Archive - May 2011
May 13th
Maiden residents could likely see a drop in their property tax rate for the next fiscal year.
If passed by town officials, the proposed tax break will save town residents nearly $80,000 and can be the lowest municipal tax rate in Catawba County.
Though the town of Maiden will lose revenue with the cut, town officials feel that money would be better left in taxpayers’ pockets.
“Unlike other towns, we’ve had some great economic news,” said Todd Herms, Maiden town manager. “The council though it was right to only tax to the level that was needed.”
Taxes may not be increasing in Conover, but city residents could see an increase in their water, sewer and landfill expenses.
“We’ve seen a huge increase in costs,” said Conover City Manager Donald Duncan Jr., adding most of the increase is coming in energy costs.
“When fuel costs go up, everything goes up.”
The people are what makes Michael Reno thrive on stage.
Reno, a storyteller and musician, said being on stage and interacting with an audience is where his material starts.
"The audiences are the reason I keep going," Reno said. "People liked to be talked to and told stories."
That's why Reno chose to participate in the second annual Music and Mud event May 21 at the Newton-Conover Auditorium in Newton. Reno participated in the event's first year, and he's has been traveling the United States and Europe for more than 40 years telling stories and singing music.
The Catawba Valley Community Chorus scheduled for Friday at Episcopal Church of Epiphany in Newton was canceled due to a death in the director's family.
A concert will be held May 15 at 4 p.m. at Bethany Lutheran Church, 1644 Main Ave. Drive in Hickory.
By
Barbara Burns, Outlook Editor
As long as Juanita Sigmon can remember, she has looked at the world around her and thought about how she might paint it.
May 12th
For the second time in school history, the CVCC baseball team embarks on a quest to win the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Region X tournament.
The Bucs (35-13) face Patrick Henry Community College today at 1 p.m. at O’Neal Field at Big Rock Stadium in Morehead City.
The winner of that game will take on the winner of Pasco-Hernando and Surry Community College on Saturday at 10 a.m.
Last year, the Bucs entered the tournament, which was played at Hooker Field in Martinsville, Va., as the No. 6 seed.
Derek Chase's love for nature took him to science, but his desire to teach others got him the honors of being Catawba County Schools' 2011-12 Teacher of the Year.
Chase, a science teacher at Bunker Hill High School, received top honors during a ceremony at Newton Expo on Thursday.
"I am surprised and honored by this (award)," Chase said. "It's a privilege to be a teacher in Catawba County."
Chase said being a teacher is more than helping students learn. He said it's about being a mentor and encouraging students to make the right decision.
Authorities will not charge neither the suspect nor the victim in a domestic shooting case that occurred Wednesday near the Burke County Line in Hickory.
Capt. Joel Fish, of the Catawba County Sheriff's Office, said the case will be handed over to the district attorney's office to let them make a decision on whether charges will be filed.
Kay Webster's candle ignited to the sound of a six-gun salute.
Slowly leaning toward her neighbor's shoulder, she passed the tiny flame on throughout the crowd, creating a mild orange glow beneath the barely-shining stars Wednesday.
She bowed her head and silently prayed for different police officers who died in the line of duty.
"It's like when they go, they are forgotten, and it shouldn't be like that," Webster said. "I don't think people realize that officers put themselves in the line of duty every day."
Grover William Setzer, 75, of Hickory, passed away May 11, 2011, at Frye Regional Medical Center after a brief battle with lung cancer. Hickory Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Margaret Maxine Nance, 82, of Claremont, died Wednesday, May 11, 2011, at the Palliative CareCenter & Hospice of Catawba Valley. A memorial service will be held at noon Saturday, May 14, 2011, at Bethel Lutheran Church.
