The Catawba County Board of Commissioners next meeting is set for 9:30 am on Monday, June 4, 2007 at the 1924 Courthouse, 30 North College Avenue in Newton, NC.

The Catawba County Board of Commissioners will consider a request from the Hickory Public Schools Board of Education to transfer funds already budgeted to the Hickory school system from a completed project to a gymnasium project at Northview Middle School, and a joint application with the City of Hickory for a 2007 federal Justice Assistance Grant which would be used to purchase digital in-car video systems, when the Board meets at 9:30 a.m. on Monday, June 4, 2007 in the Robert E. Hibbitts Meeting Room of the 1924 Courthouse in Newton.

The Board will also consider rescheduling its meeting scheduled for 7 p.m. on Monday, June 18 until 7 p.m. on Tuesday, June 26 because of scheduling conflicts; a revision to the budget for the County’s Finance Department for the current fiscal year to account for increased ambulance billing and collection; the allocation of funds received from an insurance settlement regarding a wrecked vehicle; and a request to waive normally charged landfill fees associated with the cleanup of debris resulting from the demolition and rebuilding of three tents at the Balls Creek Campground that were destroyed in an arson fire. The Board will also present a Distinguished Public Service Award to Ms. Millie Barbee, who is retiring from her duties as President and CEO of the Greater Hickory Convention and Visitors Bureau.  Full agenda

A ribbon cutting ceremony for an expansion to the Catawba County Jail will be held on Monday, June 4, 2007 at 11 a.m. at the jail, located at the Justice Center off Highway 321 Business in Newton.

The jail expansion, which has been in the planning stages for more than three years, is necessary to relieve severe overcrowding in the existing jail.  Built in 1980, the older portion of the jail was designed to house 89 inmates. By 2006, the jail was housing an average of 165 inmates per day, with the numbers increasing about 10% each year.  The overcrowded conditions over the past five years have raised serious safety concerns for the officers manning the facility and possible Federal or State intervention that would mandate an expansion, with no local control over the type of facility built. The new section of the jail, scheduled to be in operation in July 2007, is designed so that it may be expanded in the future as needed.  Catawba County Sheriff's Office web site

The Catawba County Health Partners has presented its Outstanding Volunteer Awards for 2007.

Sam Moffit, Family Day volunteer for the Health Partners, has won the "William Pekman MD Volunteer of the Year Award" and Boni Killian, a student at Lenoir-Rhyne College, was presented with the partners' "Youth Excellence Award". Full story

An exciting magic show will open the Catawba County Library System's Summer Reading Series.

"Amazing Al " Younce, a clown, magician and writer who has worked at Disney World, will help launch the Catawba County Library's Summer Reading Program with magic shows on June 11 and 12 at six branch libraries.  Full story

The Meals on Wheels program is in urgent need of summer volunteers to deliver meals to home-bound seniors in Catawba County.

With just one hour per month, volunteers can make a huge impact in the lives of some of our local elderly. Delivery routes are available in local communities including Hickory, Newton, Conover, Catawba, and Maiden. Volunteers must possess a valid driver’s license.  Full story