Another Mexican Restaurant Burns! Habanero Grill Catches Fire in Early Morning Hours
For the second time in less than three weeks, a local Mexican restaurant has caught on fire. Habanero Grill Mexican Restaurant, located on Parham Road in Henderson, caught on fire about 2:49 a.m., according to Henderson Fire Chief Steve Cordell. According to Cordell, the fire is under investigation and there are no reported injuries.
Visible at the scene was a smashed window and extensive damage. The roofline appears intact but proper damage assessment won’t happen until later today.
Habanero Grill owner, Blanca Yuri and her family, told WIZS News the restaurant will reopen, and hopefully soon. Yuri said the restaurant’s Facebook page would be kept up-to-date.
Yuri told WIZS News that someone broke into the restaurant and stole money from the safe. She said she suspects the thieves also set the business on fire. They are looking for answers and they are looking for who did it.
A video that was taken at the scene was placed on WIZS’ Facebook page earlier today.
Yuri told WIZS News that this fire appears to be very similar to what happened at Mazatlan Mexican Restaurant on Ruin Creek Rd. on November 27. That fire is still under investigation, and no official cause has been released by the Henderson Fire Department or the State Bureau of Investigation.
A sad morning for the restaurant and its family, as well as Mexican food lovers in the area, as Habanero Grill is presently surrounded by police tape. It is located within the city limits.
Habanero Grill Mexican Restaurant, located on Parham Road in Henderson, caught on fire about 2:49 a.m. on December 17, 2018, according to Henderson Fire Chief Steve Cordell. According to Cordell, the fire is under investigation and there are no reported injuries. (Photo: WIZS News)
Jarvis Discusses Mako’s First Year in Vance Co.; Provides Updates on EDC Initiatives
Dennis Jarvis, II, director of the Henderson-Vance Economic Development Commission, was on Monday’s edition of WIZS’ Town Talk program to provide updates related to the EDC.
Mako Medical Laboratories:
The segment began with a discussion on Mako Medical Laboratories and their progress since opening their new location in Henderson in late 2017.
According to Jarvis, since December of last year, the company has met or exceeded the investments initially outlined to them by the State, County and City for a five-year time period.
For the same five-year period, Mako is already approximately halfway to filling the 153 jobs initially promised. “They are already at 70+ jobs in year one,” Jarvis said.
In addition, Jarvis said Mako has spent much of their first year supporting various community endeavors, including the school system, with initiatives such as The Daily Dispatch’s monthly Student Spotlight recognition.
As for the future, Jarvis said he is confident the community will continue to watch Mako exceed criteria and grow. “Mako was recognized by the Triangle Business Journal as being amongst the Top 50 fast-track companies in the region; Top 100 privately-held companies in the state,” Jarvis said.
“We are truly blessed Mako Medical is a part of our community.”
New EDC Website:
According to Jarvis, the new Henderson-Vance EDC website will be open for public viewing later this week pending endorsement and affirmation.
The EDC has been working with a marketing firm for several months to create a “more true representation of what Vance County and Henderson have to offer.”
Website features will include business opportunities, properties, business locations, financial institutions and growth factors, according to Jarvis.
Jarvis also explained that the website will focus on the word “advance” to play on “Vance” County. “The [new] website will show why making an investment in Vance County advances your opportunities.”
Phase III of the Henderson-Vance Industrial Park:
With the County’s recent purchase of 84 acres of land to expand the Henderson-Vance Industrial Park, a master plan is in the works for land development. According to Jarvis, the plan will be available by the second quarter of 2019. “The master plan will give us a visual representation of how property, road and infrastructure could be laid out,” said Jarvis.
Earlier this year, Vance County received a $2.45 million grant from the Rural ReadySites program for development of the industrial park located at the intersection of Bear Pond Road and US-1 Bypass in Henderson.
Jarvis said the County is currently working with a contractor to remove asbestos on the front half of an existing structure within the Industrial Park. Investment opportunities will be reviewed upon completion of clean-up on this property.
To hear the interview in its entirety, please click here.
Heavy Rains, Melting Snow Cause Multiple Untreated Wastewater Discharges
-Information courtesy Esther J. McCrackin, City Clerk, City of Henderson
The City of Henderson experienced heavy rains and melting snow on December 14, 2018, causing flooding throughout the area that resulted in discharges of untreated wastewater.
The first discharge of an estimated 51,000 gallons at the Sandy Creek Pump Station, located at 482 Rock Mill Road was discharged into Sandy Creek. The second discharge of an estimated 21,600 gallons at Redbud Pump Station, located at 51 Vance Academy Road was discharged into Redbud Stream.
There was also a bypass of approximately 28,050 gallons of untreated water on the same day due to infiltration/inflow at the intersection of Pinkston Street and Farrar Avenue and Neatherly Street.
Both are part of the Tar Pamlico River Basin. The Division of Water Resources was notified of the event on December 16, 2018, and is reviewing the matter.
For more information contact the Henderson Water Reclamation Facility at 252-431-6080, Public Services ORC Joey Long, Jr. at 252-226-4492, or Public Works Director Andy Perkinson at 252-431-6117.
Henderson Men’s Shelter Needs Help Finishing Out the Year, Beginning 2019
-Information courtesy Community Partners of Hope
As we prepare to celebrate God’s gift of Jesus, let us thank you for the gift of your time, talent, meals, donations, prayers and more that have enabled us to operate the Henderson Men’s Shelter again this year on a shoestring budget! That is what COMMUNITY is all about! We still need your help through the end of March!
December has been extremely cold and then we had about a foot of snow! Our shelter managers and volunteers have done a wonderful job of keeping the shelter open for white flag conditions (see more about white flag below).
We are still trying to find men to volunteer for the overnight shift – 9 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. for December 23 – 31. We also need volunteers for the month of January. We cannot keep the shelter open without supervision and we do NOT want to tell our guests that they have to leave! If you can cover a single night, that will be a blessing!
A special shout out to a few of the men in Hope House who have been giving back by taking a few shifts at the shelter! These men came through the shelter and are making progress towards their own housing.
WHITE FLAG CONDITIONS:
When the temperature dips below freezing or when we have ice and/or snow, we know that it is just not safe for homeless men to be sleeping outside. In that spirit, we will accept any man who will obey the rules while in the shelter even if he lost privileges earlier. We will also admit men up until 10 p.m. (or later if escorted by law enforcement personnel).
On mornings when it is extremely cold or if ice and snow have caused other locations to close (like ACTS and the library), we will keep the shelter open during the morning until conditions are better. In extreme weather like our snowstorm, we have kept the shelter open all day. We can use volunteers and extra food on those days, so if you can offer help, please call the shelter manager (252) 820-0701.
You can see our calendar at any time from our website at www.cp-hope.org. Just click on the SHELTER CALENDAR tab at the top.
OUR CHRISTMAS WISH LIST:
Our largest need is funding to help pay operating expenses, including pay for the two shelter managers who keep things running smoothly.
We also depend on lots of donated clothing (NEW only) and supplies to keep the shelter running and our men warm and dry.
NEEDED SUPPLIES:
- Large bottles of hand sanitizer
- Large refill bottles of hand soap
- Cans of foot powder or athletes foot spray
- Tall kitchen trash bags (13 – gallon size)
- Laundry Detergent
- 7-ounce adjustable air fresheners
- Pine-sol type cleaner – gallon containers
- Toilet bowl cleaner – gel type
- Soap – small sample size (or hotel supplies)
- Instant Grits
- Crackers & nabs
- Cup of Noodles (With Cup)
- Coffee & creamer
- Peanut butter & jelly
- Four-pound bags of sugar
- CLOTHING – NEW ONLY! (take used clothing to a thrift store, please)
- Men’s undergarments (all sizes)
- Waterproof men’s gloves
- Men’s sweatshirts (Sizes L, XL, XXL)
- Men’s thermal sets (Sizes L, XL, XXL)
- White tube socks
NOT NEEDED:
Shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrushes, instant oatmeal, deodorant, dress socks and coffee mugs
A NOTE ABOUT DONATIONS:
All contributions are tax deductible.
You may mail a check to:
Community Partners of Hope, Inc., P.O. Box 1791, Henderson, NC 27536
Donations can be taken to:
First Baptist Church (9-5 Monday thru Thursday or 9-12 Friday)
First Presbyterian Church (10-1 Monday thru Thursday)
WIZS Radio Station
or call Betty Boyd (252) 432-3967 to arrange delivery
Vance Co. Sheriff’s Office Warns Public of ‘Phishing’ Email Schemes
-Information courtesy the Vance Co. Sheriff Office’s Facebook Page
The Vance County Sheriff’s Office is warning the public to beware of “phishing” emails. There is an email going around that appears to be from Netflix. The email states that your account is frozen and has a link for you to log in and update payment information. The link is to a fake page that is solely designed to capture your personal information and account number.
There are other scam emails that are similar in nature. Please use caution when reading and responding to emails.
Granville Board to Hold Special Meeting on School Closure/Consolidations
-Press Release, Granville County Public Schools
NOTICE TO PUBLIC AND PRESS
The Granville County Public School’s Board of Education will hold a special meeting on Thursday, December 20, 2018, at 5:30 p.m., at the Central Service Building, 101 Delacroix Street, Oxford, NC.
The purpose of the meeting is for the Board to deliberate and discuss the information gathered through study and public hearings on the school district budget shortfall and possible closure of Joe Toler – Oak Hill Elementary School and the consolidation of Mary Potter Middle School and Northern Granville Middle School.
GCPS to Encourage Winter Reading with ‘Books for Break’ Initiative
-Press Release, Granville County Public Schools
Granville County Public Schools is celebrating reading and readers during this winter break with Books for Break, a literacy initiative of GCPS. GCPS is committed to growing strong readers and, therefore, allocated funds to purchase a book for every student in grades Pre-Kindergarten through 3rd grade.
Students will receive a book on the last day before break (Monday, December 17 for students on the year-round calendar, and Thursday, December 20 for students on the traditional calendar) to keep and enjoy at home. At GCPS, we want our students to continue to read and practice the reading skills and strategies they are learning in class. Providing our youngest readers a book is one small way to encourage them to continue reading during winter break.
WHO: Students in Pre-K through 3rd grade
WHAT: Books for Break, a literacy initiative of Granville County Public Schools
WHEN: Monday, December 17 (year round)
Thursday, December 20 (traditional)
WHERE: All Granville County elementary schools
WHY: To encourage students to continue reading during winter break