In Mitchell County candidates began filing for upcoming state and local elections this past week. Filing for Register of Deeds were Kathy Laws and Patty Young, while Lee Roy Ledford and Keith Holtsclaw filed for seats on the Board of County Commissioners. Also filing on Monday was Ralph Hise, who is seeking another term in the North Carolina Senate. The filing period for candidates to register for the 2012 local and state elections will close at noon on February 29.
Mayland Community College is one of only twenty-four community colleges to receive a $15,000 grant funded by the North Carolina Tobacco Trust Fund Commission to be used for scholarships. Project Skill-UP is designed to support short-term occupational skills training for North Carolina residents who reside in areas adversely impacted by changes in the tobacco industry. This student aid opportunity is available for training in high growth industries. Primary consideration is given to students from families directly affected by the decline in the tobacco industry. However, all students who meet the guidelines are eligible to apply and are encouraged to do so. To be eligible a person must be a permanent resident of Avery, Mitchell, or Yancey counties; be 18 years of age or older; and be unemployed or under-employed (less than 20 hrs. per week). Students must also complete nine hours of Employability Skills training and complete a Career Readiness Certification (CRC) assessment and test before receiving certification in occupational programs. Call 1-800-4-MAYLAND, extension 267, for more information.
The filing period for candidates to register for the 2012 local and state elections will close at noon on February 29. In Yancey County candidates began filing this week. The first to file was Register of Deeds Willoree Jobe. Jobe, a Democrat, was first elected in 1994. She filed for her 8th -four year term on Monday. Also filing on Monday was County Commissioner Michelle Presnell, who will not seek another term on the board after serving for two years. She filed for the NC House of Representatives District 118 seat which represents Yancey, Madison and part of Haywood County. Tammy McEntyre, Yancey County Clerk of Court, filed for election to the seat that she was appointed to fill when Warren Hughes retired from the job. McEntyre is a Democrat. Republican Jeff Whitson also filed. Whitson, who owns and operates Westside Rental in Burnsville, filed for a spot on the Board of County Commissioners, where three seats are open. Norb McKinney, a teacher at Mountain Heritage has filed for one of three open seats on the Board of Education.
A former Mitchell County Chief Deputy was found dead last week from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. 50-year-old Victor Hollifield was found Wednesday night by McDowell County deputies lying a short distance from his vehicle which was located on Wild Acres Road. The deputy had received a text message from Hollifield relaying his location and information that gave the deputy reason to be concerned about Hollifield’s safety. McDowell EMS responded to the scene but was not able to resuscitate him. Hollifield left the Mitchell County Sherriff’s department in the late 80’s and worked in McDowell County until his retirement in 2010. He had recently returned from Afghanistan where he was doing law enforcement work as a contractor.
Hours after the Yancey County Department of Social Services celebrated the opening of a new consolidated facility in Burnsville, the DSS board announced that they have accepted the resignation of Director Alice Elkins. Elkins, who has worked for DSS for 27 years and can retire in another year, wanted to serve out her remaining time in a less stressful position and will begin work as a social worker in the adult services program with the agency. The Board appointed Dr. Gwen Harris as interim director while a new director is recruited.
Mary Beth Tipton was named the new Director of Elections for Yancey County following a meeting by the Board of Elections Monday morning. Tipton has served an interim director since former director Loretta Robinson was placed on leave just weeks before her retirement. The board received ten applications for the vacant job and interviewed seven people who met the requirements before eventually choosing Tipton who has worked at the elections office for several years and has recently completed training required to be a certified elections official. Tipton went right to work preparing for the first filings for local and state races. The filing period closes at noon on February 29.
A year ago Mitchell County schools got serious about saving energy within the school system. Working with Educon, a consulting company that went through schools in the county making energy saving adjustments, the school system was able to realize a savings of over $128,000 in energy costs over the past year. Consultants told the Board of Education that the biggest savings came at Mitchell High School and that improvements at other schools in the county would help save even more money. Educon has been contracted for two more years to work on the energy saving project.
Designing bridges, solving environmental problems and improving traffic flow are just some of the creative challenges engineers at the North Carolina Department of Transportation tackle each day. The profession can be a great fit for girls with a flair for design and construction, a message NCDOT engineers have been taking to middle- and high school-age students this week with a series of workshops across the state to encourage more girls to consider the profession. According to the National Science Foundation, only 11 percent of practicing engineers are women. Engineers Week, which takes place Feb. 19-25 this year, celebrates the positive contributions engineers make to society.
The Yancey County Sheriff’s Office and the Burnsville Police Department have arrested five individuals as a part of the continuing drug operation between the two departments......
County commissioners and representatives for certain properties in the Mountain Air development have been meeting in the county attorney’s office hoping to mediate a settlement over back property taxes. The mediation was at the direction of the NC Court of Appeals and the group is meeting with Appellate Court Judge Bob Hunter of Marion. Mountain Air appealed a nearly $500 million tax evaluation for properties in the Settlers Edge section of the development as well as certain properties including the clubhouse, golf course and other amenities. The property tax amount on the properties is in excess of $400,000 at the 45 cents per $100 in value. Yancey County Manager Nathan Bennett and several commissioners are hopeful that a settlement is forthcoming, one that will be agreeable to all involved.
Beginning today, The Blue Ridge Parkway will close the section between State Route 191, at French Broad Parking Overlook, Milepost 393.8, to State Route 151, Milepost 405, This closure is expected to remain in place until April 15th. The closure is required to complete repairs of Ferrin Knob Tunnel #1, located at Milepost 401.
Burnsville Town council members came out of a closed session discussion last Thursday and authorized an offer and further negotiations to buy the entire Briggs property from EB Investments by a 3-2 vote. Last month, the board had voted to pursue negotiations to buy land adjacent to the Town Center for parking. Buying the entire tract would protect the town’s investments and provide some control over what happens in the future to the entrance to Burnsville and its town square.
South Toe Fire and Rescue will receive a $350,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Assistance to Fire-fighters Grant program to upgrade to VIPER radios to improve communications for emergency responders. South Toe was one of ten fire departments in North Carolina awarded funding adding up to $2.5 million. The funding will help insure that fire departments across the state have the resources needed to protect families and the tools and equipment to keep fire-fighters safe when they step into harms way. The VIPER project is part of a move to construct a state-wide voice radio communications system for emergency responders.
At its meeting Monday night, the Yancey County Board of Education recognized the following staff for obtaining National Board Certification: Kelly Boone at Cane River, Wade Shehan at East Yancey, Belinda Burleson at Micaville/South Toe and Denise Marlow, at Mountain Heritage. Also recognized were Shelly Bailey and Dawn Robinson, both of Clearmont Elementary School, for receiving their ......
In an effort to bring property values in line with the current real estate climate, the Mitchell County Commissioners voted this week to reset the county’s revaluation period from an eight to a five year cycle. The county’s last revaluation took place in 2007 at the height of the real estate boom and just before the economic downturn. As a result property values on the tax assessor’s books were much higher than actual market prices. It is thought that a shorter revaluation cycle will help taxpayers get their tax bills more in line with the actual value of their property. The decision will also help the Board of Commissioners to gain better control of the county’s fiscal policies.
Mitchell County Commissioners have unanimously approved a resolution seeking a community development block grant for a solar panel assembly facility in the county. The resolution authorizes the county to submit a formal application to the North Carolina Department of Commerce for approval of a block grant of nearly $118,000. The economic development funding would be invested in North Carolina Renewable Energy LLC, the corporation backing the solar panel facility.
To help taxpayers, the IRS earlier this month created a new, special section on IRS.gov dedicated to identity theft matters, including YouTube videos, tips for taxpayers and a special guide to assistance. The information includes how to contact the IRS Identity Protection Specialized Unit and tips to protect against "phishing" schemes that can lead to identity theft. When it comes to federal taxes, taxpayers may not be aware they have become victims of identity theft until they receive a letter from the IRS stating more than one tax return was filed with their information or that IRS records show wages from an employer the taxpayer has not worked for in the past. Please help do your part in this nationwide effort to protect taxpayers and bring criminals to justice.
Based upon the continuation of potentially drastic cuts in the state and federal education budgets for the upcoming school year, the Board of Education of the Mitchell County School System has contracted the Aycock Group, a consulting firm, to assist in the development of a long range plan with an accompanying cost analysis. This will help determine what steps may be taken in order to operate the most efficient, effective school system possible. It is highly unlikely that the Board will take any action regarding the futures of any schools within the system until the report from the Aycock Group is completed and submitted. Tentatively, the report will be completed and submitted to the Board no later than Monday, March 19, which is the regularly scheduled March Board of Education meeting. Subsequently, the required public hearing to discuss the future of schools will be scheduled for Tuesday, March 27th at the Mitchell County Courthouse at 5:30PM. Public opinion will be welcomed at this hearing. A special called Board meeting will be convened around the first week of April to make a final decision regarding the schools in question. Should these dates be changed, advance notice will be sent to all schools and area media outlets.
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A former Mitchell County conservation agent is charged with embezzlement. His managers noticed there were missing receipts for his expenses. Cliff Vinson worked for the Blue Ridge Resource Conservation and Development Council. He had a debit card and police say he used it to buy food, clothes and other personal items totaling 15-thousand dollars. Sherill Barber with WLOS news 13 was in Spruce Pine Yesterday investigating the story. Vinson said his attorney asked him not to speak about the case. His next court appearance is February 10th.
Micele Elaine Statler, age 41, of 1371 Wing Road, Bakersville, N.C., was arrested on a Fugitive Warrant for 25 counts of manufacturing methamphetamine. Captain R.V. Wiseman of the Mitchell County Sheriff’s Department advised he was contacted by Sgt. H.E. Duncan of Carter County Sheriff’s Office. Sgt. Duncan told Captain Wiseman he had a Promotion Case against Statler charging her with manufacturing methamphetamine. Sgt. Duncan who had worked with Captain Wiseman in the past on joint investigations along with DEA asked Captain Wiseman to see if he could pick up Statler. Captain Wiseman and Detective S.B. Hughes went to Statler’s residence. Statler was in the yard of her residence loading firewood. Captain Wiseman took Statler into custody without incident. Statler was taken before Magistrate R.V. Virnelson. Statler after conferring with her Attorney Danny Hockaday and family members waived extradition and agreed to go on to Carter County. Deputy C.C. Hobson then transported Statler to the Tennessee State line at Carvers Gap and met Carter County Deputies. Deputy Hobson turned Statler over to Carter County. Statler is being held in Carter County Jail on a $100,000.00 secured bond awaiting trial.Captain Wiseman advised Sgt. Duncan went before a Carter County Grand Jury and obtained the 25 Promotions for manufacturing methamphetamine against Statler. Captain Wiseman advised this is similar to Bills Of Indictments which North Carolina Grand Juries issue.
North Carolina’s unemployment rate dropped to 9.9 percent in December, according to data released by the Division of Employment Security. Despite the month-to-month decline, however, the number of unemployed persons has actually grown by more than 9,000 since December 2010. There continues to be too few jobs for the state’s workforce. The result is ongoing high numbers of unemployed workers, workers out of work for longer, and slow growth in the labor force overall. Over the year, a total of 19,600 jobs were added in North Carolina. While it is certainly positive that the state is no longer losing jobs, the pace of job growth will make it difficult for North Carolina to close its jobs deficit of nearly half a million.. Another trend of note is the industries experiencing job growth. The service sector showed an increase over the year of 19,000 jobs while the goods-producing sector declined by 100 jobs.
The N.C. Department of Transportation has reopened I-40 West from Exit 20 to the Tennessee state line to traffic. The road has been closed since Jan. 31 when a rockslide occurred at mile marker 451 in Cocke County, Tenn. Traffic should flow normally on I-40 West through North Carolina. However, motorists crossing into Tennessee will see the road narrow down to one lane at the site of the rockslide. They are urged to drive slowly and use caution while traveling through the area. Motorists can access real-time travel information for I-40 West in North Carolina at any time by calling 511.
By a vote of 4-1, members of the Mitchell County School Board decided to proceed to a public hearing required before they could continue with plans to close either Tipton Hill, Buladean ,or both schools, located on the Northern end of the County. The Board is debating on how best to deal with the expected budget shortfalls from the State. Some in attendance at the meeting suggested that the board should take a sit back and wait approach and forget about closing schools in the county until the amount of the shortfalls becomes known. Board Chair Roger Burleson said that a notice will be published for seven days prior to the holding of that public hearing.
The Burnsville town Council learned some good news from an audit report that they received in January. That audit showed an increase in the fund balance and that the town’s net assets exceeded its liabilities at the close of the fiscal year by more than $9 million. The town also decreased its debt some $65,724 over the course of the year through installment payments. Auditors recommended that the town continue its aggressive tax collection measures to help keep revenues stable.
The Tennessee Department of Transportation said yesterday at least one lane of westbound Interstate 40, shut down by a rock slide in the isolated Pigeon River Gorge, could reopen by Feb.14. Spokesman Mark Nagi with the Tennessee DOT said that was a rough estimate. The slide Tuesday about one mile from the state line in Tennessee shut down both westbound lanes. Eastbound lanes remain open. Tennessee transportation officials were getting bids for the cleanup work yesterday. The problem is a 1,500-ton boulder on the mountainside that transportation officials worry will fall if it’s not removed. Around 11,000 cars per day travel the westbound lanes through that area.
Radio communication is essential for emergency responders, and the equipment they use is about to change for the first time in decades. Just like the digital TV transition, radio transmission will also soon go digital. It's all about making room on the already-busy airwaves, but it will also lead to clearer signals for emergency responders. Either way, the changeover involves a lot of planning. At the Yancey County 911 center, the countdown has begun. On January 1, 2013, all radio transmissions among emergency responders will switch over to digital frequencies, meaning new equipment will be needed. Upsides to going digital means there will be more availability of frequencies and that the use of the frequencies will be better defined. There will be less interference and although it may create some technical issues initially, in the long term it's going to solve a lot of problems. The use of popular police scanners will not be affected by the switch over to new narrow band technology. The federal government is mandating the changeover which affects all levels of responders. "We're working with the fire departments in the county; we're working with the police departments and the emergency medical services in planning for the change because it's all or nothing. It all has to be done at one time," Yancey County Emergency Services Assistant Director Mark Thomas said. Grants are available from the federal government to help with the equipment upgrade.
Another rock slide is impacting Interstate 40 in western North Carolina. I-40 West in Haywood County is totally shutdown and could remain closed for a few weeks. The rock slide occurred overnight Tuesday morning. Crews managed to clear the debris from I-40 but geologists inspecting the area voiced concern about the stability of another big rock. The North Carolina Department of Transportation confirmed in a release that I-40 west in Haywood County could remain closed for a few weeks. The closure is near mile marker 20, west of asheville. The rock slide is just across the state line in Tennessee near Exit 451. I-40 West is closed near US 276, Exit 20, west of Asheville, in Haywood County. The DOT advised traffic traveling west to Tennessee should take I-40 West to I-240 West (Exit 53b) in Asheville, to I-26 West (Exit 4a). Follow I-26 West from Asheville to I-81 South (Exit 8a) in Tennessee, back to I-40. A rock slide that occurred in October 2009 kept I-40 in Haywood County closed for months. (David Horn / NCNN News)
In the case of inclement or severe weather, all staff and student homes that have provided active phone numbers will be called using the Alert Now communication system. Local radio stations (WKYK, WWNC and WKSF) will also be notified. Parents and students are encouraged to listen to one of these radio stations as a source of information concerning delays, closings, or early dismissals of Yancey County Schools. Secondary sources of information are the following TV stations: WLOS, WYFF, WSOC, WBTV, WCYB, WSPA, WJHL and WHNS. If these media sources are not announcing information concerning Yancey County Schools, then the schools will operate on a normal schedule. This information will also be posted on the School Announcement Line at 682-7322 and on the Yancey County Schools Facebook Page. New to the Yancey County Schools website, www.yanceync.net , is a top tab Closings & Delays that will provide current information as well. The Yancey County Schools administration reserves the right to use Saturday as a make-up day in the event it is deemed necessary.
The Mitchell County Gay Straight Alliance will take part in a panel discussion and town hall meeting at the Mitchell County Historic Courthouse in Bakersville on January 30 from 6 to 8 p.m. The event will provide a unique opportunity for discussion about the proposed marriage inequality amendment, Amendment One, which will be on the ballot in North Carolina in May 8th elections. The proposed amendment to the NC Constitution states that “Marriage between a man and a woman is the only domestic legal union that shall be valid or recognized in this state.” Panelists include representatives from Equality NC, The People's Alliance for American Liberty in Boone, N.C., The Campaign for Southern Equality, the Mitchell County Gay Straight Alliance, and local faith leadership. Residents of Mitchell County and surrounding areas are invited to attend and participate in this moderated discussion welcoming all who want to learn more about Amendment One.
Department of Transportation Secretary Gene Conti has awarded a contract to resurface 7.5 miles of roads in Mitchell County. The $997,276 contract was awarded to Maymead Inc. of Mountain City, Tenn. The project includes resurfacing and shoulder reconstruction along: 2 miles of NC 226 A from NC 80 to NC 226 in Loafers Glory, .05 miles of NC 226 from the southern city limits of Bakersville to Cane Creek Road; 1 mile of McKinney Mine Road from pavement change to Crabtree Creek Road; 1.6 miles of NC 226 from Orchard Road to NC 226 A near Ledger; .07 miles of Hughes gap road near Buladean and .05 miles of Bear Creek Road from N.C. 226 to Buchanan Road near Ledger. The DOT says that resurfacing these sections of roadway will extend the lifespan of the pavement, improve safety and provide a smoother ride for motorists. Work can begin as early as March 15 and is scheduled for completion by Oct. 15.
A vote on whether to proceed to a required public hearing before closing either Tipton Hill or Buladean Elementary Schools was delayed by the Mitchell County Board of Education earlier this week after they listened to opinions from residents of those communities during an extended public comment period. Some of those in attendance who are against the closing of either of the schools, or both, sited the extended travel time that students affected by the decision would have to endure while supporters of the move pointed to the reality of budget shortfalls as reasons to close the geographically isolated schools on the northern end of the county. The Board plans to make a decision about the public hearing at its next meeting on January 30th.
Yancey County resident Bill Whiteside was named a finalist for the John R Larkins award, given annually to a distinguished state employee who has made noteworthy and exemplary contributions in the area of race relations in the workplace and the community. Mr. Whiteside and his wife Roberta attended a ceremony on January 13 at the First Baptist Church in Raleigh where NC Gov. Bev Perdue honored the four finalists for the award with Certificates of Appreciation. Dr. John R. Larkin was a trailblazer for the improvement of human and race relations in North Carolina.
With all of the mild weather that we have experienced this winter, area school systems have not yet had to deal with the problem of rescheduling snow days on the school calendar. Mitchell County Schools recently announced that their plan in place to make up snow days with school on Saturday has been suspended until the weather warrants a change in the policy. Assistant School Superintendent Rick Spurling said on Wednesday that if the weather pattern was to shift and force schools to be closed for an extended period of time, then the school system would have to take actions to deal with that situation. Spurling said that Mitchell County has nine snow days built into the school calendar and that he does not think that Saturday school will be necessary, but you never know what Mother Nature has in mind. Mitchell students have had to attend school on Saturday only once so far this winter due to the weather
The Center for Rural Arts Development and Leadership Education (CRADLE) will begin a new pilot program in Bakersville with a goal of having an active and sustainable participatory arts program up and running in the historic Mitchell County Courthouse by the end of the summer. CRADLE is committed to making the telling of local stories stronger through the participation and the building of long-term relationships while making local organizations more sustainable. The Center for Rural Arts Development and Leadership Education is dedicated to bringing the arts back home to small and rural communities with populations fewer than 20,000. Their goal is to rebuild the front porch of America by strengthening pride of place through a rich expressive life available to everyone.
Around 25 residents of the Sunshine Hill Apartments in Spruce Pine will be displaced for a couple of days while crews clean up some heavy smoke damage from an early morning fire on Sunday. The fire, which was contained in a single apartment on the second floor of the retirement facility, was quickly extinguished but the thick black smoke made the building uninhabitable for the time being, according to Mitchell Communications who said that the emergency call came in around 7:30 a.m. Sunday morning. Emergency crews from Mitchell, Avery, McDowell and Yancey Counties worked the scene of the fire for several hours and Mitchell County Transportation and some local churches volunteered their time to help transport some of the displaced residents to shelters provided by the Red Cross and several local motels. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Deputies in Mitchell County have arrested three people in a meth lab bust. They say Jeremy Burleson, Troy McRath and Scott Russell were operating a "Shake & Bake" procedure to cook meth in a home on Greasy Creek Road in Buladean. Deputies say there were also two females and two small children in the home at the time of the bust. Investigators say the chemical smell was so bad the officers feel the chemicals burning their eyes. After the arrest Sheriff Donald Street contacted Emergency Management and advised them his officers had been exposed to the chemicals used to make meth. Emergency Management and Buladean Fire Department set up a Decontamination Site at Buladean Fire Department. Sheriff Street along with his deputies had to be decontaminated. All of those charged are scheduled to appear in court today.
A break in a 6 inch water line on the West side of Burnsville forced Yancey County schools and some businesses to close early Monday afternoon. Randal Wilson, Town of Burnsville ORC, said that maintenance crews responded to the break in the water line on Cherry Lane as soon as the call came in around 11:30 yesterday morning. Due to the water outage and related transportation issues Yancey County schools sent their students home early in the afternoon. The Yancey Campus of the Blue Ridge Regional Hospital closed at 2pm because of the water outage. Schools and all other businesses affected by the water outage are back on a regular schedule today.
The Spruce Pine Volunteer Fire Department was called out around 7:30am Sunday morning to a Fire at the Sunshine Hill assisted Living Facility on Biggerstaff Road. The fire started in a second story apartment. Officials believe a stove or something else cooking related may have sparked the flame. Multiple Rescue crews responded and had to evacuate all 25 residents. Damage was not extensive but the facility was closed last night. Residents should be able to return today.
Due to the mild December and January weather we have been experiencing this winter, the automatic Saturday School Plan for Yancey County Schools will be suspended at this time, according to a press release from Superintendent Dr. Tony Tipton. Yancey County Schools are currently ahead of last year’s days missed and school officials will continue to consider Saturday School as an option if the weather changes and students begin to miss excessive days. “Having students attend school on Saturdays will be decided on an as-needed basis”, according to Dr. Tipton. The announcement is in this week's Yancey Superintendent Report at www.yanceync.net and will also go out as an AlertNow phone call to all parents.
The Yancey County Sheriff’s Office and the Burnsville Police Department have arrested Charles Levell Hicks, 38, 23 Lester Lane in Burnsville and charged him with the following:
Sell and Deliver a Schedule II controlled Substance (Morphine), Possession with intent to Manufacture, Sell or Deliver a Schedule II controlled substance (Morphine), Possession of a Schedule II controlled substance (Morphine), Sell and Deliver a Schedule VI controlled substance (Marijuana), Possession with intent to Manufacture, Sell or Deliver a Schedule VI controlled substance (Marijuana), Possession of a Schedule VI controlled substance (Marijuana), Two Counts of Maintaining a Dwelling place for the purpose of selling controlled substances, Sell and Deliver a Controlled Substance within 1000ft of a Park, Aid and Abet the sell and delivery of a schedule VI controlled substance (Marijuana), Delivery of a Schedule VI controlled substance (Marijuana)
Hicks was out on bond at the time of the arrest from previous drug charges on which he is still awaiting a trial date. At the time of the arrest officers served a search warrant of Hicks’ residence and seized an additional 50 grams of Marijuana. Sheriff Gary Banks stated ”I am pleased with the work the two departments have done on this case due to both the proximity of the youth league recreation parks and day care facilities as well as the fact that this individual is of constant concern to the community due to his continued illegal actions.” Hicks is currently held under a $200,000 bond at the Yancey County Jail and has a court date of 1/20/2012.
The N.C. Department of Transportation has awarded a contract to resurface ten miles of roads in Yancey County. The $1.1 million project contract was awarded to Maymead Inc. of Mountain City, Tenn. Work can begin as early as March 15 and is scheduled for completion by Oct. 15. The project includes resurfacing and shoulder reconstruction along: 4.4 miles of N.C. 197 South beginning at the Buncombe County line between Cane River Gap and Murchison, another 2.2 miles of N.C. 80 South from the Blue Ridge Parkway at the McDowell County line to South Toe River Road near Busick, a 1.4 mile stretch of Jacks Creek Road from John Henry Road to Sheriff Anglin Road near Burnsville, and 2 miles of Bald Mountain Road north of U.S. 19 East near the Tennessee border. The DOT hopes that resurfacing these sections of roadway will extend the lifespan of the pavement, improve safety and provide a smoother ride for motorists.
Next school year in North Carolina, most subjects will change to the Common Core (English Language Arts and Math), and the North Carolina Essential Standards Testing. The Common Core State Standards Initiative is a state-led effort whose standards were developed in collaboration with teachers, school administrators, and experts, to provide a clear and consistent framework to prepare students for college and the workforce. The standards define key knowledge and skills students should experience within the K – 12 programs to graduate from high school with college and career readiness skills. The Essential Standards are North Carolina specific in all other areas. Getting-ready workshops, sponsored by the NC Department of Public Instruction and Yancey County Schools, are helping prepare for the changes. Parents may notice changes in assignments from one-dimensional activities like adding/subtracting numbers to more open-ended problems solved over time by groups or individual students. In addition, students will be reading and studying more difficult texts and engaging in more first-hand research projects in English, Science, and Social Studies.
A new grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and North Carolina Emergency Management will help Yancey County acquire and demolish the Pensacola Volunteer Fire Department, according to Yancey Emergency Management Director Bill Davis. The Pensacola VFD, in its current location, has been the victim of many dangerous flash flood events from nearby Cattail Creek in the past and the department wants to build a new firehouse outside of the flood plain on land it owns on Hwy. 197 South. The county hopes to use the proceeds from the grant acquisition to help subsidize the construction of the new facility and plans to turn the cleaned up demolition site into a small park or public space for Pensacola residents to enjoy.
An Ohio man wanted for a robbery at a grocery store pharmacy in his home state was taken into custody by Mitchell County law enforcement last week. After receiving a tip about a suspicious couple who checked into the Pinebridge Inn in Spruce Pine and asked the clerk where they could purchase a gun, the police department checked the tag number of the vehicle driven by the couple and found that it was stolen. Further inquiry turned up the name of 51-year-old Robert P. Strausbaugh of Gahanna, Ohio and the fact that he was wanted for robbery and was considered armed and dangerous. To minimize any danger to the public, after obtaining a warrant, law enforcement waited and burst in on Strausbaugh and his companion at around 2 a.m. Wednesday morning. Strausbaugh was taken into custody without incident and he has a court date scheduled in Mitchell County on January 24th. The woman with Strausbaugh was taken in by Mitchell County SafePlace and later put on a bus back to Ohio.
A Spruce Pine man wanted for outstanding warrants in both Mitchell and Buncombe Counties was arrested by the Mitchell Sheriff’s Department on January 5 after tips led them to a residence on Old Hwy. 226. Twenty-two year old Corey Logan Hollifield was arrested when law enforcement stopped him from fleeing the home after he was notified of the warrants. Hollifield was wanted for failure to appear on misdemeanor charges, injury to personal property and several drug charges. He is being held in the Rutherford County Jail and has a court date scheduled in Mitchell County for February 10.
The family Selection Committee of Mitchell-Yancey Habitat for Humanity is hosting two informational meetings for residents of Yancey County. The meetings are for anyone interested in applying for a Habitat Home. Those attending will be assisted in applying for a house and become a Habitat Partner. There will be an opportunity to fill out a form at the meeting. This will be reviewed by the Selection Committee Members. In order to qualify, you must need adequate shelter, have a job or income to make house payments every month and be willing and able to work on your house as it is being built. The income requirement for the homes is between $21,700.00 and $34.000.00. This includes salary and other forms of income. Habitat Houses are built with volunteer labor and donations. The houses are then sold to Habitat Partner Families with no profit or interest added to the mortgage. The meetings will be held on Tuesday, February 21 and Thursday, February 23 at 6:00 at Burnsville First Presbyterian Church at 120 Church Street, Burnsville, NC. You must attend one of these meetings in order to make an application. To attend, register, or for additional information call 766-9000 on or before Monday February 13, 2012.
