HOMEOWNERS received an additional weapon against cowboy builders today in the shape of a new guide outlining how much work around the home should cost.

The book also allows readers to adjust the figures to account for their particular location.

Poca couple blames contractor for host of problems

WINFIELD - A Poca couple blames the owner of a construction company after a host of problems that resulted from contracting him to build an addition to their home.

Douglas and Rebecca Spaulding filed their lawsuit against Jennings W. Briles Jr. on Sept. 19 in Putnam Circuit Court.

According to their complaint, the Spauldings contacted Briles, who owns Briles Construction, about building the addition. They told him the work had to be done by the end of May or early June because they had a number of family members coming to their home in early July.

Briles promised the work would be done by then, according to the complaint, and the contract cost would not exceed $85,000. Work began on March 20 and was to be finished in 60 days, and changes resulted in the contract price being dropped to $60,570.07.

Green Building Construction Waste Management Services Awarded

Frescatore Consulting LLC, a locally based, full service construction waste management firm, has been selected to oversee the construction waste management and recycling implementation plans and services for three major construction projects in Central Pennsylvania. The JEM Group, LLC, the contractor responsible for the Dickinson College Science Facility project, in Carlisle, and R.S. Mowery & Sons, Inc, the contractor responsible for the Milton Hershey Schools Springboard Academy project, and also the Hershey Medical Center East Campus Neuromuscular Facility project, located in Hershey, both selected Frescatore Consulting to design, train, and implement the entire construction waste management plan for these projects. These three projects alone, represent approximately $71,000,000 of construction dollars.

Construction ready to start on Greene complex

SNOW HILL — Despite the rainy weather, the long awaited recreation complex will finally start construction.

“This will be Greene County's first public recreation facility," said Mary Betty Kearney, chairwoman of the Greene County Commissioners. “This was a vision by many people."

The recreation department will add two football/soccer fields, three baseball/softball fields, concession stands, a picnic area, a playground and a walking trail to deal with the increase in sport participation during the past five years.

The new fields will be located at N.C. 13 and N.C. 58 right before the city boundary. The goal is to start playing spring sports on them next year.

Greene County received $350,000 from the N.C. Parks and Recreation Trust Fund (PARTF) and $150,000 from the North Carolina Division of Community Assistance to go towards the project.

Intruder enters rural house while girls are home alone

Two girls were alone after school Wednesday at their rural Sargeant home when an unidentified man entered uninvited.A girl thought it was her brother, but when she went into the kitchen, she found the man. He reportedly said he was looking for a man he believed lived on the street, then left the house and drove south in a small, white car. Sheriff Terese Amazi said the name the man gave the girl did not match any residents in the area. Neighbors told authorities they didn't see the man stop at any of the other houses.Teen ticketed at nature centerSix teens were ticketed for marijuana and/or underage alcohol consumption after someone reported they were at the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center after it closed.Police went to the park at 12:15 a.m. Thursday and found three 18- and three 19-year-olds who had arrived on foot.