Zeb Vance Ruritan Club Boston Butts for Easter 2018

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— submitted by Edward Woodlief

The Zeb Vance Ruritan Club will be cooking and selling BOSTON BUTTS for EASTER. Pre-sale only $25.00. Orders must be in by Sunday March 25th . They will be ready for pick-up Good Friday March 30th , from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Bearpond Fire Department parking lot at 325 Bearpond Rd. in Henderson. Contact any Ruritan member or phone 252-767-4044.

Proceeds to benefit local student scholarships and club projects.

(WIZS Radio and WIZS.com will be glad to make just such an announcement for your non-profit, church or civic club.  Please fill out the form at https://wizs.com/psas/ to have your Public Service Announcement aired and published or email johncharles@wizs.com for more information.)

Union Chapel United Methodist Church Stew 4-7-18

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The fine folks and excellent cooks of Union Chapel United Methodist Church are about to cook some more delicious stew.

Edward Woodlief submitted the following announcement:

The Methodist Men of Union Chapel United Methodist Church, 6535 Raleigh Road, are having their Stew Sale, Saturday, April 7. $8.00 per quart. Orders are pre-sell only: You can place your order by phoning John Frazier at 252-438-7788. Stew orders will be ready for pickup at the church in Kittrell from 9 a.m. to 12 noon.

(WIZS Radio and WIZS.com will be glad to make just such an announcement for your non-profit, church or civic club.  Please fill out the form at https://wizs.com/psas/ to have your Public Service Announcement aired and published or email johncharles@wizs.com for more information.)

Granville Alive After Five 2018

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— press release

ALIVE AFTER FIVE 2018
GRANVILLE COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
~ 15th YEAR ~

The Board of Directors of the Granville County Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the dates, locations and bands for the three 2018 events.

Beginning May 10th in downtown Oxford’s parking lot between Main and Gilliam Streets, the first Alive After Five will feature “Gary Lowder and Smokin’ Hot” Band.

On Thursday, August 16th, “The Konnection Band” will be entertainers for the second concert in Butner at the Gazebo Park, Central Avenue, Butner.

Completing the season will be “Jim Quick and Coastline Band” in Oxford on September 13th. All events are held from 5:30 ’til 8:30 pm.

This is the fifteenth year that the Chamber has organized Alive After Five events for the public. In 2004 there was one Alive After Five in September. The following year, there were two held – May and September. Since 2005, the May and September events have been held in Oxford and the August event has rotated between Butner and Creedmoor.

The continued sponsorships of local businesses and industries enable the Chamber to provide these community-oriented gatherings. Businesses interested in sponsorship opportunities may contact the Chamber for sponsorship levels and perks. Also, each event requires approximately 60 volunteers, who receive a complimentary volunteer t-shirt. Anyone interested in sponsoring and/or volunteering should contact either of the Chamber’s offices – 919.528.4994 or 919.693.6125.

Altec of Creedmoor to VGCC Endowment Fund

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— photo and information courtesy of VGCC

Altec Industries of Creedmoor recently made a contribution to the Vance-Granville Community College Endowment Fund to serve as the afternoon round sponsor for the upcoming 34th Annual Endowment Fund Golf Tournament. VGCC Endowment Director Eddie Ferguson, South Campus Dean Cecilia Wheeler and Endowment Specialist Kay Currin accepted the sponsorship from Altec Human Resources Manager Jeff Tingen and Patrick Wooten, General Manager for the Creedmoor location. Pictured above, from left, are Ferguson, Wheeler, Tingen, Wooten and Currin. Wooten noted that, as the Creedmoor facility continues to expand, he looks forward to continuing to grow Altec’s partnership with the community college. The company is a longtime supporter of the golf tournament and partners with VGCC programs related to advanced manufacturing, including Welding and Mechatronics Engineering Technology. Altec is a leading provider of products and services to the electric utility, telecommunications, tree care, lights and signs, and contractor markets.

The Golf Tournament is scheduled to be held on Tuesday, May 1, 2018, at the Henderson Country Club. For more information, call (252) 738-3409.

–VGCC–

News 03/20/18

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Vance County Board of Education Approves School Consolidations

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Vance County Board of Education Approves School Consolidations

— The Following is a Press Release from Vance County Schools:

The Vance County Board of Education approved at its March 19 meeting a plan to combine the middle schools and the high schools for the 2018-2019 school year.

With the board’s action, Eaton-Johnson and Henderson middle schools will be combined and serve middle school students in the facility currently housing Northern Vance High School and Northern Vance and Southern Vance high schools will be combined to serve high school students in the facility currently housing Southern Vance High School next school year.

In January, members of the Board of Education directed the superintendent and school system staff members to seek community input on a potential facilities consolidation plan for the current, traditional middle and high schools. Discussion of consolidation became necessary as the result of several years of declining student enrollment across the district and the need to improve the efficiency and financial sustainability of school operations.

Since early January, over 25 meetings have been held with community stakeholders to seek input on the feasibility of combining the schools and their programs. School officials have heard from over 500 people in the local community with their attendance at community conversations, through email responses and an online survey with school system employees.

The feedback received during community meetings has been extremely informative as to what the public expects from its public schools and their services and programs for students. The majority of the feedback from parents, students, school system employees, elected officials, business leaders and local residents has been in favor of combining the schools.

The board is expected to review and approve a detailed implementation plan to accomplish combining the schools at its April meeting.

To address the concerns voiced during the community meetings about school safety, an ad hoc committee from the local community will be established to develop recommendations for board consideration.

“I am pleased with the board’s decision tonight and applaud them for their courage and willingness to do what’s right for students,” Superintendent Anthony D. Jackson said. “We have lots to do. Exciting times and great things are ahead.”

City of Henderson Logo

City of Henderson Updates (March 2018)

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By: Kelly Bondurant, Freelance Writer/Editor for Hire

Garry Daeke, a 13-year member of the Henderson City Council, recently spoke on air with WIZS to answer questions and provide listeners with City of Henderson updates.

Breckenridge Pavilion:

The proposed Breckenridge Pavilion, to be located near the Henderson Police Department, will serve as the last piece of the overall Breckenridge Commons project and as the corner piece of the block.

According to Daeke, the importance of the project has led the City to reexamine best practices to ensure a satisfactory final result.

“We had gotten some initial startup on the pavilion last year and we thought it would be going very quickly, but as we looked at it further, we decided that we really needed to do some landscaping on that lot,” said Daeke. “We decided that we need a landscape architect to give us a layout for the whole activity.”

While no date has been set for estimated completion, the City expects to receive the architect’s layout in the next few weeks.

“It will certainly cost a little more to complete, but we decided that we needed to do this right,” Daeke said.

Former Bank Building in Downtown Henderson:

Daeke said that while a few people have expressed interest in the vacant former bank building in the downtown area, none have been completely willing to follow the building covenants.

“The City really wants to maintain the façade; however, not everyone wanted to maintain the façade or keep the old architecture,” said Daeke.

Additional covenants include maintaining the lobby area of the building and maintaining and utilizing the vault in some way.

The building is currently for sale.

City of Henderson Tax Base:

The City’s tax base has remained stagnant over the past decade, especially in regards to residential growth.

“The tax base hasn’t grown at all like we’d like for it to grow, especially residential. We aren’t building many houses inside the City limits,” Daeke said.

Daeke also sees future potential issues with a stagnant tax base and the City budget. “We have to plan for reoccurring expenses,” said Daeke. “We gave raises [to City employees] last year and we love to be able to do that, but that’s a cost every year down the road. If you don’t have growth, where do you find the money?”

Fire Department:

According to Daeke, the City has known for years that there is a need to realign the two existing fire stations and add a third station.

“Some businesses have come in on both ends of town and wanted to be annexed,” Daeke said. “We did that, but it is a little problematic in that we then stretch our service base. The police and fire department have to respond farther out to the east and the west.”

Currently, a new fire engine is being custom built for the City to the tune of $560,000. The engine takes approximately one year to build and is on the City’s budget for the next fiscal year.

Daeke credits Fire Chief Steve Cordell and his men for doing a great job with the resources they have available, “Chief Cordell does an excellent job with the fire department. We’ve got some excellent young men working there. They are always training and are on spot every time they’re called. We are really proud of them.”

Other Miscellaneous Items:

  • The recent inclement weather has delayed the demolition of the former Abagayle’s Books building, but the project is expected to be completed soon.
  • The City is currently discussing a redevelopment plan. “We want to layout a redevelopment plan to highlight certain areas where we would like to see growth as well as open it up for investment in other areas,” said Daeke.
  • Turnover in the fire departments and police departments is an ongoing concern. According to Daeke, it has become increasingly difficult for the City to compete with neighboring communities such as Wake Forest and their higher pay rates.
  • Daeke commends new Henderson Downtown Development Director Kaine Riggan, “I think Kaine Riggan is doing a great job. He’s got a lot of experience and a lot of energy. He thinks outside of the box and I’m excited about all of the things he is going to pull together.”

Daeke will be back on the air with WIZS in the next three months to provide additional City of Henderson and Henderson City Council updates.

 

Community Partnership for Pets Continues Local Support (March 2018)

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Frankie Nobles, chief of Vance County Animal Services, informed WIZS News of additional support from Community Partnership for Pets.

In a press release, Nobles said, “Vance County Animal Services is pleased to announce that they are a recipient of a $5,000.00 Spay/Neuter Grant from Community Partnership for Pets.”

The grant was applied for on March 12, 2018 and will be used for:

Spay/Neuter for citizens in the community who are considering adopting pets from Vance County Animal Shelter.

Free spay/neuter for pets that have been at the shelter for an extended period of time and are deemed for rescue only.

Nobles said in the press release, “These funds will be a great help to getting animals out of the shelter. We anticipate with this assistance more citizens will be able to adopt and more rescue organizations will be interested in rescuing the animals from Vance County.”

Oxford Prep Receives USDA Funding for School Facility Acquisition

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Executive Director Andrew Swanner, of Oxford Prepartory School, issued the following press release:

Oxford Prep Receives USDA Funding for School Facility Acquisition

Oxford Preparatory School (OPS), a free public charter school expanding to serve 6th-12th grades in Oxford, recently completed a real estate closing with a low cost loan from the USDA. After moving into the permanent school facility, located at 6041 Landis Rd. in Oxford, the OPS Board pursued a direct loan from the USDA’s Community Facilities Program. The long-term and low interest financing from the USDA, allowed the school to purchase the 11 acres and 38,000 square foot facility on campus.

“We are grateful for the assistance the USDA has provided,” OPS Executive Director, Andrew Swanner remarked. “This low cost loan will allow us to make additional investments in the classroom to further our mission of preparing all students for success in college.”

Franklin County Sheriff

Johnston Co. Resident Arrested in Franklin County – Suspect in Shooting

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— press release from the Office of Franklin County Sheriff Kent D. Winstead

(Franklin County Sheriff Office Photo)

On March 19, 2018, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office Investigative Unit arrested Dustin Gregory Oldham, a Johnston County resident. Dustin Gregory Oldham was charged with one (1) count of Discharging a Weapon into an Occupied Vehicle Inflicting Serious Injury and two (2) counts of Assault with a Deadly Weapon with Intent to Kill Inflicting Serious Injury.

These incidents are alleged to have occurred during the night of March 18, 2018 on Pearces Road in Franklin County, NC.

Dustin Gregory Oldham is currently being held in the Franklin County Detention Center under a $250,000 secured bond.

Dustin Gregory Oldham
2038 Brogden Road Apt. B
Smithfield, NC

This matter remains under investigation and no further information will be released at this time. If anyone should have any additional information pertaining to this investigation, please call Detective Garrett Stanly at 919-340-4310.