It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always
They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.
However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting the historic Bentonville Battlefield State Historic Site gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.
Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Advance, NC is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Home Care Services
Service AreasSince 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.
Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.
The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.
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“Looking for a placement is always difficult for a family. Contacting Sandy to help was the best option. She was familiar with all assisted living/memory care facilities around town and was quick to respond to the family with tours. She delivered FL2 forms to physician's and made the transition an easy process. I recommend Sandy 100 % for any family needing a smaller community for their elderly family member.”
“I have been working for ABC for two years now, and I am very grateful for my position. The staff are acceptable, the clients are lovely, and the environments are professional. I highly recommend PCAs and CNAs to apply.”
“Such a wonderful place to work! Caregivers that genuinely care with office support that go above and beyond for staff/clients. Highly recommend for employment and senior in-home care support.”
“I bn with this company for Abt a year and I love working for them . They work with you,they care about ur personal life/ problems, really good at matching you with good clients..”
“I cannot say enough good things about this company and the caregivers they provided after my mom's recent accident and stay in a rehab facility. The staff were constantly in communication with us keeping us abreast of any little or big updates. Their attitudes were always helpful and they seemed to genuinely care. The caregivers they sent to sit with and take care of mom were EXCELLENT. I'm not sure how many different caregivers she had over the few weeks of her stay but there wasn't a single one that wasn't kind and extremely helpful. It took a tremendous load off of everyone in our family knowing that she was being well cared for when we couldn't be there. Thank you to Brandi, Joanne, Gina, and anyone I'm missing for everything you all did for us from the beginning of the process all the way to my mom's release today. Hopefully, we won't need your services again, but if we do, I know who I will be calling!”
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“Sandy is very knowledgeable of assisted living options in the Winston Salem area. She helped with a family member’s search with care and consideration. We highly recommend.”
“I highly recommend Sandy Bowen with Always Best Care. I called her with a very tight timeframe to find a suitable memory care facility for my family member. She asked a lot of questions about my loved one to try and get to know her as much as possible. She worked very fast and lined up several appointments for us to tour places within a matter of days. She explained the process to me every step of the way and made sure we stayed on track. She attended the appointments with me and asked questions that I would never think to ask. I can’t thank her enough.”
“The staff and caretakers are wonderful. Would absolutely recommend to anyone who needs at home care for themselves or loved ones”
“These folks are so helpful! They care about their clients and it shows in the service! I highly recommend ????”
“The staff and caretakers are wonderful. Would absolutely recommend to anyone who needs at home care for themselves or loved ones”
“During an unexpected hospital stay, Joanne provided much needed assistance. She provided excellent care and supportive advocacy. It made dealing with the discomfort more bearable and gave me a safeguard to decipher the complicated choices to resolve health issues. I highly recommend this service.”
“If you are looking for attentive, quality home care look no further than Joanne and her team. A passion for excellence is driven for from this team. Family oriented and willing to work with all families.”
Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.
When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.
The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.
At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.
To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:
If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.
Common personal care services include assistance with:
Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.
Common home helper care services include assistance with:
Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Tanglewood Park with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.
Common companionship services include:
According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local 801 Southern Kitchen and Pancake House or visit Biltmore, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.
At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.
If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.
Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.
Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.
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While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.
In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.
How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?
A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.
With the help of elderly care in Advance, NC, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.
Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.
Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.
For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.
More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.
In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.
With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.
In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.
Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.
At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.
In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:
When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.
Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.
At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Advance, NC understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.
Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.
Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.
While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.
Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.
At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.
Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:
At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.
Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.
Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:
For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.
The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:
A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way
A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive
Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider
Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.
If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.
At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Advance, NC 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.
When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.
When agricultural challenges like sustainability and data-overwhelm intersect, innovation rarely happens in isolation. The most impactful solutions often emerge at the crossroads of disciplines, where technology and collaboration can collide.For a fresh take on these opportunities, we welcome Debjani Sihi to North Carolina State University as an assistant professor, contributing expertise in biogeochemistry through a shared appointment between the Departments of ...
When agricultural challenges like sustainability and data-overwhelm intersect, innovation rarely happens in isolation. The most impactful solutions often emerge at the crossroads of disciplines, where technology and collaboration can collide.
For a fresh take on these opportunities, we welcome Debjani Sihi to North Carolina State University as an assistant professor, contributing expertise in biogeochemistry through a shared appointment between the Departments of Plant and Microbial Biology and Crop and Soil Sciences.
Before joining NC State, Sihi was a faculty member at Emory University, where she led research on soil carbon dynamics and mentored students in environmental sciences.
She earned a Ph.D. in soil and water science from the University of Florida, where she investigated soil organic matter dynamics and greenhouse gas emissions in subtropical wetlands. Her postdoctoral work at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science and Oak Ridge National Laboratory focused on biogeochemical modeling and soil greenhouse gas emissions.
“I’ve always been fascinated by how the tiniest interactions in soil can have monumental impacts on ecosystems and agriculture,” Sihi shared. “Integrating AI into this field opens doors we couldn’t have imagined a decade ago.”
Sihi’s appointment marks an exciting milestone for NC State as she becomes the first AI-focused cluster hire in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Her interdisciplinary work bridges advanced data science with practical agricultural applications, positioning NC State at the forefront of AI-driven sustainability solutions.
“Effective use of AI in agriculture goes beyond a single study,” Sihi said. “I take a data-driven approach to understand the mechanisms and to create models that allow us to understand agriculture’s environmental footprint and the implications for food security.”
At NC State, Dr. Sihi’s research will delve into the intricate interactions within the plant-soil-microbe-atmosphere continuum. Her work aims to:
While her role is primarily foundational research, she values its connection to real-world outcomes.
“Agricultural land use is a complicated system that we can use AI to simplify – to learn patterns, predict outcomes and communicate what the practical benefits are. But it demands a lot of data, which is why basic research is essential. It fuels the field studies directly impacting farmers, policymakers and stakeholders.”
“We recommend practices like cover cropping, reduced tillage, soil amendments or a combination of these to reduce the environmental footprints of our agricultural systems, but we would like to discuss the outcomes confidently. Do the practices make a grower more profitable? Or how else do they benefit? Do these practices offer greater-good impacts like carbon sequestration and reduced greenhouse gases? Are these impacts permanent or temporary? We want the evidence to build sound decision and policymaking.”
The proliferation of agricultural data instruments on farms and in research has created a significant but scattered data field. The challenge is to coordinate and skillfully combine the data locations and scales. She acknowledges that this is a tricky topic.
“We’re no longer data-limited,” Sihi said. “The limit now is data sharing and some ethical issues therein. So, it’s critical for us to communicate with stakeholders the value of public/private partnerships like the land grant system. The data could leapfrog our understanding years ahead.”
Looking ahead, Sihi is seeking partnerships within her cluster area, the N.C. PSI and other colleges within the university to create action-oriented work. She wants to evaluate management practices through multi-scale measurements that could have broad and possibly immediate applications.
She foresees a near future when algorithms can guide real-time decision-making.
“If we seek to reduce agriculture’s environmental footprint while maintaining yield, we must assess which variables provide the greatest benefit at the moment, including time, amendments, fertility and resources (like irrigation). Creating a reliable process model can drastically shorten farmer’s decision-making and satisfy multiple goals.”
Sihi confesses that she’s most excited about the opportunity to scale the groundwork already laid by colleagues and through platforms like the N.C. PSI and the Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS).
“There’s a great opportunity to improve our understanding and mapping of plant and soil properties or ecosystem services in heterogeneous landscapes- from a bottom-up approach starting at the microbe and soil cores at the field level and top-down from satellite data to drone measurements. Growing datasets in both directions will create a pool we can tap and ultimately put in farmers’ hands.”
Crop and Soil Sciences’ research impacts farmers, students, and NC citizens. Follow how our discoveries affect agriculture and environmental science by joining our weekly newsfeed.
If you are a student interested in technology, climate mitigation or soil management, investigate our undergraduate and graduate degree programs, including a deep dive into our agronomy degree. Then, join us for a guided email tour of our department and university.
Protecting NC’s agriculture and environment through stewardship is just part of how we are growing the future.
NC IDEA, a private foundation committed to supporting entrepreneurial ambition and economic empowerment in North Carolina, recently announced that the organization has awarded 11 Rural Impact grants to companies across the state. Over $1.2 million in funding is earmarked to address the needs of rural entrepreneurs, with $500,000 of this amount contributed by Wells Fargo.“Today’s funding announcement marks a significant investment into the equitable startup ecosystems of North Carolina and underscores our commitment to empo...
NC IDEA, a private foundation committed to supporting entrepreneurial ambition and economic empowerment in North Carolina, recently announced that the organization has awarded 11 Rural Impact grants to companies across the state. Over $1.2 million in funding is earmarked to address the needs of rural entrepreneurs, with $500,000 of this amount contributed by Wells Fargo.
“Today’s funding announcement marks a significant investment into the equitable startup ecosystems of North Carolina and underscores our commitment to empower more people to pursue their entrepreneurial ambition,” said President and CEO of NC IDEA Thom Ruhe in a press release. “In this critical moment, it is essential to continue our work to strengthen North Carolina’s entrepreneurial support infrastructure for underserved populations. We are grateful for the added support of our partner Wells Fargo to specifically champion and uplift rural entrepreneurship.”
Rural Impact grants have been awarded as part of an initiative to support rural entrepreneurship across the state. These new grants provide funding for previous NC IDEA MICRO and SEED grant recipients to support their continued growth, address resource gaps, and foster economic development in the rural counties of our state. The $200,000 commitment from Wells Fargo is providing grants of up to $20,000 to the following companies either headquartered in a rural county or with a clear and significant impact on rural communities in North Carolina.
Within Greater Fayetteville Business Journal’s coverage area two businesses received funding:
Active Defender in Carthage, NC and Phinite in Clinton, NC.
Phinite, Inc. is a leader in agricultural technology and sustainable fertilizer manufacturing. In October 2024, the company announced plans to establish its next-generation manufacturing plant in Sampson County. The company plans to invest approximately $5.5 million, and create 23 new jobs in Turkey, NC.
Active Defender is a technology company focused on securing and protecting schools through continued advancements in communication, security systems , emergency live streaming and more. For over 23 years, Active Defender has created innovative solutions to complex problems and worked to revolutionize safety on school campuses and businesses nationwide.
“We are proud to continue our support for NC IDEA and their work to provide North Carolina’s rural entrepreneurs access to the resources and opportunities they need to thrive and grow,” said Community Relations Director for Wells Fargo Jay Everette in a press release. “We all know small businesses are the backbone of our communities – and Wells Fargo is committed to making meaningful investments to help set them up for success.”
Support from Wells Fargo related to NC IDEA’S rural entrepreneurship initiatives first began in June 2024 when they funded a comprehensive report with in-depth analysis and recommendations around rural entrepreneurship. These recent grants are a direct outcome of the report's findings on how to best support the needs of rural entrepreneurs statewide.
A bill advancing in the North Carolina House would put the brakes on Garner's bid to expand its land-use planning authority to more areas in southeastern and south-central Wake County.House Bill 173 would halt Garner's request to expand its extraterritorial jurisdiction, also known as ETJ, to the fast-growing areas around the final segment of the soon-to-be expanded Interstate 540 and U.S. Highway 401 in southern Wake County.The bill would ...
A bill advancing in the North Carolina House would put the brakes on Garner's bid to expand its land-use planning authority to more areas in southeastern and south-central Wake County.
House Bill 173 would halt Garner's request to expand its extraterritorial jurisdiction, also known as ETJ, to the fast-growing areas around the final segment of the soon-to-be expanded Interstate 540 and U.S. Highway 401 in southern Wake County.
The bill would actually freeze all extraterritorial jurisdiction areas within their boundaries as of Jan. 1, 2025. However, bill sponsor Erin Paré, R-Wake, says Garner is the only municipality currently working on expanding its planning footprint.
"It's not taking a sledgehammer to this issue," Paré told the House State and Local Government committee Tuesday. "It does halt it for a temporary period of time."
Paré said people who own property in ETJs are under the authority of officials they cannot even vote for, since ETJs are by definition outside city limits.
"I think that it is absolutely appropriate to halt expansion and allow for collaboration between the property owners and the county and the town of Garner," Paré said. "I think that's what should happen anyway, and that's what this will facilitate."
Garner leaders are opposed to the bill.
Assistant Garner town manager John Hodges said its current ETJ expansion plan follows all state laws as well as Wake County's comprehensive plan. He said freezing it would be an "impediment to economic development."
"We have been working for years with the Turnpike Authority to plan for what things would look like in south Wake County once 540 was opened," Hodges said. "We've worked for years to ensure that there was infrastructure built into 540 so that utilities could be extended. And we're trying to meet the goals of 540 by creating job centers along the 540 corridor."
But the North Carolina Farm Bureau and the North Carolina Association of Realtors want to see the expansion halted.
"This General Assembly outlawed forced annexation, said Cady Thomas with NCAR. "ETJ is just an extension of forced annexation. You're putting people into a community that they did not ask to be in, they did not choose to move there, and they are now going to be forced to do with their property what someone says, and they cannot vote for those people."
Thomas said NCAR is in favor of economic development. But she said Garner should instead ask the Wake County Board of Commissioners to make the changes it wants. "That'd be by the people that those citizens can elect and vote for," she said.
The measure has two more committee stops before reaching the House floor, which could happen next week. It would then have to pass the Senate.
NEWARK ? With visiting West Jefferson executing at a high level and taking a 6-point lead late in the first half Tuesday, it looked like the final home game for Newark Catholic's three seniors could be in jeopardy.They weren't about to let that happen.After Fini Kaiser got the top-seeded Green Wave off to a good start, Sophie Peloquin and the NC defense took over in the third quarter of a 55-46 Division VI district semifinal win against the fifth-seeded Rough Riders."We kind of struggled the first half defensively, ...
NEWARK ? With visiting West Jefferson executing at a high level and taking a 6-point lead late in the first half Tuesday, it looked like the final home game for Newark Catholic's three seniors could be in jeopardy.
They weren't about to let that happen.
After Fini Kaiser got the top-seeded Green Wave off to a good start, Sophie Peloquin and the NC defense took over in the third quarter of a 55-46 Division VI district semifinal win against the fifth-seeded Rough Riders.
"We kind of struggled the first half defensively, but we bounced back," coach Dani Evans said, as NC (16-7) advanced. Evans' team will face second seed Centerburg (21-3), a 63-41 winner against East Knox, at 8 p.m. Saturday at Ohio Dominican for a regional berth.
"Number 10 (senior guard Zoey Brown) and number 20 (sophomore forward Jenna Mannon) were their stars, so we tried triangle and two and box and one, but couldn't move fast enough," Evans explained. "So we went back to the 1-3-1, which is our bread and butter, and stayed with that."
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The Green Wave forced 10 third-quarter turnovers and Peloquin, still feeling the effects from an ankle injury, got hot. She made three baseline 3-pointers, scored 12 of her 20 points, and NC went from a 28-22 first-half deficit to a 44-34 lead going to the fourth.
"We've been working hard on putting a lot of pressure on them, and coming out in the third, we knew if we didn't pressure the ball, we could possibly lose," Peloquin said. "Coming back from the ankle, I only had one day of practice, so I was kind of catching my breath. Mechanicsburg gave us the post and West Jefferson saw that, so they packed it in. So I knew I had to hit some outside shots."
Evans said NC just put in a new offense that had Peloquin going to the corners.
"She's not there normally, and with them playing the 3-2, we were able to overload to one side," she said. "We were still bigger than them, and still had to get Fini, Leah (Caudill) and Natalie (Harrington) involved inside.
Said Kaiser: "We do a partnership shoot at practice, and she has been shooting lights out."
Kaiser had 8 first-quarter points and hit Peloquin for a transition layup early in the second as the Green Wave went up 16-9. But West Jefferson (16-6) caught fire. Mannon had 9 second-quarter points including a 3-pointer. Brown had 10 first-half points with two 3s, and the Rough Riders went on an 11-0 run to go up 28-22 with 1:31 left in the half.
But Caudill scored on a rebound, Harrington had an inside basket and NC got some momentum, chopping it to 28-26 at the break. Kaiser opened the second half with a rebound bucket, Peloquin hit Caudill for a layup, then drilled a 3 after a turnover as the Green went ahead 33-28 and never trailed again.
The other senior, Madi Hampton, had two steals and an assist in the third as NC limited West Jefferson to two of nine shooting, and just six of 19 in the second half. Kaiser's fourth-quarter steal and layup gave the Green Wave its biggest lead of 51-39. She finished with 15 points and six rebounds.
Observed Peloquin of her teammate: "She's been working hard at practice, not just going up against our posts, but (assistant) coach (Allison) Horton, who played at Indiana. She's put herself in a spot to keep getting better."
Peloquin stuffed the stat sheet with six rebounds, and three steals. Caudill added 7 points and handed out four assists. Avery Yehle chipped in with three steals and a big fourth-quarter 3. NC was a sturdy 21 of 42 from the floor for 50%, but just eight of 15 at the line. They overcame 17 turnovers by forcing 23 by the Rough Riders.
Mannon scored a game-high 23 points, also snagging eight rebounds and coming up with three steals for West Jefferson. Brown added 12 points, but only 2 in the second half. The Rough Riders were 14 of 34 from the field for 41% and stayed in it with excellent 14 of 18 foul shooting for 78%.
Peloquin was still savoring her final home game afterwards.
"I was able to play with my sister, her a senior and me a freshman, on this court, and how many are able to say that?" she said. "Just the support we've received, from the fans and the student section behind us. You don't always see that with girls sports."
Kaiser was similarly emotional.
"I was just playing for my teammates, on the bench and on the court," she said. "We're all here for each other, and these four years have been amazing."
NC now sets its sights on a second consecutive district championship, but it won't be easy against All-Ohio guard Kayla Larimore and Centerburg. The winner advances to the regional semifinals against one of the Southwest District survivors on Wednesday, Feb. 26 at Springfield High School.
"Obviously, we have to find a way to slow Larimore down, but we can't ignore the other four players, either," Evans said.
Added Kaiser: "I used to play with Larimore on the Ohio Future, so it will be exciting, facing her. We still haven't played our best game."
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