Commissioner Hester Chairs NC Rural Infrastructure Authority
Governor Pat McCrory recently announced in a press release that Vance County Commissioner Tommy Hester had been reappointed to the Rural Infrastructure Authority. Hester has served the authority since its inception in 2013, and next week he will be running to chair the authority for a third-straight 12-month term.
In an interview with WIZS News, Hester said he hopes to continue to serve as the chairman. As he described it, the authority is charged with distributing funds across North Carolina for rural counties as it pertains to job investment grants for infrastructure.
“We try to help Tier 1 and Tier 2 counties, like Vance County,” Hester said. He said, “Take the Handcrafted Homes building for example. It became vacant and stayed so for more than six months. Someone says their going to buy it and employ 25 folks. So the Rural Infrastructure Authority will help up fit it, giving $100,000.00.” The more jobs created the more potential funds are available.
Hester went on about the Henderson-Vance Industrial Park, which consists of 45 acres south of Henderson near Iams. “Henderson applied for a grant to supply water to the site so it would ground ready when someone wanted to locate there,” Hester said.
Also, he said, “The Henderson-Vance Industrial Park is full,” except for one site. “We might need to buy more land to have site ready,” he said of the Henderson-Vance partnership.
Hester also serves on the Golden Leaf Foundation board, likewise appointed to the board by Gov. McCrory. It provides continuity according to Hester, who meets every other month with both Golden Leaf and Rural Infrastructure. Since both boards give money, Hester being on both boards helps coordinate supplemental giving and it also helps know what to do when someone applies for a grant but does not fall under the guidelines of one organization or the other.
Hester is the first from Vance County to serve on either board.
As a Vance County Commissioner, he said, “I am trying to better lives in Vance County by increasing tax revenue without raising the tax rate. Day by day, month by month. This week, I’m meeting with three different companies, just to talk to them.”
More companies not only equals more jobs but also the additional tax revenue to the County to which Hester refers. More jobs means more money of the citizens of this area, and the companies that create those jobs add to the County tax base, which keeps more money in the pockets of the individual citizens. This is part of the ongoing economic development discussions in Vance County.
Another Raccoon Rabies Case
Another case of a raccoon with rabies has occurred in Vance County. Frankie Nobles, Chief of Vance County Animal Control, informed WIZS News today. He said it has occurred “in the 1900 block of Newton Dairy Rd.”
Nobles said, “Anyone in this area is asked to please get your pet vaccinated for rabies. It can be done at the Vance County Animal Shelter for only $5.00 and the vaccine is good for a year. Times and dates are Monday 12:30pm until 4:30pm, Tuesday through Thursday from 10:00am until 2:00pm and Saturday 8:00am until 12:00pm. This vaccine is the only state required vaccine.”
If you have any further questions please contact the Vance County Animal Shelter at 252-492-3136.
Underage Drinking Affects Brain Development
Press Release
Governor McCrory’s Task Force Gets Report on the Effects of Underage Drinking
Duke Researcher: “It becomes the job of responsible adults in kids’ lives to help provide the restraint that their own brains often can’t.”
Raleigh, N.C. – Researchers from Duke University and UNC-Chapel Hill presented their report on the effects of alcohol on the brains of young people to the Governor’s Substance Abuse and Underage Drinking Prevention and Treatment Task Force today. Governor Pat McCrory requested the report in December.
The report, “Alcohol & The Adolescent Brain: Immediate Impairment, Long-Term Consequences,” details the unique characteristics of the developing adolescent brain, and how alcohol affects the adolescent brain differently from the brain of an adult.
“We need to help parents understand the effects of alcohol on their child’s greatest asset, their developing brain, and how they can help protect it by having conversations with their children about the dangers of underage drinking,” said Governor McCrory.
According to the report, adolescents are less sensitive to the sedative effects of alcohol than adults; making them more likely to binge drink, which can lead to risky behavior, violence, unsafe sex and blackouts. Scientific evidence shows that underage drinking can damage the parts of the brain responsible for judgment, reasoning, impulse control, learning and memory.
“Adolescent brains are not the same as adult brains. Their brains aren’t broken—they’re a work in progress,” said Dr. Wilkie Wilson, Research Professor of Prevention Science, Social Science Research Institute, Duke University. “It becomes the job of responsible adults in kids’ lives to help provide the restraint that their own brains often can’t.”
“You have one brain. It controls everything you’ll do for all your life—protect it and treat it with respect,” added Dr. Wilson.
This report will be used in ongoing statewide efforts to reduce underage drinking, and educate and empower parents to talk with their children. Studies consistently show that parental communication can delay the initiation of alcohol consumption, and help kids make positive decisions across the board.
“On behalf of the Task Force and the North Carolina ABC Commission, I want to thank Governor McCrory for his dedication to tackling the underage drinking problem in our state,” said N.C. ABC Commission Chairman Jim Gardner. “There’s still much work to be done to shift this culture. And this report will be a valuable resource as we continue our efforts through the Talk It Out campaign to educate parents on this important issue.”
Members of the research team include:
- Dr. Cindy Kuhn—Professor of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Psychology and Psychiatry, Duke University Medical Center
- Dr. Donita L. Robinson—Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Dr. Wilkie (Bill) Wilson—Research Professor of Prevention Science, Social Science Research Institute, Duke University
- Dr. Fulton Crews— John Andrews Distinguished Professor of Pharmacology and Psychiatry, Director of the Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
To read the full report, visit https://www.talkitoutnc.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/AdolescentBrainStudyFINAL-PRINT.pdf.
###
