TownTalk: Around Old Granville: More On The Hawkins Family

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If the Hawkins family genealogy were a road map, there would be featured destinations at almost every turn. The descendants of Philemon Hawkins played key roles across the state from governors to railroads, not to mention a couple of Texas cattle barons and the wife of none other than Nat King Cole.

The patriarch arrived in Virginia with his wife from their native England in the early 1700’s and he died there in 1725. One of his sons, also named Philemon, had a son – Philemon III.

This Hawkins had three sons who married daughters from a prominent family in Boydton, VA, explained local historian Mark Pace on Thursday’s Around Old Granville segment of TownTalk.

John Davis Hawkins established what would become the Raleigh to Gaston Railroad. Older brother William was elected governor of North Carolina in 1810 and their brother Joseph established the first medical school in the state – right out of his home in Middleburg, Pace said.

“The Hawkins family is wealthy and talented,” Pace said. “Each generation, no matter what they do, they’re successful.”

In 1836, John Davis Hawkins figured $750,000 would be enough to construct the Raleigh to Gaston rail that would ultimately tie in to the main line to Richmond and beyond; he underestimated by half, and the state of North Carolina came to the rescue.

“They ran out of money…they went bankrupt,” Pace recounted. “The only entity that had the money was the state of North Carolina.”

Eventually, the Hawkins family purchased the railroad back from the state and the rest is history.

The railroad “changed the world here,” Pace said. “It brought the outside world here to this part of North Carolina.” The rail allowed local tobacco farmers to send their leaf to the larger markets in Virginia.

Truly, towns popped all along the rails, including Henderson, Norlina and Kittrell.

But John Davis Hawkins also fathered children of enslaved women. One daughter, Rebecca, was raised by her spinster aunt – Hawkins’s sister – who made sure she received a good education and was well equipped in the arena of polite society.

One of Rebecca’s granddaughters, Charlotte, established the Palmer Memorial Institute, a boarding school for Black children near Greensboro in the early 1900s. Charlotte Hawkins Brown had a niece named Maria, Pace said.

And this is where the famous Nat King Cole intersects with the Hawkins family. Maria, grew up to be a jazz singer and caught the ear – and eye – of the famous crooner.

“Maria had a successful musical career,” Pace said. And Maria became Cole’s second wife in what was widely considered “the social event of the year in Harlem” on Easter Sunday in 1948.

John Davis Hawkins also had two sons who moved to Texas and went into the sugar cane business on a little piece of land – 52,000 acres – south of Corpus Christi.

When the Civil War ended and enslaved people were emancipated, the two brothers cut a deal with the state of Texas to basically have a prison farm. Prisoners would get room and board in exchange for their labor.

When the sugar cane business tanked, the brothers switched to cattle, operating the second largest ranch in Texas.

And then, luck struck again in 1901. That’s right, the brothers struck oil. The old Hawkins house still stands there in Hawkinsville, TX, looking for the world that it was plucked right out of Old Granville County and plopped onto a little tract of land in south Texas.

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The Local Skinny! Pop The Hood: Your Car’s Air Conditioning

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— For our sponsor, Advance Auto Parts, as part of a paid radio sponsorship on WIZS.

 

In this summer heat, drivers want to be able to count on their cars’ air conditioning to keep them cool. But what to do if the air coming from the vents provides little, if any, relief?

The first thing to consider is whether the vehicle’s cooling system has enough refrigerant. The staff at Advance Auto Parts can help owners choose the right refrigerant for your make and model.

WIZS’s own John Stevenson joined co-host Bill Harris on Thursday’s segment of Pop the Hood. Stevenson, himself a do-it-yourself when it comes to maintaining his own cars, said lack of refrigerant is the most common reason a vehicle’s AC unit isn’t performing properly.

This is especially true with older vehicles, he explained, that have seals that start to go bad.

“It’ll work in the summer, but in the winter, the seals will start to shrink and some of that gas will start to seep out.” Then, when you next call on the AC to work its magic, it won’t cool.

Adding refrigerant is the quick fix – replacing a faulty compressor is more involved, Stevenson said. And way more expensive.

Whether you take your vehicle to a repair shop or try to do it yourself, Stevenson said it’s important to flush the system of refrigerant before the work begins. A bad compressor can throw pieces of shrapnel through the cooling system, he explained, and if it’s not removed, it could wreck the newly installed one.

It could take a do-it-yourselfer a few hours to replace a compressor, depending on its location under the hood, among other things.

“If you’re handy and have the tools,” it’s not that bad, Stevenson said. “But it can be a pain,” he said, because you have to disconnect lines and remove belts to get to the compressor that also has to be removed.

Make sure you replace something called a “receiver dryer” while you’re at it, he suggested, because it tends to get clogged up over time. “Replace it just to be on the safe side,” he said.

 

The information contained in this post is not advice from Advance Auto Parts or WIZS.  Safety First!  Always seek proper help.  This is presented for its informational value on and is part of a paid advertising sponsorship.

 

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Cooperative Extension with Wayne Rowland: Raising Chickens

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

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TownTalk: VV Mitchell Stays Busy But Grounded In Faith

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Varonica Mitchell is a drummer, an actor, a comedian, a cheerleader, a dancer and a model with her own Internet-based show that has attracted more than 1 million supporters.

She relies on a schedule to keep her on track, what with posting videos, bookings and school work.

VV, as she is known to family, friends and her growing fan base on social media is headed to 7th grade this year.

“It’s a lot of work,” she told WIZS co-host Bill Harris Wednesday on TownTalk, referring to all the videos that she produces, with the help of her father, the one behind the camera.

This pre-teen exudes confidence and positivity and her natural talent shines through, but she is quick to give credit where credit is due.

“I get it from God and definitely from my mama,” she said.

Her mom manages VV’s bookings and also creates costumes for VV’s characters, including Grandma Roseanne and Mr. Eggnog, who sports a big belly and a beard.

“The VV Show basically is all my talents mixed together,” she said, part acting, part modeling, part drumming.

Drumming? “I just hopped on the drums as a two-year-old,” she said, when her church was without a drummer. Those who heard her thought she was good, she said and “it just went on from there.”

Whether she’s in front of the camera in costume as one of her original characters or playing drums, VV said one thing’s on her mind.

“I get to make people happy and put a smile on their face,” she said. “It makes their whole day – that’s what I’m looking for.”

Her local friends are among her biggest supporters, and despite the bookings and traveling, VV said she does still have time to spend with her buddies.

“They are really big supports – I love them so much! They are supporting me all the time.”

You can find her on all the social media platforms – Tik Tok, Instagram, You Tube, Twitter and Facebook.

“And,” she said, with the perfect pause – for maximum effect – “you can Google me!”

VV leaves us with a little cliffhanger: she’s going to Atlanta but she can’t really tell us more until it happens…

Stay tuned, VV fans.

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Home And Garden Show

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On the Home and Garden Show with Vance Co. Cooperative Ext.

  • Make plans for your fall garden.Ex seed, transplants
  • Be cautious with extended control herbicides.
  • Remember Lawn Mower safety. Check for objects in the lawn. NO Extra Riders
  • Stay diligent with weed control in landscape plantings.
  • Know what to plant and when in the garden with a copy of the Central piedmont planting guide
  • Use directed sprays for weed control by using a cardboard shield.
  • Let children help in the garden. Teach them now and it will benefit them when they become adults
  • Be cautious spraying weeds in and near ponds.

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Red Cross Issues Reminders To Stay Safe When It’s HOT Outside

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-information courtesy of The American Red Cross

There’s no doubt – the next few days are going to be scorchers, with only the chance of a stray rain shower to cool things off.

Weather forecasters are predicting Saturday’s high in the area to approach 100, and the American Red Cross has issued a list of heat safety tips to keep in mind as the summer heatwave continues.

HEAT SAFETY TIPS

  1. Hot cars can be deadly. Never leave children or pets in your vehicle. The inside temperature of the car can quickly reach 120 degrees.
  2. Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids. Avoid drinks with caffeine or alcohol.
  3. Check on family, friends and neighbors who do not have air conditioning, who spend much of their time alone or who are more likely to be affected by the heat.
  4. If you don’t have air conditioning, seek relief from the heat during the warmest part of the day in places like schools, libraries, theaters, malls, etc.
  5. Avoid extreme temperature changes.
  6. Wear loose-fitting, lightweight, light-colored clothing. Avoid dark colors because they absorb the sun’s rays.
  7. Slow down, stay indoors and avoid strenuous exercise during the hottest part of the day.
  8. Postpone outdoor games and activities.
  9. Take frequent breaks and use a buddy system when working outdoors.
  10. Check on animals frequently to ensure that they are not suffering from the heat. Make sure they have plenty of cool water and shade.

Excessive heat can lead to sunburn, heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke. If someone is experiencing heat cramps in the legs or abdomen, get them to a cooler place, have them rest, lightly stretch the affected muscle, and replenish their fluids with a half a glass (about four ounces) of cool water every 15 minutes.

If someone is exhibiting signs of heat exhaustion (cool, moist, pale or flushed skin, heavy sweating, headache, nausea, dizziness, weakness and exhaustion), move them to a cooler place, remove or loosen tight clothing and spray the person with water or apply cool, wet cloths or towels to the skin. Fan the person. If they are conscious, give small amounts of cool water to drink. Make sure the person drinks slowly. Watch for changes in condition. If the person refuses water, vomits or begins to lose consciousness, call 911.

HEAT STROKE LIFE-THREATENING Heat stroke usually occurs by ignoring the signals of heat exhaustion. Heat stroke develops when the body systems are overwhelmed by heat and begin to stop functioning. Signs include hot, red skin which may be dry or moist; changes in consciousness; vomiting and high body temperature. Call 911 immediately if someone shows signs of heat stroke. Move the person to a cooler place. Quickly cool the person’s body by immersing them up to their neck in cold water if possible. Otherwise, douse or spray the person with cold water, or cover the person with cold, wet towels or bags of ice.

WHO’S AT RISK? Heat is the leading weather-related killer in the U.S. More than 600 people in this country die every year from heat-related illnesses, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Some people are more at risk of developing a heat-related illness, including adults over 65, those with chronic medical conditions, people who work outside, infants and children, and athletes. Some may take medications that make the effects of extreme heat worse. People with heart disease, poor blood circulation, obesity and mental illness are also at risk for getting sick if the temperatures climb.

DOWNLOAD RED CROSS APPS Download the free Red Cross First Aid app so you’ll know what to do if emergency help is delayed and the free Emergency app for weather alerts, open Red Cross shelter locations and safety steps for different emergencies. Choose whether you want to view the content in English or Spanish with an easy-to-find language selector. Find these and all of the Red Cross apps in smartphone app stores by searching for the American Red Cross or going to redcross.org/apps.

Camp For Teens Interested In Law, Forensic Science

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Local teens have an interesting opportunity to develop their sleuthing skills next week during a five-day camp at a local church.

Rebuilding Communities, Inc. is sponsoring “CSI, The Law and Leadership Camp” for teens between the ages of 13-17 from July 31-Aug. 4 at First United Methodist Church in Henderson.

The camp will be held daily from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., according to information from Edy Thompson, Rebuilding Communities, Inc. director.

Teens interested in learning more about what lawyers, forensic scientists and investigators do should register by calling 252.479.5019.

Some of the activities for the week include investigating mock crime scenes, fingerprint analysis and first aid and CPR certification.

 

 

Oxford Voters Will Choose New Mayor, 3 City Commissioners In Nov. 7 Election

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The city of Oxford will be voting for a new mayor in the upcoming municipal elections, and two newcomers to local politics will by vying for the position.

According to information from the Granville County Board of Elections, Guillermo Antonio Nurse and Deborah Jeffcoat Ramsey have filed to run for mayor. Incumbent Jackie Sergent had announced earlier that she would not seek another term as mayor.

There are seven candidates running for three city commissioners’ seats, and Granville Elections Director Tonya Burnette said the top three vote getters will be elected. The candidates are listed below, in order of their filing dates:

 

Stuart W. Powell

John Tovey

Carlos J. Velez

Teresa S. Gilreath

Curtis McRae Jr.

Scotty Lyn Brooks

James W. Crawford Jr.

 

Tovey and Gilreath are running for re-election; Commissioner Ron Bullock did not file for re-election, Burnette said.

The Oxford municipal elections are Tuesday, Nov. 7.

City of Henderson Logo

Henderson Municipal Election 2023 Updates

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— UPDATE 3 p.m., Tuesday, July 25

One candidate for the Ward 3 at-large seat on the Henderson City Council has withdrawn from the race and one of the five mayoral candidates faces a challenge that calls into question his eligibility.

Vance County Board of Elections Director Melody Vaughan confirmed Tuesday that Daniel Blasky has withdrawn his name from consideration in the nonpartisan municipal elections set for Oct. 10.

Vance County GOP chairman Jimmy Barrier issued a statement to WIZS News, which read in part:  ” After much consideration, Daniel Blasky has decided to withdraw his name from the ballot for Ward 3 At-Large seat on the Henderson City Council to support Michelle Wood in her campaign for that seat. They are friends and have come together to work for the common good.”

Wallace Cheek’s candidacy has been challenged, Vaughan said, adding that this challenge will be heard on Tuesday, Aug. 1 at 4 p.m. in the Board of Elections conference before the regularly scheduled board meeting.

Vaughan said Cheek’s residency is in question.  At the hearing, Cheek will have to prove that he lives at the address he listed when he filed to run for mayor.

The Aug. 1 hearing is open to the public.

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— UPDATE 3 p.m., Friday, July 21

With the filing period now ended for the upcoming municipal elections in Henderson, the stage is set for possible sweeping changes in the makeup of city leadership. Only one incumbent filed for re-election for his seat on the council; three current council members have filed to run for mayor.

The filing period ended at 12 noon Friday and Vance County Board of Elections Director Melody Vaughan, who provided daily updates to WIZS each afternoon during the two-week filing period, said all candidates are eligible to run for the offices for which they filed.

Henderson voters will choose from among five candidates for mayor. Current Mayor Eddie Ellington announced last week that he would not seek a third term.

The candidates for mayor are:

Wallace Cheek

Sara Coffey

Melissa Elliott

Greg Etheridge

Jason Spriggs

Coffey, Elliott and Spriggs currently sit on the Henderson City Council; only Coffey would be eligible to retain her spot on the council, since she is not up for re-election this year.

Incumbent Mike Rainey filed Thursday, July 20 for re-election to Ward 2. Rainey faces opposition from Sam Seifert and Janice Ward.

Ward 1 has a four-way race, with candidates Geraldine Champion, Symia Crews, Clementine Hunter and Corey Pearson vying for the seat currently held by Marion Brodie Williams. Williams did not file for re-election.

There are now four candidates for the Ward 3 at-large seat and three candidates for the Ward 4 at-large seat.

Kory H. Franklin filed Friday to run for the Ward 3 at-large seat, joining Daniel Blasky, Michael Venable and Michelle Horner Wood; Melissa Elliott is the current council member for that seat.

Former City Council member George M. Daye is seeking to return to the council, filing Friday for the seat he previously held in Ward 4. The two-term council member joins Lora Durham, and Tami Walker, who previously had filed for the Ward 4 at-large seat. The Ward 4 at-large seat is currently held by Jason Spriggs. Wallace Evans withdrew his name for consideration on Friday, Vaughan said.

The non-partisan City of Henderson municipal election is Oct. 10; early voting for the Henderson elections begins Sept. 21 and ends Oct. 7.

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(PLEASE KEEP IN MIND WHAT’S BELOW IS A RUNNING ACCOUNT AND NOT THE FINAL STORY. THE FINAL STORY IS ABOVE.)

— UPDATE 5 p.m., Thursday, July 20

The filing period will end at 12 noon Friday, and presently at least a three-way race exists for each seat available, including a five-way race for mayor and a four-way race for the ward 1 ward seat.

Two additional people filed Thursday, and both filed for the Ward 2 seat.  Incumbent Mike Rainey filed, and Sam Seifert filed.  So far, Rainey is the only incumbent to file for re-election, in terms of filing for his/her existing seat.

Three sitting council members have filed to run for mayor, and Mayor Eddie Ellington has said he will not seek a third term.

Ward 1 incumbent Marion Williams has not filed to run. While Williams has made no official statement to WIZS nor any statement to local media that WIZS News is aware of, the number of filers from her ward and the public general consensus indicate she will not file.

The non-partisan City of Henderson municipal election is October 10. Early voting for the Henderson elections begins Sept. 21 and ends Oct. 7.

At present, the following races exist:

Filings for Mayor

Wallace Cheek

Sara Coffey

Melissa Elliott

Greg Etheridge

Jason Spriggs

Ward 1

Geraldine Champion

Symia Crews

Clementine Hunter

Corey Pearson

Ward 2

Mike Rainey (Incumbent)

Sam Seifert

Janice Ward

Ward 3 At Large

Daniel Blasky

Michael Venable

Michelle Horner Wood

Ward 4 At Large

Lora Durham

Wallace Evans

Tami Walker

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— UPDATE 5 p.m., Wednesday, July 19

A fourth candidate filed Wednesday for the Ward 1 seat on the Henderson City Council, according to Vance County Board of Elections Director Melody Vaughan.

Symia Crews added her name to the list for the Ward 1 seat.

The filing period for the Oct. 10 municipal elections ends at 12 noon on Friday, July 21.

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— UPDATE 5 p.m., Tuesday, July 18

The field is getting a bit more crowded for a couple of Henderson City Council seats, as three more candidates filed Tuesday, according to Vance County Board of Elections Director Melody Vaughan.

Wallace Evans and Tami Walker filed for the Ward 4 at-large seat, currently held by Jason Spriggs. Corey Pearson filed to run for the Ward 1 seat, currently held by Marion Brodie Williams.

That brings to three candidates each for the Ward 1 seat, and the at-large seats in Wards 3 and 4.

Janice Ward is the sole candidate thus far in the Ward 2 race.

The filing period for the Oct. 10 municipal elections ends at 12 noon on Friday, July 21.

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— UPDATE 5 p.m., Monday, July 17

According to information Monday afternoon from Vance County Board of Elections Director Melody Vaughan, Wallace Cheek has filed for the second time to run for mayor of Henderson. This brings to five the number of candidates vying for the office of mayor.

Two others have filed for seats on the Henderson City Council – Michelle Horner Wood filed for the Ward 3 at-large seat and Lora Durham filed for the Ward 4 at-large seat, Vaughan reported Monday.

Susan Pulley filed Monday for commissioner for the town of Kittrell; Robert B. Tunstall filed Friday, July 14 for commissioner for the town of  Kittrell.

The filing period for the upcoming municipal elections ends at 12 noon on Friday, July 21.

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— UPDATE 7 p.m., Thursday, July 13

There is now a four-way race for mayor of Henderson following Jason Spriggs’s filing today. Spriggs currently holds the Ward 4 at-large seat on the Henderson City Council.

Clementine Hunter also filed Thursday for the Ward 1 seat on the Henderson council, according to Melody Vaughan, director of the Vance County Board of Elections. Geraldine Champion had already filed to run for the Ward 1 seat, which is currently held by Marion Brodie Williams.

The Ward 3 at-large seat is also a contested race, with both Daniel Blasky and Michael Venable candidates who have filed to run. This seat currently is being held by Melissa Elliott, who is one of the mayoral candidates. Sara Coffey is the other council member who has announced her candidacy for mayor. Coffey is the only one of the three council members who could retain her seat on the council since her term is not ending.

Gregory Etheridge filed Wednesday to run for mayor. Etheridge is president of Gupton Services.

The Ward 4 at-large seat remains without a filer at this time, since Spriggs put his hat into the ring with his filing Thursday.

Janice Ward filed for the Ward 2 seat, currently held by Mike Rainey.

The filing period continues through 12 noon on Friday, July 21.

The municipal election is Oct. 10 and there will be an early voting period, but the early voting polling sites have not been determined at this time, Vaughan said.

Hazel Baskett has filed for a seat on the Middleburg Town Council.

Mary Jo Floyd has filed to run for Kittrell town commissioner.

Wallace Cheek had filed to run for mayor of Henderson, but state elections officials removed his name late Tuesday after it was confirmed he does not live within the Henderson city limits.