What Are They Smoking in the Eighth Congressional District?

Well, now you know.

With all the national, statewide, and regional headscratching going on about North Carolina politics, namely in the Eighth Congressional District's 2010 Republican primary runoff election, it should come as no surprise that in Richmond County, the heart of the district, Sheriff deputies have discovered 60,000 marijuana plants.

The latest bust of a large field of marijuana by the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office yielded more than 26,500 two-to three-foot tall plants, driving the total number of plants seized over the past month to well over 60,000.

“In my 40-year career, this is the most I’ve ever seen being grown in one area, and it means there’s probably a lot more out there that we just haven’t found yet,” Richmond County Sheriff Dale Furr said Friday. “You can see why marijuana has become the number one cash crop in North Carolina.”

Of course, we don't know what South Carolina's excuse is for the Mark Sanford, Nikki Haley, and Alvin Greene episodes!

While the Tar Heel state's political arena deals with allegations of garden-variety marital infidelity and general government corruption, the Palmetto state appears to be indulging in whatever bordering Richmond County has growing in its garden.

Goodwin Reminds Alamance Dems of "Go Forward" Program

Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin Provided Keynote Address for Three Governors' Dinner

Last month the state's Insurance Commissioner stoked the fires of Alamance County Democrats, home of not only three Governors of North Carolina but also birthplace of his predecessor in office, the late Jim Long.

Also attending the annual event were Secretary of State Elaine Marshall and former State Senator Cal Cunningham, Democratic candidates for U.S. Senate; former Rep. Bertha "B" Holt, who passed away last week; State Senator Tony Forriest; NC Representative Alice Bordsen; Jessie Rae Scott, the widow of the late Governor Bob Scott; Peg O'Connell, widow of former Insurance Commissioner Jim Long, and countless judges, local officials, precinct leaders, and several hundred Democratic activists.

Goodwin wowed the crowd with his emphasis on how important it is to "tune in (to what's happening), turn up (the volume), and turn out (the vote)", a theme he has shared at multiple partisan events statewide.

Another theme of Goodwin appeared when he also explained his concerns about how certain right-wing ideologues were fomenting insurrection and eroding an already degraded level of civil political discourse.

Most interesting were the words of former North Carolina Governor Kerr Scott - father of Governor Bob Scott - that Goodwin shared with the crowd:

"Man never solves a problem by standing still - when a man stands still, the world goes on and leaves him behind. North Carolina has grown great because the leadership of North Carolina, throughout the years, has been inspired to press ever forward toward the goal of providing, within the ability of the people to pay for them, the maximum governmental services and facilities which are the heritage and right of a people who enoy the privilege of living under the banner of democracy.

Refusing to move forward and to meet our responsibilities of the present and of the future is nothing short of defeatism. I have no patience with this philosophy - call it conservatism, hold the line, or what you may say!

I do not believe that the people of North Carolina are so morally, spiritually or financially bankrupt that they want education in North Carolina to slip backward. I do not believe that the people of North Carolina want to deny adequate hospital care for the sick and the cripple, support for the aged, and adequate institutional care for the insane, the blind, and the deaf.

... I have talked with rich men and poor men, with farmers and with those who live in the cities and towns, with men, women, and children in all walks of life; and the overwhelming majority of them believe in the future and share the conviction that North Carolina should not throttle the future by a perverted hold the line interpretation.

In some cases the hold the line school of defeatism is actually seeking to establish a line behind the present line. Such would be the case if we failed to consolidate the gains already accomplished in the field of education."

"Those words - those principles of Scott's Go Forward plan - are most prescient and timeless," said Goodwin. "Education is the roadmap of going forward - the key to success - for our State."

Kinston, Lenoir County Welcome Goodwin to Groundbreaking

State Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin Delivers Remarks for New Woodmen of the World Community Center

Yesterday the town of Kinston and Lenoir County joined Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin and State Auditor Beth Wood at the groundbreaking for a new community center. With a massive American flag displayed behind them in the blazing midday sun, the special guests and local officials each waxed eloquent on how the $6 million investment will refurbish and re-energize an area buffeted like others from the recent economic downturn.

Joining them were Chamber of Commerce leaders, State Representative Van Braxton, former and current employees of Smithfield Foods, and many area citizens.

For more coverage, go to today's article in The Kinston Free Press, linked here.

Commissioner Goodwin's brief remarks honed in on a key tenet of the celebration.

Thank you, Kinston and Lenoir County, and our Woodmen of the World organization, for inviting me to be here this morning!

Yes, indeed, it is a grand occasion and an honor to be part of this groundbreaking ceremony.

As a member of the Council of State, and as a fellow Woodman, I am proud of what this new facility is about.

But, it is more than that: This new facility underscores and epitomizes what Woodmen are all about - before, ever, and always: faith and family, children and youth, community and country.
Our Woodmen of the World are dedicated to each.

And as state Insurance Commissioner I also want to share with you that our Woodmen of the World here in North Carolina, a fraternal organization regulated in part by my office, holds a special place in the hearts of employees of the Department of Insurance.

On behalf of the great State of North Carolina and her people, thank you to all who have helped make this dream come true. And may God continue to bless Kinston, Lenoir County and eastern North Carolina.

This is the second time in less than two months that Goodwin made an official visit to Kinston: He threw the ceremonial first pitch for a game of the Kinston Indians baseball team this season.

Without a doubt, Goodwin is a strong proponent of Eastern North Carolina, stretching back throughout his many years in the North Carolina General Assembly and as a statewide elected official.

Insurance Commissioner Goodwin Briefly Explains Formation of SHIIP Program

WPTF Radio Newsmaker Show Hosts Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin

Please be sure to hear last week's full recorded radio interview at this link, broadcast over the long-time popular WPTF and streamed on the Internet via StateGovernmentRadio.com. Host Don Curtis discusses a wide range of insurance topics and questions - including current events regarding the federal health insurance reforms and State budget matters - with North Carolina's Commissioner of Insurance Wayne Goodwin.

Are you Prepared for Hurricane Season? Insurance Commissioner Goodwin and DOI Offer Tips and Warnings

This week is national Hurricane Preparedness Week, and next week marks the beginning of hurricane season, June 1-Nov. 30. That's why Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin is reminding North Carolinians to get a head start on disaster preparedness before a storm strikes.

"One of the most basic ways for people to get prepared is to review their insurance policies, inventory their home's contents and compile important documents in a safe place," explains Commissioner Goodwin. "Knowing what your coverage is now gives you the chance to make adjustments and have those adjustments take effect before a storm comes to North Carolina." A lot of homeowners and renters are not familiar with their policies and may think they have more coverage than they really do, Goodwin added.

Because hurricane season is just around the corner, that’s why Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin is reminding North Carolinians to get a head start on disaster preparedness before a storm strikes.

"We want people to have the insurance coverage they need to weather any storm that comes to North Carolina,” said Commissioner Goodwin. “I also encourage North Carolinians to be on the lookout for unscrupulous businesses that take advantage of folks when they need help and are most vulnerable. I’ve heard from criminal investigators on my staff that storm-related scams are on the rise in North Carolina.”

Department investigators have seen an increase in companies who are conning consumers into repair work for damage that isn’t really there. According to investigators here’s how it works:

After a storm, roofing companies learn from news reports which areas may have storm, hail or wind damage. They go to those neighborhoods and travel door-to-door telling homeowners their roof is damaged and needs repairing or in some cases to be replaced. According to investigators, often there is no roof damage and sometimes the damage is even intentionally caused. This can be prosecuted as insurance fraud. At a minimum, unsuspecting homeowners end up paying a deductible for a new roof they did not need.

An estimated 10 cents of every dollar paid in premiums goes toward the payment of fraudulent claims. To report suspected fraud, contact the Department of Insurance Criminal Investigations Division at 919-807-6840.

To avoid being the victim of a scam, Commissioner Goodwin and your Department of Insurance suggest that North Carolinians follow these tips:

If you suffer property loss in your home or vehicle, contact your insurance agent or insurance company as soon as possible to arrange a visit from an adjuster. The Department of Insurance will be in close contact with top insurance companies doing business in the state. We will have up-to-date consumer hotline numbers available for those who need to contact their companies.

Before doing any repairs to your house, photograph and make a list of the damage.

Protect your home from further damage by making temporary repairs only, until your insurance company can advise you further. Save any receipts for materials purchased for repairs.

Do not have permanent repairs made until your insurance company has inspected the property and you have reached an agreement on the cost of repairs.

If necessary, rent temporary shelter. If your home is uninhabitable due to physical damage (not lack of power or water), most homeowners policies pay additional living expenses while your property is being repaired. Before renting temporary shelter, check with your insurance company or agent to determine what expenses will be reimbursed.

Always remember that if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Deal only with licensed agents and companies.

The Department also urges citizens to remember these tips in preparing for hurricane season:

Homeowners should review their insurance policies with their agents annually. Ask, “What exactly does my policy cover, and what needs are not met?” Consider that homeowners policies do not cover flood damage, and some policies in coastal areas may not cover windstorm damage. Don’t wait until the storm is approaching to upgrade your coverage.

Flood insurance can be obtained by qualifying property owners by contacting your local agent or through the National Flood Insurance program. Call 800-638-6620 for more information.

Residents living in rental property should consider purchasing renter’s insurance to cover losses of personal property within the rental unit. Your landlord’s policy will not cover your personal possessions in the event of a loss.

Consider the type of coverage you purchase — actual cash value or replacement value. Replacement value will pay to replace your home at current building costs and with similar materials. This is usually a higher value and can cost a bit more, but this extra coverage can be important if your home is destroyed in a storm.

Make a list of your belongings and take pictures or videotape them. Include a close-up shot of the day’s newspaper to provide the date. Keep your inventory list along with purchase receipts, pictures and your insurance policy in a safe-deposit box or other safe place away from your home. If you are forced to evacuate, take a copy of your policy with you.

If you have any questions or problems concerning your insurance coverage, contact the Department of Insurance’s Consumer Services Division toll-free (in-state) at 800-546-5664.

For more information, go to the official website for the NC Department of Insurance or news media like The Laurinburg Exchange,WRAL-TV (including a brief analysis of the Top 5 hurricanes to strike NC in recent times), New Bern Sun Journal, the Raleigh News & Observer, et al., during hurricane season.

Map and photo: courtesy NOAA.

Insurance Commissioner Attends Luncheon With His Childhood Educators

Feeling like he was 12 years old again, North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin joined a broad sample of his primary and secondary school teachers during a Hamlet luncheon last week at Sandhills Regional Hospital.

The Richmond County Retired School Personnel invited their former student from 25 to 35 years ago to reminisce and learn about the Seniors' Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) headed by Goodwin's agency, the Department of Insurance. The first Council of State member elected from Richmond County in more than 88 years, he also regaled them with anecdotes from his childhood, updates on his own children, and an overview of what he does as Commissioner of Insurance.

The teachers had spent years working for Fairview Heights Elementary School, Monroe Avenue School, Hamlet Junior High School, and Richmond Senior High School.

Goodwin also congratulated Ruth Robinson of Rockingham (pictured above). She had recently been named Volunteer of the Year by District 8 of the Retired School Personnel association. Robinson, a 1994 retiree, has volunteered for Relay for Life for many years.