NCSSM Announces Corning Donation 

The North Carolina School of Science & Math-Morganton, announced on

Thursday, a $100,000 donation from Corning, to support information

technology at the school, which is under construction. In addition to the

IT infrastructure, Corning will provide technical training and on-site

engineering support for faculty and staff along with internship opportunities

and leadership training for students. Corning employs more than 4,500

in North Carolina. NCSSM-Morganton is slated to open in 2022 to its first

class of residential students.

WNC Main Street Designations  

Numerous Western North Carolina Communities have been designated as

a 2021 Accredited Main Street America program. This accreditation is Main

Street America’s top tier recognition. Among the WNC communities earning

accreditation for their 2020 performance, Boone-Hendersonville-Hickory-Lenoir

Marion-Morganton-Newton-Rutherfordton-Shelby and Spruce Pine.

Prison Sentence for Hickory Man  

A convicted felon was sentenced last week in federal court on drug

and gun charges. 26-year-old Wilburn Jonathan Wilson was given

a sentence of 132 months in prison and 5 years of supervised release.

According to court records, law enforcement learned that Wilson was

selling firearms illegally in and around Catawba County and possessed

and distributed meth in the Hickory area, along with other charges. The SBI,

Catawba County Sheriff’s Office, Hickory Police Department and Long View

Police Departments assisted federal and other agencies in the case.

SOE Extended

Governor Cooper Friday afternoon extended the state’s COVID-19 state of emergency until at least the end of July.

Cooper notes tremendous improvements with fewer cases, hospitalizations, deaths, and safety restrictions; but further states he is focused on getting residents vaccinated, boosting the state’s economy and protecting unvaccinated people from the virus.

The governor says Friday’s executive order extending the state of emergency is essential for those efforts.

The governor’s office says under the state of emergency, NC has easier access to federal funding, and schools can follow uniform safety measures.

Reports say the state of emergency also allows flexibility within the state’s department of health and human services to authorize additional staff to administer vaccines and COVID-19 testing.

A news release says the governor and state health officials continue to monitor state trends and review actions of other states with plans to continue lifting restrictions as more people are vaccinated.