Top Stories for Aug. 21, 2024

United States and North Carolina flags along with various flags representing the armed forces.

Mecklenburg County provides this weekly rundown of top stories from the Board of County Commissioners meetings and the Public Information Department’s newsroom. The Board’s next regular meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 4, at 6 p.m. The agenda will be available online and the meeting can be viewed on MeckTV.  

1. Veterans Benefits Live: Veterans and their families from across the region can join us for this three-day, single-stop open house to ask questions and get answers. Mecklenburg County Veterans Services, U.S. Veterans Affairs, and other partners will be available to help attendees one-on-one with their benefits, claims, appeals and other concerns. The event will be held Aug. 22 – 24 at Friendship Missionary Baptist Church in Charlotte. Veterans and their dependents should bring their DD214, medical and service records, and dependency documents. More information is available at Veterans.MeckNC.gov.

2. Help with AC Bills: Nothing will run up the electric bill like running the air conditioning during this summer’s extremely hot weather. Mecklenburg County residents who have trouble paying their bills can get help through the Crisis Intervention Program. Applications are now being accepted from residents. An applicant must be in a heating- or cooling-related emergency, meet income guidelines, have a final notice or past-due utility bill, and meet other criteria. To begin the application process, visit MeckNC.gov/ENERGY. 

3. Back to Class: MECK Pre-K is still accepting applications for this school year, as more than 200 teachers get ready to head back to their classrooms. They gathered for a welcome back event on Aug. 19 and classes are set to begin Sept. 5. MECK Pre-K has received 3,176 applications so far, which is 4% more than last year (the previous all-time high). MECK Pre-K is the County’s innovative program to offer high-quality education for all 4-year-old children residing in Mecklenburg County at no cost to their families. MECK Pre-K addresses the County Commission’s Early Childhood Development priority, which pledges to expand services that promote healthy early childhood development and education from ages birth to 5 years. Learn more: MeckPreK.org 

4. We Take Wood Waste: The list of what can be recycled and dropped off at full-service recycling centers is now longer. Mecklenburg County’s enhanced recycling program allows residents to drop off wood waste at three staffed full-service centers. Acceptable clean wood waste items include pallets and other wood packaging; solid untreated wood like 2x4s, plywood, wood furniture, doors and frames, particle board, and more. Wooden items that are painted are varnished are accepted. The wood the comes into our recycling centers will be ground up and used in furniture construction. Unprocessed wood, such as trees and yard waste, are still accepted, but ground into mulch. 

5. Bridging the Digital Divide: Mecklenburg County is installing free public Wi-Fi at more than a dozen parks and recreation centers. Inside these facilities and in surrounding parking areas, users will have access to unlimited internet and unlimited cellular hotspots. No signup is required to use the service. These locations sit within several “priority communities”— areas identified by Park and Recreation as needing investment and intervention.