MARBLE
School board meets change
The Cherokee County Board of Education changed its regular meeting day from the third Thursday of the month to the first.
The board made the change at the Jan. 16 meeting in response to an early decision by the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners to hold just one business meeting per month, on the third Monday.
An earlier meeting date for the board of education allows it to forward budget spending requests to commissioners that month rather than a month later had the board kept to its previous meeting schedule, Superintendent Keevin Woody said.
The change required an amendment to the board’s policy, with the board waiving a second reading in order to implement the plan immediately. The next board of education meeting will be at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 6, at Central Office.
MARBLE
School board picks officers
Shannon Raper was selected to remain chair of the Cherokee County Board of Education for 2025, but Arnold Mathews will replace Steve Coleman as vice chair.
The board made the decisions at its Dec. 12 meeting.
School board member Jason Murphy nominated Mathews to be board chair, with member James Ellis nominating Raper. Raper won with a vote of 4-3, voting for herself along with votes from Coleman, Ellis and member Jeannie Gaddis. Mathews, Jeff Tatham and Murphy voted for Mathews.
Mathews, who was re-elected to the board when he defeated unaffiliated candidate Paul Wilson in November, was elected vice chair on a 5-2 vote, with Coleman receiving two votes – his own and a vote from Raper. He was nominated by Ellis, who joined Mathews, Gaddis, Tatham and Murphy in voting for Mathews.
MURPHY
Students get financial start
Civic Federal Credit Union and the Mayor’s Rising Stars program are teaming up to offer a free financial literacy workshop for local students and their families.
The workshop, titled “Saving Money & Budgeting: Creating a Spending Plan” will be held from 3:30-4:30 p.m. Monday at Civic Federal Credit Union, 57 Valley River Ave.
This workshop is an opportunity for students of all ages to learn the basics of saving money, creating a budget and making smart financial decisions. These are valuable life skills that can benefit young people for years to come.
“Financial literacy is an important part of life, and we’re proud to partner with Civic Federal Credit Union,” Murphy Mayor Tim Radford said in a release. “We believe that by teaching young people about money management, we can help them set themselves up for financial success in the future.”
Space is limited, so parents are encouraged to RSVP as soon as possible for their students by emailing Ona Elkins at oelkins@townofmurphync.com. This workshop is a great way for students to:
- Learn the basics of saving money.
- Create a budget.
- Make smart financial decisions.
- Get a head start on financial literacy.
RALEIGH
Gillespie vice chair
State Rep. Karl Gillespie (R-Franklin) was appointed vice chair of the House Select Committee on Helene Recovery on Friday. The Select Committee, established by the N.C. Speaker of the House, is dedicated to guiding the state’s response to the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene.
Gillespie will focus on ensuring western North Carolina receives resources to rebuild and recover, according to a release.
“Hurricane Helene caused immense and historic damage to our region,” Gillespie said. Through collaboration and steadfast leadership, we will ensure western North Carolina is made whole again and rebuilt stronger than before.”
The bipartisan select committee of 44 members appointed by House Speaker Destin Hall will work with local, state, and federal agencies to address critical recovery needs, rebuild infrastructure and strengthen disaster preparedness. The committee’s efforts will continue through May 1 or by dissolution of the speaker.
CHEROKEE COUNTY
Residents can go on to work
Residents of 39 counties may apply to participate in the temporary jobs program that puts North Carolinians to work on recovery efforts in areas affected by Hurricane Helene, N.C. Department of Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley announced last week. This is an expansion from the 25-county area announced in October.
“Hurricane Helene wreaked havoc on communities and devastated people’s livelihoods,” Gov. Josh Stein said in a release. “Unemployment in the west has spiked. This program will get folks back to work while helping their neighbors recover and rebuild.”
The program is funded by part of a $10 million Disaster Recovery Dislocated Worker Grant, which the U.S. Department of Labor awarded to support North Carolina in the wake of Helene. The N.C. Department of Commerce’s Division of Workforce Solutions requested the funds.
The eligible counties covered by this grant include Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Cabarrus, Caldwell, Catawba, Cherokee, Clay, Cleveland, Forsyth, Gaston, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Iredell, Jackson, Lee, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mecklenburg, Mitchell, Nash, Polk, Rowan, Rutherford, Stanly, Surry, Swain, Transylvania, Union, Watauga, Wilkes, Yadkin and Yancey counties.
Details: Visit ncworks.gov.
NORTH CAROLINA
Rebates on home energy
North Carolina last week launched both federal Home Energy Rebate programs – the Home Efficiency Rebates and Home Electrification & Appliance Rebates. North Carolinians can use these programs to drastically reduce the cost of energy-saving home upgrades.
Initially, North Carolina’s rebate programs will focus on single-family, owner-occupied housing, particularly those in disadvantaged regions and in areas affected by hurricane damage.
North Carolina’s launch is part of a nationwide initiative to provide $8.8 billion in federal funding for states, territories and tribes to offer rebates to reduce residential energy costs. The rebates make it more affordable for households to install cost-saving measures such as heat pumps, electrical panels and insulation.
The upgrades made possible by the rebates will save American households up to $1 billion annually in energy costs. In addition, the rebates will support an estimated 50,000 U.S. jobs in residential construction, manufacturing and other sectors.
Details: Visit North Carolina’s Home Energy Rebates page and energy.gov/save.
CHEROKEE COUNTY
Public meetings
THIS WEEK
- Andrews Board of Aldermen meets at 6 p.m. Thursday in the Facilities Building, 85 Fourth St.
Compiled by Publisher David Brown and Editor Randy Foster.