News Watch

A Quick Look at News Across the Region

Compiled by Sam Calhoun

Two Tornadoes Touch Down in High Country
On Friday, May 8, two tornadoes were reported in Alleghany County. One touched down 2.5 miles WNW of Ennice and was an F2 tornado with estimated winds of 110 to 120 mph. The National Weather Service reported many buildings damaged and four injuries. According to RaysWeather.com’s archives, Friday’s tornadoes were the first to touch down in Alleghany County since 1950.

Ski Beech Bankruptcy Rumors Unfounded
According to Ski Beech General Manager John Costin, the rumors that are currently circulating about a possible bankruptcy at Ski Beech are not true. Last week, said Costin, Ski Beech applied for a new line of credit at a local bank and is now preparing for its 2009-10 winter season.

Price of Stamps Increase Again
Citing rising production costs, the United States Postal Service increased the price of stamps from 42 cents to 44 cents on Monday, May 11. The postal service will still accept 42-cent Forever Stamps for mailing one-ounce letters.

McHenry’s Staff Holds Office Hours in Newland Thursday
The staff of Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-10) will hold office hours in Newland this Thursday, May 14, from 10:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Newland Town Hall, located at 301 Cranberry Street. Laurie Moody, McHenry’s regional director, will be available to meet with constituents who have issues with federal agencies such as Social Security, veterans’ affairs and immigration. She will also be available to listen to any concerns constituents have regarding federal policy or pending legislation before Congress. Moody will then relay all concerns to McHenry. McHenry maintains permanent district offices in Spruce Pine, Shelby and Hickory.

Watauga County Hosts Public Hearings On Proposed Budget and CDBG Funds May 19
The Watauga County Board of Commissioners will host a public hearing on the proposed budget, as well as a public hearing on the submission of an application for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds, on Tuesday, May 19, at 6:00 p.m. in the commissioners’ boardroom in the Watauga County Administration Building, located at 814 West King Street in Boone. The public is invited to attend.

A copy of the proposed budget is available for public inspection by clicking to www.wataugacounty.org, in the county manager’s office in the Watauga County Administration Building and at the public libraries in Boone and Blowing Rock, and at the Western Watauga Community Center.

The commissioners are hosting the second public hearing to solicit citizen input on the submission of an application for CDBG funds, which would be used to help extremely low-income households in Watauga County.

Watauga Red Cross Hosts Memorial Day Observance May 25
The Watauga County Chapter of the American Red Cross will host a Memorial Day Celebration at Boone Mall on Monday, May 25, from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. The event is open to the public and its purpose is to celebrate the men and women who have died while serving their country. The event includes live music from the Watauga Community Band and guest speakers, including Sen. Steve Goss (D-45) and Rep. Cullie Tarleton (D-93).

Goss Reduces Legislative Salary, Appointed As Chair of Legislative Ethics Committee
Sen. Steve Goss (D-45) announced this week that he has signed documents to take the same reduction in salary that Gov. Beverly Perdue ordered for all state employees as a means to deal with the budget shortfall. Because of separation of powers, the Governor cannot change legislative pay, but Goss took the step voluntarily. Under the Governor’s executive order, all teachers’ and state employees’ compensation will be reduced by 0.5 percent for the remainder of the fiscal year. Legislators are paid $13,951 in salary each year. “We are all in this together and I insisted upon taking the same pay cut as other state employees. We are facing a budget shortfall of historic proportions and we all must do our part so that the state can meet its financial obligations,” said Goss.

Also this week, Senate President Pro Tem Marc Basnight appointed Goss as Co-Chair of the Legislative Ethics Committee of the North Carolina General Assembly. Goss, a second term Senator, fills the position vacated by the death of long time Senator Vernon Malone. The Legislative Ethics Committee is a 12-member joint committee representing both the House and Senate and is, by law, bipartisan. The chair of the committee rotates annually between the House and the Senate.

AppalCART Temporarily Reduces Bus Schedule
Starting last week, AppalCART, the High Country’s public transportation authority, reduced its bus schedule on account of the end of the ASU spring semester. The Red, Green, POP105 and Purple routes are still running, but the Gold route will not run again until Monday, May 25, in concurrence with the start of the first ASU summer semester. To allow people access to University Hall and the clinics, AppalCART added a stop at that location that arrives at 15 minutes past the hour on the Red route. For more information, click to www.appalcart.com or call 828-264-2278.

Multiple Boone Committee Positions Available
The Town of Boone is soliciting applications from residents who would like serve on various town committees and commissions. One resident position is open for the Cable TV Advisory Committee; one position is open for the Greenway, Parks and Garden Committee; two ETJ positions are open for the Planning Commission; and three positions are open for the Water Committee. The application deadline is Thursday, May 21. If residents qualify for any of the positions and would like to apply, contact Boone Town Clerk Freida Van Allen at freida.vanallen@townofboone.net or call 828-268-6204. Applications are also available by clicking to www.townofboone.net.

Poll Shows Strong Support for Safety and Conservation in Western N.C.
Results of a Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) opinion survey in a Western North Carolina county show strong, across-the-board support for adopting local development policies to conserve natural areas and minimize landslide hazards. Shattering common perceptions about land use regulations in the region, the survey of voters in Watauga County indicates: 74 percent are concerned about development impacts; 80 percent support policies to prepare the county for future development; 77 percent support conservation-based subdivision design; and 87 percent support landslide hazard mitigation strategies. The poll, made possible by the Helen M. Clabough Charitable Foundation, showed strong consistency across voter districts, party affiliation, and duration of residency in the county. The survey results provide a new tool for SELC's Asheville-based attorneys as they advocate new policies in Watauga County and encourage North Carolina's mountain legislators to support the Safe Artificial Slope Construction Act, a bill designed to reduce exposure of homeowners to landslide risks.

Hagan Releases Statement on Obama Budget
On Tuesday, May 12, Sen. Kay Hagan (D-NC) released a statement after reviewing President Barack Obama’s full budget.

“I was pleased to see President Obama’s full budget proposal includes strong investments in many programs that are important to North Carolina’s working families—reforming our health care system, improving public education, expanding tax cuts for middle class families and expanding investment in alternative energy,” Hagan said. “President Obama is making a serious effort to rein in the fiscal irresponsibility which has plagued us for too long by cutting the deficit in half by the end of his first term. And as a former budget writer myself, I am glad President Obama has made this one of the most transparent budgets in years by including the full costs of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan up front, rather than waiting until the last minute to submit a separate request outside the normal budget process.

“President Obama’s budget includes many programs that will help strengthen North Carolina’s economy and will provide important relief to our counties and local governments, including programs to prepare and reward effective teachers and principals, improve rural health, and develop and strengthen rural broadband, telecommunications and electric services.

“While there are obviously areas of disagreement—in particular the president’s proposed increases in international funding and the proposed cut to the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program, which would reduce by $400 million a program designed to help state and local governments offset the cost of incarcerating illegal immigrants who have committed crimes—I am confident that we can work through whatever differences exist and produce a budget that will meet the needs of the American people.”

N.C. Estimated Revenue Shortfall Climbs to $3.167 Billion
According to Rep. Cullie Tarleton (D-93), the estimated state revenue shortfall for the current year—fiscal year 2008-09—has risen from $2.217 billion to $3.167 billion, an additional decrease in revenues of $949.5 million over the January forecast. Estimates are for General Fund collections to fall an unprecedented 10.8 percent below what was collected in fiscal year 2007-08. Looking over collections data dating back to 1971, the state has never experienced a fall-off in collections of this magnitude, according to Tarleton. Of the last two recessions, only the 2001-02-baseline shortfall was of major significance at 6.2 percent.

Most of the change in the May forecast is due to an unparalleled fall in April income tax collections, according to Tarleton. April 15 final payment checks fell 39.7 percent. A primary reason is the widespread impact of the recession. Declines in all sectors of the economy have accelerated losses in income, especially from capital gains in the equity and real estate markets. The January forecast envisioned a decline in final payments of 25 percent, which was greater than the last two recessions—20 percent and 21 percent—but nowhere close to the 39.7 percent decline actually experienced this April.

Rainy, Warm April Ends Cold, Snowy Winter Atop Grandfather Mountain
The weather data from the month of April recorded at the official U.S. Weather Service reporting station located next to Grandfather Mountain’s Mile High Swinging Bridge shows slightly above average high temperatures and rainfall.

Grandfather Mountain had a total of 45.35 inches of snow for the winter of 2008-2009, down 13 percent from the norm of 52.07 inches for the winter season. There was at least a trace of snow at Grandfather on 30 days. The last significant snowfall of the winter fell at Grandfather in March. March 3, also the snowiest day of the winter, brought a total of 11 inches of snow to the mountain. The snowfall total for the month of April was 4.5 inches, 15 percent above the 53-year average snowfall total for the month of 3.92 inches.

The rainfall total of 6.2 inches for the past month was 1.07 inches, or 21 percent, above the 53-year average rainfall total for April of 5.13 inches. Rain for the year-to-date totals 18.52 inches, which is 1.43 inches—or 7 percent—below the 53-year norm for this time of year.

The average high temperature of 54.86 degrees was 1.09 degrees warmer than normal for April, and the average low temperature of 36.69 degrees was .28 degrees below normal for this time of year. Three daily high temperature records were broken near the end of the month. A high temperature of 76 degrees on April 25 broke the previous record of 74 degrees set on that day in 1960. The next day a reading of 76 degrees broke the previous record of 73 degrees set April 26, 1957. The daily high temperature record was also broken April 27 when 74 degrees was reached, surpassing the previous record of 72 degrees set in 1957. A daily high temperature of 71 tied the record on April 29. The original record was set in 1970. The 76-degree readings on April 25 and 26 also break the record for the highest temperature ever reached at Grandfather Mountain during the month of April. The previous record was 75 degrees set April 24, 1960.

The coldest temperature from October 2008 through April 2009 was minus 11 degrees January 16.

The highest three-second gust measured by the anemometer on the Mile High Swinging Bridge this winter was 106 mph on January 1.

For more information, click to www.grandfather.com.

N.C. Wine Events Featured in May 8 Wall Street Journal
On Friday, May 8, Wall Street Journal touted the Salute! Wine Festival in Winston-Salem, the Yadkin Valley Wine Festival in Elkin and the North Carolina Wine Festival in Clemmons as great for tasting North Carolina wines. The piece is featured in the Food & Drink section, is titled “North Carolina Sips” and highlights each event. To read the full article, click to www.online.wsj.com/article/SB124174428332499245.html.

Wildflowers in Bloom on Blue Ridge Parkway
May is traditionally the best month for viewing wildflowers along the Blue Ridge Parkway, according to Virtual Blue Ridge. Mayapple, Bloodroot, Trillium and a few Dogwoods are still blooming, but Flaming Pink Azaleas should be showing soon along with Mountain Laurel. Trillium is still blooming nicely, especially from Linville Falls to Crabtree Meadows. From the Boone/Blowing Rock area, traveling south, look for Dogwood, Frasier Magnolia and Sarvis. These are the most prominent blooming trees.

Witch Hobble, Azaleas, Speedwell and various types of violets are also out. Carolina Rhododendron is especially prevalent at Bear Den Overlook at Milepost 323. Bluets and Trout Lily are still visible around Moses Cone and Price Park area, and Mountain Laurel is showing at Linville Falls. Regular updates for color reports are available by calling 828-298-0398. For more nature and science information, click to www.virtualblueridge.com/parkway/general/nature.asp.