Quick hits: N.C. leads nation in copperhead bites, and here comes the drought (again)!

Watch out for that snake!

"North Carolina leads the country in copperhead snake bites, according to Carolinas Poison Center.

"Five venomous snakes call North Carolina home, including copperhead, cottonmouth, eastern diamondback, pygmy, and timber, but it's the copperhead snake that causes the most bites," says NBC 17.

"According to CPC, in 2009, almost 500 snake bites were reported. Of those, 228 were identified as copperhead bites. ..."

13 counties upgraded to moderate drought

"13 counties have received upgraded drought status in the U.S. Drought's Monitor's weekly report, while another eight have escaped abnormally dry status," says the N&O.

"Phil Badgett, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Raleigh, said nine counties were upgraded to moderate drought status. These were Caswell, Pitt, Lenoir, Greene, Granville, Nash, Wayne and Person counties.

"Four counties, he added, were upgraded to severe drought status. These were Hartfield, Halifax, Warren and Northampton counties. ..."

The drought may be coming back

Here in Raleigh, it's hard to believe that the dreaded "D word" could even be a possibility, having just gone through a very snowy (for us, at least) winter coupled with quite a bit of rain over the past month or so.

Well, apparently it hasn't been enough rain. Some twenty-six N.C. counties are unusually dry, according to experts, meaning that we may be headed into drought time -- especially since spring has been unseasonably warm. (It was well into the 90s yesterday in the Capital City.)

From the AP: "Unusually dry weather has returned to portions of central and southeastern North Carolina, which has experts on the lookout for possible drought conditions.

"A lack of significant rain has created what's known as abnormally dry conditions in 26 counties stretching from Wilmington to parts of the Triangle and Triad.

"That's the first time since early December that any part of North Carolina has experienced dry conditions.

"That doesn't mean there's a drought yet, but the state's Drought Management Advisory Council is meeting weekly to keep an eye on the situation."

Is it too early for rain dances, y'all?

Drought is over, if you want it

From the AP:

Above average rainfall over the past few months has lifted all of North Carolina out of drought for the first time in more than two years.

The federal drought map released Thursday shows that widespread rainfall in recent weeks brought improvements throughout the state, most notably in 14 mountain counties that had been North Carolina's only area still experiencing drought.

Yeah!

Does this mean I can irresponsibly water my lawn now?

Quick hits: Bad news for Myrtle Beach bikers, the anti-smoking campaign and people who like water

Myrtle Beach declares no more Bike Weeks
"The city of Myrtle Beach and the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce have launched Web and print information letting visitors know that from the city's perspective, the May motorcycle rallies are over," says the Sun News.

"Myrtlebeachbikerinfo.com launched last week, and brochures are available for distribution primarily through local hotels.

" 'We have new laws, and we'd rather not surprise visitors,' city spokesman Mark Kruea said. 'We'd rather they have some idea of what to expect when they come here.' ..."


Bad grade for N.C. on smoking
"When the legislative session starts at the end of the month, health advocates will have a new way to prod lawmakers to raise cigarette taxes and expand smoking bans," says the News & Observer.

"North Carolina received failing grades in a new report card by the American Lung Association that surveyed state laws and spending on anti-smoking initiatives. ...

"With the state facing a budget crisis, anti-smoking advocates say it is again time to seriously consider increasing the cigarette tax because it raises money and reduces smoking. ..."


Drought enters third year
"While 2009 got off to a wet start with several inches of rain and flash flooding, Western North Carolina remains in a serious drought that is entering its third year," says the Citizen-Times in Asheville.

" 'This drought has been pretty significant for its longevity. We have limited records with good data from WNC only, but we can't find another three-year record like this,' said the state climatologist Ryan Boyles.

"Only 28.64 inches of rain fell on downtown Asheville last year, making 2008 the sixth driest year on record going back to 1902, according to the National Climatic Data Center in Asheville. The previous year, 2007, ranked third driest with 23.53, behind 1988 and 1925.

"But adding up the shortfall in rain for the past two years marks this drought as the worst for WNC in more than a century, said Richard Heim of NCDC. Averaging rainfall of all the mountain counties showed last year as the 10th driest on record, while 2008 was the second driest since 1895. The driest year on record is 1988. ..."

Quick hits: Catawba River is the most endangered and jazz legend loved Charlotte

(Sorry for all the 'Quick hits' of late. Just too much going on.)

Catawba River called 'most endangered'
"The Catawba River, beset by growing water demand, drought and what critics say are failed policies to protect it, is the nation's most endangered river, an environmental group says.

"American Rivers, a Washington-based advocacy group that has turned out most-endangered lists since 1986, put the Catawba at the top of its 2008 list to be released today," according to the News & Observer.

"The group accused Carolinas decision-makers of 'sucking their rivers dry' to continue development as a historic drought lingers over the Catawba basin. Neither state, it said, has a long-term water plan to ensure the river survives future growth.

"But public officials say the Catawba, the subject of detailed studies and the beneficiary of new conservation efforts, has been far from ignored.

"The amount of water pulled from the Catawba is projected to more than double over the next 50 years, one of those studies shows. Charlotte's chief water supply, Mountain Island Lake, could struggle to meet demand during a severe drought by 2048. ..."

Music legend held Charlotte close to his heart
"When George Butler was a boy, sports often stood in the way of his piano lessons. It got him into trouble only once: During a piano recital, he forgot the notes to a Scarlatti sonata, and launched into some boogie-woogie.

"What a scolding he got from his parents and teacher," writes the Charlotte Observer.

"As it turns out, the Charlotte native was playing the right music.

"He became a legendary record producer, the brains behind the careers of such jazz greats as Harry Connick Jr., Earl Klugh, Terence Blanchard and the Marsalis brothers, Wynton and Branford.

"On April 9, George Butler Jr., who grew up on Charlotte's Beatties Ford Road, died in a California hospital after a long illness with Alzheimer's disease. He was 76. ..."

Despite drought, N.C. Christmas trees in good shape

According to this press release from N.C. State, North Carolina's Christmas tree crop will be just as good as last year's.

"The state will harvest and distribute around 5.5 million trees at a total value of about $130 million to stores and lots across North Carolina and the Southeast," says the release.

"The recent rains came just in time to give most N.C. Fraser fir growers a much-needed reprieve from the drought."

"The six to nine inches of rain we had in late October replenished the moisture in the trees before harvest started," said Jeff Owen, an NCSU area extension forestry specialist who works with Christmas tree growers across the N.C. mountains. "While the rain didn't come in time to save many Christmas tree seedlings planted in 2007, it was just what the doctor ordered for our market trees."

Quick hits: Water woes and water parks

Drought likely here until February
"Last week's rainfall and the soaking showers of Thursday haven't been enough to ease the statewide drought, meaning North Carolinians need to continue conservation measures, Gov. Mike Easley says," writes the News & Observer.

"In the face of plummeting water supplies from a drought expected to last until February, Easley warns that the worst might lie ahead.

" 'The rain last week certainly helped, but forecasters say we need several months of normal to above-normal rainfall before we see any improvement in the drought,' Easley said in a statement Thursday. 'We must do all we can to save water now so we do not face even more severe shortages this fall and winter.' ..."

Concord lands water park, resort
"Great Wolf Resorts has decided to make a $140.million splash in Concord," writes the Charlotte Observer.

"The company will announce today it plans to build its indoor water park and resort in the city, a Cabarrus economic development official said.

"The Wisconsin company also had been considering other sites for its Charlotte-area project, including Fort Mill, S.C., and Charlotte’s University City near where Ikea is being built.

"Great Wolf contacted the Cabarrus Economic Development Corp. Thursday and indicated the company would name Concord as the project site today, said John Cox, the EDC’s chief executive officer.

"The move is welcome news for Concord. The city has been hit hard by the pending loss of all 2,500 jobs at the Philip Morris U.S.A. plant and the purchase of CT Communications by Windstream Corp., which is slashing jobs and selling the local headquarters. ..."

Cattle farmers struggling in Western N.C.

The drought -- which is reaching historic proportions in Western North Carolina -- is having a major impact on cattle farmers in the west.

"Cattle farmers in the western region are short 800,000 rolls of hay. One cow can eat 3,000 pounds of hay over the winter, so farmers are scrambling to find an ample supply," says the Associated Press.

"Perry Morrow, a Haywood County cattle farmer, said he's about 170 hay rolls short of the 400 hay rolls he heeds to get through the winter. He has already marked some of his 200 head for sale.

"Still, Morrow said would like to keep as many as is financially feasible. He supports the idea of getting feed alternatives from across the state, but he worries about the cost. ..."

Quick hits: Canes and Caswell

Dry N.C. begs for a hurricane
"If you're looking for a sign that the drought is nothing to trifle with, consider the fact that some people have begun uttering the unthinkable," writes the News & Observer.

" 'It's one of those years where people actually wish for a hurricane,' said Keith Edmisten, a cotton specialist with N.C. State University's crop science department. 'It's not a good thing to say. But it's that bad.'

"On Thursday, the N.C. Drought Management Advisory Council released a map showing all but six of the state's 100 counties in some stage of drought. The map shows a state increasingly under the grip of a merciless heat wave. And there is more bad news.

" 'There appears to be very little relief in sight,' said Woody Yonts, chairman of the advisory council. 'Our water supplies are starting to feel this.' ..."

A Caswell celebration
"Kinston will be bursting with activity beginning Sunday as the community welcomes visitors from throughout the state, including former governors, Masons and even modern-day descendants of Gov. Richard Caswell," writes the Free Press.

"Caswell, who died in 1789, was elected as the first governor of North Carolina in 1776. The Maryland native held the position until 1780 and was elected again to serve from 1784-1787.

"Jo Huettl said Wednesday that the eight-member Lenoir County Colonial Commission and a 50-member steering committee have spent about a year preparing the celebration. Huettl is the head of the Colonial Commission.

" 'We’re honoring him because he had never really received any recognition,' Huettl said. ..."