse with equipment bought on credit. Years of hard work saw their winery became the largest in the U.S., and their creative marketing techniques helped shape the nation’s drinking tastes. When the Gallos began their business in 1934, Americans on average drank …
4th Annual Tour de Vance April 30th, 2016
From novice to well-seasoned, we have rides for all riders! The 10-mile Family Fun Ride is great for beginners and families. A 20-mile course awaits cyclists ready for a bit more. The 30-miler rolls through forest and farmland; 60-mile ride spurs off the 30 to visit Kerr Lake. Ride, have fun, and raise money for United Way of Vance County’s “United We Read, United We Succeed” program, which works to improve reading ability in all 3rd graders in the county. Every 3rd …
Henderson-Vance County Chamber of Commerce Seeking Nominations for 2015 Small Business of the Year
The Henderson-Vance County Chamber of Commerce is now seeking nominations for the 2015 Small Business of the Year. This award honors a local small business, which provides a critical product or service, fills a void in the business community or has a unique approach to the delivery of goods and services. To be considered for this award, the nominee must be a member of the Henderson-Vance Chamber and located in Vance County. The business must employ a maximum of 50 …
Friday / Weekend Open Lines
Friday, March 18th. This is National Peanut Month — celebrating one of the nation’s favorite foods, and absolutely America’s favorite snack nut. They are enjoyed in many ways — roasted in the shell, used in salads and stir-fry recipes, in cookies and, of course, ground into peanut butter. The idea of honoring the peanut has been a monthlong observance since 1974. Americans eat an average of more than six pounds of shelled peanuts a year, about half in the form …
VGCC Agricultural project receives $25,000 grant
Vance-Granville Community College has been awarded a $25,000 grant through the Rural Community College Agricultural Cooperative Initiative, with funding provided by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). The grant is for a project entitled “Cultivating and Connecting Agricultural Communities” that seeks to strengthen agricultural cooperative partnerships in Franklin, Granville, Vance, and Warren counties. A different component of the same project received grant funding from the N.C. Tobacco Trust Fund Commission. As part of the new grant, VGCC will be …
AT&T sponsors new VGCC Summer Bridge program
AT&T North Carolina has made a $10,000 contribution to Vance-Granville Community College to support a new student success initiative. For the first time, the college will offer a “Summer Bridge” program this year for incoming first-year students. With AT&T’s sponsorship, the program will be available at no cost to participating students. “Thanks to the strong support of AT&T North Carolina, in a few months, our faculty and staff will be able to offer some extra help to students to prepare …
NCDA&CS promoting N.C. livestock with new tag program
The N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has launched a tag program to promote livestock born and raised in North Carolina. The new Got to Be NC tag program uses special ear tags to identify N.C.-born-and-bred cattle, swine, sheep and goats. The voluntary program is a collaboration between the department’s Got to Be NC marketing program, Livestock Marketing Section and Veterinary Division. “Livestock production generates over $3.6 billion in farm income in North Carolina,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. …
Butterfield: Senators Burr and Tillis Must Demand Senate Majority Leader McConnell Give Supreme Court Nominee a Vote
Congressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) today released the following statement on President Obama’s nomination of federal appeals court judge Merrick Garland. “The President has done his job in nominating a highly qualified judge to the Supreme Court. Now, it is time for Senators Burr and Tillis to demand that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell gives a fair hearing and timely vote on the President’s nominee. Senator Tillis sits on the committee responsible for the hearings on Judge Garland’s nomination. I …
North Carolina Weekend
For the week of March 17 on North Carolina Weekend, step back to a simpler time at R.A. Fountain General Store in Fountain. Consider judging a book by its cover at Scuppernong Books in Greensboro. Go airborne at Defy Gravity Trampoline Park in Durham. Enjoy the great outdoors at William B Umstead State Park in Raleigh. And the “House Special” samples the fare at Sam Jones BBQ in Winterville, which ought to be of particular interest to those who attended the …
Stephanie Alston Named as New Principal at E.M. Rollins Elementary
Stephanie Alston, an educator for over 17 years and an elementary school principal most recently in Edgecombe County, has been named as the new principal at E.M. Rollins Elementary School. She replaces Dean Thomas, who has been named as Vance County Schools’ new coordinator of the Transportation Department. Alston will assume her new duties at E.M. Rollins as soon as possible. During her career in education, she was a teacher for eight years and an administrator for the past nine …
White House: Get to know the President’s nominee
Wednesday, President Obama announced his nominee for the Supreme Court: Chief Judge Merrick Garland. Read why President Obama chose him for the job, then watch the video to learn more: Learn more about his background and experience. After the announcement, Chief Judge Garland gave remarks reflecting on his career as a dedicated public servant — and they’re definitely worth a read: JUDGE GARLAND: Thank you, Mr. President. This is the greatest honor of my life — other than Lynn agreeing …
Thursday Open Line
This is a day when people of all ethnicities are cheerfully encouraged to wear something green. It is St. Patrick’s Day, a rare national holiday observed outside its native land. The day honors Bishop Patrick, born in England, who brought Christianity to Ireland in the fifth century, using a shamrock to illustrate divinity. The celebration here goes back to Colonial times. New York City’s parade has taken place every year since 1762, and today is the largest such event in …
N.C. Main Street Conference Kicks Off Wednesday in Goldsboro
North Carolina’s largest downtown revitalization conference gets underway this Wednesday, March 16th in Goldsboro. Commerce’s NC Main Street Center will host the three-day conference offering learning sessions, tours, downtown exploration and networking opportunities with downtown professionals, elected officials, consultants and volunteers. More than 500 participants are expected to attend. The conference theme – Soaring with Main Street – references both the conference location, adjacent to the state’s largest Air Force Base and the tremendous economic successes achieved through the Main …
Wednesday Open Line
The first salvo in what we’ve come to know as the War on Poverty was fired on this date 52 years ago. Following President Lyndon Johnson’s State of the Union call for tackling poverty in America, the Economic Opportunity Act was introduced and passed by Congress with 11 program components. The landmark legislation was signed into law in August. The poverty rate in 1965, at the implementation of the programs, was around 16 percent, down from some 22 percent in …
North Carolina Requesting Waiver from Assessing Speaking and Listening in Reading/English Language Arts Assessments
The U.S. Department of Education (USED) is allowing states to request a waiver from assessing speaking and listening as part of its Reading/English language arts assessments. In June 2010, the North Carolina State Board of Education adopted Reading/English language arts content standards, which include standards for speaking and listening. Federal law requires assessments include all adopted content standards; however, measuring speaking and listening skills in a large-scale summative assessment is not practical at this time. As a result, North Carolina …
Butterfield Invites Constituents to Attend His “Jobs and Justice” Tour
Congressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) announced four additional stops on his district-wide “Jobs and Justice” Tour. He will travel across the First Congressional District where he will host constituents for open dialogues about issues they face in the community. Butterfield is also conducting a survey on his website to capture the views of his constituents. “I will listen to the concerns of constituents and take their recommendations back to Washington, D.C. where I’ll work with my congressional colleagues and the Obama …
Butterfield Statement on the Passing of Former State Senator Earline Parmon
Congressman G. K. Butterfield (NC-01) Tuesday released the following statement on the passing of former North Carolina State Senator, Earline Parmon: “North Carolina lost a legend today with the passing of Earline Parmon, Forsyth County’s first black state senator. Earline was elected to the North Carolina Senate in 2012 after serving as a representative in the North Carolina House of Representatives for ten years. She was well respected by her colleagues and was a charismatic leader who always put the needs of …
NVHS Soccer Earns Academic Award
The Northern Vance High School men’s soccer team for the seventh consecutive year received a High School Team Academic Award from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) with the fourth highest grade point average among the 152 teams receiving national recognition for the award for the 2014-2015 school year. The team’s overall grade point average was 4.11. The NSCAA annually recognizes high school soccer programs that have excelled in the classroom in addition to their work on the …