September 8, 2009

“From time to time, we’ve offered a class for citizens about Catawba County government, with only moderate success at best.” said Dave Hardin, the County’s Public Information Officer, who is organizing the classes. “A committee of County employees, whose work involves public information, public relations or media relations, suggested we shorten the course to a day or two half-days at most and tailor it for a particular part of the county. So we’re going to put their ideas into practice in late October for what we’re now calling Catawba County University”.

The two sessions will be held from 10 a.m. until about 3 p.m. on Tuesday, October 27 and Thursday, October 29 at the Sherrills Ford-Terrell Fire and Rescue Base at 4011 Slanting Bridge Road in Sherrills Ford. The class will be limited to 20 participants, there is no cost and a lunch will be provided on both days. Anyone interested in registering for Catawba County University may register by e-mail or call 828-465-8464, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. The deadline to register is 5 p.m. on Friday, October 9, 2009.

“We’re specifically targeting this first session of Catawba County University toward the large segment of retired persons living in the southeastern part of our county, but anyone who is interested may certainly sign up,” Hardin said. “If this new version of our class is a success, we plan to offer it for citizens in other areas, and at other times of the day and evening, in the future.”

Catawba County University will focus on different areas of County service to citizens, with an emphasis on explaining programs and services through real-life stories whenever possible, and on how the programs and services work in the southeast part of the county.

One segment will cover how the County helps protect citizens and include an overview of the Sheriff’s Office and Emergency Services, including a quick tour of the Sherrills Ford Fire and Rescue Base. A second section will be on Catawba County’s work to assist families, with a discussion about Public Health and Social Services.

“We’ll also explore environmental protection and the County’s nationally known “green” programs, as well as how we help plan for our future,” Hardin added. “We’ll have a section on how the County seeks to help educate and inform the public through the Library, Cooperative Extension, Technology, the Public Information Office and through funding for public schools. The final section will tie everything together, including other major County services such as the conducting of the elections process and the Register of Deeds Office. We’ll examine how decisions on County programs are made and how we all help pay for them.”

For more information on the two-day Catawba County University, or to register by October 9, 2009, you may may register by e-mail or call 828-465-8464.