Daily Weather Briefing for Friday, January 5, 2018

LOCAL KMART ON LIST OF STORES TO BE CLOSED

Sears Holdings has announced the local Kmart at 395 Westgate Plaza is on the list of stores to be closed. The time frame given was late April. Liquidation sales may begin as early as Jan 12th.



From the Sears Holdings website:

"Sears Holdings continues its strategic assessment of the productivity of our Kmart and Sears store base and will continue to right size our store footprint in number and size. In the process, as previously announced we will continue to close some unprofitable stores as we transform our business model so that our physical store footprint and our digital capabilities match the needs and preferences of our members.

The company on Thursday, January 4 informed associates at 64 Kmart stores and 39 Sears stores that we will be closing these stores between early March and early April 2018.

Eligible associates impacted by these store closures will receive severance and will have the opportunity to apply for open positions at area Kmart or Sears stores. Customers can use the store locator function on our web sites to find the location of their nearest Kmart and Sears stores. Liquidation sales will begin as early as January 12 at these closing stores. Following is a complete list of the impacted stores."

See the list of store closings at
http://searsholdings.com/docs/010418-store-closing-list.pdf



Cold Wave Safety Briefing



The local National Weather Service has an excellent briefing on their website at http://www.weather.gov/media/gsp/YouTube/brief.pdf in PDF format.

In the coming week, this area will be experiencing a cold wave during which daytime temperatures will be close to 20 degrees below normal. Brisk northerly winds between 5 and 15 mph will combine with the very cold temperatures to produce dangerous wind chills through the week, especially across the higher elevations. Wind chills will drop to 5 to 15 degrees below zero across the higher elevations, near zero to 10 above zero in the lower elevations during the night through much of the week.

Very low relative humidity will increase the fire danger, especially on Tuesday. Please do not burn debris, brush piles or clear fields this week. Put those tasks off for a later time.

When venturing outside, remember to wear layers of loose-fitting, lightweight, warm clothing. Wear a hat because much of your body heat can be lost from your head. Mittens, snug at the wrist, are better than gloves. Lastly, stay dry and out of the wind if possible.

Consider bringing any pets indoors and check on neighbors, elderly, and homeless. Take the necessary precautions to protect water pipes from the extreme cold.

LOCAL OUTLOOK

A cold and dry Canadian high pressure will build into our region today and will persist through the weekend, keeping temperatures well below normal. A low-pressure system will approach the Southeast U.S. on Monday bringing a chance of light wintry precipitation to the region beginning early Monday morning. However, temperatures will warm to above freezing later Monday and will return to near normal by mid-week.



WEATHER SPONSOR

Adams Products, a Division of Oldcastle is underwriting the daily weather briefing & public safety updates for the month. 

Open 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM, M-F, located at 895 Hickory Knoll Road, Franklin, NC. Visit our Facebook page at:

https://www.facebook.com/Adams.Oldcastle.Franklin.NC/

All your masonry needs are available. Phone number is 828.524.8545, public is welcome, we’ll help with your with your next project.   

Weather Almanac for January 5th (1872-2016)

Record weather events for this date in Macon County

Highest Temperature 74°F in Franklin in 1955
Lowest Temperature -6°F in Highlands in 1920
Greatest Rainfall 4.28 inches in Highlands in 1949
Greatest One-Day Snowfall 2.5 inches in Nantahala in 1940


Record weather events for January in Macon County

Highest Temperature 78°F at the Coweeta Experimental Station on Jan 28, 1999
Lowest Temperature -19°F in Highlands on Jan 21, 1985
Greatest Rainfall 4.30 inches in Nantahala on Jan 23, 1971
Greatest One-Day Snowfall 14.0 inches in Franklin on Jan 21, 1877


All-time record weather events for Macon County

Highest Temperature 101°F in Franklin on Jul 29, 1952
Lowest Temperature -19°F in Highlands on Jan 21, 1985
Greatest Rainfall 21.15 inches in Highlands on Jul 29, 1879
Greatest One-Day Snowfall 25.5 inches at the Coweeta Experimental Station on Mar 13, 1993




THREE DAY OUTLOOK



TODAY Cold Wave/Very Windy/Dangerous Wind Chills/Outdoor Burning Not Recommended

Wind chill values will start out from around 12 below zero in the higher elevations to just below zero in the lower elevations. Skies will be partly sunny with decreasing clouds. Highs will range from the teens at the higher elevations to the mid-20s in the lower elevations. Wind chill values will range from near zero at the higher elevations to the teens or lower in the lower elevations. Winds will be 10 to 15 mph out of the northwest with gusts in the 30 mph range.

TONIGHT Cold Wave Continues...Dangerous Wind Chill Values

Mostly clear with lows ranging from near zero at the higher elevations to around 10 degrees above zero in the lower elevations. Wind chill values will range from ten below at the higher elevations to around zero in the lower elevations. Winds 10 to 15 mph out of the northwest.



SATURDAY Cold Wave/Dangerous Wind Chills/Outdoor burning not recommended

Wind chills in the morning will range from the single digits below zero at the higher elevations to the single digits above in the lower elevations. Skies will be sunny with highs ranging from the lower 20s at the higher elevations to around 30 in the lower elevations. Wind chill values will be about 5 degrees or so colder. Winds 5 to 10 mph out of the northwest.

Low Relative Humidity and Increased Fire Danger

The relative humidity (RH or amount of moisture in the air) will be dropping to dangerously low values today. The RH is expected to drop below 30% around 11 am and below 20% by 1 pm. It won't rise above 20% until around 6 pm and above 30% until around 9 pm. Any outdoor fire that gets out of control will be in danger of finding drier fuels that will enable faster spreading, so please continue to put off outdoor burning until after the rain event early next week.

SATURDAY NIGHT Cold Wave Continues

Mostly clear with lows ranging from near zero at the higher elevations to around ten or so in the lower elevations. Winds will be diminishing and shifting from the northwest to the northeat at only around 5 mph or so.



SUNDAY The Cold Wave is Ending !!!

Mostly sunny with increasing clouds. Highs ranging from the mid-20s at the higher elevations to the mid-30s in the lower elevations.

SUNDAY NIGHT Freezing Rain and Possible Hazardous Driving Conditions After Midnight

Mostly cloudy with lows ranging from the upper teens at the higher elevations to the mid-30s in the lower elevations. 50% chance of precipitation, mainly after midnight, which is expected to be mostly freezing rain. Ice accumulations should be less than a tenth of an inch. Driving may get hazardous before it turns to all rain around 11 am Monday.

HAZARDS

Before we get into the cold wave information, there is the possibility of a Freezing Rain Event after midnight Sunday night into early Monday. Accumulations are expected to be less than a tenth of an inch and travel may become hazardous. Before you head out Monday morning, check the local forecasts and if there are reports of accidents due to slick roadways.

We are in a cold wave in Macon County. Over the next week, temperatures will be at or below freezing for an extended period of time and wind chills will be below zero overnights and in the mornings. If you have elderly family, friends, and neighbors, please check on them to make sure they are doing okay. Keep some extra blankets, flashlights, water, and food in your automobile.

The cold wave is expected to last most of the week and there is a slight possibility we may see a light rain/snow/ice mix at the end of it in the late Sunday Monday time frame. Temperatures next week will probably only be 10 degrees below normal as opposed to our current 20 degrees below normal. Temperature be above freezing by the time the moisture arrives in our area if it is slower than forecast.

The National Weather Service has issued a Wind Chill Advisory until noon today. The information is posted below:


***Wind Chill Advisory**
URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
1047 PM EST Thu Jan 4 2018

...BITTER WIND CHILLS TO IMPACT THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIANS AND WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA TONIGHT AND FRIDAY MORNING...

.Strong northwesterly winds will continue tonight along with very cold overnight temperatures, leading to the need for this advisory primarily for higher elevations and along the I-40 corridor in North Carolina.


...WIND CHILL ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL NOON EST FRIDAY...

* WHAT...Very cold wind chills expected. Expect wind chills to range from 5 below zero to 15 below zero. Windy conditions are expected as well, with northwest winds of 15 to 25 mph expected, along with occasional gusts of 30 to 40 mph.

* WHERE...Much of the mountains of western North Carolina.

* WHEN...Through noon EST Friday.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...The cold wind chills may cause frostbite to exposed skin in as little as 30 minutes. The gusty winds may blow around loose objects and cause isolated power outages.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Wind Chill Advisory means that cold air and the wind will combine to create low wind chills. Frost bite and hypothermia can occur if precautions are not taken. Make sure you wear a hat and gloves.

NWS Hazardous Weather Outlook

..TODAY...Cold wave likely. Dangerously cold wind chills are expected during the early morning hours.

..SATURDAY...Cold wave likely. Dangerously cold wind chills are possible during the early morning hours. Dry air may also increase fire danger during the afternoon.

..SUNDAY...Cold wave likely.

..MONDAY...Winter weather possible. Moisture will increase atop the region Sunday night, as a cold high slowly retreats to the east. As precipitation develops during the pre-dawn hours, it will likely start as a wintry mix of snow, sleet and/or freezing rain before transitioning to all rain by midday Monday. Snow and ice accumulations should be light, but some areas may have hazardous road conditions early Monday.


Macon Media maintains a Severe Weather Preparedness Page at http://thunderpigblog.blogspot.com/p/breaking-news-hub.html for those who are interested.

As always, you can check to see what advisories, watches, and warnings are in effect for Macon County by visiting http://is.gd/MACONWARN



GOES-16 ABI CONUS - 11.20 um (Rainfall)
Image Produced at 03:27 am



MACON CALENDAR

If you have an event you wish to be added to this calendar, please send the information, along with a flyer in pdf format or a high-quality photo, to editor@maconmedia.com. If you want text published, please include a paragraph with your photo, flyer or graphics. Please include date(s) and time(s).
There is no charge for civic, educational or nonprofit groups, except for groups or events that receive funding from the TDA, TDC, and EDC, where full rates apply.


National Alliance on Mental Illness
Appalachian South

Meets each Thursday at 7pm
The First Methodist Church Outreach Center
at the intersection of Harrison Ave. and West Main Street
(directly across from Lazy Hiker Brewery)

Come join our weekly support group for anyone suffering from mental illness and their family or friends. This includes Depression, Bipolar,8chizophrenia, PTSD, Substance Abuse, Etc.

Here you will find:
— others living with mental health challenges YOU ARE NOT ALONE
- learn coping skills and ?find hope in shared experience
- help learning how to break down stigma and guilt surrounding mental health
- how to live life with the expectation of a better a better future

Kay (706)970-9987 Denise (828)347-5000)

SYRINGE EXCHANGE PROGRAM

On January 1, 2017, the Syringe Exchange Program of Franklin began operating a comprehensive harm reduction program to address the opioid epidemic that is impacting western NC. Opioid overdose reversal kits including naloxone are available free of charge. If you have any questions about our services or if you know someone interested in volunteering, please contact Stephanie Almeida at 828-475-1920.



Sun and Moon


Sun

Begin civil twilight 7:14 a.m.
Sunrise 7:42 a.m.
Sun transit 12:39 p.m.
Sunset 5:36 p.m.
End civil twilight 6:04 p.m.


Moon

Moonrise 8:51 p.m. last night
Moon transit 3:46 a.m.
Moonset 10:33 a.m.
Moonrise 9:58 p.m.


Phase of the Moon on January 5, 2018: Waning Gibbous with 82% of the Moon's visible disk illuminated.
Closest Primary Moon Phase: Last Quarter on January 8, 2018 at 5:25 p.m. (local standard time)

Sky Guides for this week



Sky and Telescope Magazine 
Astronomy Magazine


There will be three solar and two lunar eclipses in 2018. [LINK]

Heavens Above has an Android App that will assist you in observing the sky and even has a satellite tracker that will let you know when the International Space Station and dozens of other satellites are overhead. [LINK]

Stellarium is also an app that will assist you in observing the sky. It is available in both Android [LINK] and iOS versions. [LINK]

CROWD FUNDING OR DAY SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

If you receive value from what Macon Media provides to the community, please consider becoming a supporter and contribute at least a dollar a month.

If you have a business or event you are interested in sponsorship opportunities or underwriting coverage, send an email to editor@MaconMedia.com for more information. Serious inquiries only. Macon Media rewards early sponsors/underwriters with lifetime guaranteed low rates while newer sponsors/underwriters pay higher rates based on the date they first support Macon Media.

Thank You to the people who have been sending in donations and those businesses who are underwriting coverage of news and events. You have kept Macon Media online. You have made it possible for Macon Media to begin purchasing state of the art equipment and begin work on building a real website with features not employed by any local news outlets.

You can find out more information on how to do that and some of what I plan to accomplish if I reach certain levels of funding at https://www.patreon.com/MaconMedia



Posted at 4:00 am on January 5, 2018

#WNCscan #MaconWx #MaconSafety

Data and information sources: Sources (except where otherwise credited): heavens-above.com, Ian Webster's Github, National Centers for Environmental Prediction, The National Weather Service, National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration, Penn State University Electronic Wall Map, The State Climate Office of North Carolina, Storm Prediction Center, U.S. Naval Observatory, and the Weather Prediction Center. 

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State Releases Tier Designations for 2018 Macon County Ranked Tier 1 for Fourth Year

The North Carolina Department of Commerce has released the 2018 Tier designations, with Tier 1 being most economically distressed to Tier 3 being least economically distressed. Macon County has been designated as a Tier 1 county for the fourth year in a row after being in Tier 2 in 2014 and years previous. A press release and additional information culled from the NC Commerce website are posted below.


The North Carolina Department of Commerce annually ranks the state’s 100 counties based on economic well-being and assigns each a Tier designation. The 40 most distressed counties are designated as Tier 1, the next 40 as Tier 2 and the 20 least distressed as Tier 3. This Tier system is incorporated into various state programs to encourage economic activity in the less prosperous areas of the state.

2018 County Tier Designations were published November 29, 2017

County Tiers are calculated using four factors:

•Average unemployment rate
•Median household income
•Percentage growth in population
•Adjusted property tax base per capita

The law governing County Tier status also further specifies automatic qualifying criteria for Tier One and Tier Two status: Tier One Automatic Qualifiers include:

•A county must be Tier 1 for at least two consecutive years
•A county with less than 12,000 people
•A county with a population less than 50,000 people AND a poverty rate of 19 percent or greater

Tier Two Automatic Qualifier:

•A county with a population less than 50,000 people

See the full list of tiers by county by downloading this PDF. [LINK]

Here is some information culled from the above-mentioned document and other locations on the NC Commerce website, with lower number rank indicating more economic distress (1 being most distressed and 100 being least distressed).
The numbers for Macon County are listed, followed by the numbers for the least and most distressed counties in North Carolina:

Adjusted Property
Tax Base Per Capita
FY 2016-2017

$228,464
Rank 97 

Dare County ranked 100th with $378, 627 Adjusted Property Tax Base Per Capita and Robeson County ranked 1st with $46, 493 Adjusted Property Tax Base Per Capita.

---

Population Growth
(July 2013-July 2016)

Percent change +2.78%
Rank 71 

Brunswick County ranked 100th with 10.44% population growth and Halifax County ranked 1st with 3.17% population loss. 35 counties in North Carolina saw a net loss in population from July 2013 to July 2016.

---

Median Household Income
(2015)

Income $41,395
Rank 48 

Union County ranked 100th with a median income of $71,690 and Halifax County ranked 1st with $31,952 for a median income.

---

Unemployment
12 Month Average
(Oct 16-Sept 17)

Rate 4.87%
Rank 47 

Buncombe County ranked 100th at 3.56% unemployment and Hyde County ranked 1st with 9.22% unemployment.

---

County Rank Sum
(Lower is more distressed)
263

Economic Distress Rank
(#1 is most distressed)
Rank 73 

Chatham County had an economic distress rank of 100 with a Sum of 371 and Edgecombe County had an economic distress rank of 1 with a sum of 14.

---

Population
(July 2016)

35,047

Poverty Rate
(5-year 2011-2016)

19.1% 

Camden County had the lowest poverty rate with 7.9% of the population in poverty and Robeson County had the highest poverty rate with 31.6% of the population living in poverty.

---

Here are the Tier Rankings for Macon County from 2007-2018 (numbers before 2007 are not on the NC Commerce website).

2018 Tier 1
2017 Tier 1
2016 Tier 1
2015 Tier 1
2014 Tier 2
2013 Tier 2
2012 Tier 2
2011 Tier 2
2010 Tier 2
2009 Tier 2
2008 Tier 2
2007 Tier 2

---

Here is the Press Release:


PRESS RELEASE
NC Dept of Commerce
November 29, 2017

Raleigh, N.C. – The North Carolina Department of Commerce released the county tier designations for 2018 today. The designations, which are mandated by state law, play a role in several programs that assist in economic development.

Using a formula outlined in General Statue §143B-437.08, N.C. Commerce gathers required statistics for each of North Carolina’s 100 counties, applies the formula and required adjustments, and assigns a tier designation ranking from one to three. Tier 1 counties are generally the most economically distressed and Tier 3 counties are generally the least economically distressed.

The rankings are based on an assessment of each county’s unemployment rate, median household income, population growth, and assessed property value per capita. In addition, any county with a population of less than 12,000 or a county with a population of fewer than 50,000 residents with 19 percent or more of those people living below the federal poverty level are automatically classified as Tier 1. The law calls for 40 counties to be designated as Tier 1, 40 counties to be designated as Tier 2, and 20 counties to be designated Tier 3.

Six counties will change tier designations for 2018. Lenoir and Perquimans will shift from a Tier 2 to a Tier 1 ranking. Forsyth County will change from a Tier 3 to a Tier 2 ranking. Beaufort and Caldwell counties will move from Tier 1 to Tier 2 status. Granville County will shift from Tier 2 to Tier 3.

Tier designations determine eligibility for a number of different grant programs that N.C. Commerce administers including building reuse, water and sewer infrastructure, and the downtown revitalization Main Street program. Tier designations also play a role in the state’s performance-based Job Development Investment Grant (JDIG) program, serving as a mechanism to channel funds for infrastructure improvements to less populated areas of the state.

For more information about the tier designation system visit:
nccommerce.com/research-publications/incentive-reports/county-tier-designations



CROWD FUNDING OR DAY SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

If you receive value from what Macon Media provides to the community, please consider becoming a supporter and contribute at least a dollar a month.

If you have a business or event you are interested in sponsorship opportunities or underwriting coverage, send an email to editor@MaconMedia.com for more information. Serious inquiries only. Macon Media rewards early sponsors/underwriters with lifetime guaranteed low rates while newer sponsors/underwriters pay higher rates based on the date they first support Macon Media.

Thank You to the people who have been sending in donations and those businesses who are underwriting coverage of news and events. You have kept Macon Media online. You have made it possible for Macon Media to begin purchasing state of the art equipment and begin work on building a real website with features not employed by any local news outlets.

You can find out more information on how to do that and some of what I plan to accomplish if I reach certain levels of funding at https://www.patreon.com/MaconMedia



Posted at 12:57 pm on November 30, 2017

Be kind to one another.

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Report: Whitley Products Closes Doors

**January 30, 2013** Five days after I posted this story, WLOS-TV has a story on this closing.

Tipped off by comments on Facebook, I'm reporting that it looks like Whitley Products has ceased operations and closed the doors at it's three remaining plants.

A phone call to Whitley’s in Plymouth resulted in a quick conversation with Plant Manager, Rick Green in which he read the following statement:

“Please be advised that Whitley Products, Inc.’s senior lending has again refused to provide the necessary funding to enable Whitley to continue its operations. As a consequence, and with great regret, we must inform you that Whitley Products, Inc. has terminated operations, effective today. For our employees, this means that their employment is terminated, effective immediately.
Possession and control of all Whitley’s operating assets is now held by Keltic Financial Partners II, Lp.”

Source: WTCA-AM Radio

The Whitley Products, Inc website has (as of 6.22pm) not been updated with any indication of the shutdown.

This would put 108 employees in Franklin out of work.

I worked for Whitley Products in the 1990's and management was always telling us that the company was ever so close to being shut down because it wasn't very profitable. 

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Franklin StreetFest August 2012

Here are some photos and a short video from the StreetFest that occurred on Main Street in Franklin this past Friday night to give you a taste of how the grass roots event organized by Venture Local Franklin [web][facebook] went...







StreetFest

Motorcycles at StreetFest

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AFP Launches Jobs Agenda for 2012 Election

PRESS RELEASE


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June, 20 2012
CONTACT: Levi Russell at LRussell@afphq.org or (703) 224-3200

AFP Launching $5.5 Million Ad Effort

ARLINGTON, VA – Today Americans for Prosperity (AFP), the nation’s largest advocate for economic freedom, announced a multi-state ad effort that demonstrates how badly President Obama is out of touch with the real economy.

“When President Obama said the private sector was doing ‘just fine,’ he surpassed his own bad record of being out of touch with the economic challenges Americans are facing. Our new ad demonstrates just how far removed the president is from the real economy,” said AFP President Tim Phillips. “The fact is the private sector is severely hampered by the specter of rising taxes and new regulations.”

Titled Doing Fine, the new ad begins airing today and will run for ten days in Colorado, Florida, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. Doing Fine calls on President Obama to support the AFP Jobs Agenda, which encompasses a number of policies proven to support a vibrant economy and job creation.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH DOING FINE (also embedded above)

This latest ad effort brings the total amount that AFP has spent educating on President Obama’s disastrous policies to $20 million since last Fall.
In addition to this major ad buy, AFP will be conducting grassroots efforts educating citizens on other big spending politicians who support the Obama agenda, including this ad on Senator Tester, which is currently running throughout Montana and is supported by the Tester Truth Tour.

“Big government policies and rampant spending have been a disaster for the country,” continued Phillips. “We urge President Obama to get back in touch with the real economy, and support policies that will help our nation thrive once again.”

For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact Levi Russell at (703)224-3200 or LRussell@afphq.org

Americans for Prosperity (AFP) is a nationwide organization of citizen-leaders committed to advancing every individual’s right to economic freedom and opportunity. AFP believes reducing the size and intrusiveness of government is the best way to promote individual productivity and prosperity for all Americans. Americans for Prosperity does not support or oppose candidates for public office. For more information, visit www.americansforprosperity.org

###

Find out more information at The AFP Jobs Agenda.

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CERPA Publishes March 2012 WNC Economic Index

**Note** The next meeting of the Macon County EDC The Macon County EDC meeting has been rescheduled for Tuesday, May 22 at 5:30 PM and will be meeting in Highlands at the Highlands Civic Center. Richard Delany, General Manager of Old Edwards Inn, will be speaking.



After a year-long hiatus, the Center for Economic Research & Policy Analysis at Appalachian State University has resumed it's Western North Carolina Economic Index with a new report. You can download it from CERPA or from my blog. I have embedded it below for your convenience.

CERPA WNC Economic Index: March 2012 Report

An explaination from the CERPA website of their goals:

CERPA's Economic Development Program facilitates research and policy analysis that promotes higher standards of living and improved economic and social conditions. The program addresses a wide range of economic and social issues, such as the urban-rural divide, higher education and tax incentives, but a particular area of interest is the intersection of environmental, energy and economic policy.

The program maintains an area of work that focuses on Western North Carolina economic and social issues. WNC initiatives attempt to improve conditions in the region by providing relevant, timely and accurate information to people in the private and public sectors.

If you're a numbers geek and want to look at the source information, try the WNC Data Center that is maintained by CERPA.

I'd like to thank Tommy Jenkins, the Macon Economic Development Director, for pointing out this report and website to me. It is a wealth of economic information!

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Mitt Romney Sweeps April 24th Primaries

Mitt Romney swept all five states in the April 24th primaries and made the official pivot toward the general election last night. The remianing candidates, Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul, failed to make a case as an alternative to Mitt Romney. This primary was more or less over since February, now, all but the most obtuse can see that it is over.

The Results

Mitt Romney won all five states yesterday and here are the results, minus the delegate wins, which should be overwhelmingly in his favor. According to the AP estimate, Mitt Romney has 844, Rick Santorum has 260, Newt Gingrich has 137 and Ron Paul has 79 delegates. 1,144 is needed to be the nominee of the Republican Party. I project that by May 22nd or 29th, Romney should clinch the Republican nomination battle and all that will be left is the official voting by the delegates at the RNC National Convention in Tampa, Florida.









Mitt Romney: A Better America



Transcript:

Thank you Pennsylvania, Delaware, Rhode Island, Connecticut and New York! And tonight I can say thank you, America. After 43 primaries and caucuses, many long days and more than a few long nights, I can say with confidence – and gratitude – that you have given me a great honor and solemn responsibility. And, together, we will win on November 6th!

We launched this campaign not far from here on a beautiful June day. It has been an extraordinarily journey.

Americans have always been eternal optimists. But over the last three and a half years, we have seen hopes and dreams diminished by false promises and weak leadership. Everywhere I go, Americans are tired of being tired, and many of those who are fortunate enough to have a job are working harder for less.

For every single mom who feels heartbroken when she has to explain to her kids that she needs to take a second job … for grandparents who can’t afford the gas to visit their grandchildren … for the mom and dad who never thought they’d be on food stamps … for the small business owner desperately cutting back just to keep the doors open one more month – to all of the thousands of good and decent Americans I’ve met who want nothing more than a better chance, a fighting chance, to all of you, I have a simple message: Hold on a little longer. A better America begins tonight.

Tonight is the start of a new campaign to unite every American who knows in their heart that we can do better! The last few years have been the best that Barack Obama can do, but it’s not the best America can do!

Tonight is the beginning of the end of the disappointments of the Obama years and the start of a new and better chapter that we will write together.

This has already been a long campaign, but many Americans are just now beginning to focus on the choice before the country. In the days ahead, I look forward to spending time with many of you personally. I want to hear what’s on your mind, hear about your concerns, and learn about your families. I want to know what you think we can do to make this country better…and what you expect from your next President.

And I’ll tell you a little bit about myself. I’ll probably start out talking about my wonderful wife Ann – I usually do – and I’ll probably bore you with stories about our kids and grandkids. I’ll tell you about how much I love this country, where someone like my dad, who grew up poor and never graduated from college, could pursue his dreams and work his way up to running a great car company. Only in America could a man like my dad become governor of the state in which he once sold paint from the trunk of his car.

I’d say that you might have heard that I was successful in business. And that rumor is true. But you might not have heard that I became successful by helping start a business that grew from 10 people to hundreds of people. You might not have heard that our business helped start other businesses, like Staples and Sports Authority and a new steel mill and a learning center called Bright Horizons. And I’d tell you that not every business made it and there were good days and bad days, but every day was a lesson. And after 25 years, I know how to lead us out of this stagnant Obama economy and into a job-creating recovery!

Four years ago Barack Obama dazzled us in front of Greek columns with sweeping promises of hope and change. But after we came down to earth, after the celebration and parades, what do we have to show for three and a half years of President Obama?

Is it easier to make ends meet? Is it easier to sell your home or buy a new one? Have you saved what you needed for retirement? Are you making more in your job? Do you have a better chance to get a better job? Do you pay less at the pump?

If the answer were “yes” to those questions, then President Obama would be running for re-election based on his achievements…and rightly so. But because he has failed, he will run a campaign of diversions, distractions, and distortions. That kind of campaign may have worked at another place and in a different time. But not here and not now. It’s still about the economy …and we’re not stupid.

People are hurting in America. And we know that something is wrong, terribly wrong with the direction of the country.

We know that this election is about the kind of America we will live in and the kind of America we will leave to future generations. When it comes to the character of America, President Obama and I have very different visions.

Government is at the center of his vision. It dispenses the benefits, borrows what it cannot take, and consumes a greater and greater share of the economy. With Obamacare fully installed, government will come to control half the economy, and we will have effectively ceased to be a free enterprise society.

This President is putting us on a path where our lives will be ruled by bureaucrats and boards, commissions and czars. He’s asking us to accept that Washington knows best – and can provide all.

We’ve already seen where this path leads. It erodes freedom. It deadens the entrepreneurial spirit. And it hurts the very people it’s supposed to help. Those who promise to spread the wealth around only ever succeed in spreading poverty. Other nations have chosen that path. It leads to chronic high unemployment, crushing debt, and stagnant wages.

I have a very different vision for America, and of our future. It is an America driven by freedom, where free people, pursuing happiness in their own unique ways, create free enterprises that employ more and more Americans. Because there are so many enterprises that are succeeding, the competition for hard-working, educated and skilled employees is intense, and so wages and salaries rise.

I see an America with a growing middle class, with rising standards of living. I see children even more successful than their parents - some successful even beyond their wildest dreams – and others congratulating them for their achievement, not attacking them for it.

This America is fundamentally fair. We will stop the unfairness of urban children being denied access to the good schools of their choice; we will stop the unfairness of politicians giving taxpayer money to their friends’ businesses; we will stop the unfairness of requiring union workers to contribute to politicians not of their choosing; we will stop the unfairness of government workers getting better pay and benefits than the taxpayers they serve; and we will stop the unfairness of one generation passing larger and larger debts on to the next.

In the America I see, character and choices matter. And education, hard work, and living within our means are valued and rewarded. And poverty will be defeated, not with a government check, but with respect and achievement that is taught by parents, learned in school, and practiced in the workplace.

This is the America that was won for us by the nation’s Founders, and earned for us by the Greatest Generation. It is the America that has produced the most innovative, most productive, and the most powerful economy in the world.

As I look around at the millions of Americans without work, the graduates who can't get a job, the soldiers who return home to an unemployment line, it breaks my heart. This does not have to be. It is the result of failed leadership and of a faulty vision. We will restore the promise of America only if we restore the principles of freedom and opportunity that made America the greatest nation on earth.

Today, the hill before us is a little steep but we have always been a nation of big steppers. Many Americans have given up on this President but they haven’t ever thought about giving up. Not on themselves. Not on each other. And not on America.

In the days ahead, join me in the next step toward that destination of November 6th, when across America we can give a sigh of relief and know that the Promise of America has been kept. The dreamers can dream a little bigger, the help wanted signs can be dusted off, and we can start again.

And this time we’ll get it right. We’ll stop the days of apologizing for success at home and never again apologize for America abroad.

There was a time – not so long ago – when each of us could walk a little taller and stand a little straighter because we had a gift that no one else in the world shared. We were Americans. That meant something different to each of us but it meant something special to all of us. We knew it without question. And so did the world.

Those days are coming back. That’s our destiny.

We believe in America. We believe in ourselves. Our greatest days are still ahead. We are, after all, Americans!

God bless you, and God bless the United States of America.



Get Involved

If you are interested in defeating President Obama this November, I suggets that you become involved in the Romney Campaign. Visit the campaign website. [link] Find your local Romney Coordinator or grassroots group and start activating voters for the November election. Just posting crap on the Internet is not going to help win this election. Getting involved in an organized effort will be more effective than being a Keyboard Commando.

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Paul Ryan: The Path to Prosperity

The Chart above shows the two paths that America has before it. One of ever increasing debt, and another where we pay it down...

Congressman Paul Ryan spoke about his new budget plan this morning [link to video] and the full plan is now available to the public to look at. I've embedded it below for your convenience.

Republicans and Democrats have a chance to work together and reverse the economic death spiral our economy is in, but they have to act quick, and this plan can get rid of our debt in about 40 years.

Form the House Budget Website:

For years, both political parties have made empty promises to the American people. Unfortunately, the President refuses to take responsibility for avoiding the debt-fueled crisis before us. Instead, his policies have put us on the path to debt and decline.

We reject the broken politics of the past. The American people deserve real solutions and honest leadership. That’s what we’re delivering with our budget, The Path to Prosperity.  House Republicans are advancing a plan of action for American renewal.

Our budget:

• Cuts government spending to protect hardworking taxpayers;
• Tackles the drivers of our debt, so our troops don’t pay the price for Washington’s failure to take action;
• Restores economic freedom and ensures a level playing field for all by putting an end to special-interest favoritism and corporate welfare;
• Reverses the President’s policies that drive up gas prices, and instead promotes an all-of the-above strategy for unlocking American energy production to help lower costs, create jobs, and reduce dependence on foreign oil.
• Strengthens health and retirement security by taking power away from government bureaucrats and empowering patients instead with control over their own care;
• Reforms our broken tax code to spur job creation and economic opportunity by lowering rates, closing loopholes, and putting hardworking taxpayers ahead of special interests.

At its core, this plan of action is about putting an end to empty promises from a bankrupt government and restoring the fundamental American promise: ensuring our children have more opportunity and inherit a stronger America than our parents gave us.

Here is the plan:

Path to Prosperity 2013

Links for more information about the plan:

House Budget Path to Prosperity Plan Information

House Budget Website

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Live Address by Congressman Paul Ryan at 11am A Blueprint for American Renewal

**3.58pm** The Path to Prosperity is available. 

Go take a look and download your own copy. [link]

At 11am, House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan will deliver remarks on the fiscal situation and economic challenges faced by the United States. These remarks will be followed by a question-and-answer period hosted by AEI President Arthur C. Brooks.

Here is a preview:

House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan details what the choice of two futures means: a path to debt and decline versus a stronger, more prosperous path of less debt, lower taxes, and greater opportunity for generations to come.








And here is the  live video player  video of the event:



Learn about the 2013 Path to Prosperity here.

The President and his party’s leaders refuse to take action in the face of the most predictable economic crisis in our nation’s history. The President’s budget calls for more spending and more debt, while Senate Democrats – for over 1,000 days – have refused to pass a budget. This unserious approach to budgeting has serious consequences for American families, seniors, and the next generation.
House Republicans refuse to ignore our generation’s greatest domestic challenge: reforming and modernizing government to prevent an explosion of debt from crippling our nation and robbing our children of their future. We’re advancing a budget that builds upon a bipartisan consensus for principled solutions: real spending discipline and restored economic freedom; patient-centered health care reform; and pro-growth tax reform. The House Republican budget – The Path to Prosperity – offers a clear choice of two futures. We’re putting our trust in the American people to choose a brighter future for generations to come.

I will replace the player with a recorded video as soon as it becomes available.

More websites:

House Budget Committee

Minority Website

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Weekly GOP Address for October 1, 2011

Congressman Morgan Griffith, a freshman Republican representing the 9th congressional district of Virginia, delivers the weekly GOP address:



Audio:



Transcript:


“Hello, I’m Morgan Griffith, and I represent the people of Virginia’s Ninth Congressional District. It’s an honor to address you on their behalf.


“For years, excessive regulations have been a source of frustration for businesses trying to stay afloat. Now, with our economy struggling and red tape still piling up, these nuisances have become full-blown government barriers to job creation. According to a recent national survey, nearly seven in ten Americans believe new regulations will result in job losses or higher prices on goods and services. They’re right, on both counts.


“That’s why the Republican majority in the House is focused on lifting the burden of excessive regulations.


“Of course, we all recognize the need for reasonable regulations to protect the public. There are good regulations, for instance, that ensure public safety and protect our environment. But there are also unnecessary and unreasonable regulations that hurt jobs in some of our nation’s most critical industries. Here are just two examples:


“The government recently finalized rules that would impose costly burdens on the producers of cement, which is the backbone of just about every construction project. If these rules were to take effect, roughly 20 percent of the country’s cement plants would shut down. Thousands of jobs would be sent overseas permanently, just like that. In Ragland, Alabama, a small town where nearly one in five are considered poor, these new rules led to the suspension of a $350 million cement project. It was on track to create more than 1,500 construction jobs.


“Washington is also trying to hand down rules that would affect boilers used by thousands of major employers, including hospitals, factories, and even colleges. These regulations would impose billions of dollars in new costs, make many goods and services more expensive, and put more than 200,000 jobs at risk. I was startled to learn that because of these rules, Celanese, a Dallas-based chemical company, may significantly scale back or close a plant that employs hundreds of people in my district.


“Understand that the investments required by these rules are irreversible. For those businesses that cannot make these investments, and decide to stop producing their product at a particular location, the job losses are also irreversible. The good news here is, excessive regulations are reversible and fixable.


“Todd Elliott testified on behalf of Celanese at a recent hearing on Capitol Hill. ‘It is very important for the Congress to understand that we compete in a global marketplace,’ Todd said. ‘If our costs become too high, we lose competitiveness and jobs. We encourage you to pursue cost-effective regulations and help create … the jobs our nation so badly needs.’


“Republicans are listening to the American job creators. The House is working on a series of bills this fall aimed at cutting red tape and stopping the excessive regulations that hamper job creation. Next week, we’ll take up bipartisan bills that address the concerns employers have about both the cement and boiler rules.


“The bill I’ve sponsored, H.R. 2250, recognizes the need for reasonable boiler regulations and doesn’t try to haphazardly cancel these rules. Instead, we are saying the government should go back to the drawing board and come up with a more reasonable approach that protects the public without imposing unnecessary costs on employers and workers.


“These bills would save thousands of American jobs, and they are bipartisan. Members of both parties support these ideas right now. President Obama, who has said he’s willing to consider stopping excessive regulations, should call on the Democrat-led Senate to follow the House in passing these jobs bills. Let’s take this opportunity to widen our common ground and do whatever we can to get government out of the way so our economy can return to creating jobs.


“Thank you so much for listening.”


TEXT CREDIT: Speaker of the House John Boehner Contact H-232 The Capitol Washington, DC 20515 P (202) 225-0600 F (202) 225-5117


AUDIO / VIDEO FILES CREDIT: The House Republican Conference - Digital Communications visual.media@mail.house.gov 202-225-5439

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Macon County Economic Development Commission September 27, 2011 Board Meeting

The Macon County EDC Board met last night in the Cecil Groves Building in the Franklin, NC Siler Farm Road campus of Southwestern Community College at 5.30pm. I was there and took video and here are my very brief notes on the meeting, followed by the agenda:


EDC Staff Change


Trevor Dalton, the Director of the Macon County EDC has resigned and County Manager Jack Horton praised his performance and service to the county and the board, including restarting the Annual Business/Industry Appreciation Dinner and pushing through the paperwork on getting Macon County recognized as a Certified Entrepreneurial Community. He also kept the EDC website up to date.


Jack Horton said there was no need to replace the EDC Director at this time, and a search was taking place to find someone suitable for the position.


Meeting Schedule for 2011 re-established


The Economic Development Commission Board set the meeting schedule for the rest of the year on the following dates and times: Tuesday, October 18th at 5pm; Tuesday, November 15th at 5pm; skip December since the 3rd Tuesday is on the 20th; meet on Tuesday, January 17th at 5pm and elect officers for the coming year at that time. The appointments of several members of the board will be coming to an end and either need to be reappointed or new members found to serve on the board. Jack Horton told members that there were no longer term limits on serving on local boards per a recent decision of the Macon County Commissioners.


ESC Unemployment Rates


EDC Board Chairman Ed Shatley mentioned the recent release of unemployment figures for Macon County and the the surrounding counties. Here is a table with the unemployment figures:

County	August 2011	August 2010	July 2011
Macon	10.3	9.4	10.0
Jackson	8.4	7.8	8.8
Swain	11.1	10.2	10.8
Cherokee	13.4	13.1	13.3
Clay	10.2	10.2	10.0
Graham	14.6	12.6	14.7
Haywood	9.4	8.6	9.3
Transylvania	9.0	8.6	8.9

A general discussion followed regarding unemployment and conditions observed locally by various board members.


Business Development Center Activity

Board members discussed the continuing saga of Whitley Products being in the business incubator for several years and the effort to find them another location so that new businesses can be placed in the business incubator. Jack Horton mentioned that there would be a logistical challenge for Whitley to move the production lines that are in the incubator facility, and have been for six or seven years.


The Forex Currency Trader business that has recently been placed in the incubator facility was also discussed by board members.


Board members also discussed charging rates for the use of the business incubator that increased over a period of time to encourage businesses to get serious about finding a permanent location instead of staying in the county facilities for years on end.


Retail Business Development


The board discussed the recent failure to get a Mast Store to locate in the JC Jacobs Building (current site of Peoples Dept Store). Members also discussed the pending move of Wal Mart into their new facilities (Oct 2012 target date for opening) on Dowdle Mountain Rd and the attendant empty building in the Holly Springs Plaza. Jack Horton discussed recent favorable changes in the retail sales tax distribution method. Mayor Joe Collins mentioned that there was a possibility a new ABC Store location next to the new Super Wal Mart. 


Closed Session


Board members went onto a closed session and promised to inform members of the local press of what (if anything) was decided behind closed doors regarding two prospects for locating in the incubator facility. As of 6.30 am the next morning, I have received no email regarding any decisions taken by the EDC Board. Members of the press that were in attendance at the meeting were a reporter from The Macon County News, one reporter representing The Franklin Press and myself, representing this blog. There was one member of the public, Lewis Penland also present. He serves as chairman of the Macon County Planning Board. End of notes.








On this agenda, I am trying something new. I am posting the time in the video at which this particular item was taken up in the video for those who don't want to sit through the whole video. You can just scrub through the timeline to get to each particular portion of the meeting that you are interested in.

Macon County EDC

AGENDA

0/27/2011

1. Call to Order - Chairman Shatley  [00:00]


2. Quorum Check (12 members, 7 required) [00:11] (11 seconds into the video)


3. Report on Staff Change - County Manager Horton [00:25]
    A. Interim EDC Director [05:50]
    B. Meeting Schedule for 2011 [10:37]
4. Other Reports:  [19:10]
    A. ESC Unemployment Rates [19:20]
    B. Business Development Center Activity (Incubator)
        1. Whitley Products [23.15]
        2. Forex    [28:22]
   C. Retail Business Development [33:48]
5. Closed Session [38:00]
6. Other Business
7. Adjourn

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