Proposed Unified Development Ordinance is a comprehensive plan

You may have read or heard about a proposed Catawba County Unified Development Ordinance or UDO.  There's a good chance that all you've heard about the ordinance relates to two or three issues that make up only a fraction of the whole plan.  The Catawba County Board of Commissioners has begun an in-depth study of those issues over which citizens have raised concerns and continues to listen to public comment, with the second of two public hearings on the UDO scheduled for the Board's meeting at 7 pm on Monday, September 18, 2006 at the 1924 Courthouse at 30 North College Avenue in Newton.  There is much more to learn about the UDO. Catawba County has prepared a comprehensive site with the actual ordinance, a PowerPoint that explains it, a FAQ page and more.  Click here to learn all about the UDO

Do you know how to survive a disaster?  Learn how to make a Disaster Survival Kit during National Preparedness Month

The Catawba County Board of Commissioners has declared September as National Preparedness Month in Catawba County, to recognize that the observance is a good opportunity for every Catawba County citizen to learn more about ways to prepare for all types of emergencies, from potential terrorist attacks to natural disasters.  Emergency services officials across the county, state and nation are emphasizing how important it is for families to make a Disaster Plan and create a Disaster Supply Kit with the items they will need to potentially survive for 72 hours without assistance.  You may learn much more about how to create these plans and kits at these web sites.  www.ready.gov   www.readync.org

Catawba County now offers cell phone and print cartridge recycling

Catawba County expands recycling program; now collecting cell phone & printer cartridges.  Collection bins have been placed at the Government Center; Cooperative Extension Center; Register of Deeds Office; Health Department; Animal Control office and Blackburn Landfill.
Click here to learn more 

Catawba County Library earns grant for music program related to our next "Big Read" project; offers free baseball caps to new users

Catawba County Friends of the Library have been awarded a $600 grant from the United Arts Council of Catawba County to support a music program associated with The Big Read next spring.  The grant will help fund an acoustic concert by Mappamundi, a traditional Jewish musical combo that will perform on March 18, 2007 at the Main Library in Newton. This year’s Big Read selection is James McBride’s The Color of Water, a black man’s memoir about his white mother who was Jewish.  Click here to learn more. 

The Catawba County Library is offering free baseball caps, while supplies last, to first-time patrons as part of the Smartest Card campaign, a nationwide drive to promote sign-ups and use of library cards.  With a Catawba County library card, patrons can place holds on materials through the website www.catawbacountync.gov/library. Library cards may be used to download books directly from the county library website for use on an MP3 player or PC. Patrons may also access special research tools such as NCLive and HeritageQuest, at no charge. Click here for more information.