Edgecombe County tire plant proposal officially deflated

EDGECOMBE COUNTY, N.C. (WITN) – Triangle Tyre has officially withdrawn from a project to build a tire plant in Edgecombe County.

Triangle Tyre, which is the 14th largest tire manufacturer in the world, announced in late 2017 that its first tire plant outside of China would be placed in Edgecombe County at the Kingsboro Business Park. The project was expected to be a $580 million investment and add up to 800 jobs.

However, in March, the company announced it was withdrawing from the project due to a number of issues that caused its leadership to decide to discontinue the project in order to focus on its business needs in China.

Triangle officially gave the 400-acre site back to Edgecombe County last Friday. (Read more)

Biggest investment in rural NC history held up due to conflict with China

The DCN News Blog Online TV: I travel through Kingsboro everyday going to work.

A Chinese company’s planned tire factory in Edgecombe County that was called the biggest investment in the history of rural North Carolina is being held up due to international politics.

Economic developers in the area say they’re concerned the delayed project is holding them back from pursuing other deals.

Offering 400 acres of wide-open land ready for construction, developers say the Kingsboro megasite east of Rocky Mount is one of the best locations for business in the state.

To prove it: A major international company picked the land for its US headquarters more than three years ago.

So why is there still nothing built there? (Read more)

Edgecombe County Citizens’ Academy

The DCN Online TV – I would love to attend but I have pledged to help some folk on every 2nd Tuesday evening. My word is my bond.

Applications are open for the 2022 Edgecombe County Citizens Academy – SIGN UP TODAY!

To learn more, visit: sites.google.com/view/EdgecombeVoice/Citizens-Academy

COVID-19 What More Is It Going To Take To Make Some Changes For The Best?

I don’t understand with the rising cases of COVID-19 why Edgecombe County has not made some drastic changes. Edgecombe County has had almost 1300 new COVID cases and 1 additional death since 12/21/2021.

It is time for the county to re-examine how we move forward. I am hearing about cases from the workplaces to schools and etc.

Tired Of White Folk And Black Folk In Edgecombe And Nash County What Are You Doing?

Tired of White and Black Folk. What are you doing to help make Edgecombe County and Nash County a better place to live, work and play? Curmilus Butch Dancy II I’ll wait! 10/1/2021

Edgecombe lifts mask mandate in public buildings

The Political Agitator’s response: I understand Viola and Evelyn’s concerns however opening the buildings is keeping in line with what is going on across the state. But I disagree with it, it is the going back to norm based on CDC and DHHS. It is what it is.

The Edgecombe County Board of Commissioners moved quickly through a relatively light agenda, meeting on Tuesday after taking the July 4 holiday on its usual first Monday meeting day.

In fact, there was no discussion on any item requiring a vote by commissioners during the meeting.

The only discussion came when County Manager Eric Evans informed commissioners that based on a relaxing of mask mandates by Gov. Roy Cooper, the county would open its buildings and ask only people who have not been vaccinated to wear masks.

People who have been vaccinated, Evans said, would be free to come and go without a mask.

Almost immediately, Commissioner Viola Harris objected and asked, “How will we know who’s been vaccinated?”

Evans said that with consistently declining COVID cases in the county, people had to be trusted. (Read more)

Robin Williams Braswell Retired Register Of Deeds Support Pay Increase

Robin Williams Braswell is with Cleveland Clee Atkinson and Curmilus Butch Dancy II.

Curmilus Butch Dancy II thank you!! I was so behind the 8 ball when I took office, I truly didn’t take the office as far as I wanted or tried to buy my hands were tied. Thank you for your support and kind words throughout my tenure.

Robin Williams Braswell you automated the office and brought it up to the 21st Century and you were never compensated. Thank you for your services.

Look at what the salaries of some of the folk at the county and that is above the others so they either can’t relate, in denial and/or don’t give a damn.

The Commissioners they all are living comfortable and some are truly blessed. But they too either can’t relate, in denial and/or don’t give a damn.

A majority Democratic Party board and 4 Blacks and look at how they vote on budget just for the Sheriff Office alone.

I’ll wait!

Robin Williams Braswell I haven’t seen or followed an Edgecombe County Commissioners Meeting in a while as I retired a year and a half ago. Some may not like this post because I consider many “friends”, although I haven’t spoken to a lot of them in the time that I’ve been retired. If you are a resident in this county I hope that you take the time to forward up to 20 minutes and 30 seconds of this video. Let’s preface what I’m about to say with the fact that the very thing that the Sheriff is standing before the Commissioner’s about is the very reason that I retired at 53 years of age. Salary! Not only the salary that I was paid, but the salary that my employees were paid and most positions within our governmental agency. I’m not saying all positions aren’t up to par, but just take a look at our county’s salaries along with surrounding but more importantly comparable counties in population. Here we are a year and a half after I retired, in the midst of a pandemic, and a term plus in and our Edgecombe County Sheriff is standing before them just as he has many times before at 20 minutes and 30 seconds in the video of WHIG. The only regret I have is that I didn’t stand beside him. I stood up for the ROD staff as well as other county employees in Department Head Meetings etc., I witnessed Department Head’s become emotional as they spoke of their employees seeking benefits as well as having to work additional jobs to make ends meet, but I didn’t stand with him at Commissioner’s Meetings. Although the Register of Deeds office has an automated fund account that by statute is to be used separately from the general fund balance and is to be used solely for that purpose, no matter how many times I requested the information, I was never privy to it. The Sheriff’s Office for as long as I can remember raked in money for housing federal inmates. Take a listen to the amount they bring in as opposed to the amount the Office of the Sheriff is allocated. Also, take a look at the salaries of certain department heads and those in power rake in as opposed to others, as well as most county employees which is public information on the Institute of Government at Chapel Hill’s website. We are and will continue to be just a training ground, countless positions big and small will seek employment elsewhere because sadly, we give them no choice.

YOUTUBE.COM

Edgecombe Commissioners Meeting 6/7/202

For Me Edgecombe County Could Be A Wilmington & Tulsa On A Small Scale But Not So Small

I often wonder what if Edgecombe County was still the makeup it used to be before it was split or if it was split differently? Taxes in Edgecombe County are higher. Now look at the fight with the school system.

The Historical Origins of the 1871 Nash-Edgecombe County Line – Digital Rocky Mount Mills 

Rocky Mount, Edgecombe officials chide Nash board over schools split – Rocky Mount Telegram

Just my ignant opinion!

Conversation Starter – Edgecombe County Unemployment Rate Is 7.5%

I am sharing the following from Commissioner Viola Harris Facebook page, “Edgecombe County unemployment rate is 7.5%. I see job postings all over the county with incentives. I’m puzzled.”

Gwendolyn B. Betrand

I never like to generalize about people and their circumstances. My hope is that all are able to take care of their families. There are some people who game the system, but all in all people are just trying to survive.( in my humble opinion.)

Abbie Lane

All those blaming unemployment sure arent looking at the actual data…No matter if it was $600, $300 or $0 unemployment has fallen at the same rate disproving that theory…The reality is people spent the last year bettering themselves, finding new jobs, gojng back to school to finish their degrees, realizing you can make more working from home, starting small businesses, etc…

Most of the jobs you see open dont pay a wage needed by those still unemployed who were making much more pre shutdown and those jobs dont pay their bills. The state average for unemployment is $218, locally its $150 before the $300 federal…All of this while the average income is over $1000…

The majority who did work many of those jobs you see open are female and largely dont have child care to allow them to go back yet…

Add to that those coming of working age who would typically fill the void of those moving to better careers have different views and opportunities than previous generations that had to rely on those min wage jobs…Today you can work from home, start an online buisness, get oaid to stream, and so many other opportunities that pay far better with more flexibility and less stress…

That doesnt take into account that we are just opening back fully and some businesses have yet to come back…Many on unemployment are small business owners AND their employees…If we compare the pandemic unemployment rates to the ’09-10 crisis we saw a much faster bounce back now than then…IF enhanced unemployment was the reason we are seeing so many help wanted signs we would have seen a slower recovery than then since then there was no enhanced unemployment…We are seeimg the exact opposite…

Keep in mind we haven’t even touched on that last numbers showed 8 million job openings and 16 million unemployed, or that the need for more employees is because the cirrent unemployment puts $1.63 sent into local economies for every $1.00 spent so when thay goes so will demand and those indivuduals will again be without jobs as the business again downsizes when demand is no longer high…It doesnt take into account many of the help wanted signs when people people are applying are being offered 10-15hrs a week but demanding an open availability…It doesnt account for those being told they are over qualified and those who are being yold to come back when they get 6 months experience, amd so many factors you dont see from looking simply at help wanted signs…

Please visit Viola Harris page.

Pace of new virus cases slows but remains steady

While the increase in positive cases is not what it once was, there remains a steady increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in the Twin Counties.

With increases in both Nash and Edgecombe counties, the total number of cases is closing in on 17,000 — Nash County now reports 11,088 cumulative cases while Edgecombe is reporting 5,529.

Those numbers represent an increase of 58 since Monday in Nash County and 34 in Edgecombe County and bring the total number of cases to 16,617 in the Twin Counties.

The number of deaths remains the same in each county — 183 in Nash and 113 in Edgecombe. (Rocky Mount Telegram)

Virus cases, deaths still rising in area – Rocky Mount Telegram

Local health officials are urging residents to take advantage of the opportunities to get either the Moderna, Pfizer or Johnson & Johnson vaccines, since that vaccine has now been “unpaused” by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Though fewer people are seeking the COVID vaccine, local cases of COVID are still on the rise and two more Nash County deaths were reported Monday.

Nash County Health Director Bill Hill said Monday that 114 new cases of COVID-19 have been reported since Thursday in Nash County.

Another 63 new cases of COVID-19 were reported since Thursday in Edgecombe County, bringing the cumulative confirmed positive cases in the county to 5,418.

As of last week, 113 Edgecombe County residents were reported to have succumbed to COVID-19. (Read More)

Activist groups mark county line relocation

Members of the Phoenix Historical Society, the Rocky Mount Racial Justice Group, the Rocky Mount Black Action Committee and the Black Workers for Justice met on April 7 by the Rocky Mount Mills historical marker.

They gathered to bring attention to the moving of the Nash-Edgecombe county line from this location on Falls Road to the railroad tracks on March 29, 1871. The 1871 white-controlled General Assembly moved the county line to the railroad tracks over the objections of the citizens and county commissioners of Edgecombe, a black-majority county.

This transfer of land and people from Edgecombe to Nash undermined the voting rights and economic power that freed African Americans in Edgecombe County had gained through Reconstruction from 1868-70, according to the black state legislators of 1871. (Rocky Mount Telegram)

Virus cases continue to surge across Twin Counties

The Political Agitator’s response: I have heard so many stories about how some folk believe that the Edgecombe County Health Department is discouraging folk from being tested when they have been notified they have been in contact with a person whom have tested positive. So I question the real motive of the ECHD? Edgecombe County is a majority Black and it is a damn shame that the Black Leadership is allowing some things to take place here. But time will tell. I’ll wait!

More than 12,500 Twin Counties residents have tested positive so far for COVID-19 as more than 500 new cases have been added to the tally since Monday.

Another 405 cases were added to the Nash County total, Nash County Heath Director Bill Hill Jr. said Wednesday at a meeting of the Nash County COVID Response Team. The current cumulative total number of COVID cases in Nash County is 8,416.

“About half of that number are past cases that just made their way into the reporting,” Hill said during the meeting.

Hill said most of the cases that were delayed in reporting appear to have come from private doctors’ offices.

“We still had just under 200 cases of COVID from patients whose results have come in since Monday,” Hill said.

Hospitalizations at Nash UNC Health Care dropped below 40 for the first time in several weeks, but the news is not all good, Hill said.

“As of now, we have 38 COVID patients at the hospital, but nine of those patients are in critical care and eight of that nine are now on ventilators,” Hill said. “So while we have fewer inpatients, more of them are in critical condition and on ventilators.”

One patient, a man in his 50s, died this week of COVID-19 at Nash UNC Health Care, Hill said. This additional death means that 143 Nash County residents have so far succumbed to COVID-19.

The state Department of Health and Human Services reported two more deaths among Edgecombe County residents, bringing the total number of COVID-related deaths in that county to 92.

Roughly 114 new cases of COVID-19 have been reported since Monday in Edgecombe County, bringing the total cumulative number of cases in that area to 4,124.

According to the state DHHS website, more than  . . . (Read more)

COVID-19 North Carolina Dashboard

The Political Agitator’s response: Since Edgecombe County Health Department is not sharing the COVID information, you need to go to this site to get information that is provided here. It is a damn shame that ECHD is not providing information to the citizens of Edgecombe County.

Knowing when to dial up or down measures that slow the spread of the virus depends on North Carolina’s testing, tracing and trends. This dashboard provides an overview on the metrics and capacities that the state is following.

See all the information by clicking here.

See related:

Community Prayer/COVID-19 Update

Virus cases keep climbing in Twin Counties

The Political Agitator’s response: Did you know Edgecombe County Health Department has stopped reporting COVID data? I just don’t understand why information about COVID is being kept from the citizens. I have heard that ECHD has said that the county attorney said they don’t have to do certain things when it comes to the information. Now I understand that personal information is not allowed to be shared because of the HIPPA LAW. The lawyer is to advise and not to run the Health Department.

The cumulative number of COVID-19 cases in the Twin Counties has exceeded the 11,000 mark as the state Department of Health and Human Services just released a new county alert map Thursday that puts both Nash and Edgecombe counties in the critical COVID impact category.

The state’s county alert map assigns a color to each county based on its COVID metrics over the previous 14 days. According to the state DHHS website, the color of the state mostly is red now as almost all counties are in the red tier, which indicates critical impact.

There now are 86 red counties in the state, more than ever before. Another 13 counties are listed as orange counties, indicating substantial COVID impact. Only one county, Greene County, is listed in the yellow tier.

By comparison, the previous county alert from Jan. 6 showed 84 red counties, 12 orange counties and four yellow counties.

Edgecombe County is one of the counties that has turned red over the past two weeks. It has now moved back into the red tier as the 14-day positivity rate now is 10.5 percent. The COVID impact on hospitalizations in that county still is considered low. On the past two alerts, Edgecombe County was in the orange tier.

According to data from the state DHHS, the number of COVID cases in Edgecombe County has grown by 58 since Wednesday and as of Friday was at 3,825 cumulative cases of the coronavirus. The number of COVID-related Edgecombe County deaths stands at 88, though the county reported that total at 89 roughly two weeks ago before it stopped reporting COVID data.

Nash County remains in the red tier as it has been during the past two county alerts. The 14-day positivity rate in Nash County is listed as 12.2 percent. The COVID impact on hospitalizations in that county is considered moderate, according to that report.

Nash County Health Director Bill Hill Jr. said that COVID-related hospitalizations at Nash UNC Health Care had risen to the mid-50s over the past couple of weeks but have declined to the mid-40s since . . . (Read more)

See related:

Community Prayer/COVID-19 Update