Special Reports News - MyNC.com

Special Report: Real Estate: What's Selling?

Home sales in the Triangle are far from what they were just a few years ago, but realtors say homes are still selling.

According to the Triangle Multiple Listing Service, there were 1,997 closings in June 2009 in Wake, Johnston, Orange, and Chatham counties. That's compared to 2,311 in the same month in 2008, and 3,449 in 2006.

But people still marry, divorce, change jobs, have children, and do all the kinds of things that necessitate a move, according to Bob Fortner of Keller Williams Realty and the Raleigh Real Estate Talk blog. http://www.raleighrealestatetalk.com/

One of his clients, Marylu Lawrence, recently bought a townhouse in North Raleigh using the first time homebuyers' federal tax credit. Fortner said his phone has been ringing off the hook with people like Lawrence interested in the credit.

"The $8,000 tax credit made a big difference in wanting to do it now, rather than six to twelve months from now, or even later," Lawrence said.

Click here to learn about the $8,000 Tax Credit. http://www.federalhousingtaxcredit.com/2009/glance.php

Clients Paige Armstrong and Brian Foster are recently engaged, and looking to buy a home in which to start their married life together. Most of the homes they're considering are in the $250,000 to $300,000 range.

This range is a popular selling point in the Triangle right now.

Triangle MLS http://www.trianglemls.com/ numbers show that so far this year in Wake, Johnston, Durham, Orange, and Chatham counties, more than half of homes sold were priced under $200,000. Nearly 80 percent were priced under $300,000.

"Over three hundred thousand is a bit of a struggle," Fortner said. "Especially if you get over five hundred thousand, it's almost impossible. The financing around five hundred thousand is quite tough now."

Some developers are refocusing their efforts to meet the market's demand.

Heritage Wake Forest, http://www.heritagewakeforest.com/ a master-planned community complete with pools, a golf course, restaurants, and other amenities, previously catered to buyers looking in the four hundred thousand range. But sales, marketing, and development teams have been paying attention to what kind of buyers were coming into the sales office.

"We saw a distinct change and an increase in the buyers that were under three hundred thousand," said Pat Mills, senior sales manager at Heritage.

She said the community is now offering more pre-sale and existing inventory homes in that price range.

Pricing is not the only thing that matters when clinching a sale.

Cherie Weigle recently sold her townhome after about sixty showings in ninety days. She says that listing the home slightly lower than others up for sale in the neighborhood got people in the door. Marketing and staging the home for showings led to offers.

"It was in good shape," Weigle said. "I had it painted and carpeted."

"The furnishings were nice. Everything matched. It wasn't cluttered, and it was easy to walk through the home," added Fortner. "If you make it stand out in some way, when they get there, you're pretty far down the road towards getting an offer on that home."

Special Report: Paying For College In Tough Economic Times

As families prepare to send children off to college, they also are preparing for years of tuition payments. For many families, it may also mean years of repaying loans.

State universities across North Carolina have seen a record number of students applying for financial aid this year. Financial aid officers at both N.C. State and UNC-Chapel Hill reported a more than 20 percent increase in the number of financial aid packages they have awarded to students.

Shirley Ort, director of Scholarships and Financial Aid at UNC-Chapel Hill, said new federal eligibility rules have made it easier for families to qualify for financial aid, but the economy is playing a part.

"Family circumstances are changing," she said. "Families are receiving notification of layoffs or wage reduction, and so we're still seeing a number of applications from families who hadn't planned on needing money."

An increasing number of families also are requesting reconsideration of financial aid packages already awarded.

"I think for people who have had changed circumstances, the thing to do is to file the FAFSA form and then meet with the financial aid staff at the college that they're interested in going," said Steve Brooks, director of North Carolina's State Education Assistance Authority (NCSEAA).

Brooks said money is still available to help students, especially those in financial need.
The federal stimulus program has increased the maximum Pell Grant award available. Students may receive as much as $5,350 this school year and can apply at any time throughout the year.

More than $350 million in state education grants also are expected to be available in 2009-2010, giving aid to specific types of students, including minority and low-income students, as well as those planning to go into high demand fields, like teaching and nursing, and students attending community college.

"With PELL grants and state grants in North Carolina, virtually anybody who's making less than about 85,000 dollars a year can go to community college for free," said Brooks. "The combination of grants would be sufficient to do that."

Stimulus money also is helping families who don't qualify for need-based aid, with lower interest rates and origination fees on education loans to students and a new loan repayment program based on income.

Education loans only are available to students. Parents may apply for federal loans for education, called PLUS loans, but with interest rates fixed at around 8.5 percent, some people are turning to private loans or even home equity loans to fill in the funding gaps.

"I would shop around," said Brooks. "If you can find a reputable lender at an interest rate that is lower than that 8 and a half percent, and one that could be refinanced later if interest rates go up, that would be certainly something to look at."

Students and parents can find a wealth of information on paying for college at the College Foundation of North Carolina website. The site also includes a link to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, where parents can plan ahead by completing a FAFSA4caster to get an estimate of your family's eligibility for federal student aid.

Resources for Paying for College:

College Foundation of North Carolina (includes state grants and loan information) http://www.cfnc.org/

Free Application for Federal Student Aid http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/

FAFSA4caster http://www.fafsa4caster.ed.gov/F4CApp/index/index.jsf

Federal Grant Information
(http://studentaid.ed.gov/students/attachments/siteresources/Grant_Programs_Fact_Sheet_04_2009.pdf

Fact Sheet on Federal Education Loans http://studentaid.ed.gov/students/attachments/siteresources/Loan_Programs_Fact_Sheet_04_2009.pdf

How Stimulus Money Trickles Into The Triangle

As the United States tries to pull out of the recession, The Federal Recovery Act is pumping close to a trillion dollars into the national economy.

Some $8 billion of that total is earmarked specifically for North Carolina programs.

Figuring out where to take advantage of all that money can be a daunting task; it gets filtered down through hundreds of agencies and programs at the local level.

Perhaps the most obvious way to cash in on the Federal Recovery Act is, well, cashing in.

The first time home buyer tax credit has been well publicized with an $8,000 dollar rebate available.

Now, though, a new credit is starting to roll out, with the goal of jump-starting the sputtering auto industry.

"$3,500 to 4,500 for what we call a clunker," said Sammy Hatley with Fred Anderson Toyota.

It's officially called the Car Allowance Rebate System.

The program encourages people to turn cars getting less than 18 miles per gallon and buy a new one with better fuel efficiency; dealers then scrap the old cars to keep clunkers off the highway for good.

"It's just used as a trade allowance on the car," explained Hatley. "Instead of a $500 or $1,000 car, they're getting $3,500 or $4,500."

The program hasn't officially geared up yet, but some dealerships are already giving customers the rebate and holding onto receipts. Hatley said once they get the green light from the feds he doesn't think the billion dollar program will even reach its Nov. 1 cutoff date before running out of gas.

Stimulus money that may not be quite as obvious is the kind that simply saves people money.

Moses McGirt is an energy auditor working for Resources for Seniors; he goes to homes, free of charge, and weatherizes them.

Crews pressurize the house with a powerful fan, to test for any little openings where outdoor temperatures can get in.

"We always seal the vents...wherever the weather stripping is bad, we'll replace the weather stripping," said McGirt, pointing to a power outlet. "If you take your hand and put it right there, you can actually feel the pull of the air coming through right where the outlet plug-ins are."

The program has been in place in Wake County for years, but the budget is skyrocketing from $500,000 a year to $3 million with stimulus money.

"Right now we have about 100 people on a waiting list waiting to get their homes approved," said Garman Troup, who oversees the weatherization program.

Troup said the visits can save people $400 per year.

It's open to anyone earning up to 200 percent of the poverty level.

The weatherization money is just starting to trickle down the pipeline, and Resources for Seniors won't get the program ramped up completely for another couple months.

Big increases in programs like that have a ripple effect; the city of Raleigh is using $380,000 in stimulus money to train people for all sorts of so-called "green collar" jobs that will be opening up soon.

"As there's more and more demand, there are going to be more and more needs for these kinds of services," said Paula Thomas, the city's Sustainability Manager. "And so the city is initiating this over the next three years."

Along the same lines, North Carolina's community college system is preparing to roll out its "12 in 6" program, offering crash courses in a dozen different fields for people hoping for a career change.

There's some $13 million funding the program, with classes set to start in September.

New programs seem to pop up on a weekly basis, too. Just this week, the state announced its getting close to $9 million to dole out for people buying energy-efficient appliances with the ENERGY STAR program.

______________
For more information about ways to cash in, see some of the following programs and agencies distributing stimulus money:

List of all federal Recovery grants (North Carolina grants are listed individually on the front page of the http://www.ncrecovery.gov Web site)

NC Education Recovery Contacts:

•General Questions on Recovery Funds
Paul LeSieur at plesieur@dpi.state.nc.usor (919) 807-3701
Stephanie English at senglish@dpi.state.nc.usor (919) 807-3686

•Title I Program Questions
Donna Brown at dbrown@dpi.state.nc.usor (919) 807-3959

•IDEA Program Questions
Laura Snyder at lsnyder@dpi.state.nc.usor (919) 807-3992

•Education Technology Questions
Neill Kimrey at nkimrey@dpi.state.nc.usor (919) 807-3270

•Child Nutrition Equipment Questions
Lynn Hoggard at lhoggard@dpi.state.nc.usor (919) 807-3507

•Homeless Assistance Questions
Diana Bowman at dbowman@serve.orgor (336) 315-7453

•QZAB Bonds (Construction) Questions
Steve Taynton at staynton@dpi.state.nc.usor (919) 807-3560

State Energy Office
Mailing Address:
1340 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1340

919-733-2230 -phone
919-733-2953 -fax

Contact information for Recovery-related issues in Homelessness Prevention, Housing, Weatherization and Community Development Block Grants:
Martha Are
Office of Economic Recovery and Investment
MSC 20308
Raleigh, NC 27699-0308
919-733-1433

N.C. Department of Transportation Recovery Web site

N.C. Department of Environment & Natural Resources Recovery Web site

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Keep up with the stories Chris Cowperthwaite is working on every day: http://twitter.com/CCowperthwaite.

Special Report: Q

Question and answer with Dub Gulley, Director of Durham Tech's Small Business Center

*In your classes, have you seen more people turning to something they've always wanted to do?
While our entrepreneurial classes are generally made up of people who want to consider starting (as well as growing) their own businesses, in recent months we have seen an increase in laid off employees taking business skills classes and investigating the possibilities of starting their own company.

*If someone is planning on "pursuing their passion" and opening a small business, what are some of the things they should remember in this economic climate?
It's always been important, but today it's absolutely essential, for would-be entrepreneurs to follow a business planning process and write their plan. While determining one's market feasibility & niche, one's target customers and competition, and one's competitive advantages with financial projections won't guarantee success, without a plan you're planning to fail.

*Are small businesses having trouble finding start-up financing in this economy? If so, what are your suggestions?
Yes, small businesses have been among the most impacted by the drying up of financial resources. However they are also able to now look at stimulus programs to investigate if their company can be a part of these. So check your local and state governments "recovery" websites for details, and also consider contacting the federal Small Business Administration to look at their loan programs. Finally, here in North Carolina we have the Self-Help Credit Union, which hasn't been impacted by the Wall Street debacle and can make credit-worthy small business loans today.

*Are there any federal recovery monies or state funds available for small businesses?
See above. Don't hesitate as regards the recovery money, and think who your business can partner with to offer synergies in these programs.

*How can people make sure their "passion" has a niche in the market?
Back to your business plan, in which you first must determine if your business idea is "feasible" in your market given the competition, and that you can make a sufficient margin and net profit to justify your startup investment and support your business and family.

*How can the Durham Tech Small Business Center help these people?
We're often referred to as the first door you should open to access business skills training, consulting, and entrepreneurial resources in the Triangle. We offer excellent 30-hour business plan classes, over 50 topical business seminars, private counseling, and resource referrals. As your tax dollars enable us to provide seminars and counseling at no cost and moderately priced classes, it's really up to you to take advantage of our services!

Tying Up Dogs In Cumberland County Will Soon Be Illegal

Starting August 1, Cumberland County residents will no longer be allowed to tie or chain pets to stationary objects outdoors. In February, County Commissioners passed an ordinance prohibiting tethering animals.

The Animal Enforcement Division of the Animal Service Department will be responsible for enforcing the new law. But the new ordinance will not be enforced in Fayetteville, Hope Mills and Spring Lake because the municipalities have not passed a similar law.

Violators could be fined $100 per citation. If the incident warrants it, a criminal investigation could be initiated and the animal could be removed from the home.

For more information on the ordinance click here.

All American Week Kicks Off With Race

All American Week is underway at Fort Bragg.

The events started early Monday morning with the 82nd Airborne Division's four mile run along Longstreet Road on post. Organizer of the event Sergeant Major Oscar Vinson said there are many events scheduled, but the entire program is scaled down this year.

"All American week is sporting events through the division, however because most of the division is deployed, it's going to be sporting invents within brigades," Sgt. Vinson said.

Staff Sergeant Samuel Wendt ran in the race. He said this week supports families whose loved ones were recently deployed or will soon be sent overseas.

"There are other families at the events and they can get involved with other spouses and children can meet other kids," Wendt said.

Others said the events also build bonds among the troops. The next event is a five mile run on Tuesday. To see a full schedule, click here.

Special Report: Making The Most Of Online Job Searching, Networking

Aimee Hutchins moved from Pennsylvania to teach science and social studies to fourth graders at Corinth-Holders Elementary in Johnston County. She found her job online.

Hutchins started by posting a resume on monster.com.

"Monster, it tended to be jobs that weren't related, jobs that I wasn't qualified for," she said.

Then she posted her resume on www.teachers-teachers.com, a site specifically for teachers. She got responses from school districts across the country.

The internet can be a jobseeker's best tool. There's monster.com, careerbuilder.com, hotjobs.com.

Indeed.com and simplyhired.com gather listings from the entire web.

You can create a profile and network with potential employers on sites like linkedin.com and jibberjobber.com.

But career counselors say the more focused you are, the better your chances of success.

"One of the temptations is, when you're applying online is to apply for everything because it's easy to do that, just click, apply, apply, apply. That does not necessarily always help you," said North Carolina State University career counselor Leslie Rand-Pickett.

Neither does having a generic resume. Rand-Pickett says you should describe your experience in detail. When employers search online they look for key words, like organizations that you belong to or computer programs that you use, she said.

"If you've only very generically described your experience, you might have forgotten to include one of those keywords in that and not get picked up," she said.

If you're looking for a job in your town or county, Rand-Pickett recommends searching for local sites like the online job board that Jason Pedley started when he moved to Johnston County.

Pedley gets listings from a search engine, blogs about them, and sends updates on twitter.

"Ninety percent of the jobs are all above board jobs, companies like anywhere from SAS to Talecris to other local jobs," he said.

If you're looking in a specific industry, let that guide your search, Rand-Pickett says.

You can find technology jobs on dice.com. If you speak Spanish, search on latpro.com. For jobs with fortune 500 companies, look on jobcentral.com.

But career counselors say you'll have the best chance if you go directly to a company's website to fill out an application.

"If you're trying to do that for 100 companies, then it might be really overwhelming," Rand-Pickett says.

Aimee Hutchins says it does take a lot of time, even after you narrow down your search.

But, "it's definitely worth it if you need a job. And it's nice because you don't have to leave home."

GENERAL JOB SEARCH WEBSITES:
-monster.com
-careerbuilder.com
-hotjobs.yahoo.com
-job.com
-career.com
-jobster.com

JOB SEARCH ENGINES:
-indeed.com
-simplyhired.com
-hound.com

LOCAL JOB RESOURCES:
-Employment Security Commission (ESC) of North Carolina
-JobLink Career Center
-Johnston County and Wake County job board

INDUSTRY SPECIFIC SITES:
-www.quintcareers.com This page has a long list of industry-specific sites
-www.beyond.com network of local and industry-specific sites
-www.dice.com for technology jobs
-www.jobcentral.com Fortune 500 company jobs
-www.teachers-teachers.com for teachers
-USAJobs.gov Federal government job listings
-www.latpro.com for Spanish and Portuguese-speaking people
-CoolWorks.com for seasonal jobs
-Net-Temps.com for temporary jobs
-SnagAJob.com for hourly job listings

FOR RECENT COLLEGE GRADS:
-www.nacelink.com
-www.jobweb.com
-North Carolina State University career center

PROFESSIONAL SOCIAL NETWORKING:
-www.linkedin.com
-www.jibberjobber.com
-www.tweetmyjobs.com: you can sign up for twitter text alerts with job listings

YOUR MONEY with Donald Jones: Saving Money By Planning Your Day

Budget counselor Scott Shinn, with Financial Peace University, says that by planning your day you can save money.

Share YOUR MONEY questions. Share by clicking here.

Shinn also offers a recipe for homemade laundry detergent:

Liquid Laundry Detergent

1/6 Zote Laundry Soap Bar (apprx .79 cents)
½ cup Borax (apprx $2.50)
½ cup Arm & Hammer Washing Soda (can be found at Kroger $2.89)
2 gallons water

Use approx. 4 cups of the water and heat in large pot. Grate and dissolve 1/6 of the laundry soap bar. When completely dissolved mix in ½ cup borax and ½ cup washing soda until dissolved. Remove from heat and add the remaining water slowly. If your pot is not large enough to hold all of the water you can divided the mixture evenly between 2 one gallon milk containers or old laundry bottles and then fill with equal amounts of water.

This will look like egg noodle soup. Always stir or slightly shake before each use.

This batch will wash 64 loads for less than 50 cents (less than a penny per load) compared to a leading brand that costs $7 for 64 loads. It works well & it is great for allergy sufferers. It is a low suds detergent so it will work for front load machines.

You can also use these ingredients to make a dry -powder version. Grate the soap & grind in a food processor with the other two powders. Use 1 tablespoon for light loads and 2 tablespoons for heavy or heavily soiled loads.

Former Gov. Hunt Says No To Education Post

Former Gov. Hunt tells the "Under the Dome" he's not interested in joining Pres.-Elect Barack Obama's cabinet as Education Secretary.

Special Report: NBC17 Investigates Home Owners Association Rules

RALEIGH, N.C. – Homeowners' association woes may become a thing of the past as experts give NBC17 the low down of how to successfully challenge tough HOA rules.

Discuss This Story

Web Extra: Learn More About HOAs

Some call associations a self-governed municipality stricter than the local government. According to the Community Association Institute, there are about 300,800 associations in America – that includes detached homes and condos. And while a national survey suggested about 70 percent of members are pleased with their HOAs, nearly 10 percent are not.

Every HOA has its own set of covenants. The covenants can regulate everything from the positioning of one’s satellite dish and real estate signs to multiple car parking.

Sara Stubbins, an educator with CAI, said she’s heard various stories from unhappy homeowners.

“When you’re talking about people’s homes, their lifestyles and their money, it’s not petty to them,” Stubbins said, “I think the biggest complaints and the most contention generally comes from architectural guidelines and restrictions, or enforcement or non-enforcement.”

So what do you do if you love your home but can’t stand the rules?

Well, first off, you’ll need to know exactly what the rule states and where it comes from.

“If it comes from a recorded legal document, there are certain ways to change that if it comes from a rule and regulation formulated by the board, there are different ways to change that,” Stubbins said.

You start the process of changing a covenant first by consulting an attorney to help draft the change in the formal language needed.

Raleigh attorney Hope Carmichael said most HOA’s typically make changes when homeowners submit new rules for a vote, or the HOA board sees a need.

Carmichael said she drafted about 10 amendment proposals in March but said two will probably pass.

Once an amendment is drafted, then come the most important part.

“You need to build consensus, build consensus, build consensus,” Stubbins said, “and you can’t really do it overnight.”

In a homeowner’s association, the majority rules so you’ll need a strategy to get others onboard.

Here are some suggestions from the experts:

· Hold a town hall meeting to discuss the concern. That usually requires a 30 day notice.

· Go door to door to build consensus.

· Research the pros and cons of making changes.

You’ll need at least two-thirds of the majority vote.

And, how you pose the question to your neighbors can also help to build consensus.

Stubbins advises that this is a key tip in challenging your HOA.

“If you ask me, hey Sara, do you think clotheslines are a good idea, I would say absolutely yes,” Stubbins said, “If you ask me, do you mind changing the view of my deck, from a group of trees to your laundry everyday I might have a different answer to the question.”

If your problem isn’t with the rules, but with the voluntary board, they can be replaced. But that takes consensus, too.

Carmichael suggests homeowners must know what it takes and be willing to play by the rules.

“It typically takes a petition signed by 20 percent of the members,” she said.

Joe Coletti and his wife are former board members of the Northwoods Crossing homeowners association in the town of Cary.

Their differences with some members got them voted off.

“We’re the perfect example of what happens when you’re really upset with your HOA,” Coletti said. “You start a petition and you kick the people off.”

The Colettis left the board last winter.

Coletti said he and his wife don’t attend meetings anymore.

Carmichael says he has every right to take part in his community.

“All homeowners have the right to exercise their voice in response to that,” Carmichael said. “And they need to use the process and be aware there is a process they can use. They should not be powerless to act if they feel like the HOA was not acting in their best interest.”

NBC17 asked the management company and the HOA board to tell us their side of the story. They denied our request for interviews.

Special Report: NBC17 Proves How Easy It Is To Find Local Teens On Facebook

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Online social networks are gaining more members by the minute and many of them are teenagers.

Comment On This Report

Web Extra: How Parent's Can Use Facebook

Web Extra: Tools To Protect Your Children Online

Extra: More About How and Why We Did This Story

In a special NBC 17 investigation, myself and my colleague reporter Sergio Quintana set up our own Facebook accounts with our real names. The purpose was to see how many young friends we could make and how much personal information we could get from them without any correspondence.

Watch Part One of our story by clicking on the video tab above. Watch Part Two with Austin's story here.

New teenage friends started accepting us at a rapid rate. Within hours, one local teenager accepted me as a friend, and I was able to get the one piece of information that led me to his home. Around 8 p.m. on a weekday, I showed up at his front doorstep.

Laura: "Hi Michael?"

Michael: "Uh hum."

Laura: "Hi do you know who I am?"

Michael: "Um no I do not."

Laura: "Well I’m on your Facebook account."

Michael: "Um huh"

Laura: "And I'm also a reporter with NBC 17."

Michael: "Yes m'am."

When I told Michael Watkins' parents what I found on their son's Facebook page, they invited me over to let him know that he wasn't very hard to find. Claire and Gregory Watkins made sure Michael was home to answer the door when I arrived.

Claire: "You're busted, you are so busted. Yeah, haven't we talked about this? Haven't we talked about being safe on the Internet and what you should and shouldn't do?"

Michael: "Uh huh"

Claire: "So what happened? What did you give out that you shouldn't have given out?"

Michael: "I accepted somebody as a friend that I didn't know."

But it was more than just accepting me as a friend. Within hours I knew Michael's high school, hobbies and interests, political views and his phone numbers. A quick reverse search of his home phone number provided enough information to lead me to his doorstep 24 hours after we met online.

"I was shocked and very angry, very angry,” Claire said. "I'm surprised. That's amazing how quickly you got all that. I mean I know they can post certain things on there I’ve seen what they can post and I think my concern is that you knew how to find it I mean you could have been anybody."

And Michael's Facebook page isn't out of the ordinary. Out of 150 of our Facebook friends, Sergio Quintana and I found 18 with home phone numbers listed, 45 with cell phones and six with actual addresses marked clearly on their pages. Some of my new teen friends questioned my identity but kept me as a friend even when I didn't respond. Michael got his answers from me, face-to-face.

"I was just like freaking out I was like wait, I just saw this person on Facebook like a day ago and now she's standing at my door with a microphone and I just knew I was probably caught for something,” Michael said.

When I asked Michael thinking back if he still would have added me as a Facebook friend, he told me no way.

"How easily you found where I lived and my phone number and too many things about me, it was just kind of weird and I don't want other people doing that to me,” Michael said.

"Michael is very well adjusted and very comfortable in his own skin, has lots of friends, straight A student, a great kid. My concern is the child that's lonely and abused and doesn't have parents that they can feel they can come to, that they're going to reach out and be led astray,” Claire said.

Michael said in light of his experience with me, he'll take some of his personal information off of his Facebook page. He laughed and forgave me for getting him in a little trouble with his mother, who said they’re going to have a long talk.

"I think he knows what could have happened, I think this has been a great lesson for him,” Claire said.

-- Laura Barron, NBC17 Reporter

Austin's Story

With online social networks like Myspace and Facebook teenagers can spend hours keeping track of their friends, and sharing the minute by minute happenings of their day.

It's a never ending conversation online.

But what teens often don't realize is that the information they share online can be used by other people to track them down.

Through our investigation we were able to collect personal information from high school students that included; home phone numbers, cell phone numbers, home addresses, personal e-mail addresses and other info.

One student we were easily able to track down was a sophomore at a Raleigh high school named Austin.

We’re only using his first name to protect his full identity.

We showed up at his home a few days after he made us his friend online.

“Hi Austin,” I asked as the teenager opened his front door.

"Yes."

"How are you?"

"I'm good."

"You invited me to be a friend of yours on Facebook."

"I, I did?"

Immediately after Austin accepted me as his friend we contacted his parents.

We told them we were able to track him down because he posted his home phone number on his profile.

We did a reverse search online and got his home address.

Austin’s mother Sheila was surprised that we were able to learn so much information so quickly.

“We thought we were diligent, you know we have the parental controls, the computer is out in the middle of the house, they're only allowed a certain amount of time to be on there,” Sheila said.

North Carolina Attorney Genera Roy Cooper has been working for years to get social networking websites to install more safeguards to protect children.

“We've seen it time and time again, where predators go on the internet, look for children and are able to find them, physically meet them, and exploit them,” Roy Cooper said.

He told us the internet is a tool that can make it easier for adults to target kids.

“Now with the internet and social networking sites, predators can groom dozens of children at the same time until they find that child who is emotionally ready to meet someone,” Cooper said.

There is good news that we uncovered as part of our investigation.

Many of the students that we invited as friends did not accept our invitations...

And one student in particular actually figured out that we were up to something.

Matthew is a student who was invited to be one of Laura Barron’s friends.

We’re only using his first name to protect his identity.

He wrote a message to Laura Barron and did not approve her as a friend.

In his message he wrote, “Um, found you, you're a reporter for NBC 17, why are adding all these kids?”

He told us he was suspicious about being contacted by an adult he had never met, so he did some digging.

“I Googled her name, and she popped up under NBC and so I read her bio, and then I compared the two and the information lined up,” Matthew said.

His mother Norma tells us she was reluctant to let Matthew have a Facebook account.

When she did, he was not allowed to post any personal information and she also checks in regularly on his account.

“I too now have a Facebook account, just so I can go on and look and see what my child is seeing and talking about with his friends,” Norma said.

Back at Austin's house, his parents have made him change his profile.

“It just like feels embarrassing because I was caught accepting a request to an adult who just happened to be undercover,” Austin said after we surprised him at his front door.

His parents are also considering opening an account of their own, to keep better tabs on their teenager.

-- Sergio Quintana, NBC17 Reporter

UPDATE: Facebook Begins Safeguards

Facebook, The nation's second-largest social networking Web site, is now taking steps to protect younger users.

The Web site has agreed to new safeguards aimed at protecting children from sexual predators and cyber bullies.

There are an estimated 70 million Facebook users, and the site is very popular among younger users because it started out as a closed network for high school and college campuses.

North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper says that made Facebook a magnet for predators when it opened up to users of all ages a few years ago.

“If you are an adult with bad intentions and you go on these sites and you try to collect information about children, unfortunately you can do it very easily,” Roy Cooper said.

Automatic warnings will be added for underage users about displaying personal information.

Facebook has also agreed to display safety tips to users more prominently.

And, it will aggressively remove inappropriate groups or users from the site.

A statement released by Facebook Chief Privacy Officer Chris Kelly he said: "Building a safe and trusted online experience has been part of Facebook from the outset."

Roy Cooper said the agreement will help protect children, but he says they are also working with Facebook to install tools that help verify the real identities of their users.

“They've told me that they don't want an anonymous situation. They don't want people coming on our site who are anonymous. They want to know who people are. That's part of what their site is about,” Cooper said.

He said identity verification would help separate adults from children online.

The agreement announced Thursday is being supported by Roy Cooper and 47 of his fellow Attorneys General, as well as officials from the District of Columbia.

The only State Justice Department not to support the agreement is Texas.

They want a speedier adoption of identity verification tools for Facebook and similar sites.

Web Extra: Local Area HOA Guide

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Web Extra: Local Area HOA Guide

Make Your HOA Work for You

You versus your HOA! If you, the homeowning underdog, take on your demanding HOA and go head-to-head over tight neighborhood restrictions -- Could you win?

NBC 17 shows you how - in our special report on Homeowners Associations - Wednesday at 7:10 p.m.

NBC 17 is empowering you with easy steps to challenging your HOA! Find out what you can do to change the rules … And make your HOA work for you!

Bookmark this page right now, and check back Wednesday for your guide to local HOAs! What you need to know before you buy a home, right here on nbc17.com!

Special Report: How Much Do Local Stores Know About The Digital TV Conversion?

RALEIGH, N.C. -- The digital conversion is coming.

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NBC17 DTV Special Section

E-mail Us Your Questions

That means there will be a big change in the TV signal that is broadcast to your home.

But consumer advocates like Shana Becker with North Carolina Public Interest Research Groups say viewers wanting to keep their old TV’s tuned to their favorite channels should not have to spend lots of money to do it.

“If they do not have cable, it's fairly easy to address. There's a converter box that is $40 dollars to $70, and you can get a coupon online from the government that will offset the cost by $40,” Shana Becker said.

A Digital/Analog converter box is a simple piece of equipment you plug your basic rabbit ear antennas into and then plug into your TV.

According to a recent report by the NC PIRG, they found some problems with the way some electronics stores were selling the boxes.

“I think what stuck out in my head the most, was that a lot of people just didn't know about the converter box option and almost nobody seemed to know about the coupon,” Becker said.

NC PIRG published a report this February called “Mixed Signals.”

As part of that report, members of NC PIRG posed as secret shoppers to ask how electronic stores were handling sales of DTV Converter Boxes.

One excerpt from the reports reads:

“In a Raleigh, North Carolina Target, employees did not know when the transition would happen but one offered, "It will probably happen soon.""

NBC17 News decided to check out the DTV knowledge of sales people for ourselves.

Three members of our staff posed as secret shoppers and video taped our efforts using a hidden camera.

We took our hidden camera to two different local Target Stores and asked a few questions.

Those stores have not yet started carrying the converter boxes, so not surprisingly the sales people we talked to did not know much about them.

During one of our hidden camera visits this is what we asked one of the Target Employees:

“How much are they usually,” the secret shopper asked. “I have no clue,” the Target Employee responded.

Another salesman talking to a different secret shopper did not know much about the coupon.

“They're talking about some kind of coupon,” the secret shopper asked.

“Yeah, that's issued by the government. I don't know how you apply for it, or how you get it,” the employee answered.

We then took our hidden camera to nearly a dozen other electronics stores including: Best Buy, Circuit City, Wal-Mart, and HH Gregg.

We found that for the most part, not only did these stores have the digital converters in stock like at a Circuit City at Crossroads Shopping Center.

“How much are these,” asked our secret shopper as she pointed to one of the boxed converters. “These ones right now are $59.99,” answered the salesman.

The sales people were also pretty knowledgeable about the government coupon offered and other information.

“What about the coupon that they're talking about or something,” asked our secret shopper at a Best Buy near Crabtree Valley Mall in Raleigh.

“You can go to dtv.gov and you can either mail out for it, or you can go online,” answered the salesman.

The results of our hidden camera investigation were welcomed news to NC PIRG.

“It's good to know that they are taking it seriously and changing some of the practices from what we saw a few months ago,” Shana Becker with NC PIRG said.

By the end of our investigation we found that even Target posted new information to help their customers.

At the Raleigh Target at North Hills Shopping Center, our secret shopper talked with one of the Target employees about a new display in the electronics department.

“Oh okay so this is a new display,” our secret shopper said.

“I've only been here a couple hours, I hadn't seen this display yet,” the Target employee responded.

We sought comment from the corporate headquarters of all the electronics stores we included in our report.

All of them said they were happy with the performance of their employees with our secret shoppers.

Joshua Thomas, a spokesperson for Target Stores offered this written response to our Secret Shopper Investigation:

“Target is taking a number of steps to inform our guests about the transition from analog to digital broadcast. We’re leveraging in-store marketing, Target.com, team member training and an informational brochure. Converter boxes will be available in May.”

NBC17 Special Report: What Does Your Home Insurance Really Cover?

RALEIGH, N.C. -- If you're a homeowner or thinking about becoming one, you know you'll need a home insurance policy. You also probably know the document reads like a complex merger deal.

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Department of Insurance Resources and Complaint Form

Insurance Resource Guide

What's Covered, What's Not

Typically fire, wind events, most personal belongings and water damage from a pipe bursting inside your home are all covered. Things like mold, flood waters, termites and more than $500 worth of tree removal are not covered, and that's not all.

Seasoned Triangle real estate agent Susan Lampley was surprised to learn how difficult her policy was to navigate after her Raleigh home was struck by lightening and burned this past summer. She said since the fire, time has stopped.

"You feel really sad, because you know my children grew up playing in this yard,” Lampley said. “You feel frustrated that we are still where we are right now."

Lampley said she has spent countless hours trying to remember, write down and price out 17 years worth of belongings that were in her home. A book listing her wedding gifts was salvaged, and offered a shred of proof for the insurance company. As for everything else, Lampley said she didn’t realize how much she could lose.

"I thought that if I lost a fork in a fire, then that fork, same type of fork, would be replaced and that's not necessarily the case,” she said. "I just thought replacement value is replacement value and you know there's a lot of different things involved."

The job of insurance companies is to provide you with something similar in value to what you lost. But North Carolina Commissioner of Insurance Jim Long explained people forget to take inflation and appreciation into account.

"You need to get an estimate on what it would take to replace what you have now, and insure it for that value,” Long said.

Most insurance companies do this for you every year, but Long said it's a good idea to constantly update your belongings for your insurance company and write down everything you buy. He said keep pictures and a list of everything you own in a safe place away from your home, and if you can, buy more than the required 80 percent coverage in North Carolina.

"Every time the cost of sheet rock and plywood goes up that means it's that much more to replace your home in case you have a total loss,” Long said.

But even if you have full coverage, Carol Potter with Snotherly Insurance said don't make the mistake of thinking valuable items are completely covered.

"There are limits within a homeowner's policy with high value items such as jewelry, silver, furs, guns,” Potter said.

For example, Potter said standard policies only cover $1,500 worth of jewelry. The only way to completely cover valuable jewelry like an engagement ring is by having it appraised and pay to add more coverage, which is called scheduling. Otherwise, losing or damaging that jewelry could mean losing big bucks.

Here's the breakdown of what the experts say you should ask your agent.

* Do I have valuable items like jewelry and artwork scheduled?

* If I don't have 100 percent coverage how much could I lose if I experience a partial or total loss?

* Does my policy update appreciation and/or inflation rates every year?

One more word of caution, there's no law requiring insurance companies to pay up within a certain time frame. Lampley said it will be at least a year before she can rebuild the home that was her dream.

"Before you buy insurance, have you agent come or go to their office and sit down face to face with them and ask them to explain the policy in layman’s terms and take notes,” she said.

What's Not Covered?

Damage caused by flood waters, landslide or mudslide
The amount of coverage to personal items is limited for even jewerly
Only charges above and beyond normal expenses are covered
Costs in excess of $500 regarless of number of trees felled

What Is Covered?

Repairs of home damaged by certain events, including wind
Repairs or replacement of other structures such as sheds, detached garages
Additional living expenses if home is damage and not fit to live in
Tree removal if tree damages a covered structure or blocks driveway or handicapped ramp

For more information, call:

Department of Insurance Toll-Free Number

1-800-546-5664

Special Report: NBC17 Explores 5 Tips To Sell Your Home

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Nationally new home sales have hit an all-time low.

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Tip One: Look At Competition

Tip Two: Online Marketing

Tip Three: Gimmicks

Tip Four: Cut The Price

Tip Five: Auction

Raleigh's Craig's List For Real Estate

North Carolina Auctions

Some research suggests that sales tanked by 26 percent in 2007 -- the worst sales year on record.

And existing home sales are struggling too.

Those numbers plummeted 13 percent last year the biggest drop in 25 years.

All of this comes as analysts predict even more trouble in 2008.

But North Carolina realtors say while we're not enjoying the appreciation we saw in 2006 and 2007 things aren't as bad here in the Triangle.

"For 2008, we will probably remain fairly constant with where we were for 2007," said John Wood, president-elect of the Raleigh Regional Board of Realtors. "And a reminder: Our 2007 market was for Wake County, excuse me, for the Triangle, was our third-best year ever in Real Estate sales."

With that in mind NBC17 found five things you could do that may help your home sell faster in this buyer's market.

"I spent a lot of money on the landscaping and we had the back porch screened in," said Sam Causon.

After three years Causon is selling her Wake Forest home. It's been on the market for about six months.

"I started worrying a little because we were getting a lot of showings but no offers," said Samantha Causon.

She was worried in part because of the nationwide housing crisis and because Wake Forest's Market is flooded.

"People just have so much choice that if there's one little thing they don't like about your house, they're gonna go for something else," Causon said.

Which brings us to the first point: Selling your home puts you in the retail business and retailers look at the competition.

"If all your competitors have granite counter tops and you don't, you gotta take that into consideration that somebody might continue to choose another home over yours," Wood said.

Tim Burrell is Sam Causon's Real Estate broker. In addition to the obvious like sprucing up the paint and landscaping he recommends online marketing on sites like You Tube and Craig's List to expose the property to as many people as possible.

"Where a lot of the more sophisticated Internet people will look and other folks don't know about that," Burrell said. "A great place is Realtor.com, but everybody knows about that."

Another technique some will use to help push a sale is a gimmick.

Realtors say some people have offered season tickets to the Carolina Hurricanes, a Nintendo Wii system, even cash all as added incentives for a prospective buyer to pick their home. But realtors say offering freebies is a bit desperate and rarely gets you the sale.

"In the end, basically what happened was, we put the price down to a really, really attractive one, which is when we found a buyer," Causon said.

Causon cut the price about $30,000. She says her house went from about $320,000 to $290,000, selling it for the exact same price she bought it for three years ago.

There is one other option if you need to get your house off your hands as soon as possible. You can auction it off. But it's not a foreclosure auction and it's not for everyone.

"People will do a tremendous amount of advertising and interest generating over a 30-day period or so, have a very specific time and sell the property right then. And if your goal is to get the property sold -- if you're goal-oriented as opposed to price-oriented, then this will accomplish your goal," Burrell said.

Causon says of all the things she tried dropping the price ultimately was what got her home off the market.

Realtors warn that the nation's housing crisis is creating an added challenge for home sellers here in the Triangle.

They say since the mortgage industry has tightened up people who want to move here from out of state can no longer buy a new home here and maintain two mortgages for a period of time -- unlike a year ago.

And that, according to real estate experts, has had an effect on sales here.

Special Report: NBC17 Discovers 'Weird Carolinas'

North Carolina is filled with local legends, mysteries and places that seem plain sinister. This especially applies to religion. NBC17 hit the road to uncover the state’s spiritual secrets.

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Web Extra: NBC17 Interviews 'Weird Carolinas' Author Roger Manly

From the forces of good, to the forces of evil, religion has made its mark across the state.

Our journey began 350 miles west near the town of Murphy. At Fields of the Wood Bible Park, the word of God was literally all around us.

Biblical teachings line the long climb to the top of the mountain, where you’ll find the Place of Prayer. At this very spot over a century ago, a man named AJ Tomlinson got a revelation to start the Church of God of Prophecy. After his death, Bishop Wayne Hall says the church decided “to develop a place that would be a biblical park for people to read the word of God.”

That word is hard to miss. On the other side of the Place of Prayer, the 10 Commandments span the entire mountainside, and we had to walk the distance of half a football field just to get across.

Next to that, we found a replica of Christ’s tomb, and Golgotha, where Christ was crucified.

Across the state in the outer banks, a woman named Annie Hooper also used the Bible to make a large religious display; however, in her case, she reenacted scenes of the Bible with concrete and driftwood.

“Every inch of space in her house, the garage, the laundry room, the outdoor shed, was packed,” said Dr. Charlotte Brown. She is the director of NC State’s Gregg Museum of Art and Design, where all 2,500 statues are today.

“She realized it was a way to communicate. She had a history of serious depression and this was a way out for her,” Dr. Brown said.

She says World War II was a lonely time for the Sunday school teacher when her husband and only son headed overseas.

“She had longed for a large family, and I think she made it,” Dr. Brown said.

For Annie Hooper, making statues protected her from loneliness. But a man in Lenoir turned to construction to fight off something a little more sinister: Witches.

According to local legend, people’s houses could burn if the evil spirits living inside didn’t have a big enough escape route. George Powell, one of Caldwell County’s

Founding fathers, believed that is the reason his first house went up in smoke.

“Mr. Powell was somewhat superstitious,” John Hawkins, Director of the Caldwell Heritage museum, said.

He says when Powell rebuilt the house, “He put the keyhole there so the evil spirits would have a way of getting out.”

Powell’s house was eventually replaced by Trinity United Methodist Church, but the legend lives on. If you look closely at the church’s planter out front, you’ll see the original keyhole built into the brick.

This may have protected Powell from witches and spirits, but there is one place where you can’t escape evil: Hickory Nut George. This is a place where Satan watches your every move.

“Forces of nature have certainly been at work shaping this rock and these mountains for millions of years,” said Meghan Rogers, Chimney Rock Park’s public relations Director.

“It just looked like a devil’s head, so 100 years ago when people started coming to Chimney Rock Park that was the natural name for it.”

As legend has it, the devil also made his mark on a large granite rock formation near Afton, North Carolina. If you follow the over-grown path on Dwight Davis’ property, you will find a footprint too big, and too pointy, for a human to make.

“He stepped here, his footprint was here,” Davis said.

There are also unusual streaks of white granite leading away from the footprint. Local lore says the devil made these tracks when he jumped in his wagon and took off.

“It looks like he was drivin’ out to the road, doesn’t it?,” Davis said.

The question is how did it get there? Some of Carolina’s mysteries are hidden from plain sight, while others are right in front of you.

For example, the weather vane atop Durham’s Hayti Heritage Center, which used to be St. Joseph’s African Methodist Episcopal Church, has a secret.

“It is the voodoo symbol of Erzilie. She is the goddess of love,” St. Joseph’s Historic Foundation CEO V. Diane Pledger said. She says this voodoo symbol was discovered several years ago, but “how” it ended up on the steeple of this historic church remains a mystery.

Like all the state’s mysteries and secrets, it stands there waiting to be discovered, and explored.

NBC17 Special Report: Wasted Water

AURORA, N.C. -- Aurora is a small town near the North Carolina coast. Fewer than 600 people live there. But, that small town has something big beneath it; something that could be the answer to the Triangle's need for drinking water.

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More: Maps, Potential Pipe Routes
Web Extra: How the water can be piped from the coast to the Triangle
Web Extra: Where the water comes from

There's a mine in Aurora pumping millions of gallons of water a day from beneath the town, water that right now is going to waste.

There are some who believe that wasted water could quench the Triangle's growing thirst.

The pumping has been going on since 1965, dumping perfectly good drinking water into Pamlico Sound.

“We're pumping 60 to 65 million gallons of water a day,” said Ross Smith of PCS Phosphate in Aurora.

The company removes several hundred feet of earth to get to the phosphate. But just below that layer of phosphate is a virtual underground river known as the Castle Hayne aquifer.

The aquifer beneath the land is huge. It runs the entire length of the state, and in fact is connected to an underground water system that runs all the way north to New Jersey.

“For us to have a safe mining environment, we need to depressurize that aquifer,” said Ross.

Depressurizing the Castle Hayne will make sure the water doesn’t burst the floor of the mine. Engineers do that by removing millions of gallons of water with a series of 14 wells. But, most of that water is wasted.

“We'll use 10 million gallons a day in our processes,” said Ross. “That means there's 58-million gallons of water that could be utilized by those in need.

Raleigh currently uses 41-million gallons a day.

Eric Lappala saw that opportunity and cut a deal with the mine company allowing him to buy the wasted water. Now he wants to pipe that water to the Triangle and sell it.

“We'd have to bring a 48 to 50 inch pipeline to Raleigh plus several pumping stations to get it up here,” he said.

He proposes running the pipe along a route like Highway 264, at a cost of about $160 million.

“That sounds like a lot of money, but compared to the cost to permit and build reservoirs it's really comparable,” he contends.

The proposal caught the eye of some in the general assembly who are looking for ways to deal with the drought.

Representative Arthur Williams is the co-chair of legislature’s drought committee. He said $160 million “is a lot of money. But 58 million gallons a day is a lot of water.”

But before any water is pumped to the Triangle, the representative said the folks in his district need to be assured they'll get something in return for giving up some of their water.

“We have got it and we certainly don't need to waste it,” he said. But he maintains, “If we're going to send it up there, then hopefully my people in my district will get some monetary value out of it.”

Lappala’s been trying to generate interest in this project for some time. “We've talked to every municipality east of Interstate-95 several times trying to develop interest in this,” he explained.

Up until now, no one's wanted to make a commitment. But that was before the worst drought in 100 years hit the state.

CHECK OUT STEVE’S BLOG AT: http://blogs.wncn.info/betweenthelines

Foreclosure Can Mean Opportunity For Some Buyers

RALEIGH, N.C. -- In the midst of housing market slump “foreclosure” is becoming more common word in our vocabulary.

For some people, foreclosure means misfortune and for others, it can mean opportunity.

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Area Foreclosure Figures by county & zip code

When Maggie and Vince Hall moved from Arizona to start a new life in the Triangle, they wanted to find a home to “flip” as well a place to make their home. But, they ended up finding their dream home at a dream price in Fuquay-Varina.

Homes in the neighborhood they were looking in can go for the high $300,000s, but Maggie and Vince says they found a “gem” under foreclosure. They ended up buying the 3,500-square-foot house for a price in the mid 200,000s even though Maggie Hall said it was in bad shape.

"It was a disaster actually. At one time there was a big hole in the wall there,” Maggie Hall said.

Hall says while the house was a good deal, it came with a hidden cost.

"First of all sadness, because I have always loved where I’ve lived and I think for anybody to lose their home, it's got be sad,” she said.

The North Carolina Commissioner of Banks predicts about 60,000 homeowners will face foreclosure statewide in 2008, which is about a 10 percent increase from 2007.

The company RealtyTrac ranks North Carolina 18th in the nation when it comes to foreclosures. Local broker Matt Peedin, with Fonville Morisey, says while the Triangle is not seeing as many foreclosures as other parts of the country, it still happens. Buying a foreclosed home, is not as easy as buying a typical home for sale according to Peedin.

"It's just an overwhelming process, and it's a process,” Peedin said.

Peedin said there are different avenues you can take to finding a foreclosure, and the Triangle Multiple Listing site, or MLS, is a good place to start. While you’re looking, he says keep in mind some foreclosure sales, likes those backed by the Federal Housing Administration, require you have a broker to help you through the process. He said the FHA also doesn’t let investors who don't intend on living in the home bid for the first 10 days.

"For a first time homebuyer it's a great opportunity to buy a FHA foreclosure because you will have priority over the investors that are out there,” Peedin said.

If you want to go the non-online route, or just a different route, Peedin said check out your county courthouse. Usually you’ll find a section of posted foreclosures, and it’s not required you have a broker to help you through the bidding process on the day of sale. But, Peedin said beware because you cannot inspect the property before buying.

"You many not know what you're getting into until after the fact,” Peedin said.

Newspapers also list foreclosures, and if you know someone in danger of foreclosure you can engage in what's called a pre-foreclosure sale, which can be beneficial for both the seller and buyer.

Peedin said whether you're making an investment or making a home, do your homework and make sure the home has potential to appreciate.

"You wanna buy in an area that has a good track record for a quick sell,” Peedin said.

Vince Hall said he and his wife were planning on flipping their new home. But after countless renovations they're staying, and keeping an eye on the market for another great deal.

"Absolutely, always looking,” Vince said.

Currently a new state house committee is examining the increase in foreclosures and whether North Carolina needs tougher regulations.

Related:

Find a foreclosed home through the Federal Housing Administration
Find a Veterans Affairs-backed home under foreclosure
Find homes in your county backed by many different kinds of loans, check your local paper or county website. For instance, wakeco.gov.
Find foreclosures online

Tip: Some lenders backing a foreclosed home require you have a licensed broker help you through the bidding/buying process.

Help: If you are in danger of losing your home to foreclosure, you can call the new state hotline at (888) 995-HOPE.

Durham Girl's Bottled Message Found In UK

DURHAM, N.C. -- A bottle with a message inside that was tossed into the Atlantic Ocean in 2006 was found on a beach in Great Britain over a year later.

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Location Where The Bottle Was Found

Listen: The Entire Phone Conversation That Reunites The Bottle's Sender And Finder

Alexus Monds, an 8th-grader from Durham, North Carolina, placed the message inside the plastic soda bottle on December 18, 2006, asking anyone who discovered it to contact her to let her know where it was found.

Monds included her full name and mailing address in the message, but the section of the note listing her contact information was illegible after the year-long transatlantic journey sun-bleached that portion of the message.

UK Beach Ranger Alan Coltart found the bottle on December 11, 2007 at Summerleave Beach near the town of Bude located in the West County region near the southwestern tip of Great Britain.

"This bottle has traveled for nearly a year across over 3,000 miles of Atlantic Ocean," Coltart said to the BBC. "The message requests the finder reunites the bottle with its sender."

NBC17 reporter Kerry Hall 'reunited' Alexus and Alan via phone Friday afternoon. You can listen to their entire conversation by clicking the play button on the video tab inside the media player window at the top left of this article page.

Coltart said that he will send the message and bottle to Alexus now that he has her correct mailing address.

Location of where the bottle was found:

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Web Extra: Religion And Politics Additional Interviews

Watch extended interviews with Andy Taylor of N.C. State University, Stephen Chapman of Duke Divinity School and Ferrel Guillory of UNC Chapel Hill.

Click on the play button on the video player to the left.

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