By Miles Layton

Before Winter Storm Gianna invades, possibly to shut down the power/internet, here are a few items: fluoride in drinking water, Tri-County Animal Shelter news, need for a county sign on NC 32 marking the border between Gates and Chowan counties; West Virginia’s proposal to eliminate the state’s Department of Education. 

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Perhaps our local water systems should consider discussing whether to remove fluoride from drinking water. Just a thought. 

Morehead City will stop adding fluoride to its municipal water system effective February 1, a move welcomed by some residents who have raised concerns about the long-term use of the chemical in public drinking water.

Daniel Williams, Morehead City’s Public Services Director, said there will be no additional cost to remove or deactivate the system, according to the Carteret County News Times. He said the change can be made without impacting the city’s budget or water operations.

For years, critics of water fluoridation have questioned whether adding fluoride to public drinking water is necessary, particularly in an era when fluoride is widely available through toothpaste, mouthwash, and professional dental care. Some residents have argued that fluoridation limits individual choice and exposes the entire population to a substance they may prefer to avoid.

Supporters of ending fluoridation also point to operational simplicity and reduced maintenance as benefits of removing specialized equipment. City officials said no additional regulatory changes are required as a result of the decision.

National health organizations, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Dental Association, continue to support fluoride’s use in drinking water. These groups maintain that decades of research show no convincing evidence linking fluoridation at recommended levels to adverse health effects.

Morehead City is the second municipality in Carteret County in recent months to discontinue fluoridation under a consent agenda. In November, the Atlantic Beach Town Council approved a resolution to stop fluoridating the town’s water, according to the News-Times.

Atlantic Beach officials said their decision was partly driven by infrastructure concerns. Town Manager John O’Daniel cited ongoing efforts to rehabilitate the town’s water treatment plant as a factor in ending the practice, noting that modernizing facilities provided an opportunity to reevaluate chemical additives, according to the News-Times. 

In other news, there is no county sign between Gates and Chowan counties on NC 32 – those are the signs that say you are entering/leaving Chowan/Gates counties. Someone told me the sign was damaged/destroyed when a car collided with it – not sure when that happened, but it’s safe to say that the sign has been missing for a long time. 

I travel that road often – not sure where the border is between the counties… 

I think it’s near the bridge closest to Warwick Baptist Church – with the creek/swamp being the border between the two counties. 

And NC 32 is a highway traveled by thousands of people each day – one of the major traffic arteries into Gates and Chowan counties, particularly for folks traveling from Virginia. 

Staff and volunteers at Tri-County Animal Shelter are asking the community for increased awareness and support as they work to care for a growing number of homeless pets amid cold weather, housing instability, and limited resources.

According to shelter officials, six bags of pet food were recently taken from the organization’s Pet Pantry, highlighting ongoing challenges in maintaining community assistance programs. In response to occasional theft and staffing difficulties, the shelter has shifted how it provides food assistance to pet owners.

Tri-County Animal Shelter, which serves Perquimans, Gates, and Chowan counties, said it remains deeply committed to helping un-homed dogs and cats and relies heavily on the generosity of neighboring community members.

One of those partnerships involves sharing food with other animal shelters that lack adequate supplies to feed their residents. The shelter also has joined forces with the Open Door Food Pantry in Perquimans County. Through that partnership, food pantry clients can receive groceries and then pick up canned and dry dog and cat food at the same location.

“Our intention is to ‘Keep Pets and Their People, Together,’” the shelter said.

In addition to food security challenges, Tri-County is facing increased intake driven by winter weather and housing instability. On Monday, six dogs entered the shelter, with two brought in by animal control and four by Good Samaritans. All were strays. Five cats were also brought in by concerned citizens after single-digit temperatures prompted residents to take action. Shelter officials said the six dogs represent one-fourth of their total canine capacity.

Evictions and housing loss are also contributing to higher surrender rates. On Tuesday, three cats were surrendered after their owner lost the lease on her apartment. Staff members reported that some pet owners have been forced to live in their cars and are unable to care for their animals.

“These stories are heart-breaking,” shelter representatives said.

Last year, the shelter processed more than 1,200 animals, averaging about three unwanted pets each day. Many arrive after being driven from their homes or abandoned. Staff said the animals often come in hungry, frightened, and confused.

At the shelter, pets are named, medically evaluated, fed, watered, and placed in heated runs with beds and blankets. “We try to get the tails wagging and whiskers twitching,” officials said.

Tri County Animal Shelter is urging the public to help raise awareness about shelter pets and support spay and neuter efforts, noting that without stronger measures, overpopulation remains a losing battle.

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Other news, here’s some food for thought from the Mountaineers’ state – West by God Virginia! 

West Virginia lawmakers are advancing two major education-related measures that could significantly reshape how public schools are governed and what materials are made available in classrooms.

In the House of Delegates, legislators on Wednesday introduced House Bill 4855, a proposal that would eliminate the state Department of Education and transfer many of its responsibilities to county school systems and other state offices. 

Food for thought for the Old North State? 

Under the existing system, the Department of Education oversees statewide education policy, administers programs, manages grants, and sets rules for public schools. House Bill 4855 would abolish the department effective July 1, 2027.

If enacted, rulemaking authority, program administration, and grant management would be transferred to county boards of education, the State Treasurer, or other designated entities. The measure would establish a new “School Fund” within the State Treasurer’s office to centralize custody of all state and federal education funds.

The legislation would sharply reduce the role of the State Superintendent, limiting the position to constitutional duties such as supervising compliance with state and federal law, reporting to the State Board of Education, and making recommendations. The bill would also cap the superintendent’s salary at the same level as a member of the Board of Public Works.

Funding for county school systems would be distributed using a formula weighted two-thirds by population and one-third by inhabitable land mass. The bill would also create direct classroom expense accounts for teachers, with the Legislature setting an annual per-teacher amount to be distributed from county accounts.

In addition, House Bill 4855 would require counties to publish all purchase card transactions in a searchable public format, listing the vendor, date, amount, and purpose of each expense.

The proposal has been referred to the House Committee on Education and the House Committee on Finance.

Meanwhile, the West Virginia Senate is advancing separate legislation related to instructional materials. Senate Bill 388 would make Aitken Bibles available to public and charter school students in grades 4, 8, and 10, provided the books are funded with private dollars, according to WV News. 

The bill passed the full Senate on Thursday by a 30-4 vote and now moves to the House of Delegates for consideration, where it is expected to be taken up.