The Moore County Board of Commissioners faces a full agenda for the two-day budget planning retreat Thursday and Friday.

The retreat will be held at the Senior Enrichment Center.

Capital needs, water, long range planning and economic development are just a few of the heavy topics on the agenda. The commissioners will move to Sandhills Community College Thursday night for a dinner meeting with the college trustees and the Board of Education. Then on Friday morning they will engage in further discussions with the education leaders.

Ray Ogden, director of Partners in Progress, will give an economic development update Thursday. Also among the speakers will be Caleb Miles, executive director of the Convention and Visitors Bureau, and Patrick Coughlin, president and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce.

DEMOCRATS The Moore County Democratic Party will make plans for its county convention at an executive committee meeting Monday, Jan. 12.

The committee will convene at 7 p.m. Monday at party headquarters, 104 N. McNeill St., Carthage.

Party Chairman Brian Deaton says major items on the agenda are planning for the precinct meetings required in February and nominations for officer positions. Election of officers will be held during the county convention in April.

All registered Democrats and other interested residents are invited to attend, according to Deaton.

DEM WOMEN -- The Democratic Women of Moore County will meet at 10 a.m. this Saturday at Democratic headquarters, 104 N. McNeill St., Carthage.

Shevelle Ramirez, military liaison for Moore County Schools, will speak about the issues that are affecting military families in the county.

The meeting is open to the public and all interested persons are invited to attend, according to a DWMC spokeswoman. More information is available by calling Democratic Headquarters at 947-1933.

PERSONNEL -- Protocol for presentation of employee service awards was changed at the first meeting in 2009 of the Moore County Board of Commissioners.

After Human Resources Director Teri Alesch called each name and the presentation was made, the employee went directly to the five commissioners for handshakes.

One 30-year award was presented Monday. It went to Deborah Barrett, a physician extender with the Health Department. Barbara Williams, a processing assistant with the Health Department, received a 25-year award. Others receiving recognition included Debbie Whitaker, a major with Emergency Medical Services, 15 years, and Deputy Sheriff William Morley, GIS Director Chris Koltyk, Kathy Thomas, a tax assistant, and Glenda M. Morgan, a processing assistant with the Health Department, each for five years.

COBLE -- The office of Congressman Howard Coble has announced that the Randolph County community of Trinity has been approved for a $5.5 million loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development agency.

The loan will be applied toward the next phase of the town's sewer system.

Trinity residents now rely on individual septic systems.

Total cost is projected at $6,450,000. The town has also received a $500,000 grant from the North Carolina Rural Center.

Contact Florence Gilkeson at 947-4962 or by e-mail at florence@thepilot.com.