City of Henderson Logo

New Henderson Park Could Be Reality By Summer Of 2022

/by

The North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources announced that Williams & Montgomery Street Park was awarded $357,497 from the NC Parks and Recreation Trust Fund (PARTF). The funds will go to the construction of a new park in Henderson.

“Thanks to the North Carolina Parks and Recreation Authority, Vance County’s local economy is going to see a positive impact with the construction of Williams & Montgomery Street Park,” said Rep. Terry E. Garrison.

Henderson-Vance Recreation and Parks Director Kendrick Vann said the project is “moving forward” and said the park could be finished by the summer of 2022.

The Authority approved 14 local grants in September 2021, but this year approved funding for 41 local parks and recreation projects for more recreational opportunities across the state. The recipients are required to match funds dollar-for-dollar.

“We’re excited to see what other projects we can get off the ground in Vance and other counties in House District 32 for our future generations,” Garrison said.

The city submitted a request in 2021 to the state Parks and Recreation Trust Fund (PARTF), funded by the N.C. General Assembly, according to Vann.

Henderson did not receive a grant during the initial funding cycle in 2021,  but Vann said at their Jan. 6, 2022 meeting, the N.C. Parks and Recreation Authority announced a second round of funding, and Henderson was among several communities successfully funded.

“Once we receive the allocation contract for the PARTF grant program, we will start putting together bidding packets for the project,” Vann told WIZS News via email. Once the bidding process is complete, local officials will have a better idea about a timeline for a start date and completion.

Vann said he hopes to have this project complete by the beginning of summer 2022, “so the community can enjoy this great accomplishment.”

Some preliminary work has been done at the park site and he said he hoped to have the first phase of the National Fitness Campaign installation in the coming weeks.

“With the City Manager and City Council’s continued support we are at the stage we can see the results of our perseverance,” Vann said. The only hurdles we have now are the traditional ones –  which include potential weather delays, and supply/equipment shortages or back ordered material.

Seven GCPS Educators Successfully Complete National Board Certification

/by

Seven educators in Granville County Public Schools have been recognized by the school board for successful completion of their national board certification, a rigorous, peer-reviewed process that ensures that board-certified teachers have proven skills to advance student achievement.

The following teachers have most recently completed their board certification:

  • Megan Belshaw – Mt. Energy Elementary School
  • Michael Carroll – J.F. Webb High School
  • Bridget Craddock – Creedmoor Elementary School of the Arts
  • Jennifer Crisman-Kleczek – South Granville High School
  • Carole Griffin – J.F. Webb High School
  • Chris Leas – Stovall-Shaw Elementary School
  • Stacy Splees – based at Butner-Stem Elementary School

National board certification is an advanced teaching credential and a standards-based assessment. These teachers’ scores reflect the degree to which assessors were able to locate clear, consistent and convincing evidence of meeting the national board standards specific to their certificate field, according to Dr. Stan Winborne, district public information officer and associate superintendent.

 

Franklin County Logo

Franklin Asking State Commission For $15.1 Million To Improve, Upgrade Emergency Radio System

/by

Franklin County has submitted an application to the state’s Local Government Commission for funding to improve its public radio system used by law enforcement and emergency officials. It is one of several applications that will be reviewed when the LGC meets remotely tomorrow (Tuesday, Feb. 1).

The meeting will begin at 1:30 p.m. and the public may attend virtually at the following Go To Webinar link:

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/8801061036096403215

Franklin County officials want the LGC to sign off on a private $15.1 million installment contract to improve spotty coverage and reliability of the public radio system used by law enforcement, fire, emergency and other agencies, and to expand its coverage across the county, according to a press release from N.C. Treasurer Dale Folwell.  County commissioners also are seeking a separate $4.4 million private installment contract to install new water/sewer meter equipment and for new billing system software; no tax increase is expected for either project, according to the statement.

“The LGC, chaired by State Treasurer Dale R. Folwell, CPA, and staffed by the Department of State Treasurer (DST), has a statutory duty to monitor the financial well-being of more than 1,100 local government units. The commission also examines whether the amount of money units borrow is adequate and reasonable for proposed projects and confirms the governmental units can reasonably afford to repay the debt,” the statement read.

Other projects include beach renourishment projects totaling close to $40 million in Dare and Onslow counties following recent hurricanes.

The LGC is expected to vote Tuesday on $3 million in grants from the Viable Utility Reserve. The requests – $781.000 in merger/regionalization feasibility studies and just over $2.4 million in asset inventory and assessment studies – would allow local government units identified as having distressed water/wastewater systems to begin working toward long-term solutions for their systems. The reserve was established in 2020 by the N.C. General Assembly to improve the viability of distressed water and wastewater systems in the state.

LGC members also are being asked to approve several cost-saving refunding proposals at lower interest rates, as well as increases in revolving loans, including a $4.7 million loan to the city of Oxford for replacing water mains that are at least 100 years old.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Granville Vance Public Health Logo

Omicron Variant Accounts For 99 Percent Of New COVID-19 Cases In Vance, Granville

/by
The Omicron variant accounts for 99 percent of all new cases across the Granville Vance Health district, which reported a total of almost 1,400 new cases as of Friday, Jan. 28.Vance County reported 569 new cases and Granville reported 825 in the past seven days which ended Jan. 27, according to GVPH Director Lisa Harrison’s weekly update.

Vance County’s 32.7 percent positive rate and Granville’s 27 percent positivity rate still put both counties in the high transmission for new cases.There have been 13,095 cases of COVID-19 in Granville County and 10,959 cases of COVID-19 in Vance County for a total of 24,054 across the health district.

There were 35 Butner Federal Prison inmates reported as COVID positive to the health department on the Granville County side this week and 16 staff members of the Butner Federal Prison who are currently positive for COVID-19 are residents of the health district.

Each county has documented 110 deaths as a result of COVID-19 for a total of 220, up three from last week’s total of 217. In Vance County, a 47-year-old male died in hospital on Jan. 22 and in Granville County, a 73-year-old male died in hospital Jan. 25.

The update also included the most recent seven-day rolling average of new COVID-19 deaths across the United States, which continues to climb. As of Thursday, Jan. 27, 2,267 deaths had been reported. “Nearly all cases of COVID-19 which are typed across the country right now are Omicron,” Harrison stated in the update. “Just because less severe disease is happening with this variant for many people – and many people may not even show or feel symptoms – that doesn’t mean Omicron isn’t still deadly to some. It’s especially dangerous for the unvaccinated who are more likely to have severe illness and need hospitalization. Given the sheer amount of spread we are experiencing across the country of this variant, we still see high numbers of those hospitalized and those dying from COVID-19.” High numbers of hospitalizations also are being recorded in the state and in the region.

Vaccinations, boosters, mask wearing and maintaining social distancing protocols are still the best protections against COVID-19.

Here are the most recent county numbers:

In Vance County:

·       65 percent of those over the age of 5 have received at least one dose of their COVID-19 vaccine and 59 percent have been vaccinated with at least two doses or one dose of J&J.

·       19 percent of those ages 5-11 years old have received at least one dose of their COVID-19 vaccine and 11 percent are up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccines.

·       48 percent of those ages 12-17 years old have received at least one dose of their COVID-19 vaccine and 42 percent are vaccinated with at least two doses or one dose of J&J.

·       10,000 of those over the age of 12 are vaccinated with at least one booster/additional dose

In Granville County:

·       69 percent of those over the age of 5 have received at least one dose of their COVID-19 vaccine and 64 percent are vaccinated with at least two doses or one dose of J&J.

·       21 percent of those ages 5-11 years old have received at least one dose of their COVID-19 vaccine and 15 percent are up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccines.

·       45 percent of those ages 12-17 years old have received at least one dose of their COVID-19 vaccine and 41 percent are vaccinated with at least two doses or one dose of J&J.

·       15,304 of those over the age of 12 are vaccinated with at least one booster/additional dose.

COVID-19 tests are available in the following locations in the two counties:

·       Rural Health Group at Henderson, 100 Parkview Dr. West, Henderson, Mon-Fri. 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

·       Vance County Schools Central Office, 1724 Graham Ave., Henderson, Mon-Fri, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

·       CVS and Walgreens, by appointment

·       Butner-Stem Middle School, 501 E. D St., Butner, Mon-Wed., 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

·       Mary Potter Center for Innovation, 200 Taylor St., Oxford, Thur.-Sat. 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

·       Spectrum Medical Solutions, 119 Hilltop Village, Mon.-Fri. 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

 

 

 

Cooperative Extension with Wayne Rowland: Pine Thinning

/by

If you have a stand of pine trees on your property and plan to harvest them you may want to consider thinning out the stand to increase growth and profit.  Wayne Rowland, of the Vance County Extension Service, explained the reasons for this on Monday’s Local Skinny. “Cutting and removal of trees is used to accomplish management objectives,” Rowland said. While thinning obviously reduces the number of trees it does help in the distribution of quality trees. Sometimes, depending on the trees that are thinned, they can be marketable enabling the property owner to sell the trees.

According to Rowland, the number of trees per acre can affect yield and growth. Size and vigor of trees can be increased by thinning your stand. Trees will go poorly if there are too many or too few trees per acre. Rowland says there are a number of benefits to thinning a stand of pine trees. Trees will be able to grow quicker meaning they can be harvested and sent to market in a shorter period of time.  It also allows trees to grow larger and larger trees bring higher prices. Thinning trees also increases health of the forest. For more information on thinning pine tree stands contact Rowland at 252-438-8188. The Vance Co. Extension Report can be heard Monday, Tuesday and Thursday at 11:50am as part of the Local Skinny on WIZS 1450am, 100.1fm and at wizs.com.

 

Listen live at 100.1 FM / 1450 AM / or on the live stream at WIZS.com at 11:50 a.m. Mon, Tues & Thurs.

 

Ridgeway Opry House Plans To Re-Open In March

/by

The sounds of tinkling mandolins, plucking banjos, strummed guitars, thumping bass, sawing fiddles and beautiful bluegrass singing has been quiet at the Ridgeway Opry House for several months according to Frieda Harlowe. She also has plans to re-open in March. Harlowe spoke with WIZS News on Monday and said the pandemic has been the cause of disruptions to the Opry House schedule.

Bluegrass musicians from all over the area can usually be found at the Opry House located on US 158 in Ridgeway. Harlowe said that even though some of the older musicians have died there are still plenty of younger ones to get the toes tapping. Before Mandolin Orange got big a few years ago, you might would find the band’s Andrew Martin in tattered jeans on stage. So far, thanks to COVID-19 the instruments are quiet but if all goes well with the virus Harlowe expects to be up and running again in March.

Plans are to have Harlowe on an upcoming segment of the Local Skinny! to talk more about the Ridgeway Opry House. The Local Skinny! can be heard on WIZS at 11:30am Monday through Thursday.

The Local Skinny! Register Now To Attend Feb. 1 Expungement Clinics In Henderson, Oxford

/by

Learn how to get your criminal records expunged tomorrow (Tuesday, Feb. 1) at two free informational clinics – one in Henderson and one in Oxford.

The Kerr-Tar Reentry Roundtable is partnering with Legal Aid of North Carolina to host the events, during which Legal Aid staff will walk participants through the process of getting previous records expunged, or cleared, which could have a positive impact when applying for jobs or housing.

The clinics will be held from 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Perry Memorial Library, 205 Breckenridge St., Henderson and at the Oxford Housing Authority, 101 Hillside Dr., Oxford, according to KTCOG strategic initiatives coordinator Kisha High.

High told John C. Rose on Monday’s The Local Skinny! that the clinics are informational only; those who attend and qualify for record expungement will be notified to attend an April 12 clinic at Hix Gym in Oxford to complete the expungement process.

“This is our very first expungement event,” High said. Monthly information sessions are planned and she said most likely the expungement clinics would be held quarterly.

The Second Chance Law that went into effect in June 2020 provides information about which offenses can be expunged from a criminal record, and changes that took effect on Dec. 1, 2021 give more hope to those who wish to have records cleared.

Legal Aid staff will be ready Tuesday to clarify which charges and what type of offenses can be removed, she said.

Maybe it was a DWI or some other activity that happened earlier in a person’s life that is affecting their adult life now, High said. Even if a person’s criminal record is not able to be expunged, High said a “certificate of release” can be issued by a judge that indicates the prior record should not be held against the person.

Interested in participating? Contact Kisha High at 252. 436.2040, ext. 2008 no later than noon on Tuesday, Feb. 1.

Wayne Adcock

Adcock’s Family Humbled, Honored During Dedication Of Wayne Adcock Auditorium

/by

“It’s not work if you love what you do.” There is no more fitting statement to describe the way Wayne Adcock felt about his job as an educator, and members of the community and Vance County Schools school had a chance to remember the lifelong educator, former superintendent, mentor and friend at a special ceremony Monday at the Center for Innovation.

Vance County Schools named the auditorium for Adcock, who died in November 2020. His wife, Susan, and son John were in attendance at the ribbon-cutting and dedication. She reflected on the morning’s celebration in a telephone interview with John C. Rose.

“It was wonderful,” she said. “It was a very emotional day, but we were so humbled by the school board wanting to do that,” she said of the naming ceremony.

Adcock was so complimentary of the work that Superintendent Dr. Cindy Bennett and the school staff undertook to make the day a reality.

“We enjoyed hearing people remembering Wayne,” she said. A recurring theme throughout the remarks made on Monday included how much her husband loved working for Vance County Schools and with students. And, my, how he loved that building that now houses the Center for Innovation. He served as principal at the Charles Street campus when it was Henderson Middle School. “He was principal there 10 years,” she said. “He loved that building – he would always say it was the prettiest building in Vance County.”

But whether it was at Henderson Middle School or Northern Vance High School, Adcock said her husband genuinely loved what he did.

“He felt like he was the lucky one that got to (work) with the students,” she recalled. “He thought he was the fortunate one to get to do it.”

Several speakers gave remarks at the ribbon-cutting, and then the microphone was opened up for others to share their memories. Her son, John, offered remarks on behalf of the family.

Her husband made lifelong friends working for Vance County Schools, but it was the students that he dearly loved hearing from after they’d graduated and become successful in life.

He enjoyed his time interacting with the older high school students because he could hopefully give them advice that would “guide them in the right direction.”

David Cooper and David Westbrook are former students who now work in the field of education. Westbrook talked about advice that Adcock had given him when he was in high school “when he wasn’t always doing what he was supposed to do,” Mrs. Adcock recalled. “(Wayne) was always tickled when he’d call and seek advice,” she said.

Cooper talked about the encouragement Adcock offered him through the years.

School board chair Ruth Hartness shared the strong relationships that Adcock established with students and the guidance that he was so good at providing.

“Wayne valued education so much,” she said. He felt that it was one thing that could lift people out of poverty. He was awarded a scholarship to attend UNC-Chapel Hill, and he realized how fortunate he was to be able to continue his education.

When he’d bump in to former students or get updates on what they were doing, “he would be so happy that they’d gotten an education and were doing so well.”

Vance County Sheriff's Office

One dead, juveniles charged following shooting Jan. 19

/by

One man is dead and one juvenile is being held without bond following a shooting on Jan. 19, 2022, according to information from the Vance County Sheriff’s Office.

Sheriff Curtis R. Brame released a press statement Friday afternoon which gave details of the incident.

Deputies responded to a call at 104 Vicksboro Road and, upon arrival, discovered a man with an apparent gunshot wound to the torso. The victim was identified as Chrisdarrius Clark. Vance County EMS attempted life-saving measures, but Clark was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Vance County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division, along with members of the SBI, conducted an investigation into the incident that resulted in multiple juvenile charges. The charges include first-degree murder, obstruction of justice, and possession of a handgun by a minor.

A 17-year-old, who was found at the scene, was taken into secure custody by deputies without incident for the charge of first-degree murder and obstruction of justice. Two other juveniles have also been charged in relation to this incident, but no details are available about specific charges.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to contact the Vance County Sheriff’s Office.