China Has Cost NC Jobs

According to the Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM), a new study finds that the trade deficit with China has cost North Carolina over 100,000 jobs since 2001.  Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM) is a non-partisan, non-profit partnership forged to strengthen manufacturing in the U.S.   A staggering 2.8 million jobs, largely in manufacturing, have been lost as a result of the growing U.S. trade deficit with China since that country’s entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2001, according to a study released by the Economic Policy Institute (EPI).  The report, written by EPI’s Director of Trade and Manufacturing Policy Research Robert E. Scott, cited illegal currency manipulation as a major cause of the rapidly growing U.S. trade deficit with China.  Unlike other currencies, the Chinese Yuan does not fluctuate freely against the dollar, but is artificially pegged in order to boost China’s exports.
In North Carolina, the EPI report disclosed that 107,800 jobs were lost as a result of the growing trade deficit with China.   Scott Paul, executive director of the Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM), said, “North Carolina urgently needs more manufacturing jobs to put people back to work, but our out-of-control trade deficit with China makes that impossible. Reducing our trade deficit and stopping China's unfair trade practices will grow jobs, lower our trade deficit and put the United States on sound fiscal footing.”  The report concluded that “Unless China raises the real value of the Yuan by at least 28.5 percent and eliminates other trade distortions, the U.S. trade deficit and job losses will continue to grow rapidly in the future.”

HUD Grants for NC

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development this week awarded $541,179  in grants to children and families living in North Carolina from health and safety hazards in their homes.  The grants will support efforts to control asthma and allergy triggers such as mold, moisture, mitigate safety hazards in homes, and improve energy efficiency. The grant funding announced this week is part of $18 million HUD is awarding nationwide to clean up health hazards.  The funding will go to cities, counties, states and universities to eliminate dangerous health and other safety hazards in thousands of privately-owned, low-income housing units.  

Road Rage Sends Woman to Baptist Hospital

Road rage resulted in a woman being taken to Baptist Hospital with serious injuries yesterday.  According to Trooper DW Hollar with the North Carolina Highway Patrol, a woman from Fleetwood got on Hwy 421 from Hwy115 just before 5pm Tuesday.  The woman identified as Barbara Pinnix of Fleetwood was stopped at a light.  The car behind her blew the horn when she remained stopped after the light turned green.  This made Pinnix angry and she gestured to the other driver who gestured back.  The two drivers then proceeded on Hwy 421 yelling out the window at each other.  Then Pinnix swerved her Chevy Blazer in an attempt to hit the other car.  The driver of the other car was able to avoid a collision; however, swerving the Blazer caused Pinnix to lose control and the vehicle flipped over twice in the roadway.  No other vehicles were involved in the wreck.  The other driver called the Highway Patrol after the accident to explain what happened.  Pinnix was taken to WRMC and later transferred to Baptist Hospital with serious injuries.  Pinnix was also charged in the wreck with aggressive driving.  

Suspect Sought in Home Break-In

There is a suspect in a home break-in at a Boomer residence and the Sheriff’s Department is investigating.  The victim called to report the break-in on Monday.  According to the Sheriff’s Department report, someone attempted to pry open the back door to the residence.  When they were unsuccessful, they removed the A/C unit from a back window to get inside the home.  Two LCD TV’s (a Sanyo and a Zenith) were stolen along with some jewelry.  Stolen property is valued at 2400 dollars.  Damages are estimated at 200 dollars.  Again, Sheriff’s Officials have the description and name of a possible suspect.

More Stolen Heat Pumps

Is it because we’re getting closer to winter time and colder weather or is it because they want the copper from inside?  I suppose only the thieves know why heat pumps are such a popular item right now.  Two more reports of stolen heat pumps have come in to the Sheriff’s Department since Saturday.  In the report, a woman who now lives in Jonesville came by to check on an unoccupied residence she owns in Roaring River.  The  house had not be broken into but the heat pump had been stolen.  The unit is a Trane and is valued at 900 dollars.  Then a McGrady resident came home to find his heating unit missing.  Again, the Trane heat pump, this one valued at 1500 dollars, had been stolen.  There is a possible suspect in at least one of the thefts and charges are pending further investigation.

Home Break-In and Moved Security Cameras

There were security cameras that the thief or thieves turned upward to obscure the view of the home break-in.  Sheriff’s Deputies were called to investigate the breaking and entering of a weekend residence in Millers Creek.  According to the owner who lives out of town, a serviceman with Duke Energy discovered the break-in and called the homeowner.  When he arrived, he found the front door had been kicked in and items stolen from inside the residence including two 32-inch flat screen TV’s and a Pioneer radio.  The power meter box had been damaged and power was off to the house for a while.  Grocery items inside the refrigerator were spoiled due to the power outage.  Stolen property is valued at 1200 dollars.  Damages are listed at 1300 dollars.  Again there were several security cameras around the property that had been turned upward.  However, Sheriff’s Officials will be reviewing the video for any suspect information concerning the break-in.

Took Her Car But Left Their Tag

OK, they stole her vehicle but left an unknown license tag in her yard.  In a report filed with the Wilkes County Sheriff’s Department, a North Wilkesboro woman called Tuesday morning to report the theft of her Jeep.  The vehicle, a 1993 Jeep Cherokee, was parked at her residence at the time of the theft.  The Jeep was left unlocked with the keys inside it.  The vehicle is green and has damage to the driver’s side door and a Panthers’ tag on the front.  The stolen vehicle is valued at 2000 dollars.  When the woman discovered that her Jeep had been stolen, she also found a license tag in her yard.  Sheriff’s Officials ran the tag and it came back as a Dealer Tag belonging to Empire Nissan.  There is a possible suspect and charges are pending.

Events Today, This Week, & This Month for Seniors

Wilkes Seniors are reminded of events happening this week.  Today, Sept. 21th at 11:15 Wanda Rumple the County SHIIP Coordinator will speak about Annual Enrollment Period date change, Low Income Subsidity qualifications, and Changes in Prescription Drug Plans in 2012.  The presentation will be at the Fairplains BROC Meal site.  This same presentation will also be held on Sept. 29 at 11:30 am at the Maple Springs Community Center.  Then later this week on Friday, Sept. 23th at 2:00pm, in recognition of Fall Prevention Week and to help bring awareness to the topic, a Falls Prevention presentation will be  held at the Ronda Town Hall by United Hospice and the Senior Center.  On Sept. 28th the Senior Center will have open house and the public are invited to come tour the facility.

Congresswoman Foxx Co-Sponsors Bill to End Congressional Pension

Congresswoman Virginia Foxx is the lead cosponsor of new legislation to end the congressional, defined-benefit pension program.  The legislation, H.R. 2913, prohibits members of Congress from participating in the federal government’s pension program.  “Taxpayers are looking to Congress to cut spending and halt the growth of the national debt,” Foxx said. “Congress needs to lead by example.. . Ending the congressional pension shows taxpayers that Congress is serious about getting our fiscal house in order.”   Foxx went on to say, “Winding down congressional pensions will illustrate that Congress is willing to shoulder the same kind of cuts that the rest of the federal government faces.  This is the kind of leadership Americans expect of their representatives.”  Foxx also voted this year to reduce congressional staffing and office budgets by approximately $80 million, by voting for H.R. 1473 and H.R. 2551.  H.R. 1473 ($55 million 

Senator Hagan on President's Jobs Proposal

U.S. Senator Kay R. Hagan (NC) commented this week on the President’s proposed plans to create jobs and to reduce the deficit.  “Last week, I stood with 36 Republican and Democratic Senate colleagues to urge the 'Super Committee' to 'go big' on deficit reduction," said Hagan.  “On my recent budget listening tour across North Carolina, I heard over and over again that Washington needs to put the nation's fiscal future ahead of current partisan game-playing.”  Hagan went on to say her bottom line is unchanged and that she will work with anyone in Washington to achieve practical, bipartisan solutions to help jumpstart the stalled American economy and create jobs.