Cooperative Extension With Jamon Glover: Summer, Pt. 1
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TownTalk: Williams Looks To Grow NAACP
Jameel Williams has been an influence in the lives of young people as an educator in Vance County Schools for more than three decades. Now, as president of the local chapter of the NAACP, Williams has the opportunity to provide a different type of education.
“Together, we can move forward,” Williams said – more than once – during an interview on Wednesday’s TownTalk.
Just recently, the local chapter has added more than 30 new members to its list, and Williams said that’s a good start, but he’s not satisfied. “We need your membership,” he said, adding that adults can join for $30 a year and youth memberships are available for just $10 a year.
In fact, Williams joined the local chapter when he was in high school. The late Dr. Andrea Harris and Margaret Ellis, longtime school board member were the reason he got involved.
“We worked hard,” he recalled, knocking on doors back in the ‘70’s, ‘80’s and ‘90’s on behalf of the local chapter.
In 1984, he received a scholarship for $400 from the local chapter to attend St. Augustine’s College in Raleigh. He credits those two women with motivating him to be his best.
There are chapter-sponsored Fun Days to go along with the more productive work of the chapter, including voter registration drives and fish fry fundraisers. And plans are underway for a banquet, a once annual function that hasn’t been held in a few years. The date and location have been set – February 2024 at Vance Granville Community College – and now the banquet committee can hash out the details.
The other elected officers of the chapter include:
First Vice President – LaMont Noel
Second Vice President – Gregory Perry
Secretary – Lorelei Winckler
Assistant Secretary – Teresa Perry
Treasurer – Tony Peace
Assistant Treasurer – Michael T. Henderson
To learn more about the Vance County Chapter of the NAACP, contact Williams at Jam8251965@gmail.com or follow them on social media to stay updated on upcoming programs and events.
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TownTalk: VV Show’s Varonica Mitchell Works With Game Changers For Community Event
Varonica Mitchell, that local 12-year-old social media sensation with her own online show is paying a visit to Henderson Sunday, July 16 to take part in an event sponsored by Game Changers and iDance Praise Academy.
There will be games for the kids, as well as food, clothing and school supplies that will be distributed – all free of charge, said Mitchell, who was a guest on Wednesday’s TownTalk.
She’ll have a “meet and greet” with her fans, with photo ops, selfies and autographs with the star of “The VV Show” throughout the event, which stretches from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. at the iDance Praise Academy, located at 902 Dorsey Ave., Henderson.
It’s just a way for her to give back to all her supporters, she said, which now number more than 1 million on various social media platforms. “They’ve helped me out…they uplift me,” she said. “I thought it was a good idea to give back to the community.”
She’s accomplished a lot in just a short time, and has been featured in movies, commercial ads and magazines, not to mention headlining events all over and being honored with awards on major platforms for her acting, her community service and her comedy/social media show, according to information from “The VV Show” marketing manager M. Davis.
Come be a part of the fun and speak with the young lady who’s capturing hearts with her insight and comedy all over social media.
Visit The VV Show – YouTube to see what VV’s up to.
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Home And Garden Show
On the Home and Garden Show with Vance Co. Cooperative Ext.
- Provide extra support for heavy fruited tomato plants
- Skip the Japanese Beetle traps.
- Check daily for insects and disease in the garden
- It’s OK to plant trees and shrubs through the summer, but be prepared to monitor soil moisture closely.
- Check that rain gauge after rains and record the date and amount in garden journal.
- Avoid putting disease infested plants or weeds that have flowered into the compost pile.
- Yellow jackets can be a problem now. Locate the nest from a safe distance and use wasp hornet spray after dark.
- Freeze that locally grown fruit to enjoy later this year. Melons and berries are easy to freeze.
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WIZS Radio Local News Audio 07-12-23 Noon
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VGCC Franklin Campus Site Of Training Hub Designed To Bridge ‘Digital Divide’
-Information courtesy of VGCC Public Information Officer Courtney Cissel
Residents of Franklin County and other surrounding communities will soon have a new resource to help them succeed in an increasingly digital world.
DigitalBridge, a digital workforce development initiative of Wake Forest-based Wireless Research Center, has partnered with Vance-Granville Community College to launch a new training hub at the college’s Louisburg campus. Together, the institutions will bridge the digital divide for underserved local communities through accessible technology and training.
“We are thrilled to collaborate with Vance-Granville Community College to support our communities,” said Erica Hixon, DigitalBridge executive director. “We are proud to join the community of resources to assist students and employers.”
DigitalBridge’s model is designed to deliver fast-track certifications and connect people directly to job opportunities. The initiative offers more than 130 courses and certifications for digital-skills training and certifications, provided at no cost to residents. Participants receive digital training, coaching, and job pairing matched to individual goals; in-person or remote learning at their own pace; and assistance from a career coach to guide their efforts.
Partnering with DigitalBridge is a natural extension of the college’s commitment to support residents of its four-county service area. While a degree or similar credential can open doors of career opportunity for many people, others might be better served through different forms of education, such as those provided by DigitalBridge.
“VGCC actively seeks out new ways and new partners to reduce the opportunity gap in our communities,” said Dr. Rachel Desmarais, VGCC president. “Digital literacy and technology skills are still areas where we see those opportunity gaps. We are excited to partner with DigitalBridge to support opportunity to better jobs in our service area.”
Starting mid-July, DigitalBridge representatives will be available at the Franklin Campus open computer lab each week Tuesdays through Thursdays from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. The new partnership will officially launch Thursday, July 13 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at VGCC’s Franklin Campus, located at 8100 NC 56 Highway in Louisburg. In addition to representatives from the college and DigitalBridge, local leaders and government officials are invited to attend.
WRC is an independent nonprofit founded in 2010 to serve as a catalyst for collaborative innovation and technology-led economic development to improve communities. Today, WRC’s core initiatives are designed to improve wireless technologies, accelerate technology startups, support entrepreneurs and spur economic development through education programs and digital job skills training. For more information, visit www.wrc-us.org and www.mydigitalbridge.org.
For more information about VGCC and its programs, visit www.vgcc.edu.
Franklin County On Track For $98M From NCDOT Over Next Decade
-Information courtesy of James Hicks, Franklin County Public Information Officer
Franklin County is set to receive $98 million from the NC DOT’s Transportation Improvement Program over the next decade, which translates into numerous transportation and bridge improvement projects, as well as at least one rails to trails project for pedestrians and bicyclists.
The NC DOT adopted the plan last month and Franklin County Manager Kim Denton said Franklin County’s $98 million piece of the pie will provide an economic boost.
“These transportation projects will help increase mobility in Franklin County and update the county’s transportation infrastructure,” Denton said. “Funding in the STIP will improve transportation in Franklin County and attract more economic development to the county.”
Following is a description of the projects and an anticipated date of completion:
U.S. Highway 401 widening between Flat Rock Church Road/Clifton Pond Road to Fox Park Road in Louisburg
This project will widen the existing two-lane road to four lanes and connect the four lanes at Fox Park Road in Louisburg to the newly constructed four lanes at Flat Rock Church Road and Clifton Pond Road in the Royal community. This nearly $55 million project has been given prioritization in the STIP with a projected Right-Of-Way schedule of 2028. Commonly referred to as Section D, this project will complete the widening of Highway 401 which began many years ago south of Rolesville in Wake County. The current widening project from NC 96 to Flat Rock Church Road/Clifton Pond Road is expected to be completed in the summer of 2023.
Triangle North Executive Airport runway extension with relocation of utilities, navaid and roadways
Fulfilling goals in the Triangle North Executive Airport Master Plan, this project will extend the existing airport runway as well as realign Airport Road to allow for hangar expansion along the runway. This $25 million project will aid in the expansion of Triangle North Executive Airport – which drives an annual economic impact of more than $28 million – and has been given prioritization in the STIP with a Right-Of-Way schedule of 2026.
Bickett Boulevard lane improvements from Burke Boulevard to Nash Street
This project will enhance mobility and improve safety by converting Bickett Boulevard from a five-lane section to a four-lane median divided roadway with accommodations for bicycle and pedestrian traffic. This $20 million project has been given prioritization in the STIP with a projected Right-Of-Way schedule of 2028.
Franklinton to Novozymes Rails to Trails
A joint project between Franklin County and the Town of Franklinton, this project converts an old railway corridor into a walkable and rideable trail. Spanning from the Franklinton Train Depot to Novozymes on Perry’s Chapel Road, this rails to trails project will increase mobility and provide a nice outdoor amenity to Franklin County. This $3.7 million project is expected to begin in 2023.
Bunn Road lane improvements from Kenmore Avenue to Bickett Boulevard
This project will reduce the lanes on Bunn Road from Kenmore Avenue to Bickett Boulevard from four lanes to two lanes. It will also make bicycle and pedestrian improvements. This project is expected to cost just over $600,000 and some improvements to that stretch of road began in 2022.
Bridge Replacements
- Replace East River Road bridge over Sycamore Creek which is under construction in 2023.
- Replace Highway 401 bridge over Sandy Creek with a Right-Of-Way schedule of 2027.
- Replace Baptist Church Road bridge over Tar River with a Right-Of-Way schedule of 2030.
Highway 56 West lane widening from Peach Orchard Road to Highway 401
This project will widen Highway 56 West from two lanes to four lanes from Bickett Boulevard/Highway 401 to Peach Orchard Road. The nearly $37 million project was included in the STIP for prioritization, but funds have not been identified to begin Right-Of-Way acquisition.
Franklin County is in NCDOT Division 5 which also includes Granville, Vance and Warren counties, among others. The County is also a part of the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (CAMPO) and the Kerr-Tar Regional Planning Organization which submit projects to NCDOT for its planning areas.
The complete STIP for the state can be viewed here: https://www.ncdot.gov/initiatives-policies/Transportation/stip/Pages/about.aspx
Granville School Board Approves Leadership Changes
Granville County Public School’s new superintendent Dr. Stan Winborne has announced leadership changes approved by the board of education.
The board held a special meeting on Monday, July 10.
Jamar Perry has been named assistant superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction and Student Services.
Courtney Currin is the new executive director of Human Resources and Public Information Officer.
Perry begins his fifth year with GCPS and was most recently assistant superintendent for Human Resources.
Currin has worked in GCPS for almost 20 years and most recently served as the federal personnel director within the Human Resources department.
“The individuals in these new roles will bring stability and strength to our senior leadership,” Winborne said in a press statement.
“Each has a deep connection to our district, a strong work ethic, and an absolute commitment to the students of GCPS. I am very optimistic about our future and look forward to a great school year for our students and educators.”
Winborne noted that Bill Graham. executive director for Operations, and Vickie Hines, interim finance director, will continue in their roles and complete the executive team for the district.
Winborne was sworn in on June 29, 2023 and assumed the role of superintendent on July 1, following the retirement of Dr. Alisa McLean.
TownTalk: Twisdale Takes Over As Fire Chief
Henderson Fire Chief Tim Twisdale said he learned at an early age the importance of service to others and being responsible for nurturing growth.
Those childhood lessons are paying dividends as Twisdale takes the helm as the city’s new chief.
As a youngster, growing up on the family farm, he was exposed to things that have helped him through the years – “Be responsible for things. Plant a seed and see where it goes,” he said.
Twisdale was a guest on Tuesday’s TownTalk and shared his story that started on the family farm in the Granville County community of Bullock.
He’s had mentors within the fire service, but it was his grandfather – a volunteer at the Bullock station – who started it all.
“I looked up to him,” Twisdale said, adding that his grandfather showed him the importance of “being part of the community and giving back. He enjoyed doing so.”
So Twisdale decided to follow in his granddad’s footsteps and he joined the ranks of volunteers at Bullock.
And he ran across an instructor named Steve Cordell who shared with him about being a career firefighter. As a 20-something, Twisdale acknowledged that it sure sounded more exciting than sitting behind a desk all day.
Since then, there have been many classes and many mentors who have helped Twisdale on this career path.
It will be his turn now to help other firefighters as they pursue their goals and dreams.
Twisdale said he hoped to name a deputy chief soon. “We’ve opened it up to internal applicants,” and that continues for another week. The department’s career ladder structure helps firefighters determine next steps and pathways for success.
“I anticipate having a good pool of applicants coming through,” he said. There will be an interview team assembled to ensure transparency in the selection process, although Twisdale will make the final decision.
Chief Cordell and retired Chief Danny Wilkerson were instrumental in instilling pride into the department, and Twisdale said he intends to keep it going for the future.
“I want to keep the pride and dedication and professionalism that our department has, and expand and grow as the city grows,” he said.
The department enjoys an ISO rating of 2, and is as close to a 1 rating as is possible. What stands in the way, Twisdale said, are two areas that the department and the city are aware of and are working on – increased staffing and a new fire station.
As battalion chief, Twisdale had to make sure fire calls were answered efficiently and effectively. In his new role as chief, he is responsible for more of the administration of the fire department. But efficiency and effectiveness remain top of mind, he said, and he plans to lead by example.
“I consider myself a servant leader. We all are here for the common good and to support one another…we want to look after our folks, our citizens – every time we go out the door.”
Cooperative Extension With Paul McKenzie: What Works In The Garden
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