Region


Neighboring Counties

Publisher's note: The author of this fine report, Dan Way, is a contributor to the Carolina Journal, John Hood Publisher.

HILLSBOROUGH The Orange County Board of Commissioners is expected Tuesday to approve a $1.4 billion light-rail project for Durham and Orange counties and vote June 5 on a half-cent sales tax to fund the controversial transit plan.

"I think we have a majority of the board" that favors putting the issue before voters on a Nov. 8 ballot referendum, Chairwoman Bernadette Pe... (read more)
Publisher's note: The author of this fine report is Kristy Bailey, who is a contributor to the Carolina Journal, John Hood Publisher.

Political newcomer Brown pitted against former Greenville councilman Wall

RALEIGH Republicans Jack Wall and Brian Brown will compete in the May 8 primary for the North Carolina House District 9 seat currently held by six-term Democrat Marian McLawhorn.

The winner of the primary will face McLawhorn in the fall general election, as no other Democrats have fil... (read more)
Publisher's note: The author of this fine report is Kristy Bailey, who is a contributor to the Carolina Journal, John Hood Publisher.

Republicans Etheridge and Steinburg Hope to Succeed Retiring Rep. Owens

RALEIGH Republicans Bob Steinburg and Owen Etheridge will compete in the May 8 primary for the North Carolina House District 1 seat currently held by nine-term Democrat Bill Owens, who isn't seeking re-election this year.

The winner of the primary will face Democrat Bill Luton, a membe... (read more)
This week's "Daily Journal" guest columnist is Dr. Michael Sanera, John Locke Foundation's Director of Research and Local Government Studies.

RALEIGH As the John Locke Foundation predicted when the doors opened in 2008, Raleigh's city-subsidized Mint restaurant is closing its doors after a net loss of $400,000.

Here is the short version of this sad story. Some city council members wanted to impress out-of-town guests visiting their taxpayer-subsidized convention center and their $10 milli... (read more)

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News and Information

Fifteen percent of workforce to be laid off: Expect region.immediate impact in Beaufort County, and surrounding region.
Press Release:

PCS Phosphate Company, Inc. (PotashCorp - Aurora) announced today that it is reducing staffing levels at its phosphate facility by approximately 150 full-time positions, or about 15 percent of its current workforce.

Following a review of key operating processes, changes were identified to lower operating costs while maintaining the operational capability of ... (read more)
Publisher's note: The author of this fine report, Dan Way, is a contributor to the Carolina Journal, John Hood Publisher.

HILLSBOROUGH The Orange County Board of Commissioners is expected Tuesday to approve a $1.4 billion light-rail project for Durham and Orange counties and vote June 5 on a half-cent sales tax to fund the controversial transit plan.

"I think we have a majority of the board" that favors putting the issue before voters on a Nov. 8 ballot referendum, Chairwoman Bernadette Pe... (read more)
Press Release:

The Washington Tourism Development Authority is making the final preparations for the Cycle NC Spring Ride and arrival of more than 1100 cyclists This Weekend!

Here are few reminders we wanted to share with you and your stakeholder organizations.

1) Please remember to SHARE THE ROAD this weekend. Cyclists will be riding on rural routes throughout Beaufort County on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Our #1 priority is the safety of the cyclists.

2) Many of the 1100+ cyclist... (read more)
Publisher's note:Beaufort County, by a majority vote (5 to 2) of the county commissioners, pays much money for the services of Marc Finlayson, so it is quite right to publish his correspondences of information for the folks that have paid for it.

Press release:

Good afternoon: I met last week with the US 17 Committee of the Board of Transportation. All five of our board members who reside in the US 17 corridor divisions attended: hairman Mike Alford (Division 3); Matt Wood (Division 1); Hugh ... (read more)

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Weather Events

OUTER BANKS, N.C.
Hatteras Island is not accessible due to multiple areas of overwash on Hwy 12 north of Rodanthe from Hurricane Irene. Chopper 10 flew over the area Sunday morning and captured images of a section of washed out road.

The Town of Duck is also not accessible at this time because of impassable roads.

Re-entry into portions of Dare County began Sunday at 2 p.m. for residents and property owners. The re-entry procedure does not include access to Hatteras Island or the Town of Du... (read more)
Earlier I posted the projected path of Hurricane Irene, and openly prayed that the monstrous storm would pass farther east. It did not.

Beaufort County, in central northeastern North Carolina, almost took a direct hit. I have two separate historical paths of the storm: One proved by AccuWeather that presented the storm track as further east than the second historical path presented by HUREVAC, produced by the National Hurricane Center. There is a discrepancy, and it is minimal, with the HUR... (read more)
Publisher's Note: As a county commissioner of the county of Beaufort, I have access to the Beaufort County Emergency Management Operation and Control Center which conveniently is a short walking distance from my house. Otherwise, I have no power, no internet, no access to a passable road, and I literally possess a most remarkable odor. Just part of my scene here in eastern North Carolina.

What may be the worst hurricane in the last 56 years (since Hurricane Hazel in 1954) has released its h... (read more)
Hurricane Irene's eye wall, as per the latest projected model at 11:00 p.m., as exhibited below, will pass near the western shore of the Pamlico Sound. The updated path takes the storm 25 miles farther east from the 8:00 PM report, which will make a tremendous difference in the severity of the storm damage in Beaufort County. If this remains the projected path of this huge, Hurricane Fran-like storm, Beaufort County will benefit, but to the detriment of Hyde and Dare counties to Beaufort Coun... (read more)

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School News

On June 6, 2011 SW Snowden Elementary hosted their annual field day event. Members of the Beaufort County Physical Activity and Nutrition (PAN) Coalition, a Healthy Carolinians Committee, helped with activities at the field day that involved the new walking trail at the school. The PAN coalition received a community grant through Eat Smart, Move More to construct the walking trail in 2010. The trail was constructed on December 17, 2010 around the football field at the school.

For field day... (read more)
WINTERVILLE--Since the beginning of fall semester in August, Pitt Community College Radiation Therapy students have been training on a fully functional simulator in a new simulation lab on campus thanks to a donation by Cape Fear Valley Health System's Radiation Therapy Department.

The simulator, which normally carries a $600,000-price tag, was donated to PCC by Cape Fear Valley in the spring of 2008. It was in storage, however, while the college completed construction of the Herman Simon Buil... (read more)

Regional Spirit

No, she is not my mother, but she is the mother of my four children, and takes fine care of me, so a huge thank-you to the mother that keeps the Deatherages held fast, Lynn you're still the best.

Lynn is the girl, I wish I had met in high school, or earlier in my life. Like my version of Emily Webb, the sweet tragic figure from Thornton Wilder's "Our Town," but unlike Emily, Lynn survives and becomes the best mother, and wife any young man could hope for. Lynn would have been my Emily, if we ha... (read more)
Thanksgiving as a holiday just makes profound sense. It is one of the Unites States's oldest holidays and is emblematic of who Americans are ... or maybe were.

In the past, most Americans were thankful for their inherited right to call this nation their home. With the United States of America as one's homeland, Americans were afforded the freedom to work towards a goal, and succeed or fail, but at least they had the freedom to attempt to live out their dream.

As of late, we've seen a small... (read more)





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