^The ANSON BIZ-ZINE
WADESBORO, ANSON COUNTY, NORTH CAROLINA, U.S.A.

     (April 8, 2008) – Following an adjustment of .1% for January, Anson County's unemployment rate remained at 7.6% for February -- compared to a 7.3% rate in February 2007.
     In February, Anson County’s labor force numbered 10,711 (compared to 10,715 in January); the number of employed people was 9,896 (compared to 9,906 in January); and the number of unemployed people was 815 (compared to 809 in January).
     The February breakdown for Anson’s neighboring counties:

• Montgomery – 12,017 labor force; 843 unemployed; a rate of 7.0% (up .3% from January).
• Richmond – 20,760 labor force; 1,777 unemployed; 8.6% rate (up .1% from January).
• Stanly – 31,265 labor force; 1,671 unemployed; 5.3% rate (up .2% from January).
• Union – 90,079 labor force; 4,370 unemployed; 4.9% rate (up .3% from January).

     For February, the state’s unemployment rate was 5.4% – up .1% from January. North Carolina’s labor force numbered 4,499,824 in January with 244,542 people jobless.
     Hyde County's 11.7% jobless rate was the highest unemployment figure in the state, followed by Scotland County (9.9%), Swain (9.7%), Dare (9.6%) and Graham (9.2%). Orange County registered the state's lowest unemployment rate at 4.6%, followed by Wake (4.0%), Polk (4.2%) and Watauga (4.2%).
     The civilian labor force estimates for all 100 counties are available on the Employment Security Commission's website at www.ncesc.com. For local information, call the ESC office at 704.694.6551 or visit www.ansonjoblink.com.

RETURN to TOP

RETURN to HOME PAGE

     (April 8, 2008) -- Anson County had to look no further than its own borders to find a new Economic Development Director.
     Misty Harris of Wadesboro will begin the job effective April 20. The appointment was announced by County Manager Andy Lucas after being approved by the County Board of Commissioners during the April 1 meeting. Lucas said that her "organizational skills, energy, demonstrated commitment to excellence and passion for creating economic opportunity for all Anson County citizens made her the preferred candidate for the position."
     Harris is the daughter of Jeff and Wanda Harris of Wadesboro and a 2000 graduate of Anson High School. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington in 2004, with a major in criminal justice and a minor in public administration.
     Harris is currently employed by Anson County as pre-treatment coordinator for the Anson County Waste Water Treatment Plant. She recently received statewide recognition for her work there.
     "I like a challenge," Harris said. "If I succeed, I feel that the whole county succeeds. Being from here gives me a passion. I am vested in this community."
     Harris said that in the past few years she became interested in event planning and marketing. "I didn't know you could get a degree in that or I would have done it," she said. She was Anson County Relay for Life chairman in 2007; assistant director of People Fest in 2006 and is already working on People Fest 2008, which she will chair.
     Harris coordinated the Homecoming and Christmas parades in 2006 and 2007; and most recently co-chaired the Wadesboro Easter Egg Hunt with Carly Little of H.W. Little Hardware.
     "Misty's enthusiasm, marketing experience, willingness and ability to learn and apply new concepts, and demonstrated organizational skills provide the necessary skill set to become an effective Economic Development Director," said Lucas. "We are excited about this hiring and look forward to outstanding results.”
     Harris will attend a two-day Essentials of Economic Development course at the Institute of Government in Chapel Hill April 8-9. "I also will visit with Economic Development Directors in the surrounding counties to get familiar with the ins and outs of the position," Harris said.
     She sees her goals as twofold: bringing in businesses to provide jobs and providing skilled employees for these jobs. "It's a kind of catch-22," she said. "You can't ask businesses to come here if you can't provide the employees to work there."
     Harris said it is important to break the cycle of work ethic. "People whose parents don't work don't see the importance of preparing for a job," she said. "It won't be done overnight. It will have to be a grassroots effort."
     Harris has been working for change through two Anson County organizations: HOLLA! (Helping Our Loved Ones Learn and Achieve) and the Anson County Partnership for Children (ACPC).
     With the backing of HOLLA! and ACPC, Harris and Mary Little of Coffing Hoists promote Diva Days twice monthly for girls in the 11th and 12th grades. The students learn life skills such as job interviewing and money management from successful Anson County women. Paula Tice of Hornwood and Williesenia Ingram of Anson Bank and Trust were past presenters.
     If the girls attend every Diva Day class, have no discipline referrals and stay in school, they are rewarded with an incentive -- help to attend the Prom. This includes tickets, a gown, shoes, hair and nail styling, dinner and transportation. Harris said 10 girls have earned the incentive this spring. All the perks will be donated by Anson County businesses and individuals.
     The students may see only their dream of attending their Prom in style coming true. Harris sees 10 young women who have attained the skills necessary to become successful employees.

RETURN to TOP

RETURN to HOME PAGE

     (April 17, 2008) -- District Attorney Michael Parker has thrown down the gauntlet, issuing a challenge to the Anson County Chamber of Commerce to match raised funds for scholarships to the Wadesboro Rotary Planetarium and Science Center's summer camps.
     At an April 16 check presentation to Holly Walters, planetarium director, Parker said, "The elected officials of Anson County are extremely proud to present this check for $1,600 to assist with the scholarship fund for the summer camps ...
     "... and I challenge the Anson County Chamber of Commerce to match or beat our total to send at least 32 kids to camp," Parker said, directing his challenge to Lynn Edwards, executive director of the Chamber.
     "By promoting and empowering our children and our school system, we can improve our community's economic future," Parker said in his challenge. "If you care about improving the educational opportunities of our children, if you care about improving the attractiveness of our community to families and business, if you care about sharing the love of learning with our children, if you care about recognizing our Planetarium as the Jewel of Central North Carolina -- then meet us or beat us."
     Parker named the elected officials -- Sheriff Tommy Allen, N.C. Sen. William Purcell, N.C. Rep. Pryor Gibson, Register of Deeds JoAnn Huntley, County Commission Chair Anna Baucom, Wadesboro Mayor Bill Thacker and Councilpersons Paula Tice, Ed Emory and Lawrence Gatewood, Anson County School Board Chair Lisa Davis and board members Dr. Altheria Patton, Rev. Rob Rollins, Russell Sikes, Lorenzo Steele, Jackie Huntley and M.R. Bell -- who had donated to the scholarship fund. Parker said Huntley is always the first one every year to ask if we are going to raise scholarship funds again.
     "We all share the same commitment to the future of our children and the belief that Anson County's children deserve the best our community has to offer," Parker said. "Our pledge will send 16 children to camp at the Planetarium this summer." He said the goal of the challenge is to help an additional 16 children enjoy the opportunities the Planetarium and Science Center has to offer at the 2008 summer camps.
     Edwards laughed, saying most of the named donors were Chamber members. She jokingly asked if their donation counted for the Chamber and then remarked, "I know what the kids have been through (in previous summer camps) and that they learned a lot."
     She said, "Our Chamber members will see the benefits of the summer camps and contribute."
     Walters said, "There will be three summer camps, each one with a theme. We will take field trips and will spend one night at the planetarium to stargaze."
     Anson County School System Superintendent Greg Firn said, "Most importantly, science is about doing ... and the children learn science by doing. The Planetarium and Science Center provides our children with a hands-on opportunity."
     "This is a great facility in Anson County and the public needs to know more about it, and use it as a community resource," Parker urged.
     Walters said she can accept a maximum of 25 children for each camp.
     The first summer camp, "Physical Science Camp-Xtreme Machine Week," will be held June 23-27; followed by "Life & Earth Science Camp-Water Wise Week" July 21-25 and "Astronomy Camp-X-files Week" July 28-Aug. 1.
     Each camp will be held from 8 a.m. until noon. The deadline to register is Friday, May 16.
     The cost is $100 per student per week. Scholarships are available by seeing the student's school principal. For more information and/or to register, call Walters at 704.694.7016.
     Wadesboro Rotarian Don Altieri, who was president when the club took on the project in 2005 and 2006, said the donations will be tax deductible. He suggested donors make out their checks to Wadesboro Rotary Club Charitable Foundation Inc. and give them to him or to Edwards.

RETURN to TOP

RETURN to HOME PAGE

     (April 18, 2008) – The Anson Economic Development Corp. (AEDC) Board of Directors re-elected a slate of officers for 2008-2009 at the Board's annual meeting on April 17.
     Don Scarborough, Plank Road Realty, was re-elected as chairman; Chuck Horne, Hornwood, as vice chairman; Dana Maness, Anson Bank & Trust, as treasurer; Elbert Marshall, Marshall Bruney Media Consultants, as secretary; and Fred Sparger, South Piedmont Community College, and Emmett Patterson, retired, Pee Dee Electric, as at-large members.
     The AEDC is a 501(3)c organization whose goal is to promote and market Anson County, and to assist in the economic development arena. The Board is currently soliciting the private sector for funds for future projects. The Board meets the third Thursday of the month at 7:30 a.m. at the Anson County Chamber of Commerce.

RETURN to TOP

RETURN to HOME PAGE

     (April 24, 2008) -- The hand-printed signs posted on the "Enter" and "Exit" doors at Fred's in the Plank Road Shopping Center in Wadesboro are brief but to the point: this location has closed and our Fred's customers are invited to visit our store in Bennettsville, S.C.
     The closing caught most everyone by surprise, including employees who reported for work only to find the doors locked.
     Local speculation that the Wadesboro closing is part of Fred's Inc.'s overall strategic plan to close under-performing stores was affirmed in an April 10, 2008, press release posted on the company's website.
     According to the press release, Michael J. Hayes, chief executive officer, is quoted as follows: "We are pleased that Fred's sales momentum continued in March, translating into positive customer traffic and comparable store sales that were in line with our expectations.
     "This progress reflects the ongoing benefits of our announced strategic plan, which focuses on improving merchandise in-stock levels and elevating performance in our top stores and pharmacies," Hayes said in the press release. "With the implementation of the longer-term aspects of the plan now underway, we began closing our under-performing stores and pharmacies this month.
     "While the retail and economic environment remains skittish, putting pressure on our gross margin in short-term, our earnings outlook for the first quarter has not changed and we remain confident about the long-term benefits of our strategic plan," Hayes stated.
     The press release also announced Fred's five-week fiscal earnings for March -- a 4% increase over the same period in 2007 ($178.3 million compared to $171.6 million). Comparable store sales for the month increased 1.2% -- compared to 4.4% for the same period in 2007.
     Excluding the 75 stores and 22 pharmacies that have been closed or will be closed under the company's strategic plan, comparable store sales in March would have been 1.7%, the press release stated.
     In March, Fred's opened two new stores and one pharmacy, and expects to open 18 new stores and 15 new pharmacies all-together in 2008. The press release stated that Fred's expects to close a total of 75 under-performing stores and 22 under-performing pharmacies in 2008.
     Fred's closing marks the third Wadesboro business to close in 2008, following in the footsteps of The Movie Gallery and Save-a-Lot. Approximately 15 people lost their jobs when Fred's closed; and about 25 people became jobless when Save-a-Lot closed.
     For more information, go to www.fredsinc.com.

RETURN to TOP

RETURN to HOME PAGE