TownTalk: ‘Way To Grow Fest’ Continues With Weeklong Activities

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The weeklong Way to Grow fest, in full swing in Henderson and Vance County, is shaping up to provide the community with a variety of ways to come together and support the place we call home.

At Monday’s community block parties, folks gathered at several different spots to share an easy meal and let the kids play together, conjuring up feelings of nostalgia for Tracy Mosley, director of Helping All People Excel.

When she was a child, cookouts and playing with other kids in the community all summer long were routine; it’s less so nowadays, but the Way to Grow festival is creating opportunities for children to play together and find things in common with one another instead of focusing on differences.

Mosley spoke with WIZS News Tuesday and outlined the rest of the week’s activities, leading up to the culminating street festival Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The block parties Monday “set the stage” for the rest of the week, Mosley said. “The energy is good; the vibe is great!”

Tuesday marks the launch of “Buy Local, Build Local,” a campaign that supports local businesses.  Patrons download an app on their phone and earn points or credits for shopping local.

It’s important to support small businesses and entrepreneurs, she said, but for small business owners to be successful, the whole economy around them has to be strong.

Wednesday is all about the S-Line, with a focus on what the future holds for Henderson and Vance County as plans progress to return passenger rail service to the area. Thursday brings a focus on the arts and Friday’s theme is college and careers. Come out to Southern Charm between 12 noon and 4 p.m. for Friday’s information about college and careers.

“We were very intentional about how we built this week,” Mosley said. From small business and economic development to education and the arts, the Way to Grow Fest offers a glimpse into what a future could look like when different sectors of the community come together for a common goal: helping each other to be better.

“The whole week is designed to be what we want it to be,” Mosley said, “to help Henderson and Vance County grow in the right direction.”

Visit www.waytogrowfest.com to learn more.

Saturday’s daylong festival in downtown Henderson has grown from last year. Last year, the festival stopped at Orange Street, but this year stretches one block further to include more buildings on the far end of Garnett Street, Mosley explained.

There will be more vendors and food trucks, participating shops and resource tables available for folks to enjoy, but if you don’t do anything else, Mosley said bring the kids to the Youth Village.

“They are the future of this community,” she said.

“For them to get together and get to know one another and learn how to work with each other now while they’re younger and learn that they have more in common than not, because at some point they’re going to leave this community and it’s our job to make sure that they’re getting everything that they need to be the best leaders that they can be. It’s truly a chance to invest in your future,” she said.

Learn more about Gateway CDC at www.thegatewaycdc.org

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Cooperative Extension with Michael Ellington: Pesticide Applicator License Process

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Michael Ellington, on the Vance County Cooperative Extension Report:

This segment covers a recent change in the pesticide applicator license process and offers a reminder for upcoming pesticide trainings and a fall vegetable class.

Listen live at 100.1 FM / 1450 AM / or on the live stream at WIZS.com at 11:50 a.m. Mon, Tues & Thurs.

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TownTalk: Franklin-Vance-Warren Launches $3M Jubilee Center Project

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Franklin-Vance-Warren Opportunity, Inc. occupies the red brick building with the low profile up on the hill at 180 S. Beckford Dr. Through its efforts over the course of the last 60 years, FVWOPP has woven itself into the fabric of the communities it serves.

From this location, FVWOPP interacts with the community through a variety of programs that benefit pre-school age children all the way up to senior adults. The building began as Jubilee Hospital, and once served as Henderson City Hall.

By the time Abdul Sm Rasheed joined about five years ago as FVW’s CEO and senior advisor to the board, he said the first thing they had to do was fix the roof.

Community leaders gathered on Aug. 5 to launch a $3 million Jubilee Center renovation and transformation of the property, which includes much more than fixing a leaky roof. And Rasheed said it’s one way to give the facility new life by embracing its history and the role it played locally, statewide and beyond.

“We’re hoping that as we give the Jubilee facility new life,” Rasheed explained, “it will give inspiration, particularly to our young people in our community, and have them see how the future can look.”

“This project really grows out of my love for my community,” he said. “I love my community…I’m a product of this community and not a victim of all the history that some of us may want to point to and embrace. I’d rather embrace the triumphs of our community, and I consider what we are trying to do today with the Jubilee Center is a triumph that we want to announce to the world.”

The artist renderings of the project reflect the idea of bringing new life to the building. It’s not a restoration project, but more of a reimagining. Rasheed said the project isn’t abandoning the history, “but we do want to advance the image, the look, hopefully the inspiration that this facility can bring to all citizens of our community and visitors to our community.”

Roy Brown, Jr. is FVWOPP’s media and communications coordinator, and he said the groundbreaking event “Celebrating Triumphs” is bringing FVWOPP into the 21st century. Longtime programs like Head Start and Section 8 housing are making room for new programs like YouthBuild as some of the services that FVW offers.

“We want to present the public something nice,” Brown said. In addition to the outward transformation, there are plans for the building’s interior to honor numerous African Americans who have had a lasting effect on their communities. “It’s inspirational to look at a building, and the history, and where we came from and where we’re going…to inspire change throughout the whole city.”

The bulk of the funding – $2.7 million came from a U.S. Dept. of Agriculture lending program for small, rural communities.

Another $150,000 came from the Cannon Foundation and the roof repairs a few years ago were made possible by a $150,000 loan from First National Bank.

Rasheed’s 40+ years in the area of community development have cemented for him the need for public/private partnerships in projects like this.

“Public/private is the only way to address our major issues in our communities and neighborhoods,” he said.

The Section 8 housing program is sort of like that public/private partnership. The program subsidizes rents for qualified individuals.

Rasheed said it’s a $3 million initiative that brings dollars into the community for residents “to realize stable, safe housing” and pays landlords directly. “That’s a direct investment into local real estate owners,” he said.

The YouthBuild program provides wraparound services for young people 16-24 years who want to get their GED or trade certificate to make themselves employable. Rasheed said the program has helped 65 or so young people so far.

The Early Head Start and Head Start programs may be familiar to many, providing a preschool education experience before kindergarten. There are close to 500 children in both programs, he added.

With a current annual budget of about $12 million, Rasheed said there are more than 100 employees on the FVW payroll. “It has been bringing capital into this community and investing that capital into people to improve themselves and contribute to the health of the community,” he said.

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Free Computer Classes Offered At Warren County Senior Center; Registration Required

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The Warren County Senior Center is the location for Basic and Intermediate Computer Classes beginning on Sept. 16 for county residents who want to learn more about using computers.

The six-week course, taught by an instructor from Vance-Granville Community College, is designed for beginner and intermediate learners, according to information from Warren County.

The course provides a supportive and engaging environment for seniors to build confidence and enhance their computer skills. Whether you are brand new to using a computer or looking to expand your current knowledge, this class offers a great opportunity to learn at your own pace with expert guidance.

Classes will be held every Tuesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 12 noon at the Warren County Senior Center. The class is free, but registration is required. For additional information or registration, contact Senior Center Activity Director Aquayla Lynch at 252.257.3111.

Early registration is recommended – the space is limited to 7 participants.

Mike Waters

The Local Skinny! Dequante Terry Sentenced To Life Without Parole In 2020 Murder

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– Information courtesy of the office of District Attorney Mike Waters

A Vance County man was sentenced to life in prison without parole plus 19 years for the October 2020 murder in Henderson.

During the week of the Aug. 4 session of Vance Criminal Superior trial court, Dequante Jabree Terry was found guilty of first-degree murder, along with a string of additional charges related to an attempted armed robbery on Oct. 13, 2020 at a house on David Street during which Williard Ray Dement, Jr. was shot and killed.

Terry also was found guilty of attempted robbery with a dangerous weapon, assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill inflicting serious injury, assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, and possession of a firearm by a felon.

According to information from the office of District Attorney Mike Waters, during the robbery, Terry fired several shots inside of the residence, striking Misty Boyd and Haley Boyd. An unknown assailant outside shot multiple times into the residence and struck Dement, causing his death. Terry was apprehended within a block of the murder scene, with Dement’s DNA on his pants and a 9mm handgun in his pocket. The 9mm weapon was determined by a firearms expert to have been fired inside of the David Street residence.

The Vance County Sheriff’s Office and North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation investigated the case. The State of North Carolina was represented by Assistant District Attorneys Allison Capps and Theodore J. Marsh, Jr. Mr. Terry represented himself.

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Cooperative Extension with Wayne Rowland: Wildlife Habitats

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Wayne Rowland, on the Vance County Cooperative Extension Report:

Wildlife Habitat can be improved on your property when you consider the wildlife you want to attract.

Listen live at 100.1 FM / 1450 AM / or on the live stream at WIZS.com at 11:50 a.m. Mon, Tues & Thurs.

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Warren County Sept. 9 ‘Let’s Talk’ Session Focuses On Entrepreneurs, Small Business

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Warren County residents are invited to join county staff and leaders for a “Let’s Talk” Warren County – Small Business event on Tuesday, Sept. 9, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Buck Spring Park, 217 Nathaniel Macon Drive in Littleton.

This event will give local entrepreneurs, small business owners and those considering starting a business a chance to chat with county Economic Development staff about available resources, support programs and opportunities to help their business grow and thrive.

Light refreshments will be provided, and participants can stop in at any time during the two-hour event to ask questions, share ideas, or simply learn more about doing business in Warren County.

The “Let’s Talk” Warren County series is an initiative spearheaded by the chair of the Warren County board of commissioners, aimed at increasing civic engagement and giving residents a better understanding of local government practices and resources. Each event in the series has focused on a specific topic important to the community, from County Resources to Emergency Preparedness.

“This event will be a great opportunity for our business community and future business owners to have an open conversation with county staff, get connected to resources, and share their vision for Warren County’s economic future,” said Angelena Kearney-Dunlap, chair of the board of commissioners.

For more information, contact Warren County Economic Development at 252.257.3037 or  email meganwilliams@warrencountync.gov.

 

State Health Plan Board Approves Premium Increases For 2026

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 – information from the office of N.C. Treasurer Brad Briner

State Health Plan board of trustees approved Friday a plan that puts into effect higher 2026 health insurance premiums for many active employees on the State Health Plan.

This is the final step in the three-pronged effort to provide financial stability as the Plan faces a half billion-dollar deficit.

The approved premiums include increases for active members and, notably, a cost reduction for some employees who choose to cover children on their plan. To lessen the financial burden on the state’s lowest paid employees, the Plan will be introducing salary-based premiums in 2026.

Health Plan members include teachers, state employees and retirees. Active Plan members have seen little change in premiums or benefits for the last seven years, in part because the Plan used cash reserves to keep premiums flat while the Plan’s costs continued to rise, according to a press release issued Friday by the office of N.C. Treasurer Brad Briner, whose office oversees the health insurance program. Those cash reserves are now nearly depleted, and the current board of trustees was saddled with a $507 million deficit.

The General Assembly approved, and Gov. Josh Stein signed into law, an additional $100 million for 2026 to the Plan. Doctors and health care systems across the state have agreed to reduce their rates for Plan members – doing the same work for less money. The final step came from the Board of Trustees who approved 2026 benefit changes – which it voted on in May – followed by Friday’s vote on premium increases.

“Today’s vote was not easy, but these increases were necessary to keep the Plan solvent and to keep this benefit in place for those that serve and have served the state of North Carolina,” said Briner, who chairs the board. “The goal now is to move forward and focus on ways to improve benefits through transparency and better partnerships and programs to keep our members healthy.”

Plan members will receive more information regarding benefits and premium rates prior to the 2026 Open Enrollment period, which will take place Oct. 13-31, 2025.

The full board presentation, which includes all premium rates approved at today’s meeting is available on the Plan’s website.