RALEIGH – North Carolina work fatalities rose moderately in 2003 in large part because of a plant explosion in Kinston that killed six workers and a commuter airplane crash that claimed 21 lives in Charlotte, 12 of which were counted as workplace deaths.

SANFORD – Static Control Components Inc. announced today it will open a new worldwide distribution center Monday to handle products manufactured by its Imaging Supplies Division.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Small Business Administration today signed a strategic alliance memorandum with the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in an effort to make more resources, education and training available for the long-term success of Hispanic small businesses across the country.

CHARLOTTE – Small business owners with concerns about excessive enforcement of federal rules can voice their concerns at a U.S. Small Business Administration Regulatory Fairness Board hearing in Cary on Oct. 6.

HAMLET – Modular and manufactured housing builder Ritz-Craft Corp. plans to locate its newest manufacturing facility in Richmond County, creating 252 new jobs and bringing an investment of $10 million to the area.

BUIES CREEK – The Campbell University Board of Trustees announced today a pledge of $4.5 million from the John William Pope Foundation which will be applied to the cost of a $30 million convocation center to be constructed on the Buies Creek Campus of Campbell University.

SANFORD – The Pantry, Inc. (Nasdaq: PTRY), the leading independently operated convenience store chain in the southeastern U.S., announced that it will complete a repricing and renegotiation of certain terms of its senior secured credit facilities today.

SANFORD – The Pantry, Inc. (Nasdaq: PTRY), the leading independently operated convenience store chain in the southeastern U.S., today disclosed preliminary estimates of the damage caused by recent hurricanes and updated its earnings guidance for the fiscal year ending Sept. 30.

SANFORD – The Pantry, Inc. (NASDAQ: PTRY), the leading independently operated convenience store chain in the southeastern U.S., today announced that it has made two minor accounting changes to reclassify revenues and related costs of certain ancillary products and services.

RALEIGH – Two Sandhills-based companies were named among the fastest-growing technology companies in North Carolina by accounting and consulting firm Deloitte & Touche USA LLP.

MOUNT GILEAD – McRae Industries Inc. (Amex: MRIA) has entered into a definitive agreement under which it has sold substantially all of the assets of its McRae Office Solutions Inc. subsidiary to Connected Office Products Inc. for $11 million.

MOUNT GILEAD – McRae Industries Inc. (Amex: MRIA) declared a dividend of 6 cents per share, payable Oct. 8 to shareholders of record Sept. 24.

FAYETTEVILLE – The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company announced today that it will invest approximately $30 million for a warehouse expansion and additional tire production equipment at its Kelly-Springfield plant in Fayetteville.

SANFORD – Central Carolina Hospital announced today that it has become a charter member of the Southern Atlantic Healthcare Alliance, which consists of 14 hospitals in North Carolina.

SOUTHERN PINES – Gatelinx Corporation, a leading provider of innovative IP multimedia technologies, today announced it has inked an agreement with Promosoft Corporation, a global leader in the promotion of best of breed world-class software solutions, to roll-out an integrated voice, video and data communications solution to Promosoft customers worldwide.

SOUTHERN PINES – Gatelinx Corporation, a leading provider of innovative IP multimedia technologies, today announced the latest in its line of video and voice communications over IP products, Gatelinx Teleview.

ASHEBORO – The Board of Directors of FNB Corp. (Nasdaq: FNBN) has declared a regular quarterly dividend of 15 cents per share, which is the same rate as paid in the prior quarter.

PINEHURST – FirstHealth of the Carolinas announced today that it delivered on Wednesday its construction plans for FirstVillage, a multi million-dollar, 15-acre addition to the campus of FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital, to the Village of Pinehurst.

SOUTHERN PINES – The FirstHealth Center for Health & Fitness-Southern Pines announced today that it will more than double in size with its move into the Davis Road location that formerly housed Shepherd Electric Co.

SANFORD – Static Control Components Inc. announced today it will open a new worldwide distribution center Monday to handle products manufactured by its Imaging Supplies Division.

RALEIGH – North Carolina’s electric cooperatives have sent approximately 225 workers to Florida and Georgia to help with power restoration to millions of people left in the dark by Hurricane Frances.

DURHAM – Three companies with a strong presence in the Sandhills – Sara Lee Branded Apparel, Wachovia Corp. and Bank of America – have been named by Carolina Parent to the magazine’s 6th Annual N.C. Family-Friendly 40 Awards list.

SANFORD – Capital Bank has named Andrew J. Shene as the new president of its Sandhills Region, with responsibility for the expansion and financial performance of all commercial and retail banking activity in the Lee County and Chatham County markets, which includes four branch offices.

CHAPEL HILL – Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina has announced that it is offering free flu shots to its more than 3 million members starting Friday.