RALEIGH -- State senators postponed a vote yesterday on a bill that would ban the commercial production of wind energy in the mountains of North Carolina.
The bill would allow small windmills used primarily to generate electricity for a private home. But it would ban larger windmills and all commercial wind farms.
Most senators who represent mountain counties support the bill, arguing that the construction of large wind turbines on mountain ridges would ruin the natural beauty of the mountains.
But Sen. Steve Goss, D-Watauga, went against other Western legislators and proposed an amendment that would allow local governments to decide for themselves if they want to allow large windmills.
After some debate on the Senate floor, Democrats sent the bill back to a legislative committee without taking a vote.
Advocates for renewable energy oppose a ban on large-scale wind farms in the mountains. They say that wind energy is a key area to help solve the nation's energy crisis.
Thomasville to get Laser Print Plus
THOMASVILLE -- Officials with the Davidson County Economic Development Commission said yesterday that Laser Print Plus, based in Columbia, S.C., will expand its operations into Thomasville.
The company will invest $2.5 million and provide more than 20 jobs for Davidson County, the commission said.
The Thomasville City Council along with the Davidson County Commissioners provided $68,500 in incentives for the project.
Laser Print Plus is a laser printing-service company. Its services include printing and mailing daily, weekly and monthly reports, statements, direct-mail campaigns, technical manuals, and searchable PDF and CD-ROM archives.
"It's crucial the company has a second facility for disaster-recovery protection," said Tim Delaney, the president of Laser Print Plus. "Now we have hard backup in case anything happens to the business' computers or servers in South Carolina."
The company has a customer base in Burlington, Lexington and Winston-Salem.
H1N1 virus seen at Camp Broadstone
BOONE -- Seven campers attending Camp Broadstone, an outdoor education center run by Appalachian State University, had the H1N1 virus, commonly called "swine flu," university officials announced today.
Ten campers and a counselor reported flulike symptoms last week, and the university's student health service sent samples to the state lab in Raleigh on Friday. The university was told yesterday that seven of the samples tested positive.
The campers had all been sent home and their parents notified, said Lynn Drury, an associate vice chancellor. There are no remaining campers who have flulike symptoms at the camp.
Drury said that all students attending camps at either Camp Broadstone or at ASU will be interviewed when they arrive and will be monitored throughout their stay for any symptoms.
Before these latest cases, there had been 395 confirmed cases of the H1N1 virus in North Carolina, according to the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services.
Plunkett to run for Rural Hall council
Rick Plunkett, the former fire administrator for Forsyth County, filed yesterday to run for the Rural Hall Town Council, which has two seats with four-year terms available during this fall's municipal elections.
Plunkett retired from his job at the county on June 26.
Three candidates have filed for the town council in Rural Hall, including Plunkett and incumbents Herman Denny and Dewhitt Neely.
Ex-officer convicted of sex charges
ASHEVILLE -- A federal attorney says that a former police officer in Western North Carolina has been convicted of transporting a 15-year-old girl across state lines to have sex with her.
Acting U.S. Attorney Edward R. Ryan Michael said that Bruce Darcy, 45, a former Beech Mountain police officer and school resource officer from Boone, was found guilty on two counts in U.S. District Court in Asheville.
Darcy has been in custody since his indictment in February. According to the indictment, he was accused of knowingly driving the minor from North Carolina to South Carolina with the intent of having sex with her.
Darcy will remain in custody until sentencing. He faces a minimum sentence of 10 years in jail and a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
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