An oil and gas production platform exploded today after a well that was connected to the platform caught fire roughly 100 miles off the central coast of Louisiana. The flames engulfed the entire vessel, forcing 13 people overboard. Luckily, all 13 people were found and rescued, and despite earlier reports claiming one person was injured, no one was hurt in the explosion. Earlier reports also said that the fire was started after an explosion, but according to officials the fire started at one of the seven wells connected to the platform, then causing the explosion. According to various reports, the platform remains on fire at this moment, but helicopters and cutters from the Coast Guard are on the way to put out the blaze. According to the owner of the platform, Houston-based Mariner Energy Inc., there was no chemical spill, but new reports have surfaced that an oil "sheen" more than a mile long can now be seen. This recent explosion comes more than four months after the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig exploded on April 20th, killing 11 people and causing one of the worst environmental disasters in U.S. history.
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An oil and gas production platform exploded today after a well that was connected to the platform caught fire roughly 100 miles off the central coast of Louisiana. The flames engulfed the entire vessel, forcing 13 people overboard. Luckily, all 13 people were found and rescued, and despite earlier reports claiming one person was injured, no one was hurt in the explosion. Earlier reports also said that the fire was started after an explosion, but according to officials the fire started at one of the seven wells connected to the platform, then causing the explosion. According to various reports, the platform remains on fire at this moment, but helicopters and cutters from the Coast Guard are on the way to put out the blaze. According to the owner of the platform, Houston-based Mariner Energy Inc., there was no chemical spill, but new reports have surfaced that an oil "sheen" more than a mile long can now be seen. This recent explosion comes more than four months after the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig exploded on April 20th, killing 11 people and causing one of the worst environmental disasters in U.S. history.
The Watauga Humane Society is holding their 12th annual Dog Jog on Saturday, September 25th along the Greenway Trail in Boone. The Dog Jog is a fund-raising event for the benefit of the humane society shelter animals, and consists of a one mile jog or walk along the Greenway Trail. Registration and pledge forms are now available at a myriad of places including: the shelter at 200 Casey Lane, Bare Bones Boutique Thrift Store on old US Hwy 421, Bare Essentials Natural Market, The Pet Place, Sage Sports at Boone Mall, Joe's Italian Kitchen, and local veterinarian offices. Prizes will be awarded for the most pledges, as well as for Pet-Owner Look-Alike, Best Trick, Best Costume, and more contests. The Dog Jog will also feature plenty of other activities including: paw painting, face painting, and chair massages and dog massages by The Sanctuary Day Spa. Registration begins at 10:00 am at the Watauga County Parks & Recreation Complex, and the Dog Jog begins at 11:00 am. Early registration will be held in front of Sage Sports at the Boone Mall on Friday, September 24th from 5:00 until 8:00 pm. Registration costs $20, or $15 for students, and includes a Dog Jog 2010 long-sleeved tee shirt. Your dog must wear current ID and rabies vaccination tags, and be kept on a 6 ft. or shorter leash at all times. Water will be provided for you and your dog, and you are expected to clean up after your dog. If you would like more information, please contact the Watauga Humane Society Shelter at 828-264-7865 or Rachel at 828-264-1053.
Winston-Salem native and Grand Ole Opry performer George Hamilton IV is coming to Valle Crucis this month. Hamilton will be presenting "An Evening of Friendship and Song" at Holy Cross Episcopal Church in Valle Crucis on Sunday, September 26th at 7pm. Hamilton just celebrated 50 years on the Grand Ole Opry this past February and his family has deep roots in Ashe County. A life-long friend of Holy Cross Interim Priest John Shields and several other parishioners at Holy Cross, Hamilton travels to Valle Crucis to make a joyful noise in celebration of his friendships. Hamilton earned teen-idol status back in 1956 when he recorded "A Rose and a Baby Ruth." His country hits include "Abilene" in 1963, "Truck Drivin' Man" in 1964, "Break My Mind" in 1967 and "She's A Little Bit Country" in 1970. Known as the International Ambassador of Country Music, Hamilton will share stories of the people he has met and songs he has sung while traveling the globe for the past half century. He was a frequent performer on Billy Graham's crusades and in 1974 he became the first American artist to play behind the Iron Curtain. The concert is free to the community, although donations would be appreciated, and it will be held at 7 pm on Sunday, September 26th in the sanctuary of the stone church with the red door on NC 194 in Valle Crucis. Coffee and desert will be served in the parish hall next to the church following the concert. For more information, please call the church office at 828-963-4609.
Here's a story for all you texters out there, young and old. In a new survey by the Pew Research Center, adults are beginning to join the texting craze. According to the survey, 72 percent of adult mobile phone users send text messages with their phones, which is up from 65 percent in 2009. Adults still have a ways to go before they catch up with the teenagers though. The survey found that roughly 87 percent of teenagers text, and when they do they make it count, sending on average, 50 messages a day. That total is 5 times more than the adult average of 10 text messages a day. The stats come from a nationwide telephone survey of 2,252 American adults conducted between April 29th and May 30th, 2010. The teen findings were based on a representative group of 800 teens, ages 12 to 17, and their guardians, conducted from June 26th to September 24th, 2009. But texting is not all that adults are catching up to teens on. Pew also released a report last week showing older internet users catching up to the habits of their younger counterparts. Last week's report, showed that Internet users over the age of 50 are the fastest growing group on social-networking sites like Facebook and Twitter. Between April 2009 and May, the percentage of internet users 50 and up who said they use social-networking sites has risen from 22 percent to 42 percent. Those surveyed that were 65 and older reported a 100 percent increase, while those between 50 and 64 jumped 88 percent. In contrast, the number of users from 18 to 29 who said they use networking sites rose just 13 percent.
Here's some much-needed news for U.S. citizens, the number of unemployment claims fell for the second consecutive week last week, according to a weekly government report released Thursday. First-time unemployment claims fell from 478,000 down to 472,000 in the week ending on August 28th, according to the Labor Department's weekly report. By comparison, economists were expecting 475,000 new claims. Unemployment rates in the country also dropped 23,000 to 4.456 million in the week ending on August 21st.
After weeks of back and forth opinions on whether or not Watauga County should adopt a quarter-cent sales tax increase, the decision has been made. Watauga County citizens voted heavily against the tax hike as 4,428 citizens voted against the tax referendum, and 2,705 voted for it. Only about 18 percent of Watauga County voters went to the polls, but of those, approximately 62 percent voted against the tax increase. That total included early voting ballots in which 1,599 were against and 988 were for the quarter-cent sales tax increase for an indoor recreation center and community center. The tax referendum would have accrued about $1.9 million in annual revenue and would have put sales tax for the most retail goods at 8 percent. Before the sales tax referendum was defeated, seven of the last nine local county sales-tax increases in North Carolina had passed. Well, even after the sales tax increase was defeated, county officials say that they are still leaving the possibility of a new indoor recreation center on the table. According to Watauga County manager Rocky Nelson, the plans to build a new recreation facility were contingent on the sales tax increase being adopted,and while there isn't a current backup plan, officials will still keep it in future considerations. While nothing has been discussed extensively, commissioners are allotted as many sales-tax votes as they want as long as its not within a 30-day window of a regular or primary election, and some counties within the state have held as many as four sales-tax referendums before passing them into law.
The Watauga Humane Society is putting on a show later this month. The shelter be hosting their annual end-of-summer Watauga Humane Society Pet Show on Sunday, September 12th at the Boone Mall. The event is free to the public, and everyone is encouraged to bring their own pet to the show whether its a dog, cat, gerbil, rabbit, hamster, etc. All dogs must be on a leash and each pet to needs to be appropriately controlled and contained during the show. Speaking of the show, it will feature a myriad of awards including Waggiest Tail, Floppiest Ears, Fluffiest Fur, Most Winning Smile, and Pet/Owner Look-Alike. If you are interested in the pet show, registration begins at 2:30pm in the center court of the Boone Mall. This year's show will also feature a Pet Memorial Poster, on which to write in the name of a beloved pet which has passed away. There will also be a raffle, with a variety of pet-themed prizes, and Watauga Humane Society tee shirts, magnets and decals will be available for sale. In addition to all of those festivities, the event also coincides with the humane society's Sunday Adoption Fair, which means a selection of adoptable shelter animals will be on hand at the front of the mall for your consideration. If you would like more information you can visit their website at wataugahumanesociety.org or call the shelter at 828-264-7865
Blue Ridge EMC has issued a warning to copper thieves to stay away from electric utility substations because of the danger involved, in addition to the criminal consequences. While substations have signs posted throughout that read "DANGER--KEEP OUT," that still doesn't keep some people out that are in search of copper. Blue Ridge Electric wants to remind these people that past thieves have been hurt or killed while attempting to break-in and steal copper from electric substations. So they have issued a couple of tips to ensure the safety of everyone. First, if you see any unusual activity in or around substations, towers, utility poles, storage sites and other electric utility property, report it to your local electric cooperative or law enforcement agency immediately. And secondly, no one should ever climb substation fences, utility poles or towers. People should also stay away from substations and transformers. Activity like this is hazardous and can result in severe injury and even death. Only trained, professional line technicians and utility workers should ever be in or around a substation, power poles and lines, or other electric facilities.
Blue Ridge EMC is happy to announce that in July, North Carolina lawmakers expanded the state's 'move over law' to include electric utility vehicles restoring power on the sides of roadways. The 'move over law' requires motorists to slow down and cautiously approach emergency vehicles with flashing lights, moving over one lane when possible. Beginning in December, the law will encompass electric utility vehicles that are stopped, with amber lights flashing, on roadway shoulders. The expanded law protects electric utility workers as they work to maintain power lines or restore power in local communities and along North Carolina's highways. Director of public relations Renee Whitener, says that this inclusion of electrical workers into the law will keep Blue Ridge EMC employees safe, because much like me and you, they have families that they want to return home to safely as well. Although the law does not take effect until December 1, residents are encouraged to begin the practice of moving over and slowing down if they see an electric utility vehicle. This will help protect the safety of not only the workers, but also the drivers. Since Blue Ridge Electric's service area is typically in areas that experience severe winter weather, moving over will help drivers become accustomed to "thinking safety" and moving over for line workers well before ice or snow typically arrive and the new law takes effect.
ASU is feeling good after their annual Big Sale raised more than $15,000 to benefit four area charities and the ACT Leigh Lane Edwards Scholarship Fund that supports ACT study abroad service-learning trips. The sale, which is organized by Appalachian and the Community Together (ACT), is the university's volunteer indoor yard sale of items donated by students or salvaged at the end of spring semester as part of the Don't Throw it Away campaign. The clearinghouse features everything from lamps, fans, and electronics to kitchenware, furniture, and clothes. According to Kate Johnson, the assistant director for Community Service with ACT, 65 tons of material were collected during the Don't Throw it Away campaign from residence halls in the spring and sold at this year's BIG Sale. She also added that, "This year's energy efficient mini-grants recipients are Western Youth Network, Mountain Alliance, Holston Presbytery Camp and Retreat Center and Appalachian Child Development Center." "The Don't Throw it Away program began 10 years ago when former student Natalie Knight realized the value of items being tossed as students left campus at the end of the school year. She first began collecting items by herself, but as the number of items grew, she collaborated with the national organization called Dump and Run, which helps set up programs to recycle items from students' residence hall rooms. Two years later, the BIG Sale began. Its first beneficiary was the Watauga County Department of Social Services Foster Care Program. Since then recipients have included Watauga 4-H, Legal Aid of North Carolina, High Country Amigos, and Hospice. The program has raised over $82,000 for charities since its inception.
