Star Elementary Running Club will sponsor 5K ♥

Published in the Courier-Tribune on September 16, 2011

by Hugh Martin

STAR — December 10 is shaping up to be a very busy day in the Town of Star. In addition to the annual Star Christmas Parade and U.S. Post Office Holiday Cancellation Open House, the town will be the site of a new Boy Scout Derby Race on Center Street.

At the Sept. 12 regular meeting of the town board, Star Elementary School Principal Vance Thomas requested permission from commissioners to hold a 5K race and youth walk on the same day. Several years ago, teacher Liz Hunneycutt organized a student running club, which regularly travels to 5K events in other areas.

“With the success of the Peachy Feet 5K in Candor a group has decided that they would like to try to organize one in Star,” Thomas said.

Thomas said the group was not seeking funding from the town but did want the support and credibility that the town could offer.

“In the event that the race turns a profit we would like to donate the proceeds to the town’s Parks and Recreation Department,” Thomas said.

Board members agreed to support the effort and Thomas will return to a future meeting with a flier and map of the route.

In other business, Commissioners Richard Hinson, George Kivett, Jennifer Fountain and Alice Clemens:

Were advised that the town’s new website was online at www.starnc.gov.
Discussed the need to prune shrubs around the “Welcome to Star” sign on South Main Street and to contact NCDOT about overgrown foliage on Clayola Drive.
Learned that pavement repairs had been made on some town streets.
Railroad ties had been delivered to the park for a volleyball court and sand will be purchased when funds are available.
Mayor Susan Eggleston reported that the Fly-In scheduled for Oct. 1 at the Montgomery County Airport in Star has been postponed until spring.
Police Chief Tracy Phillips reported that a new patrol car should arrive by the end of September.
The countywide Business Expo and Job Fair will be held at the James Garner Center in Troy on Sept. 29.
Gave the mayor authority to appoint a committee to administer a Community Development Block Grant on behalf of STARworks.
Heard a report from Commissioner Clemens that heat and air conditioning, electricity and carpentry projects are under way at the Pink House Heritage Center.

Star fire department fundraiser serves up more than barbecue ♥

Published in the Courier-Tribune on September 10, 2011

by Hugh MARTIN

STAR — People from the town of Star and surrounding areas always look forward to the annual Star Fire Department Barbecue Supper and Auction.

The wait is over. The event is today from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. at the Star Fire Department, 454 S. Main St. The volunteer firemen will begin dishing up plates of delicious pork barbecue and all the fixings, prepared by the firemen themselves, beginning at 11 a.m.

This third annual fundraiser for the department isn’t just a once-a-year project. It is actually a year-around effort to collect unique items to be offered at the 6:30 p.m. auction sale.

Joe Parsons of Sandhill Auction Service in Jackson Springs gives the firemen a hand by conducting the auction, which this year includes well over 100 items.

The auction items will include a special pre-sale of a STARworks Glass pumpkin, an advance look at the type of work to be sold in October at STARworks, and more than 50 pieces of pottery donated by Seagrove-area potters.

“The local potters are always good to us,” said fire chief Wesley Brown. “We have a wide variety of pottery items that range from everyday use to collectibles.”

Included in the sale will be some items turned and signed by the late Nell Cole Graves, whose work is highly collectible among those who realize the value of her pieces.

Residents have brought in items to auction. Household items, tools, clothing and much more will be sold. A picnic table and a piano will be bid.

Brown ticked off some of the other items to be auctioned, including a bicycle, glider swing, composite outdoor rocker, yard swing, bird bath, George Foreman grill and lawn ornaments.

There will also be a Capel rug, a shirt autographed by NASCAR legend Richard Petty, home décor pieces, firewood, art prints, Christmas decorations, baked goods and plants.

Certificates for oil changes, golf rounds and merchandise or food from area businesses and restaurants will be on the block.

You can also try your luck by purchasing chances to win a Beefeater gas grill, donated by VanDerveer Gas, or a custom-made cedar chest.

Texas Company Will Bring Jobs to Star ♥

Published in the Courier-Tribune on January 20, 2011

by Hugh Martin

STAR — Frontier Logistics, a material handling company based in La Porte, Texas, plans to locate a warehouse and transfer facility in Star.

Judy Stevens, director of the Montgomery County Economic Development Committee, made the announcement to the Star Board of Commissioners at the regular meeting Tuesday.

On Thursday, Gov. Bev Perdue made it official with a formal announcement welcoming the company to Montgomery County.

Stevens said Frontier plans to modify a building formerly used by Renfro Hosiery Mill off North Main Street. The property was most recently utilized as a shipping facility by Citation, Inc.

Frontier would benefit from $128,475 in economic incentives from the One North Carolina Fund. That amount would be matched by Montgomery County in the form of tax relief, not a cash payout.

A condition for qualifying for the economic incentives would be the creation of 55 jobs within five years. After this condition is met, the tax incentive would then go into effect over a five-year period.

“The state incentives are usually three years,” Stevens said, “but we will be allowed to extend it to five.”

The incentives resolution will also require the company to invest $5.15 million during the next five years in Star.

“Aberdeen, Carolina & Western (ACW) Railroad has been instrumental in bringing this company to the county,” Stevens said.

She added that Harold VanDerveer, owner of the building, quickly worked out a favorable lease agreement with Frontier.

ACW Railroad is applying for a Rail Industrial Access Grant to construct a new spur to the plant. The commissioners approved a resolution of support for the rail grant.

Bulk material would be shipped to the company by rail and offloaded into a silo that will be built at the facility. The bulk material will be processed into plastic pellets to be shipped out by truck.

Stevens said that the company contacted her in late November.

“They were looking for a building that has railroad access,” she said. “I knew that this building was available and that it might meet their needs.”

Stevens visited the company in Texas in early December, along with a representative of the railroad and County Commissioner Jim Matheny.

“They’re a good company,” she said. “They provide products to the pharmaceutical industry, so they’ll be using clean materials.”

The latest figures for Montgomery County shows an unemployment rate of 11.7 percent compared to 9.9 percent statewide.

Pamela Alsobrook, with N.C. Employment Security in Troy, said that so far there has been no official word on hiring from the company. Stevens said on Tuesday the company “is raring to go,” but was waiting on the official word which Gov. Perdue gave on Thursday during her announcement.

“In the 21st century global economy, moving goods quickly and efficiently is critical,” Perdue said. “I’ve focused North Carolina on the need for investing in logistics and transportation infrastructure. North Carolina’s strategic location, excellent transportation network and strong business climate continue to help us attract new jobs.”

Perdue said the One NC Fund provides financial assistance, through local governments, to attract business projects that will stimulate economic activity and create new jobs in the state. Companies receive no money upfront and must meet job creation and investment performance standards to qualify for grant funds. The grants also require and are contingent upon local matches.

According to Stevens, the company already has a manager on-site.

On Dec. 31, Frontier Transport, a division of Frontier Logistics, posted a job announcement for multiple positions for truck drivers in Star and Charlotte. The drivers would possibly cover 48 states and Canada. Other positions will be in management, sales and operations. Wages are expected to be in the neighborhood of $45,000 annually.

“Frontier will pay above-average wages for this area,” Stevens said. “That’s good news for this county.”

State Sen. Jerry Tillman, who represents Montgomery and Randolph counties, praised the news.

“This announcement by Frontier Logistics is welcome news for the people of Montgomery County, and I am optimistic that this is the beginning of an economic rebound,” he said.

(Some wire copy from The Associated Press was used in this article.)