SOUTHERN PINES – The Wexford Group International, a worldwide provider of process improvement and reengineering services to business and government clients, has announced it will open a regional office in December.

SANFORD – The Pantry, Inc. (Nasdaq: PTRY), the leading independently operated convenience store chain in the southeastern U.S., today announced the pricing of a public offering of 5 million shares of its common stock at $22.96 per share.

CHARLOTTE – The U.S. Small Business Administration approved 42 percent more loans in North Carolina in Fiscal Year 2004 than the previous fiscal year.

CHARLOTTE – The U.S. Small Business Administration Regulatory Fairness Hearing scheduled for Wednesday at Wake Tech Community College in Cary has been cancelled.

RALEIGH – Research Triangle Regional Partnership hits the airwaves in November with a new radio show that examines the critical issues of economic growth and global competitiveness for the 13-county Research Triangle Region, which includes Chatham, Harnett, Lee and Moore counties in the Sandhills.

SANFORD – The Pantry, Inc. (Nasdaq: PTRY), the leading independently operated convenience store chain in the southeastern U.S., today announced plans for a public offering of 5 million shares of its common stock, of which 1.5 million shares are being offered by the underwriters in connection with a forward sale agreement.

DUNN – New Century Bank (OTC Bulletin Board: NCBC) signed a letter of intent today to lease 9,000 square feet of office space at 107 East Broad Street in downtown Dunn to establish an Operations Center for the bank.

FAYETTEVILLE – The Cumberland County JobLink Career Center has had its charter renewed by the North Carolina Commission on Workforce Development at Level II status, a significant accomplishment because less than 15 percent of the state’s JobLink Career Centers have attained such status.

BUIES CREEK – Kenneth Jones, director of the Professional Golf Management Program at Campbell University, has been notified that the Professional Golfers’ Association of America has awarded the program a $35,000 grant – $25,000 will be used for teaching and $10,000 will be used for infrastructure.

ASHEBORO -- FNB Corp. (Nasdaq: FNBN), the holding company for First National Bank and Trust Company, Rowan Bank and Dover Mortgage Company, today announced its financial results for the third quarter of 2004.

SANFORD – Crescent State Bank, the wholly owned subsidiary of Crescent Financial Corporation (Nasdaq: CRFN), has announced that the organization has opened a full service banking office in a temporary branch facility at the Spring Lane Galleria Shopping Center.

FAYETTEVILLE – The Cumberland County Business Council announced today the First Annual Corps Community Partnership event, a joint initiative between Fort Bragg and its local host community, Cumberland County/ Fayetteville.

CHARLOTTE – For the first quarter of 2004, the Carolinas AGC Construction Barometer posted a 1 percent decline from fourth quarter 2003, reflecting a tightening construction labor market and continuing fears of rising construction materials costs.

RALEIGH – North Carolina Electric Membership Corporation, the primary energy provider for 26 of the state’s 27 electric cooperatives, is the third largest energy cooperative in the nation, according to a report released by the National Cooperative Bank in Washington, D.C.

GREENSBORO – Carolina Bank Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: CLBH) announced that for the quarter ended Sept. 30, 2004, it posted net income of $451,212, a 43 percent increase over the same period last year.

RALEIGH – Capital Bank Corporation (Nasdaq: CBKN), the parent company of Capital Bank, today reported an increase in net income for the third quarter 2004 compared to prior year.

FAYETTEVILLE – Cape Fear Valley Health System will break ground Wednesday on Health Pavilion North, a new $14.6 million outpatient center located at the corner of North Ramsey Street and Andrews Road.

CHARLOTTE – Bank of America (NYSE: BAC) announced that it has retained its ranking as the No. 1 U.S. Small Business Administration lender in North Carolina by issuing 308 SBA loans to entrepreneurs during the 2004 SBA fiscal year.

CHAPEL HILL – With more than half its members overweight or obese, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina announced today that it will pay doctors to work with their patients to understand how weight impacts health.

RALEIGH – Gov. Mike Easley announced today that North Carolina will receive a $1 million incentive grant from the U.S. Department of Labor for exceeding federal performance levels in three separate workforce programs.

FAYETTEVILLE – Methodist College has received a commitment for $750,000 toward the college’s comprehensive campaign – Seeds on Good Soil, A New Season – from the BB&T Charitable Foundation.

ASHEBORO – Eight employees of First National Bank and Trust Company reached over 200 middle and high school students in Chatham, Montgomery, Randolph and Richmond counties during the recent National Get Smart About Credit Day.

DUNN – For over a decade, North Carolina’s educators have looked to the state’s Touchstone Energy cooperatives to help increase learning opportunities for the their students.

SANFORD - The Sanford Area Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce that Sanford native Mollie Dowdy has been named the new President.

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK – The Council for Entrepreneurial Development has completed a survey of potential and current entrepreneurs, showing increased optimism about the prospects for starting or growing a business in the area.

SANFORD – Central Carolina Hospital is one of 83 hospitals nationwide owned by Tenet Healthcare Corporation that have been recognized for participating in the American Heart Association’s “Get With The Guidelines – Coronary Artery Disease” program.