The North Carolina One Call Center Inc. is changing the formula that is used to determine the start time of a ticket when someone calls in a request for underground lines to be located and marked. Effective July 1, 2008 the “clock” start time for a ticket will begin at 12:01 a.m. the next business day after the locate request is made. As an example, a locate request that is made on Monday, July 14, 2008 at 10:45 a.m., the start time for calculating the 48 hour advance notice will begin at 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday, July 15, 2008. In this example, the locate and marking would be completed by 12:01 a.m. on Thursday, July 17, 2008.

Are there individuals and organizations in your community that are making a difference for affordable housing? Perhaps you work or volunteer with an organization that has improved the quality of life in your community because of the housing opportunities it's provided.

The NC Association of Realtors Housing Opportunity Foundation would like to honor those who are making the biggest impact on affordable housing in North Carolina through the 2008 Homes4NC Affordable Housing Achievement Awards.

The awards program was established in 2005 to honor and learn from those whose hard work and innovation is leading the way to solving our most pressing housing challenges. The Homes4NC Affordable Housing Achievement Awards will help educate REALTORS and give the public about the critical need for affordable housing in our communities. They will also give well-deserved recognition to those programs and organizations leading the way.

The nomination deadline is June 27. You can visit www.Homes4NC.org for more information and click here for a nomination form.

NCHBA extends its congratulations to Matt Sherrill, winner of the 2008 N.C. SkillsUSA Carpentry Contest. Sherrill, 16, competed against 77 other carpentry students from across North Carolina to win the state title and will compete in the national competition in Kansas City, Mo. later this month, with the help of a$1,500 scholarship from NCHBA. 

Sherrill is a junior at N.F. Woods Advanced Technology Center in Mooresville, N.C. He is currently in his second year in the carpentry class under the instruction of Tommy Chester. Along with his carpentry class, Sherrill is involved in building a Habitat for Humanity House that will be dedicated on June 8 in Mooresville. When not studying or volunteering, Sherrill can be found working for his family's company, Innovate Cabinet Co. Other interests include baseball and girls.

Please join us in wishing both Sherrill and Chester the best of luck at the National SkillsUSA Carpentry Competition.

The North Carolina Home Builders Association is proud to announce that it has named Steven Scott of Ashe County High School as the 2007 Construction Trades Teacher of the Year.  Every year the NCHBA receives nominations from across the state for worthy teachers who devote hours of their time to educating the youth of today in the field of construction trades.  One teacher is chosen to receive this title, along with $500. 

Steven Scott has worked as a Teacher of Drafting/Construction and ITIE at Ashe County High School where he teaches Architecture, Mechanical Drafting, Construction I and II.  His instruction techniques allow students hands-on instruction and practice both in the field and in the classroom.  These experiences prepare his students to be ideal candidates for entry level positions in the construction fields.  His students have consistently scored in the top percentile on their VOCATS, proving that not only is he capable of teaching them hands-on instruction, but also providing the necessary factual information to support it.  Scott knows that it is necessary to instill knowledge as well as professional behavior and work ethic in his students.  Industry safety standards are stressed and OSHA expectations and NC building code guidelines are reviewed.  At the end of the course state curricular mastery level experience is gained on all machinery.   
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