Tasker Fleming, host of The Front Porch Bluegrass Show on WIZS, joins The Local Skinny! to talk about this year’s Merlefest in Wilkesboro, NC: Who’s playing, when it is, and why you should come.
(Our WIZS written coverage will appear here soon.)
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— Information courtesy of VGCC Public Information Officer Courtney Cissel
VGCC Drama is back on stage this spring with Yasmina Reza’s “God of Carnage,” winner of three 2009 Tony Awards (including Best Play) and the 2009 Olivier Award for Best Comedy.
This internationally acclaimed comedy takes you deep into the most dangerous place on Earth: parenthood. What happens when two sets of parents meet up to deal with the unruly behavior of their children? A calm and rational debate between grown-ups about the need to teach kids how to behave properly, or a hysterical night of name-calling, tantrums, and tears before bedtime? Boys will be boys, but the adults are worse…much worse. “God of Carnage” is a comedy of manners, without the manners.
The student cast includes Annie Walker as Veronica, Jordon Medlin as Michael, Sophie Blair as Annette, and Elijah Moss as Alan. Riley Stone is the stage manager, Isabela De La Joya is assistant stage manager, and Joshua Ramsey serves on the crew. Department Chair Betsy Henderson acts as the play’s director.
The students’ hard work will culminate in four performances:
All shows will take place in the Small Auditorium on Vance-Granville Community College’s Main Campus in Henderson. The venue is located on the lower level of Building 2, which is accessible from the campus courtyard.
Following the Thursday night performance, a special talk-back discussion will be moderated by VGCC sociology professor Leslie Hurt. The conversation will explore the play’s central themes, including conflict, civility, and the complexities of human behavior. Hurt will be joined by members of the cast and crew, who will share insights into their creative process, character development, and the challenges of bringing the production to life. This engaging discussion will offer audience members a deeper understanding of the show while creating an opportunity for meaningful dialogue between performers and the community.
Tickets are on sale now. The cost is $20 for general admission, $15 for seniors/military, and $10 for students and VGCC faculty/staff. Purchase tickets online at www.vgcc.edu/god-of-carnage.
VGCC Drama presents “God of Carnage” by arrangement with Dramatists Play Service. Please be advised that this production contains adult and/or offensive language…and vomit.
To learn more about VGCC Drama or Fine Arts at Vance-Granville Community College, contact Betsy Henderson, Department Chair of Fine Arts & Humanities, at hendersonb@vgcc.edu or 252.738.3371.
People find all kinds of items when they clean out parents’ and grandparents’ attics that can provide insight into bygone times – diaries, vintage clothing and photographs all provide glimpses into the past.
But what about whole communities? Once-vibrant places where folks could go for mail, fabric for new clothes and other provisions?
Communities literally got “on the map” because of post offices, general stores and churches. But road construction and, more importantly in and around the area known as Old Granville County, railroad construction, are what determined a community’s ultimate rise or decline.
WIZS’s Bill Harris and local historian Mark Pace ran through a list of forgotten and almost-forgotten communities, in Thursday’s Around Old Granville segment of TownTalk. Some of those spots in the road are marked with signs – like Huntsville in Granville County – but places like Monroe in the northeast corner of Warren County live on mostly in historical accounts.
This community, named for President James Monroe, got on the proverbial map when a ferry operator named Robinson offered for sale a hundred or so 1/4 -acre lots in that vicinity. He sold a third of them right quick – for the tidy sum of between $35 and $150, Pace said.
The stagecoach stopped there and numerous notables of their day stopped in for visits. There was U.S. Supreme Court Justice John Marshall, for example, and Vice President Aaron Burr, whose name would become forever remembered for killing his political rival Alexander Hamilton in a duel.
There was only one thing missing from Monroe, however, Pace said.
“The railroad didn’t come through,” Pace said. “And that was the end of Monroe.”
As Monroe, went, so went other small communities that started off in relative prosperity but were doomed because the Raleigh & Gaston didn’t come near.
Take Bunn, for instance, in Franklin County. “Old” Bunn is located a little to the east of present-day Bunn. “When the railroad came through, Bunn moved a mile or so to the east, Pace explained.
And then there’s Lynesville, a precursor to Townsville in Vance County. The railroad moved it a little to the west, drying up Lynesville and giving new life to the unincorporated town that remains today.
And before there was Henderson, there was Chalk Level, which boasted a stagecoach stop, a store and more. It was the mid-1830’s when Lewis Reavis gave land for the right-of-way for the railroad that created a dead end for Chalk Level. The train depot was basically in Reavis’s front yard, Pace said. The advent of the railroad created economic prosperity for what would become Henderson and signal a death knell for Chalk Level.
There are still signs for Tally Ho in Granville County, and there’s a Tally-Ho Road, but when the Stem family gave land for the railroad, Tally Ho died off while the town of Stem gained traction.
Before there was an Oxford, there was a community called Harrisburg, Pace said. Harrisburg played a role during the American Revolution as a gathering point for American supplies.
“As early as 1759 Harrisburg was as large and important as Williamsboro,” Pace said, referring to the once-prominent Vance County community that also fell victim to the placement of the railroad.
In Harrisburg, there was a post office, a dozen or so houses, a community center and the obligatory horse racing track, Pace said. But its exact location wasn’t really clear – until recently. He said thanks to some metal detection work and studied of historical records and deeds, Harrisburg was situated in the general area between the Oxford exits 204 and 206 along I-85.
The community of Letha south of Rocky Ford in Franklin County had a post office from 1890 to 1910. There also was Whitaker’s Mill, as well as a store and perhaps a community cemetery.
“The mill no longer stands,” Harris said, “but you can still see evidence of where the mill was. It’s one of the prettiest areas of Franklin County.”
Most likely it was the mill closing that sent Letha into relative obscurity.
Up in northern Granville County, in the Cornwall community, there was Big Rock. It had a post office from 1885 until the mid-1930’s, Pace said.
When he went off in search of any evidence of the place, Pace said he had to travel several miles through the woods on an ATV.
What did he find? Nothing really was left, he said.
Except, you guessed it – the big rock.
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Triangle North Healthcare Foundation has established two scholarships – one for high school students heading to college and one for individuals already working in the health care field who are pursuing health-care degrees.
The Foundation is seeking students whose academic plans align with the TNHF mission – to encourage, support and invest in quality efforts that measurably improve health in the Triangle North region and a vision to live in a healthy community, according to information from TNHF Executive Director Paul Ross.
Each high school in the TNHF region, which includes Franklin, Granville, Vance and Warren counties, will select one student to nominate for the TNHF scholarship. From this pool of applicants, the Foundation’s Scholarship Committee will select one individual from each county to receive a $4,000 scholarship.
Preference will be given to students who plan to major in a health-related field. Scholarship applications must be submitted to the school counselors by May 1, 2026.
Requirements for the scholarship recipients include:
Triangle North Healthcare Foundation’s Board of Directors also will award a $25,000 scholarship to an individual currently working in health care and currently enrolled in health degree programs for associate degrees or higher.
The recipient must meet the following requirements:
Applications are available online at http://www.tnhfoundation.org/ after April 1,2026.
Based in Henderson, Triangle North Healthcare Foundation is a regional healthcare foundation, which was established in November 2011 after Maria Parham Medical Center merged with the for-profit Duke LifePoint organization. The Foundation’s grants and scholarships are made possible by the endowment that was created from the assets of the former nonprofit hospital.
— Information from Duke Energy
The Duke Energy Foundation is committing $500,000 in grants to support local storm preparedness across North Carolina. Eligible organizations can apply for grants of up to $25,000 now through April 30, 2026 by visiting the Duke Energy Foundation website.
Successful applications will describe pressing local preparedness needs and how the organization(s) will use the funds, according to information from Beth Townsend, Duke Energy East Region’s director of Government and Community Relations.
Examples of potential, successful proposals include:
The application website includes information on qualifications, registering through Benevity, and step-by-step instructions. However, if you have any questions, please contact Sue Mills at sue.mills@duke-engery.com.
The whole state of North Carolina is under a burn ban until further notice because of the increase risk of wildfire because of drought conditions and windy weather.
“With drought severity across the state, forecast fire weather and the potential for limited rainfall, it is critical to reduce the number of new fire starts,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “Vegetative fuels will dry rapidly, and with the amount of fuel loading in the mountains and drought impacts statewide, a burn ban for all 100 counties is necessary to reduce the number of wildfires across our landscape. Please follow this burn ban to help reduce the risk for everyone.”
Under North Carolina law, the ban prohibits all open burning statewide, regardless of whether a permit was previously issued. The issuance of any new permits has also been suspended until the ban is lifted. Anyone violating the burn ban faces a $100 fine plus $183 court costs. Any person responsible for setting a fire may be liable for any expenses related to extinguishing the fire.
The burn ban does not apply to fires started within 100 feet of an occupied dwelling. The local fire marshal has authority to issue a burn ban within those 100 feet.
Local fire departments and law enforcement officers are assisting the N.C. Forest Service in enforcing the burn ban.
The N.C. Forest Service will continue to monitor conditions. Residents with questions regarding a specific county can contact their N.C. Forest Service county ranger or their county fire marshal’s office.
FAQ’s
Q: What is open burning?
A: Open burning includes burning leaves, branches or other plant material. In all cases, burning trash, lumber, tires, newspapers, plastics or other nonvegetative material is illegal.
Q: May I still use my grill or barbecue?
A: Yes, if no other local ordinances prohibit their use.
Q: Can I still use my fire pit or fireplace outdoors?
A: More than 100 feet from an occupied dwelling, fire pits, outdoor fireplaces, and burning barrels are considered open burning and are subject to the burn ban. Within 100 feet of an occupied dwelling, local government agencies have jurisdiction over open burning. All local outdoor burning bans are set independently. The N.C. Forest Service has advised county fire marshals of this ban, and they have been asked to also consider implementing a burn ban. Check with county fire marshals about local restrictions.
Q: Can I have a campfire when I go camping?
A: Campfires would be considered open burning and are not exempt from the burn ban. During a burn ban, portable gas stoves or grills are alternate methods for cooking food while camping.
Q: Can I use fireworks during a burn ban?
A: Fireworks and other pyrotechnic devices are prohibited during a burn ban and are not allowed in any county while the burn ban is in effect.
Q: How should I report a wildfire?
A: Call 911 to report a wildfire.
Q: How should I report a person who intentionally starts a wildfire?
A: Call 911 to report a wildfire.
Q: My local fire marshal has also issued a burn ban for my county. What does this mean?
A: The burn ban issued by the N.C. Forest service does not apply to a fire within 100 feet of an occupied dwelling. Local government agencies have jurisdiction over open burning within 100 feet of an occupied dwelling. The N.C. Forest Service has advised county fire marshals of the burning ban and has asked for their consideration of also implementing a burning ban. If a fire within a 100-foot area of a dwelling escapes containment, a North Carolina forest ranger may take reasonable steps to extinguish or control it. The person responsible for setting the fire may be liable for any expenses related to extinguishing the fire.
Q: Are there other instances which impact open burning?
A: Local ordinances and air quality regulations may impact open burning. For instance, outdoor burning is prohibited in areas covered by Code Orange or Code Red air quality forecasts. Learn more about air quality forecasts on the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality’s website.
Q: What can I do to protect my house against the risk of wildfire?
A: Learn about wildfire risk assessments, preparedness and prevention plans on the following N.C. Forest Service webpages: Wildland Urban Interface and Resist Wildfire.
— From Granville County Public Information Officer Terry Hobgood
The Granville County Social Services Board recently voted to appoint Interim Director Vanness Taylor as the permanent Director of the Granville County Department of Social Services. Taylor was officially appointed to the permanent role on March 15, 2026, after serving as Interim Director since October 2025. Taylor has more than 14 years of experience, having previously worked for departments of social services in Granville, Durham and Warren counties.
Taylor was chosen to serve as director of the Department of Social Services following a national recruitment search with executive recruitment and assessment firm, Developmental Associates, LLC. The intense and rigorous process consisted of multiple rounds of interviews with county staff and members of the Social Services Board, as well as assessment testing exercises conducted by other social services and local government professionals from across the state.
Taylor has served Granville County DSS for more than three years as Interim Director, Deputy Director, Adult Medicaid Supervisor, as well as other roles within the economic services and quality assurance divisions.
“We are excited to welcome Mrs. Taylor as Director of the Department of Social Services,” said Social Services Board Chair Ernestine Howard. “While serving as Interim Director, she gained the trust and respect of the employees here, and she seems to be the perfect fit for the agency. Mrs. Taylor scored extremely well during the verbal, written, and interview process, which solidified our final decision to promote her to this new role. It is especially gratifying to promote from within the agency. We are looking forward to a long-lasting relationship between Mrs. Taylor and Granville County DSS.”
“I am truly excited and humbled by the trust placed in me to continue leading Granville County DSS,” said Taylor. “I will work each day to make a meaningful difference for those we serve here in Granville County with integrity, transparency, and compassion.”
A native of Warren County, Taylor graduated from Warren County High School and currently resides in Vance County with her husband, Travis, and their two children, Zoe and Cairo. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and sociology from North Carolina Wesleyan College, as well as a master’s degree in social work from N.C. Central University and a master’s degree in human services from Walden University.
Over the past few months, the Henderson-Oxford Airport has gotten a $9.4 million infusion of local, state and federal funds to make some major upgrades and renovations to its facility, located just inside Granville County.
At its Mar. 16 meeting, the Granville County Board of Commissioners OK’d $300,000 for a water infrastructure project that will bring municipal water to the airport.
Tack on $232,500 in state funds for a taxiway project and an earlier half a million dollars from the state for the water project and it all adds up to significant improvements to the airport, located 10 miles northwest of the City of Henderson and about five miles from Oxford.
Back in December 2025, the NCDOT Division of Aviation notified HNZ Chairman David Thomas, Henderson’s board appointee, that the airport had been approved for $8.8 million for the airport’s taxiway relocation project. Then in February, another $600,000 from the Golden LEAF Foundation came through for the water main extension project.
“We are very appreciative that the Division of Aviation has recognized HNZ’s contribution to the state aviation system and seen fit to partner with us on the funding the taxiway relocation,” Thomas stated. “The financial support from the federal, state, and Granville County government, as well as the Golden LEAF Foundation, will get a great deal of work done in improving our airport.”
Granville County Commissioner Rob Williford represents the district in which the airport is located. “We believe in the airport’s potential, and we believe in our county and in our region,” Williford said. “This investment in getting water to the airport isn’t just a water project; it’s an investment in the economic development of Granville County and the Kerr-Tar region.”
“Both of these projects are building blocks for us,” commented Jon Carver, the Authority’s vice-chair and the Granville County appointee to the Authority’s board. “This funding helps kick start a capital improvement program that includes a new FBO and a lot more hangar space for more diverse and larger aircraft.”
“The expansion potential at HNZ is exciting. We just needed this 12” line and now we have it. We’re ready to grow our business presence at HNZ,” said Carver.
Officially titled “the Aeronautics Authority of the City of Henderson, City of Oxford, County of Granville, and County of Vance”, the HNZ Authority was enabled by state legislation introduced in 1945. The Authority is a partnership between the City of Oxford, Granville County, the City of Henderson, and Vance County; each entity appoints a member to the HNZ authority board.
Construction began at the airport in 1966, and it became fully operational in 1971. By 1982, the original 3500′ runway had been extended to 5,002′ and lighting was added to the runway and taxiway. In 2014, the runway and taxiway were extended to 5501’x100′. In 2020, T-Hangar “A” was constructed.
HNZ handles more than 25,000 annual operations. HNZ and the woman- and family-owned fixed base operator offer aircraft hangar and tie-down rentals, fuel services, aircraft maintenance and safety support, corporate and business aviation operations, community engagement activities and youth aviation exposure. The private business, Empire Aviation Flight School, located at HNZ in 2009 and offers private pilot training (including ground school), discovery flights, and leisure flights.
For more information about HNZ, visit www.flyHNZ.com.
(The text of this story was originally posted March 20, 2026.)
The Vance-Granville Community College Foundation wine gala is scheduled for Saturday, April 11 at High Rock Farm on Enon Road in Oxford. Proceeds from the event will help students facing financial emergencies.
Attendees will get a souvenir wine glass and the chance to sample wines from different wineries while enjoying foods that pair well with each variety.
There’s a silent auction – bidding is done online – with auction items that include vacation packages, as well as cornhole boards and chairs from the VGCC carpentry classes and other items from the school’s culinary and cosmetology departments, just to name a few.
Tickets are $75 each and may be purchased through The Vance-Granville Community College Foundation office. Only 150 tickets will be sold, so get yours now! Purchase tickets online at https://www.vgcc.edu/the-vgcc-foundation-online-gifts/. Put “gala” in the comments section and indicate how you would like to receive your tickets, said Angela Douglas, food pantry assistant administrative assistant for the Foundation.
VGCC Foundation Director Tanya Weary and Associate Director Sheri Jones say it’s important to be able to assist students when things come up that prove to be barriers to their education. In addition to administering more than 350 scholarships each year, students also have access to a food pantry, a clothing closet and can ask for help to cover unforeseen costs that pose barriers to attending class.
There’s even a program with KARTS to provide transportation to and from campus if transportation is needed.
“It’s a great night for a great cause,” Weary said. Current VGCC students will be on hand to share their stories about how these extra resources have helped them along the way.
Email foundation@vgcc.edu or call 252.738.3264 to purchase tickets or to learn more.
The annual Granville Gardeners’ Expo is less than a month away, and Vendor Coordinator Christi Henthorn said this year’s event features educational workshops, vendors, local handcrafted items as well as the plants, vegetables, herbs and more for gardeners to scoop up and add to their own landscapes.
The expo will be on Saturday, April 18 at the Granville County Convention & Expo Center from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
More than 85 vendors will fill the indoor and outdoor spaces of the expo center that day, but there’s room for just a few more. “We’re spread out all over the grounds,” Henthorn said on Tuesday’s segment of The Local Skinny!
In years past, the education workshops were held inside the convention center, but this year, they’ll be integrated among the vendors and plants, sharing their knowledge about diverse topics ranging from gardening as therapy for anxiety and depression and incorporating native plants into the landscape to bird feeders, bees and pollinators and making herbal teas and breads.
Henthorn said she’d recommend bringing a wagon to make your shopping experience more enjoyable. You can fill that wagon with plants, unique arts and crafts items and more, she said. Most vendors are equipped to take electronic payments, she added.
Members of the Master Gardeners will be on hand to talk about “victory” gardens and there will be Earth Day activities taking place during the day as well. A raffle full of great prizes has been organized to support the Gardeners’ annual scholarship.
Add a fleet of food trucks, stocked with yummy food and treats, and you’ve got a full day of fun for the whole family.
Indeed, Henthorn said the Gardeners’ Expo is a family-friendly event. Last year’s expo had more than 2,200 in attendance and this year’s event is shaping up to top that number.
“Our plants are generally all organic,” Henthorn said. They’re either grown locally at a couple of different nearby nurseries, or they come straight out of the gardens of Granville Gardener members.
An online shopping list of some of the available plants and herbs is available at https://thegranvillegardeners.org/?page_id=1820, and Henthorn said many additional plants will be for sale on Expo day. If you place an online order, pickup will take place in a drive-thru line that takes you to the back side of the covered arena behind the Expo Center.
If you’d like to volunteer to help at the Expo, or if you’d like to rent a vendor spot or become an event sponsor, visit the Eventeny website at https://www.eventeny.com/events/granville-gardeners-expo-2026-25336/.
Learn more about the Granville Gardeners Club at https://thegranvillegardeners.org/
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