History of the Harvest on Display During 4th Celebration

Raleigh’s Independence Day celebrations have moved from the state fair grounds to downtown. On this 4th of July, NC Museum of History’s Director, Ken Howard is encouraging folks to stop by the museum to see the History of the Harvest exhibit:

“We have a lot of great things happening over the holiday. This outside exhibit as well as many indoor exhibits. We are open all week. We hope that many people will come down and learn a little bit about North Carolina’s history.”
 

USDA’s Broadband Initiative Making a Difference
 

On a recent visit to North Carolina, USDA Rural Development Utilities Administrator Jonathan Adelstein visited Atlantic Telephone Membership Corporation (ATMC) in Brunswick County, North Carolina.
 

ATMC is a nonprofit cooperative that not only offers telephone service, but also a wide variety of additional services, including: high speed internet, cable TV, wireless, business communications, and security. USDA and ATMC have partnered in several ventures, but this visit highlighted high-speed broadband service that is having a positive impact in rural southeastern North Carolina.

During the Administrator’s visit to ATMC, he heard personal testimonies from local business owners and teachers on the positive impact that the new broadband service is having both in their business and personal quality of life.
 

Oil Prices See Summer Spike
 

Oil prices spiked on Tuesday, up more than four percent. In addition to concerns about Iran and its threat to block the key shipping channel Strait of Hormuz, analyst Tom Kloza, with the Oil Price Information Service, says oil prices traditionally rise this time of year:

“Oil prices are incredibly tidal. There is always high tide at the end of the winter or near april and its followed by a low tide at the end of June. “

International markets will have a day to think about it…US markets are closed today in observance of the Independence Day holiday.

NC Century Farm Family Reunion this Year
 

Eligible N.C. farmers interested in joining the Century Farm Family program are encouraged to apply for membership soon if they want to be included in the printed 2012 Century Farm Directory. The deadline for inclusion is Aug. 1.
 

All members of the program will be invited to the Century Farm Family reunion at the N.C. State Fair on Wednesday, Oct. 17. The event will begin at 11 a.m. in Dorton Arena. Attendees will receive a copy of the 2012 directory.
 

The reunion, held every four years, honors the heritage of farms that have been owned continuously by the same family for at least 100 years. There are more than 1,600 Century Farms in North Carolina. All counties except Dare and Swain have a Century Farm.
 

Turtle Eggs Rescued
 

More than 100 loggerhead turtle eggs have been moved to the Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge after the mother picked the wrong place for her nest. Media outlets report that the turtle laid 115 eggs under the sand at Virginia Beach's busy Oceanfront.
Refuge biologists say the beach isn't a safe place for the eggs. Early this week the eggs were moved to the refuge after a volunteer saw the loggerhead turtle lay them and then return to the ocean.