March 2009 Archives

Coffee can do more than just give you a buzz. Researchers found that a cup can kill some of the pain when a person exercises....and it works regardless of whether a person already had a coffee habit or not. Caffeine works on a system in the brain and spinal cord that is heavily involved in pain processing. Since caffeine blocks a biochemical that plays an important role in energy transfer, researchers speculate that it could reduce pain. However, exercise intensity, amount of caffeine, and gender all play a role in determining the effects of caffeine and working out.

Federal Food Safety officials are warning consumers that they should stop eating all foods containing pistachios while they figure out the source of a possible salmonella contamination. With the recent national salmonella outbreak in peanuts, the food and drug administration says a central California-based pistachio company is voluntarily recalling a portion of the roasted nuts it's been shipping since last fall. The FDA learned about the problem last week, when Kraft Foods notified the agency that it detected salmonella in roasted pistachios through routine product testing. Two people did call the FDA complaining of an illness that could be associated with the nuts, but the link hasn't been confirmed. California alone is the second-largest producer of pistachios in the world.

Due to the economic condition, state legislatures are considering in allowing liquor stores to open their doors on Sundays. Currently, state law keeps Alcoholic Beverage Control stores closed on the first day of the week. Legislation was filed just last week that would allow cities and counties to open their local ABC stores on Sundays. Analysts in the liquor industry say the state would get at least an extra $5.5 million dollars in tax revenue if the legislation passes, but those against the bill say it will only create more tax revenue if people drink more. If the bill passes, counties and cities wouldn't have to allow their ABC stores to open on Sundays, but they would have the option to.

If free food, free entertainment and experiencing different cultures sounds good to you....then ASU's Diversity Celebration could be your thing. Since 2002, this event has hosted performers and presenters from across the southeast, including local artists who share aspects of cultures from all over the world. On April 7th, everything from African dance to Japanese drumming, gospel to hip hop, Brazilian martial arts to Bluegrass banjo picking... you'll discover something new and different. Head over to the Plemmons Student Union on April 7th from 3 to 9 p.m. For a complete schedule of events, directions for parking, or guidelines for bringing groups of students, visit celebration.appstate.edu or call 828-262-6252 or 828.262.2144.

A grant is making its way to the high country to help construct a new homeless shelter. Representative Cullie Tarleton and Senator Steve Goss have recently announced that their district has been awarded a $600,000 grant that will be used to help build Hospitality House's new shelter. The money will match funding from the NC Finance Agency and the Federal Home loan bank of Atlanta, as well as, money that the program has raised locally. Hospitality House of Boone is a nonprofit crisis intervention agency that provides shelter and services to the homeless, operates the community soup kitchen and administers WE-CAN- which is a local crisis assistance program.

Parents may request reassignment of their child to another school only between April 1^st and May 15th for the following school year under the student assignments policy of the Watauga County Board of Education. Before submitting a request, parents are encouraged to review the criteria and process for student assignments as laid out in board of education policy. This policy is available through the link for "Watauga County Schools Policy Manual" on the school system's website or on request from any school office. Questions about the policy may be referred to Watauga County Schools Personnel Director Marshall Gasperson at (828) 264-7190 or by e-mail at gaspersonm@watauga.k12.nc.us.

After thirty year's without a home, the Boone Jewish Community can now say they are in the process of finally getting one. Their Friday night services and Hebrew School is currently being housed in St. Luke's in Boone. But after a recent donation of one million dollars from the Schaefer Foundation, the Jewish Community Center can become a reality. President of the Boone Jewish Community, Chuck Lieberman told MTN the donation was totally out of the blue. The location of the synagogue is to be built between King Street and Poplar Grove to accommodate the students and community...however Lieberman says the location's been quite controversial. He also say's there is no set date for when the center will be done. For more information, call 828-264-8364, or go to boonejewishcommunity.com.

Here is some news that some may find unsettling. If you are a smoker, then you will be paying more for a pack of cigarettes starting Wednesday, as the Federal Government will begin its single largest tobacco tax increase ever. The Federal Government's tobacco tax will increase from 39 cents to $1.01 this week. The state of North Carolina has one of the lowest state tobacco taxes in the country at 35 cents per pack. Earlier this month, Governor Bev Perdue proposed a one-dollar tobacco tax increase to help address the state's financial shortfall as part of her 2009 budget proposal. Officials say the taxes will go to fund a major expansion of children's health care.

Want to feel more comfy at home? Interested in saving money on heating costs? Make plans to attend a free home weatherization class on Tuesday, March 31^st, from 6 until 7:30 p-m at the Agricultural Conference Center in Boone. You will learn ways to make your home more comfy and energy efficient. The NC Cooperative Extension will receive funding from the State Energy Office to offer those with homes 2000 square feet or less and five years or older home energy audits for one-hundred dollars cost to the homeowner. Participation in audits not required for those attending this workshop. This event is sponsored by the NC Cooperative Extension and Building Performance Engineering. If you are interested in attending, please let them know by calling the extension office at 264-3061.

After 16 years of service to Watauga County, Glenn Hodges will retire as Clerk of Court and Judge of Probate officially on Tuesday, March 31^st. Hodges was given a surprise retirement party on Saturday at the Broyhill Inn, and was presented with the Order of the Longleaf Pine, which was created in 1965. It is the highest civilian honor that can be granted in the state of North Carolina. It is presented to individuals who have a proven record of extraordinary service to the state. Others who have received the honor include Michael Jordan, Maya Angelou, and Reverend Billy Graham. Hodges was presented the award by NC Supreme Court Justice Sarah Parker. As an active member of the Democratic Party, Hodges was asked to run in the two-year election in 1992, with the 1994 election being the last time Hodges had an opponent in the race. Multiple re-elections have made Hodges the longest term-elected official in Watauga. Superior Trial-Court Coordinator Wanda Howell will serve out the remainder of Hodges' tenure. The clerk's seat will then be up for election in November 2010.