Published in the Courier-Tribune on April 26, 2011
by Hugh Martin
STAR — Star STEP committee co-chair Marilyn Phillips is excited about the future of her community.
“I am encouraged with the interest and participation we have had at the STEP meetings,” Phillips said. “It is becoming clear that the little town of Star can be a center of innovation and creativity while continuing to offer a unique small town quality of life.”
Star is the third town in Montgomery County to be accepted into the Small Towns Economic Prosperity Program, which is administered through the N.C. Rural Center. The towns of Candor and Mt. Gilead are also in the planning processes.
Phillips and co-chair Donna Strong have been working with other town citizens to plan for the next phase.
“We are now a little more than halfway through the STEP planning process. The planning stage takes a year,” Phillips said.
Accomplishments that the committee has completed include:
• Defined Star STEP leadership and its mission.
• Involved the public through a kick-off event.
• Developed a PowerPoint community profile.
• Discussed the economy and demographics of the town and county.
• Identified community assets and limiting factors for economic development.
• Developed a vision of Star 10-20 years in the future.
• Identified strategies for economic development.
The Star team is coached by the N.C. Rural Center’s Art Jackson, who has led the group through the process of developing their mission, which is “to preserve the heritage of our town as well as encourage, support and provide revitalization opportunities to new and existing businesses so the community will prosper.”
Phillips said that the ultimate goal of STEP is to support the town of Star in economic recovery and revitalization. The next two months will be vital for the planners.
In this time they hope to:
• Respond to strategies and propose projects.
• Review proposed projects and prioritize a list for implementation.
• Develop the implementation plan.
• Present a proposed economic development plan to the town board.
• Submit a plan to NCSTEP management at The Rural Center
If the team’s plan is accepted by the Rural Center, the town will receive a grant of $10,000 to implement the plan.
The grant would support the goals of the team, which are to:
• Support and assist existing local commercial businesses, agriculture, industries and new businesses.
• Market and develop Star as an innovation hub and entrepreneurial community.
• Develop quality of life facilities and amenities that will attract regional workers and retirees to Star.
• Strengthen tourism.
• Develop a coordinated branding, promotion, and communications program.
“In preparing our vision statement for the year 2020, I couldn’t help but think that with each successive meeting our vision has become more 20/20,” Phillips said. “As projects are selected, it is vital that all business owners make an effort to attend.”
Star Mayor Susan Eggleston has encouraged the town’s Board of Commissioners to be involved with the STEP process.
STEP meetings are held the third Monday of each month from 6-8 p.m. at the Star Municipal Building, 222 S. Main St. All citizens of Star are encouraged to attend.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Monday, April 25, 2011
MCC cuts six full time positions ♥
Published in the Courier-Tribune on April 24, 2011
by Hugh Martin
TROY — Budget cuts have resulted in the elimination of six full-time positions at Montgomery Community College.
During the April meeting of the Board of Trustees, MCC President Dr. Mary Kirk informed the board that contracts for Bill Maher, history instructor, and Jim Russell-Owen, administrative assistant for health/instructional faculty, will not be renewed. These were the only occupied positions eliminated.
Also being cut are unoccupied full-time positions in Autobody and Child Care and one position in Basic Law Enforcement, which will be filled by a part-time instructor. The board approved the employment of Tracey Wyrick to head the Criminal Justice program
MCC will not offer the Autobody program after August, due to outdated equipment, lack of late model vehicles for use by students, and the difficulty of graduates being able to find employment due to those factors.
Vice President of Instruction Matthew Woodard told board members that $46,000 in the Continuing Education Self-Supporting Class account was available to be used toward renovation of the Autobody Tech area for use for continuing education classes. The self-supporting funds are available for the college to use for program improvements. The board approved the renovations.
A housekeeping position will also be eliminated following the retirement of Carol Williams.
The trustees approved a motion to name the Gunsmithing program laboratory in honor of Brownell Inc. Brownell, a firearms company in Missouri, has contributed $55,000 for the program, along with equipment for use by the gunsmithing students.
Brownell executives have been invited to attend graduation exercises on May 11. Scott Ralls, N.C. Community College system president, will be the graduation speaker.
In other business, board members:
• Approved a policy on a formula for self-supporting classes for informational purposes.
• Accepted a bid of $10,017 from Squires Forestry to harvest timber on a 14-acre tract of college property.
• Approved the student fee schedule for the 2011-2012 school year.
by Hugh Martin
TROY — Budget cuts have resulted in the elimination of six full-time positions at Montgomery Community College.
During the April meeting of the Board of Trustees, MCC President Dr. Mary Kirk informed the board that contracts for Bill Maher, history instructor, and Jim Russell-Owen, administrative assistant for health/instructional faculty, will not be renewed. These were the only occupied positions eliminated.
Also being cut are unoccupied full-time positions in Autobody and Child Care and one position in Basic Law Enforcement, which will be filled by a part-time instructor. The board approved the employment of Tracey Wyrick to head the Criminal Justice program
MCC will not offer the Autobody program after August, due to outdated equipment, lack of late model vehicles for use by students, and the difficulty of graduates being able to find employment due to those factors.
Vice President of Instruction Matthew Woodard told board members that $46,000 in the Continuing Education Self-Supporting Class account was available to be used toward renovation of the Autobody Tech area for use for continuing education classes. The self-supporting funds are available for the college to use for program improvements. The board approved the renovations.
A housekeeping position will also be eliminated following the retirement of Carol Williams.
The trustees approved a motion to name the Gunsmithing program laboratory in honor of Brownell Inc. Brownell, a firearms company in Missouri, has contributed $55,000 for the program, along with equipment for use by the gunsmithing students.
Brownell executives have been invited to attend graduation exercises on May 11. Scott Ralls, N.C. Community College system president, will be the graduation speaker.
In other business, board members:
• Approved a policy on a formula for self-supporting classes for informational purposes.
• Accepted a bid of $10,017 from Squires Forestry to harvest timber on a 14-acre tract of college property.
• Approved the student fee schedule for the 2011-2012 school year.
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