Regional Briefs: Yadkin bill remains in committee

By: JournalNow Staff | JOURNAL STAFF AND WIRE REPORT
Published: July 29, 2009

RALEIGH -- A water fight between North Carolina and Alcoa Inc. over control of nearly 40 miles of the Yadkin River has been bottled up.

The N.C. House Water Resources and Infrastructure Committee voted down a bid yesterday to advance the bill to other committees.

The bill, which remains in the committee, would create a state corporation that could acquire and control four hydroelectric dams that Alcoa, the largest U.S. aluminum producer, has operated for more than 50 years.

Gov. Bev Perdue's administration is fighting Alcoa's effort to secure a new federal license to operate the dams for up to 50 years.

The company had North Carolina's backing in 1958 when it won a federal license to operate the dams, which powered an aluminum smelter that employed nearly 1,000 people.

The company closed the plant in 2002, and state officials say they see no reason why Alcoa should keep the $44 million a year in electricity sales that the dams generate.

Red Cross to pay victims' motel costs

The Northwest North Carolina chapter of the American Red Cross said yesterday that it will start paying the motel costs for people displaced by the fire at the Alder's Point apartments.

The fire on July 14 displaced 97 residents and caused about $2 million worth of damage. Many of the residents have been told that they will need to find housing for up to eight months until the complex is repaired.

The Union Baptist Church Fire-Friend Fund had paid for motel stays for some residents since July 15, but the fund has been exhausted.

The Red Cross will pay for motels until all residents are placed in permanent housing, which is expected to take a few more days, according to the Red Cross. Case managers from the Red Cross and other local agencies have been working with residents to find them apartments.

The Red Cross estimates that providing services to Alder's Point residents will cost more than $34,000.

Teachers take biotech workshop

Three teachers in the Triad are participating in a statewide effort to blend biotechnology and agricultural education in their classroom.

Karen Ferrell and John Williams, both at Davie High School, and Lynn Knight at Rockingham County High School are among the 20 participants in the session.

The workshop is being held this week at N.C. State University. It is being directed by Beth Wilson, an associate professor in the university's Department of Agricultural and Extension Education.

Besides the session, the N.C. Biotechnology Center also gives the teachers free lab supplies and allows them to borrow lab equipment and educational videos upon completion of a workshop.

Wrong-way driver caught on I-85

BELMONT -- Authorities say that a man drove 16 miles in the wrong direction on Interstate 85, avoiding N.C. Highway Patrol troopers and their stop sticks before his car was pushed into a median near Belmont.

Daryl E. Ghent, 38, of Matthews was charged with driving while impaired, reckless driving and eluding arrest. Troopers say that he was driving 80 mph.

Motorists reported a man driving southbound in the northbound lane of I-85 about 2 a.m. in northeast Charlotte. Troopers tried to stop him and put stop sticks on the road, but they say he drove around them.

Raleigh nursing home fined $210,000

RALEIGH -- North Carolina and federal regulators has imposed a fine of more than $210,000 after they determined that a Raleigh nursing home placed residents at immediate risk of harm this spring.

Sunnybrook Healthcare and Rehabilitation was fined after Doris Weaver of Raleigh complained about a bruise on the face of her 88-year-old mother. A state report says Weaver's complaint that Della Jarrett had been abused could not be substantiated but investigators didn't rule out that abuse might have happened.

Surveyors found violations in six other areas, including the failure to identify and report the source of Jarrett's bruising.

Use Facebook, food companies urged

RALEIGH -- The N.C. Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services is pushing small food companies to use Facebook to develop new markets.

The agency held a seminar yesterday for small food companies looking for new ways to promote and expand their businesses. Farmers and entrepreneurs got a course on how such new media tools as Twitter, Facebook and Google alerts can help foodies find a company's products.