UNCSA trustees urge replenishment of fund
Barbara Goodmon called on fellow trustees of UNC School of the Arts Thursday to replenish the $100,000 discretionary fund used by John Mauceri, the school's chancellor.
"The chancellor has no money," she said. "His coffers are empty."
Board members expressed support for Goodmon's request but made no formal commitment.
When Mauceri became chancellor five years ago, the board committed to giving him $100,000 a year to use as he saw fit. The money might go for advertisements, school functions and scholarships, as well as the costs associated with the chancellor's travels and dining with potential donors.
Mauceri said he started out with that amount when he began his tenure at UNCSA. He said it has steadily decreased over the years, because of such factors as reductions in state allocations and drops in the school's endowment.
Before Goodmon made her request, she and other board members stressed the need for board members to give money or ask for it.
"The expectation is that each of us would do our part, not just giving but getting," said John Crumpler, a board member sworn in this morning.
Mauceri said Goodmon's request had already prompted pledges of $17,000.
"I felt a true shift," he said.
Ken Keuffel
Yadkin County trying to cut energy use
Yadkin County's government is trying to save money by becoming more energy-efficient.
Commissioners unanimously adopted a goal last week to reduce the county's energy use by at least 5 percent by Dec. 2012 and by 15 percent by the end of 2015.
The county currently spends about $50,000 a year on electricity for buildings that include the county administration/health department, courthouse, jail and sheriff's office.
County Manager Aaron Church is establishing a sustainability committee to guide the plan and encourage savings.
He said it will initially take steps such as reducing the number of overhead lights, putting lock boxes on thermostats and maintaining indoor temperatures at the same level. Later, the county will consider swapping out light fixtures for ones that are more energy efficient and make other changes.
Monte Mitchell
Boone license-place agency is moving
The state license-plate agency in Watauga County is moving across the street to 331 Queen St., Room 101.
The agency closed at the end of business Friday and will reopen at its new location Tuesday at 8 a.m., according to the N.C. Division of Motor Vehicles. Regular hours are 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Monday-Friday. The phone number will remain the same: 828-268-2315.
While the Boone office is closed, people may use license-plate agencies at 301 Cranberry St., Newland; 1408 Blowing Rock Road, Lenoir; 150 Government Circle, Suite 2200, Jefferson, or other locations. There are about 120 license plate offices in North Carolina.
Monte Mitchell
Voting begins for ASU in Solar Decathlon
Online voting has gone live for North Carolina's sole entry into the Solar Decathlon, a contest in which Appalachian State University students have set up their Solar Homestead in the District of Columbia.
The home is one of 18 houses in the contest to design an energy efficient home.
Judges will make their marks, and the public is invited to vote in the People's Choice category online through Friday at 7 p.m. To vote, go to www.solardecathlon.gov/poll/pca/pca_register.php.
To learn more about ASU's entry, visit www.thesolarhomestead.com.
Monte Mitchell
4-year-old killed in shooting in Charlotte
A 4-year-old southwest Charlotte girl died Saturday after she was accidentally shot, possibly by a cousin as young as 3, relatives said.
Erin Melendez, 37, was charged with storing a gun in a manner accessible to a minor. Police said they don't expect to file any more charges. Melendez's relationship to the victim was not immediately known.
The shooting occurred about 1:15 p.m. in the Highlands apartment complex on Archdale Drive.
Several other children were in the apartment when the shooting occurred, Charlotte-Mecklenburg police said.
When officers arrived, firefighters and paramedics were treating the victim, police said. The girl was taken to Carolinas Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead. Police have not released her name, how many times she was shot or what type of gun was involved.
In the past year, at least four children in the Carolinas have been seriously injured or killed in accidental shootings.
McClatchy-Tribune
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