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.
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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
Authorities are vowing to prosecute anyone who attempts to damage or remove any political signs related to the sales tax vote or any other. The response comes after District Attorney Jerry Wilson said that a Burke County group has reportedly planned to remove all political signs from Watauga County this election season. According to the press release sent by Wilson, anyone who doesn't obey this policy will be prosecuted in a "very serious manner." Now, the policy doesn't apply to the owner of the signs or anyone working for Wilson, the law enforcement, the Department of Transportation, or private property owners who did not authorize the signs to be placed. To date, only a few signs opposing the sales tax increase have been stolen according to Boone Police.
As the August 31st voting deadline is just one day away, numbers from the early voting for the sales tax referendum are in, and are pretty impressive. According to election officials, 2,566 people placed an early ballot during the early voting period of the roughly 40,000 registered voters in Watauga County. Since the voting deadline for the quarter-cent sales tax increase is not during the general election and is not a primary, the turnout is expected to be low, but county officials have to be impressed by the strong turnout in the early voting. Whether you support the tax hike or are opposed, make sure to get out and vote tomorrow. The polls will be open from 6:30am to 7:30pm, and to find polling places near you, just visit www.wataugacounty.org.
The North Carolina Employment Security Commission has released their latest county-by-county unemployment, and the High Country saw some more progress as Watauga, Avery, and Ashe all saw unemployment rates drop in the month of July. Watauga had the biggest drop in the High Country, with unemployment falling from 7.6 percent in June to 7.4 percent in July. Meanwhile, Avery and Ashe County each fell one-tenth of a percent with Ashe's unemployment rate falling under 11 percent to 10.9 percent, and Avery's dropping to 8 percent. Overall, 86 of the 100 counties in North Carolina saw a decrease in their unemployment rates, and the state of North Carolina's unemployment rate fell to 9.9 percent in the month of July. Still, state officials say the state continues to struggle with unemployment, as six counties saw unemployment increase and eight counties saw it remain the same. State officials also added that over half of North Carolina's counties have unemployment rates over 10 percent, so while progress is being made, there's still a long ways to go.
Boone is getting ready to celebrate a grand opening in September. The Wal-mart in Boone is holding a grand opening celebration on Wednesday, September 8th to show off the freshly renovated store. The new Wal-mart store has been expanded to 150,000 square feet, will feature a full line of groceries, and will be open 24/7. The store, which already employs about 350 people, will now add 80 new jobs to the community. The grand opening will begin at 7:30am at the store on Blowing Rock Road, and will officially usher in the new improvements to the Boone Wal-mart.
Artists in the area may want to listen up. The deadline for this year's Regional Artist Project Grants is on September 10th, and all artists living in Watauga, Ashe, Alleghany, and Wilkes Counties are encouraged to submit their grants applications. The Regional Artist Project of Northwest North Carolina Grants Program is a partnership between the arts councils of Alleghany, Ashe, Watauga, and Wilkes Counties and the North Carolina Arts Council. It is intended to provide project support to a broad range of visual, performing, literary, and inter-disciplinary artists that will have a significant impact on the advancement of their career. Regional artist applicants are exceptionally talented individuals pursuing their career in the arts and have completed the basic education in their respective art form. The grants provide financial support to developing professionals by funding a project pivotal to the advancement of their careers as artists. Grant awards usually range from $200 to $1,000. For those interested, an informational workshop has been scheduled to help artists better understand the application process on Thursday, September 2nd at 5:30 pm at the Jones House Community Center in Boone. It will be conducted by the Watauga County Arts Council's Executive Director, Cherry Johnson, and the workshop is free. Applications and appropriate documentation material must be mailed or hand delivered to the Ashe County Arts Council in West Jefferson by Friday, September 10th. However, grant applications will also be accepted in the Watauga County Arts Council offices at the Jones House Community Center in downtown Boone through Thursday, September 9th. you can find applications on www.watauga-arts.org, as well as on the websites of the partnering arts councils. For more information, you can also contact the Watauga County Arts Council at 828-264-1789.
Well, for one McDonald's restaurant, an electrical fire turned things very dangerous for customers and employees on Sunday. According to firefighters, the fire started on Sunday afternoon at approximately 1:53 at the Hickory McDonald's on 2511 North Center Street. By the time firefighters had arrived, the building had been evacuated and light smoke had been reported in the upstairs of the building. After investigating, firefighters determined that the fire started in the basement in the electrical panel. No one was injured in the fire, but the damages are estimated at $20,000. Fire investigators determined the fire to be electrical and failure of equipment.
The tax referendum continues to heat up, as the Watauga County Citizens Opposed to the 2010 Sales Tax Increase Referendum Committee held a press conference at 5 p.m. this evening at the Watauga County Administrative Office Building (next to the courthouse) in the commissioner's board room in the lower level. The conference featured a myriad of speakers including the John Locke Foundation, an educational research foundation, other guests, and members of the "referendum committee." Meanwhile, the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce has come out publicly through the ordeal to clarify their stance on the tax referendum. In a letter addressed to the Watauga County Commissioners, the chamber of commerce said they are supporting the commissioners in the recreational initiative, but they don't necessarily support the tax increase. The Chamber voiced their desire to provide accessible recreational programming and facilities to all the residents of Watauga County in the most cost-efficient way possible. The Chamber encouraged the Watauga County Commissioners to find the most cost-efficient way to build the facilities, without raising property taxes, and they also asked that commissioners incorporate funds for economic development, while including a sunset date for any new tax initiative. According to Boone Area Chamber of Commerce President Dan Meyer, the chamber wants to thank the commissioners for pursuing the projects to build new recreational facilities in Watauga County, and they believe that if these projects are completed, they would give the youth of Watauga County more opportunities to participate in a wide range of activities including after-school activities, school-cancellation programs, and much more.
