The Daily Southerner, Tarboro, NC

Local News

Related Photos

  • T.J. ROYAL

    images_sizedimage_161104223
June 10, 2009

Officials hear how to acquire stimulus funds

T. J. ROYAL

The next steps for Edgecombe County agencies to try to gain federal stimulus funds came in the classroom Tuesday at Edgecombe Community College.

Len Hoey, director of the utilities savings initiative for the State Energy Office, gave a full-day lecture to several area agencies inside the Fleming building.

Tarboro Town Manager Sam Noble, Tarboro Planner Troy Lewis and Edgecombe County Economic Development Director Eric Evans were among the 20-plus attendees who were at the workshop.

During the afternoon session, Hoey said that different private and public agencies "need someone who is going to be passionate about energy conservation" to head up their efforts to attract federal dollars.

Stimulus funding will provide $58.3 million to North Carolina through Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants, as well as another $75.9 million to promote the use of renewable energy resources.

There will also be $132 million made available in the state for residential weatherization procedures.

There will also be $132 million made available in the state for residential weatherization procedures. Of that amount, Martin County Community Action has received $1.029 million to perform weatherization services within Edgecombe County.

In order for a local agency to get considered for the $130-plus million in energy efficiency funds, Hoey said "they can't be shy" about speaking about why, and how, their agency plans to put those dollars to use.

If a local government employs someone who is less than enthusiastic about trying to attract energy efficiency dollars, he pointed out that "insincerity comes through immediately." The designated person "needs to know what a Btu (British thermal unit) is, and what a kilowatt-hour is," he added. A BTU is the amount of heat required to raise one pound of water one degree in fahrenheit. A kilowatt-hour is how much energy a 1,000-watt appliance uses for one hour.

Hoey noted that when it comes to assessing which agencies are meeting their goals for the stimulus funds, their locations, climates and energy needs would be taken into consideration.

He said that currently, the UNC-Asheville campus is the most energy efficient state agency throughout North Carolina. However, a state-funded television station like UNC-TV would not be able to match that campus's energy conservation methods because of the demands of their business, he added.

After the workshop was over, Noble said that "partnering with Edgecombe County or Edgecombe Community College" would be a way for Tarboro, and also the other agencies, to gain some leverage for any funding that could their way from the stimulus.

Hoey agreed with him, that such leveraging would be looked upon favorably when funds are distributed to local agencies.

But Noble said that "it's a moving target" as far as figuring out what kind of regulations are going to be placed on agencies when, or if, they receive funding from the stimulus plan.

He added that the workshop's input will help Town of Tarboro and other agencies develop their own plans for how they would approach the state for funding.

"(The workshop) gave us some direction on what we have to do to capitalize on the program."

Text Only
Local News
  • The first lap (with Relay story).jpg Edgecombe Relay for Life seeking business partners

    Fresh from raising $196,312 and ranking No. 4 nationally in per capita fundraising, Relay for Life Edgecombe County is seeking business and corporate sponsors to help in the fight against cancer.
    Corporate and business sponsorship packets, which detail the levels and benefits of sponsorship, are ready to be delivered, according to Jane Gurley Harper, corporate sponsor chair. Businesses can also help by forming a team to participate in Relay and raise money in that manner.

    February 9, 2012 1 Photo

  • Maggie Boyd.jpg Princeville commissioner, interim town manager involved in physical conflict


    PRINCEVILLE — The disconnect of water service at a commissioner's home led to a physical confrontation between the elected official and a town employee Wednesday at the town hall.
    According to Commissioner Gwen Knight, interim Town Manager Maggie Boyd gave instructions to a public works employee and a police officer to cut off Knight's water because the account was delinquent in the amount of $662.77.
    Knight said she went to the town hall to pay the bill as soon as she was told about her service being cut off.

    February 9, 2012 2 Photos

  • Victor Marrow new hedeshot.jpg Princeville terminates town manager Appoints museum curator to fill same position

    PRINCEVILLE — A contract dispute between the Princeville town manager and the town commissioners led to his termination at the close of business Monday.
    Victor Marrow was notified by Princevile Attorney Charles Watts that he had been fired.
    Marrow's contract expired Feb. 1, but the town extended it six days in hope of his signing a proposed new contract. Marrow was hired in February 2010 on a two-year contract. Nine months later, he resigned, only to rescind his resignation the following morning.
    Stipulations of the proposed new contract were untenable to Marrow and included the stipulation that it was to end on June 12, included a $5,000 pay cut, work in excess of 40 hours per week and write at least three grants per month, he said. 

    February 8, 2012 1 Photo

  • CRIME ROUNDUP

    The Tarboro Police Department responded to a call Friday and was told a victim had been stabbed. While conducting an investigation, officers were told by the victim that Perry Lee Bunn, 58, 304 Granville St., had stabbed him several times. The name of the victim was not released by police.
    Officers called EMS to respond to the scene to transport the victim to the hospital so he could treated for his injuries.

    February 8, 2012

  • Significant deficiencies in county audit

    Auditors told Edgecombe County Commissioners on Monday night that they found significant deficiencies while compiling the 2010-2011 annual audit of county finances. Still, the audit received an unqualified opinion.

    February 8, 2012

  • Teresa Bryant headshot.jpg Bryant declines to seek re-election

    Teresa DeLoatch Bryant announced she will not seek re-election to the District 2 seat she now holds on the Edgecombe County Public Schools Board. The announcement came 91 days before the May 8 Primary Election and nearly a year after the first-term plus one year board member announced her resignation for personal and career reasons. She later rescinded her decision.

    February 6, 2012 1 Photo

  • MimiHerman.jpg W.A. Patillo receives $5,000 poetry grant

    W.A. Pattillo School has been awarded $5,000 from the North Carolina Arts Council for Poetry in the Classroom with Mimi Herman.
    The funds will be used to provide a week of poetry writing experiences for seven fourth grade classes through the expertise and creativity of Herman. Students will gain self-confidence, and will view themselves as writers rather than merely consumers of literature. They will learn to use language effectively and creatively to communicate thoughts, feeling, and impressions.

    February 6, 2012 1 Photo

  • IMG_5889.JPG Pizza Bowl

    The biggest football game of the year brings the largest sale of the year for two area pizza restaurants.
    Tarboro branches of Pizza Inn and Dominos Pizza are gearing up for Super Bowl XLVI Sunday by increasing their regular employee lineup by as many as seven.
    Pizza Inn is running a special that they believe will keep them busy throughout the day. Last year they sold over 200 large pizzas on Super Bowl Sunday compared to 50 on an average Sunday.

    February 3, 2012 1 Photo

  • Edgecombe unemployment up in December

    TARBORO — Unemployment rates increased in 93 of North Carolina’s 100 counties in December. Rates decreased in four counties and remained the same in three.
    Edgecombe, which saw a slight improvement in November, fell back to its October 2011 level (15.7%). Of the 100 counties in North Carolina, Edgecombe and Dare are tied at third highest in unemployment. 

    February 3, 2012

  • Three ECPS campuses ahead of First Lady's nutritional guidelines

    When First Lady Michelle Obama and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced new guidelines for the nutritional overhaul of school meals last week, they could have chosen three of Edgecombe County's public schools as their models.

    February 2, 2012