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Mary Thompson Reavis accepts a miniature bridge sign from Jim Trogdon,
NCDOT chief operating officer, during a ceremony honoring her uncle,
George Thompson, who was the first member of the NC Highway Patrol to
die on the job.
Brown Creek Bridge dedicated to fallen trooper
(July 14, 2009) -- The year was 1929, and the North Carolina Highway Patrol had
just graduated its first group of troopers the day before new patrolman
George Thompson left Lexington for Marion on his motorcycle. The young
man was popular, praised for his clean living and athletic physique. He
was what the Highway Patrol was looking for.
But his career would be all too brief.
On his first day on the job, as Thompson and three other patrolmen
travelled through Wadesboro, he was struck and killed by a Ford Coupe
driven by a 14-year-old Albemarle boy. He was the first casualty in the
Highway Patrol’s brief history.
Eighty years later on the anniversary of his death, patrolmen from
across the area – retired and active – gathered at South Piedmont
Community College’s L.L. Polk Campus to dedicate a bridge over Brown
Creek on U.S. Highway 74 in Thompson’s honor.
Local authorities and SPCC officials attended the July 2 ceremony. The
guest of honor was Thompson’s niece, Mary Thompson Reavis, and her
family who arrived from Winston-Salem. Reavis told how her father would
share stories about her deceased Uncle George.
NC Department of Transportation Chief Operating Officer Jim Trogdon
presented Reavis a miniature version of the highway sign. Surrounded by
her family, she clutched the sign and thanked the officers for
remembering her uncle.
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SPCC’s Industrial Maintenance program changes name and location to
increase course offerings
(July 14, 2009) --
South Piedmont Community College’s Industrial Maintenance program has a
new name and new location that will allow expanded course offerings. Now
called the Mechatronics program, the maintenance program has moved from
the Advanced Manufacturing Center to flexible lab space in Building B on
the Old Charlotte Highway Campus in Monroe. The move provides more space
for the equipment including a new motor controls trainer.
Russell Carpenter, the Industrial Maintenance instructor since the
program began last year, will teach the Mechatronics classes along with
related courses.
Introduction to Programmable Logic Control (PLC) Basic Programming
starts Aug. 3. Classes meet Mondays and Wednesdays until Aug. 26. Hours
are 1 to 5 p.m. The fee is $65.
Mechatronics will be offered three times during the upcoming fall
semester: -
Aug. 31 – Nov. 9, Monday-Thursday, 1-5 p.m.
- Sept. 21 – Dec. 1, Monday-Thursday, 8 a.m.-noon
- Oct. 5 – Dec. 18, Monday-Thursday, 5-9 p.m.
The Mechatronics fee is $749.
For more information, call Karen Elizabeth Smith at 704-290-5272 or
email Russell Carpenter at rcarpenter@spcc.edu.
Expressing congratulations to Coffing Hoists for its expansion plans are, from left to right, Lisa Worley, Coffing employee; Lisa Moore, Coffing employee; David Huntley, Coffing employee; Paula Tice, Wadesboro councilwoman; John Witherspoon, Wadesboro town manager; Wadesboro Mayor Bill Thacker; Ed Emory, Wadesboro councilman; U.S. Rep. Larry Kissell; Vance Gulledge, Anson County manager; Joe Ombrello,Coffing Hoists general manager; Lawrence Gatewood, Wadesboro councilman; Anna Baucom, Anson County Commision chair; Ron Kountz, Coffing employee; Jarvis Woodburn, Coffing employee and an Anson County commissioner; Bob Blaclock, Wadesboro councilman; and Bob Stowe, Coffing employee. |
Expansion at Coffing Hoists to add 65 jobs
(July 18, 2009) -- Yale Industrial Products Inc. will invest $3 million to expand operations at Wadesboro's Coffing Hoists plant, located on Country Club Road, and create 65 jobs over the next three years.
The announcement was made July 17 by North Carolina Gov. Bev Perdue, and includes a $116,300 grant from the One North Carolina Fund. “North Carolina remains a strong, diverse industrial manufacturing region,” Perdue said. “Our state is attractive to companies looking for opportunities provided by our skilled workforce, business-friendly climate and tremendous quality of life.”
“The company’s expansion of their Wadesboro plant will create sustainable wealth in our community through job creation and capital investment,” said Misty Harris, Anson County Economic Development director. “With our current unemployment rate reaching 15.1% (in May), the 65 new jobs that this project is adding will put local people back to work.
It is estimated that the 65 jobs will pay an average annual wage of $37,031, not including benefits -- which is significantly higher than the Anson County average annual wage of $28,288. Under conditions of the grant, Yale will be required to replace 16 jobs lost in a recent layoff and create 49 new jobs to reach the grant’s total of 65 jobs during the next three years.
Yale Industrial Products, a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of material-handling products, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Columbus McKinnon Corp. of New York (NASDAQ: CMCO), which makes powered and manual hoists, trolleys, cranes and other material-handling equipment for diverse applications worldwide. Columbus McKinnon also owns Duff-Norton, a separate manufacturing facility in Charlotte.
In addition to the Wadesboro plant, Columbus McKinnon has three other hoist manufacturing facilities -- one located in Michigan, one in Ohio and one in Virginia. The Wadesboro plant presently employs 136 workers. The company plans to consolidate its Michigan operation into its existing plants in other states, including the Wadesboro facility, which will add a line of wire rope hoists.
“We considered the safety, quality, efficiency, productivity and customer-oriented culture of the workforce at our Wadesboro operation,” said Gene Buer, Columbus McKinnon vice president. “Combining those factors, along with a strong leadership team and experience in building wire rope hoists, we have all the right ingredients for success in today’s demanding business environment. In making our decision, we were also very impressed with the level of support we received from the Town of Wadesboro, Anson County and the state of North Carolina.”
The One North Carolina Fund provides financial assistance, through local governments, to attract business projects that will stimulate economic activity and create new jobs in the state. Companies receive no money up front and must meet job creation and investment performance standards to qualify for grant funds. These grants also require and are contingent upon local matches.
“North Carolina continues to be a great state for businesses to locate and expand, and we welcome these new jobs to the region,” said State Sen. Bill Purcell.
“During these tough economic times we must continue to make the investments that will bring jobs to North Carolina,” said State Rep. Pryor Gibson.
North Carolina continues to have a top-ranked business climate. Through Gov. Perdue’s JobsNOW initiative, the state will work aggressively to create jobs, train and retrain the workforce, and lay the foundation for a strong and sustainable economic future. Through use of the One North Carolina Fund, more than 40,000 jobs and $7 billion in investment have been created since 2001. Other project partners include the N.C. Department of Commerce, Anson County and the Town of Wadesboro.
For more information about Yale Industrial Products and Columbus McKinnon, visit www.cmworks.com.
As new employment positions are identified at Yale’s Wadesboro facility, they will be posted at the N.C. Employment Security Commission/JobLink Center, 116 W. Wade St., Wadesboro. Applicants must apply at the center. For more information about the center, click here.
To contact Harris at the Anson County Economic Development office, call 704.694.9513 or e-mail mharris@co.anson.nc.us.
Uconda Dunn (left), existing industry specialist with the Charlotte Regional Office of the North Carolina Department of Commerce, presents a china plate with the state seal emblazoned on it to Ed Seiler, director of operations improvement with the Columbus McKinnon Corp. The presentation was made during a July 30 luncheon at South Piedmont Community College's Lockhart-Taylor Center honoring Coffing Hoists' management leadership team. Coffing Hoists will expand its Wadesboro operation, investing about $3 million and eventually hiring up to 65 people. The luncheon was co-sponsored by the Anson Economic Development Corp. and Anson County's Office of Economic Development.
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Local officials convey congratulations to Coffing Hoists
(July 21, 2009) -- Local officals gathered at Coffing Hoist on July 20 for a photo opportunity and to convey congratulations to the company upon the announcement that it will expand its Wadesboro operation and create up to 65 jobs.
U.S. Rep. Larry Kissell said he has "a good feeling" about the expansion, pointing out that economic development today means a few jobs here and a few jobs there. "These are 65 good jobs -- something needed for this area."
Wadesboro Mayor Bill Thacker congratulated Coffing Hoists on the expansion, saying "It is an advancement for Anson County and Wadesboro. It is a great day for us by adding jobs in this down economy." Thacker said Coffing Hoists is a "great corporate citizen and will continue to be in the future."
Anna Baucom, who chairs the Anson County Board of Commissioners, said the expansion is "an example of team work. It just didn't happen." She praised Coffing Hoists leadership and the joint operation by the Town of Wadesboro, Anson County and the county's office of Economic Development.
Among the Town of Wadesboro's contingent were councilmembers Bob Blalock, Ed Emory, Lawrence Gatewood and Paula Tice; and Town Manager John Witherspoon. County Manager Vance Gulledge and Economic Development Director Misty Harris represented the county. Jarvis Woodburn, a county commissioner and a Coffing Hoists employee, was also on hand.
Joe Ombrello, general manager of Wadesboro hoist Operations, commented, “I would like to express our appreciation to all those involved in the local, state and federal government who have partnered with Columbus McKinnon in enabling the Wadesboro facility to continue its presence in this global manufacturing economy by contributing to the local economy. We look for this partnership to grow as we begin the recruiting and training of new associates. As new employment opportunities develop, recruiting activities will begin with the N.C. Employment Security Commission and JobLink Center in Wadesboro.”
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Anson Community Hospice opened an office in Wadesboro on July 17. Present to welcome the new facility were, from left, Wadesboro Mayor Pro Tem Ed Emory, volunteer Alice Moore Warrick, office coordinator Lisa Ledford, volunteer Bonnie Morgan, executive director Mary Ellen Shea, Anson County Chamber of Commerce chair Todd Moore, nurse Leshia Henshaw, staffer Faith Jones, volunteer Mary Heavener, staffer Angeline David, volunteer Rita Short, and Chamber executive director Lynn Edwards. |
Anson Community Hospice re-locates to uptown Wadesboro office
(July 20, 2009) -- Anson Community Hospice held a grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, July 17, to invite the public to view a new office location in uptown Wadesboro.
Anson Community Hospice's services, previously housed at the Anson Baptist Association building on U.S. 74-West, have been re-located to 110 S. Greene St. Anson Community Hospice is affiliated with Richmond County Hospice and has had an Anson County presence for the past 15 years.
Todd Moore, Anson County Chamber of Commerce board chairman, welcomed Hospice to uptown Wadesboro, saying, "Your services are very needed" and that Hospice volunteers "go above and beyond their duties."
Ed Emory, Wadesboro Mayor Pro Tem, congratulated Hospice on their years of service to the community and welcomed them to uptown Wadesboro.
Anna Baucom, the Anson County Commissioners chair, said she was "delighted to have Hospice in uptown Wadesboro" and added, "It is difficult to lose someone you love, but Hospice can come in and help to ease the pain and offer rest to family caregivers."
Lynn Edwards, the Chamber's executive director, recalled when her grandmother required the services offered by Hospice, saying, "The family was glad to have had Hospice."
Lisa Ledford, Hospice's Wadesboro office coordinator, said, "We re glad to be here and to have a presence in the community -- where we can give back to the community."
Mary Ellen Shea, Anson Community Hospice executive director, said, "I want to thank you on behalf of our board of directors and our wonderful staff. Together we can serve the people of Anson County."
Grand opening attendees had the opportunity to meet staff members Leshia Henshaw, Faith Jones and Angeline David, and volunteers Alice Moore Warrick, Mary Heavener and Rita Short.
For more information and/or volunteer opportunities, call 704.695.1595 or toll-free at 888.997.4402; or visit www.richmondcountyhospice.com.
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Farmland preservation program is underway in Anson
(July 22, 2009) -- Like other communities that
neighbor areas of large growth, Anson County has taken steps to balance development
with protecting natural resources and farmland that are very important to the
economy and environment.
In March 2009, the Anson County Commissioners adopted
the Anson County Voluntary and Enhanced Voluntary Agricultural District (VAD-EVAD)
ordinance -- a planning tool that provides recognition of farming in the county by
encouraging the preservation and protection of farmland from non-farm
development.
Specifically, the Anson County VAD-EVAD ordinance
provides landowners increased protection from nuisance lawsuits, public hearings for
proposed condemnation of enrolled land, signage to publicize the land’s enrollment
in the program and greater public awareness of the local agricultural community and
increased pride in its way of life.
To be eligible, farmland, forestland and horticultural
land must be part of the present-use value taxation or be determined eligible for
present-use value. If the acreage contains highly erodible land, it must be managed
in accordance with Natural Resources Conservation Service guidelines.
Applications and brochures are available at Anson
County Cooperative Extension, Brown Creek Soil & Water, Farm Service Agency, the
Office of the Anson County Planner and the Tax Assessor. In addition, information
is available at Farm Bureau, Farm Credit and can be accessed on the Anson County
Cooperative Extension website at http://anson.ces.ncsu.edu under the
VAD/EVAD Ordinance link.
In April 2009, the Anson Agricultural Advisory board
was appointed by county commissioners to oversee implementation of the county’s
ordinance. Contracted with Cooperative Extension to administer the program, they
are now ready to begin taking applications for enrollment.
Voting members of the Anson County Ag Advisory Board
are Todd Moore, chair; Robbie Harrington, vice chair; and Shirley Crawford, Evelyn
Capell, John Springer, Roy Blount and Eli Maxwell. Ex-officio members include Jeff
Griffin, Bobby McCollum, Francis Campbell, Chris Childers, Jennifer Baptiste, Jim
Kennedy and Janine Rywak. The advisory board's work is aimed to enhance the county’s
efforts to protect farmland and help local agricultural economies develop.
Anson County was the 68th county in North Carolina to
adopt a VAD ordinance, and the 13th county to adopt the enhanced version (EVAD). The
ordinance is a valuable tool for helping farmers and landowners keep land in
agricultural and forest production.
For more information, call Janine Rywak, County
extension director, at 704.694.2915.
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Banking delegation visits Anson County; gets a bird's-eye
view
(July 22, 2009) -- Anson County rolled out the red
carpet for the North Carolina Commissioner of Banks (NCCOB) delegation on July 16,
offering a bird's-eye view of how the county is coping with the economic recession
-- especially in the areas of economic development, home mortgages and
foreclosures.
At a noon-time luncheon at South Piedmont Community
College's Lockhart-Taylor Center, NCCOB representatives met with local elected
officials, Anson Bank & Trust board members, Uwharrie Captital Corp. board members,
and key movers and shakers to discuss the issues at hand.
Ken Huntley, Anson Bank & Trust Board of Trustees
chairman, welcomed NCCOB Commissioner of Banks Joseph Smith Jr. and his delegation
from Raleigh. "Our small businesses are the backbone of the community and you as
banking commissioners can make things tick," Huntley said. "What can the banking
commissioners do? See how we, as a small community, are coping." Huntley said most
Ansonians are facing generational poverty and cannot afford housing.
Don Altieri, executive director of New Ventures
Business Development Inc. (NVBDI), told officials that NVBDI "offers services and
resources to help anyone start or grow a business." He said NVBDI is pro-active and
"go where our clients are." He added that, since 2005, NVBDI has created 65 new
jobs.
Don Scarborough, Uwharrie Capital Corp. Board of
Trustees chair and chairman of the Anson Economoic Development Corp., said Anson
County's unemployment rate for May was 15.1%, has one of the highest rates of
teenage prgnancies in North Carolina, and that the county's household income is
among the lowest in the state. "Our economy is still transitioning from textiles,"
he said, observing "If it was not for South Piedmont Community College's re-training
programs we would have tumbleweeds blowing on our streeets."
Scarborough commended the county's leadership effort,
pointing out that "30 to 50 people do everything for Anson County. It is the same
people who step up to the plate when needed."
Scarborough, owner of Plank Road Realty, offered local
real estate trends for comparison. In 2005, Anson County registered 140 home sales;
161 in 2006; 161 in 2007; and 110 in 2008, he said. "In 2009, the number of home
sales to date is 31 -- compared to 64 for the same period in 2008," he said.
He called upon NCCOB to "come down hard on fraudulant,
unethical mortgage brokerage houses, reassess the credit score standards and promote
reasonable criteria for banks to help lend money to low-to-moderate income
families."
Chuck Horne, president of Hornwood Inc. and vice
chairman of the Anson Economic Development Corp., said his company is the largest
industry employer in the county. "We got to be Number One through attrition," he
said, adding, "We also got to be the county's biggest water user through
attrition."
Horne said, "We have 315 people who are dedicated to
their job. We are local -- and that is an important factor. We are not owned by an
outside entity who could close on a whim."
Horne credited diversity to Hornwood's success -- or
survival. "We have entered markets that are not apparel-based," he said, pointing
out that Hornwood will purchase industrial yarn locally -- from Premiere Fibers in
Ansonville.
Roger Dick, Uwharrie Capital Corp. president,
introduced Nancy Gottovi, executive director of Central Park NC, located in Star,
who promoted localism in natural and cultural resources. "The question is how to get
people and their dollars here," she said, adding that economic development directors
should not focus on one business that brings 200 jobs but 200 businesses with five
jobs for a total of 1,000 jobs.
"Small communities cannot afford to have all of their
eggs in one basket," she said. "A local industry will stay in business for years.
For every $100 from a local industry, $45 stays in the community." Gottovi
encouraged a shift toward more localism ... to see where money is going and how it
is invested.
"Big-box stores create a vacuum for small businesses
in a community," she said. "A community can educate people to shop local and
encourage businesses in a local procurement process."
Smith wrapped up the get-together, saying, "I am in
awe of what you have done here and the leadership." He reiterated the purpose of the
visit to Wadesboro and Anson County was to determine specific actionable items to
help Ansonians address the issues of economic development, foreclosures and
affordable housing.
He said the NCCOB will help "to finance new economic
development, cut down on mortgage fraud, assist first-time homebuyers and to help
with finances for businesses in an incubator or a Main Street investment."
For more information on the N.C. Commissioner of Banks, visit www.nccob.org/nccob.
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South Piedmont Community College honored its 2009 Surgical Technology graduates July
23 with a pinning ceremony on the L.L. Polk Campus in Polkton. Graduates are (left
to right) Caitlin Sharkey of Matthews, Lauren Davis of Marshville, Tasha Kilpatrick
of Albemarle, Genia Feagin of Wadesboro, Kimberly Edwards of Ruby S.C., Dana
Williams of Rockingham, Wendy Furr of Waxhaw, Tabithia Whitley of Norwood, Kendra
McClain of Monroe, Brittany Gordon of Monroe, Samantha Ennis of Monroe, and Jacey
Talbert of Stanfield.
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South Piedmont Community College honored its 2009 Practical Nursing graduates with a
pinning ceremony on July 23 at Calvary Episcopal Church in Wadesboro. Pictured are
(front row, left to right) Jennifer Williams of Monroe, LaDonna Yoza of Charlotte,
Ursula Lohn of Indian Trail, Valerie Dano of Indian Trail, Amber Rhodes of Monroe,
Britttany Smith of Peachland, Elizabeth Santana of Rockingham, Misty Puckett of
Wadesboro and McKay Porter of Peachland, (back row, left to right) Shannon Wright of
Monroe, Adam Austin of Wingate, Craig Greenlee of Monroe, Alyssa Eramo of Indian
Trail and Brittany Thomas of Monroe. Not pictured: Cerise Belk of Wadesboro. |
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Anson's jobless rate climbs to 15.3% for June
(July 28, 2009) –- Anson County's unemployment rate climbed another two-tenths of a percent in June -- to 15.3% -- the highest rate in 17 years. In June 1992, Anson's jobless rate reached 15.4% -- down from a January 1992 rate of 17.5%.
In June 2008, Anson's rate was 8.0% -- a plus 7.3% difference in 12 months. For 2009, the unemployment rates have been 13.8% in January, 14.7% in February, 14.8% in March and 13.3% in April; 15.1% in May; and 15.3% in June.
In June, Anson County’s labor force numbered 10,493 (compared to 10,483 in May); the number of employed people was 8,895 (compared to 8,884 in May); and the number of unemployed people was 1,609 (compared to 1,571 in May). In comparison, Anson's 1992 numbers were 12,887; 10,901; and 1,986, respectively.
Anson led the Centralina Worksforce Region, followed by Lincoln County (14.6%), Rowan (13.1%), Iredell (12.8%), Stanly (12.4%), Cabarrus (11.7%) and Union (11.3%). The Centralina region's combined unemployment rate was 12.5% -- up .1% from May-- with 414,783 in the laborforce and 51,804 people unemployed.
The June breakdown for Anson’s neighboring counties:
- Montgomery – 11,507 labor force; 1,581 unemployed; a rate of 13.7% (down .1% from May).
- Richmond – 20,971 labor force; 2,946 unemployed; 14.0% rate (down .2% from May).
- Stanly – 31,129 labor force; 3,865 unemployed; 12.4% rate (unchanged from May).
- Union – 92,334 labor force; 10,395 unemployed; 11.2% rate (up .2% from May).
According to Centralina Workforce data for June, Anson had 438 initial unemployment insurance claims; 3,178 total weeks claimed; $637,517 unemployment insurance benefits paid out; and 769 individuals receiving checks.
The state’s unemployment rate was 11.2% –- up .2% from May. North Carolina’s labor force numbered 4,598,295 (compared to 4,565,090 in May) and 514,877 (compared to 505,445 in May) people jobless.
Scotland County led the state with the highest unemployment rate (17.2%), followed by Edgecombe (16.6), McDowell (16.1%), Caldwell (15.6%), Catawba (15.5%), Alexander, Cleveland and Rutherford at 15.4%, Anson (15.3%), and Cherokee and Gaston at 15.0%. For June, there were 72 counties with double-digit unemployment rates (unchanged from May).
Currituck and Hyde counties shared the state's lowest unemployment rate at 6.2%, followed by Orange (7.0%), Dare (7.3%) and Carteret (7.8%).
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.
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