Moore County Voluntary Agricultural Districts (VAD) now cover 24,335.42 acres.

That includes 17,742.59 acres devoted to forestry and 6,233.39 acres of general agriculture as well as specialized acreage.

The VAD Advisory Board approved 12 new applications at the August meeting. The new acreage, included in the total, provides 862.42 acres in forestry and 263.03 acres in general agriculture.

Board members decided not to seek inclusion in the enhanced VAD program at the present time, but to continue studying the prospect.

The enhanced program locks in participation for a specific time period, whereas regular VAD members may voluntarily withdraw at any time simply by giving notice. However, the enhanced program offers additional advantages, including agricultural grants offered by the state.

VADs enable interested farmers to set aside agricultural land with protections against development.

DEMOCRATS -- The Moore County Democratic Party will hold its monthly executive board meeting at 7 p.m. Monday at the county headquarters at 104 McNeill St. in Carthage.

Party Chairman Jim Heim says all Democrats are invited to attend. On the agenda will be discussions about more health care town hall meetings in the area.

MORGAN -- Cynthia Morgan is the new chairwoman of the Moore County Board of Social Services.

She was elected at the July meeting, when Catherine Graham was sworn in as a new board member, succeeding the retiring chairwoman, Linda McCaskill.

The social services board will hold its August meeting at 3 p.m. Wednesday in the Carriage Oaks Facility board room in Carthage. The meeting is open to the public.

Morgan is also a member of the Moore County Board of Commissioners.

FEES -- The fee schedules for the recreation and health departments have been revised according to a recommendation by the finance officer.

The Moore County Board of Commissioners made the change as part of the consent agenda at an August meeting.

The revision removes the breakdown of clinical fees charged by the Health Department because of the frequency of such changes. The principal change for the Department of Parks and Recreation is the addition of $2 per cup for ice cream at concession stands.

COBLE -- Congressman Howard Coble is taking a weekend vacation in Boone, according to the schedule released by his office.

On Thursday Coble addressed the National Association of Retired Federal Employees in Greensboro and met with constituents with appointments. He left today for Boone and is to return to the 6th District Sunday night.

Contact Florence Gilkeson at 693-2479 or by e-mail at florence@thepilot.com.