100 Years of State Parks

Posted on March 3, 2015 by admin in Celebration, Environment, Recreation

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The above video was produced by students at the UNC School of Journalism and Mass Communication and is part of a three-part series.

Today marks the 100th Anniversary of North Carolina’s state parks.

It all began on March 3, 1915 when the General Assembly passed legislation authorizing $20,000 to purchase land in Yancey County near Burnsville that would become Mount Mitchell State Park. It’s now one of 39 state parks in North Carolina and one of the 74 properties managed by the North Carolina State Park System.

From the Department of Cultural Resources:

At the time, the virgin-growth forests rich with balsam and spruce that once dominated the Black Mountains were quickly disappearing because of a thriving timber trade in the area. The effort to preserve the Yancey County mountain from rampant logging came about, in part, from extensive lobbying by Governor Locke Craig.

At 6,684 feet, Mount Mitchell is the highest peak east of the Mississippi River. It was named for Elisha Mitchell, a science professor who first visited the area around it as part of the North Carolina Geological Survey. In the 1830s and 1840s, he took barometric pressure readings from the state’s tallest peaks and used mathematical formulas to determine their elevations. Until Mitchell’s calculations, New Hampshire’s Mount Washington, only 396 feet shorter than Mitchell was thought to be the tallest peak in the east.

In an unfortunate twist of fate, Mitchell died while exploring the mountain that bears his name in 1857, when he slipped and fell from a cliff, drowning near a waterfall now known as Mitchell Falls.

One hundred years later, the North Carolina State Park System is thriving. It now preserves nearly 220,000 acres of North Carolina’s natural beauty at 74 parks, recreation areas natural areas, lakes, rivers and trails and attracted more than 15 million visitors last year.

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That’s the Spirit!

Posted on March 2, 2015 by admin in Economic Development

Entrepreneurs Troy Ball and Oscar Wong at Troy and Sons Distillers in Asheville, North Carolina. Photograph from The Asheville Sojourner

House Bill 107 is bipartisan legislation allowing private liquor distilleries in North Carolina to sell their own products on-site, specifically to customers who have taken a tour of their facilities.

The bill would also allow for samplings of a distillery’s products at “trade shows, conventions, shopping malls, beverage festivals, street festivals, holiday festivals, agricultural festivals, balloon races, local fundraisers, and other similar events” if approved by the state’s Alcohol Beverage Control Commission (ABC).

The landmark legislation, if passed into law, would mark the first time in the state’s history that spirituous liquors — whiskey, gin, rum, brandy, and other distilled spirits — could be sold outside of an ABC store. State law currently only allows liquor to be sold in state-run stores and bars administered by the ABC, which was created in 1933 in response to the repeal of Prohibition. There are approximately 400 ABC Stores in North Carolina.

This special kind of retail sale would fall under the authority of the ABC and would be subject to certain restrictions:

The distillery must possess all federal and state permits;
The sale of liquor at distilleries is authorized only in areas where ABC stores are allowed (local governments may only establish ABC stores with the approval of voters);
Tours must be a regular public offering by the distillery;
The liquor must be sold in closed containers;
The liquor must be sold for consumption off premises;
The liquor must be sold at prices set by the ABC board;
All excise and sales taxes must be collected at the point of sale;
Sales to pre-arranged tours must occur between the hours of 9:00 AM and 9:00 pm;
Sales to walk-in tours must occur between the hours of 2:00 pm and 8:00 pm;
Sale of liquor is limited to no more than 2 liters per customer per product label per day; and
The additional sale of liquor in 50 ml “airplane bottles” is limited to four per customer per day.

North Carolina is one of only 17 “alcohol control” states in the nation — meaning that the state has a total monopoly over the sale and purchase of all alcoholic beverages (according to the ABC’s website, there are three “dry” counties in North Carolina: Clay, Graham, and Yancey). For more information, Professor Michael Crowell has a fascinating history of liquor laws in North Carolina in the Campbell Law Review. From his article:

“The General Assembly has been legislating with regard to liquor since 1798. Initially sale and use were unrestricted, but gradually local governments were given authority to restrict or ban most liquor activities. By the time statewide prohibition was approved in 1908, local option had already made most of the state dry anyway. The end of prohibition in the mid-1930′s was followed by legislation establishing the form of the present ABC system. Beer and wine could only be sold by the bottle or by the drink, subject to city and county local option elections, but spiritous liquor, distilled spirits with more than 21 per cent alcohol, could only be sold by the bottle and only in county-run stores in counties exercising the local option in favor of such sales. Numerous local acts of the legislature followed, authorizing named cities to also hold elections on the establishment of ABC stores. Not until 1978, however, did the sale of spiritous liquor by the drink become lawful…”

The legislation is a direct result of a study bill passed during the 2013-2014 session.

Here We Go Again

Posted on February 25, 2015 by admin in Emergency Management, Federal Government, McCrory, Safety, Transportation

More snow is on the way Governor Pat McCrory has issued a state of emergency in anticipation of a winter storm that’s expected to dump between four and eight inches of snow across most of North Carolina starting this evening. It’s the second time in two weeks the governor has issued a state of emergency because of the weather.

“We are preparing for as much as eight inches of snow across the majority of the state,” Governor McCrory said. “The State Emergency Response Team that consists of multiple state and local agencies worked throughout the afternoon Tuesday and overnight and they have teams mobilized and ready for the next storm.”

Yesterday’s band of snow showers brought 1-3 inches of snow across much of the state. A more significant winter storm is predicted to move through the state later this evening and through Thursday bringing additional accumulations of 4 to 8 inches of snow across most of the state with forecasts being adjusted by the hour. The extreme southeastern portion of the state will likely see a wintry mix of snow, sleet and rain.

Between midnight and noon, State Highway Patrol troopers responded to approximately 700 calls for service; of those, 400 were collisions. Yesterday, troopers responded to nearly 3,000 calls for service including 2,300 vehicle crashes. The Highway Patrol typically responds to approximately 1,000 calls in a 24-hour period.

Yesterday, the governor implemented the Adverse Weather Policy for state employees enabling those workers who are not essential to storm response or daily operations to remain home.

Two people died yesterday in separate weather-related vehicle crashes when their car’s slid off the road and ran into a tree.

“Motorists are reminded to monitor the weather and road conditions,” said Public Safety Secretary Frank L. Perry. “We’ve staged transportation crews and law enforcement teams to respond quickly to incidents especially around known trouble spots. But the best way to remain safe is to stay off the roads.”

Perry said 800 law enforcement officers from the Highway Patrol, ALE, Wildlife, and Division of Motor Vehicles License and Theft, along with 86 National Guard soldiers are staged across the state to respond to stranded motorists.

After working overnight and this morning to clear and treat slick roads and trouble spots, NCDOT crews across the state began spreading salt brine on roadways to prepare for the next round of winter weather anticipated to arrive later today. Once snow and ice begins to stick to the roadways, crews will again work around the clock clearing and treating affected roads.

“Over the past two weeks, our team has shown incredible fortitude and dedication as we have prepared for and responded to the multiple storms that have hit our state,” NCDOT Secretary Tony Tata said. “Those efforts continue as we get ready for even more winter weather, and I again thank motorists for their cooperation in staying off the roadways so our crews can work as safely and quickly as possible.”

Real-time weather and road conditions, as well as winter safety tips, can be found on the free ReadyNC mobile app or on line at the readync.org website.

Travelers are urged to call 511 or go to ncdot.org for up-to-date roadway conditions. Motorists are reminded to call 911 for emergencies only and refrain from calling the State Highway Patrol Communication Centers for roadway conditions.

ID Cards for Homebound People

Posted on February 25, 2015 by admin in General Assembly

A new law passed last session directs the Division of Motor Vehicles to begin implementing a process that allows homebound people to get state-issued photo ID cards — all without the inconvenience of having to make a trip to the DMV. Instead, a DMV field inspector from its License and Theft Bureau will visit the person’s home and help them complete an application.

For a homebound person to obtain an identification card, they must first meet some minimum criteria: 1) be medically rendered as homebound; 2) have supporting medical documentation, such as a doctor’s letter; 3) present proof of age and identity; and 4) have a DMV image on file.

The License and Theft Bureau, whose initial purpose was to combat vehicle theft, employs approximately 150 field inspectors who primarily investigate vehicle theft, identity theft, title fraud, driver license fraud, and vehicle odometer fraud. The License and Theft Bureau is the oldest state law enforcement agency in North Carolina.

And since the License and Theft Bureau already utilizes mobile vans with existing personnel, the new program doesn’t require new money to be spent from the state budget.

The individual cost for the new photo ID card is $10, and a customer who is legally blind or 70 years of age or older can obtain the identification card at no cost. Once the information is collected by the field inspector, the application will be processed by DMV headquarters and the card will be issued will be mailed to the address provided by the customer on the service affidavit during the Inspector’s home visit.

State-issued ID for homebound persons can be useful, for example, for absentee voting or for processing health insurance claims at a hospital.

Handicapped Parking Revisions

Posted on February 25, 2015 by admin in Disabilities, Older People, Safety, Transportation

North Carolina Handicapped Parking Placard Legislation introduced earlier this month is aimed at closing a loophole that now lets anyone with a handicapped placard park in spaces meant for wheelchair-accessible vans. Cars parking in these van-accessible spaces can prevent folks who are utilizing these vans from being able to enter or exit properly.

Wheelchair-accessible vans — used by many commercial businesses, non-profit groups, and governments to transport people with special mobility needs — require additional space to park because they use wheelchair ramps and powered lifts to facilitate access. In fact, the Americans With Disabilities Act mandates an additional 96” area next to the parking space (marked with diagonal stripes) for vehicles equipped with a wheelchair lift. This “access aisle” is normally on the passenger side of the vehicle.

Current North Carolina law says that any vehicle with a handicapped placard may park in any space designated for the handicapped and doesn’t make an exception for parking spots meant for wheelchair-accessible vans. House Bill 91 clarifies that only qualifying handicapped vans can park in spaces designated as van-accessible.

The legislation also directs the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV), which issues the placards, to study ways in which the familiar blue and white handicap tags are being misused. It’s not unusual for family members to use a handicapped person’s placard in order to secure a more convenient parking spot or — because many cities allow for free parking with a handicapped placard — avoid paying expensive parking fees. And unfortunately, people using placards that once belonged to a deceased person is also not uncommon.

Parking placards are issued only to people who return applications with a signature from a doctor.

When an able-bodied person uses a handicapped placard to get a better parking spot or to save money, it can place additional physical burdens on the handicapped, for whom these spaces are actually meant. “When people are out shopping or dining, they need these spots,” said Mark Perriello, president of the American Association of People with Disabilities. “When they can’t find them, it leaves people with disabilities out on the sidelines.”

According to a study commissioned by the Pew Charitable Trusts, the misuse of handicapped parking placards is on the rise. Several states, including South Carolina, now require the placard to contain a photo of the person to whom they are issued. Among other things, HB91 specifically calls for the DMV to study “the cost, feasibility, and advisability of requiring the inclusion of more personally identifying information on the windshield placard, including a picture of the handicapped person who was issued the placard.”

To learn more about laws governing handicapped parking, check out the DMV’s brochure “A User’s Guide to North Carolina Handicap Parking Placards and Plates.”

The Gathering Storm

Posted on February 16, 2015 by admin in Emergency Management, Federal Government, McCrory, Safety, Transportation

Governor Pat McCrory has issued a State of Emergency declaration ahead of a winter storm that will enter North Carolina this afternoon and is expected to hit the state with snow, sleet and freezing rain.

Governor McCrory said North Carolina’s State Emergency Response Team is preparing for the approaching winter storm and recommended that residents do the same.

“We are working with all necessary departments and local emergency management crews to keep residents safe and informed regarding potentially hazardous weather conditions,” said Governor McCrory. “We’re asking that each resident and family do the same by paying attention to the weather forecast and following instructions from local officials.”

This morning, Governor McCrory signed two executive orders (Executive Order 66 and Executive Order 67) to expedite storm response. The State of Emergency declaration enables the governor to mobilize the necessary resources to respond to a storm and is the first step in seeking federal funds to help defray eligible storm-related costs. The executive order waives restrictions on weight and the hours of service for fuel, utility and other truck drivers that may be working to deliver supplies, restore services or clear storm debris.

Governor McCrory also activated the State Emergency Operations Center to coordinate storm response and directed the State Highway Patrol to coordinate with other law enforcement and emergency responders statewide to mark abandoned vehicles to ensure that no one is left stranded in the dangerous weather. Additionally, he reminded motorists of the state’s quick clearance policy, instructing state transportation crews to clear the road by pushing to the shoulder any vehicles that may impede traffic.

Weather forecasts call for snow to begin mid-afternoon across much of the state, starting in the western part of the state and moving east. Predicted snow accumulations vary from two to four inches in the Foothills, Triad and Virginia-border counties and one to two inches in the greater Charlotte and Triangle areas, as well as the northeastern counties. By 8 p.m. sleet and freezing rain will cover much of the state and will continue through until tomorrow morning.

With the low temperatures, the sleet and freezing rain will accumulate as ice making roads treacherous and coating trees and power lines. Accumulations of one-quarter inch or more on trees and power lines often leads to power outages.

The Highway Patrol is shifting resources to cover potential trouble spots. And troopers will be actively looking for abandoned vehicles and tagging cars to ensure motorist safety. Additionally, National Guard troops are on standby and prepared to respond as needed.

NCDOT has been working proactively in advance of winter weather, with nearly 1,300 workers and nearly 500 trucks distributing more than 1.3 million gallons of salt brine across the state’s roadways. Crews throughout North Carolina will be working throughout the afternoon and overnight proactively putting down salt and sand and clearing roads.

“Our dedicated crews have already been out in full force to prepare for this storm,” said NCDOT Secretary Tony Tata. “We will be monitoring conditions and working around the clock to clear our roadways, and we urge everyone to stay off the roads unless absolutely necessary.”

Real-time weather and road conditions and shelter openings, as well as winter safety tips, can be found on the free ReadyNC mobile app or on line at www.readync.org web site.

Travelers are urged to call 511 or go to www.ncdot.gov for up-to-date roadway conditions. Motorists are reminded NOT to call 911 or the State Highway Patrol Communication Centers for roadway conditions.

Mission Statement: To develop a budget for North Carolina which brings spending into line with available revenues by identifying the proper and necessary functions of state government and then prioritizing them.