USDA Says School Lunches Healthier

The USDA says:  For the past three years, kids have eaten healthier breakfasts, lunches and snacks at school thanks to the bipartisan Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, which made the first meaningful improvements to the nutrition of foods and beverages served in cafeterias and sold in vending machines in 30 years. Thanks to the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act and other strategies, the national obesity trend is slowly reversing.   A poll released in mid-August shows that 9 out of 10 Americans support national nutrition standards for school meals and nearly 70% believe school meals are excellent or good, compared to just 26% in 2010. Over 95 percent of schools report that they are successfully meeting the updated nutrition standards.

New NC Laws

Tuesday was the beginning of a new month and the day NC Governor Pat McCrory signed some bills into state law.  Senate Bill 665 was signed into law and requires insurance companies authorized to transact life insurance business in North Carolina to determine semi-annually if that insurer's records cross-match with any record in the United States Social Security Administration’s death master file or a similar database. Upon a match, the insurer would be required to engage in a good-faith effort to verify the death and locate any beneficiaries. Governor McCrory also signed Senate Bill 399 which allows a joint agency created by an inter-local agreement for the purposes of fire protection, police protection, and emergency services to receive a refund of sales and use taxes.

County Commissioners' Meeting: Airport Decisions

Wilkes County Commissioners met yesterday morning for their regular meeting.  The Commissioners approved several items related to the Wilkes Airport.  The FAA identified obstructions to the Runway 1 approach surface at the airport.  The obstructions identified are located on property owned by the County of Wilkes and areas inside the airport property.  All proposed costs are grant eligible and are reimbursable at 90 percent state and 10 percent local match.  The Obstruction Removal was awarded to Graham County Land Co who had the lowest bid of just over $99,000.  Also the runway at the Airport has never been repaved and is in need of resurfacing.  The Runway Overlay was awarded to Cedar Peaks Enterprises at 2.5 million dollars.  Again this project has Federal Discretionary funding at a ratio of 90 percent federal and 10 percent local.  Commissioners approved both bids for both projects scheduled to begin next year as the paving season will be passed for this year by the time all paperwork is finalized.  In addition, the Commissioners approved easements around the airport so that Frontier Energy can begin construction on a natural gas line to the airport. The natural gas line will be along Wood Wallace Road into the Wilkes Airport. 

County Appraisal Postponed

Wilkes County Commissioners had their regular meeting yesterday morning.  Wilkes Tax Administrator Alex Hamilton was there to present a resolution concerning an upcoming reappraisal of property in the county.  According to county schedules, the reappraisal was scheduled every 4 years with the next one set for 2017.  However, Hamilton explained that there wasn't really money budgeted for the appraisal which would need to begin soon to be ready by 2017 and that there wasn't a need at this time as property values were constant across the board locally.  Commissioners agreed and approved the resolution that would postpone a property value reappraisal until 2019.

Major Damages and a Suspect

The damages were estimated at $3500.  A victim from Randleman was staying with a friend in Wilkesboro.  The next morning the car owner found several damages to their vehicle amounting to 3500 dollars.  The victim stated that they did not hear anything during the night.  There is a possible suspect who passed by a traffic check nearby the night of the incident.  Charges are pending further investigation.

Wilkesboro Gets Water Grant Money

More money has come in for the water project in Wilkesboro.  At the end of August, the US Economic Development Administration awarded the Town of Wilkesboro $700,000 in grant money to be used toward the Brown's Ford Loop Project to enhance the Town's water pressure and capacity.  It is believed that this second water supply would also promote economic growth in the 421 Corridor area. The project includes an above ground water tank off Brown's Ford Road and water lines along Hwy 268 West.  Currently, 2 million dollars of the 5.6 million needed for the project has been collected.  Bids for the project should be obtained by fall of this year with construction slated for the summer of 2016.

Golden LEAF Scholarships Available at WCC

Wilkes Community College is pleased to announce scholarships are available for the fall, spring and summer terms through a grant made by the Golden LEAF Foundation to the North Carolina Community College System. Curriculum students may apply for up to $750 per semester and occupational education students are eligible for up to $250 per term. Golden LEAF Scholarships can be used to assist with tuition, fees, books, supplies, transportation and childcare expenses related to attending classes during the 2015-16 academic year and industry-recognized credential testing expenses. Eligible students must demonstrate financial need and reside in rural counties that are tobacco-dependent and/or economically distressed. Scholarships for both occupational and curriculum students are available during the fall, spring and summer semesters. The deadline for applications for the fall term is September 18. Students interested in applying for a Golden LEAF Scholarship should contact Vickie Call, director of Financial Aid, at 336-838-6146. Additional information about the college is available at www.wilkescc.edu.  The Golden LEAF Scholarship program, designed to help North Carolinians attend the state’s community colleges, is funded through a $750,000 grant from the Golden LEAF Foundation.

Childhood Cancer Awareness Month in NC

Governor McCrory has proclaimed September as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, highlighting families throughout North Carolina battling cancer as well as the advances being made throughout the state in cancer research, prevention and treatment. According to the Kids Cancer Connection, cancer is detected in nearly 15,000 U.S. children every year. In the proclamation, Governor McCrory recognized efforts by the Kids Cancer Connection and American Cancer Fund for Children in battling childhood cancer. Both organizations provide a variety of vital patient psychosocial services to children undergoing cancer treatment at North Carolina Children's Hospital in Chapel Hill and Levine Children's Hospital in Charlotte, as well as participating hospitals throughout the country. Other childhood cancer hospitals throughout the state involved in research and treatment include Duke Children’s Hospital and Health Center in Durham, the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University in Greenville and Wake Forest Baptist Health in Winston-Salem.

Monday Was Overdose Awareness Day

Monday was International Overdose Awareness Day, a time to call attention to a major cause of accidental death in the United States. Each day, at least two people in North Carolina die from unintentional opiate overdose with more than 800 opiate overdose-related deaths reported in 2014. NC Governor McCrory signed Senate Bill 20, the Good Samaritan/Naloxone Access law, in 2013.  The law allows community-based organizations to dispense Naloxone (Narcan) under the guidance of a medical provider. Medical practitioners who prescribe and bystanders who administer Narcan are protected from civil liability. “Drug overdose is preventable,” said Megan Davies, Acting State Health Director, N.C. Department of Health and Human Services. In May 2014, McCrory issued an Executive Order establishing the Governor’s Substance Abuse and Underage Drinking Prevention and Treatment Task Force, resulting in the statewide Talk It Out initiative, and recently announced formation of the North Carolina Mental Health and Substance Use Task Force. For help overcoming addiction, call the Alcohol Drug Council of North Carolina at 800-688-4232. 

Stolen While Loading Hay

 While she was working on the farm, someone was working on stealing from her car.  The victim advised the Wilkes Sheriff's Office that 2015-03922: The victim advise she was in the hay field and that she left her car unsecured on the side of Austin-Traphill Road near Elkin.  The keys and her pocketbook were left in the vehicle. She finished loading hay around 8pm and returned to her vehicle to find about $235 in property missing including a BLUE VINYL PURSE WITH REBAL FLAG ON SIDE, MEDDICINE, CASH, and a DEBIT CARD. There is no word on suspects.