News – Moore County Edition

Aug

24

2022

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By Ryan Henkel, North State Journal

Aberdeen Board approves amendment to increase parking allotment for religious institutions

Government, NewsAberdeen Town Board, council meeting, public hearing, town board

ABERDEEN — The Aberdeen Town Board met Monday, where they held two public hearings and discussed the port-a-john services in Ray’s Mill Park. The board held a public hearing for a voluntary annexation request by Collinswood Partners, LLC for 64.859 acres of land located in the town’s extraterritorial jurisdiction north of NC-211 and east of Collinswood Drive. “The request is for an unaddressed parcel and adjacent right-of-way to be annexed,” said Planning Director Justin Westbrook. “It is considered a satellite annexation and is located within the Town’s Extra Territorial jurisdiction and currently zoned R-20 (residential single family).” The board approved…

Aug

17

2022

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By Ryan Henkel, North State Journal

Decision on Pinehurst South development plan pushed to next meeting by council

Government, Newscouncil meeting, town council, Village of Pinehurst

PINEHURST — The Village of Pinehurst Council met Tuesday, August 9, where they further discussed the Pinehurst South Small Area Plan and approved the reappropriation of funds from FY22 to the current year. After being tabled again at last month’s meeting, the Pinehurst Council continued the discussion of the Pinehurst South small area development plan. “I think the major emphasis right now with Pinehurst South is commercial versus residential and non-residential development and what kind of a community we see there being or not being,” said Mayor John Strickland. “Is the property west of Highway 5 going to be different…

Aug

17

2022

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By Ryan Henkel, North State Journal

Southern Pines sets Public Hearing for potential abandonment of roads

Government, Newscouncil meeting, government, Southern Pines, town council

SOUTHERN PINES — The Town of Southern Pines Council met Tuesday, August 9, where they approved multiple architectural compliance permits as well as set a public hearing for the potential abandonment of two portions of roads within the Town limits. VG Pines Residential LLC submitted a request for abandonment for a portion of Mechanic Street from West Rhode Island Avenue to the right-of-way for US Highway 1 and the portion of Rhode Island Avenue that extends through the parcel currently owned by VG Pines Residential LLC. However, according to Town Engineer James Michel, the staff could not find evidence that…

Aug

11

2022

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By A.P. Dillon

Moore County Schools ends contract with Panorama; get refund

Government, NewsEducation, Moore County Public Schools, Panorama, public schools

RALEIGH — Moore County Public Schools has dropped its survey platform contract with Panorama Education, a company that produces “Social and Emotional Learning” data analysis, surveys, and related materials. Moore County School Board member David Hensley posted a graphic on his official Facebook page describing efforts he and board members Robert Levy and Philip Holmes had taken, resulting in an apparent refund of $122,280. In Spring 2021, the Moore County School Board voted 4-3 to sign and fund a three-year contract with Panorama. Hensley, Levy, and Holmes voted against it. Sometime in the months after that vote, the district’s superintendent…

Aug

11

2022

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By A.P. Dillon

Moore County Public Schools built up meal fund balance over pandemic

Government, NewsEducation, meal fund, Moore County Public Schools, public schools

RALEIGH — During a recent Moore County Schools Board of Education work session, the topic of the disposition of the district’s school meals balance was raised. Apparently, the district’s meals fund balance has built up excess funds of $2.8 million as a result of the free meals paid for by the federal government over the last two years of the pandemic. The U.S. government pays $3.49 for qualified free and reduced lunch recipients. Moore County Schools charges around $2.50 for those who don’t qualify for those meals. That means close to $1 for each meal paid for by the federal…

Aug

10

2022

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By Matt Mercer

Hudson, Clark face off for new 9th District seat

Government, News9th District, Clark, Hudson

RALEIGH — Following a court-ordered redistricting process that will be in effect for 2022 only, the new 9th Congressional District runs from Randolph County down to the Sandhills, taking in all of Chatham, Lee, Hoke, Moore, and Scotland counties as well as parts of Cumberland, Harnett, and Richmond counties. The two candidates advancing from the May 17 primary are Republican U.S. Rep. Richard Hudson and Democratic state Sen. Ben Clark. Hudson, who was first elected to Congress in 2012, found his home in Cabarrus County drawn into a district where fellow Republican Dan Bishop was currently representing much of the…

Aug

03

2022

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By Ryan Henkel, North State Journal

Subterranean parking structure approved for Pinehurst resort

Business, Newsparking, Pinehurst, resort

PINEHURST — The Village of Pinehurst Council met Tuesday, July 26, where the council held public hearings for a potential parking structure at Pinehurst Resorts and an amendment to the USGA Economic Development Incentive Agreement. The council held a public hearing for a Zoning Map Amendment request from Resorts of Pinehurst, Inc. for 6.87 acres of land to rezone from Recreation Development District to Hotel Conditional District to allow for the development of a two-level, partially subterranean parking structure. The request also looks to preserve uses associated with the previous RD conditional zoning on the acreage for the Lodge at…

Aug

03

2022

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By North State Journal Staff

Gov Cooper appoints Mills to Financial Literacy Council

Government, NewsFinancial LIterary Council, Roy Cooper, Stuart Mills

On July 28, Partners for Children and Families announced that Gov. Roy Cooper had appointed Stuart Mills, its Executive Director, to the statewide Financial Literacy Council. The Financial Literacy Council was first established by the North Carolina General Assembly in 2009 and is responsible for helping deliver financial literacy education and increase financial literacy among North Carolinians. In addition to serving as the Executive Director of Partners for Children and Families, Mills is the President of The Given Tufts Foundation, Inc., a director of Pinehurst’s Village Heritage Foundation, and a Trustee of The O’Neal School in Southern Pines. Previously, he…

Aug

03

2022

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By A.P. Dillon

Moore Rep. McNeill receives inaugural “Order of the Keeper of the Public Purse”

NewsAllen McNeill, award, Representative

RALEIGH — Rep. Allen McNeill (R-Randolph/Moore) has been honored as the first recipient of the “Order of the Keeper of the Public Purse,” according to a press statement from N.C. State Treasurer Dale Folwell. Folwell, along with the Boards of Trustees of the Teachers’ and State Employees’ Retirement System, passed a resolution honoring McNeill for his work related to the state’s retirement systems. “It’s hard to say in words the contributions that Rep. McNeill has made to the retirements of those that teach, protect, and otherwise serve the people of North Carolina,” said Folwell in a statement. “But for his…

Aug

03

2022

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By North State Journal Staff

Local Korean War veteran commemorated in Moore County

Newsbridge, Korean War veteran, memorial, military, veteran

On July 27, the CPL Johnnie Ralph Holder bridge dedication was finally completed. CPL Holder was Moore County’s first soldier killed in action (KIA) in the Korean War. He died on July 27, 1950, during the prelude to the Battle of Pusan Perimeter. He was 20 years old. The strive to honor Corporal Holder dates back to 2019, when NC Senator Tom McInnis was instrumental in securing the naming of the bridge over Deep River in Holder’s honor. Unfortunately, the originally scheduled dedication ceremony, which was set for April 2, 2020, was cancelled due to COVID. Recognizing the importance of…