What a fantastic weekend!   Our Carolina BalloonFest 40th Anniversary 3-day festival was filled with many moments to remember!   Pilots, families, friends and hot air balloon enthusiasts reunited to honor and celebrate our notable pioneers who took flight more than 40 years ago -- their adventurous spirit gives us the wonderous gift of sailing in the winds today!

From 1974 to 2013 they gathered each year in our community to catch the winds and share their passion for flight with each other. Their traditon continues... National Balloon Rally Charities thanks everyone who contributed their time and support to the success of our event, Carolina BalloonFest, which enables us to continue our charitable mission!

 

Carolina BalloonFest 2014 will be a fun-filled weekend of family entertainment with outstanding attractions. Bring lawn chairs and blankets (pets & coolers are not permitted) to bask in the beautiful Carolina autumn weather as the backdrop to all the sights & sounds of colorful hot air balloons.     Come Early & Stay Late! 50 Hot Air Balloons Mass Ascensions Main Stage Entertainment Saturday Evening Balloon Glow Sanctioned Competitions Hot Air Balloon Rides! Tethered Balloon Rides! All-Day Festivities Kids Zone Edu-History Wine & Beer Tasting Artisan Village with Fine Arts & Crafts MarketPlace Eat Street Beer Tent 5K & Kids Fun Run     October 2013 TOP 20 EVENT by Southeast Tourism Society   40th Anniversary Calendar        October sponsor United Federal Credit Union   About 2013 Calendar

2014 Sponsorship Opportunities   We are proud to be the second oldest hot air balloon festival in the US, Carolina BalloonFest attracts 30,000-35,000 spectators who arrive from the greater Charlotte, Winston-Salem and Greensboro metro areas of central North Carolina, as well as surrounding growing communities and United States... Contact Us, today!     Flat & Fast course running along with the balloons!  LIKE Us on Facebook   'Life in the Carolinas' with Carl White

 

Rain or Shine...Carolina BalloonFest is open! Hot Air Balloons will fly, tether or be on display when suitable. safe weather conditions exist. The decision to inflate hot air balloons is made near and prior to scheduled display, tether or launch & flight times.

  

               

    National Balloon Rally Charities ~ PO Box 267 ~ Statesville, NC 28687

National Balloon Rally Charities, Inc. is an incorporated 501(c)(3) charitable organization and all contributions are tax deductible. 

A portion of proceeds raised through our annual hot air balloon festival are distributed to local charities.

 

   

Beverage maker plans to add Statesville jobs

Posted: Wednesday, October 9, 2013 11:30 pm

Beverage maker plans to add Statesville jobs By John Hamlin Statesville Record & Landmark

BeBevCo held the inaugural Koma Unwind Open House at its corporate headquarters and distribution center in Statesville on Wednesday and shared the company's big plans for the future. 

 

                                 

The beverage company expects explosive growth in the near future, said CEO Brian Weber, with plans to add 100 jobs in Statesville over the next 24 months in a variety of positions, including sales, customer service, shipping, logistics, marketing and brand management.

 

“Four years ago, we didn’t have anything. Now, we’re the biggest brand in the country in relaxation and we just opened an office in Europe and Asia," he said. "In four years, we went from zero to being the only relaxation drink at Walmart in the nation, and it’s been a fascinating journey.”

 

At Wednesday's event, athletes and sportsmen sponsored by Koma Unwind — which the company markets as the opposite of energy drinks like Red Bull — signed autographs and showed off their race cars, racing motorcycles  and boats. 

 

At 6 p.m., the autograph session gave way to cocktails and dinner, followed by an on-location filming of “Chris Lafferty's Motorsports TV,” which airs on the Pursuit Channel. The evening wrapped up with live music by country singer Darrell Harwood, Chris Lafferty and Another Lost Year, whose song, “War on the Inside,” plays when Carolina Panthers Quarterback Cam Newton runs onto the field at Bank of America Stadium.

 

The day started off with business, however, when Weber said more than 30 investors traveled from points as far as Arizona, Houston and Calgary, Canada, to meet with BeBevCo’s corporate management.

 

“We spent a minute or two reviewing the past, and we spent quite a bit of time talking about the present and the future,” Weber said.

 

Relaxation beverages existed when BeBevCo was founded four years ago, but Weber said the drinks were marketed toward a very small niche of urban consumers.

 

“We wanted to market to middle class, working people and people who drink beer and wine and take Ambien to sleep,” he said. “We’re a medicated society, so I thought it was a good idea to make something that was not so hard on you, but worked effectively.”

 

Koma Unwind is lightly carbonated and has a “multi-berry” flavor that tastes a bit like grape soda. To achieve the relaxing effect, the drink includes a proprietary blend of the supplements melatonin, milk thistle, rose hips and valerian root.

 

Koma Unwind sponsors long-drive golfer William Hinson, a high school senior from Blythewood, S.C., who turned pro in June at the age of 17 and already ranks 59th in the world with his longest drive measuring 418 yards.

The youngest long-drive championship winner in history, Hinson not only wears the Koma Unwind logo on his golf shirt — he swears by it.

 

“I had trouble sleeping and would stay up, especially during tournaments because we travel all over the place and I’ll get all jacked up the night before, so now I drink a Koma and it’ll knock me out and put me to sleep,” he said.

 

Koma Unwind is available in Statesville at Walgreens, Walmart, Compare Foods and several convenience stores.

       

AAA Study: Drivers Who Use Cell Phones Probably Have Other Bad Habits

Since we were little, we've been told not to judge books by their covers. But AAA would like to remind us of another tried-and-truism: where there's smoke, there's fire. 

That's the gist of a new survey conducted by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. That survey -- the 2012 Traffic Safety Culture Index -- fielded responses from 3,896 U.S. residents, all of whom were 16 or older. The survey was available in English and Spanish, and the Foundation insists that "the sample is representative of all U.S. households reachable by telephone or by regular mail".

In a nutshell, the survey reveals that folks who use their cell phones while driving are significantly more likely than their peers to engage in other bad driving habits.

It also proves that human beings are highly irrational creatures: while a whopping 89% of those surveyed agreed that other drivers using cell phones posed a threat to their safety, an also-whopping 69% reported chatting on a cell phone themselves while driving within the past 30 days. 

But here's where things get interesting: those drivers who used their cell phones "fairly often" or "regularly" within the previous month were also guilty of other bad driving habits. Notably:

• 65% said that they'd broken the speed limit.
• 53% said that they'd sent text messages and/or emails (even though 95% of respondents disapproved of such practices).
• 44% said that they'd driven drowsy.
• 29% said that they hadn't worn their safety belt.
• 
  

Conversely, those who said that they hadn't used a cell phone were much safer drivers:

• 31% said that they'd broken the speed limit.
• 3% said that they'd sent text messages and/or emails.
• 14% said that they'd driven drowsy.
• 16% said that they hadn't worn their safety belt.
• 
  

Why does it matter?

It goes without saying that distracted driving is very dangerous -- particularly sending texts and emails. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, "Text messaging creates a crash risk 23 times worse than driving while not distracted".

This is borne out in fatality statistics. The number of deaths caused by distracted driving is on the rise -- in fact, it's one of the few trouble spots on America's otherwise impressive traffic-safety report card. In all, 3,331 traffic deaths were attributed to distracted driving in 2011, which represents an increase of 1.9% over 2010. AAA hopes that the 11 states without texting bans on the books will consider such measures this year.

We don't believe that passing laws alone will do the trick. However, the AAA study seems to indicate that the more drivers understand the problem of distracted driving, the more likely they are to adopt other safe-driving habits. So, making drivers more aware of the dangers of distracted driving could, in theory, make them safer drivers overall.

The Car Connection's Best Used Car Finds: Japanese Edition

As we head into the weekend you might be considering the purchase of a used previously loved vehicle, and lucky for you, we are here to help.

With thousands of detailed vehicle reviews, andover 3 million used-car listings, The Car Connection has your back when it comes to finding the perfect vehicle. You can sort vehicle listings by make, model, year, and oh so much more with our easy-to-use sliders.

This week we've shuffled through thousands ofused-car listings to bring you these four winners. We know budgets can be tight sometimes, so we've tried to find some good deals just for you.

One last thing before we get into our picks for the week, we wanted to let you know that we would be happy to assist you in finding the perfect vehicle anytime. We'll even provide you with free advice. Drop us a tweet on Twitter, or post on our wall on Facebook. We might even include your vehicle search in our next best used car finds post.

So, without further delay, here are this week's top used car finds:

2004 Toyota Tundra SR5

75,095 miles; $15,698

It's winter and that means you just might need four-wheel drive. Also, pickup trucks are quite popular in this region, and we were always big fans of the first generation Toyota Tundra. This fine example is located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. It has higher than average mileage, but it's price is nearly half the average price of similar trucks. We feel the mileage is a fair trade off in price, especially because Tundra's are rather reliable. This truck did live it's life in a climate where they salt the roads, so be sure to have the undercarriage checked for rust. We also like that the dealership is throwing in a 3 month / 3,000 mile powertrain warranty. 

2005 Honda Odyssey EX-L

101,111 miles; $9,977

Need a family hauler on a budget? The Honda Odyssey is known to be reliable, and features better driving dynamics than most people would assume. This particular Odyssey is priced nearly $20,000 below average, but that's because it has nearly 60,000 more miles than average. The miles don't concern us too much since the Odyssey has a reputation for reliability. For those in cold climates, you'll appreciate the heated leather seats, and the sunroof will come in handy in the summer. It's been for sale for over 100 days, and the dealership's dropped the price a few times. You might have some wiggle room to negotiate.

2003 Nissan Murano

109,081 miles; $9,795

Looking for a great crossover to haul the family to the mountain to go skiing? This 2003 Nissan Murano would do the trick. Located in Portland, Oregon it features black leather seats and a Bose premium sound system. While the mileage is higher than average, the price is nearly $20,000 below other 2003 Muranos. Fuel economy ratings aren't terrible at 20 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway. The dealership notes it has a clean Carfax which we like, as it means the dealership is open and upfront about the vehicles history. The dealership seems ready to make a sale, as it's only been listed for 10 days and the price has already dropped $1,200. Negotiations may be in your favor if you play your cards right. 

2003 Mazda MX-5 Miata

53,689 miles; $10,495

It may not be summer time yet, but we always love the idea of blasting down the highways of California in a convertible. This Miata's calling to us with a price that is attainable. While the mileage is about 16,000 miles more than the average 2003 MX-5, it's not a huge concern as these cars are both reliable, and usually feature low miles. The dealer provided no information about this particular car in the listing, so we suggest you ask some detailed question when you call. As always, ask them for the Carfax report.

As always, we highly recommend you have a trusted mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection on any used vehicle before you write a check. It's also a good idea to ask the dealership for the Carfax report.

Have a question or need help finding a used vehicle? Just let us know! 704-500-2349

Special thanks to The Car Connection.

How Unleaded Gas Cut Crime And Made Us All Safer

If you keep up with the news, you know how often violent crime makes headlines. But despite some heart-wrenching stories that have played out on 24-hour news channels in recent months and years, violent crime is on the decline in the U.S. -- and according to some theoreticians, we may have unleaded gasoline to thank for that.
In the current issue of Mother Jones, Kevin Drum looks at an interesting series of facts. Among them:

• Rates of rape, assault, robbery, murder, and other violent crime peaked in many U.S. cities in the early 1990s, then went into decline.
• Those declines have largely continued despite (a) a growing population of young men and (b) economic troubles like the Great Recession, both of which should've theoretically caused a spike in violent crime rates.
• While some credit the declines to legislation like the Federal Assault Weapons Ban, violent crime has continued to abate, even though that particular ban expired in 2004.

How is this possible? Some point to increased incarceration rates, others to larger police forces, and still others to various forms of birth control, which helped couples manage the size of their families and all the attendant expenses.

But Drum suggests that the decline in violent crime may be due to a molecule -- namely, that of lead.

GETTING THE LEAD OUT
We've long known that lead can cause serious health problems in humans, especially children and pets. Even low levels of exposure have been shown to affect IQ and behavior.

Most of that research has come from studies of lead paint, which was banned in the U.S. in 1978. However violent crime in the U.S. took off in the 1960s and didn't really start declining until the early 1990s. In other words, there's no neat overlap between lead paint and violent crime.

However, economist Rick Nevin discovered that there is, in fact, a very close correlation between tailpipe emissions from leaded gasoline and violent crime. Those emissions began climbing during the 1940s, and in the 1960s, as the children of the 1940s reached adolescence and young adulthood, crime began to spike.

Soon afterward, the detrimental effects of leaded gas on the environment became clear, and its gradual phase-out began in 1973. Roughly two decades years later -- as children of the early 70s reached their late teens and early adulthood in the 1990s, crime began its steep decline.

As of January 1, 1996, the Clean Air Act outlawed the use of leaded gasoline in on-road vehicles, so you'd think that by about 2016, lead would be a non-contributing factor to crime rates in the U.S. But as Drum points out, lead doesn't disappear so easily. It hangs out in the atmosphere, and even more importantly, it penetrates the ground, where it remains hazardous. (To back that up, Drum posts data from a detailed study of lead levels in the soil of New Orleans and its correlation to crime rates.) A nationwide cleanup and prevention effort would cost around $20 billion today, but Drum claims that such an investment would generate $210 billion in returns via reduced crime and higher IQs.

What is your opinion? Let us know in the comments!

Decorate Your Car for Christmas!

Well, the lights are twinkling, the Christmas tree is already decorated, carols are floating in the air and your car is not fully introduced to the Christmas spirit yet. Just imagine: everything around your sweet car is sparkling while it has to be satisfied only with its Xenon headlights, in case it has some. In fact the situation is pretty similar to seeing a trendy dress in the shop window but not having enough money to pay for it.

You wouldn't want to see the disappointment in your vehicle's headlights when seeing everything is dressed up for Christmas excepting it. After all, in the past months it has been your most truthful friend (leaving aside the moment when one of those damn tires went flat) and certainly deserve a generous reward. Come on, let's have some Christmas honesty here: what could you possibly want more than going in a family visit with Jingle Bells all around your car?

Seriously speaking, since shopping fever has taken full command of you these days, you might think to add some decorations for your car in the basket. It won't cost a fortune although you might need to give up that snake-leather bag you spotted last week. The picture of your car decorated for Christmas will be priceless...

Think about crazy lights
If wreaths are not enough decorations for your beloved car, you can always have a back-up solution: illuminate your vehicle with holiday lights. Nowadays, you can easily find lights which are powered by batteries. In case you search all the town and find no battery powered lights, you might just as well resort to an adapter and plug the lights into your vehicle's electrical outlets. You can personalize your car for Christmas by stringing these lights from the inside of your car. Be sure you will arouse envy from your friends if you were the first one to put the idea into practice.

Garnish your car with a Christmas wreath
To be honest, a Christmas wreath will never be old-fashioned or sign of owner's bad taste. The best part is that you shouldn't worry about matching the colors: a Christmas wreath will fit a red Toyota just as well as it goes with a silver Audi.

What's more, wreaths can come with bows or other decorations attached. Just pay attention to the size: make sure the wreath you choose is appropriate for the type of vehicle you drive.

In case you're way too busy to go to a craft store, you may find plenty of wreaths on the Internet. Once you get your beautiful nails on the wreath, you can easily hang it on the front bumper of your car, but be sure it's secure. Otherwise you might lose it on your way.

Exercise your artistic skillsThere's no one on the world who hasn't an artistic side so all you have to do is let yourself driven by your infinite imagination and paint a holiday scene on your car windows. It's not that difficult after all and you don't need to be Picasso to create it. Some window paint can change your car into a winter wonderland. You can buy it from any craft store, supermarket or online shop in a variety of colors. Certainly you won't be given any awards for your masterpiece but there are good chances you'll gain the admiration of the passers-by. Yet, make sure you can still see out of your windows when driving. You wouldn't want your masterwork become an obstruction in observing the traffic rules.

Don't forget about the twinkling stars
Since we're still at your artistic face, you might just consider creating your own little stars. In fact, stars remind everyone about Christmas. You can use some craft paper to design them. Also try to put up some lighted bulbs. If you happen to have a small hanging bulb inside your car, you can tie the little stars with a string around the bulb.

Magnetic car decorating letters and magnetic bulbs
During the Christmas season, it won't be hard to find a magnetic letter kit to wish a “Merry Christmas” so you might just opt for such a decoration for your car. You can also choose bulb magnetic decorations to make your motor look more sparkling. The most popular colors for this season are green, yellow, white and blue, in case you want to be up-to-date to Christmas spirit.

Bumper stickers
Try to find flashing bumper stickers with a message related to the Christmas season or personalize it with your own words. In this way, you can spread the message of Christmas. Bumper stickers are nothing new but a Christmas-themed one will certainly make passers-by smile. And you as well since you made a good deed in the season of sharing and giving.

Bobble head SantaLet's just not ignore the character who brings us gifts under the Christmas tree each and every year... if we behaved well. But since all of us have been such good girls, Santa Claus will surely be present in our homes this year. And since we're speaking about him, a Santa bobbling with the moving car can be a really funny decoration for your car. You can place it on the back deck of the vehicle but make sure you use appropriate adhesives so that you don't lose it until you reach your destination.

Ho, ho, ho! With Santa and Rudolph the red nose reindeer on the bonnet, your darling vehicle is now more than ready to welcome Christmas.

How to Inspect a Used Car

You’ve found a car that seems perfect. The price is right, it drives well, and has all the features you’re looking for. But is it too good to be true? Whether you’re at the dealership or buying from an independent seller, you can’t always trust the salesman to reveal the dirty little secrets of their products. It’s important to learn how to spot red flags on your own. Here are some tips to conduct an effective vehicle inspection.

 

Bottoms Up

Grab a flashlight and start with the undrcarriage. Look closely at the condition of each of the components. If you find something that looks newer than the rest, and the seller hasnt' told you of any repairs, he is probably hiding something. Also, inspect the framework and floor pans for rust, and check the ground for signs of drips and leakages.

 

Tired Tires

A vehicle’s tires can be a surprisingly good gauge of the car’s condition. Check for wear by inserting a penny into the tire treads. If the top of Lincoln’s upside-down head is visible, the tires probably need to be replaced. Perform the penny test in multiple places along the wheel tread to see if the wear is even. Uneven wear can be a sign that the car is misaligned, often due to a serious accident. Check that the condition of the tires is appropriate for the mileage. If the car has low mileage and worn tires, there’s a chance that someone tampered with the odometer.

The Walk Around

Many buyers do a walk-around inspection without knowing what to look for. Your primary targets are rust and damaged seals. Check the lower part of the body for exposed metal, rust, bumps, and discolored paint. Some rust is to be expected, especially near the wheels. Use a refrigerator magnet to check for repaired panels on all sides. If the magnet sticks in some areas and not others, there might have been extensive repairs. Make sure the doors, windows, and trunk close and seal properly.

Under the Hood

Don’t be intimidated. Even auto-novices can easily spot issues in the engine compartment. Make sure everything looks clean and rust-free around engine. If there are signs of newer paint, or if the bumpers around the hood have been painted over, the car has likely been repainted due to damage or rust. Make sure the oil is clean and at the correct level. If not, it’s a good indicator that the car was not well cared for.

If you know what you’re looking for, you can keep yourself from making a terrible buying decision. Avoid the pressure to hurry the inspection, and make sure you look over every inch of your new vehicle.