News – Moore County Edition

Feb

28

2024

Pinehurst council moves forward on SMPO

PINEHURST – The Village of Pinehurst Council met Tuesday, Feb. 13, and approved updates to the fees and charges schedule for fiscal 2025. Changes include an increase for residential building permits relating to residential additions, alterations or new construction from $0.17 per square foot to $0.30 per square foot, an 2-4% increase in the base fee for the rental of the Fair Barn and a $5 increase in administrative fees for memberships, classes, programs and youth day camps for residents. The council signed off on a number of items related to the new Sandhills Metropolitan Planning Organization (SMPO). “Once an…

Feb

21

2024

By Ryan Henkel

Moore school board approves new high school classes

Newsboard of education

CARTHAGE – The Moore County Schools Board of Education met Monday, Feb. 12, beginning with a number of updates to the high school course catalog for the 2024-25 school year. New classes include AP Drawing and AP 3D Art and Design at Pinecrest High School and Union Pines High School, and “The Bible as History” as a new social studies elective. American History I and II are being replaced with American History, and “American History: Founding Principles, Civics and Economics” will be replaced with “Founding Principles of the United State of America and North Carolina: Civic Literacy.” The prerequisite requirements…

Feb

14

2024

By North State Journal Staff

‘Drastic’ homeowners’ insurance rate hike denied

Newshomeowners insurance

RALEIGH — The N.C. Rate Bureau’s proposed statewide rate hike of 42.2% for homeowners insurance was rejected by North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey on Feb. 6. “I haven’t seen the evidence to justify such a drastic rate increase on North Carolina consumers,” Causey said in a statement. “The Department of Insurance has received more than 24,000 emailed comments on this proposal, with hundreds more policyholders commenting by mail. Consumers deserve a more thorough review of this proposal. I intend to make sure they get that review.” This is the second time a large price hike has been submitted by the…

Feb

14

2024

By Lauren Rose

Rep. Hudson meets with farmers, discusses ag and rural issues

Newsagriculture, rep. richard hudson

‌SILER CITY — Congressman Richard Hudson (NC-09) joined farmers and agricultural interests for a discussion on Thursday, Feb. 8 at Bestfood Cafeteria in Siler City. In between bites of fried chicken and refills of sweet tea, Hudson talked about the importance of the agriculture industry in North Carolina. “Our farmers are backbone of our communities and in addition to providing us with the most abundant, cheapest food in the world, the food and fiber we need to survive as a country comes from our farmers,” Hudson told North State Journal. “I’ve always been committed to helping them fight off federal…

Feb

07

2024

By Lauren Rose

Pinehurst approves rezoning and annexations for residential developments

NewsVillage of Pinehurst Council

PINEHURST – The Village of Pinehurst Council met Tuesday, Jan. 23, addressing a rezoning request, annexation petition and other business. First up was a request to rezone 32.14 acres of property, off Chicken Plant Road, from medium density residential zoning (R-30-CZ) to a low density residential and light agricultural district (R-210). “[The property] is vacant with one home now currently under construction that has been permitted,” said planning director Alex Cameron. “The development proposal would eventually be for two other residential homes along with the one that is under construction now with lots that are 10+ acres in size each.”…

Feb

07

2024

By Randolph Record

Mountaire Farms taking applications for $2,500 college scholarships

Newsscholarship

Children and grandchildren of Mountaire Farms employees are eligible for $2,500 college scholarships from Mountaire Cares, the charitable operations at Mountaire Farms. The children or grandchildren of employees at Mountaire’s poultry and grain suppliers are also eligible. “We love this program because it’s rewarding to be able to help our own families,” said Clark “JR” LaPearl, director of Mountaire Cares. “Whether that’s our employees or our grower partners and grain producers, at Mountaire, we’re one big family.” Applicants must be enrolled as a full time college student with a minimum of twelve credits per semester for the school year, and…

Jan

31

2024

By Ryan Henkel, North State Journal

Aberdeen Board denies manufactured home zoning variance, approves off-duty PD pay increase

NewsAberdeen Town Board

ABERDEEN – The Town of Aberdeen Board met Monday, Jan. 22, starting with an approval of an increase in the off-duty police hourly rate from $45 to $70 starting in February. “A lot of officers are not wanting to work off duty because of pay,” said police chief Brian Chavis. “I called around to surrounding agencies. The Moore County Sheriff’s Office non-holiday rate is $50 an hour, their holiday rate is $70 an hour. Southern Pines Police Department is $55 for non-holidays and they’re in the process of increasing that. Pinehurst Police Department off-duty ranged from $45 to $60 an…

Jan

31

2024

By North State Journal Staff

MCS bans four books, restricts several more in contentious hearing

Newsbook ban, Moore County Schools

CARTHAGE – The Moore County Schools Board of Education considered recommendations from the District Media and Technology Advisory Committees reviews in regards to nine books that were challenged, at the Jan. 16 board meeting. The challenged books were: The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson Looking for Alaska by John Green Crank by Ellen Hopkins City of Heavenly Fire: The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare The board agreed with committee recommendations on three books, which will…

Jan

31

2024

By Matt Mercer

First lady Jill Biden visits Forsyth Tech, unveils $30m investment

Newsfirst lady, jill biden

WINSTON-SALEM — First lady Jill Biden made a pair of stops in North Carolina on Friday, Jan. 26, speaking at Forsyth Tech in the morning and then appearing at a fundraising event in Raleigh that afternoon. The visit came just eight days after President Joe Biden made his own visit to the state, and the third in the past four weeks for the administration after Vice President Kamala Harris spoke in Charlotte. At the campus of Forsyth Tech, Biden was joined by Gov. Roy Cooper and Winston-Salem mayor Allen Joines to celebrate $30 million in grants provided to two entities…

Jan

24

2024

By A.P. Dillon

Moore County Schools ‘potential school shooting’ threat deemed not credible

NewsMoore County Schools

RALEIGH — On Jan. 18, Moore County Public Schools (MCPS) announced the district had received a threat to its schools which later was deemed to not be “credible” or “actionable.” “On Tuesday, at approximately 11:40 a.m., we received a notification from the Southern Pines Police Department regarding an anonymous threat call made to a local business, pertaining to a potential school shooting,” a MCPS update on the incident stated. “However, the call did not provide specific information about any particular time or school in Moore County.” The update said MCPS continued its typical operations but had initiated precautionary measures such…