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Today’s Email Announcements

Dine at Chipotle Aug. 3 Between 4-8 p.m. to Support Humane Society

Cause An Effect:

Make dinner a selfless act by joining us for a fundraiser to support Watauga Humane Society. Come in to the Chipotle at 1787 Blowing Rock Road Suite A in Boone on Wednesday, August 31st between 4:00pm and 8:00pm.  Tell the cashier you’re supporting the cause to make sure that 50% of the proceeds will be donated to Watauga Humane Society.

You Are Here Presentation: Apples of Avery County Aug. 24

YOU ARE HERE presentation at the Historic Banner Elk School: The Apples of Avery County

On Wednesday, August 24, at 4:00pm, everyone is invited to attend a free talk about the apple trees planted by early settlers and  efforts to identify and revive these heirloom varieties. The guest presenter will be Mr. Doug Hundley, who recently retired after 25 years with the Avery County Extension office. During his tenure there, Mr. Hundley was instrumental in raising awareness of Avery County’s apple-growing history. He worked extensively with landowners to identify apple varieties found in old orchards, and developed two orchards for the county that will one day provide new stock of heirloom varieties.  Come and meet Mr. Hundley and get a taste of the apples that Avery County’s pioneer families grew and loved.

YOU ARE HERE events spotlight local history, flora, fauna, and culture as explained by a knowledgeable local. They take place monthly in the Book Exchange at the Historic Banner Elk School. To find out what’s coming up next, drop by the Book Exchange to check the calendar, “like” the Town of Banner Elk Facebook page to receive updates, or keep an eye out for information in this newspaper.

Wake Forest Baptists Enters Into Letter of Intent Toward Long-Term Lease of Wilkes Medical

Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center Enters into a Letter of Intent toward a Long-Term Lease Agreement of

Wilkes Regional Medical Center

NORTH WILKESBORO, N.C. – Aug. 3, 2016Last night, the Board of Commissioners of the Town of North Wilkesboro, the Board of WRMC Hospital Operating Corporation, and Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center entered into a non-binding, letter of intent (LOI) toward a long-term lease of Wilkes Regional Medical Center (WRMC).

It’s the second major milestone in the process that is expected to last several months.

Under the terms of its proposal, Wake Forest Baptist will invest $238 million in support of WRMC, the Town of North Wilkesboro, the Wilkes community, and patients in the region it serves during the initial 30-year term of the lease.

The parties signed the LOI during the Town Board meeting. The commencement of the activities outlined in the LOI is important as WRMC, the Town of North Wilkesboro and Wake Forest Baptist continue working toward the partnership between the two organizations.

The Town of North Wilkesboro officials said it was important to take the appropriate time needed to get to Tuesday’s signing.

“We announced our intentions to move forward with Wake Forest Baptist back in April, and the time spent during these more than three months on reaching this agreement reassures us we have the best partner to navigate WRMC through the growing health care needs of the North Wilkesboro community going forward,” said North Wilkesboro Town Commissioner Debbie Ferguson.

As outlined in the LOI, Wake Forest Baptist will transition WRMC and its affiliate, Wilkes Physician Network (WPN), to its electronic medical record system as soon as feasible.

“The transition period we are entering is a key step in the evolution of our partnership with Wake Forest Baptist,” said Eric Cramer, board chairman, WRMC Hospital Operating Corporation. “However, in no way will any of the transition activities disrupt WRMC or WPN operations, patient care or safety of our health system. Carolinas HealthCare System will continue to provide management and operational support under the terms of its agreement until its agreement with WRMC ends, and they have been a great partner for the past nine years in helping us become a very strong hospital positioned for a bright future.”

Over the next several months other due diligence and information technology (IT) transition activities outlined in the LOI will also be undertaken. Wake Forest Baptist will deploy and utilize an appropriate suite of advanced IT tools to support population health efforts in Wilkes County. 

“Wilkes Regional does a tremendous job in serving its community,” said Wake Forest Baptist CEO John D. McConnell, M.D. “We see a great opportunity to grow clinical programs and continue effective recruitment and engagement of physicians that will ensure excellent care for Wilkes County citizens and benefit the Wilkes region.”

The agreement is expected to close by July 1, 2017.

 Carolina Farm Credit Volunteers at Rising Hope Farms

STATESVILLE, NC – The Statesville Administrative Office staff of Carolina Farm Credit recently volunteered their time at Rising Hope Farms in Claremont, NC.  15 Carolina Farm Credit employees spent the morning painting fences at the farm.

Rising Hope Farms is a non-profit therapeutic riding facility that provides a safe and inspirational environment to interact with horses.  The farm uses equestrian activities for the purpose of contributing positively to the cognitive, physical, emotional, and social well-being of those with disabilities.

“Supporting our rural communities has been a part of Farm Credit since the very beginning, and projects like this are just another example of how Carolina Farm Credit gives back to the communities in which we work and live.” Vance Dalton, CEO, Carolina Farm Credit.

This community service project is part of a Carolina Farm Credit initiative implemented by Carolina Farm Credit’s Community Diversity and Inclusion Committee.  Each branch location is being offered the chance to participate in community service projects throughout the year.

Carolina Farm Credit is a stockholder-owned cooperative providing financing to full and part-time farmers and agricultural-related businesses and also provides financing for the construction and purchase of homes in 54 counties through 32 branch offices.  Other financial services available are credit life insurance, appraisal services, leasing programs and financial planning.

For 100 years Farm Credit has been supporting rural communities and agriculture with reliable, consistent credit and financial services.

Carolina Farm Credit serves over 9,200 members with loans outstanding totaling more than $1.4 billion.  The association’s territory covers the western half of North Carolina, with branch offices located in Albemarle, Asheboro, Asheville, Boone, Browns Summit, Burnsville, Carthage, Concord, Conover, Ellerbe, Graham, Hendersonville, Jefferson, Lenoir, Lexington, Lincolnton, Monroe, Murphy, Pilot Mountain, Roxboro, Rural Hall, Salisbury, Shelby, Siler City, Sparta, Spindale, Statesville, Taylorsville, Waynesville, Wilkesboro, Yadkinville, and Yanceyville.

Carolina Farm Credit was recognized as a 2015 Best Employer in North Carolina.  The list of the Best Employers in North Carolina was created byBusiness North Carolina, the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) – NC State Council and Best Companies Group.

Directors for Carolina Farm Credit are L. Kim Starnes, Chairman, Salisbury; W. Rex Bell, Vice-Chairman, Statesville; John M. Barnard, Statesville; E. Bernard Beck, Seagrove; Mark A. Bray, Lawsonville; David M. Coltrane, Pleasant Garden; Susie J. Gambill, Sparta; Joseph A. Lail, Shelby; Clark M. Newlin, Haw River; Thomas E. Porter, Jr., Concord;  Tony L. Ragan, Sanford; D. Kaleb Rathbone, Waynesville; Lewis E. Smith, Lincolnton; Vickie N. Smitherman, East Bend; Dr. Alton Thompson, Summerfield.