Don’t miss these special events at McGregor Hall Performing Arts Center in downtown Henderson this holiday season.
The Raleigh Ringers Holiday Concert
Friday, December 6, 2019, at 7:30 p.m.
The Raleigh Ringers’ holiday handbell concert runs the gamut of song selections from old yuletide favorites to Vince Guaraldi’s “A Charlie Brown Christmas” score and other sounds of the season.
Black Nativity
Black Nativity is a heartfelt musical presenting a fresh, new way to relive the birth of Jesus Christ. Based on the poetry of Langston Hughes and favorite gospel songs, Black Nativity leads us back to the manger through the rhythm of drums, the feet of high energy dancers and the souls of passionate storytellers.
Christmas Wonderland Holiday Spectacular
Monday, December 16, 2019, at 7:30 p.m.
Back by Popular Demand!
Christmas Wonderland is quite simply one of the most delightful and enchanting Christmas shows ever. Featuring glittering costumes, a dazzling cast and the highest kicking chorus girls this side of the North. This performance is pure holiday magic – with enough fun and festive cheer to power all the Christmas lights in town!
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Christmas-Wonderland.png265504WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2019-11-22 16:53:082019-11-22 16:53:08Tickets Available Now: McGregor Hall to Ring in Season With Holiday Shows
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-Press Release, Franklin County Sheriff’s Office
On November 15, 2019, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office Drug Unit executed a search warrant at 114 High Rock Drive Louisburg, NC. As a result of the search warrant, Franklin County resident Daniel Casey Clark was arrested and charged with multiple felony drug offenses.
On November 15, 2019, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office Drug Unit executed a search warrant at 114 High Rock Drive Louisburg, NC. As a result of the search warrant, Franklin County resident Daniel Casey Clark was arrested and charged with multiple felony drug offenses. (FCSO photo)
In addition to the arrest of Mr. Clark, Narcotics Detectives seized LSD, Methamphetamines, Psilocybin (Mushrooms) and US Currency during the search.
This investigation into illegal drug activity began as a result of information provided by the Wake County Sheriff’s Office Drug Unit alleging Daniel Casey Clark was involved in illegal drug activity in Franklin and surrounding counties. The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office Drug Unit was able to validate the information provided which resulted in the arrest of Mr. Clark.
Daniel Casey Clark was charged with: Possession with Intent to Sell and Deliver LSD, Possession with Intent to Sell and Deliver Psilocybin, Possession with Intent to Manufacture Dimethyltryptamine, Possession of Methamphetamines and Felonious Possession of THC Concentrate.
Sheriff Kent Winstead stated, “Partnering and sharing information with our fellow law enforcement agencies continues to be important to our overall strategy of eliminating dangerous drugs from our neighborhoods. We appreciate the assistance of the Wake County Sheriff’s Office Drug Unit with this arrest and search.”
Daniel Casey Clark is currently in the Franklin County Detention Center under a $75,000 secured bond.
Daniel Casey Clark
35 years old
114 High Rock Drive Louisburg, NC 27549
If you have information regarding this case or if you would like to report drug activity in your community, please contact Sgt. Ken Pike at (919) 496-2186.
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Daniel-Clark-Mug-Shot.png265504WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2019-11-21 16:55:272019-11-21 16:55:27Law Enforcement Partnership Results in Franklin Co. Drug Arrest
You are invited to bring the family out for Downtown Louisburg’s 3rd Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony on Thursday, December 5, 2019. The festivities begin at 6 p.m. at the Courthouse Square.
Hosted by the Town of Louisburg, the evening will include cookies, hot chocolate, tea, a live band, Christmas carols by local church choirs, a reading of “Twas the Night Before Christmas” and a special guest appearance by Santa Claus.
The 2019 Christmas Parade will be held in downtown Louisburg on Sunday, December 8 from 3 until 5 p.m.
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Louisburg-Tree-Lighting-2019.png265504WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2019-11-21 16:53:572019-11-21 16:53:57Downtown Louisburg’s Tree Lighting Festivities to Include Visit From Santa
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-Press Release, NCDA&CS
Pecan pie lovers can celebrate. The North Carolina pecan growers have a good crop ahead of the holidays despite a relatively dry summer and damages sustained during last year’s hurricane season. That is good news for consumers wanting to incorporate local ingredients into their Thanksgiving meals.
“Reports from growers are showing a good quantity and quality of pecans this year, with pecan season running into December,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler.
The department encourages consumers to look for the Got To Be NC logo on packaged pecans, visit local farmers markets or take a trip to more than two dozen pecan orchards across the state. December 13 will be Pecan Day at the State Farmers Market, where visitors can get free samples of a pecan dessert, plus mouth-watering pecan recipes to try at home.
The N.C. Pecan Growers Association offers an online directory to help consumers find local pecan orchards at www.buyncpecans.com. The website also includes pecan recipes and downloadable activities for children.
North Carolina is one of the Top 10 pecan-producing states in the nation. While pecans are grown across the state, the majority of commercial orchards are located in Eastern and Southeastern North Carolina.
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Got-to-Be-NC-Agriculture.png265504WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2019-11-21 16:52:442019-11-21 16:52:44NC Pecan Growers Prevail With Good Crop for Thanksgiving
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-Press Release, Franklin County Sheriff’s Office
On Friday, November 15, 2019, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office Investigative Unit arrested Lisandro Gutierrez, a Franklin County resident.
Gutierrez was charged with the following: one (1) count of Assault with a Deadly Weapon With Intent to Kill Inflicting Serious Injury.
Gutierrez was placed in the Franklin County Detention Center under a $20,000.00 secured bond.
Lisandro Gutierrez – 21 years old – 130 Coachmans Trail Louisburg, NC 27549
On Friday, November 15, 2019, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office Investigative Unit arrested Lisandro Gutierrez, a Franklin County resident. Gutierrez was charged with the following: one (1) count of Assault with a Deadly Weapon With Intent to Kill Inflicting Serious Injury. (FCSO photo)
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Lisandro-Gutierezz-Mug-Shot.png265504WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2019-11-20 16:53:342019-11-20 16:53:34FCSO: Gutierrez Arrested on Assault With A Deadly Weapon Charge
Six months after Chief Daren Kirts of the Youngsville Police Department announced his retirement, the Town of Youngsville announced that Lieutenant Greg Whitley of the Knightdale Police Department will be Youngsville’s next chief of police.
Town Administrator Phil Cordeiro shared, “Foremost, I’d like to express my sincerest gratitude for the department’s – and the community’s – patience and participation throughout our recruitment and selection process. I know it’s taken a bit longer than some would prefer, but this was an extremely important decision and needed to be managed with the utmost care.”
The chief of police recruitment process began in May and the town received over 60 applications for the position.
Through a process comprised of three rounds and eight separate interviews, nearly 40 assessors provided written feedback to the town administrator on candidate performance and qualifications. Assessors’ backgrounds ran the gamut, including community watch leaders, retired law enforcement professionals, neighboring town managers, current town employees, and elected officials.
Among many factors in a crowded field, Mr. Whitley was selected as chief in response to his two decades of diverse law enforcement experience and a myriad of professional law enforcement credentials – including an advanced law enforcement certificate, multiple instructor certifications, and formal training with federal agencies such as the FBI and FEMA.
In reaction to the decision, Mr. Whitley remarked, “It is an honor to be selected as chief of police. I am committed to providing the highest level of customer service to citizens through professional policing, with a focus on the training and development of officers. I believe police and community relationships are best built upon a bank of public trust and I will ensure transparency in the agency’s operations and a commitment to building community partnerships.”
Mayor Fonzie Flowers shared, “I think Mr. Whitley will bring a valuable array of skills to the department that will strengthen its ability to make Youngsville a safe and exciting place to live.” He went on to add, “And, I want to underscore my appreciation for the stalwart efforts of Interim Chief Kimball, Captain Magsi, and the entire department. Their leadership and dedication during this time of transition have propelled the department in the right direction and have forged a cohesive team of competent professionals.”
Mr. Whitley is slated to be privately sworn-in and assumes the chief role on December 2, 2019. The town will hold a public swearing-in ceremony during its regular board of commissioners meeting on Thursday, December 12, 2019, where all members of the public are welcome.
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Youngsville-Police.png265504WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2019-11-19 16:52:442019-11-19 16:52:44After Six Month Search, Town of Youngsville Hires Chief of Police
Cardinal Innovations Healthcare is excited to announce the launch of a new, more responsive, and solution-focused community governance structure. The Regional Health Council model brings together members, families, providers, and community stakeholders to collectively identify challenges and priorities, share best practices, and ultimately create positive change.
The model is comprised of four distinct groups that will work together, along with CFAC, to inform and direct activity and provide guidance to the Cardinal Innovations Board of Directors. For an overview of the structure, click here.
Two of the groups, the Provider Partners Council and the Operations Council, will be filled through our existing Provider Councils and Health Departments, respectively. Applications for the Regional Health Councils and Community Advisory Councils opened November 1, and we ask for your help in recruiting individuals to serve on these important councils.
The governance model will be aligned to four distinct regions comprised of five counties each. The Regional Health Council will bring together individuals from the five (5) counties to discuss and prioritize the needs of those areas, develop a Regional Health Improvement Plan (RHIP), and oversee implementation of the plan. More specific information about the requirements for this group can be found here.
The RHC will meet quarterly. Members will be selected by the Cardinal Innovations Healthcare Board of Directors during the December 2019 Board Meeting. Individuals wishing to join the RHC can fill out an application here. Applications are due no later than 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, November 24.
There will be one (1) Community Advisory Council (CAC) in each county of the Cardinal Innovations Healthcare catchment. The CAC will serve as an avenue for individuals in the community (members, families, providers, and stakeholders) to present the needs of the community to the Regional Health Councils.
Additionally, the CAC will be tasked with completing the goals of the RHIP on the local level. The CAC will meet eight (8) times a year. Voting members will be selected by each local Board of County Commissioners.
Individuals wishing to join the CAC can fill out an application here. Applications are due no later than 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, November 24.
Thank you for your support and assistance as we implement this improved model of governance.
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-Information courtesy Maria Parham Health
Living with joint pain? Join Maria Parham Multispecialty Clinic for a FREE lunch and learn event on Thursday, December 12, 2019, at Johnny Bull’s Steakhouse in Louisburg. The event will be held from 11:30 a.m. until 1 p.m.
Come hear from Dr. Darius A. Divina, orthopedic surgeon, on how to get back into the swing of life with treatment options for joint pain.
Topics of discussion will include:
What is osteoarthritis?
What causes joint pain?
Treatment options
Recovery process
Johnny Bull’s Steakhouse is located at 32 Golden Leaf Dr. in Louisburg, NC.
VGCC Drama is excited to present Appalachian Geisha December 6 through December 8, 2019, at VGCC’s Main Campus.
This presentation represents a first of its kind collaboration across the North Carolina Community College System. Three Colleges: Vance-Granville Community College, Catawba Valley Community College, and Wake Technical Community College are joining forces to stage this regional premiere. The play—written by Kim Stinson, Director of AFA Theatre and a Professor at Catawba Valley Community College in Hickory—will be staged five times over three days.
Front row: (left to right) Rose O’Malley, Blake Lee, Mary Parish, and Rebekah Varker; Middle Row (left to right): Kathleen Zoldos, Brian Johnson, Ashley Asycue, and Lane Wade; Back Row: (left to right): Daniel Thorpe, Savannah Morgan, Ronnie Brodie, Amanda Cease, and Matthew Varker (VGCC photo)
Performances will begin at 7:30 p.m. on December 6 and 7, with matinees at 2 p.m. on December 7 and 8. There is a special campus matinee on December 6 at 3 p.m. All performances will be in the small auditorium, in Building 2, on the Henderson campus.
Betsy Henderson, director of the show and department chair of Fine Arts and Humanities at VGCC, also serves as Vice-President on the NCCCS AFA Association Board of Directors with Stinson and Lauren La May of Wake Tech. Together, they have worked alongside university partners to draft Comprehensive Articulation Agreements for the AFA Theatre degree for both the UNC system and Independent colleges. This working relationship is where an idea to collaborate across colleges was born.
Stinson, a BFA graduate of North Carolina School of the Arts, also holds an MA in Theatre from Miami University and an MFA in Playwriting from Spalding University. Kim is also a member of the Dramatist Guild, and an award-winning, published playwright.
Geisha was born out of Stinson’s own personal experiences, “Many years ago, I worked with a woman who never wanted to leave home. She didn’t enjoy traveling and had absolutely no desire to go anywhere. That way of thinking seemed so strange to me. I wanted to explore the way that someone else’s mind worked. At the same time, my love for other cultures always drew me to Asia and Asian theatre styles.” Stinson added, “Appalachian Geisha started as my creative thesis for my MFA in Playwriting degree and has grown and changed in subsequent versions. It is a work in which I explore combining western and eastern cultures, along with writing a main character who is so incredibly different from me, in an attempt to understand my former co-worker.”
Lauren La May, a BA graduate in Theatre Design and Production from UNC Asheville, also holds an MA in Theatre from the University of Toronto, and a PhD in Theatre from the University of Georgia. Currently, she is a Theatre Instructor within the Communications and Theatre Department at Wake Tech Community College.
La May began working as a dramaturge while at the University of Georgia. After receiving her doctorate, she gained a position with Virginia Stage Company in their educational division to create curriculum and study guides for shows. Le May says, “Through Dramaturgy, I get to continue in my love of history and research while working with playwrights, directors, actors and designers. I love the chance to work with a production team again and am excited for this collaboration with my colleagues from other community colleges.”
Henderson was interested in giving VGCC drama students the opportunity to work so closely with a playwright and dramaturge, and to have these theatre professionals be a part of the rehearsal process. “Not many young actors get to have such an experience,” says Henderson. Both Stinson and La May will also be attending performances of Geisha, where they will take part in a talk-back discussion enabling audiences to ask questions of the cast, crew, playwright, and dramaturge. Talkback discussions will occur immediately following the Friday and Saturday evening performances and there is no extra charge for the audience to attend.
The cast and crew are comprised of both VGCC and Early College students (Vance and Warren Counties). Actors include Savannah Morgan, Brian Johnson, Mary Parish, Rose O’Malley, Daniel Thorpe, Kathleen Zoldos, Blake Lee, and Ashley Ayscue. Brother and sister Matthew and Rebekah Varker serve as Stage Managers.
The production crew includes Lane Wade, Josh Nehy, Ronnie Brodie, Tre’quan Johnson, and Amanda Cease.
Admission is $15 for the general public and $10 for students and VGCC employees. Tickets may be purchased at the door, but attendees are encouraged to secure their seats by purchasing tickets online. Tickets can be purchased at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/appalachian-geisha-tickets-80859983387
For more information, contact Betsy Henderson at (252) 738-3371, or hendersonb@vgcc.edu.
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/VGCC-Appalachian-Geisha-Cast.png265504WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2019-11-13 16:56:102019-11-13 16:56:10VGCC Drama to Present ‘Appalachian Geisha’ Dec 6-8
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-Information courtesy the Town of Louisburg
The Town of Louisburg will host the 2019 Christmas Parade in downtown Louisburg on Sunday, December 8 from 3 until 5 p.m.
Parade entry begins at the intersection of North Main Street and Smoketree Way. The parade will move south on Main Street, continue past Louisburg College, and turn onto Wade Avenue/Johnson Street for disbandment.
Applications to participate in the parade are now being accepted. Interested participants should submit their application by mail or drop off at the Town of Louisburg at 110 West Nash Street, Louisburg, NC 27549.
Entries postmarked by November 20 will be considered for inclusion based on the number of entries needed for each category. Accepted entrants will be notified prior to the parade.
For additional information on the parade, including cost, float requirements and drop off/unloading instructions, please click here.
https://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Louisburg-Christmas-Parade.png265504WIZS Staffhttps://wizs.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/wizswebsitelogoimage.pngWIZS Staff2019-11-11 16:56:582019-11-11 16:56:58Town of Louisburg Will Host 2019 Christmas Parade Sun. Dec. 8
