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Letterland and Learning Express Days Return to Tweetsie Railroad May 5-7, 12-14

Posted on April 29, 2015 by

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Watch the alphabet come to life when Tweetsie Railroad transforms into the magical world of Letterland, May 5-7 and May 12-14. The popular child-friendly phonics program helps children learn their ABCs by transforming the park into a fun, engaging and educational environment.

Letterland at Tweetsie Railroad

Letterland is a unique, phonics-based approach to teaching reading, writing and spelling to kids up to 8 years old. The Letterland characters transform letter shapes into child-friendly pictograms that live in an imaginary place called Letterland. School children visiting Tweetsie Railroad will have the chance to interact with characters like Annie Apple, Bouncy Ben and Clever Cat, as well as Dippy Duck, Eddy Elephant, Firefighter Fred and more. In addition, guests can experience even more Letterland by riding on Firefighter Fred’s Ferris Wheel or Talking Tess’s Train, exploring Zig Zag Zebra’s Zoo and many other letter-themed attractions!

Letterland has been successful in raising literacy standards among children around the world for nearly half a century, and has been coming to Tweesie Railroad for the past eight years. In 2007, local reading specialist Kathy Oliver first brought the program to Tweetsie. Since then, Letterland at Tweetsie has grown to serve as a celebration of student learning achievements, and reading assessment scores continue to improve in districts using Letterland. Last year, school children from North Carolina, Virginia and Tennessee attended Letterland at Tweetsie.

As part of the park’s continued dedication to enriching education, Tweetsie visitors can also experience the “Learning Express.” The Learning Express provides a full day of adventure at Tweetsie Railroad, including a ride on the Learning Express Train. After getting an overview of how a steam locomotive operates, students embark on a Wild West adventure where they travel back in time and learn how railroads were a major factor in the expansion of the American frontier. They’ll learn the history of the ETWNC, and how families isolated in remote mountain communities depended on the “Tweetsie” train for travel, food and mail during the early 1900s. They’ll also discover that Tweetsie’s very own Locomotive No. 12 is the only surviving narrow-gauge engine of the ETWNC, and is a part of the National Historic Register.

A daily admission ticket to Tweetsie Railroad includes a full day of Wild West adventure, as well as the opportunity ride the Learning Express train, which pulls out of Main Street at 11 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. on Fridays in April, May, September and October. Field trips to Tweetsie’s 2015 Education Days Learning Express will be offered every Friday from April 17 through May 22, and every Friday after Labor Day through October 23. To make a reservation online, or to download curriculum guides to help increase the educational value of Learning Express, visit Tweetsie’s website.

Tweetsie Railroad will be open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays starting April 10, including Memorial Day Monday, and seven days a week from May 29 through August 16. The park returns to the weekend schedule from August 17 through November 1, including Labor Day Monday. The 2015 season ends Sunday, Nov. 1. The park’s regular hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., but will be open until 9 p.m. on July 4 for the Fireworks Extravaganza and June 20 and 27 and July 11, 18 and 25 for Cool Summer Nights. Daily admission to Tweetsie Railroad is $41 for adults and $27 for children ages 3 through 12. Children 2 and under are admitted free. The Ghost Train Halloween Festival will take place Friday and Saturday nights September 25 through October 31 from 7:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m., with an admission price of $34 for adults and children. Tickets and Golden Rail Season Passes are available at Tweetsie.com.

Tweetsie Railroad is located on U.S. Highway 321 between Boone and Blowing Rock, North Carolina. For more information about the 2015 season at Tweetsie Railroad, visit Tweetsie.com or call 877-TWEETSIE (877-893-3874). Find Tweetsie on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Tweetsie and Twitter and Instagram, @TweetsieRR.

Letterland at Tweetsie Railroad

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Tagged with: Blowing Rock NC

Beer renaissance surges in NC

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Margo Metzger describes it as a movement — a Southern craft beer movement. Bill Manley calls it a Renaissance.

“Craft brewing right now all over the country and, to some extent, all over the world, is really going through a renaissance. It’s exploding everywhere,” said Manley, beer ambassador for Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., which recently opened a brewing facility — its second — in Mills River. “You really don’t have to go far to find a really excellent beer anywhere in the country now.”

Metzger, executive director of the N.C. Craft Brewers Guild, said North Carolina is at the forefront of the Southern response to a national trend in craft brewing.

“It’s starting to gain some recognition nationally as a great place for craft beer,” she said.

Between 2010 and 2014, the number of breweries in the state almost tripled, rising from 43 to 124, according to data from N.C. Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission.

The Brewers Association found that North Carolina craft beer sales had an economic impact of $791.1 million in 2012 — a figure that placed it at 14th in the country.

Metzger said the 2006 Pop the Cap campaign — which raised the state’s alcohol by volume cap from 6 percent to 15 percent — was pivotal for North Carolina’s burgeoning brewing scene because it made the effort of brewing worthwhile.

“It made all the difference and, if we can continue to be progressive like that, gosh, the sky’s the limit,” she said.

North Carolina has the eighth highest excise tax on beer in the United States — something Metzger describes as a burden on small brewers. The state also places a 25,000-barrel limit on a brewery’s annual self-distribution. By comparison, California and Colorado both allow unlimited self-distribution, and New York sets the cap at 100,000 barrels.

“There are probably close to 20 states that either have unlimited self-distribution or allow a greater amount than we do,” Metzger said. “And when you look at it in the South, we look pretty good, but I’m not satisfied with comparing us to the South. If we’re going to be what I believe we can be — which is a mecca for East Coast beer — if we want to set our sights on that, then we’ve got to be more progressive.”

Drinking local

When customers dine at the Fearrington House Restaurant in Pittsboro, they sample root vegetables grown on the property, eat wild beef sourced from local farms, and drink beer — a seasonal pecan coffee porter — that is brewed at Durham’s Fullsteam Brewery using coffee beans roasted at Fearrington Village and pecans grown on its own trees.

The experience is both fresh and hyper-local, unlikely to be replicated exactly in any other restaurant. And that’s the idea.

Xavyer Burroughs, sommelier for the Fearrington wine team, sees it as a part of the farm-to-table movement in a restaurant culture that now includes beverages — like beer.

“It’s a cool snapshot into the ingredients, kind of what grows up here in North Carolina — in this small part of North Carolina,” he said.

The state’s unique landscape and agricultural resources are part of what has positioned North Carolina to be a force in the brewing industry.

“I think North Carolina’s been a pretty strong state in terms of craft beer acceptance, even I think a real shift toward the local food movement here that stems from having such rich agriculture, and it’s changed people’s attitudes about caring about where their food comes from,” Metzger said. “And I think that translates also into beverages.”

Suzanne Brown, spokeswoman for the N.C. Department of Commerce, thinks that’s a part of the draw for tourism – an industry that brought $20.1 billion to the state in 2013.

“So many of our breweries use local ingredients, and reflect the landscape and the history and agriculture of our state,” Brown said. “It’s a great part of our tourism product because it relates on so many different levels. It’s not just one beautiful thing, but it draws from a lot of different facets.”

This spring, Sierra Nevada will enter the final phases of opening its Mills River facility, using its 200-acre location in the mountains by adding hiking trails and biking paths that will contribute to the brewery’s reputation as a destination-style brewery.

“I think that you track a lot of this to the state’s natural assets,” Brown said. “All of this really does have to do with this land and what comes off it, whether it’s the beauty and the recreation or what’s grown.”

Sierra Nevada’s Mills River location was designed with tourism in mind, from recreation to brewery tours.

“In a lot of ways, I think to people, making beer is — it’s like magic, you know?” Manley said.

“You take things that don’t seem to really make much sense together, and you put them together, and all of a sudden, you’ve got beer. And you know, who doesn’t like beer?”

A Southern shift

Despite the newly popular craft brewing trend, Sierra Nevada — based in Chico, California — has been brewing since the early 1980s.

Looking to expand, Manley said the company weighed the cost, difficulty and environmental impact of continuing to ship beer to the East Coast, where sales were picking up, and chose to find a second facility east of the Mississippi River.

The company looked for access to the outdoors, a good music scene, affordable housing, good schools and communities committed to renewable resources and alternative energy creation — components he described as the ethos of a brewery.

Though they hadn’t intended to move anywhere with a regional brewing operation, like Asheville, the Sierra Nevada owners found an ideal piece of land and the approval from the Asheville Brewers Alliance.

“It’s really cool to have this kind of community of like-minded people who are around all the time that you can kind of bounce ideas off of and get advice back and forth and really kind of share that collective love of beer,” Manley said. “As such, you can go into any bar or gas station, frankly, in town and find great craft beer available from local breweries.”

The location has everything to do with it.

The ABC Commission counts a total of 125 brewing permits currently issued in the state — the largest number of which have been issued in Buncombe County, home to Asheville, a former Beer City USA whose reputation for beer precedes it.

“You really feel like it’s woven into the fabric of what it’s like to live in Asheville,” Manley said.

And the water in the area is ideal — it’s soft and it keeps a relatively constant temperature year-round.

“In other words, off the shelf, without doing any treatment, you can brew with it and make really good beer,” Manley said.

Metzger isn’t surprised by the interest in moving brewing operations to North Carolina.

“It makes sense, if they’re going to expand, to expand east. And when you look at North Carolina, it’s in a pretty sweet spot — about halfway between New York and Florida. The water’s good. It’s progressive, at least in terms of the south, so it’s an attractive spot,” Metzger said. “And it’s an awfully nice compliment to North Carolina to have these big craft brewers moving in, but I wouldn’t be surprised if we see a few more set up shop here, and we’re happy to have them.”

A new culture

Nancy Williams, an Asheville resident of 38 years, doesn’t drink beer.

“I don’t like it all. I really tried to like it,” she said. “I just don’t like the taste.”

She said she was originally skeptical of the growing interest in bars and beer around her. It was her son, a craft beer enthusiast, who introduced her to a culture she now appreciates.

“It’s just very, very different from going to a darkened bar with one TV and a neon sign in the back that says some beer name,” she said. “It’s a hobbyist kind of thing — a lot of people get together and drink. And I think also the lines are blurring between bar and restaurant; a lot of breweries often have pretty decent food here.”

Williams describes Asheville as two cities in one: home to longtime residents as much as young transplants, beer enthusiasts and abstainers alike. “I think it’s a turnoff to some of the people who are from here and have always lived here and, now, what our city’s known for is beer,” she said. “Just a lot of folks who live in western North Carolina feel like they don’t understand it, and some of them just think, ‘Gosh, isn’t there something we can be known for other than beer?’ ”

It has the tendency to overshadow other attractive things about the town, she said.

“Based on years ago, growing up in dry counties, I thought bars are kind of where people get together to drink,” Williams said. “But I think here, people get together to socialize, and the beer is kind of part of it.”

Williams recently attended a birthday party for a 1-year-old at Asheville’s Bywater Bar — a location she found to be surprisingly appropriate for the occasion. And she said she’s doing her part to bring friends to breweries to test out what she thinks is a positive atmosphere.

“You’d have to be under a rock to not notice the rise of craft beer in this state, and you’d be remiss if you didn’t recognize the positive impact that it has in so many ways on jobs, on tourism, on quality of life, on North Carolina’s image around this country,” Metzger said.

“We’re part of North Carolina’s image, and it gives us some credibility. We’ve already got a great culinary scene here and, adding some of the best crafting brewing in the country to that, it makes people want to come here.”

Tagged with: North Carolina

Blue Ridge Parkway, Smokies top list for visitor-spending in national parks

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GREENVILLE – The Blue Ridge Parkway and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park are not only two of the most beloved national parks in the country, but they also draw in the big bucks.

Visitors spent more money while visiting the Blue Ridge Parkway last year than in any other national park, and that continues to have a major impact on regional gateway communities, says a new National Park Service report.

The nearby destinations in Western North Carolina “attract visitors from across the country and around the world,” regional director Stan Austin said in a statement. “Whether visitors come to explore the natural and cultural attractions … visitors come to have a great experience, and end up having an economic benefit to the communities they visit.”

The new report shows that national park tourism is a significant driver in the national economy — returning $10 for every $1 invested in the National Park Service — and a big factor in state economies as well, officials said.

The national park sites in Western North Carolina and only a short drive from the Greenville area are the Blue Ridge Parkway, which runs through Asheville; Great Smoky Mountains; and Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site.

The report showed the Blue Ridge Parkway, which spans 469 miles of roadway from Cherokee, North Carolina, to Shenandoah National Park in Virginia, brought in the biggest bang for the buck.

In 2014, park visitors spent an estimated $863.5 million in local gateway regions while visiting the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Those expenditures supported 14,000 jobs, $408.8 million in labor income, $678.6 million in value added (a measure of contribution of National Park Service visitor spending to the Gross Domestic Product of a regional economy) for a total of $1.2 billion in economic output in communities surrounding the parkway.

The parkway was the second-most visited park in 2014, with nearly 14 million visitors.

Spending is up more than 10 percent last year over the year before, said Leesa Brandon, parkway spokeswoman. Jobs supported by the parkway are also up, from 11,283 in 2013, to 14,020 last year.

“I’m sure our bump in visitation would correlate to the bump in visitor spending,” she said.

The parkway gained more than a million visitors last year over the year before, about an 8.6 percent increase to 13.9 million in 2014.

Across the whole National Park Service, visitation increased by 7 percent, Brandon said. It seems to be on the rebound from 2013, a year marred by visitor-deflecting problems including the government shutdown, the large crack in the parkway that closed a popular section north of Asheville for construction, and the closing of facilities and other cutbacks due to the federal sequester.

“It was a rough year for a lot of folks,” she said. “We already are seeing our recreation visitation numbers from January through March are up 16 percent this year over 2014. We’re off to a really strong start. We’ve had lots of pretty days this winter, gas prices down, and word is out that a lot of facilities closed for one reason or another are back online and people are finding a reason to connect with parks.”

The spending report comes on the heels of another NPS report showing national parks in North Carolina face millions of dollars in backlogged infrastructure repairs.

The Blue Ridge Parkway has $478.7 million in deferred maintenance, mostly in road and bridge work. The Smokies has $243.9 million worth of work on hold, mostly in repairs to paved roads, parking areas, bridges and tunnels.

Nationally, the deferred maintenance backlog is $11.5 billion, which includes work on roads, bridges, visitor centers, campgrounds, trails and water systems that has been delayed for more than one year. The backlog is caused by aging facilities, increased use and smaller budgets, the National Park Service said.

But as long as they are able to remain somewhat operational, the visitors keep coming. The new spending report also shows that the 10.1 million visitors to Great Smoky Mountains National Park in 2014 spent almost $807 million in communities near the park. That spending supported 12,759 jobs in the local area.

“After a record-setting year in 2014, we are pleased Great Smoky Mountains National Park continues to provide not only an incredible resource for visitors to explore and enjoy, but also serves as a driving economic force in the local community,” said Superintendent Cassius Cash. “As the National Park Service moves into its second century, we hope visitors will continue to find their park here in the Smokies.”

Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site in Flat Rock had 82,377 visitors last year who spent $4.6 million and supported 75 jobs.

The peer-reviewed visitor spending analysis was conducted by U.S. Geological Survey economists Catherine Cullinane Thomas and Christopher Huber, and National Park Service economist Lynne Koontz.

The report shows $15.7 billion of direct spending by 292.8 million park visitors occurred in communities within 60 miles of a national park.

To download the report, visit www.nature.nps.gov/socialscience/ economics.cfm.

BY THE NUMBERS

$15.7 billion: Total of direct spending at national parks

$1.1 billion: Spending at national parks in NC

$29.7 billion: Cumulative economic impact in US

$1.5 billion: Cumulative economic impact in NC

292.8 million: Total national park visitors

17 million: National park visitors in NC

277,000: US jobs supported by spending

18,528: NC jobs supported by spending

HOW THE MONEY WAS SPENT

Spending by U.S. national park visitors breaks down as follows:

30.6% for lodging

20.3% for food and beverages

11.9% for gas and oil

10.2% for admissions and fees

9.9% for souvenirs and other expenses

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AT&T Invests More Than $475 Million Over Three-Year Period To Enhance …

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SAN ANTONIO, April 28, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — ATT* has invested more than $475 million in its best-in-class wireless and wired networks in the San Antonio area between 2012 and 2014, driving a wide range of upgrades to enhance reliability, coverage, speed and performance for residents and business customers.

As part of its Project Velocity IP (VIP), an investment plan focused on network enhancement and expansion, ATT in 2014 made 46 wireless network upgrades in the San Antonio and New Braunfels area, including adding 24 new cell sites, 21 new wireless high-speed Internet connections and one network capacity addition. Additionally, ATT expanded the reach of its network, providing access to ATT U-verse^® High Speed Internet, ATT U-verse video and ATT U-verse voice services to nearly 23,500 new customer locations.

“With a growing range of connected home appliances, cars and wearable devices, we depend more on network connectivity than ever before,” said Renee Flores, Regional Vice President, ATT External and Legislative Affairs. “ATT’s continued investment in San Antonio brings a host of new, innovative opportunities for residents and businesses to connect with each other and their customers.”

“The economic growth and quality of life in San Antonio depends on thoughtful innovation and a fast, reliable network,” said San Antonio Mayor Ivy Taylor. “With ATT’s on-going investment, residents and businesses have the tools necessary to compete and grow.”

ATT provides the nation’s most reliable 4G LTE network today, covering 308 million Americans with 4G LTE service.** ATT’s network also has the nation’s strongest LTE signal.***

ATT* was recently recognized by FORTUNE magazine as the Most Admired Telecommunications Company in the world in 2015. Additionally, FORTUNE ranked ATT #47 among all companies in all industries in its list of the Top 50 Most Admired companies in the world. FORTUNE’s Most Admired Companies lists are among the most highly respected indicators of corporate performance and reputation.

ATT U-verse is delivered over ATT’s advanced IP network and includes ATT U-verse High Speed Internet, ATT U-verse TV, and ATT U-verse Voice.**** ATT U-verse TV customers enjoy Total Home DVR®, apps for entertainment on the go, and integrated features. ATT recently received three Women’s Choice Awards® as “America’s Most Recommended Brand Among Women for Broadband, Television and Phone Service Provider.” Frost Sullivan recognized ATT for its leadership in high-speed Internet services with the 2015 North American Competitive Strategy and Innovation Leadership of the Year Award for Broadband, ATT U-verse TV with the 2015 North American Company of the Year for Multichannel Video for its growth, innovation, and leadership, and the 2015 North American Company of the Year for Consumer Communication Services.

ATT announced a major initiative in 2014 to expand the availability of U-verse with ATT GigaPower^SMin up to 25 markets nationwide. Hundreds of thousands of customer locations across parts of Austin, Chicago, Dallas, Fort Worth, Kansas City, Raleigh-Durham and Winston-Salem are able to sign-up for ultra-fast speeds up to 1 gigabit per second. ATT has since announced it will deliver the ATT GigaPower network to an additional 11 markets: Atlanta; Charlotte and Greensboro, N.C.; Chicago; Cupertino, Calif.; Houston; Jacksonville, Fla.; Miami, Fla.; Nashville, Tenn.; St. Louis and San Antonio.

ATT operates an extensive Wi-Fi network including more than 34,000 ATT Wi-Fi Hot Spots at popular restaurants, hotels, bookstores and retailers, and provides access to more 1 million Hot Spots globally through roaming agreements. Most ATT smartphone customers and U-verse customers get access to our entire national Wi-Fi network at no additional cost, and Wi-Fi usage doesn’t count against customers’ monthly wireless data plans.*****

If the ATT-DirecTV merger is approved by regulators, the combined companies will have an opportunity to redefine the video entertainment industry by delivering content to consumers across multiple screens – mobile devices, TVs, laptops, the backseat displays of connected cars, and even airplanes. ATT has also committed to expand and enhance its deployment of both wireline and fixed wireless high-speed Internet to cover at least 15 million customer locations across 48 states – most of them in underserved rural areas.

For more information about ATT’s coverage in San Antonio, New Braunfels or anywhere in the United States, consumers can visit the ATT Coverage Viewer. For updates on the ATT wireless network, please visit the ATT network news page.

* ATT products and services are provided or offered by subsidiaries and affiliates of ATT Inc. under the ATT brand and not by ATT Inc.
**Reliability claim based on analysis of independent third party data re nationwide carriers‘ 4G LTE. LTE is a trademark of ETSI. 4G LTE not available everywhere.
***Claim based ONLY on avg LTE signal strength for national carriers
**** Geographic and service restrictions apply to ATT U-verse services. Call or go to www.att.com/u-verse to see if you qualify.
*****A Wi-Fi enabled device required. Other restrictions apply. See attwifi.com for details and locations.
To define a market, we rely on the Core Based Statistical Areas (CBSA), as established by the United States Office of Management and Budget. Minor differences, if any, between annual totals reflect annual updating of market boundaries in our record systems.

Cautionary Language Concerning Forward-Looking Statements
Information set forth in this news release contains financial estimates and other forward- looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially. A discussion of factors that may affect future results is contained in ATT’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. ATT disclaims any obligation to update or revise statements contained in this news release based on new information or otherwise.

About ATT

ATT Inc. (NYSE: T) helps millions of people and businesses around the globe stay connected through leading wireless, high-speed Internet, voice and cloud-based services. We’re helping people mobilize their worlds with state-of-the-art communications, entertainment services and amazing innovations like connected cars and devices for homes, offices and points in between. Our U.S. wireless network offers customers the nation’s strongest LTE signal and the nation’s most reliable 4G LTE network. We offer the best global wireless coverage*. We’re improving how our customers stay entertained and informed with ATT U-verse^® TV and High Speed Internet services. And businesses worldwide are serving their customers better with ATT’s mobility and highly secure cloud solutions.

Additional information about ATT products and services is available at http://about.att.com. Follow our news on Twitter at @ATT, on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/att and YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/att.

© 2015 ATT Intellectual Property. All rights reserved. ATT, the Globe logo and other marks are trademarks and service marks of ATT Intellectual Property and/or ATT affiliated companies. All other marks contained herein are the property of their respective owners.

*Global coverage claim based on offering voice and LTE data roaming in more countries than any other U.S. based carrier, and offering the most wireless smartphones and tablets that work in the most countries.

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Ally Financial Reports First Quarter 2015 Financial Results

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CHARLOTTE, N.C., April 28, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — Ally Financial Inc. (NYSE: ALLY) today reported net income of $576 million, and $1.06 per diluted common share, for the first quarter of 2015, compared to net income of $177 million, and $0.23 per diluted common share, in the prior quarter, and net income of $227 million, and $0.33 per diluted common share, for the first quarter of 2014. The company reported core pre-tax income, excluding repositioning items entirely related to the early extinguishment of high-cost legacy debt, of $490 million in the first quarter of 2015, compared to $396 million in the prior quarter and $339 million in the comparable prior year period. The company reported core pre-tax income of $299 million for the quarter. Adjusted earnings per diluted common share for the quarter were $0.52, compared to $0.40 for the previous quarter and $0.34 for the comparable prior year period.

Strong operating results in the Dealer Financial Services franchise continued with pre-tax income totaling $409 million for the quarter. Auto financing originations for the quarter remained strong and grew to $9.8 billion, increasing 9 percent from the previous quarter and 7 percent year-over-year, driven by strong performance in the Growth and Chrysler channels. Excluding GM lease originations, consumer auto originations increased 27 percent year-over-year. Moreover, new and used originations from Growth dealers grew 54 percent compared to the prior year period.

Also contributing to total results was a previously disclosed after-tax gain of approximately $400 million in discontinued operations from the completed sale of the Chinese joint venture in January, which was partially offset by expenses from debt repurchases, as the company continued to execute its liability management program to reduce high-cost legacy debt. As a result of this continued effort, as well as increased retail deposits which grew 12 percent year-over-year, Ally’s cost of funds decreased 21 basis points from the prior year period.

“First quarter results demonstrate that our efforts to diversify and expand our leading franchises, while improving shareholder returns, are already making significant inroads,” said Ally Chief Executive Officer Jeffrey J. Brown. “Ally continued to post strong originations totaling $9.8 billion for the quarter, with Growth channel originations increasing nearly 55 percent in the past year. Moreover, when excluding GM leasing, originations are up 27 percent, which is a testament to the strength of our business model and our reach in the marketplace.”

“The company also surpassed $50 billion in retail deposits during the quarter, with balances increasing 12 percent year-over-year and 45,000 new deposit customers joining the Ally family during the first quarter.”

Brown concluded, “Looking ahead, we are intensely focused on thoughtfully expanding our portfolio of products and services to drive revenue and returns. The auto finance business remains at the heart of what we do, and we will continue to grow that business. Meanwhile, Ally is uniquely positioned – with its incredibly powerful brand, a strong culture of innovation and customer focus, and a nimble and flexible business model – to capitalize on the future of retail banking.”

1. Corporate and Other primarily consists of Ally’s centralized treasury activities, the residual impacts of the company’s corporate funds transfer pricing and asset liability management activities, and the amortization of the discount associated with debt issuances and bond exchanges. Corporate and Other also includes the Corporate Finance business, certain investment portfolio activity and reclassifications, eliminations between the reportable operating segments, and certain unallocated expenses including overhead previously allocated to operations that have since been sold or discontinued.

2. Core pre-tax income, a non-GAAP financial measure, is defined as income from continuing operations before taxes and OID amortization expense primarily from bond exchanges and liability management actions (accelerated OID).

3. Repositioning items for 1Q15 and 4Q14 are primarily related to the extinguishment of high-cost legacy debt. Repositioning items for 1Q14 are primarily employee costs related to the disposition of certain businesses. Refer to slides 26 and 27 of the Ally Financial Inc. 1Q15 Earnings Review presentation, which is available at www.ally.com/about/investor/events-presentations/ for a reconciliation to GAAP. This presentation will also be furnished on a Form 8-K with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

4. Disc ops activity reflects several actions including divestitures of international businesses and other mortgage related charges in addition to certain discrete tax items. In January 2015, Ally completed the sale of its Chinese joint venture, resulting in an after-tax gain of approximately $400 million.

5. See slide 27 in the Ally Financial Inc. 1Q15 Earnings Review presentation which is available at www.ally.com/about/investor/events-presentations/ for definitions and details. Calculations can be found on page 22 of the 1Q15 Financial Supplement.

6. Adjusted Earnings per Common Share is a non-GAAP financial measure. See slide 8 in the Ally Financial Inc. 1Q15 Earnings Review presentation which is available at www.ally.com/about/investor/events-presentations/ for details.

Liquidity and Capital
Highlights

Received non-objection to Comprehensive Capital Analysis and Review (CCAR) submission.
Began capital structure rationalization through redemption of $1.3 billion of Series G preferred securities.
Cost of funds improved 21 basis points year-over-year.
Net interest margin, excluding OID, improved 12 basis points during the quarter.
Improved preliminary first quarter 2015 capital ratios year-over-year, with Basel III Common Equity Tier 1 capital² at 10.4 percent on a fully phased-in basis.

In the first quarter, Ally received a non-objection on its capital plan from the Federal Reserve, including the proposed capital actions contained in its 2015 CCAR submission. As a result, the company began activities to rationalize Ally’s capital structure and drive improved financial performance in the future by redeeming $1.3 billion in Series G preferred securities in April. The company also plans to eliminate additional preferred securities through the remainder of 2015 and 2016, and will continue to repurchase high-cost unsecured debt as part of Ally’s liability management strategy. Separately, as part of this broader strategy, two cash tender offers were completed in February totaling $950 million.

Ally’s consolidated cash and cash equivalents increased to $7.7 billion as of March 31, 2015, from $5.6 billion at Dec. 31, 2014, in advance of a bond repayment in April 2015. Included in this quarter’s balance are $4.2 billion at Ally Bank and $1.3 billion at the Insurance business.

Ally’s total equity was $15.9 billion at March 31, 2015, up compared to the end of the prior quarter. The company’s preliminary first quarter 2015 Basel III Common Equity Tier 1 ratio was 10.4 percent on a fully phased-in basis, and Ally’s preliminary Tier 1 capital ratio was 13.0 percent on a fully phased-in basis, both up due to proceeds from the Chinese joint venture transaction and strong first quarter earnings.

Ally continued to execute a diverse funding strategy during the first quarter of 2015. This strategy included strong growth in deposits, which represent approximately 46 percent of Ally’s funding portfolio, and completion of new term U.S. auto securitizations, which totaled approximately $2.7 billion for the quarter. The company also completed a $1.0 billion whole loan sale and issued $2.5 billion of unsecured debt during the quarter. Additionally, during the quarter Ally renewed $12.5 billion in credit facilities at both the parent company and at its banking subsidiary, Ally Bank, with improved economic and structural terms.

Ally Bank
Highlights

Surpassed $50 billion in retail deposits, totaling $50.6 billion for the first quarter, up $5.4 billion or 12 percent year-over-year.
Approximately 68 percent of Ally’s total assets were funded at Ally Bank at the end of the quarter.
Customer base grew 16 percent year-over-year and increased by 45,000 in the first quarter, to approximately 954,000 loyal customers.
Named seasoned consumer banking executive Diane Morais as head of Ally Bank to lead the franchise’s next chapter.

For purposes of financial reporting, operating results for Ally Bank, the company’s direct banking subsidiary, are included within Auto Finance, Mortgage and Corporate and Other, based on its underlying business activities.

Deposits
The company remains focused on growing quality deposits through Ally Bank, which continued to build its deposit base and maintained strong customer loyalty, attracting and retaining customers with its consumer-centric value proposition. Retail deposits at Ally Bank increased to $50.6 billion as of March 31, 2015, compared to $48.0 billion at the end of the prior quarter. Year-over-year, retail deposits increased $5.4 billion, up 12 percent. Retail deposit growth continued to be driven largely by savings products, which represent more than 50 percent of the retail portfolio. Brokered deposits at Ally Bank totaled approximately $9.9 billion as of March 31, 2015, flat compared to the prior quarter. The Ally Bank franchise has continued strong expansion of its customer base to approximately 954,000 loyal customer accounts, growing 16 percent year-over-year.

Automotive Finance
Highlights

Consumer auto financing originations totaled $9.8 billion for the quarter, up 7 percent year-over-year, despite a decline in GM lease originations.
Excluding GM lease originations, consumer originations up 27 percent year-over-year.
Strong performance in new and used originations from Growth dealers, up 54 percent over prior year period.
Named preferred financing source by Mitsubishi Motors North America in April.
Solid year-over-year growth in Chrysler with originations up 44 percent.
Automotive earning assets increased approximately 3 percent or $2.7 billion, year-over-year.

Auto Finance reported pre-tax income of $331 million for the first quarter of 2015, compared to $339 million in the corresponding prior year period. Results for the quarter were primarily driven by slightly lower net financing revenue due to expected lower net lease revenue, primarily as a result of lower lease gains, as well as continued competition in the marketplace. This was largely offset by improved provision expense, resulting from continued favorable loss performance and associated reserve releases.

Earning assets for Auto Finance, which are comprised of consumer and commercial receivables and leases, continued solid growth with end-of-period earning assets totaling $111 billion. Consumer earning assets totaled $78 billion, up 4 percent year-over-year, due to continued strong origination volume, and despite $3.6 billion of retail auto loan sales in the past 12 months. End-of-period commercial earning assets were relatively flat at $33 billion for the quarter.

Consumer financing originations in the first quarter of 2015 were $9.8 billion, compared to $9.0 billion in the prior quarter and $9.2 billion in the corresponding prior year period. Consumer financing origination levels in the first quarter of 2015 were driven by year-over-year growth in the new and used retail channels which were up 24 percent and 28 percent, respectively, and Growth channel originations now comprise 28 percent of total originations. Originations in the quarter were comprised of $4.6 billion of new retail, $3.6 billion of used retail and $1.6 billion of leases. Lease volume declined from prior quarters as a result of GM’s previously announced decision to offer subvented leasing exclusively through its captive financing company for Buick and GMC vehicles beginning in February, Cadillac vehicles beginning in March, and Chevrolet vehicles effective in April. Excluding GM leasing, consumer financing originations increased 27 percent year-over-year. In addition, new and used volume from Growth dealers increased 39 percent compared to the prior quarter and 54 percent year-over-year.

In April, Ally was named the preferred financing source for Mitsubishi Motors in the U.S., replacing Mitsubishi’s captive finance company, Mitsubishi Motors Credit of America, Inc. The agreement will add to Ally’s diversification efforts and broaden its existing relationship with Mitsubishi. Through the agreement, Ally will provide its premium services and comprehensive product offerings, including retail and lease financing, wholesale financing, remarketing and insurance offerings, to Mitsubishi’s nearly 380 dealerships across the U.S.

Insurance
Highlights

Pre-tax income improved slightly year-over-year to $78 million for the first quarter.
Initial launch of flagship vehicle service contract, Ally Premier Protection, successfully underway, increased nationwide availability beginning this summer and roll-out continuing through 2016.

Insurance, which focuses on dealer-centric products such as extended vehicle service contracts (VSCs) and dealer inventory insurance, reported pre-tax income from continuing operations of $78 million in the first quarter of 2015, compared to pre-tax income of $74 million in the prior year period. This was driven by improved underwriting income resulting from lower vehicle service contract claims. Written premiums declined slightly, primarily driven by lower floorplan balances. Total investment income remained strong at $43 million in the first quarter of 2015, flat compared to the prior year period.

The initial launch of its new, flagship vehicle service contract, Ally Premier Protection, began in March. Ally Premier Protection is slated to start its nationwide roll-out this summer and continuing through 2016, and will cover new and used vehicles of virtually all makes and models.

Mortgage
During the first quarter of 2015, Mortgage reported pre-tax income of $69 million, compared to $17 million in the prior year period. Results were primarily driven by a gain on the sale of Troubled Debt Restructuring (TDR) loans in the held-for-sale portfolio. The mortgage held-for-investment portfolio’s net carry value is approximately $7.5 billion as of March 31, 2015, up slightly from the prior quarter, as the result of bulk loan purchases made in the first quarter.

Corporate and Other
Highlights

Ally’s adjusted efficiency ratio improved to 48 percent, compared to 55 percent a year ago.
Controllable expenses for the company declined $18 million versus the comparable prior year period.

Corporate and Other primarily consists of Ally’s centralized treasury activities, the residual impacts of the company’s corporate funds transfer pricing, asset liability management activities, and the amortization of the discount associated with debt issuances and bond exchanges. Corporate and Other also includes the Corporate Finance business, certain investment portfolio activity and reclassifications, eliminations between the reportable operating segments, and overhead previously allocated to operations that have since been sold or discontinued.

Corporate and Other reported core pre-tax income (excluding core OID amortization expense and repositioning items) of $12 million, compared to a loss of $91 million in the comparable prior year period. Results were primarily affected by improved performance from Ally’s investment portfolio, continued improvement to Ally’s cost of funds, ongoing execution of the company’s liability management strategy, as well as efforts to streamline the business and further reduce controllable expenses.

Core OID amortization expense totaled $17 million, including $7 million of accelerated OID, in the first quarter of 2015, compared to $44 million reported in the corresponding prior year period.

Additional Financial Information

For additional financial information, the first quarter 2015 earnings presentation and financial supplement are available in the Events Presentations section of Ally’s Investor Relations Website at http://www.ally.com/about/investor/events-presentations/.

About Ally Financial Inc.

Ally Financial Inc. (NYSE: ALLY) is a leading automotive financial services company powered by a top direct banking franchise. Ally’s automotive services business offers a full spectrum of financial products and services, including new and used vehicle inventory and consumer financing, leasing, vehicle service contracts, commercial loans and vehicle remarketing services, as well as a variety of insurance offerings, including inventory insurance, insurance consultative services for dealers and other ancillary products. Ally Bank, the company’s direct banking subsidiary and member FDIC, offers an array of deposit products, including certificates of deposit, savings accounts, money market accounts, IRA deposit products and interest checking. Ally’s Corporate Finance unit provides financing to middle-market companies across a broad range of industries.

With approximately $153.5 billion in assets as of March 31, 2015, Ally operates as a financial holding company. For more information, visit the Ally media site at http://media.ally.com or follow Ally on Twitter: @Ally.

Forward-Looking Statements
In this earnings release and in comments by Ally Financial Inc. (“Ally”) management, the use of the words “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “forecast,” “initiative,” “objective,” “plan,” “goal,” “project,” “outlook,” “priorities,” “target,” “explore,” “positions,” “intend,” “evaluate,” “pursue,” “seek,” “may,” “would,” “could,” “should,” “believe,” “potential,” “continue,” or the negative of any of those words or similar expressions is intended to identify forward-looking statements. All statements herein and in related charts and management comments, other than statements of historical fact, including without limitation, statements about future events and financial performance, are forward-looking statements that involve certain risks and uncertainties.

While these statements represent our current judgment on what the future may hold, and we believe these judgments are reasonable, these statements are not guarantees of any events or financial results, and Ally’s actual results may differ materially due to numerous important factors that are described in the most recent reports on SEC Forms 10-K and 10-Q for Ally, each of which may be revised or supplemented in subsequent reports filed with the SEC. Such factors include, among others, the following: maintaining the mutually beneficial relationship between Ally and General Motors, and Ally and Chrysler, and our ability to further diversify our business; our ability to maintain relationships with automotive dealers; the significant regulation and restrictions that we are subject to as a bank holding company and financial holding company; the potential for deterioration in the residual value of off-lease vehicles; disruptions in the market in which we fund our operations, with resulting negative impact on our liquidity; changes in our accounting assumptions that may require or that result from changes in the accounting rules or their application, which could result in an impact on earnings; changes in our credit ratings; changes in economic conditions, currency exchange rates or political stability in the markets in which we operate; and changes in the existing or the adoption of new laws, regulations, policies or other activities of governments, agencies and similar organizations (including as a result of the Dodd-Frank Act and Basel III).

Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Ally undertakes no obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or other such factors that affect the subject of these statements, except where expressly required by law.

Contacts:

Gina Proia
646-781-2692
gina.proia@ally.com

Sarah Comstock
313-656-6954
sarah.n.comstock@ally.com

SOURCE Ally Financial

Chamber to hold economic summit

Posted on April 29, 2015 by

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By COREY DAVIS

Staff Writer

Monday, April 27, 2015

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Tagged with: North Carolina

Asheville businesses win at WCU innovation conference – Asheville Citizen

Posted on April 29, 2015 by

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CULLOWHEE – Two smartphone apps, a virtual training tool and an idea for a shared regional beer production and distribution facility took home a combined $7,000 in prize money at the first LEAD: Innovation conference at Western Carolina University last week.

Billed as a kinder, gentler version of the hit TV show “Shark Tank,” two different pitch competition events were held at the inaugural event. About 100 people attended the entrepreneurship and small business summit.

Nine different ideas were presented in the “Bright Ideas Rocket Pitch” competition, which was geared toward entrepreneurs, inventors, startups and businesses that may not have gotten started yet.

Paul Hedgecock of Asheville won first prize of $2,500 in the “Bright Ideas Rocket Pitch” competition for his pitch for UGoTour, a travel and tourism smartphone app that helps people discover areas of Western North Carolina.

Second place and $1,000 went to Emily Edmonds of Sylva for her concept for WNC Brewhub, a proposal to establish a shared beer production and distribution facility for breweries across the region.

In the “Promising Business Acceleration” competition, which was for established businesses looking for capital to help grow their venture, six businesses participated.

Asheville’s Ted Pate and Flori Pate claimed first prize and $2,500 to build their business Local Flavor, which provides a free app for smartphones designed to give people an insider’s view into a true Asheville experience by featuring only local establishments.

Steward Cook and Tammy Cook of Hickory took second prize and $1,000 for App Garden University by Cook Consulting, a virtual tool that provides customizable training for substitute teachers.

“The subjects of the pitches were quite varied, ranging from an online physicians’ telehealth startup to new products for stroke rehabilitation,” said Ed Wright, associate professor of global management and strategy at Western Carolina University. “Overall, the quality of the pitches was excellent, and we look forward to doing this event on a larger scale next year.”

The conference was a part of a series of scheduled events inspired by LEAD: WNC, a one-day event held in November at Western Carolina University to discuss solutions for sustainable economic and community development.

Tagged with: Asheville

3-D implant saves leg – KLAS

Posted on April 29, 2015 by

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RALEIGH, N.C. (Ivanhoe Newswire) — Imagine surviving a car crash- only to be told by doctors that while your life was saved, you’d lose your leg. For one woman, the news was devastating, but then she learned of a new technology that could put her back on her feet again.

Ruth Smith-Leigh is finally feeling no pain after a car accident last year crushed her leg, breaking her shin, ankle and multiple bones in her foot.

Ruth was referred to Samuel B. Adams, MD, Orthopedic Surgeon at Duke University Medical Center.

Dr. Adams told Ivanhoe, “It’s very, very serious. Most people do end up losing their leg from this type of injury.”

Smith-Leigh said, “It was a very frightening situation for me to be in at that point; frightening and almost hopeless.”

In the past, amputation would have been the likely outcome. But thanks to a new custom 3-D printed bone implant, her leg repaired itself.

“This is a tremendous breakthrough. It gives us so many more options that we didn’t have. We can make any shape and size that we want, and the 3-D implant, the truss technology that’s used is actually stronger than the native bone,” Dr. Adams explained.

Using CT scans, Ruth’s anatomy was recreated with an implant made of titanium to fit the bone.

Dr. Adams said, “Your body’s bone cells love to grow into this material both on a microscopic level and because of these open pores, the bone can grow around and through it.”

Eight months after surgery, Smith-Leigh told Ivanhoe, “I returned back to work. I am now back to being a basketball and a soccer mom and just getting things back to normal,” and back on her feet.

Only a handful of patients have received 3-D printed bone implants in the U.S. Dr. Adams says the new technology can be used to help save the limbs of those with bone cancer or any trauma or accident, without the risk of rejection seen with traditional methods like bone grafting.

BACKGROUND: Car crashes, falling from a jungle gym and falling down stairs can all cause broken bones or fractures. When too much pressure is placed on the bone, it will split or break. Sometimes the break will be visible or accompanied by bleeding, bruising, or swelling. Intense pain and limited mobility also usually accompany broken bones. It’s important to limit mobility and stay calm until medical personnel arrive at the scene. Applying ice may reduce swelling, and sometimes splints can be used to immobilize the broken bone. A break in the bone of any size is called a fracture. An open fracture occurs if the bone punctures the skin. While most fractures occur as the result of trauma, a stress fracture occurs when a hairline crack forms in the bone from repeated or extended forces or pressure on the bone. (Source: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000001.htm)

TREATMENT: After a bone is fractured, it has to be set in the right place. This process is called reduction. Sometimes the reduction is done without surgery, called a closed reduction, and other times it can be done with surgery, called open reduction. Sometimes, devices must be placed to make sure the bone stays in place. After the bone is set, casts or splints are used to immobilize the bone. Painkillers may also be recommended to reduce pain. After the cast or splint is removed, the area may still be stiff or swollen. Then, it is recommended to gradually begin using the area again. While there may be difficulties at first, such as a noticeable limp, but they should disappear. It may take four to six weeks for the bone to regain strength. (Source: http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/understanding-fractures-treatment?page=2)

NEW TECHNOLOGY: Now, 3-D printing is helping doctors find new treatments for more serious cases. The first commercial 3-D printer was invented in 1986 by Charles Hull. Now, these printers are finding uses in the medical field. A viral video earlier this year showed Robert Downey Jr. presenting a 3-D-printed mechanical arm to a boy with a partially developed right arm. “I think yours might be better than mine,” the Iron Man star quipped. After Ruth Smith-Leigh broke almost every bone in her foot from a car accident, she could look to 3-D-printed bone implants to save her leg. CT scans helped doctors recreate Smith-Leigh’s anatomy in the form of a titanium implant that fits into the bone. The bone then grows in and around the implanted device. Only a handful of people have received bone transplants in the U.S. (Source: http://www.livescience.com/34551-3d-printing.html, http://variety.com/2015/film/news/robert-downey-jr-gifts-bionic-iron-man-arm-to-7-year-old-fan-1201451880/, Samuel B. Adams, MD, Duke University Medical Center)

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS REPORT, PLEASE CONTACT:

Sarah Avery
919-660-1306
Sarah.avery@duke.edu

If this story or any other Ivanhoe story has impacted your life or prompted you or someone you know to seek or change treatments, please let us know by contacting Marjorie Bekaert Thomas at mthomas@ivanhoe.com

Samuel B. Adams, M.D., Orthopedic Surgeon at Duke University Medical Center discusses a new procedure involving a 3-D bone implant.

Interview conducted by Ivanhoe Broadcast News in February 2014.

Can you take us through Ruth’s case?

Dr. Adams: Ruth came to our emergency room after being involved in a rollover motor vehicle collision. She swerved to miss a drunk driver. She sustained an open fracture which means the bones came through her skin and multiple fractures of her lower extremity, including her tibia bone, her talus, her calcaneus and multiple additional foot fractures. She underwent multiple surgeries to temporize her fractures and clean out her open wounds. She then saw some physicians who recommended an amputation. That is when they recommended she come and see me to see if there were any salvage options.

She was in very bad shape, correct?

Dr. Adams: Correct. She underwent multiple surgeries to clean those open wounds and also temporize the fractures, which means to help stabilize until we could figure out a long term plan. She did see multiple surgeons who recommended amputation. She was then sent to me for a limb salvage option, which means is there any way that we can allow her to keep her foot.

Before you had this implant, what would be the option besides amputation?

Dr. Adams: We used to use cadaver bones to try to fill the defect. However, this was such a large defect of bone that it wouldn’t have been an option.

Where does the 3-D bone implant come in?

Dr. Adams: The idea of the 3-D bone implant is that we can make any shape and size that we want. The Truss technology that’s used is actually stronger than the native bone. We can make any shape and any size and provide a structural integrity to her leg that’s stronger than what she would have with either her own bone or if we had used a cadaver bone.

Is this something that would be almost personalized?

Dr. Adams: It is personalized. She had a CT scan and that scan was sent to the company. They recreated her anatomy and then made an implant to fit the bone that she had lost in the accident.

What is it made of?

Dr. Adams: Titanium. Its electron beam melted titanium, which basically means that there’s powder titanium that’s melted and then 3-D printed into any shape and size.

Is this actually stronger than her bone because of the body’s ability to kind of mold into that titanium?

Dr. Adams: That is true as well as the truss technology that this particular company uses. If you look at the implant, it’s basically triangles. If you’re driving by a bridge, you’ll start to notice various triangles being used in engineering. That’s what this company has employed in to the human body. And, that’s what makes it strong.

Can you talk about how the body’s bone actually will grow into that?

Dr. Adams: The basic science, or the laboratory data that we have, indicates that your body’s bone cells love to grow in to this material on a microscopic level. Because of these open pores, the bone can grow around and through it allowing the patient’s bone to really interdigitate with the implant.

Where is Ruth now?

Dr. Adams: This was done last April. Around Thanksgiving, she came to see me and had shopped fourteen hours in one day. The last visit in January when she came in to see me, she pulled out her pedometer and had already walked eight thousand steps that day. She’s also back to teaching a full work day.

How big of a breakthrough would you say that this is?

Dr. Adams: This is a tremendous breakthrough. It gives us so many more options that we didn’t have. There are so many people out there that have these severe accidents that lose part or all of their bones and we’re now able to reconstruct those.

Is there any kind of disease, like bone cancer, that you would use this for?

Dr. Adams: Certainly. This could also be used in bone cancer. There are a lot of procedures where we have to resect a large portion of somebody’s bone and this can fill that void.

When Ruth came to you, explain the dire circumstance she was in and where she is now?

Dr. Adams: She was not able to walk on this leg. Many people had told her that she was going to lose her leg. She did not want that of course. She’s a mother of several children and she wanted to do anything she could to preserve her leg. I was able to provide that for her.

How exciting was that for you?

Dr. Adams: Tremendous excitement. It’s proof of concept and hopefully I can help many more patients in her same situation.

Is there any chance of somebody having an allergic reaction to the metal?

Dr. Adams: There are people with metal allergies. Typically, they do not have an allergy to titanium. This is pure titanium. Most people that have metal allergies, the allergy is to nickel.

What is the recovery like?

Dr. Adams: In this instance, I was very conservative in her recovery and kept her non weight bearing for about three months. However, I have done this since her surgery and I was able to weight bear one patient at two weeks. So, we’ve become more comfortable with the technology and we’ll be able to weight bear people and they’re recovery time will be shorter.

By that, you mean you didn’t want her to walk for three months?

Dr. Adams: She was able to get up, just not allowed to put weight on this leg. That was mainly because it was new technology and the first time being used. I was concerned about how her bones would really grow in to the implant.

What is the time difference with the 3-D and cadaver? You can pretty much get one of these printed up right away, correct?

Dr. Adams: Correct. This may be several years off, but the future is that this could be in-house and you’re in surgery and need a custom-shaped implant. You can send the specifications downstairs and could have one printed while you’re in the operating room.

This information is intended for additional research purposes only. It is not to be used as a prescription or advice from Ivanhoe Broadcast News, Inc. or any medical professional interviewed. Ivanhoe Broadcast News, Inc. assumes no responsibility for the depth or accuracy of physician statements. Procedures or medicines apply to different people and medical factors; always consult your physician on medical matters.

Tagged with: Raleigh

Obama nominates No. 2 at Coast Guard to run TSA

Posted on April 29, 2015 by

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Crickenberger, Herbert Phalti

Herbert Phalti Crickenberger, 95, of Lynchburg, passed away Monday, April 27, 2015, at Virginia Baptist Hospital. He was of the husband of 75 years to Katherine Oliver Crickenberger. Born July 12, 1919, in Bedford County, he was the son of the late Warren Alvin Crickenberger and the late Lilly Belle Crickenberger.Herbert was an employee of Dusty Ducts, Inc., where he was known as “Mr. C.”, and he was a member of Thomas Road Baptist Church for over 50 years, where was the oldest serving deacon. Herbert also served our country in the U.S. Navy during World War II.In addition to his parents, Herbert was preceded in death by one daughter, Connie Mays; and two grandsons, Richard Campbell and Baby Lester Jones.In addition to his wife, Herbert is survived by his children, Dianne Campbell and her husband, Glenn, of Pleasant View, Brenda Whitehead and her husband, Mac, of Forest; Cindy Jones and her husband, Joe, of Madison Heights; and Rick Crickenberger and his wife, Diane, of Goode; three siblings, Jessie Burkholder of Norfolk; Lloyd Crickenberger of Lynchburg and Jeanette Boles and her husband Percy of Rocky Mount; thirteen grandchildren, Greg Mays, Glen Mays, Renee Mays, Glenda Gowen-Nixon, Glenn Campbell, Jr., Billy Campbell, Chris Coley, Valarie Martin, Derrick Coley, Tabitha Coley, Kyle Crickenberger, Megan Crickenberger and Hannah Crickenberger; twenty-one great grandchildren, Ethan, Melissa, Stephanie, Michael, Sydney, Hunter, Joshua, Kristen, Nicholas, Justin, Olivia, Cheyenne, Jacob, Jordan, Kincaid, Grace, Reed, Lindsay, Peyton, Ravyn and Finn; and other great-great grandchildren, nieces, nephews and friends.A funeral service will be conducted 11 a.m. Thursday, April 30, 2015, at Thomas Road Baptist Church-Pate Chapel with Pastor Jonathan Falwell, the Rev. Mike Fitzgerald and the Rev. David Heerspink officiating. Interment will follow at Virginia Memorial Park in Forest, Va., where Military Honors will be presented by the American Legion Post 16.The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, April 29, 2015, at Whitten Timberlake Chapel and at other times at the residence.Memorial contributions may be made to either the Thomas Road Baptist Church Missions Fund or the Alzheimer’s Association.To send condolences to the family, please visit www.whittentimberlakechapel.com.Whitten Timberlake Chapel, 7404 Timberlake Rd., Lynchburg, VA 24502, (434) 239-0331, is serving the family.

Tagged with: Charlotte

‘421 Yard Sale’ begins Friday

Posted on April 28, 2015 by

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The third annual 421 Yard Sale will be held Friday, Saturday and Sunday, not only in Harlan County, but from Michigan City, Ind. to the coast of North Carolina.

This event, locally, is a project of Harlan 20/20 Community Development Foundation in cooperation with Harlan, Evarts and Cumberland Tourist commissions.

“We’d like to see this sale in every city across that 960 mile stretch of road on the same weekend,” said Jim Helton, 421 Yard Sale web master. “That is our eventual goal.”

Helton said the purpose of this event is to promote tourism, have fun and find great deals.

“Harlan County is dead in the center of U.S. 421,” said Helton. “Last year’s event did rather well. Each year the sale has gotten larger and that is what we are working toward. We’re getting more interest this year than last, lots of phone calls, applications and emails. We have several billboards, one at the Huddle House in Harlan and another one in Corbin hoping to bring out-of-towners into the Harlan County area.”

Preston McLain, Governor’s Office of Local Development Adventure Tourism representative for eastern Kentucky and vice chair for the Recreational Trails Program, said the sale is not limited to U.S. 421, but any main roadway connecting to U.S. 421 such as KY 33, U.S. 119 and U.S. 25E.

McLain said last year in Harlan County they saw approximately 400 yard sales and they are expecting that and more this year.

“In order for outsiders to find these yard sales we are recommending you post your yard sale on our Facebook page or visit our web site at www.421yardsale.com,” said Helton. “Residents will be able to use the Village Center Mall parking lot again this year. That seems to be a good location and it is centrally located. There is plenty of parking available.”

They will also host their annual “421 Duck Race,” which requires a $5 donation to participate.

“All proceeds benefit Harlan 20/20,” said McLain. “This year first place will win $500 and second place will win a 32 inch flat screen TV. The ducks will fly on Saturday at 4 p.m. from the Walmart/Don’s Super Saver bridge. If Mother Nature cooperates we’ll fly on that day, but if not we’ll do it as soon thereafter as the weather permits.”

Anyone wishing to purchase a duck may contact any member of Harlan 20/20 including Ron Frazier at the Harlan downtown Home Federal Bank, Kathy Jones or Kilgores in Evarts.

“We will also be setting up a table to sell tickets at the Village Center Mall on Saturday,” said McLain. “We invite everybody to stop by and purchase a duck.”

Reach Nola Sizemore at 606-573-4510 or on Twitter @Nola_hde

Tagged with: North Carolina