Rutherford Weekly

Thursday, March 26-April 1, 2020 www.rutherfordweekly.com 828-248-1408 Rutherford Weekly - Page 17 6 DAY FORECAST RUTHERFORD COUNTY'S RUTHERFORD COUNTY'S Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday For Up To The Minute Rutherford County Weather Go To rutherfordweekly.com MARCH 26 MARCH 27 MARCH 28 MARCH 29 MARCH 30 MARCH 31 Partly Cloudy Partly Cloudy Mostly Cloudy Partly Cloudy Partly Cloudy Showers HIGH HIGH 71 71 LOW LOW 55 55 HIGH HIGH 81 81 LOW LOW 63 63 HIGH HIGH 82 82 LOW LOW 64 64 HIGH HIGH 74 74 LOW LOW 50 50 HIGH HIGH 68 68 LOW LOW 48 48 HIGH HIGH 64 64 LOW LOW 49 49 HUMIDITY % 67 % 64 % 65 % 56 % 51 % 56 ©Community First Media Community First Media www.duffi escopier.com www.duffi escopier.com 828-245-5116 828-245-5116 LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED FOR 40 YEARS LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED FOR 40 YEARS SUPPLIES EQUIPMENT SERVICE PRINTED MATERIALS 671 Oak St., Forest City, NC 28043 BUY LOCAL • SAVE YOUR HARD EARNED DOLL ARS! BUY LOCAL • SAVE YOUR HARD EARNED DOLL ARS! INK TONER REFILLS Offi ce Supplies Black & White & Color Copies Many Sizes Low Cost Per Copy CALL US BEFORE YOU BUY ANYWHERE ELSE CALL US BEFORE YOU BUY ANYWHERE ELSE Seven days after the Primary on March 3, Rutherford County Elections Director Debbie Bedford and Elections Specialist Dawn Lovelace were examining numbers and data for the fi nal canvassing. It was Debbie's last canvas of a political election in Rutherford County as she is offi cially retiring April 1. Having served at the helm of the elections department 25 years, a public reception will be held in her honor when it is possible. Dawn, will step into the director's position beginning April 1. The two have worked together in the elections offi ce, along with Angela Rhymer, also Elections Specialist, for years making sure the department runs as smoothly as possible and every eligible voter in Rutherford County has an opportunity to cast ballots. For Debbie, the more than two decade on the job has been "fun" and rarely never a dull moment. Some people think the elections staff work one or two days a year, but the work to prepare for elections is a daily process whether it is a municipal, state or national election. One of her best days as Elections Director has been the fi nal day of Early Voting. "That is a huge day. We are coming off some very long days," Bedford said. Over the past few years, the hours were extended for Early Voting with polls opening at 8 a.m. and not closing until 7:30 p.m. "On that day, the toughest and most physical part is over," she said. After Early Voting to the Primary or General elections, Bedford and her team are fi elding phone calls and doing all the other jobs involved in voting. Every piece of voting equipment is tested and re- tested prior to Election Day. "It is a process," she said. In Rutherford County, 33 percent of registered voters went to the polls for Early Voting (One Stop Voting) in the March 3 primary. "In November, it will be 50 percent or more," she said. Bedford is fan of Early Voting and recommends it highly. While there were some questions at the precincts on March 3 regarding paper ballots, Bedford said it was a decision of the State and is actually more effi cient, accurate and less expensive. "And we can vote people faster," Bedford said. "Getting results is also faster," she said. The Board of Elections department of unique in that it is funded by Rutherford County but controlled by the State of North Carolina. The Presidential Election four years ago is one of the most memorable elections in her career with the popular vote going to Democrat Hillary Clinton and the electoral vote going to Republican Donald Trump, thus his election as President. "That was interesting", she said. Perhaps one of the most interesting aspects of her jobs and time consuming has been all the lawsuits fi led on the state and national level. Usually the topic is over changing voting districting. "Some people, you will not make happy no matter what," she said. But one of life's lessons Debbie has practiced over the years on the job is to treat people with kindness and talk to "them the right way." Often the most frustrated voter/ caller will leave on a positive note. 'Sometimes they will change their attitude from negative too positive," she said. It is all about treating people the proper way. Debbie has also been on point that every person showing up to vote has an opportunity to do so. Even if voter arrives at the wrong precinct or is not registered, a voter can cast a provisional ballot. It is up to the elections staff and elections board to approve all provisionals. "We do not turn down a voter," she said. It is important for all voters to know how, where and when to vote. "I will miss my poll workers," Debbie said. "We have the greatest poll workers," she said. "I will miss the staff and I will miss the people," she said. But Debbie said she is ready for retirement. Before coming to the Board of Elections at the retirement of Lois Owens who had bene on the job 25 years, Debbie worked in Human Resources and also in the Employee Assistance Program. Debbie plans to travel, spend more time with her husband Steven Bedford and their grown sons and one grandson. A trip planned for April was canceled due to the coronavirus, but there will be another day to travel. Part of Debbie's legacy is to encourage everyone to vote. It is a freedom and an honor. "If you don't vote, don't complain," she said. Elections Director casting a vote for retirement Article Provided By: Jean Gordon Elections Director Debbie Bedford checks the March 3 Primary Election numbers in her offi ce on Fairground Road in Spindale. Debbie Bedford and Dawn Lovelace, who will become the Elections Director on April 1 upon Debbie's retirement. The U.S. Small Business Administration is offering low- interest federal disaster loans for working capital to North Carolina small businesses suffering substantial economic injury as a result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19), SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza announced today. SBA acted under its own authority, as provided by the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act that was recently signed by the President, to declare a disaster following a request received from Gov. Roy Cooper on March 17, 2020. The disaster declaration makes SBA assistance available in the entire state of North Carolina; and the contiguous counties of Fannin, Rabun, Towns and Union in Georgia; Cherokee, Chesterfi eld, Dillon, Greenville, Horry, Lancaster, Marlboro, Oconee, Pickens, Spartanburg and York in South Carolina; Blount, Carter, Cocke, Greene, Johnson, Monroe, Polk, Sevier and Unicoi in Tennessee; and Brunswick, Carroll, Chesapeake City, Danville City, Grayson, Greensville, Halifax, Henry, Mecklenburg, Patrick, Pittsylvania, Southampton, Suffolk City and Virginia Beach City in Virginia. "SBA is strongly committed to providing the most effective and customer-focused response possible to assist North Carolina small businesses with federal disaster loans. We will be swift in our efforts to help these small businesses recover from the fi nancial impacts of the Coronavirus (COVID-19)," said Administrator Carranza. SBA Customer Service Representatives will be available to answer questions about SBA's Economic Injury Disaster Loan program and explain the application process. "Small businesses, private non-profi t organizations of any size, small agricultural cooperatives and small aquaculture enterprises that have been fi nancially impacted as a direct result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) since Jan. 31, 2020, may qualify for Economic Injury Disaster Loans of up to $2 million to help meet fi nancial obligations and operating expenses which could have been met had the disaster not occurred," said Carranza. "These loans may be used to pay fi xed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills that can't be paid because of the disaster's impact. Disaster loans can provide vital economic assistance to small businesses to help overcome the temporary loss of revenue they are experiencing," Carranza added. Eligibility for Economic Injury Disaster Loans is based on the fi nancial impact of the Coronavirus (COVID-19). The interest rate is 3.75 percent for small businesses. The interest rate for private non-profi t organizations is 2.75%. SBA offers loans with long-term repayments in order to keep payments affordable, up to a maximum of 30 years and are available to entities without the fi nancial ability to offset the adverse impact without hardship. Applicants may apply online, receive additional disaster assistance information and download applications at https://disaster loan.sba.gov/ ela. Applicants may also call SBA's Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba. gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. Individuals who are deaf or hard-of- hearing may call 800-877-8339. Completed applications should be mailed to US Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Rd, Fort Worth, TX 76155. The deadline to apply for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan is Dec. 18, 2020. For more information about Coronavirus, visit: Coronavirus. gov. For more info about available SBA resources, visit: SBA.gov/ coronavirus. The U.S. Small Business Administration makes the American dream of business ownership a reality. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA fi eld offi ces and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov. SBA Offers Disaster Assistance to NC Small Businesses Impacted by Coronavirus (COVID-19) Article Provided By: Courtney S. Smith

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