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

     (March 2, 2008) – Approximately 60 people attended the March 1 grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony at Allen's General Store, located on the eastbound side of U.S. 74 in Peachland.
     In welcoming owners Richard and Laura Allen, Lynn Edwards, Anson County Chamber of Commerce executive director, said "having a new business to open in the county, whether in Wadesboro, Lilesville or McFarlan, is good for the economic growth in our business community." She welcomed the Allens on behalf of the Chamber's board of directors.
     Garrett McLendon, Peachland mayor pro-tem, welcomed the Allens to the business community and said, on behalf of the town council, that he appreciated the Allens for choosing Peachland for their new venture. (Richard Allen serves as mayor of Peachland.)
     Anna Baucom, Anson County Commissioners chair, said "I am so happy for you all," and stressed the importance of growth and economic development in the county. Baucom pointed to the store's promise of providing home-grown produce as helping the county to develop and sustain an agricultural economy.
     N.C. Sen. Bill Purcell (D-Laurinburg) said he has known the Allen family for years and "you can find no finer people in America." Purcell said "the backbone of North Carolina's economy is the small business … and I congratulate you and wish you the very best."
     Jim Strayhorn, Anson Bank & Trust president, said "it is good news to hear that a new store is opening, instead of closing. The Allens need our support … and we appreciate their commitment to the community."
     Richard Allen thanked everyone for attending the ribbon-cutting ceremony on behalf of Allen's General Store's "extended family." He said the business venture has been "a life-changing experience," adding that he would normally leave his job (at Allen's Professional Investigations) at 5 p.m., go home and work in the garden with his wife. "Now, we are here at 5 p.m. every day," he said.
     For more information, call 704.272.7207.

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     (March 13, 2008) – After a year of dreaming and planning, Sunny and Raymond Xiong have opened their restaurant in the Wadesboro Place Shopping Center, Wadesboro. And, the grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony that was held March 12, was a "family affair" that included brothers, sisters, cousins, mother and father, and an aunt and uncle.
     "It took us almost a year to get the restaurant up and running," said Sunny Xiong upon greeting local dignitaries. "I want to thank my family ... and the restaurant's staff ... for being there for us.
     "With your support, we will be here for a very long time," she said, asking diners if they have any dislikes or suggestions "to please let us know so that we can improve on them."
     During the past year, the Xiongs welcomed a new addition to the family -- a daughter, Hope, who will be one year old on April 15. Sunny Xiong said that her mother, who is retired, has been training the kitchen and wait staff, and that her father has been assisting with the kitchen cooking.
     Anna Baucom, Anson County Commissioners chair, offered greetings and congratulations on behalf of the county board. "I have watched your progress, and I admire your determination. I wish you the very best and feel that anyone who comes in to eat will be amazed by your hospitality."
     Wadesboro Mayor Bill Thacker said, "on behalf of the town council, I appreciate you choosing Wadesboro for your new business ... and I hope that you wll be here for a very long time."
     Lynn Edwards, executive director of the Anson County Chamber of Commerce, said, "I get excited every time a new business opens." She said the Chamber board of directors welcomes Asian Garden to the business community.
     Those who attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony were treated to a buffet sampling of Asian Garden's menu, which includes Chinese, Japanese and Vietnamese cuisine.
     Asian Garden opens each morning at 7 o'clock (except Sundays) and offers an American Southern breakfast; closes at 9 p.m. Monday-Thursday; and closes at 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. For more information and/or to place a takeout order, call 704.694.3323.

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     (March 15, 2008) – What a mess.
     That's the general consensus of The Curve straightening construction by seasoned Anson County travelers who use U.S. 74/52 to traverse Wadesboro to shop, run an errand, go to a doctor's appointment or to work.
     Since early March, the east-west traffic flow that supports an estimated 42,000-plus vehicles per day went from a four-lane highway with a center turn-lane to a two-lane highway (one lane for eastbound traffic and one lane for westbound vehicles). What's worse is that the traffic nightmare is going to be around for some time -- possibly as long a September, maybe late July at best -- which includes the heart of "beach season" when folks in Union and Mecklenburg counties and beyond use U.S. 74 to head for the beaches at Wilmington and points north and south.
     The long-awaited construction is necessary due to the high number of overturned tractor and trailer rigs each year. Improper signage (or, what the N.C. Department of Transportation thought necessary) and speeding truckers mostly constributed to the wrecks. The unsuspecting, eastbound truck driver would go into The Curve in front of Wadesboro Lumber and Barn too fast, the load in his trailer would shift and BAM!
     The BAM! sound had become so distinctive to uptown merchants and bankers that as soon as it was heard, everyone knew what had happened and often sighed, "Not another one!" Then the Wadesboro Police Department and Wadesboro Volunteeer Fire Department would arrive on the scene. Rescue squad personnel were on hand if anyone had been injured to whisk them off to Anson Community Hospital's emergency room. The fire department checked for spills. The police department redirected traffic -- usually onto Salisbury Street to Martin Street to Greene Street, where traffic would turn left and head back to U.S. 74/52.
     So, now, a new gradient has been drawn on paper that, when construction is completed, should alleviate The Curve's most dangerous occurrence. The construction will not actually straighten out the lanes, but correct the angle by which vehicles will enter.
     Meanwhile, merchants and restaurants on the U.S. 74/52 stretch will suffer. Captain D's diners have to get off the main highway in front of the Anson Mart Exxon to pull into the parking lot, then exit via a specially constructed roadway to re-enter the westbound lanes. If an eastbound vehicle filled with soon-to-be-beach-goers wants to stop at Captain D's, they won't be able to without knowing in advance they will have to turn left onto N.C. 109, turn left into the Anson Mart parking lot and work their way to the restaurant. Getting back in the eastbound lane will be pure hell. The driver will have to go to at least Sikes Avenue before being able to reverse his/her course.
     Anson Mart, Snuggs' Pure station, Advance Auto, Days Inn and the Sunoco convenience store will have similar problems. What is more frustrating to the locals is that the Salisbury street shortcut to Rutherford street is closed to through traffic. So is Rutherford Street from Martin to Caswell. And, to beat it all, if someone is heading for the Lockhart-Taylor Center on South Piedmont Community College's Wadesboro Campus, they cannot turn left off U.S. 74/52 onto Washington Street nor can they cross U.S. 74/52 using Washington Street. On U.S. 74/52, there is a "No U Turn" sign right after the Days Inn, so the driver will have to wait until the two-lane traffic becomes four-lane again (near Arby's and Wendy's) to get in the center lane to turn left into the Athletic Wearhouse, Arby's, Auto Zone or Movie Gallery parking lot.
     What's the solution to the dilemma? Avoid the U.S. 74/52 stretch through Wadesboro.
     Locals heading east will use Anson High School Road to White Store Road; and White Store Road into the uptown Wadesboro business district where it becomes West Morgan Street. Then a decision will have to be made: either turn left onto South Greene and head three blocks back to U.S. 74/52 where a stoplight will allow eventual access to the highway or continue on West, and then East Morgan to the deadend stop sign, turn left and go to the four-way stop sign at East Wade Street, where a right turn will lead the driver to U.S. 74/52 near Plank Road Shopping Center and Anson Station Shopping Center. Although a left turn back into westbound traffic will not be easy, it is possible -- much to the anger of the drivers in line to the rear.
     Turn right and you are beach-bound!

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     (March 20, 2008) – Anson County has started 2008 with a 7.5% unemployment rate -- a .7% jump from December 2007's 6.8%. Since the new millennium began, the county has seen January rates of 7.3% (2001), 10.5% (2002), 10.2% (2003), 9.9% (2004), 7.8% (2005), 6.5% (2006) and 6.9% a year ago.
     Anson’s jobless rate was 6.8% in December (762 unemployed); 6.4% in November (722 unemployed); 6.8% in October (771 unemployed); 6.3% in September (717 unemployed); 6.5% in August (737 unemployed); 7.0% in July (794 unemployed); 7.4% in June (846 unemployed); 7.1% in May (805 unemployed); 6.9% in April (779 unemployed); 7.0% in March (789 unemployed); 7.3% in February (825 unemployed); and 6.9% in January (764 unemployed).
     In January 2008, Anson County’s labor force numbered 10,703 (down a whopping 532 from December); the number of employed people was 9,898 (down a staggering 575 from December); and the number of unemployed people was 805 (up 43 from December). Most likely, the drop in the labor force and the downward surge in the number of people employed can be attributed to losses in seasonal employment and people who have lost their unemployment benefits.
     The January 2008 breakdown for Anson’s neighboring counties:

• Montgomery – 12,138 labor force; 809 unemployed; a rate of 6.7% (up .3% from December).
• Richmond – 20,998 labor force; 1,779 unemployed; 8.5% rate (up .3% from December).
• Stanly – 31,297 labor force; 1,606 unemployed; 5.1% rate (no change from December).
• Union – 89,852 labor force; 4,131 unemployed; 4.6% rate (up .5% from December).

     For January, the state’s unemployment rate was 5.3% – up .6% from December). North Carolina’s labor force numbered 4,511,515 in December with 238,822 people jobless.
     Statewide, Hyde County recorded a 11.1% jobless rate, displacing Scotland County as the county with the highest unemployment figure, followed by Dare County (10.1%), Scotland (9.7%), Graham (9.4%), Richmond (8.5%), Edgecombe (8.5%), Tyrrell (8.2%), Mitchell (8.1%) and Cherokee (7.8%). Orange County registered the state's lowest unemployment rate at 3.4%, followed by Wake and Watauga counties at 3.8%.
     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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     (March 22, 2008) -- The Anson Economic Development Corp. (AEDC) Board of Directors has launched a private sector fundraiser to build a war chest to be implemented in the economic development arena.
     Directors have begun a telephone and mail solicitation campaign, asking Anson County citizens to commit $200 to the AEDC's effort in 2008, 2009 and 2010 – a total of $600.
     "Our goal is to raise at least $100,000 in 2008 – 500 donors at $200 apiece," said AEDC Chairman Don Scarborough. "We have a proven way to raise money in place … and one of our selling tools can be the willingness of the Anson County Commissioners to talk about a public-private partnership.
     "For a partnership to work, we (the AEDC) need funds to assist in economic development endeavors," Scarborough said. "With the AEDC asking for donations from our citizens, and not the commissioners, town councils and foundations, we are encouraging a public investment earmarked for economic development."
     Scarborough praised the AEDC's Fundraiser Committee, chaired by Fred Sparger, for its planning efforts prior to implementation of the campaign.
     The AEDC board has 29 members, which represents a cross-section of the business and governmental communities. Each director has been asked to make a similar $200 contribution that will start the AEDC off with $5,800.
     Prospective donors will be contacted via telephone by an AEDC director, who will explain the reason for the fundraiser and who will answer any questions posed by the contacted person. Afterwards, a letter will be mailed that will be asking the person to invest dollars in a necessary initiative to aid Anson County to attract, create and retain jobs.
     Members of the AEDC's Executive Committee include: Don Scarborough, Plank Road Realty, chairman; Chuck Horne, Hornwood, vice chairman; Dana Maness, Anson Bank & Trust, treasurer; Elbert Marshall, Marshall Bruney Media Consultants, secretary; Henry Morton, Selectronics, past chairman; Fred Sparger, South Piedmont Community College; and Emmett Patterson, retired, Pee Dee Electric.
     AEDC Directors include: Don Altieri, New Ventures Business Development Inc; Carroll Anderson, Anderson Real Estate; John Amirthataj, Premiere Fibers; Thomas Cureton, Carolina Apparel Group; John Dunlap, retired, Wansona Manufacturing; Lynn Edwards, Anson County Chamber of Commerce; Carl Gibson, Lacy's; Derek James, South Piedmont Community College; Grady Kindley, Employment Security Commission; Harvey Leavitt, Leavitt Funeral Home; Andy Lucas, Anson County; Paul Maxwell, Triangle Brick; John McKay, South Piedmont Community College; Todd Morris, South Piedmont Community College; Janine Rywak, Anson County Cooperative Extension Center; Russell Sikes, Plank Road Realty; Bruce Simmons, Pee Dee Electric; Kevin Thomas, Lynn Thomas Grading; Hugh Wallace, Anson Apparel; Jeremy Wilson, CMH Flooring; John Witherspoon, Town of Wadesboro; and Jarvis Woodburn, Coffing Hoists.
     Scarborough said, "if you cannot commit $200 to our effort, the AEDC will accept any amount."
     Tax deductible donations may be mailed to: AEDC, P.O. Box 1170, Wadesboro, N.C., 28170.

To read a personal response to this fundraising effort, click HERE.

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