Vance Co. Regional Farmers Market

Pat Ayscue Begins Job As Farmers Market Manager

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The Vance County Regional Farmers Market opened for business today with its new manager on board to oversee market operations.

Pat Ayscue is the new market manager, becoming only the second manager at the facility, which opened in 2014.

Ayscue comes to the job with lots of experience, said Paul McKenzie, Vance County extension agent. He spoke with John C. Rose to make the announcement live on WIZS at 11:30 a.m.

Ayscue most recently was the market manager of the Franklin County Farmers Market in Louisburg, McKenzie said. She takes over from Tracy Madigan, who accepted a position with downtown development in Henderson earlier this spring.

McKenzie said visitors to the market, accustomed to a friendly greeting from the market manager, are in for a treat. “Now you’ll have a new smiling face to greet you as you walk in the door,” he said of Ayscue.

Wednesday was her first day on the job in Vance County. “She’s ready to go and take care of the vendors, the customers and do all the things that it takes to keep this facility going … and growing,” McKenzie added.

A market manager’s job is more than being available when the market is open – there’s so much work that goes on behind the scenes, he said. A market manager is always looking for new vendors, processing applications, making sure the facility is well-maintained, and promoting the farmers market in the community and on social media.

The Vance County Regional Farmers Market is open on Wednesdays and Saturdays through the growing season from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The market is located at 210 Southpark Dr., Henderson.

For more information, call 252.598.0814 or email farmersmarket@vancecounty.org.

Heaven Leigh Nelson

TownTalk: July 25 Event To Raise Awareness About Drug Overdose, Help Loved Ones Remember Victims

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Patricia Drewes’ daughter, Heaven, loved to watch the sun come up. And although she was only 5-foot-4, she could play a didgeridoo – a wind instrument that Australian Aboriginal people make out of a long, hollow tree branch – like nobody’s business.

But Heaven died a little more than two years ago, the victim of a lethal drug overdose. Drewes spoke with John C. Rose on Wednesday’s Town Talk about an event set for July 25 to raise awareness about drug addiction and what Drewes calls “drug induced homicide.”

The July event will take place at the Vance County Courthouse from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Drewes said anyone who wants to add a loved one’s name to a banner – that will be displayed at the Henderson event and other events across the state – to contact her via social media or by telephone. “People are adding their loved ones daily,” she said. The deadline to submit names is June 11.

“We are trying to bring awareness to what is going on in our community,” Drewes said, of overdoses and deaths associated with drugs laced with fentanyl. Drewes said her daughter died because what she thought was heroin was actually pure fentanyl.  “When you do that, it’s not an overdose. When you add fentanyl, that changes everything. That’s murder,” she said.

“My child made the choice to do drugs,” Drews said. “But she did not make the choice to die.”

Since her daughter’s death, Drews has worked to raise awareness and help find resources for families struggling with addiction.

The first banner she created has more than 40 names on it – the second banner is still a work in progress, but Drewes said she’ll carry the banners to events in North Carolina and a national event later this summer in Washington, D.C.

Drewes created a Facebook group called Forgotten Victims Vance, Granville, Franklin, and Warren Counties N.C. which has helped families work through their grief as well as providing support and awareness. “You don’t have to go this alone,” she said. “We’re here to help you as much as possible.”

The harsh reality of addiction is all around, Drewes said. “Don’t ever say ‘not my child’” she warned. (Addiction) doesn’t discriminate. It can happen to anyone’s child,” she said.

For more information about adding a loved one’s name to the banner, contact Drewes at 252.204.9611 or via FB through the Forgotten Victims page.

(TownTalk Audio for June 2, 2021)

The Local Skinny! Home and Garden Show

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A special announcement included in today’s show for June 2, 2021 is the new Vance County Regional Farmers Market Manager has been selected.

Each Wednesday on WIZS at 11:30 a.m., you’ll hear The Local Skinny! Home and Garden Show with Paul McKenzie and Wayne Rowland of the Vance County Cooperative Extension Center.

Gilchrist and Kelley Arrested After Community Complaints

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– HPD Press Release –

On May 28, 2021 the Henderson Police Department served a search warrant on the residence of 673 Highland Avenue in response to community complaints that resulted in an investigation of that location.

37 year old, Lakeshia Gilchrist of 673 Highland Avenue Henderson NC was arrested and charged with Felony Possession of a Schedule I Controlled Substance, Possession With The Intent to Manufacture Sell and Deliver a Schedule II Controlled Substance, Manufacture Cocaine, Felony Maintain A Dwelling Place For A Controlled Substance, Possess of Drug Paraphernalia, Simple Possession of Schedule a VI Controlled Substance and Possession With the Intent to Manufacture, Sell, or Deliver a Controlled Substance Within 1000 feet Of A School. She received a $90,000.00 secured bond. A rifle, two pistols, narcotics, and US Currency were seized pursuit to the search warrant.

32 year old, Major Kelly of 413 Davis Street Henderson NC was arrested for the felony of Possession of Cocaine and Possession of a Schedule VI Controlled Substance. He received a $5,000.00 secured bond.

Both were released from custody after posting bond.

If anyone has information about the sale and distribution of illegal narcotics or other ongoing criminal activity, please contact us through Henderson-Vance Crime Stoppers at (252- 492-1925 or P3 app), call us at 252-438-4141, or contact us through Facebook or Instagram.

I Voted Sticker

Municipal Elections Could Be Postponed If Senate Bill Passes

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Henderson officials are waiting to learn results of a meeting today in Raleigh that could change the date of the 2021 municipal elections from the current date of Tuesday, Oct. 5.

Senate Bill 722 hasn’t passed into law yet, but it proposes that municipalities must consider data from the 2020 U.S. Census to before scheduling elections, according to Vance County’s Board of Elections Director Faye M. Gill.

Gill told WIZS News Monday that four seats on the Henderson City Council are up for election in 2021.

The proposed bill was scheduled to be discussed Monday afternoon in a meeting of the Rules and Operations State Senate Committee. If it passes into law, municipalities must use 2020 Census data to “review and revise its electoral districts” before holding elections.

Gill said at-large seats for Wards 1 and 2, currently held by council members Sara Coffey and William Burnette, respectively, are up for election in 2021, as well as Ward seats 3 and 4, held by Gary Daeke and Ola Thorp-Cooper, respectively.

Changes in district lines send a ripple effect through elections processes, and Gill said since candidates must reside in the district they represent, it will be important to know whether district lines have changed. “It just depends on where the lines are drawn,” she said. The City Council would determine that the electoral districts accurately reflect the Census data, and the board of elections would see the process through.

Gill’s main concern is “whoever runs is running in the correct ward,” and voters are voting in the correct ward, too.

As it stands now, filing for the 2021 City of Henderson election will begin on Monday, July 26, 2021 at 12 noon and will end on Friday, Aug. 13, 2021 at 12 noon. Filing fee is $10.

Municipal elections are set for Tuesday, Oct. 5. If necessary, a runoff date is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 2.

If the bill becomes law, the filing dates and the election dates would be pushed back to give council time to verify electoral districts are accurate. Municipalities would have until mid-November to do so.

“It hasn’t passed yet,” Gill said of Senate Bill 722. “We’ve not been told to do anything yet,” she said.

Vance Co. Regional Farmers Market

Farmers Market Opens For Wednesday Sales June 2

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Whether it’s the cabbage or kale, beets or bok choy you’ve had a hankering for, the wait is over – find those items and more at the Vance County Regional Farmers Market as it kicks off its mid-week market tomorrow, Wednesday, June 2.

In addition to a wide variety of fresh produce and other local hand-crafted items, there will be a mobile clinic set up to give COVID-19 vaccines tomorrow as well. The clinic will operate from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.  No appointment is necessary.

The market will be open on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.  through the summer. There are three “twilight markets” that will be held in lieu of the Wednesday market – the Tuesday twilight markets will be from 3 p.m. – 7 p.m. on June 29, July 27 and Aug. 24.

COVID-19 restrictions have eased at the market, and anyone who is fully vaccinated will not be required to wear a face mask. Farmers market vendors and visitors are still encouraged to maintain social distancing and other safety protocols.

The VCRFM is located at 210 Southpark Drive in Henderson.

(This is not a paid ad.)

Oxford Logo

Oxford City Hall Set To Reopen To Public June 1

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The City of Oxford will be re-opening its office facilities to the public on June 1, 2021.

Visitors to Oxford City Hall can once again pay utility bills in person at a kiosk just inside the entrance, according to a press release to WIZS News. A city staff member will be stationed at the front kiosk to contact other city staff that visitors wish to see, and the visitor then will be escorted to the appropriate area or office within City Hall.

Oxford Mayor Jackie Sergent told WIZS News Friday that she is proud of the city’s efforts to keep everyone safe. “I am proud that the city of Oxford worked hard to protect its staff and our public during the COVID outbreak without decreasing services or access to meetings,” she stated. “But doing business by Zoom has been hard on everyone, so we are delighted to open our doors to the public and one another again.”

The City of Oxford is “excited to welcome the public back to City Hall and its other public facilities as we look forward to continuing to serve the public as we strive to return to normal,” according to the statement, issued by Alyssa Blair, the city’s administrative assistant.

The City of Oxford will respectfully require individuals who desire entry to a city facility to wear a mask and maintain established social distancing protocols. Sergent encouraged everyone eligible to get vaccinated “so we can continue to protect one another,” she said.

Meetings of the Oxford board of commissioners, planning board, board of adjustment, and historical commission will once again be held at their regular date and time in the commissioner’s board meeting room at Oxford City Hall.

The public is encouraged to attend and to observe all indoor gathering COVID-19 protocols – including wearing masks and social distancing –  for those who remain unvaccinated.

Area Extension Offices To Offer Pesticide Recertification Opportunities In June

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Warren, Vance and Granville counties are hosting a couple of virtual pesticide recertification sessions in June.

The first session is scheduled for 10 a.m. on June 10 and the second is scheduled for 6 p.m. on June 14, according to information from Matthew Place, with Warren County Cooperative Extension.

The meetings will be held via Zoom, but Place said participants can make arrangements to watch the webinars from their county’s extension offices if access to a computer or the internet is a problem.
The following category credits will be included with the June 10 class: D, L, N and X
The following category credits will be included with the June 14th class: A, B, D, G, H, I, K, L, M, N, O, T, X.

Registration is required. Visit http://go.ncsu.edu/pestclasskerrtar to register.

If you have any questions or would like to reserve a spot to watch the classes at the Warren County Center, call Place at 252.257.3640 or email at mbplace@ncsu.edu.