Chamber Launches Student Leadership Institute For Rising Sophomores, Juniors

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The Henderson Vance County Chamber of Commerce is launching a new Student Leadership Institute this fall.

The program is designed to educate young leaders by providing experiences and motivating them to take an active role in their community, according to Vanessa Jones, the Chamber’s director of Programs.

Open to public, private, charter and homeschool rising sophomores and juniors attending high schools in Vance County, the leadership institute is free to attend, and space is limited. Registration deadline is Tuesday, Sept. 19.

Through education, networking, peer interaction and problem solving, the Student Leadership Institute will help prepare students for constructive and responsive involvement in community affairs.

Participants will have opportunities for interaction with their peers, as well as community-based service organizations, institutions of high education and professionals from the local community. They will gain insight into the importance of teamwork and develop a better understanding of what it means to be a leader.

Interested students should contact their high school counselor or principal and home school students should contact the Chamber at vanessa@hendersonvance.org or 252.438.8414.

Businesses can support this program through sponsorships.  The sponsorship levels are Presenting Sponsor – $1000, Gold Sponsor – $750, Silver Sponsor – $500 and Bronze Sponsor – $250.

The Local Skinny! Pop The Hood

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

It’s time to wash your ride – maybe past time – and you’ve found a few minutes in an otherwise busy day to put some soap in a bucket and get to work. But before you pull out an old t-shirt from the rag bag and squirt some dish soap in a bucket, you may want to check in with the folks at Advance Auto Parts.

Cleaning your vehicle properly is not as simple as you may think.

Michael Puckett is a district general manager for the auto parts chain, whose shelves are filled with a variety of cleaning products to fit any need, from chenille and microfiber cloths to rubbing compounds and paint touchups.

If you normally run through a car wash to get that road grime off your car or truck, you may find the selection a bit overwhelming. If your car is newer, it may have a protective clear coat on it. If you’re babying a vintage model, you can select a rubbing compound to enhance the color.

And let’s talk about tires and rims for a bit.

“We’ve got brushes to use on your tires,” Puckett said, as well as other products to put some gleam on those tires. Are those pricey rims aluminum or chrome? There’s a different product for each material, and those products aren’t all spray-on, so you’ll need to know how to apply them.

Puckett outlines a 5-step process that he and the staff at Advance Auto recommend to customers to create that perfectly clean vehicle:

  • Step 1: Wash and headlight restoration
  • Step 2: Surface prep and paint repair
  • Step 3: Wax and polish
  • Step 4: Wheels and tires
  • Step 5: Glass and interior

There are products that combine wash and wax products for a 2-in-1 effect and Puckett said the ceramic clear coat products help restore faded paint colors.

If your vehicle has a scratch that you’d like to fix, Puckett said there’s a variety of touch-up products on the store shelves to choose from. Don’t see your particular color? Let the folks at Advance Auto make that paint match for you. “We can actually mix it right here at the store,” he said.

“I enjoy helping every customer and helping them get what they need to complete their projects,” Puckett said.

When you’re picking up those cleaning supplies to make your car or truck sparkle, just remember there’s one thing that Advance Auto does NOT stock – elbow grease.

The information contained in this post and audio 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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Franklin Commissioners Approve 5 Percent Pay Bump for Emergency Medical Services Staff

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-information courtesy of Franklin County Public Information Officer James Hicks

Salaries for Franklin County’s Emergency Medical Services staff got a 5 percent bump from county commissioners recently, all part of an effort to boost retention and recruitment.

The board Commissioners approved recommendations from County Manager Kim Denton to increase the pay.

“Franklin County EMS continues to experience challenges that are felt nationwide by EMS systems and healthcare organizations,” Denton said. “EMS works hard every day to answer calls and provide the highest quality care for Franklin County.”

Salary increases are aimed to retain qualified staff and increase recruitment efforts. In addition to increased salaries, Franklin County offers sign-on bonuses for all employees including $1,500 for Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT), $2,000 for Advanced EMT and $3,000 for Paramedics.

Franklin County also added another 12-hour peak demand shift in the FY24 budget.  This second peak demand shift provides additional EMS coverage for hours that experience higher emergency call volumes. Additionally, Franklin County has committed to purchase at least one new ambulance each year because of the supply chain challenges across the nation.

Franklin County is conducting a job fair on Tuesday, Sept. 12 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Franklin Plaza, 279 S. Bickett Blvd., Louisburg.  Interested applicants can talk with department representatives about available positions during the job fair.

Enjoy Fresh Produce And More From Vance Co. Regional Farmers Market Vendors

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The Vance County Regional Farmers Market will be open one more Wednesday this season before it drops back to Saturday-only hours.

Wednesday, Aug. 30 marks the unofficial end to summertime at the Farmers Market, but Market Manager Pat Ayscue says vendors still have lots of produce as summer transitions to fall.

The vine-ripe tomatoes just keep getting better, Ayscue said. Fruits such as watermelons, cantaloupe, peaches and apples are displayed alongside veggies including peas, butterbeans, okra, sweet corn, squash, zucchini and onions

Ayscue encourages patrons to chat with vendors and farmers about the grass-fed beef and pork – and don’t forget the tasty farm-fresh eggs!

There’s local honey, delicious fresh baked goods as well as fresh-cut flowers and handcrafted items for sale.

The market will be open until sometime in December, Ayscue said. Saturday hours remain 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

“Stop by and put a smile on a farmer’s face where the produce is so fresh it looks like it’s still growing,” Ayscue says.

And, as always, thanks for supporting your local farmers market.

The Vance County Regional Farmers Market is located at 210 Southpark Drive, just off Beckford Drive, Henderson.

Home and Garden Show

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The Home and Garden Show for Wednesday, August 23, 2023.

Click play below for the audio, brought to you by Satterwhite Point Marina.

The Home and Garden Show airs each week on WIZS on Wednesday at 11:30 a.m.

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TownTalk: VGCC Community Engagement Sessions Begin Sept. 7

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A slight turn of phrase can provide a whole different perspective on things, and Vance-Granville Community College President Dr. Rachel Desmarais is looking forward to hearing from the wider community as plans for the future develop.

Take the phrase “community college” for example. Change that to “community’s college,” and you gain some insight into plans for an upcoming series of community engagement nights the college is planning.

“We really want to listen to our community,” Desmarais said on Wednesday’s TownTalk. As a way of implementing its new theme, “Your Community, Your College,” Demarais said the meetings are a way to be intentional about creating a plan that will be the best fit for the communities that VGCC serves.

There’s always room for improvement, she said, and getting feedback from these meetings is a good start.

“We don’t want to stop doing something that is helpful,” she said, adding that “feedback is part of the learning process.”

As students in a classroom need feedback on their activities and work, so does an institution like VGCC, she said.

“If you don’t know what you’re doing right or wrong, you’re not learning anything,” she said.

Individuals interested in participating in the meetings are encouraged to RSVP. A link to the sessions is expected to be available on the www.vgcc.edu website Thursday.

Each session will begin at 6 p.m. and will last until about 7:30 p.m. Small groups – each with a VGCC rep and a person taking notes – will discuss various issues related to their community’s needs.

With the understanding that different people and different communities need different things, Desmarais said she wants VGCC to “be a convener and a catalyst” that brings different organizations together to work for common good.

“Little nudges that we each do can have a wonderful ripple effect in the end,” she said.

And that’s the point of the meetings – to point the community’s college in the direction that the community needs and wants in order to grow.

Below is a list of sites and dates for the community meetings: 

  • Thursday, Sept. 7 – Warren County Armory Civic Center, Warrenton
  • Tuesday, Sept. 12 – Perry Memorial Library, Farm Bureau Room, Henderson
  • Wednesday, Sept. 13 – VGCC Main Campus Civic Center, Henderson
  • Thursday, Sept. 14 – Wake Electric Operations Facility, Youngsville
  • Thursday, Sept. 19 – Karl T. Pernell Public Safety Complex, Louisburg
  • Wednesday, Sept. 20 – Mary Potter Center for Education, Oxford
  • Wednesday, Sept. 27 – VGCC South Campus, Room G1131, Creedmoor

Arrest Made In Early-Morning Robbery At Sheetz

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-information courtesy of Henderson Police Chief Marcus Barrow

A Vance County man was arrested early Wednesday by officers of the Henderson Police Department following the report of a robbery at the Sheetz on Ruin Creek Road.

Police officers responded to the call about 1:15 a.m., according to information from Henderson Police Chief Marcus Barrow.

Barrow stated that a middle-aged black male entered the business and demanded the clerk to give him the money from the register or he would shoot. No weapon was seen, but the suspect indicated he had a firearm. The clerk gave the man an undisclosed amount of cash, and he then fled from the store taking a few other items.
Once on scene, the officers were able to gather vital information on the suspect and the vehicle used during the event through video, witnesses and other sources. Officers began searching the area and at 3:30 a.m., an officer observed the vehicle near Dabney Drive and Parham Street.
Taken into custody during a traffic stop at Parham and High streets was Howard Perry, Jr., 55, of Lone Wolf Drive. Perry was charged with robbery and possession of stolen goods. He was placed under a $150,000 bond and transported to the Vance County Detention Center.

Dr. Marion Lark Funeral Viewing Options

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The First Baptist Church of Henderson, NC issued a viewing link and options for Dr. Marion Lark’s funeral service.

“The funeral for Dr. Lark will be Wednesday, August 23 at 3 p.m. at First Baptist Church. For those who are unable to attend, the funeral will be livestreamed via Vimeo and on the First Baptist Church Henderson Facebook page. (Click Here). The link to watch via Vimeo is below. Access should be available beginning at 2:50 pm.”
Dr. Marion Lark Funeral Service