County Planning Director Andrea Surratt told the Moore County Planning Board that the upward trend in residential building just seems to be continuing.

The Code Enforcement Division's monthly summary shows that 77 permits were issued in June. One permit was for a commercial project, and 25 were for alterations and additions.

The 77 permits represented a 15.8 percent overall increase over the same period of last year. Total for the year, through June, was 395, up from 341 through June of 2005.

MEETING -- The Moore County Board of Commissioners has called a special meeting for Tuesday, July 25, at 8:30 a.m. at the historic courthouse in Carthage.

The board will consider approval of contracts on behalf of the Eastwood and Crestline fire departments.

VALUES -- Growth in values was even more dramatic.

The 77 permits issued in June represented estimated value of $11,188,014, bringing the year's total to more than $56.2 million, a 24.4 percent increase over estimated values of the structures receiving permits through the same period last year.

Value of the residences was estimated at almost $9.8 million, bringing the total for the year to more than $47.3 million, reflecting a 33.7 percent increase over the same period in 2005.

County inspectors issued 339 other permits in June for such services as plumbing, heating and electrical.

The Moore County Department of Planning and Community Development handles inspections for all unincorporated areas of the county and for seven municipalities. Southern Pines, Pinehurst, Aberdeen and Pinebluff have their own inspections.

LEGISLATURE -- North Carolina legislators went home late week but are not home for good after all.

Legislative leaders predicted that the General Assembly would be in session at least one more week when they recessed Thursday.

Despite swift action on numerous bills in the past week, lawmakers were still working on fine-tuning bills on ethics and lobbying reform.

State Rep. Joe Hackney, minority leader of the House, said lawmakers would be negotiating details of a proposed bill during the weekend. The Orange County legislator represents one and a half precincts in Moore County.

"I'm hopeful that we can reach a good agreement on a good bill," he told The Associated Press.

One bill that did make it through the legislature this past week concerns the eminent domain issue. Both houses approved a bill that prohibits local governments from condemning private property solely for economic development purposes. The legislation was introduced as a protection against a sweeping decision last year by the U.S. Supreme Court allowing such eminent domain measures in another part of the country.

GOUGING BAN -- Moore County Democratic Party Chairman George Wilson has joined state Democratic Chairman Jerry Meek in praising the North Carolina legislature for passage of a bill that bans gas price gouging.

The bill would enable the state to sue businesses accused of price gouging during emergencies.