Beginning March 1st, 2019, the Town of Siler City Water Plant will temporarily suspend the addition of ammonia to its water treatment disinfection process, as required by North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources (NCDENR). Siler City will resume the addition of ammonia to the water treatment disinfection process on March 30th, 2019.
Siler City uses both ammonia and chlorine to form chloramines for its disinfection process. Ammonia is added to the water in a carefully regulated dose and reacts chemically with the chlorine to produce chloramines. Chloraminated drinking water is safe for drinking, bathing, cooking and many other daily uses. NCDENR requires all systems using chloramination to suspend the addition of ammonia for a one month period annually.
During the changes in our disinfection process, three groups of people need to take special precautions for higher concentrations of chlorine – kidney dialysis patients, pretreatment owners and aquatic pet owners using City water. Dialysis patients and aquatic pet owners already treat the water they use for chlorine removal. Any customer who pre-treats City water for any process should be aware of their change and consult the manufacturer of any pretreatment equipment for recommendations.
Customers with concerns may contact the Town of Siler City at 919-742-4731 or jjohnson@silercity.org.
Starling named to the Fayetteville State University Dean’s List for Fall Semester 2018
FAYETTEVILLE — Nyrasia Starling of Siler City, has been named to the Fayetteville State University Dean’s List for the Fall Semester 2018.
Each semester, outstanding students are honored by inclusion on the Dean’s List. To earn this distinction, students must successfully complete at least 12 semester hours during one semester (or two consecutive terms for Fort Bragg students), earn a GPA of 3.2 to 3.74, and have no incomplete grades.
Cost of gas rises 5.6 cents over week
CHARLOTTE — Gasoline prices in North Carolina have risen 5.6 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $2.16/g on Sunday, according to GasBuddy’s daily survey of 6,092 stations in North Carolina.
This compares with the national average that is unchanged versus last week to $2.25/g, according to GasBuddy.
Including the change locally during the past week, prices on Sunday were 29.6 cents per gallon lower than a year ago and are 1.4 cents per gallon higher than a month ago. The national average has dropped 2.0 cents per gallon during the last month and stands 31.6 cents per gallon lower than a year ago.
Areas nearby and their current gas price climate: Fayetteville- $2.06/g, up 7.6 cents per gallon from last week’s $1.98/g; Charlotte- $2.08/g, up 5.7 cents per gallon from last week’s $2.02/g; Greensboro- $2.17/g, up 5.2 cents per gallon from last week’s $2.12/g.
“The national average saw limited upward movement in the last week, while the lowest price stations overall were the locations that saw prices tick higher. The percent of gas stations in the U.S. selling under $2 per gallon fell from 37% to 27% over the last week as oil prices hold above $53 per barrel. We’re also starting to see early refineries begin seasonal maintenance, which may aid prices moving higher in the weeks ahead,” said Patrick DeHaan, head of petroleum analysis for GasBuddy. “Part of where gas prices go from here and how quickly depends on whether or not politicians can make a long-term budget agreement. Another prolonged shutdown will hurt the economy and likely keep gas prices more muted. In addition, watch for any progress of a broad trade deal with China. Even the sub-zero temperatures upcoming in many areas could play a role in gasoline prices, diesel prices and heating oil: it may keep Americans at home, using more heavy oils to heat their home.”
AAA Applauds New Research from IIHS on Distracted Driving
CHARLOTTE — New research by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) revealed that distracted driving remains on the rise – due to cell phone use and other behaviors.
The study found that manipulating a cellphone was a contributing factor in more than 800 crash deaths on U.S. roads during 2017 amid a marked increase in the percentage of drivers observed interacting with cellphones.
The problem of distracted driving, especially cellphone use, continues to raise concerns. A 2018 national survey by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that 64 percent of respondents consider distracted driving a much bigger problem today than it was three years ago.
Distracted driving is not simply using a cell phone behind the wheel. In fact, the study found that 14 percent of motorists were distracted by a nonphone-related secondary behavior, which exceeds the 3.4 percent observed manipulating a phone.
“We really hope hands-free legislation will be greatly considered in the Carolinas in an effort to help stop the epidemic of distracted driving,” said Tiffany Wright, AAA Carolinas spokesperson. “However, it’s also important for motorists to realize that cell phones aren’t the only distraction that can lead to slow reaction times or poor decision making.”
In the 2018 survey, observers noted nearly 12,000 drivers during the morning, afternoon and evening on weekdays. What they found was that 23 percent of motorists were engaged in one or more of the following distracting activities while both moving and stopped at red lights:
• Talking on hand-held cellphone
• Manipulating hand-held cellphone (excludes looking at phone in mount)
• Simply holding hand-held cellphone (i.e. not obviously manipulating or talking)
• Wearing Bluetooth earpiece or headset with mic
• Wearing headphones or ear buds
• Manipulating in-vehicle system (touching radio, climate control, touchscreen display or other controls; excludes operating stalks or buttons on steering wheel)
• Manipulating or holding mobile electronic device other than cellphone
• Talking or singing
• Eating or drinking
• Smoking
• Grooming
• Other (reaching for object, reading print material, adjusting sun visor, putting on glasses, holding another object)
AAA reminds drivers to avoid all distractions, smartphone or other secondary behaviors, while driving. Research by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety has shown that cognitive distraction exists even with hands-free usage and can persist for as long as 27 seconds after the distracting behavior ends. Drivers engaging in visual-manual interactions with cell phones (e.g., texting) are two to eight times as likely to be involved in a crash and drivers conversing on mobile devices, either hands-free or hand-held, are up to four times as likely to be involved in a crash. It is important to remember that hands-free is not risk free.
— CN+R Staff Report