NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WECT) – US Agriculture Secretary Thomas Vilsack has given 35 counties in North Carolina disaster declaration to help farmers recover from the tornadoes and hurricanes of 2011.

According to a press release, the disaster designation enables farmers in primary and contiguous counties to apply for federal financial assistance through low-interest Farm Service Assistance loans and Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments disaster assistance program.

Farmers in the 35 designated counties, including New Hanover County, have until September 10, 2012 to apply to cover crop losses.

NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WECT) – Governor Bev Perdue declared January as School Board Appreciation Month recently and New Hanover County Schools is recognizing the members.

“We benefit every day from the dedicated energies and countless hours devoted by school board members - a group of more than 700 men and women across the state,” stated NHCS Superintendent Dr. Tim Markley in a news release. “These people unselfishly contribute their time and talents toward the advancement of public education.”

Here is a list of Board members and their years of service provided by NHCS:

• Donald S. Hayes, Chairman - 17 years of service
• Jeannette S. Nichols, Vice Chair - 11 years of service
• Janice A. Cavenaugh, Member - 20 years of service
• Dorothy S. DeShields, Member - 7 years of service
• Derrick G. Hickey, M.D., Member - 1 years of service
• Edward B. Higgins, Jr., Esq., Member - 17 years of service
• Elizabeth S. Redenbaugh, Esq., Member - 3 years of service