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Local and state officials are expected to join the public Saturday morning when the Carolina Raptor Center releases a bald eagle into freedom, to honor North Carolina's veterans and fallen service members.
The Independence Day ceremony is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. at the McGuire Nuclear Station's Explorium, 13339 Hagers Ferry Road in Huntersville. Among local officials expected to attend are N.C. Reps. Daniel Clodfelter of Charlotte and Jim Gulley of Matthews; mayors Pat McCrory of Charlotte, Jill Swain of Huntersville and John Woods of Davidson; and Mecklenburg County Commissioner Karen Bentley.
Keynote speaker will be Col. Charles Dunn II, of Pope Air Force Base. Woods will release the eagle.
The bird was brought to the Carolina Raptor Center on Memorial Day, having been hurt in a fight over territory. Specialists have nursed the eagle back to health and prepared the bird, named Liberty, for release.
The ceremony is open to the public. The actual release of the bird is planned for about 9:15 a.m. -- Steve Lyttle
Regional briefs
North Carolina
Greensboro
UNC Greensboro has exceeded its $100 million goal for a five-year fund.
University officials said Thursday its Students First Campaign raised more than $115 million in gifts and pledges from about 22,000 donors.
The campaign's key initiatives on scholarships and faculty development drew more than $75 million in contributions.
The campaign launched July 1, 2004, with a $78 million goal that was later raised. It concluded June 30.
The fund has created 14 professorships, 203 undergraduate scholarships and 42 graduate scholarships. -- Associated Press
Fayetteville
Officials from the N.C. Department of Administration plan to cook and serve meals for veterans at the State Veterans Nursing Home.
The officials, including Administration Secretary Britt Cobb, are hosting the annual July Fourth cookout at the home in Fayetteville.
The N.C. State Veterans Home provides skilled nursing care to qualified veterans. The Fayetteville home has 150 beds and another in Salisbury has 99 beds. -- Associated Press
South Carolina
Columbia
The S.C. Highway Patrol has created a new team of troopers to crack down on drunken driving just in time for the long holiday weekend.
The 31 troopers will be sent to all seven of the Highway Patrol's regions across the state. Sometimes they will patrol alone, and sometimes they will work with other law enforcement.
Authorities say the crackdown will include checkpoints and troopers on the highways.
The state Highway Patrol says the new team is needed because nearly half of all of the state's highway deaths are caused by impaired drivers, compared to about a third nationwide. -- Associated Press
