Entries by Laura Gabel

TownTalk: 11 Year Old Varonica Mitchell Attracts National Spotlight

Like a lot of other kids her age, Varonica Mitchell was excited recently because she was getting a new phone. But how many other 11-year-olds have a resume that lists accomplishments including actress, musician, dancer and, wait for it…stand-up comedian? Varonia, or V V, as her family calls her, can be seen in her one-man, er, one-girl […]

TownTalk: Looking To The Future Of Area Transportation

Imagine driving to the train station in downtown Henderson to begin your daily commute to your job in the Triangle. You hop on the commuter rail, which whizzes past the stopped traffic along U.S. 1 and Capital Boulevard as you approach your destination. For regional planner Sam Boswell, that is no longer a pie-in-the-sky notion, […]

TownTalk: Saving Cats And Kittens Is Purr Partners Goal

There are a couple of important things to consider before becoming a pet owner, if you ask Luwanna Johnson, founder and president of Purr Partners rescue. Johnson and her team of volunteers devote countless hours to the Franklin County-based rescue operation, which takes in as many cats as it can, but it’s not enough. “The […]

“State of the City” Highlights Positive Progress For Henderson’s Future

The Henderson-Vance Chamber of Commerce, partnering with Henderson Vance Rotary, hosted the 2022 “state of the city” address Thursday,  highlighting an array of projects underway and others on the horizon but also asking for a unified community approach to tackle issues that detract from the city’s image. The dining room at Henderson Country Club was […]

TownTalk: Police Chief Barrow Discusses Gun Violence Resolution

The increase in gun violence plaguing the country is something that Henderson Police Chief Marcus Barrow thinks a lot about, but he said he and his officers often are frustrated by the process to get offenders off the streets and successfully processed through the judicial system. It’s illegal to discharge a firearm within the city […]

The Local Skinny! Bean Spotlights NC Education Corps

The current buzz phrase is “high-impact literacy,” but what it all boils down to is this: Helping young students become better readers through relationship-building and consistent small-group tutoring. North Carolina Education Corps is a nonprofit initiative to get literacy tutors in elementary schools to help children who need a little extra support with reading skills. […]

SportsTalk: Zarzour Discusses LIV Golf

Most golf fans know that the PGA’s Masters tournament is held at Augusta National in April – except when postponed by a global pandemic as it was in 2020. It remains to be seen, however, if the newly formed LIV tour will manage to create its own signature event like the Masters, the U.S. Open […]

TownTalk: Pam Hester Talks Local Tourism Attractions, Events

The executive director of Vance County Department of Tourism said she has a fear of being on the water, but she has absolutely no problem whatsoever promoting Kerr Lake and the variety of events it brings to town – and its contribution to the local economy. Satterwhite Point is the site of Saturday evening’s fireworks […]

The Local Skinny! Frank Sossamon Speaks At Local GOP Rally

Frank Sossamon is no stranger to public speaking, having spent his career as a pastor. And during remarks at a recent Vance County GOP rally, Candidate Sossamon encouraged fellow Republicans to get out and vote in the November general election. Sossamon, a political newcomer, is running for N.C. House District 32 on the Republican ticket. […]